14 Tricks for Cleaning with Household Staples

Make spring cleaning easy (and maybe even fun) with these handy ideas using items you already have in your house.

BAKING SODA:
As the reigning champ of being able to clean almost anything, baking soda is great for eliminating odors, as a gentle scrubber and as a stain remover.

ANTACID:
Not only does it help with your post chili cook-off stomach, but it makes short work of cleaning toilets and jewelry.

DRYER SHEETS:
They’ve mastered static cling; now put them to use picking up hairs around the house and fuzz on your dashboard.

COCA-COLA:
Remember that time you got a little distracted making dinner, and now the remains of your meal seem permanently burned onto your pan? Trying pouring a Coke into it and letting it soak an hour. You’ll be amazed by the results.

WD-40:
It’s great for pesky squeaks, and also for removing glue and shining stainless steel.

VINEGAR:
It stinks, but it works! This versatile cleaning agent can be used in almost every room of the house. Try spraying some on weeds in lieu of harsh chemicals.

TOOTHPASTE:
Fights cavities, shines chrome and cleans a variety of surfaces. You can also use one with baking soda in it to polish your silver.

BANANA PEELS:
This might seem strange, but rubbing the inside of a peel on leather furniture or shoes helps remove scuffs!

WHITE BREAD:
It might not be the healthiest of breads, but it’s great for removing smudges and fingerprints from wallpaper.

PILLOW CASES:
Got an old pillow case lying around? Use it to clean your ceiling fan! Just slip it over the blade, gently press and pull off while the dust falls inside instead of all over the place.

WHITE SHAVING CREAM:
Fun to play with and also a smart solution for cleaning mirrors and keeping them fog free.

ICE CUBES:
Break up the grease and clean out your disposal with a handful of ice cubes. Throw in a few lemon or lime peels for some added odor protection.

KETCHUP:
Shine up your brass belongings with a dab of ketchup, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

TENNIS BALLS:
A brand new tennis ball will not only help you serve like a pro, but will also take out the smudges left on vinyl and tile. Score!