When it comes to utility, not all grocery items are created equal.
If value can be defined by versatility then, some grocery items offer a lot more bang for your buck than others.
Sure, everybody knows about the incredible and legendary versatility of duct tape. Heck, duct tape can even fix your personal finances.
Savvy shoppers often take advantage of highly versatile grocery products too. With that in mind, here are the six most valuable products in your typical supermarket – along with a partial list of their many uses.
Just keep in mind that I haven’t personally verified all of these tips — so, please, use them at your own risk.
1. Vinegar
When it comes to grocery store products, vinegar is liquid gold. People have been using it for ages — and not just for cooking and preserving foods. Vinegar’s versatility is virtually unmatched; there are literally hundreds of potential applications. Aside from its primary applications, here is just a small sample of all the other things vinegar can be used for:
1. Disinfect wood cutting boards
2. Soothe a sore throat; use 1 tsp of vinegar per glass of water, then gargle
3. Fight dandruff; after shampooing, rinse hair with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water
4. Remove warts; apply daily a 50/50 solution of cider vinegar and glycerin until they’re gone
5. Cure an upset stomach; drink 2 tsp apple cider vinegar in one cup of water
6. Polish chrome
7. Keep boiled eggs from cracking; add 2 tbsp to water before boiling
8. Clean deposits from fish tanks
9. Remove urine stains from carpet
10. Keep fleas off dogs; add a little vinegar to the dog’s drinking water
11. Keep car windows from frosting up; use a solution of 3 oz. vinegar to 1 oz. water
12. Clean dentures; soak overnight in vinegar and then brush
13. Get rid of lint in clothes; add 0.5 cup vinegar to rinse cycle
14. Remove grease from suede
15. Kill grass on sidewalks and driveways
16. Make wool blankets softer; add 2 cups distilled vinegar to rinse cycle
17. Remove skunk odor from a dog; rub fur with full strength vinegar and rinse
18. Freshen wilted vegetables; soak them in 1 tbsp vinegar and a cup of water
19. Dissolve mineral deposits in drip coffee makers
20. Deodorize drains; pour a cup down the drain once a week, let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse
21. Use as a replacement for a lemon; 0.25 tsp vinegar substitutes for 1 tsp of lemon juice
22. Make rice fluffier; add 1 tsp of vinegar to water when it boils
23. Prevent grease build-up in ovens; wipe oven with cleaning rag soaked in distilled vinegar and water
24. Kill germs; mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
25. Unclog shower heads; place in a pot with 50-50 solution of vinegar and water, bring it to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes
26. Shine patent leather
27. Make propane lantern wicks burn longer/brighter; soak them in vinegar for 3 hours, let dry
28. Act as an an air freshener
29. Soften paint brushes; soak in hot vinegar then rinse with soapy water
30. Remove bumper stickers and decals; simply cover them with vinegar-soaked cloth for several minutes
31. Prolong the life of fresh-cut flowers; use 2 tbsp of vinegar and 3 tbsp of sugar per quart of warm water
2. Baking Soda
Aside from its primary use as a baking agent, baking soda is another grocery item with an almost countless number of applications. For example, baking soda can be used to:
1. Deodorize your refrigerator; put an open box in the fridge
2. Remove odors from shoes
3. Keep drains clean and free-flowing; use 4 tablespoons of soda and flush with hot water
4. Keep your underarms smelling fresh
5. Soften your skin
6. Relieve diaper rash
7. Relieve sunburn; apply a paste of soda and water
8. Extinguish small grease and electrical fires
9. Polish silverware
10. Clean your refrigerator. (Or your neighbors, for that matter.)
11. Remove cat box odors; cover the bottom of the box with soda, then top with kitty litter
12. Clean and remove stale odors from thermos bottles and coolers
13. Make dried beans more digestible by soaking them in a solution of baking soda and water
14. Make wild game taste less, well, “gamey”
15. Remove oil and grease stains from laundry; add baking soda to the wash water
16. Remove stains from marble, Formica or plastic surfaces; apply a paste of soda and water
17. Remove grease from garage floors
18. Clean vegetables and fruit; sprinkle some in water, then soak and rinse
19. Wash garbage cans
20. Clean and remove odors from your dishwasher; just run it with soda instead of soap
21. Inhibit smoldering butts in ashtrays
22. Clean shower curtains
23. Keep teeth or dentures clean. (Preferably, yours.)
24. Relieve indigestion and heartburn; drink 0.5 tsp of soda in 4 oz of water
25. Use as a mouthwash and/or relieve canker sore pain; gargle with 0.5 tsp of soda in 4 oz of water
26. Remove baked-on food from pots and pans; soak in soda and water for 15 minutes
27. Relieve bee sting pain
28. Make homemade Play Dough; combine 1.25 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch
29. Remove feathers more easily when scalding a chicken; just add to the water
30. As a windshield water repellent
31. Clean canvas handbags
32. Shine chrome and stainless steel
3. WD-40
You can’t get a gallon of milk at your local Home Depot, but you can often find WD-40 in a grocery store! WD-40 was originally developed as a water repellent and corrosion preventer, but today the manufacturer claims the product has more than 2000 uses. But, Len, if there are 2000 uses why didn’t you rank it number one? Well, the answer is two-fold: 1) because most of those 2000 uses are just variations of the same basic applications; 2) this is my list and I’ll do as I want. (So there.)
Here are 20 of the more arcane ones:
1. Removes road tar and grime from cars
2. Loosens stuck zippers
3. Untangles jewelry chains
4. Keeps pigeons off the balcony. (Apparently, they hate the smell.)
5. Lubricates prosthetic limbs
6. Protects silver from tarnishing
7. Keeps ceramic and terra-cotta garden pots from oxidizing
8. Keeps scissors working smoothly
9. Lubricates squeaky home and vehicle door hinges
10. Lubricates gear shifts and deck levers on riding mowers
11. Eliminates squeaks from kids’ swings
12. Makes home windows easier to open. (And it’s safer than a hammer!)
13. Helps stubborn umbrellas to open and close
14. Restores and cleans vehicle roof racks
15. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
16. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles
17. Removes residual duct tape adhesive
18. Cleans bugs off of grills and bumpers
19. Displaces the moisture and allows a car to start when sprayed on the distributor cap
20. Removes black scuff marks from floors
4. Coca-Cola
Wisebread highlighted a whole bunch of clever uses for Coke or Pepsi. Here are some of the more interesting ones:
1. Remove grease and blood stains from clothing and fabric
2. Clean oil stains from a garage floor
3. Remove rust. (My mom said she used to do this as a kid do get corrosion off her bike — I guess she didn’t have any WD-40!)
4. Loosen a rusty bolt. (Another WD-40 trick. Am I the only one here beginning to think Coke is a main ingredient in that stuff?)
5. Tenderize and add extra flavor to a pot roast. (Okay. Let’s see WD-40 do this!)
6. Kill slugs and snails
7. Help a lawn become lush and green
8. Prevent an asthma attack
9. Defrost a frozen windshield. (I prefer using hot coffee — black — but that’s just me.)
10. Clean burnt pans
11. Neutralize a jellyfish sting
12. Clean car battery terminals.(I’ve done this before. It works!)
13. Entertain the kids by creating an exploding fountain. (With the help of a pack of Mentos – and a professional.)
14. Make your hair curly
15. Age documents and photos
16. Clean tile grout
17. Make better compost. (The the acidity and sugar feeds microorganisms.)
18. Remove gum from hair
19. Remove stains from vitreous china
20. Clear up swimming pool water
21. Deodorize laundry
22. Remove dye from hair by pouring Diet Coke over it
23. Remove marker stains from carpet
5. Fabric Softener Sheets
Most people use fabric sheets to make clothes soft and remove static cling. But did you know that these versatile sheets can also:
1. Repel mice and ants
2. Act as a mosquito, bee and yellow jacket repellent; tie one through a belt loop
3. Prevent dust from settling on computer monitors
4. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors
5. Eliminate wastebasket odors; just place them in the bottom
6. Prevent dust from settling on Venetian blinds; wipe them down and no more dust
7. Deodorize stinky shoes
8. Keep stored tents and sleeping bags smelling fresh
9. Prevent musty suitcases
10. Collect cat hair. (No word on whether it works on dog hair too.)
11. Act as a car or room air freshener
12. Prevent thread from tangling; run a threaded needle through a sheet before sewing
13. Collect sawdust resulting from drilling or sandpapering
14. Eliminate odors from dirty laundry; place a sheet at the bottom of a hamper
15. Remove splattered bugs from cars; scrub with a wet sheet
16. Clean baked-on food from pans; put a sheet in pan, fill with water and let sit overnight. Sponge clean.
6. Paper Towels
Those of you who have seen my great paper towel test know that some paper towels are better than others when it comes to sopping up spills — but paper towels can also:
1. Act as a quick-and-dirty lumbar pillow. (You’ll need to use the whole roll, of course.)
2. Remove silk from fresh corn; just run a damp paper towel across the ear
3. Act as a coffee filter. (I’ve done this before in a pinch and it works well.)
4. Keep lettuce fresh longer; wrap around lettuce head to soak up excess moisture. (I’ve done this for years.)
5. Prevent frozen bread from getting soggy as it thaws; simply place a paper towel in the bag before freezing
6. Provide temporary sunburn relief; lay a damp towel across affected skin
7. Clean your can opener; close the opener over a paper towel edge and turn the crank
8. Keep cast iron pots rust-free; placed in clean pots, they’ll absorb moisture
9. Remove crayon from chalk boards; place a paper towel over wax, then press a warm iron over towel
10. Remove candle wax from carpet and upholstery(Use the same method as above.)
11. Sprout seeds; place a few seeds between damp towels, then keep damp for two weeks
12. Act as a cheap place mat
13. Strain fat from broth; place a paper towel in colander and pour the broth through it
14. Protect Christmas tree ornaments during storage
15. Prevent bacon splatter in a microwave oven
16. Remove residual grease from sewing machines; run the first few stitches through the towel
Well, that’s it. Remember, these are only partial lists for each of these products.
If you have any favorite special applications for any of these items, don’t be shy! Share them with the rest of us!
Photo Credit: Tupolen und seine Kamera
Bill Verde says
Penzo,
Great list. This would be a fun present to give at a wedding shower or for a housewarming–along with your list of course.
Good ideas!
Little House says
I didn’t know that about Coca-Cola. Good to know. I’d also like to add Borax, you can use it for many things other than a laundry booster, especially if you mix it with baking soda and / or vinegar. It often is the base for many kinds of make-it-yourself soaps and cleansers.
David @ VapeHabitat says
WD-40 is my #1 favorite product)) I am proud car owner and it is handy in bunch of situations
Jenna says
Baking soda + vinegar = hours of fun while hanging out with small kids.
Sandy L says
Well, since you put WD40 on the list, duct tape has got to be up there as well.
Vinegar is definitely #1 on my list.
Douglas says
Fabric softener sheets keep more than bugs away. Deer tend to munch things in the garden, but most of them dont like the smell of the dryer sheets. I cut 1 cm. strips off a sheet and tie them in the plants at nose height for the deer. Works for us so far. In smaller plants, somewhere near the top seems to work.
Joe Plemon says
Len,
Great list, but I have a problem. My wife made me print it out so she could stick it on the refrigerator, but, because the list is bigger than my fridge, I may need to go shopping for a new one. Maybe I can use a super small font and buy my wife a magnifying glass instead. What do you think?
Squirrelers says
Great list. The list of uses for Coca-Cola should give people ample reason to think twice before guzzling a can. If something cleans tile grout, do we want to be regularly drinking it?
Admittedly, I have had more than enough over the years and am now trying to cut it out of my diet. Saves money too.
I’ll keep that list handy. I frequently talk about water being a much better substitute for colas, but this reinforces my thinking. I’ll save this one. Very good post, very useful.
andrew says
That’s kind of a silly reason not to drink come since vinegar and baking soda are on the list. They are both just as acidic and caustic as Coke.
The_Don125 says
Great list!
