Simple Veggie Washer

If you love growing fresh vegetables but hate all the dirt that comes inside when they’re picked, do this. Drill holes in the bottom and sides of a 5-gallon bucket with a 5/8-inch spade bit. Place your fresh-picked veggies in the bucket and hose them off before you bring them inside. The dirt and sand stay out in the garden and only the veggies end up in your kitchen. Do you know which vegetables take the least amount of time to grow?

Shady Flower Shelf

Here’s a beautiful idea for sprucing up the space between tree branches. Make yourself a shady plant shelf! Just measure the gap and cut your shelving to fit. Cut a notch in each side of your board so that it “hugs” the tree and sits securely. Set your shelf gently inside the gap, place your shade-loving plants on it and enjoy your blooms all season long.

Plant Tag Organizer

You know those plant tags you save to reference later, but aren’t exactly sure what to do with? To keep them organized, punch holes in the tags and slide them onto a key ring. These are the best herbs to grow for your garden.

Cocktail Caps

Keep bugs from swimming in your drinks by topping glasses with baking cup liners. Cut a small X into the center of each liner, poke a (reusable or paper) straw through the hole and enjoy your beverage pest-free. It’ll work perfectly for these summer cocktails to enjoy while poolside.

Citrus Rind Seed Starters

Grapefruit, orange and other citrus rinds are just the right size for starting new seedlings. Make a hole in the bottom of each one for drainage and add some damp seed-starting mix and seeds. Then, when it’s time to move them outside, plant the whole works in the ground—peels and all. The citrus rinds make the soil more acidic, however, so only do this with acid-loving plants like radishes, peppers and the like.

Direct Watering Bottle

For healthy plants, it’s important to get water to the roots. Here’s an easy method: drill holes in water bottles and bury them alongside plants, leaving just the cap above the ground. To water the plants, unscrew the bottles’ caps, fill the bottles and screw the caps back on. It requires some extra effort, but it conserves water, and the plants—especially the tomatoes—will thrive like never before.

Utility Tackle Box

Instead of throwing extra tackle boxes away or just piling them in the garage, fill them with toiletries, first-aid supplies and other camping and fishing gear. Tackle boxes keep these odds and ends organized and easy to pack before heading out on a camping or road trip. Speaking of camping, these are our favorite campsite hacks.

No-Rust Garden Tools

Regular maintenance keeps your garden tools clean and rust-free. To avoid much of that maintenance, fill a bucket with sand and mix in a plant-based oil, such as boiled linseed oil. Plunging a blade, tines or teeth into the sand a few times cleans off any dirt and gives them a light coating of oil for rust prevention. You can even store your tools right in the pot.

Camping Toilet Paper Hack

To keep toilet paper dry and at the ready while camping, put the roll in a coffee can or CD/DVD container. It makes a handy, weatherproof dispenser right next to the biffy. These easy camping meals can be prepared right on the campfire.

Keep Seeds Fresh

If you don’t use up all of your seed packets, store them in an airtight container with silica packets to keep them fresh for next year. The silica packets prevent the seeds from germinating or getting moldy. Plus, check out these tips for creating an affordable garden.

Cardboard Seed Tubes

For an easy and green way to start seeds, save your toilet paper and paper towel tubes. Cut the tubes into 2-inch lengths and set them in a waterproof tray. Fill the tubes with potting soil and plant your seeds. When the seedlings are ready to move to the garden, plant them right in their cardboard tube. The cardboard will decompose. Be sure to keep the tube below the soil surface, so it doesn’t wick moisture away from the roots.

Wine Cork Fire Starters

Fill a mason jar with wine corks and rubbing alcohol, and let the corks soak. The corks will burn after soaking for a couple of days, but for best results, soak them for a week. Be sure the corks are natural, not synthetic. Make sure you know how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew in case you forget one on your next camping trip.

Saving Soil with Old Cans

For deep planters, fill the bottom with old cans or plant pots. The cans and pots improve drainage and create air pockets for better aeration and healthier soil, and will help you have on soil. Here are some handy tips for growing a great raised bed garden.

Micro Greenhouse

Do you have a hard time starting seeds or cuttings? Try soda bottle greenhouses. Cut the bottom off 2-liter soda bottles and remove the labels. Remove the greenhouses once the seeds have germinated and cuttings are rooted. Check out these solutions to the most common gardening problems.

Turn a Milk Jug Into a Watering Can

If you don’t want to buy a watering can, turn to an old milk jug. Just wash an empty milk (or juice) jug, drill a few holes in the caps, fill up the jugs with water and you’re good to water all your plants. Here’s how you can take your garden from good to great.

No Air Pump? Use a Shop Vacuum

If you don’t have an air compressor to inflate your air mattresses or pool toys, you can use your shop vacuum instead. Just pop the top off a plastic squeeze bottle and fit the top to your vacuum’s hose. You may have to use duct tape. Once the top is secured to the hose, attach the hose to your vacuum’s exhaust port. It’ll blow up your inflatables in no time. To deflate, attach the hose to the vacuum port and suck the air out.

Protect Your Plants with Milk Jugs­

Are you eager to get your plants in the ground? Cut the bottoms out of gallon jugs and set them over new and fragile plants to protect them from bugs or a late frost. Did you know you can grow your plants in milk jugs? On the flip side, here are a few veggies you should start inside.

Corral Your Clippings

When trimming hedges, use a plastic kiddie pool to catch clippings, kicking it along as you clip. When you’re done trimming, dump the clippings into your mulch pile.

DIY Drip Waterer

Here’s an easy way to turn any hose into a drip-watering hose. Drill 1/8 in. holes every 2 inches and screw a cap the end. Weave the hose around your plants and turn on the spigot. You’ll have to do some testing to figure out the right setting. Want to add more color to your home? Take a look at these colorful plants to add to your home office.

Garden Sprayer Labels

Always remember what’s in your garden sprayer, with key labels. After mixing, fill out a label and wrap it around the sprayer’s handle. Then keep the rest on a pegboard, so you can easily switch them out when mixing something different.

Hedge Trimmer Sheath

If you’ve lost your hedge trimmer’s blade sheath, you’ll have to get creative to safely store the tool. A piece of foam pipe insulation will be just right. Cut two 1/2 in. foam tubes to the length of the hedge trimmer blade. The tubes are slit down their length, so they slide easily over the blades. Then use three 4 inch bungee cords to hold them in place. Easy!

