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Other Uses

11 Other Uses for Cascade

by Dana Zeliff on February 27, 20152015-02-27
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Other Uses for Cascade


Did you know Cascade can be used as more than a dishwasher detergent?  I’ve listed 11 other uses for Cascade to help you clean everything from your clothes to your bathroom.

Other Uses for Cascade:

1. Clean bathtub rings or soap scum from showers: Use a bit of cascade on a sponge and scrub stubborn rings off your tub. It also works well to remove soap scum from your shower.  Rinse clean after treatment.

2. Clean toilet bowl stains: Help get rid of water stains in your toilet bowl by cleaning with Cascade. Let the Cascade sit for several minutes then scrub with a toilet brush.

3. Remove coffee or tea stains from glass cookware: Use 2 Tbsp of Cascade to 2 Qt of water and let soak. Then wash glassware as usual before storing.

4. Remove stubborn food from pots and pans: Food that is stuck or burnt to your pans can be removed by soaking in Cascade and hot water. The hard to remove food should become loosened enough for easy cleaning.

You can also try making a paste out of Cascade and a little bit of hot water. Let sit and the burnt food should come right off leaving your pot as good as new.

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Other Uses

8 Fun Uses for Spider Rings

by Dana Zeliff on September 29, 20142014-09-29
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Uses for Spider Rings

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An inexpensive bag of spider rings can be used in many more ways than just their intended function. Try one or more of these 8 uses for spider rings to add a little fun to the Halloween season.

8 Fun Uses for Spider Rings:

 

1. Ice cube trays– Pop one in each cube, fill with water and freeze- the perfect touch for your Halloween party drinks.

Uses for spider rings 2

2. Necklace– String them on a cord or ribbon, just a few or all the way around they make a fun piece of jewelry besides a ring. Some rings go on all the way and will stay on just fine, if you have the ones that are split you may want to add a dab of hot glue to close the gap.

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Other Uses Tagged With: Halloween

10 Other Uses for Coconut Oil

by Dana Zeliff on September 8, 20142014-09-08
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

other uses for coconut oil
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Personally, I LOVE to cook with coconut oil.  It’s tastes so much better than butter or makes a great substitute for Crisco when greasing pans.  Since I tend to purchase coconut oil in large quantities when I find a great price, it became essential to find other uses for coconut oil.  I mean, there is only so much cooking one person can do!  If you want to learn new tricks to put an healthy product to work, keep reading….

Other Uses for Coconut Oil:

1 – Oil For Wood Bowls and Boards: If you don’t maintain woodware properly, the consequences can be rather irritating. Some pretty serious stains can settle in, and smells can linger.  Coconut oil can serve as a great way to get these tough stains and smells out of your favorite wood bowl and off your cutting board. Just use it as you would any other wood treating oil; a fine, thorough rub into the wood and your woodware is fresh again.

2- Lubricant: Forget the WD-40,  coconut oil serves an extremely effective lubricant.

3 –Neosporin: Accidents happen a lot around my house with 2 kids and an accident prone hubby.  Thankfully, coconut oil can keep those minor scrapes from developing into worse things, like infections.  Just dab a little of it over any cut, scrape, or scratch and put a Band-Aid on top of that injury. An added bonus is that it smells a lot better than anything you could pick up at the drugstore on the corner.

4 – Shaving Cream:  Coconut oil can serve as a pretty fine substitute for shaving cream when you’re getting ready to go to work in the morning.  Also, if you rubbed the electric razor a little too hard on your skin, coconut oil can also serve as an after shave lotion.

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10 Other Uses for Lotion

by Dana Zeliff on July 7, 20142014-07-07
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Other Uses for Lotion
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I’ll admit that I don’t usually think of lotion as having other uses than preventing and treating dry skin.   However, there are many other uses for lotion from reducing static cling to polishing your shoes!

If you have a bunch of extra lotion bottles cluttering up your cabinets, try these alternative lotion uses so you don’t end up throwing those bottles away!  This is especially great if you purchased a product and didn’t like it on your skin – now it has a new purpose!