I do have one criticism though. WD-40 is a water displacer (hence the name, “Water Displacment – 40th Attempt”), not a lubricant. For short-term use as a lubricant, yes, it’ll work, but if you search “bicycle wd-40” (without the quotes) in your favorite search engine, you’ll find numerous articles on why WD-40 is not intended as a lubricant, especially not for a bicycle.
Save lubrication for oils actually intended for lubrication, and your gadgets perform considerably better, for longer.
Chris says
I’d be careful to recommend hot coffee to defrost a windshield (even in jest). You could crack the windshield easily by doing that…
mikeyo says
Baking soda as a refrigerator deodorant is a myth that arm & hammer is trying to get us to believe. It doesn’t work. Just clean your refrigerator every once in a while.
Brian says
Just about everything that a paper towel can do, a wash clothe or other towel can do just as well and when you’re through, you can toss it in the wash and re-use it.
atropos says
You got close, but you almost hit an even better solution right on the nose.
You mentioned using paper towels as coffee strainers, but it should be the other way around.
You’ll often find more coffee strainers per pack than you would paper towels for a fraction of the cost, and of course the strainers come in less packaging.
Sorry if someone already mentioned this.
Katie says
Please remove douching with vinegar from the list. Doctors advise against it.
Barb Friedberg says
Who needs Heloise, when there’s LEN PENZO! I have to go against all of my green habits and print this one out. Barb
Ginny says
I’m told that dryer sheets rubbed on a dog who is afraid of thunderstorms will help soothe him because it counteracts the static electricity in the air. Although it makes sense, I haven’t used it yet. (I do know that, like on a dog, the hair on my arms and legs tries to stand up when thunderstorms are imminent. Thankfully, the hairs are blonde, fine and invisible)
Alice says
As a kid, I only knew baking soda as “that medication for my stomach”. But now between baking soda, washing soda and alcohol vinegar I clear my whole house!
I’m allergic to most cleaning products you buy in stores so I make my own… laundry detergent, general floor cleaning product, and even a paste of baking soda and water to rub some stains that just won’t go (for instance when I clean the oven).
Someone mentioned Borax, I find most of the things it can be used for, substituting baking soda works just as well. I still use Borax in my laundry detergent though because I didn’t dare meddling with the recipe.
putting some baking soda down a clogged pipe and adding alcohol vinegar (preferably warm) just cleans it up like a charm, too! And it’s always funny to watch.
Jeremy Day says
Hi Len,
Great website you got here with some great ideas! I’m going to keep reading all the most popular ones and see what other fun stuff you got.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Michelle says
I agree that vinegar is great! I use it in a spray bottle to clean up after my rabbits. As rabbits are herbivores and their urine is alkaline, the acidity of the vinegar makes it very effective in cleaning the linoleum under their playpen. I soak the litter boxes in it to remove any staining.
John says
“(Another WD-40 trick. Am I the only one here beginning to think Coke is a main ingredient in that stuff?)”
Ever think perhaps WD-40 is a main ingredient in Coke?
James says
this is an awesome list. i can tell you put lots of time into this. i have heard some weird things about baking soda and vinegar but your list takes the cake.
Kimberly says
Hmm, very interesting using fabric softener sheets as bug repellent. I’ll have to give it a try!
Susan Tiner says
Good list. Paper towels keep other veggies fresh too, not just lettuce. And what about using vinegar to make salad dressing?
Mary says
She’s right! I wrap carrots, celery, peppers, etc in paper towels before I put in a plastic bag.
Does anyone else think that maybe Coca-Cola is not something we should be putting in our bodies? Imagine what it does to your insides. I’m glad I don’t drink soft drinks!
Vinegar and baking soda together works even better in the drain.
Richard says
Wow!!
I am amazed at what some of these products can be used for….
I re-use plastic packaging as plant pots, and plastic bags act as mini green houses..
Harry Larsen says
Plastic packaging used for plants: I’ve used milk jugs for larger plants (sunlight degrades it quickly), cottage cheese tubs for medium plants (cold weather makes them brittle), and yogurt containers for seedlings. if you’ve got a cold frame, these containers survive longer.