Permanent Tiki Torch PVC Holders

If you like to set tiki torches around your patio but the ground is rock hard, here’s a solution. Cut 5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe to hold the torches and use a maul and a block of wood to pound them into the ground. (You might have to pull them out a couple of times during the process to dig out the clag plugs.) Then just slip the torches in and out of the sleeves, and you can mow right over the PVD holders without a problem.

Noisy-Drip Stopper

Do you have a noisy drip coming from the downspout that’s driving you nuts? Here’s an easy way to stop the drip—just push a kitchen sponge into the bottom of the downspout. It’ll muffle the dripping noise without blocking the water flow. Take a look at these smart ideas for your next backyard party.

Lawn Chair Umbrella Holder

Escape the hot sun with this simple umbrella holder, which clamps right to the lawn chair. Bolt a piece of 1-1/2-inch PVC to the chair and secure it with a 4-inch hose clamp. It works great, and all you have to remember is to collapse the umbrella when you get up or a sudden breeze will blow it over.

Handy Branch Hauler

Need a way to haul branches over to your fire pit? Carrying them in your arms is dirty work and trying to stuff them into a plastic bag is awkward. Try using a sturdy plastic shopping bag with handles. Slit the sides, lay it flat and fill it with branches and small logs. It loads easily and lets you carry wood without getting your clothes full of sap or mud.

Water Break on the Go

If you don’t want to stop mowing the lawn just to run into the house for a drink of water, attached a bicycle water bottle holder to the mower arm. Now you can fill up the bottle at the start and take water breaks without breaking your stride.

Temporary Extension Cord Protection

If you’re having a graduation party or some other occasional event out in the yard, you may require extra electricity. Here’s a great way to keep extension cord plugs dry. Cut notches in the opposite sides of a reusable plastic container and snap on the lid. Your plugs will stay dry if it happens to rain or the ground is moist.

Mowing in Comfort

Your mower will be a pleasure to use thanks to the pipe insulation taped to the handle. Make sure the insulation doesn’t interfere with your auto-shutoff bar, if you have one.

Lawn Mower Hack

Before you mow, you most likely go around and pick up fallen twigs and other debris. Inevitably, sometimes you’ll miss some and have to stop and pick it up. To solve the problem, attach a wastebasket to your  mower. Now when wrappers, cans and sticks suddenly appear, you can stuff them into the basket and keep moving.

No More Smelly Lawn Clippings

After mowing, dump all of your lawn clippings into a “green refuse” bin. But after a day or so, the grass clippings turn into a slimy, smelly mess. To combat the stench, raid your electric paper shredder and through a few handfuls of shredded paper into the bottom of the barrel. The paper helps absorb the moisture and reduce the smell. Plus: Here’s why you shouldn’t mow your lawn every week.

The post 30 Thrifty Tips For Your Outdoor Spaces appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Garbage Can Deodorizer

Borax, or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring substance and is an ingredient in many household cleaning products. If you have a smelly garbage can, deodorize it with equal parts borax and water. For our small garbage can, we used 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of borax. Let it soak and then rinse it out. Sprinkle some borax in the bottom once it’s dry, to keep bugs away and to absorb any future odor-causing moisture. By the way, here are surprising things that should go in the trash rather than the recycling bin.

Clean the Air While You Clean the House

Your vacuum’s agitator brush and exhaust whip up dust that eventually settles on the surfaces you’ve just cleaned. Filter out some of that dust before it settles by switching your thermostat to “fan on.” This turns on the blower inside your furnace and filters the air even while the system isn’t heating or cooling. Leave the blower on for about 15 minutes after you’re done cleaning. But don’t forget to switch it back to “auto.” Most blowers aren’t designed to run constantly. These easy-care houseplants will improve your air quality.

Dust Bunny Broom Cleaner

Every time you sweep, clumps of dust and hair collect at the ends of the broom’s bristles. To solve this problem, hot glue a wide-tooth comb to the top of a dustpan. Just run the bristles through the comb to remove any excess gunk dangling from the broom. Check out these other simple ways to clean your cleaning tools.

Bonus: Say goodbye to tedious sweeping with this stair dust corner.

Use Dryer Sheets to Clean Your Floors

Don’t throw away used dryer sheets. There’s another use for them. Wrap a couple of dryer sheets onto the flat head of a sweeper. The dryer sheets pick up dust and hair just as well as name-brand sweeper refills. Say goodbye to those dust bunnies! Here are some more uses for dryer sheets that aren’t laundry.

Use Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers are for so much more than just washing dishes. Leslie Reichert, founder of The Green Cleaning Coach and author of The Joy Of Green Cleaning, recommends using yours to dust off knickknacks like mason jars and glass candle globes. Pretty much anything glass or ceramic should be fine going in the dishwasher, but you do want to stay away from putting meltable plastics in your dishwasher at all costs.

DIY Mason Jar Dish Scrubber

If you are all about ease and convenience when it comes to washing the dishes, check out this DIY Mason jar dish scrubber. It even has a soap-dispensing handle. First, punch a few nail holes in the jar’s lid. Trace the lid onto a sponge and cut it out. Hot glue the sponge to the inner rim of the screw-on part of the lid. Fill the jar with soap, screw on the sponge and you’re set! Here’s how to wash dishes by hand the right way.

Clean Hard-to-Reach Spots on Oddly Shaped Containers

If you own a hummingbird feeder or tall flower vase, you know how difficult it is to clean inside them. A toothbrush is perfect for cleaning these hard-to-reach places. So, when your old toothbrush has retired from duty in your mouth, give it a new job! Check out these tips for cleaning hard-to-remove stuff.

For More Than Just the News

If streaky mirrors and glass tug on your nerves, we’ll show you how to get streak-free glass with a couple of items already lying around your home. To get started, you’ll need window cleaner and newspaper. Spray window cleaner on your dirty glass and then scrub in a circular motion, using the newspaper. Switch to a vertical, and then a horizontal stroke until all the liquid has dissipated and you’re left with shiny, streak-free windows! Take a look at more clever solutions for cleaning windows.

Remove Bathroom Soap Scum

Soap has a nasty way of forming a hard-to-remove film on the tile in tubs and showers. You won’t get rid of it by rubbing. Instead, wait for the surface to dry, then scrape off the scum with a 4-in. plastic putty knife. For grout lines and textured surfaces, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

To prevent soap scum buildup, stop using real soap and start using a synthetic. Chemically speaking, any soap in a liquid or gel form and some bar soaps (Zest and Ivory) are actually synthetic soaps and much less likely to leave a tough film in your sink, shower or tub. What makes a Magic Eraser so magical?

