Cleaning

Twist glued fingers apart rather than pulling them straight to separate them.

Super glue has good tensile strength but poor torsional strength, so twisting causes it to shear.

one person who lived it

Use cold water to clean dishes with cheese residue so the cheese hardens and scrapes off easily.

Cold water causes the cheese to harden, whereas hot water melts it and makes it stick.

one person who lived it

Stuff wet boots with crumpled dry newspaper to absorb moisture; replace the paper every few hours until the boots are dry.

Newspaper absorbs water more quickly, allowing them to dry

one person who lived it

Allow glycerin-separated photos to dry completely for a couple of days, then sandwich them between paper and weigh them down with books to flatten wrinkles.

Gelatin holds onto water, causing wrinkling when drying.

one person who lived it

Smear Vaseline on the threading of super glue or cement bottle lids before closing them to prevent the cap from getting stuck.

It helps stop the container from becoming frustratingly or permanently jammed.

one person who lived it

Remove super glue from skin by lightly rubbing with low-grit sandpaper or a pumice stone.

• Be very careful when using these methods.

3 people, independently

Apply hair conditioner to wool or nubuck leather to smooth the surface and maintain softness.

one person who lived it

Spray disinfectant inside shoes and let them sit with a dryer sheet for a day or two.

This combination yields better results for odor control.

one person who lived it

• Place dryer sheets in shoes that are not worn frequently to eliminate stale smells.3

Apply antiperspirant to your feet before putting on socks and shoes.

It keeps socks dry and reduces odor; a podiatrist recommended this approach.

4 people, independently

Choose wool socks over cotton for superior warmth, moisture management, and odor control.

Wool retains heat better than cotton, wicks sweat more, and possesses natural antimicrobial qualities that reduce foot odor.

• Wool is scratchy.

3 people, independently

Take off your shoes at the front door to prevent bringing outdoor dirt onto indoor floors.

Walking with shoes on brings everything you stepped on outside onto your tile, wood, or carpet.

one person who lived it

Switch the newspaper inside wet shoes every hour or two for faster drying.

for faster drying

one person who lived it

Apply shoe powder after removing shoes to dry moisture and kill bacteria.

It dries moisture and kills bacteria that cause odor.

• One user found it builds up into a slippery, slimy layer on feet.

one person who lived it

Place coffee filters filled with baking soda inside your shoes when not wearing them to absorb odor.

Baking soda absorbs odors and coffee powder absorbs bad smells.

one person who lived it

Clean under and around your toenails.

Removing buildup from this area reduces funk.

2 people, independently

Spray the inside of shoes with vinegar to counteract smell.

It acts as an amazing smell counter.

one person who lived it

Apply Lubriderm lotion to your feet daily.

One person reported that this prevents sweating.

• Based on one individual's experience

one person who lived it

Use E6000 adhesive for shoe repairs as a stronger alternative to Shoe Goo.

It is toluene-based and stronger.

one person who lived it

Avoid using vinegar to clean shoes.

It is ineffective and leaves a strong, unpleasant odor.

one person who lived it

Take off shoes upon arriving home and change into slippers to reduce wear time.

Reducing wear time helps manage foot conditions.

one person who lived it

Spray shoes with Lysol or similar disinfectant to kill bacteria and fungus.

It kills bacteria and fungus.

one person who lived it

Apply Gold Bond Friction Defense powder inside your shoes to reduce odor and create a cooling sensation.

It is designed for this purpose and helps with odors.

one person who lived it

Open shoes as much as possible, stuff them with newspaper, and place them near a heat source like a fireplace or heater.

Opening the shoe allows for better airflow and easier insertion of newspaper.

one person who lived it

Use specialized foot lubricants to reduce sweating and chaffing.

The product both reduces sweating in the area and prevents chafing by lubricating it.

one person who lived it

Use Deoxsole shoe deodoriser, which contains natural essential oils with antifungal and antibacterial properties.

It has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

• Based on one user's experience.

one person who lived it

Wash chili heat with soap instead of salt.

Chili heat is oil-based, so salt will not remove it.

one person who lived it

Pour flour, salt, or clay kitty litter onto floor grease spills to absorb the oil, then sweep up the resulting clumps.

Flour mixes with grease to form clumps that are easier to sweep up.

one person who lived it

• Sprinkle salt over grease or oil spills, let it sit briefly, then scrape and sweep it up.1

Coat the walls of greasy containers with a few drops of detergent in soapy liquid and let it sit for a few minutes to break down the oil before rinsing or scrubbing.

It breaks down the oil.

one person who lived it

Apply hand sanitizer to remove pine sap from your skin.

