6 Uses for Home Goods You Already Own-From www.realsimple.com
6 New Uses for Home Goods You Already Own
Tissue Box as Grocery Bag HolderOriginal Purpose: Helping you through a weepie movie.Aha! Use: Storing plastic grocery bags under the kitchen sink. After Terms of Endearment has exhausted your supply of tissues, stuff the bags into the empty box.Reward: Restored order in your cabinets and bags ready for reuse.
Epsom Salt as Plant FertilizerOriginal Purpose: Easing sore muscles. Aha! Use: Fertilizing houseplants. Feed plants with a solution of two tablespoons of salt to a gallon of water once a month. Magnesium and sulfur from the salt make leaves grow bushier and encourage flowering plants to bloom more often. Reward: A greener indoor garden.
Hold a Nail in Place with a ClothespinOriginal Purpose: Keeping linens high and dry.Aha! Use: Holding a nail in place when you hang a picture. Clamp the nail in the clothespin and position it where you want the picture to hang. Steady the pin with your fingers while you tap the nail into the wall.Reward: Hitting the nail (and not your finger) on the head.
Make Champagne Bubbly Again with RaisinsOriginal Purpose: Making bran less boring.Aha! Use: Restoring bubbles to Champagne that has lost most of its fizz. Drop a raisin into the open bottle a few minutes before pouring and any last gasps of carbon dioxide that are left in the wine will stick to the raisin’s ridged surface, then release again as tiny bubbles.Reward: A little more sparkle to lift your spirits.
Prep for Ironing with Bobby PinsOriginal Purpose: Holding up your updo.Aha! Use: Prepping a pleated skirt for ironing. Slide a bobby pin onto each pleat at the hem to hold them all in place while you press. (Be sure to remove them afterward!)Reward: Pleats that are as neat as a pin.
Keep Sneakers Looking Brand-New with StarchOriginal Purpose: Stiffening a collar.Aha! Use: Preserving that brand-new look on sneakers. Repel dirt and grime by spraying a light coat of starch all over the interiors and exteriors of canvas or nylon sneakers before wearing them.Reward: Shoes that stand up to the elements.
From: www.realsimple.com February 20, 2008.
Tissue Box as Grocery Bag HolderOriginal Purpose: Helping you through a weepie movie.Aha! Use: Storing plastic grocery bags under the kitchen sink. After Terms of Endearment has exhausted your supply of tissues, stuff the bags into the empty box.Reward: Restored order in your cabinets and bags ready for reuse.
Epsom Salt as Plant FertilizerOriginal Purpose: Easing sore muscles. Aha! Use: Fertilizing houseplants. Feed plants with a solution of two tablespoons of salt to a gallon of water once a month. Magnesium and sulfur from the salt make leaves grow bushier and encourage flowering plants to bloom more often. Reward: A greener indoor garden.
Hold a Nail in Place with a ClothespinOriginal Purpose: Keeping linens high and dry.Aha! Use: Holding a nail in place when you hang a picture. Clamp the nail in the clothespin and position it where you want the picture to hang. Steady the pin with your fingers while you tap the nail into the wall.Reward: Hitting the nail (and not your finger) on the head.
Make Champagne Bubbly Again with RaisinsOriginal Purpose: Making bran less boring.Aha! Use: Restoring bubbles to Champagne that has lost most of its fizz. Drop a raisin into the open bottle a few minutes before pouring and any last gasps of carbon dioxide that are left in the wine will stick to the raisin’s ridged surface, then release again as tiny bubbles.Reward: A little more sparkle to lift your spirits.
Prep for Ironing with Bobby PinsOriginal Purpose: Holding up your updo.Aha! Use: Prepping a pleated skirt for ironing. Slide a bobby pin onto each pleat at the hem to hold them all in place while you press. (Be sure to remove them afterward!)Reward: Pleats that are as neat as a pin.
Keep Sneakers Looking Brand-New with StarchOriginal Purpose: Stiffening a collar.Aha! Use: Preserving that brand-new look on sneakers. Repel dirt and grime by spraying a light coat of starch all over the interiors and exteriors of canvas or nylon sneakers before wearing them.Reward: Shoes that stand up to the elements.
From: www.realsimple.com February 20, 2008.