Find Your Lost Items

Everyone knows how annoying it is when you can’t seem to find a dropped pill or the back of an earring. So how do you find these items quickly and easily? Use your vacuum. Here’s the trick; before you turn the vacuum on, cut off the end of a nylon and secure it on the end of your vacuum hose with a rubber band. Skip the vacuum when cleaning up these 13 items.

Steam for Everyday Spills

The advantages of traditional oven cleaners are power and speed. But for many of us, the disadvantages outweigh the good, specifically, the corrosive chemicals and caustic fumes that this type of oven cleaning can produce.

A simple, more natural way to clean your oven is to place an oven-safe pot or bowl filled with water inside. Set your oven to 450 degrees for 20 to 60 minutes to loosen dirt and grease with the steam. Once your oven is cool, wipe off the condensation and the grease will come with it. If stubborn spots persist, scrub with a paste of baking soda and lemon or vinegar. This steam-cleaning option doesn’t take as long as pyrolytic cleaning and doesn’t produce smoke, either. It’s a win-win! Have company coming to visit? Check out these tips for speed cleaning your home.

Paint Stick to Clean Lint Buildup

Even if you empty your dryer’s lint trap before each load, chances are there is still lint buildup around the area that could potentially cause a fire. So it’s important to deep clean the area once in a while, and this handy hint will get the job done. Wrap a clean rag around one end of a paint stir stick. Remove the lint trap and clean out the area with the rag-covered stick. To help the lint stick to the rag, dampen it with water first. Use this trick to remove pet hair from your clothes.

The Drill Brush

Start by threading the machine screw through the brush head so the head of the screw rests in the brush head hole. On the other side of the brush head, slide on the washer and secure it in place with a nut. Make sure to tighten it well with a wrench. However, do not over-tighten, as this may cause the plastic brush head to crack. Next, attach the scrubber head to the drill. To clean, fill a bowl or bucket with hot water and dish soap (or the cleaning agent of your choice). Dip the power scrubber into the mixture just enough to saturate the bristles and do not submerge the drill! Now simply point and press the drill to start and let the drill brush do the work.

Floor Swiffer for Walls

Attach a dry cloth to the Swiffer’s rectangle end and swipe it along the wall to pick up dust, cobwebs and dirt and more. Then press an edge of the rectangle end along window and door trim to pick up dust that tends to collect quickly in those areas. The extension handle on the Swiffer makes reaching these high surfaces simple and safe—so you don’t have to stand on a step stool or ladder. When you’re done dusting, just toss the disposable cloth in the garbage. The Scrub Daddy Damp Duster is another great option to pick up dust and hair like a pro.

Here are some items you shouldn’t clean with a Swiffer.

Coffee Filters for Dusting

When you need to clean a computer monitor or TV screen, reach into your kitchen cupboard for a coffee filter. Thin, cloth-like paper filters are great at picking up fine dust particles, and one filter goes a long way. You can also use coffee filters for dusting knickknacks and other home accessories, while you’re at it. Add a spritz of cleaning solution and the coffee filter will catch even more dust and disinfect surfaces, too.

Citrus Peels and Ice Cubes for a Stinky Disposer

If your disposer has developed an odor, it may contain bits of rotted food. Here’s how to clean them out:

1. With the water running at about half throttle, drop in orange or lemon peels. Run the disposer for five seconds. Citric acid from the peels softens crusty waste and attacks smelly bacteria. Give the acid about 15 minutes to do its work.
2. Turn on the water and the disposer and drop in a few ice cubes. Flying shards of ice work like a sandblaster inside the disposer.
3. Run the water until the bowl is about half full. Then pull the stopper and turn on the disposer to flush it out.

Avoid putting these items down your garbage disposal.

Garden Gloves to Dust Knickknacks

For tiny trinkets and knickknacks with small parts that are difficult to clean with a standard household rag, try this handy hint: Slip on a pair of soft (preferably cotton) gardening gloves. Then use your fingers to clean the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of your collectibles. To get rid of germs in the process of dusting, spritz the cotton gloves with a small amount of antibacterial cleaning solution. These cleaning mistakes can make your home dirtier.

Remove Hard-Water Buildup with a Lemon

To get rid of hard-water buildup on a faucet, try this natural solution: Cut a fresh lemon in half. Then press the lemon onto the end of the faucet. Put a small plastic bag around the lemon and secure it around the faucet with a rubber band. Be sure that the rubber band it cinched tightly and that the lemon is around the end of the faucet. Leave the lemon in place for a few hours to allow the citric acid to work its magic.

After you remove the lemon, you may need to use a gentle scrubbing pad to wash off any loosened hard-water buildup. Then wipe the faucet with a damp cloth to remove any leftover lemon juice, and your faucet will be squeaky clean—and you didn’t need to use harsh chemicals! Here are more ways you can clean your home with lemon.

Grocery Bag Shoe Covers

When I’m working outside and have messy work shoes, I will step into plastic grocery bags and tie the handle loops around my ankles to hold them on. This keeps me from dragging in mud and such when I need to come inside for just a minute or two.— reader Lance Wiist

It’s a good idea to stash a couple of plastic grocery bags in your pockets or in your toolbox before heading outside to work in your yard. That way you’ll have quick shoe covers on hand.

Microwave Cleaner

It’s easy to clean baked-on food and spills from your microwave Here’s how: Partially fill a measuring or coffee cup with water and add a slice of lemon. Boil the water for a minute, and then leave the door closed and let the steam loosen the mess. After 10 minutes, open the door and wipe away the grime. Learn how to remove grease off of common kitchen surfaces.

Clean More Than Just Your Teeth!

One of the handy little tools that I use for cleaning is an electric toothbrush. It’s great for removing stains and grime around the house! To clean up residue and splatters in the kitchen, I use just a bit of baking soda under the spinning toothbrush head to quickly clean the metal sink and plastic dish drying rack. I also use the electric toothbrush with baking soda and a tiny bit of water to scrub grout in both the kitchen and bathroom.— reader Ellis Biderson

Here are whys you might be cleaning your bathroom wrong.

Permanent Marker Stain

Don’t worry, that permanent marker stain on your new laminate countertop won’t be there forever! Dab some cooking oil onto a paper towel and then lay the paper towel over the stain that refuses to budge. Wait a few minutes while the oil works to dissolve the stubborn stain. Finally, remove the towel and rub away the stain in circular motions (with some force) with another paper towel dipped in oil. When the stain is gone, wipe the area clean with soap and water. Learn these secrets form people who always have clean kitchens.