Harry Larsen says
forgot to say that I cut the milk jugs either in half, or remove about 3/4 of the top so the ‘handle’ stay intact.
Jennifer Barry says
I knew a lot of these but not many for fabric softener sheets because I don’t use them at all. I’ve used cola to take dead bugs off a windshield before, although you don’t want to get it on your paint! I like using vinegar + baking soda to help clean out the garbage disposal.
atropos says
I also meant to mention that Pigeons, like the vast majority of birds, don’t have a developed sense of smell.
So I’m doubting it’s the actual smell of WD-40 that’s making them leave the balcony.
I’m really done now!
atropos says
They do a pretty decent job, actually! Nothing to clean up a massive spill with; about on par with the C-fold towels you find in public restrooms.
To give credit where credit is due… It was an old coworker of mine who sent me a list of things to do with coffee filters… Enjoy! 😉
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome… Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale..
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters…
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.
Len Penzo says
Beautiful! Absolutely love #11 and #13. Thanks for sharing. (It looks like I should have titled my article The 7 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products Known to Man!)
yami says
another use for distilled vinegar is fabric softener if you happen to be prone to allergies or sensitive to fragrances. it works just as well as downy or such and is cheaper too. measure it out the same as you would any other fabric softener and your done. just use the white distilled vinegar. and no it doesn’t leave your clothes smelling like apple cider. at least i don’t think it would unless you used vinegar made from apple cider.
yami says
just use the white distilled vinegar. and no it doesn’t leave your clothes smelling like apple cider. at least i don’t think it would unless you used vinegar made from apple cider.
MikeZ says
Actually I believe Mikeyo was correct. Baking Soda is lousy as a refrigerator deodorant.
Melissa says
OK- Here is a home remedy we used as kids and I use now as a mommy… Make a paste with baking soda and water and use to sooth bee stings, wasp bites or any bug bite that is really painful. Works I swear. Also, when we were out of tooth paste we would put a little bit of baking soda in the palm of our hand and dab with water and make a paste to brush our teeth with. I do not know if dentist would recommend it but, it was a last ditch effort. Love the lists. I am planning on stepping up my use of some of these things..
Melissa
Rosario says
Great list! Vinegar’s excellent for removing hard water deposits from showers and bathtubs. And in my house, we drink a bit of Coke for upset stomachs. A damp paper towel can also be used to pick up miniscule and almost invisible shards of broken glass on a tile floor (that sometimes can get left behind even after vacuuming).
Rusty says
Apple cider vinegar can stop acid reflux in its tracks (see no. 5). I mix it in a small juice glass with grape juice and drink it before bedtime or as acid reflux symptoms occur. (I was able to get off presription meds with this.) And when you get those pesky fruit flies, pour about a half inch of apple cider vinegar in a jar (with straight sides) like a pickle or jelly jar and add a single drop of dishes liquid. Fruit flies are attracted to the apple cider vinegar and drown when they light on the solution. I place a jar wherever they appear, especially near apples or the kitchen sink.
Len Penzo says
Hey, now those are some clever tips! Thanks, Rusty.
Jim daugherty says
2 most important things to remember :
1. duct tape- if it does move and shouldnt
2. wd-40 if it doesnt move and should !!!!
Len Penzo says
Sounds like some really great advice for parents with young kids. 😉
Beatriz says
Hello Len, I just discovered your blog–it’s great and you’re funny! Love this list but you forgot to
add the uses you get from the cardboard roll inside the paper towels–such as using it to vacuum beneath
the refrigerator, use it as a play sword with kids, cut it up and use it as a cat toy, use it to keep fragile things from shifting in packages, etc. I liked the lumbar pillow idea–I’ve used that one!
Len Penzo says
Hi, Beatriz! Welcome aboard!
In my house we call that cardboard roll a “doot doot.”
My dad gave it that name because when I was a kid he used to entertain me and my sister by marching around the house with it and repeatedly saying “doot doot.” Then he’d give it to the dog and the dog would play with it and then chew it up. (And then we’d get to clean it up.) Good times. 😁
Shine says
Great list. Every household should have this list. I personally use vinegar for a lot of stuff.
blog says
great lists. i also use vinegar for fabric softener.
