When we buy products and items for our home, we expect them to last as long as possible. However, over time, no matter how carefully and nicely we treat these items–they can end up being worn out, dirty, and eventually rendered useless:
But with these household hacks and a little elbow grease and TLC, they don’t have to. Instead of dishing out more cash to replace these items, why not restore and refurbish them?
Here are 6 easy and clever household hacks to keep your favorite items in tip-top shape for as long as possible.
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1. Remove stains from cutting boards
Cutting and chopping boards can become yellowed and discolored over time. It doesn’t matter how many times you scrub it or run it through the dishwasher, the stains just won’t seem to budge.
Luckily, there’s a very easy solution to this, and all you’ll need are some lemons and a sunny day:
Squeeze half a lemon onto your cutting board and use the peel to spread the juice over the entire surface. Be sure to really scrub the juice into all the nooks and crannies. Then set the cutting board in the sun and let it sit for a few hours then rinse with soapy water.
Lemons and sunlight contain natural bleaching agents that will get rid of those cutting board stains–saving you money!
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2. Make your glassware sparkle
After years of use, our glassware can take on a “foggy” or “cloudy” look. The reason for this is that hard-water minerals are building up on the glass, or because your dishwasher has scratched them.
If they’re scratched, unfortunately, there’s little that can be done. But, if it’s just a bit of mineral build-up–there’s a household hack for that:
All you need to do is soak your glassware in white vinegar for approximately five minutes. The vinegar will completely dissolve the minerals leaving your glassware spotless again.
If there happen to be stubborn spots remaining, just give them a gentle scrub with a bit of baking soda then rinse.
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3. Restore your cast-iron skillet
Cast-iron skillets can last for years (decades even) if taken care of properly, and since they are expensive to buy, you want to make sure you get the most out of your purchase.
When cast-iron skillets become rusty and unappealing, it’s time to try this household hack:
Use fine steel wool to scrub the skillet free of all the rust. Then, wash with warm water and mild dish soap. Then dry the skillet and rub a small amount of cooking oil over the entire piece (including underneath and the handle). Finally, place the cast-iron skillet in your oven, upside-down, and on the top rack; heat for one hour at 350-degrees.
Once cooled, admire your new-looking skillet!
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4. Liven up your aluminum patio furniture
Patio furniture really takes a beating–it’s sitting outside in the elements, after all:
Aluminum patio furniture, in particular, can end up looking quite rough after a few seasons in the sun, rain, and snow. With this household hack, you can polish up those tables and chairs with an item that you might already have in your garage – car wax!
Use solid car wax, like Turtle Wax or another brand of your choice, and wax your furniture like you’d wax your car. It’s as simple as that!
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5. Re-fluff your bath towels with this household hack
Bath towels get used quite often, so it’s no surprise that they become worn down over time:
Chances are, your towels aren’t as fluffy and soft as they were before, but there’s a simple household hack to restore them.
Simply add a cup of white vinegar to your regular wash cycle, then add half a cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle.
The combination of these two ingredients will come together to lift all those stains and dirt, as well as fluff up the material back to its original condition.
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6. This household hack will restore your baking sheets
Remember when your baking sheet used to be shiny and silver? Now, it’s basically turned black and rusty with a bunch of burn marks all over it:
Tossing it in the trash and buying a new one might be your first thought, but if you have some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide around–you’re in luck.
Create a paste-like mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, then scrub your baking sheets with a sponge or rag. That dingy mess will come right off. This easy hack is great for cookie sheets, cake pans, and pizza pans.
With just a little bit of time and effort, you can save yourself money and the hassle of replacing these common household items. The best part? You probably have all the ‘tools’ you need for this household hack in your kitchen or laundry cupboard!