10 Other Uses for Lotion:

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5 Frugal Uses for Salt – It’s Way More Than Just a Seasoning!

by Dana Zeliff on June 17, 20142014-06-17
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Uses for Salt

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You may think of salt as just that white food seasoning that sits on your dining room table. But just like many things in your home, salt has many different uses beyond its main purpose. Right up there with baking soda and vinegar, salt can be used in dozens of situations around your home from cleaning, to helping to heal a sore throat. Below you will find some great uses for salt that will really get your creative mind working!

Other Uses for Salt

Use salt to make your own body scrubs.

Need to exfoliate but don’t want to spend a lot of money at the bath and body shops? Mix salt with an oil and add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil and you have yourself a body scrub! This kind of scrub works particularly well on dry feet.

Keep your produce fresher, longer.

If you just purchased some produce and you want to make sure it lasts until you are ready to use it, simply place your apple, pears, or other fruits in a sink full of salt water. Let them dry without rinsing and it will help create a barrier of protection around your fruit to help it last longer.

Make your own toothpaste.

Mix 2 parts salt with 1 part baking soda and use as a dry toothpaste on your teeth. (Add water to brush of course)

Clean your mouth.

Not only can rinsing or gargling with salt water help to remove bacteria around a sore throat, it can also help reduce the pain from a canker sore.

Use as a cleaning scrub around the home.

Skip the store bought cleaning scrubs and make your own instead. Simply sprinkle salt on any wet surface you would like to clean and use a cleaning scrub brush to help remove grime. Add in a vinegar based cleaning spray to really get things shining.

No matter what you use it for, salt has many uses around your home and in your daily routine, besides adding to your food!

What other items around your home do you think could be used for multiple purposes like salt? You may want to check out our article on Uses for Rubbing Alcohol as well!

What are some of your favorite uses for salt?

Check out more articles to find other uses for your favorite products:

  • 10 Surprising Toothpaste Uses
  • 15 Other Uses for Cat Litter
  • 35 Other Uses for Coffee Filters
  • 16 Other Uses for Listerine
  • Incredibly Frugal Baking Soda Cleaning Uses
  • 5 Unique Uses for Rubbing Alcohol
  • 10 Other Uses for Rice {Not Just in the Kitchen}
  • 11 Other Uses for Cascade
  • 8 Fun Uses for Spider Rings
  • 10 Other Uses for Coconut Oil
  • 10 Other Uses for Lotion
  • 5 Frugal Uses for Salt – It’s Way More Than Just a Seasoning!
  • 15 Other Uses for Shaving Cream
  • 20 Other Uses for Dryer Sheets – Not Just for Laundry!

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Other Uses

15 Other Uses for Shaving Cream

by Dana Zeliff on May 12, 20142014-05-12
in Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Other Uses for Shaving Cream
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Do you have a nice stockpile of shaving cream that’s just screaming to be used? Take a look at these great other uses for shaving cream that have nothing to do with a razor!

Other Uses for Shaving Cream:

  1. Let kids have some fun and make a table sparkle by wiping it down with shaving. Have kids use their hands to play in the shaving cream then you can wipe it clean with a damp cloth. This is great for classrooms or to clean your glass patio table.  If playing outside, simply rinse off with a hose when finished.  You could use food coloring for added fun, but I prefer to keep it simple by just using the shaving cream.
  2. Tired of getting out of the shower to find your mirror fogged up?  Rub some shaving cream over your mirror’s surface then wipe with a dry cloth- problem solved!
  3. The same principle as keeping your bathroom mirror from getting fogged works on eyeglasses.  Ever go from the cold AC outside into the heat of summer?  Your glasses (and sunglasses) completely fog up.  Just make sure to use a good cloth to wipe off the shaving cream.  You don’t want to risk scratching your lenses!
  4. Again, use this same defogging principle on your car windshield to keep your view of the road clear.
  5. Got paint?  Use shaving cream to help remove paint from your hands.  You can rinse off with water just like you would with soap.
  6. Use shaving cream to wash grease off your hands.  Scrub vigorously then wash with soap and water.
  7. Use shaving cream as a stain remover for carpet.  Simply dab with a wet cloth, apply a dollop of shaving cream then wipe clean with a dry cloth.  If it’s a heavy stain, you may want to scrub with an old toothbrush.
  8. Just like getting getting stains out of your carpet, use the same method for stains on clothes.  Once you’ve let the shaving cream work it’s magic, run through the wash as usual.
  9. Shine chrome fixtures in the bathroom with shaving cream.  Simply wipe off with a damp cloth to finish.
  10. Clean your shower door with shaving cream and wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
  11. Do you have old jewelry that needs a good shining?  Use shaving cream and an old toothbrush to clean them right up!
  12. Fix a squeaky door by rubbing shaving cream directly on the hinge.
  13. Don’t have water but need to clean your hands?  Rub shaving cream over your hands and wipe clean with a towel.  This is great as a waterless soap for camping.
  14. Got a new baseball mitt?  Rub shaving cream into the palm of the mitt, add a baseball, squeeze it shut and secure with a rubber band.  Let sit for several hours.
  15. Clean your oven with shaving cream and a scouring pad.  Wipe clean with a damp cloth after all the junk has been removed.

