CREATIVE HACKS TO RE-PURPOSE EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

NOT EVERYONE LIKES BEER

To stop a slug infestation, fill a plate or small container with beer

and place it on the ground near the slugs, check back the

next day for the intoxicated critters.

A BANANA MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL AND LOOK BETTER

Before you throw away that banana peel, pull any tarnished

silver cutlery out of the cabinet. Chemicals present on the

inside of banana peels make it a great silver polish. Blend the

peels with a little water to create a paste which will bring back

the shine on your cutlery with just a bit of rubbing.

NATURE'S ORIGINAL FACE MASK

Nature’s original face mask, plain mustard (don’t go for a harsher

variety like Dijon or English mustard!) can smooth out your

skin and give you an oh-so-beautiful glow. Rub a thin layer of

plain mustard over your face (try a little on your arm first to make

sure you’re not allergic) and wash it off after a few minutes.

GOGGLE DEFOGGERS

Swimmers and scuba divers often find their goggles fogging

up part-way through their session. Avoid the fog by mixing

together one tablespoon of baby shampoo and two tablespoons

of water. Rub it on the lenses then only lightly rinse to

keep the goggles fog-free.

A POST-COLLEGE PARTY BAKING SESSION

Have a cheap bottle of vodka left-over from an old party?

Put this potato-product to use in your home in a creative way!

When making a pie crust, switch out the water with cold vodka.

The vodka makes dough easier to manage and will

evaporate during baking, resulting in a light and flaky crust!

CHEAP BUT EFFECTIVE PET SHAMPOO

Pet shampoos (anything pet-related, really) can get pretty pricey.

For a low-cost and effective solution made with household items,

mix together four cups of hydrogen peroxide, half a cup of

baking soda, and two teaspoons of dishwashing soap. Lather

Fido up then leave this homemade shampoo in for at least

10 minutes before rinsing, you’ll find your pet has

cleaner fur than ever.

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, TRY OTHER

THINGS THAN JUST LEMONADE

Humans naturally love the smell of citrus. The freshness of it

(and more importantly the citric acid it holds) should occupy

a welcome spot in our cleaning arsenals. Buzz up some lemon

peels in your sink’s garbage disposal to get rid of funky smells

or give an old cutting board a lemon rub down to sanitize

deep into the cracks.

KNOCKING OUT FOOT ODOUR

For persistent foot odour, turn to a creative household item

remedy in the form of tea. Boil four cups of water with three

plain black tea bags and soak your feet in the liquid

(once it cools off a bit) for 30 minutes to deodorize your feet.