Schticky says
I’ve made good use of baking soda and vinegar for both cleaning and heartburn. I never thought about all the uses of the fabric softener sheets. Thank you!
Michael K of RP CA says
Just a quick note to say that contrary to the above, WD-40 should NOT be used to lubricate wheels on things like skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, etc. WD-40 is silicon-based and will damage wheel bearings and similar constructs. Instead, use bicycle oil, chain grease, or even vegetable oil, but for these kinds of objects, never WD-40.
Seth says
Here is another one for Coke. If your battery terminal is corroded, soaking it in Coke will dissolve the corrosion. I know there are faster ways to get corrosion off battery terminals, but I also know from personal experience it works.
Randy says
I just found your blog and I can’t stop reading. Amazing. Thank you.
Jim says
I agree. Vinegar should be number one. Just so many uses. From salads to disinfecting surfaces. I buy it all the time.
Katie says
Another one for paper towels is hair curlers. My mom would roll up a sheet and wrap a strip of hair around it then tie it off at the top. They’re softer to sleep on than normal curlers too.
Matt says
Take a dryer sheet and tear it into four strips. Place the strips in your brass tumbler (for reloading bullets), along with the corn or walnut media, and run the tumbler as you normally would. The dryer sheet strips collect a lot of the grime off of the brass, thereby keeping the corn/walnut media cleaner and useable for a longer period of time. The strips also aid in polishing the brass. Remove the old strips and replace with four new strips each time you tumble brass.
Mike says
Great list and I would add rubbing alcohol to it. Very cheap and lots of uses like cleaning. Also I use it to unfreeze car locks and put in with windshield washing fluid…..it won’t freeze like water.
Len Penzo says
Great tip, Mike! Thanks.
carlos says
I am literally hooked on to your blog now. I’ve been browsing your blog all day. Keep it up!
Len Penzo says
Thank you, Carlos. Welcome aboard!
Nate M. says
Very interesting read. Most of these tips I’ve never heard before. My grandmother used vinegar for everything….and I mean everything. The one thing she always used it for that I didn’t see on the list was cat accidents. It’s so hard to get the smell out of carpet or furniture, but a little vinegar will do the trick!
Sean says
Great article, never heard of most of the list! Very interesting, thanks.
bill says
Vinegar and salt remove coffee/tea stains from your favorite cups and mugs. Soak them with vinegar or wet them with a paper towel soaked in it. Wait a little while, and scrub with table salt.
Washing Soda is better at getting rid of grease and oil stains. Comparing it to baking soda is like comparing the old Charles Atlas Ad characters in the back of comic books.
Down here, Love Bugs are a scourge. They swarm, and mate in flight. You keep a pack of cheap fabric softening sheets in your car. As soon as you stop, wet one and clean it off. The acid in the bugs bodies will eat clear through to the bare metal.
That reminds me of an old joke down here, “What is the last thing to go through a love bug’s mind when it hits your windshield? It’s behind.”.
Len Penzo says
Do you want to know what an even better solution for removing coffee/tea stains from your cups and mugs is? (No; not fruitcake, Bill! 😉 ) Try one of those “magic eraser” sponges. They work like a charm!
bill says
I forgot one of the most amazing uses for full octane sugared up Coca Cola. I almost had my Southern Citizenship revoked. It makes an amazing cake.
Karen Kinnane says
Mix a little borax with sugar and put in a sugar shaker. Shake a light dusting where roaches lurk like at the very back of kitchen base cabinets. Put a couple of pennies in the shaker also in order to keep the dry stuff in powder form. The powder clings to the roach legs, they go home and clean their legs ingesting the powder and they die. Good for killing ants too. LABEL SUGAR SHAKER AS ‘POISON’ AND STORE SECURELY.
michelle f. says
here’s another excellent use for vinegar: soak that paper towel with vinegar before putting on a sunburn. it really helps take the sting away.
Len Penzo says
Good one, Michelle! I’ve actually used that one before.