Please note that these uses are for shaving CREAM not shaving GEL.  Using the gel will likely cause a huge mess and won’t work for the tips listed.

What other uses for shaving cream can you share?

Check out more articles to find other uses for your favorite products:

  • 10 Surprising Toothpaste Uses
  • 15 Other Uses for Cat Litter
  • 35 Other Uses for Coffee Filters
  • 16 Other Uses for Listerine
  • Incredibly Frugal Baking Soda Cleaning Uses
  • 5 Unique Uses for Rubbing Alcohol
  • 10 Other Uses for Rice {Not Just in the Kitchen}
  • 11 Other Uses for Cascade
  • 8 Fun Uses for Spider Rings
  • 10 Other Uses for Coconut Oil
  • 10 Other Uses for Lotion
  • 5 Frugal Uses for Salt – It’s Way More Than Just a Seasoning!
  • 15 Other Uses for Shaving Cream
  • 20 Other Uses for Dryer Sheets – Not Just for Laundry!

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20 Other Uses for Dryer Sheets – Not Just for Laundry!

by Dana Zeliff on February 24, 20142014-02-24
in Frugal Living, Other Uses

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

20 Other Uses for Dryer Sheets

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Do you throw in a dryer sheet every time you switch your clean clothes from the washer to the dryer?  STOP throwing out those dryer sheets after just one use!   Dryer sheets have many uses other than keeping your clothes soft and static-free.  The other uses for dryer sheets include everything from cleaning to air freshener to rodent repellant.

USED dryer sheets are sufficient for most of these tips, they don’t have to be new.  Keep an old tissue box or old dryer sheet box next to the dryer to store your used dryer sheets until they’re needed.

Other Uses for Dryer Sheets:

1. Clean the Laundry Room:  After you finish a load of laundry, use the dryer sheet to wipe off excess dust and grim from your washer/dryer, clean the drum or get excess lint off the lent trap and surrounding the lent trap.  I do this after (almost) every load.  I’m famous for having drops of dried up laundry detergent on my washer and this works like a champ!

2. Dusting:  Did you know a dryer sheet makes a great duster?  They easily grab dust off furniture, baseboards and my personal favorite – blinds!

3. Bathtub/Shower Scrub:  Wet a dryer sheet and use it to scrub off soap grim from your shower or bathtub.  This works great for shower doors too!

4. Stinky Sports Bags:  Place a new dryer sheet in your gym bag or sports equipment bag to help keep away the stink.  My son’s Tae-Kwon-Do bag gets a terrible foot odor without a dryer sheet – EWW!

5. Car Freshener:  Keep your car smelling fresh by placing new dryer sheets under the seats, in the glove box, trunk or under floor mats to keep your car smelling fresh for less.

6. Stored Items:  Do you have items such as luggage, sporting equipment or camping gear that is rarely used?  Place a new dryer sheet in items stored in the garage, attic or basement.