Make your appliances smudge-free

If you own stainless steel kitchen appliances, you may want to consider using car wax to clean them rather than a surface cleaner. Simply apply a light coat of car wax to the appliance, allow time to dry and buff clean to resist fingerprints and smudges. No more kiddy fingerprints on the fridge!

Clean Upholstery with Baking Soda

Use this handy hint if there’s a funky smell lurking in your couch or upholstered chair: Sprinkle a generous amount of regular baking soda onto the fabric and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will help to release odors and break up some light stains in the fabric. After about 20 minutes, remove the baking soda—and the funky smell—with a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment for your large vacuum. Baking soda has several magical powers in the house, find out 50 more.

Use Soft Socks to Clean Blinds

No need for a special tool to give your window blinds a deep cleaning, just slip a soft (and clean!) sock onto your hand. Your hand is the perfect tool for wiping over, through and under the blinds to get every nook and cranny that collects dust. Spray a bit of all-purpose cleaner onto the sock for added disinfecting power.

Zip-Tie to the Rescue

When my bathroom sink gets clogged, I don’t reach for chemicals. Instead, I use a long zip tie. I cut several notches on the zip-ties end. It’ll hook the hair clog, allowing you to pull it out. Problem solved. The size of the eye of the zip tie prevented me from inadvertently pushing the tie past the stopper. — reader Rick Holmen

Avoid clogs by never putting these items down the drain.

Lampshade Lint Roller

Fabric lampshades are magnets for dust and pet hair. You can’t just throw them in the washing machine, so what do you do? A lint roller works really well. Be careful though, as lampshades are fragile and can even become brittle. A torn lampshade is worse than a dirty one.

Always-Fresh Toilet Brush

Toilet brushes are relegated to a filthy task, and the thought of what’s leftover on that brush left you a little queasy. So put a splash of Pine-Sol in the bottom of the brush container. Not only does this help to deodorize the bathroom, but it also disinfects the toilet brush. Here are 6 things you should clean with a microfiber cloth.

Vacuum Cleaner Spout Hack

Sometimes you need a little bit of creativity to deep clean hard-to-reach areas. If you have a plastic squeeze top bottle, try fitting the tip onto your vacuum nozzle. If it fits, great, if not, there’s always tape. You’ll have a powerful machine to get rid of dirt and dust in even the tiniest of spaces, like a keyboard, headphone port or for detailing your car. Plus, check out these secret cleaning tips from the pros.

Clean Scratch-Free Glasses

Scratched eyeglasses are a real nuisance and make it hard to see. If your glasses DON’T have antiglare or scratch coating on them, here’s how to get minor scratches out. Put a drop of Brasso on a 100 percent cotton cloth, the softer the better. Apply the product to the lenses, let it dry completely, and then polish out the scratches.

Remove Crayon Marks From Walls

Have your walls been redecorated with some original crayon masterpieces? Don’t lose your cool. Just grab a rag, dip it in some baking soda and lightly scrub the marks. They will come off with a minimal amount of effort and give your young Picasso a fresh, new canvas. You’ll want to steal these cleaning tips from the pros.

Clean Under Your Fridge

The space between your fridge and the floor is a magnet for pet hair, dust, food crumbs and other small trinkets. And if gone too long without cleaning, it can attract ants and other pests. To make this cleaning task less difficult, use a hair trap cleaner (also called a drain cleaning zip tool), which sells at home improvement stores for under $5. This hair trap won’t leave scratches on the floor and can reach further than a vacuum cleaner attachment. 

Spilled Paint on Your Carpet? Don’t Panic, Do This:

I used to think dropping a loaded paintbrush on the carpet meant replacing the carpet until a former foreman told me this little tip. Pour some denatured alcohol onto a rag and scrub away the paint. Use a rag that is as close in color to the carpet, as the alcohol can transfer some of the rag’s color to the carpet. – reader Tom Gerdowsky

Erase Marks on a Keyboard

Dirt and oils from your fingertips can build up on a computer keyboard. But did you know that you can remove marks from a keyboard using a simple eraser? A standard pink eraser such as the one shown in the photo works perfectly, you just need to use a bit of elbow grease. Use a corner of the eraser to press down onto each key and rub away the marks. Make sure you don’t skip these 9 items when deep cleaning your home.

Clean a Cast Iron Skillet with Coarse Salt

To prevent rust and extend the life of a cast-iron skillet, it’s best not to use soap to clean it. Instead, use about a tablespoon of coarse salt to scrub the pan after a meal.

The salt breaks up bits of stuck food and residue on the skillet. Then you can toss the dirty salt in the trash, rinse the pan with hot water and dry it with a clean towel. To further protect a cast iron skillet, rub a few drops of vegetable oil over the entire cooking surface. Take a look at more tips for cleaning your cast-iron skillet.

Super-Fast Floor Squeegee

When you need to round up water on your garage or basement floor, assemble this simple squeegee. Slip a piece of foam pipe insulation over the tines of an ordinary garden rake to push the water to a drain or out the door.

Brilliant DIY Indoor Fly Trap

Wonder how to get rid of annoying flies around your home? Wash a plastic beverage bottle and cut off the top. Stick the cutoff top upside down in the bottle’s bottom. Mark a line slightly below the bottle’s spout. This will serve as a “fill to” line. Fill with apple chunks, the riper the better, and 2 cups of white vinegar to deter bees from the trap. Place the cutoff top upside down in the bottle. Flies can easily get into the wide opening, but it’s difficult for them to get back out. Get more info from our guide for getting rid of fruit flies.

Your Shoes Will Look New

All you need is an old toothbrush and a little toothpaste to get your old sneakers looking like new! Non-gel white toothpaste works great for cleaning white-soled sneakers (colored toothpaste may stain rather than clean sneakers). Apply toothpaste to an old toothbrush and then work the paste into the dirty spots. Leave the toothpaste on the shoes for about ten minutes, and then wipe it off with a damp towel. Repeat the process if necessary. Next, read about 25 cleaning tips that really work.

The post 38 Handy Hints for Cleaning Every Nook and Cranny of Your House appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Washing Machine

It’s recommended to have your washer go through a cleaning cycle once a week, depending on how often you are using the machine. If you aren’t using it as often, it’s recommended to give it wash (both inside and out) once a month. Since most clothes/patterns require a cold wash, hot water isn’t moving through the machine often. The first thing you can do is wash the machine with hot water—bleach included. This will help to kill off whatever bacteria or bugs are currently residing within your machine.

