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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsVery Cheap, Very Useful, Easy To Get and Easy to Use..
(oh, you define the use for the object, if you desire...some kind of good use would be preferable...)
I will start with..............Duct Tape
....
good luck to all...........
Arkansas Granny
(31,484 posts)Vinegar!
http://vinegartips.com/
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)jmowreader
(50,453 posts)Hundreds of uses, and more every day.
clarice
(5,504 posts)Among them...massage oil, sewing machine oil, makeup remover, paint remover from hands.
clarice
(5,504 posts)Iggo
(47,489 posts)Wait.
That didn't come out right.
clarice
(5,504 posts)The Second Stone
(2,900 posts)making oil out of babies.
jmowreader
(50,453 posts)It's made to grease up babies. I guess that's so you have an excuse if you drop 'em. "Honest dear, I was being r-e-a-l gentle with Junior but I hugged him and he shot right out of my hands."
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)I used it to attach a pump to the top x-bar of my MTB.
mopinko
(69,809 posts)and a little cardboard.
PumpkinAle
(1,210 posts)Got to love it for so many things: cleans, deodorizes and can put out fires
ailsagirl
(22,842 posts)Don't buy Arm & Hammer because that company tests on animals-- at least, it used to. So I buy a generic brand, which is much cheaper anyway.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)cleaning out my cast iron skillets : apply dry and liberally to soiled pan (do not wet beforehand), let it set for a few minutes, work it into and around the pan using a dry cloth or papertowel. keep working it by rubbing and moving around, work out the tougher spots until they are gone, apply more baking soda if necessary, when everything has been absorbed and worked away, dump the soil into the trash and rinse with hot water. air dry the pan.
cleaning counters - sprinkle onto surface, wipe with cloth, sweep into trash, spray with vinegar and dry.
cat litter box - sprinkle bottom of clean, empty box with 2 tablespoons prior to adding fresh litter. completely change litter & wash box weekly.
windows - apply a bit to a damp sponge or cloth - wipe clean with a cloth.
for cleaning glass on ranges and oven doors. toaster ovens etc.
deoderant: apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on cotton pad, dab on a bit of baking soda and wipe under clean armpit. (it really works! no odor! am allergic to commercial deoderant & do not use personal hygeine products or food stuffs with "aluminum" or chemical ingredients.)
PumpkinAle
(1,210 posts)what a great idea.
I am also going to try your deodorant trick.
FYI: I just tried MOM deodorant - Milk of Magnesia - it too works - no smell at all! I bought it from the People's Pharmacy, but am going to try doing my own as it is a little pricey.
Tom_Foolery
(4,688 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)A vital houehold item.
clarice
(5,504 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)do you mean a twistie tie?
clarice
(5,504 posts)and you pull it through. It has little "teeth" in it that cinches it down tight.
What in the heck are they called?
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)hibbing
(10,076 posts)Peace
Iggo
(47,489 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)use it on sticking drawers or windows
clarice
(5,504 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)It fixes everything. One way or another.
rug
(82,333 posts)bluesbassman
(19,310 posts)Relatively cheap, light. and easy to work with.
Bike rack:
?t=1335631422
Storage bin rack:
Greenhouse:
Aerows
(39,961 posts)No home should be without one, and has 1001 uses.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)No home should be without one of those, either.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)lots of uses, easy to get and use..
ailsagirl
(22,842 posts)At first, of course, it's sticky, but once it sinks in a bit, your hands feel really smooth and hydrated.
PumpkinAle
(1,210 posts)put on some socks and it soaks in while you are sleeping.
ailsagirl
(22,842 posts)Phentex
(16,330 posts)they shall not pass!
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)They run about 2 to 3 cents a piece. They look like a tiny saw (dental floss as the saw) with a round space and a u shaped top..
You will find them in most stores where there is toothpaste..They are easy to use and you floss your teeth with them. So, you floss your teeth much easier then using regular floss, and for 9 to 10 dollars a year you can help prevent gum disease/loss of teeth...They are very effective and I had gum disease and started using them and the disease was greatly decreased in not removed. So, this is very important if you do not floss because flossing is easier this way. Keeping gums healthy has been linked to other diseases too
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)"plackers" are essential. use according to instructions. the dental tech always comments on how healthy by gums and teeth are.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)I have bought "Plackers" since I started flossing, I think that is over 15 years ago. My dentist says exactly the same thing about my gums. Also very few teeth problems..
