20 Surprising Uses for Everyday Household Items

If you’ve got an issue with slugs taking over your garden, a little beer can solve the problem. (Yes, really!) Put a used plastic container or cup in the area with the slugs and push it in so the rim is level with the ground. Fill the container halfway with beer and wait. The slugs will be attracted to the boozy beverage, fall in and drown.

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If you’ve got kids, then you’ve probably got a problem with cabinet doors slamming. A cheap way to muffle the noise is to take a used wine cork and cut off thin slices. Then, take the slices and either glue them or use two-sided tape to affix them to the cabinet’s frame. No more banging.

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An old cosmetic or paint brush can do double duty as an effective way to clean a dusty keyboard. Simply brush the detritus away and turn over to shake out any crumbs that are hidden inside.

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More than holding memories, old cassette cases can also hold and protect small items – including your expensive earbuds. If you’re travelling, stick the earbuds in the case and you won’t have to worry about them getting tangled, going missing or breaking.

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An old ice tray can be useful for many things – but the best trick we’ve heard of is to make infused butter. Just melt the butter, add your herb of choice and pour into the ice cube tray. Pop into the freezer and then you’ll always have tasty infused butter at the ready.

Apple cider vinegar has many household uses, but did you know that it can be used to help your relieve Fido’s itchy skin? According to Dogster, a 50-50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water will do the trick. Spray your dog’s coat on a regular basis and not only will any itching go away, but Fido’s coat will also be shiny.

This is just one of our fast and easy house cleaning hacks everyone should know. But it bears repeating here. If you’ve got a smelly garbage disposal, tossing a lemon or two into the disposal and running it for a few minutes will reduce odours significantly.

Cinnamon is a versatile spice, but it’s also a weapon against pesky ant problems. It’s not a lethal solution, but it will encourage them to stay away from certain areas. Simply sprinkle the cinnamon in problem areas and watch the ants head off elsewhere.

Juicing lemons or limes isn’t a ton of fun and it can be wasteful if you don’t use this trick. Take a halved lemon or lime and put it between your kitchen tongs and give it a good squeeze. As Lifehacker points out, squeezing it this way will yield much more juice than simple hand-squeezing.

If you’re travelling with just one suitcase, you’re going to be carrying your dirty clothes with the clean ones. After a few days, things are going to get a little stinky. What to do? Simple! Toss a couple of unused scented dryer sheets into your bag to help mask the odour. The same trick works to keep dresser drawers, wardrobes and trunks smelling nice, too.

Another travel problem is dirty shoes coming in contact with the contents of your suitcase. The simple solution? A shower cap! Just slip the shower cap over the bottom of your shoes and you won’t have to worry about anything getting soiled. You can use the same technique when bringing muddy shoes and boots into the house.

If you’ve got a pile of pans and don’t want to scratch them, you can use paper plates to keep sensitive surfaces separated. If you don’t have paper plates, you can also use paper towels or coffee filters.

That old tissue box can do double duty, too. You know all those plastic bags you have jammed into another plastic bag? Simply jam them into the old tissue box and now you’ve got a better-looking plastic bag dispenser.

Coffee filters (clean ones) can do more than just filter. They don’t produce lint, which means they’re great for cleaning things like windows and mirrors. Just use your regular cleaning products and wipe away the gunk without leaving anything behind.

One of the great mysteries of the universe is what happens to socks when they enter the dryer. Frequently, they enter as pairs and then suddenly you end up with an orphan. We’ll leave the mystery to the experts and instead give you a handy alternative use for that lone sock. You can use it to hold homemade potpourri. Simply take your favourite mix of dried petals and spices, fill up the sock and hang it in an out-of-the-way spot.

Cable ties are good for all sorts of things, but an ingenious use is to use one as a snake for a drain that’s clogged with hair. Take a large cable tie and, using scissors, make 45-degree cuts halfway through the tie. Give it a twist so the cuts open up a bit more. Now, slip the tie into the drain as far as you can. Twist the tie and then pull it out. Hair clogging the drain will be hooked and your drain will be good as new!

If you need to press a hem in a flash, use a hair straightener. Make sure it’s not too hot, though, as you could damage delicate fabrics. Test in a hidden area first.

If you have sweater pills and don’t have a fabric shaver handy, a disposable razor works wonders in a pinch. All you need is a light touch and a bit of patience and you’ll have pill-free clothes.

Fireplace matches are useful for lighting fires, tea lights in deep candle holders and even gas stoves if the igniter is on the blink. But what if you don’t have any fireplace matches? The solution is in your pantry! A piece of dry spaghetti will work just as well. Simply light an end of the spaghetti and use it as a long match. Make sure the flame is out by dunking it in water before tossing in your compost bin.

If you’ve got a rug with tangled fringes, you can use a wide-toothed comb to remove the tangles. Be sure to take your time if the tangles are really bad.