If your washing machine has a funny odor, it probably means there’s some mold to deal with. These two ingredients are perfect for banishing odors in your washing machine.

Garbage Disposal

The best way to clean out your garbage disposal is with baking soda and white vinegar. Take half a cup of baking soda and a cup of white wine vinegar and put both down the sink. After a few minutes, pour some boiling hot water down, too. Next, fill the drain with some ice cubes and add a cup of salt, which will help to remove debris. Finally, add lemon halves to the disposal and keep both the water running and the garbage disposal on.  Here are 12 things you should never put down your garbage disposal.

Baseboards and Blinds

If you let your mini blinds build up too much dust and dirt, they can be impossible to clean. The more you spray and wipe, the more you just spread the dust and grease buildup. You can use dryer sheets to quickly clean your blinds.

It’s difficult to thoroughly wipe both sides of all blades using a cloth—all while trying not to damage any of the delicate pieces in the process. Can’t clean your blinds because of allergies? Here are the best tips for busting dust bunnies without bothering your allergies.

Check HVAC Filters

Bodrozic says you should replace your air filters at least four times a year, but it’s best to check them once a month. This keeps air in the house healthy and your system running efficiently because they are not clogged with debris or dust.

Do you believe these 14 cleaning myths?

Dishwasher Filter

Remove the filter and wash it to make sure all food particles are gone. Then sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and let it sit for 12 hours. Then add a cup of vinegar and run a hot cycle.

Sweep the Garage, Patio and Walkways

Sweep out your garage, patio and walkways to keep them clear of debris. If you do this job once a month it will be significantly more manageable over time.

Refrigerator Grille

The top or bottom of your refrigerator has a grille that you can detach to get access to the compressor and cooling coils. This builds up dust over time and blocks airflow, which can burn out your refrigerator’s cooling system. Here’s how to keep your refrigerator fresh and stink-free.

Vacuum Upholstered Furniture

Sprinkle a generous amount of regular baking soda onto the fabric and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will help to release odors and break up some light stains in the fabric.

After about 20 minutes, remove the baking soda—and the funky smell—with a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment for your large vacuum.

Inspect Sink and Tub Drains

If you notice that your sinks or tubs aren’t draining as quickly, there may be a buildup causing a blockage. The first thing to do is try to remove anything that is obstructing the pipe manually using a pipe cleaner to pull debris through the plughole. Second, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by some hot water, which should clear things out. Here are some things you shouldn’t pour down the drain.

Grout

Save your worn-out toothbrushes because they’re great for cleaning grout. Just apply a little bit of detergent to the head of the brush. It works especially well on corners.

Ceiling Light Fixtures (One Room Per Month)

Cleaning light fixtures on a monthly basis keeps your fixtures from becoming covered in dust. To clean ceiling fixtures wipe the fixture with a cloth and remove the globe or pan for a quick shine as well as dumping any bug remains. You’ll be surprised how much brighter the light is with a little cleaning.

Range Hood Filter

The purpose of the range hood filter is to collect grease, so over time, it will become less effective as the grease builds up. To clean them, simply remove them and place them in a sink full of hot water, dishwashing liquid and baking soda. Leave to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. If needed, scrub the remaining grease off with a brush and rinse clean. Dry the filters with a paper towel before replacing them.

Lubricate Garage Doors

Your doors are probably a series of panels that are connected with hinges and have either metal or plastic rollers on each side. Use an appropriate lubricant, depending on metal or plastic rollers, to keep your garage door operating smoothly and prolong its useful life.

Air Vent Covers

Throw Rugs

Rugs are great at trapping dirt and dust so it’s important that you wash them on a regular monthly basis. No need to hire a professional, you can clean your area rugs yourself! Don’t miss the places you’re not vacuuming—but should be.

Windows

Microwave

Appliances like the microwave take a lot of abuse. At least once a month, treat them to a deep cleaning that renews them to their original glory. Scrub down the inside and outside of your microwave oven. You can clean your microwave the easy way with this how-to.

Ceiling Fans

If it has been a while since you’ve cleaned your ceiling fan, take a look up. You’re likely to see a ton of dust and dirt clinging to your fans. Dust the ceiling fan at least once a month to keep it looking nice, functioning well and prevent all that dust from being dispersed in the air.

Dryer

Even if you empty your dryer’s lint trap before each load, chances are there is still lint buildup around the area that could potentially cause a fire. So it’s important to deep clean the area once a month, and this handy hint will get the job done.

Wrap a clean rag around one end of a paint stir stick. Remove the lint trap and clean out the area with the rag-covered stick. To help the lint stick to the rag, dampen it with water first.

Your dryer does a lot more than make your clothes all cozy and warm. See what else you dryer can do!

The post 19 Home Items You Should Be Cleaning Every Month appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Clean Rusty Tools With Vinegar

Catherine Miller found a much easier way to clean rusty tools than scraping and sanding them. She poured white vinegar into a tin can (we used glass) and put a rusty wood chisel in the vinegar to soak overnight. The next day, with the help of a Scotch-Brite pad, all the rust came off with little effort. The blade still needed sharpening, but the chisel was almost as good as new. Catherine wraps larger tools in a vinegar-soaked rag, covers the rag with a plastic bag or plastic wrap and then leaves it for 24 hours. After cleaning off the rust, you just rinse the tool in the clear water and wipe it dry.

Make sure to read about these cleaning products you should never mix.

Get Rid of Salt Residue on Shoes

You can clean off the residue quickly with a simple solution that you can make at home. Fill a spray bottle with water and add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar. Shake it up a bit and spritz the mixture onto a clean paper towel. Gently wipe your shoes, and watch the salt residue disappear. Keep the spray bottle near your shoe collection, so you can clean off your shoes as the season goes.

Did you know you can clean with salt, too? Here’s how.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Try using a homemade all-purpose cleaner on countertops and surfaces to disinfect and freshen your home. A homemade cleaning solution recipe includes vinegar, which removes stains and odors and anti-microbial essential oils to keep your home germ free. Here are some ways to upgrade your DIY cleaner.

Bet you didn’t know you could use baking soda this many ways around the house.