IronLionZion
(45,262 posts)nature's miracle plant. Its skin healing properties are incredible.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/amazing-aloe-vera.htm
http://www.thebeautypixie.com/20-aloe-vera-uses-will-surprise/
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)$3.99
Maybe I will buy 2. One to use now, the other to grow into a giant plant. Yes, the gel comes from this desert (dry place) plant.
ailsagirl
(22,842 posts)Vinegar is amazing!!!
http://www.vinegar-home-remedies.com/
panader0
(25,816 posts)Contrary1
(12,629 posts)What can't they be used for?
Little Star
(17,055 posts)I often use them this way..
wood filler: One of the best and most popular uses is as a makeshift but sturdy wood filler. If you have stripped screw holes for hinges, drawer hardware or other spots, you can fill the hole with toothpicks. Dab glue on the end of each toothpick, then slide it in, and break off the end. Once the hole is tightly filled with toothpicks, re-drill the stripped hole.
50 Uses for Toothpicks: http://www.networx.com/article/50-uses-for-toothpicks
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Tears, buttons falling off etc
They literally keep me together
eShirl
(18,466 posts)Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)sarge43
(28,939 posts)Glorfindel
(9,706 posts)Incredibly useful, cheap, and easy to find.
UncleYoder
(233 posts)In my case it's free, it's plentiful.
The best thing to incorporate into your soil.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)mopinko
(69,809 posts)i built a farm from free landscape waste, courtesy of my many mexicano neighbors.
also use a lot of shredded paper for my chickens. the neighbors save it for me, tho i have a big shredder as well. we do deep litter, so twice a year i get a big pile of almost ready chicken manure.
eat a lot of weeds here, too. especially the girls.
surrealAmerican
(11,340 posts)It's crazy useful.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)How Useful? Very useful. They make my lawn and garden produce more vegetation.
How Easy To Get? Very easy. Like I said, most people are happy to give them to me; they're ubiquitous.
How Easy to Use? Very easy. You don't have to do anything but throw them on the ground and let them rot.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Disinfects, and rubbed into a painful joint, sometimes removes pain temporarily...many other uses too.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Do you dilute it at all? I need to clean my darn keyboard.
IronLionZion
(45,262 posts)any kind of all purpose cleaner would work on a keyboard. The benefit of alcohol is that it dries up very quickly. Don't use paper towels it will leave paper residue all over it.
The alcohol also helps dry out things that have fluid in them, whether they be electronics or your ears.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I love this thread!
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)QED
(2,730 posts)Here dogs can be rescued from the county for $20. Their use/value is immeasurable in terms of unconditional love. You open the door after a long and stressful day and work and here's this bundle of lovin' so happy to see you and shower you with kisses. All the crap from work melts away. He's your best friend.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,129 posts)Best $55 I ever spent was adopting little Keisha.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Well toothbrush is cheap and useful..so is a cheap cap on strong sun days...or...one of those cheap sombreros that people where.
Kali
(54,990 posts)baling wire, silicone sealer and jb weld.
greatest inventions of mankind.
libodem
(19,288 posts)Is it in a tube? I have something iron that I'd like to spot weld.
Kali
(54,990 posts)depends on how clean and the surface condition, plus how well you clamp or position things
libodem
(19,288 posts)On the seat that are not fully connected. It snags the back of your pants and can leave holes. I wanted something to fill in the gaps. This could be the answer I'm looking for. Even if it just covers the point that snags it might help.
Thank you, Kali.
[img][/img]
Kali
(54,990 posts)and the color (greyish black) will be pretty unobtrusive. if it seems too liquid for the job (runs and wont stay in place) there are also putty epoxies. they are the texture of playdough/modeling clay. usually in a tube shape with two colors. you cut off a small piece and knead it with your fingers until it is a uniform color before sticking it on whatever. read the instructions about surface prep and you should be good.
Cuz duct tape doesn't always fit the bill. My back yard is quite green right now. It looks so barren in that picture. I trimmed all the bushes quite severely last fall due to the 'Wooley worm' report of a heavy snow year. I didn't want the snow to snap the branches.
libodem
(19,288 posts)Wants a close up...
. [img][/img]
Here's my yard this morning:
. [img][/img]
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Excellent for cleaning (along with baking soda), safe insecticide, no kitchen complete without it.
libodem
(19,288 posts)I am currently plagued with an infestation of Elm Seed Bugs. They are new to this area. They swarm the outside of your house around doors and windows, and come in where they can. They are supposedly harmless because they don't bite. But they defecate. They defecate like a fly does in little brown specks.
I'm packing and cleaning for a move and my effing blinds are not just dusty. Those MF'ers have shit on both sides.