7. In Shoes:  Place a dryer sheet in your shoes to help minimize odors.

8. Insect Repellant:  Put a new dryer sheet (Bounce brand works best) in your pants pocket to help keep away mosquitoes and gnats without having to spray chemicals.  If the insects are particularly persistence, try rubbing the dryer sheet on your clothes and even skin to keep the buggers away.

9.  Clean-up Hair:  Anyone else always have hair all over the bathroom floor?  Those individual strands can be a pain to clean up, but a used dryer sheet is perfect for the task!  The hair clings to the dryer sheet, so a quick wipe on your bathroom floor will work wonders.  You can even use your foot to wipe the floor while you brush your teeth – multitasking is always best 🙂

10.  In Your Clothes Drawers:  Keep dryer sheets in your drawers to lengthen the fresh smell of your clothes.  This is a great alternative if you don’t know how to make a sachet.

11.  Reduce Static Cling:  Rub a dryer sheet over clothes (even your hair starting at the root) to reduce static cling.

12:  Make That Iron Shine:  Turn your iron on the low setting and rub the surface with a dryer sheet to remove the gunk.  Make sure to be careful not to burn your fingers!

13.  Air Freshener:  Place a new dryer sheet over the heating vent.  Not only will your home smell fresh, it helps to collect dust.  Change sheet about once per week or as needed.

14.  Diaper Pail:  Place a sheet in the diaper pail to help keep odors in check.  You can also place a dryer sheet into a used diaper before rolling it up and discarding.

15:  Rodent Repellant:  In addition to keeping away insects, use dryer sheets at the entrance to mice holes or in campers to keep the rodents away.  Apparently rodents don’t like to smell fresh!

16.  Clean Computer and TV Screens:  Gently wipe the screen of your computer or TV screen with a dryer sheet.  Not only will it help remove the dust but it will help repel future dust build-up.

17. Clean-up Flour and Powder:  Having trouble wiping up spilled flour or powder?  The fine particles will cling to the dryer sheet and make clean-up a snap.

18.  Pet Hair Removal:  If you have a pet that sheds, rub a dryer sheet over your clothes (or even directly over your pet) to remove pet hair.  It can also help to hide the “wet dog” smell after Fido has been outside in the rain.

19.  Freshen Up Old Books:  Place a dyer sheet in an old book and zip up in a plastic bag for a couple days to help get rid of the musty smell.

20.  Make Chrome Shine:  Prevent streaks and make chrome shine with a new or used dryer sheet.  This is great for hubcaps or your toaster!

People have been using dryer sheets to do laundry since they were first invented in the 1960’s.  Due to the fact that they are relatively inexpensive and widely available, we have come up with many other uses for dryer sheets than just to keep your socks from clinging to your blouse.

Most of these other uses for dryer sheets should also work with natural dryer sheets such as Seventh Generation Fabric Softener Sheets if you prefer to use sheets with plant-based ingredients.

What are your ideas for other uses for dryer sheets?

Check out more articles to find other uses for your favorite products:

  • 10 Surprising Toothpaste Uses
  • 15 Other Uses for Cat Litter
  • 35 Other Uses for Coffee Filters
  • 16 Other Uses for Listerine
  • Incredibly Frugal Baking Soda Cleaning Uses
  • 5 Unique Uses for Rubbing Alcohol
  • 10 Other Uses for Rice {Not Just in the Kitchen}
  • 11 Other Uses for Cascade
  • 8 Fun Uses for Spider Rings
  • 10 Other Uses for Coconut Oil
  • 10 Other Uses for Lotion
  • 5 Frugal Uses for Salt – It’s Way More Than Just a Seasoning!
  • 15 Other Uses for Shaving Cream
  • 20 Other Uses for Dryer Sheets – Not Just for Laundry!

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Other Uses


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Hi! I'm Dana, the writer behind the scenes of The Coupon Challenge, a Hampton Roads, VA based coupon blog. I'm a wife and mother of 2. After getting out of debt we started using our savings to travel together as a family and create memories.

Are you looking for ways to save your family money? I strive to help you save on the products you need, so you can spend more on the things you want. Read More about Dana & Family

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