Vinegar Gets the Gunk

I like to keep my lawn equipment really clean. For items like my string trimmer, I simply scrub off all the muck with an old dish brush and white vinegar. It takes about 15 minutes for my string trimmer to go from drab to fab! — Richard Johnson

Check out this homemade household cleaner using vinegar.

The Best DIY Gnat Trap to Try

Tired of the annoying gnats around your home? Gather a few small jars and pour in 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and whirl in a few drops of liquid dish soap. With the lids off, place the jars wherever you see the most gnats. The gnats will be drawn to the smell of the apple cider, but once they land in the mixture, the soap makes it difficult for them to escape. These non-toxic traps work like a dream. I set them out one night and the next morning, all the gnats were in the jars! — Gina Kinnan

Add Vinegar to Your Dishwasher

Use vinegar in your dishwasher to give your glassware an extra sparkle and prevent filmy residue from hard water.  To give this trick a whirl, make sure your dishwasher is completely full—the best and most environmentally conscious way to go—then place a small bowl that’s half full of white vinegar (yes, we’re optimists). Make sure the bowl is dishwasher-safe, and stabilize it in the top rack. To avoid any possible damage to the dishwasher’s gaskets, don’t pour the vinegar directly into the rinse aid compartment.

Then add dishwasher soap and run a regular cycle. From its top-tier position, the vinegar should evenly distribute among both levels. Then remove and enjoy your gleaming glassware.

This is how to clean your dishwasher the right way.

Erase algae with white vinegar

Forget renting a power washer! All you need to get rid of that unwanted icky green stuff on your patio is to spray it with full-strength distilled white vinegar.

Thin Wood Glue

I recently wrote to the Borden company, asking what to do when their Elmer’s wood glue gets too thick to use. They wrote me back and suggested mixing in a drop or two of vinegar. It sounded like an old wives’ tale, but I tried it and found it really works!

Simple Cleaner Soft Scrub 

Industrial soft scrub cleaners can contain strong chemical ingredients, but you can get your tub and shower just as clean with a homemade cleaner. This simple soft scrub recipe will clean a bathroom faster and better and uses a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, which will dissolve hard mineral deposits and easily cut through soap scum.

Here’s how you may be cleaning your bathroom wrong.

Turn Pink Hydrangeas Blue with Vinegar

Unlike baking soda, distilled white vinegar is acidic, and acidic soil is the secret to turning your pink hydrangeas blue. (Note: This doesn’t work on white hydrangeas.) Vinegar also enhances the soil of acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons and gardenias. Use a cup of white distilled vinegar to a gallon of tap water.

Vinaigrette Scratch Remover

Minor scratches in wood furniture don’t need to be sanded out; you can hide them. Mix one-part vinegar with three-parts canola or olive oil and wipe it on the scratch using a soft cloth. The scratch virtually disappears, and you can dress your salad with the leftovers.

Here’s how to clean your whole house in less than 30 minutes.

Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Many commercial toilet bowl cleaners use chlorine bleach, but not this natural toilet bowl cleaner. Instead, castile soap and baking soda get the job done. Plus, you won’t have to worry about accidentally exposing your pets or children to toxic toilet water. By the way, borax is a great way to get your bathroom squeaky clean.

Brilliant DIY Indoor Fly Trap

Wonder how to get rid of annoying flies around your home? Wash a plastic beverage bottle and cut off the top. Stick the cutoff top upside down in the bottle’s bottom. Mark a line slightly below the bottle’s spout. This will serve as a “fill to” line. Fill with apple chunks, the riper the better, and 2 cups of white vinegar to deter bees from the trap. Place the cutoff top upside down in the bottle. Flies can easily get into the wide opening, but it’s difficult for them to get back out.

Note that the better the bait, the more effective these fly traps will be. Any type of decomposing fruit or vegetable will work, too. Try different ingredients to see what’s most effective in your house. Because you are using rotting food to attract and trap the flies, make sure to place the homemade fly trap in a place where the smell won’t bother you or the neighbors.

Follow these tips to get pantry pests out of your groceries.

Lemon and Vinegar Cleaner

Skip the expensive store-bought surface cleaners and make an all-purpose homemade cleaning solution using vinegar. Just mix one part distilled white vinegar, two parts water and a squeeze of lemon juice. This homemade cleaner works in the kitchen, bathroom and on floors. You can add a little baking soda to help whiten grout and sinks, just rinse with water after scrubbing.

You’d be surprised what lemon can do for your home.

Homemade Window Cleaner

Forget using chemical cleaners to wash windows. They’ll look clean as a whistle with this all-natural homemade window cleaner, which uses vinegar and cornstarch to buff those fingerprints away.

Here’s what you shouldn’t clean with Windex.

DIY Wood Stain

No need to buy a stain for your next woodworking project. It only takes a few common household ingredients: steel wool, coffee grounds and vinegar. Place a steel wool pad into a mason jar and add about 1/4 cup of used coffee grounds and about 1 to 2 cups of vinegar. Close the container, shake the mixture and let it stew overnight. Open the container and gently mix the stain. Using gloves, remove the steel wool and apply the stain to the project. As the stain dries it will become darker, so let the stain set for 20 minutes before applying the second coat. Repeat until you get the desired color.

An Old-School Remedy

Clean Grease

Vinegar (acetic acid) cuts grease and doesn’t streak which makes it ideal for cleaning glass. We recommend a solution of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent tap water. In most cases, vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner, but there are some things that you shouldn’t clean with it. Here are 8 things you should never clean with vinegar.

A Clear Staple

Even professionals clean with vinegar: For an all-purpose cleaning solution, here’s what Shepard and his crew recommend: mix equal measures of water and vinegar and a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Pour in a spray bottle and shake. “The lemon juice adds a sweet citrus smell while adding additional cleaning oomph. The citric acid in lemon is also an effective cleanser and a great deodorizer,” says Shepard.

Vanessa Grimes of MaidGift advocates cleaning a baby’s nursery with vinegar. “When it comes to children’s rooms, it’s kind of difficult because most eco-friendly items do not offer the disinfecting elements. And, the ones that do, have such harsh chemicals. I like to clean the nursery with plain white distilled vinegar and a few drops of scented oils, which cleans and also disinfect the surfaces. Baby’s room is left with a fresh, clean smell.”

Buy now

Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The post 19 Vinegar Cleaning Hacks That’ll Save You Money appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Easiest Way to Clean a Burnt Pan

Have you ever cooked something and totally scorched the pan? The burnt remnants seem impossible to clean. To make it easier to wipe away the burnt-on grime, fill the pan with hot water, then add a little dish soap and a couple dryer sheets. Let it sit for an hour then wipe clean with a scrubbing pad and wash normally. Check out these 20 more unexpected uses for dryer sheets.