I'm having to wash the slats as well. Everybody who dislikes me here can be happy that in some ways my quite life has its own moments of hellishness. (spell check hates hellishness) Just telling you.
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Spray on them and on the surfaces they light on. They can't stand the acid. You have to keep after them. Vinegar evaporates quickly, Use apple cider; it's the strongest and the cheapest.
libodem
(19,288 posts)They seem to like the nooks & crannies of the siding. I think I'll clean the blinds with it. Perhaps it will discourage them from using my blinds as an outhouse.
I'm free associating here. For some reason I had a flashback to a man I used to work with. He used to say something about how some people would just shit the bed and wipe on your curtains. That's how these bugs are.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)so many uses, so cheap.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)It just wasn't listed before...not my fault..we need a complete list..
dr.strangelove
(4,851 posts)use them for lots of things.
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)Please? I'm bookmarking this thread for all the useful info.
dr.strangelove
(4,851 posts)but its up to you to decide what to use it for. Famous example are to get into locked cars, improve analog TV receoption and pick up baseballs that have gone down into sewers in NYC, but I have used them to cook, to reattach a muffler and hold a flashlight in place while I fixed a leaking hose in a car in the dark. I always keep a role of Duck tape, a hanger, screwdriver set, nylon rope and knife in the car and expect I will use each in dozens of ways before I die.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)They seem to be able to clean stuff that regular cleaners miss, and without harsh chemicals.
http://everydayhelpsforeverydaypeople.blogspot.com/2012/09/100-uses-of-magic-erasers.html
What Mr. Clean Magic Erasers Can Do:
remove dried paint from door hinges
remove tarnish from silver
remove mold & mildew from anything plastic
clean & polish gold jewelry
remove soap scum in the tub and shower
remove marks on walls
clean splatters inside the microwave
remove marks on vinyl siding
clean mirrors in the bathroom (keeps shower mirrors from fogging)
remove adhesive residue after removing stickers
remove waterline mark around the pool
remove hair dye from countertops & floors
clean light-colored suede
remove black scuff marks from baseboards (where the vacuum cleaner hits)
clean the outdoor side of window sills stained from leaves, dust and dirt
clean plastic coolers inside and out (
even dirty grimey ones used by men with greasy hands!)
remove rust spots & stains on countertop
remove cooked-on stains in pots and pans
remove soot off the walls near the fireplace
clean within the grooves of lawn ornaments
clean sticky/dusty range hood over the stove
remove nail polish spills or stains
clean airbake cookie sheets & bakeware (the kind with all those tiny grooves)
clean oven shelves & the grates on the grill
remove wet nose marks from pets on the windows (even car windows)
remove toothpaste splashes from bathroom mirrors
remove melted plastic on the side of the toaster oven
remove grimey green algae from cement (bird baths, steps, ponds, etc)
clean stained elbows from dirty work
remove green mildew from siding and gutters
remove paint spills & oversprays
remove toilet bowl rings (just cut a piece off & let it set in your toilet overnight)
remove built-up algae, water deposits, etc from ceramic flower pots
clean dish drainers that are gunked with lime and build-up
remove bird poop from concrete bird bath
remove coffee & tea stains that remain inside a mug, caraffe, thermos even after washing
clean the plastic agitator inside your washing machine
clean window screens (even when they are still in the window)
remove built-up baked on grease inside the deep fryer
clean inside the crock pot
remove melted plastic on a glass top stove
clean swimming pool steps
remove baked on brown spots on cookware
clean antiques & collectibles
polish collectible coins (UPDATE: coin experts recommend that you do NOT clean coins.)
clean & shine things up before you sell them in a yard sale
clean boat & outdoor furniture upholstery
clean vinyl striping on motorhomes, vans, boats
clean car tires, including white walls
clean pebbled surfaces like the outside of plastic coolers
remove pet & child vomit from carpet or clothing
remove scuff marks on motorcycle & ATV helmets
remove grass stains from shoes after mowing the lawn
remove scuff marks from hangers/shoes in the walk-in closet
clean oven door
remove pollen from patio furniture, cars, etc.
remove soap scum and gunk from around the bathroom faucets
remove hairspray build-up on countertops and vanities
remove soap scum inside porcelain & utility sinks
clean stained caulking along the kitchen sink & countertop
clean your bicycle, even the tires & rims
clean tile & grout
remove mildew from tents, vinyl canopies, awnings, fiberglass items
remove paint overspray that has dried
remove shoe marks from the kickplate of house doors & car doors
clean inside your car (along the handles, window ledge, arm rests, dashboard)
remove scuff marks and dirt from linoleum floors
remove stains on leather seats, purses, chairs, etc.