It is considered highly effective for this purpose.

3 people, independently

Apply fresh grease or oil to greasy hands to mix with the dirt, then wipe off with paper; alternatively, rub dirt onto your hands and wash it off.

Oil mixes with similar oil better than most store-bought soaps do.

3 people, independently

• Rub fresh oil onto greasy hands or surfaces to dissolve the residue, then wash with soap and water.1

Keep a bag of kitty litter on hand to absorb oil or gas spills from cars or lawn mowers.

It is a great idea for DIY maintenance situations.

one person who lived it

Apply hand sanitizer to hands to cut through spicy pepper residue if they are burning.

The alcohol cuts through the residue.

one person who lived it

Avoid using high-proof alcohol like Everclear or 151 to rinse mouth or eyes after capsaicin exposure.

It cleans liquid from receptors, causing the oil to burn more.

one person who lived it

Mix baking soda or cornstarch with dish soap to create a paste for scrubbing grease stains.

Baking soda provides mild abrasion and stain-lifting power.

2 people, independently

Mix a spoonful of ground coffee with a drop of soap and rub it on your hands.

• Rinse the grounds off somewhere other than the sink, as they can clog pipes.

3 people, independently

Scrub the grease stain with dish soap using an old toothbrush before washing.

• Be careful on delicate fabrics to avoid scuffing threads.

3 people, independently

• Rub regular unsalted butter on the grease stain, then wash it.1

use chalk or fuller's earth to absorb grease, then brush it away

it absorbs grease rather than bonding like detergents

one person who lived it

Make a DIY version of Dawn Powerwash by mixing normal Dawn dish soap, isopropyl alcohol, and water.

It is much cheaper than buying the product.

one person who lived it

Wipe grease off plastic containers with paper towels or napkins before washing them.

It saves soap, water, time, and effort.

one person who lived it

Rub a small amount of dishwashing liquid between your index finger and thumb on either side of the fabric until you feel the texture change.

The texture change indicates the oil is breaking down.

one person who lived it

Use vodka to remove capsaicin from hands.

Capsaicin is alcohol soluble.

one person who lived it

Apply plain white chalk to a grease stain to absorb the oil.

3 people, independently

Use generic cooking oil instead of expensive olive oil for removing sap or adhesive residue.

Generic oil is cheaper and effective (C=cheap).

one person who lived it

Use mineral oil instead of vegetable oils for removing wall stickers to avoid rancid smells.

Mineral Oil won't get rancid smelling

one person who lived it

Select cleaning agents based on the principle 'like dissolves like': use alcohol-based cleaners for alcohol-smelling stains and waxy/oily substances for waxy or oily stains.

one person who lived it

Do not put clothes in the dryer until the grease stain is completely gone.

The heat will seal or set the stain.

2 people, independently

Bathe before bed.

This keeps nightwear clean for maybe 3 nights.

one person who lived it

Use vinegar to remove iron stains; do not use bleach as it worsens them.

Bleach makes iron stains worse.

one person who lived it

Switch to a deodorant without antiperspirant ingredients (aluminum) to prevent yellow pit stains caused by aluminum compounds reacting with sweat and stiffening fabric.

Aluminum compounds react with sweat to create a waxy, yellow residue that cannot be washed out and clog pores.

• Deodorant will not stop sweating.
• Sweat itself contains saline which can create white rings.

3 people, independently

Dilute hydrogen peroxide and test it on a hidden area first; if safe, dab the stain until lighter, then wash.

Hydrogen peroxide can melt or make fabric brittle.

• Never scrub; only dab.

one person who lived it

• Test hydrogen peroxide mixtures on a hidden or inconspicuous area of the carpet first to check for color damage.2

Use a giant enameled canning pot from a grocery or thrift store to boil sheets if you lack a cauldron.

They are pretty cheap.

one person who lived it

Soak a tampon or cotton ball in essential oil or candle fragrance oil and place it in a vacuum cleaner or zip-lock bag to scent a room or car.

Vacuum airflow fills the room with the scent when cleaning.

one person who lived it

Dry sheets on a clothesline if able.

It makes them smell awesome.

one person who lived it

use Dawn to clean toilet bowls

it works great on toilets

one person who lived it

Test the iron on a face or hand towel rather than a dress shirt to avoid ruining important clothing.

It is better to ruin a towel and request a replacement iron than to scramble for another shirt.

• One person's preference.

one person who lived it

Place a pillowcase or piece of cotton sheet over clothing while ironing to protect the fabric from dirty shared irons.

Shared irons can make things dirty; the barrier allows heat and steam to work without direct contact.

• It is a little more fiddly.