Permanent Marker on Dry Erase Board

Who hasn’t accidentally written on a white board with a permanent marker? Luckily, it’s easier to remove than you think. Simply draw over your permanent marker artwork with a dry erase marker, and then wipe the marks away with an eraser or dry cloth. Your dry erase board will be good as new!

Remove Tough Stains from a Coffee Thermos

Got stubborn coffee stains on a pot, thermos or mug? Denture cleaner is the best cleaner we’ve ever found for these tough stains. Dissolve one denture cleaning tablet per two cups of hot water. Pour it in the stained vessel and let it sit for several hours and then use a scrub brush to clean off the stains and all the loosened bits. Pour the solution out and rinse thoroughly.

Get Gum Out of Carpet

When gum freezes, it gets brittle and easily breaks apart. So, if you have gum stuck in your carpet, freeze it. Place a sandwich bag filled with ice cubes on top of the gum and wait about a half hour. When the gum is frozen, break it apart and pull it out of the carpet. No trace left behind. Here’s how to get gum off of nearly everything in your home.

Remove Stubborn Command Hooks

Accidentally rip off the pull tab of a Command Hook? No big deal! You can still get it off damage-free. First, warm up the adhesive with a hairdryer. 30 seconds or so seems to be about right. Next, use dental floss or fishing line to gently cut through the adhesive strip. Rub off any remaining adhesive residue, and the Command Hook is ready to reuse! Take a look at these handy hints for the home cook.

Scratch-Free Glasses

Scratched eyeglasses are a real nuisance and make it hard to see. If your glasses DON’T have antiglare or scratch coating on them, here’s how to get minor scratches out. Put a drop of Brasso on a 100 percent cotton cloth, the softer the better. Apply the product to the lenses, let it dry completely, and then polish out the scratches.

Spilled paint

If you drop a paintbrush on your carpet, don’t panic. Pour some denatured alcohol onto a rag and scrub away the paint. Use a rag that is as close in color to the carpet, as the alcohol can transfer some of the rag’s color to the carpet.

Need some denatured alcohol? Buy it from Amazon here

Clean Hard-to-Reach Spots

If you own a hummingbird feeder or tall flower vase, you know how difficult it is to clean inside them. A toothbrush is perfect for cleaning those hard-to-reach places. So, when your old toothbrush has retired from duty in your mouth, give it a new job! Check out these helpful secret cleaning tips from the pros. If you’re using a glass jar, here’s how to remove a label from it.

Remove Crayon Marks From Walls

Have your walls been redecorated with some original crayon masterpieces? Don’t lose your cool. Just grab a rag, dip it in some baking soda and lightly scrub the marks. They will come off with a minimal amount of effort and give your young Picasso a fresh, new canvas.

How to Clean Off Sticker Residue

Reach for cooking oil next time you want to remove annoying sticker residue. Dab any type of kitchen cooking oil—olive, canola or sunflower—onto a paper towel. Then lay the paper towel over the residue that refuses to budge. Wait a few minutes while the oil works to dissolve the stubborn glue. Finally, remove the towel and rub away the sticker residue with another clean paper towel.

A degree of caution is necessary when using this cooking oil method. This is because many oils can stain absorbent materials like clothing. If you are concerned about leaving a stain, test a drop of your chosen oil on an inconspicuous part of the object. And proceed only if the oil leaves no trace to remove glue residue.

Gulf Wax for Stuck Drawers

Wooden drawers with wooden drawer slides often become sticky and difficult to open and close. Moisture is usually the culprit, making the wood swell or warp slightly and causing too much friction. A sticky drawer can be very frustrating, especially if you use it frequently.

Try this quick fix: Rub a block of Gulf Wax along the wooden drawer slides and along any other high-friction points on the drawers. Gulf Wax is a household paraffin wax, commonly used for canning and making candles. The wax will lubricate the moving parts and make the drawers operate much more smoothly.

Zip-Tie to the Rescue

If your bathroom sink gets clogged, don’t reach for chemicals as a bathroom sink cleaner. Instead, use a long zip tie. Cut several notches on the zip-tie’s end. It’ll hook the hair clog, allowing you to pull it out. Problem solved.

Get Rid of Bug Splatters

When you drive a long enough distance you’re going to end up with bug splatters on the front of your car. The bugs are impossible to avoid and if you leave them on your car for too long, they will harden and will become difficult to remove. Unfortunately, cleaning the bugs off of your car requires a little more than just a quick car wash. So instead of scrubbing and potentially damaging your car’s paint job, grab a can of cooking spray. Spray a bit onto the stubborn bug, wait a few seconds, then use a microfiber cloth to wipe the area clean. Be sure to wash the area clean with soap and water like you would when giving your vehicle a car wash.

Clean More Than Just Your Teeth!

One of the handy little tools you can use for cleaning around the house is an electric toothbrush. To clean up residue and splatters in the kitchen, use just a bit of baking soda under the spinning toothbrush head to quickly clean the metal sink and plastic dish drying rack. You can  also use the electric toothbrush with baking soda and a tiny bit of water to scrub grout in both the kitchen and bathroom. Of course, use a different one for your teeth!

Retrieve Items Dropped Down Drains

Small and sometimes expensive items are easily washed down the sink drain. And if the item you dropped down the drain is metal like a drywall screw or washer, a simple magnet might be just what you need to retrieve the item.

Try attaching a magnet that is small enough to fit down your drain on the end of a long string or small, flexible rod that will also fit down your drain. Lower the magnet and slowly pull it back up in order to ensure you don’t drop the item once again. If you’re still without your favorite piece of jewelry, try a stronger rare earth magnet and see if that does the trick.

Easy Super Glue Removal

Removing super glue is a hassle but if you act quickly you can reduce how long you’re stuck to yourself or the item you’re gluing. Soak the glue spot in warm soapy water as soon as possible to soften the glue, and then pat dry. Rub the glue with an acetone-based nail polish remover. And make sure the nail polish remover you use contains acetone. Acetone is the ingredient that will breakdown the adhesive agents of super glue. The glue will turn white and easily peel off.