remove food stains inside plastic food containers
remove brake dust from tire rims
remove dirt and grime on a vinyl convertible top
remove nail polish from walls, carpets, wooden objects, plastic
remove soil or scuff marks from ceramic tile flooring
clean non-skid surfaces with tiny grooves (bathtub floors, refrigerator handles, pool steps, cooler lids)
clean & shine bathroom faucets & fixtures
remove magic marker, permanent marker, and ballpoint ink from virtually any surface
clean doll faces
clean textured handles on major appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator, stove)
remove fingerprints and dirt on light-colored kitchen cupboards
clean inside of the refrigerator
remove crayon marks from walls
remove dirt from plastic trash cans
remove dark paint on light-colored carpet
clean soap scum and oils from hot tub
clean a cars vinyl interior (gets into the tiny crinkles in the vinyl armrest, etc.)
clean white porch railings, columns & pillars
remove bugs from car windshield, grille, and bumper
remove paint scratches on your car from minor fender benders
remove rust and corrosion thats built-up on the outside of pipes (kitchen/bathroom)
clean & shine hubcaps
remove built-up grime on the car steering wheel
remove finger prints & build-up on the keyboard and mouse
remove oxidized paint from an old car
remove built-up gunk from vinyl seats
remove tar from your cars paint
remove set-in stains inside glass and plastic pitchers
remove scuff marks from the back of car seats (from kids shoes)
clean kids plastic toys
remove dirt and grime from athletic shoes and shoes with leather uppers
remove stains on the underside of the toilet seat
remove fingerprint & handprints from light-colored doors & walls
remove scuff marks from your patio furniture
Boxerfan
(2,531 posts)I saw it used on a camping trip years ago-when we were 50 miles from any service. It prevented a major infection issue from a gashed kneecap.
Since then I have used it for tooth infections & anytime I have it available for cleaning a wound.
It also dissolves decades or buildup from coins that have been buried in the ground . In that case use an old pot pie tin or similar & cover the coin/object & heat on low. Don't let the fluid evaporate. And don't use it for any coins that have numismatic value. But for seeing a date on a crudded up old coin it works wonders.
And it is CHEAP.
Also-it can be rocket fuel IIRC???
kwassa
(23,340 posts)basically, giant pliers that will open anything.
cloudbase
(5,487 posts)noamnety
(20,234 posts)remove rust, make stamps, use like that green foam for flower arranging, and my personal favorite because I had to use it once - removing a light bulb socket from a fixture if the light bulb mysteriously detached itself from your ceiling fan and floated around your living room and you swear you weren't high.
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)I have a broken light bulb fixture I need to remove too. How do you do that.
And.... are you high? Floating light bulbs?
noamnety
(20,234 posts)is to cut off the circuit breaker just in case the potato gets any ideas. Then you just jam the raw spud onto the light bulb thingie. It sticks on like the missing light bulb, and once you got the spud handle, you can turn it to unscrew it.
That was the weirdest thing, seriously. I was sitting on the couch in the living room and we had the ceiling fan with 4 lights. One of them ever so gently let go of its metal part, and because it was hot it didn't just drop and smash, it floated around like a little dirigible. I saw there staring at it in disbelief. No witnesses, I'm sure the bulb timed it that way just to fuck with me.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Stuart G
(38,365 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)crim son
(27,462 posts)Okay, it isn't always cheap but it's easy to use and, to my mind, indispensable.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Will get rid of all smudges and filth on a mirror...almost instantly. Yesterday I tried this out on my bathroom mirror, and I saw the clearest cleanest bathroom mirror I can remember. Just let the flowing water from the faucet fall on a wash cloth, now it is wet and hot, then take the hot wet wash cloth and polish the mirror. Take some toilet paper and dry the mirror. Throw the toilet paper into the toilet and flush the toilet. Let the wash cloth dry...repeat when necessary...
enigmatic
(15,021 posts)av8rdave
(10,569 posts)Never even heard of it until I moved to Ohio. It was originally sold as a balm for teats and udders, but it has many more uses. It's a great antiseptic, as well as a drawing salve. Got a splinter? Slather some woolfat on, and it'll be out in no time. Dry skin? Woolfat. Poison ivy? Woolfat. Portfolio underperforming the market? You guessed it!
madamesilverspurs
(15,784 posts)1. Orajel (or generic) -- very handy to take the itch out of bug bites so kids don't scratch
2. Noodles -- the foam rubber ones for swimming. All kinds of uses; cut to length, stores cords for electronics, not easy to lose; cut to length, slit down one side, slip over a clothes rod to keep items from tangling (I do this in my mini-van to keep my fishing poles separate). A piece of noodle keeps shopping bag handles from gouging the palm of your hand. Slit a piece and slip it on the top of the laptop screen to keep notes handy.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)antiquie
(4,299 posts)Tweezers can pick up, pluck out, and help repair small things. My most used tool as my fingers age.