2 people, independently

Marinate shirts with coffee grounds in a bowl before washing to turn them cream-colored and hide future stains.

The resulting cream color does not show stains.

one person who lived it

Wash all new and second-hand clothing before wearing it.

Clothing may contain vermin, feces traces from poor storage conditions, or residues from other people who tried them on.

one person who lived it

Soak blood-stained clothing in cold water immediately to wash away blood cells without needing additional products.

Cold water washes away blood cells cleanly.

• Water does not always work on its own.

one person who lived it

Keep an opened bar of Irish Spring soap on top of the closet to keep a squeaky clean scent.

It is better than air fresheners and more cost effective because the soap is usable for showering.

one person who lived it

• Tuck a wrapped or boxed bar of soap inside closets or drawers to impart a subtle fresh scent to stored clothes without using aerosols.4

Wash smaller loads of laundry instead of overloading the machine to prevent white residue on dark clothes.

Overloading the machine can lead to residue issues that stop when load sizes are reduced.

one person who lived it

Hand wash refrigerator shelves instead of covering them with plastic wrap.

It is more waste-free.

one person who lived it

avoid leaving stick deodorant in cars in hot climates as it can melt and stain fabrics

stick deodorant can melt into a substance that seeps into fabric and requires professional cleaning

one person who lived it

Use an enzymatic cleaner designed for wetsuits on smelly gear.

It kills off smelly organics.

one person who lived it

Wear a shirt under a sweatshirt when re-wearing it to reduce body odor issues.

Odor is primarily an issue when fabric sits directly against the skin of the armpits.

one person who lived it

Pass liquid tea through a filter before discarding the powder residue to prevent kitchen sink clogs.

Throwing powder residue directly into the sink can cause clogs.

one person who lived it

Apply a liquid antiperspirant with a roller at night before bed, not after showering.

• Applying after a shower can cause burning.

3 people, independently

To remove deeply set body or sweat odors from sheets and pillowcases, presoak them with white vinegar and drain before washing normally, rather than mixing vinegar directly with detergent.

Vinegar and detergent are an acid and base that reduce each other's effectiveness; vinegar removes odors better than detergent alone.

one person who lived it

Rinse or clean the mason jar immediately after use to prevent odors.

Cleaning soon after drinking prevents smells.

one person who lived it

Wash dishes immediately after using them rather than letting them sit in the sink.

Waiting causes them to become crusty and smelly, creating extra work.

one person who lived it

One approach that helped avoid standing and stirring manually is using washing machine sachets for dyeing.

It works great generally.

one person who lived it

If you have a high-efficiency washing machine that uses less water, reduce the amount of detergent to prevent residue buildup on dark clothes.

High-efficiency machines may not flush out excess detergent completely due to lower water usage.

one person who lived it

Reuse plastic grocery bags as liners for bathroom trash bins or for disposing of raw food waste.

Eliminates the need to purchase small bags for these specific needs

one person who lived it

Hang wet laundry on hangers or in a way that minimizes creasing during drying to reduce ironing time.

This helps make the ironing job a lot quicker, though it does not remove the need entirely.

one person who lived it

Neutralize bleach on clothing with hydrogen peroxide after washing it out.

Bleach weakens fibers; neutralizing it prevents holes.

one person who lived it

carry baby or body wipes to clean armpits before reapplying deodorant if skin is already sweaty or smelly

deodorant only helps if applied to fresh, clean skin rather than already smelly skin

one person who lived it

Avoid washing towels with fabric softener or dryer sheets to maintain absorbency.

Softeners can make fabrics less absorbent.

one person who lived it

Trim armpit hair with clippers instead of shaving to improve deodorant effectiveness.

It makes deodorant work better.

one person who lived it

Melt wax stains by pressing a preheated iron over paper towels placed against the fabric, allowing the towel to absorb the wax.

one person who lived it

Spray deodorant or body spray onto the permanent marker stain and wipe it off with a clean sponge, cloth, or paper.

Deodorants often contain alcohol which acts as a solvent.

• Solvents in deodorant may dissolve ink left in sponges or cloths; using paper is advised to avoid this.

2 people, independently

Use Goo Gone to remove adhesive residue from tape or stickers on whiteboards.

It contains xylene, a stronger solvent than alcohol, and avoids the damage caused by acetone.

• Do not use alcohol or acetone, as acetone will melt the surface.

one person who lived it

Try a pink bar eraser to remove permanent marker from wood before attempting other methods.

It usually works well without the risk of marring the wood.

one person who lived it

Avoid using Magic Erasers on leather footwear.

