The Secret Life of Car Wax, Aluminum Foil and Carpet Scraps
With the emphasis on reducing, reusing and recycling, we tend to concentrate on just the reycling of our garbage. There are so many other opportunities for implementing the 3'r's simply by reusing everyday items. Give some of these ideas a try, and see how many more you can think of.
Carpet Scraps: Give that old carpet a new lease on life by using it in a different way.
When you're moving furniture, put scraps of carpet under the legs (pile-side down) and watch your tables and chairs slide easily across the floor – scratch free! It also works great under washers and dryers to prevent that thumping noise.
Keep some extra carpet in the garage for handy out door uses. The next time your riding mower gets stuck in the mud, just slide a piece of carpet under the wheel to get some extra traction.
Next time you're gardening, laying or washing floors, save your knees by kneeling on a scrap of carpet.
Your pets will find plenty of uses for old carpet. Cozy up a doghouse by lining it with carpet, or make kitty a scratching post or indoor tree by gluing carpet to a post.
Aluminum foil isn't just for the BBQ, check out some of its other handy uses:
Crumpled up foil works great for rubbing off rust on anything from car bumpers to shower curtain rods, or the black grunge off your BBQ grill. For extra tough jobs - cover the entire grill, tuck in the edges, and turn the grill on high for 10-15 minutes. It works like a self-cleaning oven.
Restick loose vinyl floor tile by placing a piece of foil over the tile and ironing it until the heat melts the glue and sticks to the subfloor.
Sharpen your scissors by cutting through a sheet of foil that has been folded several times.
Foil works great for covering door knobs, pulls and hinges while you're painting.
Speed up decomposition in your compost pile during cold weather by covering it with carpet.
A strip of carpet stapled to your garage wall will help bear the brunt of opening car doors and keep them scratch free.
A piece of carpet soaked in warm, soapy water is great for cleaning screens.
Place a sheet of foil in the bottom of a stainless steel sink, add boiling water and a few spoonfuls of baking soda. Place your silver in for a couple minutes and wipe clean. If you don't have a stainless steel sink, this also works by lining a glass pan.
Car wax has so many handy uses, you'll want to make it part of your regular cleaning routine.
Use wax to keep your stainless steel appliances free of fingerprints and other marks. Just apply a thin coat and buff.
Lubricate the hinges of garden shears and scissors to keep them moving freely.
If you have a CD with an annoying skip, just add a small amount of wax and buff it clean, rubbing in the same direction as the scratch. Rinse with water and let air dry.
A think coat of wax applied to brass door knockers, mailboxes, and light fixtures will keep them tarnish free.
Once you've cleaned your shower door, keep the mildew away by applying a layer of wax to the inside and outside of the door and buff clean. In fact, wax applied to the walls of a fibreglass shower will help keep their shine and make clean up a breeze.
A small layer of wax added to your bathroom mirror will prevent condensation build up during a shower.
A dab of wax added to your drawer and window tracks will make them slide with ease.
Add some wax to your car bumper before applying any stickers. When you're ready to remove them, they'll come right off without the need for scraping.
Shovelling that wet snow in the winter is easier with a layer of wax applied to your shovel to prevent sticking.
Carpet Scraps: Give that old carpet a new lease on life by using it in a different way.
When you're moving furniture, put scraps of carpet under the legs (pile-side down) and watch your tables and chairs slide easily across the floor – scratch free! It also works great under washers and dryers to prevent that thumping noise.
Keep some extra carpet in the garage for handy out door uses. The next time your riding mower gets stuck in the mud, just slide a piece of carpet under the wheel to get some extra traction.
Next time you're gardening, laying or washing floors, save your knees by kneeling on a scrap of carpet.
Your pets will find plenty of uses for old carpet. Cozy up a doghouse by lining it with carpet, or make kitty a scratching post or indoor tree by gluing carpet to a post.
Aluminum foil isn't just for the BBQ, check out some of its other handy uses:
Crumpled up foil works great for rubbing off rust on anything from car bumpers to shower curtain rods, or the black grunge off your BBQ grill. For extra tough jobs - cover the entire grill, tuck in the edges, and turn the grill on high for 10-15 minutes. It works like a self-cleaning oven.
Restick loose vinyl floor tile by placing a piece of foil over the tile and ironing it until the heat melts the glue and sticks to the subfloor.
Sharpen your scissors by cutting through a sheet of foil that has been folded several times.
Foil works great for covering door knobs, pulls and hinges while you're painting.
Speed up decomposition in your compost pile during cold weather by covering it with carpet.
A strip of carpet stapled to your garage wall will help bear the brunt of opening car doors and keep them scratch free.
A piece of carpet soaked in warm, soapy water is great for cleaning screens.
Place a sheet of foil in the bottom of a stainless steel sink, add boiling water and a few spoonfuls of baking soda. Place your silver in for a couple minutes and wipe clean. If you don't have a stainless steel sink, this also works by lining a glass pan.
Car wax has so many handy uses, you'll want to make it part of your regular cleaning routine.
Use wax to keep your stainless steel appliances free of fingerprints and other marks. Just apply a thin coat and buff.
Lubricate the hinges of garden shears and scissors to keep them moving freely.
If you have a CD with an annoying skip, just add a small amount of wax and buff it clean, rubbing in the same direction as the scratch. Rinse with water and let air dry.
A think coat of wax applied to brass door knockers, mailboxes, and light fixtures will keep them tarnish free.
Once you've cleaned your shower door, keep the mildew away by applying a layer of wax to the inside and outside of the door and buff clean. In fact, wax applied to the walls of a fibreglass shower will help keep their shine and make clean up a breeze.
A small layer of wax added to your bathroom mirror will prevent condensation build up during a shower.
A dab of wax added to your drawer and window tracks will make them slide with ease.
Add some wax to your car bumper before applying any stickers. When you're ready to remove them, they'll come right off without the need for scraping.
Shovelling that wet snow in the winter is easier with a layer of wax applied to your shovel to prevent sticking.