Ice is one of my most used emergency first aids.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)I hadn't looked at this for awhile, but ice is so simple, and does a lot. for lots of things..
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)Very cheap. Yes, it is free. Yet it is very valuable to have one.
Very useful. Yes, there are a ton of great resources at the library.
Easy to get. Yes, it just takes a couple of minutes.
Easy to use. You hand your library card to the nice librarian and you can take out wonderful books and films. All free as long as you return your items on time.
jmowreader
(50,453 posts)They're only a couple bucks apiece. They're available at Amazon, sporting goods stores and probably Walmart. They are useful anywhere an inch-thick hard rubber disc would come in handy.
sendero
(28,552 posts).... vinegar, baking soda, bleach and hydrogen peroxide - all tremendously useful household chemicals.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Mine is very old, but it still works.....
It will shine up spoons, forks, faucets, old tools, but it works very slow. No chemicals, fancy tools, or tricky stuff to pour on or wait to use. Nothing really to buy..I never used it before, but I tried it on a faucet and a marble sink top, and it got the dirt and grime out......Now, no one will sell this to you, and I cannot, cause you got some around the house right now.
... Let us say you have some sort of mark on your faucet. No need to take out the cleaner or bleach.. Turn on the hot water, get the water as warm as you like, not too hot just hot enough, and take the water, and rub the water with your ...are you ready??? your finger tips, on the mark, and it will come out yes, it may take some time, but your finger tips with plain water, will shine up that faucet better than bleach...perhaps a little soap on your finger tips, if you desire, and lots of rubbing [the rubbing does not have to be very hard] and the stain or mark is removed. take a wash cloth, and clean the soap and water up..and you are done.
Finger tips have grooves that are small and effective, and the soap, (a bar of soap is very cheap) on your tips is enough with the water. The friction of the water on something back and forth, is a very very powerful cleaner. Water friction will cut through anything. Water on your tips of fingers, moving over a surface, will shine up anything. Oh, you don't think so. try it. Now, here is the catch..........you don't have to buy anything....maybe some soap, maybe not....These tools are easy to use...very handy...and you got them in a place where you will not forget... No one has told you about this tool cause no one can make any money out water from your faucet, and your finger tips... Try it on some tarnished spoons. Run the water over it, and shine it with your finger tips.. That spoon will look like new.........Yes, really..but it may take longer than you expect, but this is chemical free, stink free, and about as cheap as you can get.....Yes, it sounds crazy...but...no one makes one cent. off of these special tools. used with water.and it works...try it...
Oh, one more thing..these tools come clean very easily..as easy as washing your hands......
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Did something to my right foot. About an inch above my third toe from the big toe. I took one of those huge gauze pads, (4 x 4 inches) soaked it in Aloe Vera Gel, put the pad on the spot that hurt, covered that and within a couple of days the pain in the foot became much less. (I had to reapply the gel twice each day).. I did that a few times, and the pain subsided to a point where I stopped thinking about it. Yes, occasionally it bothers me, but there is no doubt that the gel promoted healing. The gel is an ancient healing technique that can heal. It was discovered by Native Americans living in the southwest and in Mexico. Aloe grows as a weed down there, and is available to all for almost no cost. I got a one gallon jug of the stuff at that leading cheap very huge retain chain..(don't want to mention it..people don't like it here..) for about 7 to 8 bucks. Yes, reduces pain, heals rashes, and promotes healing of body parts. Someone said you can drink it, (it is not poisonous)..but I do not know. Since it is really a weed, no one has got a patent on it, and it is cheap. Yes, if you have a good sun exposure, you can grow them in a window that gets lots of sun...Good Luck to all...
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)It works well as a jewelry polisher, especially diamonds.
Use with a soft cloth to clean and shine shoes.
Also, use it as a filler for small holes when removing picture hooks from the wall.
Works as a cover for small smudges or marks on a wall.
Apply to the inside of goggles to prevent fogging. Same principle also works for bathroom mirrors.
...and a whole bunch more!