They act like low-grit sandpaper and will eventually wear away the top layer of leather, ruining the shoes.

one person who lived it

Stay away from open flames when using high-proof alcohol for cleaning.

To prevent it from turning into an unintended flambé.

one person who lived it

Clean mineral deposits from an iron by soaking or flushing with vinegar (acetic acid).

Vinegar can dissolve and flush minerals and deposits.

• Hot vinegar stinks, so it is best done outside.
• Follow up with fresh water steam to rinse.

2 people, independently

Buy porcelain-surface whiteboards instead of melamine ones to prevent wear and tear.

Porcelain surfaces will never wear out, whereas melamine boards become garbage soon.

• Glass boards are nonporous but make terrible whiteboards due to drop-shadow issues.

one person who lived it

Apply rubbing alcohol (such as 70% isopropyl) using a Q-tip, cotton ball, or first-aid wipe to remove permanent marker.

5 people, independently

• Clean permanent marker off whiteboards and other surfaces with isopropyl alcohol.6

Press the steam button or clean button repeatedly to blast steam through the ports and clear internal debris.

This cleans the ports and removes internal residue.

one person who lived it

Use isopropyl alcohol instead of hairspray to remove ink stains from clothes.

Hairspray leaves sticky residue and can ruin clothes.

one person who lived it

Use white vinegar to clean permanent marker stains from carpet.

3 people, independently

Use baking soda with lemon water or peroxide when cleaning floors with a drill brush.

To avoid using super harsh chemicals on the floor, especially if you have pets.

one person who lived it

Spray aerosol hairspray on permanent marker stains on hard surfaces, wait, then wipe off.

3 people, independently

Match the color of the dry-erase marker to the permanent marker when covering it up.

Using a different color may cause the dry-erase ink to absorb pigment from the permanent marker.

one person who lived it

Identify the solvent base of the stain (e.g., water-based or alcohol-based) and use the corresponding solvent to remove it.

one person who lived it

Rinse a vomit bucket with Listerine.

It kills bacteria related to vomiting, cleans the bucket slightly, and improves the smell.

one person who lived it

use toothpaste and a used toothbrush to clean white rubber soles

3 people, independently

Redraw over permanent marker marks on non-porous materials like steel, porcelain, or laminate with another permanent marker, then wipe immediately.

The new ink dissolves the old mark, allowing it to be wiped away.

one person who lived it

Pour hot vinegar water into a bucket to wipe down cabinets and other surfaces after cleaning your coffee machine.

The mixture is an effective cleaner for various household tasks.

one person who lived it

Avoid using products containing acetone on whiteboards.

Acetone will damage the whiteboard surface.

one person who lived it

Use isopropyl alcohol instead of acetone to remove marks without damaging the substrate.

Acetone almost certainly damages the substrate, while rubbing alcohol removes sharpie well.

one person who lived it

use unscented hand sanitizer to remove ballpoint pen ink from micro suede furniture

one person who lived it

Use a pencil eraser with elbow grease to remove permanent marker from smooth surfaces like refrigerators if soap, acetone, and thinners fail.

• Requires physical effort (elbow grease).

one person who lived it

perform a small spot test before applying cleaning agents to painted or finished surfaces to check for damage

3 people, independently

Vacuum out the cavity of a disassembled coffee maker periodically to remove accumulated debris.

A shocking amount of debris can accumulate there.

one person who lived it

Clean white sneakers by rubbing affected areas with a spit-dampened handkerchief.

one person who lived it

Use an old toothbrush to clean hair and debris from razors.

It helps remove stubborn hairs more than the small brushes often included with shavers.

one person who lived it

Label drill brush attachments by surface type (e.g., floor, sink, tub) to avoid cross-contamination.

To prevent using a brush meant for one area, like the floor, on another, like the sink or stovetop.

one person who lived it

Use a UV toothbrush case to irradiate and kill bacteria on the brush.

It avoids the smell of alcohol and the hazard of open cups of flammable solvent.

one person who lived it

Dry electric toothbrush parts thoroughly after use to prevent fungus growth.

so fungus doesn’t grow

one person who lived it

Collect hotel toiletries while traveling to save for future guests.

It is easier on the budget and serves as a thoughtful surprise.

one person who lived it

Check inside electric toothbrush handles with replaceable heads regularly for mold.

One person reported finding black mold inside after leaving the brush assembled for a while.

one person who lived it

Repurpose old toothbrush heads for non-oral cleaning tasks such as gardening, nail brushing, silver polishing, grout cleaning, or cleaning metal things and shoes.

3 people, independently

Save complimentary toothbrushes from dental visits for guests who may have forgotten theirs.

3 people, independently