Get Rid of Glue Squeeze-Out

When glue squeezes out on an inside corner like in a drawer or the inside of any woodworking project, using a chisel has the potential to cause more harm than good. This is because the sharp blade can easily mark-up and scratch the adjacent surface. The solution is a simple drinking straw. We used paper straws because they can be recycled, unlike plastic ones. The straw will conform to the shape of the corner and the excess glue will be collected inside the straw so it can’t get re-deposited anywhere else. Here are some more alternatives to plastic straws.

Tennis Ball Bottle Opener

The rubbery interior of a tennis ball makes it perfect for gripping stubborn twist-off bottle caps or sticky jar lids. And the soft exterior eases the strain on your hands when bearing down on the item you’re trying to open.

To make this handy bottle and jar opener, use a utility knife to cut a tennis ball in half. For safety, stabilize the tennis ball in a vise or clamp it to a work surface while cutting, so it doesn’t move around. With one tennis ball, you can create two openers—one for your kitchen and one for your home bar area.

Steam for Everyday Spills

The advantages of traditional oven cleaners are power and speed. But for many of us, the disadvantages outweigh the good, specifically, the corrosive chemicals and caustic fumes that this type of oven cleaning can produce.

A simple, more natural way for cleaning your oven is to place an oven-safe pot or bowl filled with water inside. Set your oven to 450 degrees for 20 to 60 minutes to loosen dirt and grease with the steam. Once your oven is cool, wipe off the condensation and the grease will come with it. If stubborn spots persist, scrub with a paste of baking soda and lemon or vinegar. This steam-cleaning option doesn’t take as long as pyrolytic cleaning and doesn’t produce smoke, either. Plus: If your kitchen sponge smells funky, here’s how to clean it.

Remove Permanent Marker on Laminate

Dab some cooking oil onto a paper towel and then lay the paper towel over the stain that refuses to budge. Wait a few minutes while the oil works to dissolve the stubborn stain. Finally, remove the towel and rub away the stain in circular motions (with some force) with another paper towel dipped in oil. When the stain is gone, wipe the area clean with soap and water.

Fix Wood Scratches

Simply rub a walnut over a scratch in wood several times. Then, with your fingers rub the scratched area. This will help the wood absorb the oil from the nut. Lastly, use a soft cloth to buff the area. Now the scratch is sealed and gone

How to Get Dents Out of Wood

Soak a washcloth in water and ring it out a bit so it’s not sopping wet. Put the damp washcloth on the affected area. The water will wick through the wood, and that’s fine. Now, with your iron on its highest setting, place it on the damp washcloth over the affected area, and make small movements back and forth and in circles. Press down firmly and continue until your washcloth is dry. It won’t take long to evaporate. At this point, the wood fibers are absorbing the water and should expand back to where they were originally. Continue this process and repeat by adding more water until the dents rise up to be flush with the rest of the material.

Clean a Cast Iron Skillet

To prevent rust and extend the life of a cast iron skillet, it’s best not to use soap to clean it. Instead, use about a tablespoon of coarse salt to scrub the pan after a meal. The salt breaks up bits of stuck food and residue on the skillet. Then toss the dirty salt in the trash, rinse the pan with hot water and dry it with a clean towel. To further protect a cast iron skillet, rub a few drops of vegetable oil over the entire cooking surface. Here’s how to restore a rusted cast-iron skillet.

Clothes Hanger Drain Cleaner

Hair clogs in the drain are inevitable. We’ve found that a wire coat hanger is the most effective tool for removing them. First, untwist the wire under the hook. This leaves the hook at one end and a miniature “auger” at the other end. Push the auger end down the drain up to the clog. Bend the free end 90 degrees, forming a handle. Crank the handle so the auger bores into the clog, allowing you to pull it out. Plus: these are the items you should never put down the sink.

Remove Hard-Water Buildup with a Lemon

To get rid of hard-water buildup on a faucet, try this natural solution: Cut a fresh lemon in half. With one of the halves, use your thumbs to gently open up the center. Then press the lemon onto the end of the faucet. Put a small plastic bag around the lemon and secure it around the faucet with a rubber band. Be sure that the rubber band it cinched tightly and that the lemon is around the end of the faucet. Leave the lemon in place for a few hours to allow the citric acid to work its magic.

After you remove the lemon, you may need to use a gentle scrubbing pad to wash off any loosened hard-water buildup. Then wipe the faucet with a damp cloth to remove any leftover lemon juice, and your faucet will be squeaky clean.

Clean Upholstery

Use this handy hint if there’s a funky smell lurking in your couch or upholstered chair: Sprinkle a generous amount of regular baking soda onto the fabric and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will help to release odors and break up some light stains in the fabric. After about 20 minutes, remove the baking soda—and the funky smell—with a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment for your large vacuum.

Splinter Extraction

Have you ever struggled to get a splinter out of a finger or toe? It can be a challenge, not to mention a pain. Spread a small amount of wood glue over the affected area and let dry completely. When you pull off the dried glue (gently and in the opposite direction of the splinter) it pulls out the splinter. By pulling the wood glue off in the opposite direction, the glue has a chance to pull the splinter out the way it went in. This tip is easy and most importantly pain-free. Did you know you can also use baking soda to remove a splinter?

Use Toothpaste to Clean Sneakers

All you need is an old toothbrush and a little toothpaste to learn how to clean sneakers and get your old sneakers looking like new. Non-gel white toothpaste works great for cleaning white-soled sneakers (colored toothpaste may stain sneakers). Apply toothpaste to an old toothbrush and then work the paste into the dirty spots. Leave the toothpaste on the shoes for about ten minutes, and then wipe it off with a damp towel. Repeat the process if necessary.

Important: The ingredients in toothpaste may vary from brand to brand, so make sure to try this method on a small unnoticeable spot on your sneakers before applying it to the rest of the shoe.

Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The post 28 Handy Hints for Removing Hard-to-Remove Stuff appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Steam for Everyday Spills

The advantages of traditional oven cleaners are power and speed. But for many of us, the disadvantages outweigh the good, specifically, the corrosive chemicals and caustic fumes that this type of oven cleaning can produce.

A simple, more natural way to clean your oven is to place an oven-safe pot or bowl filled with water inside. Set your oven to 450 degrees for 20 to 60 minutes to loosen dirt and grease with the steam. Once your oven is cool, wipe off the condensation and the grease will come with it. If stubborn spots persist, scrub with a paste of baking soda and lemon or vinegar.

This steam-cleaning option doesn’t take as long as pyrolytic cleaning and doesn’t produce smoke, either. It’s a win-win!

Have company coming to visit? Check out these 11 tips for speed cleaning your kitchen.

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