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Things with additional, unintended uses.

(114 Posts)
jojogogo Wed 30-Jul-25 06:53:13

Good morning!
Bit of fun. I will start with my non intent ended use. Got some jar covers from ikea. You put over yogurt etc in fridge. Come in three sizes. But the small size is perfect to grip my cava to open! Works on jars too!

Grandma600 Thu 31-Jul-25 13:45:31

I use a crystal file on my fingernails, but will never get rid of my old metal file...the rounded tip doubles as a screwdriver, even on Phillips screws, and the pointy end cleans out all the grot from the plastic grips on my father-in-law's specs!

NotSpaghetti Thu 31-Jul-25 12:37:37

Great solution ClicketyClick

ClicketyClick Thu 31-Jul-25 11:44:14

I couldn't reach the top of the stairwell in the hall to remove the last bit of wallpaper so decided to sit in the garden with a coffee having a rest. Then a brainwave moment came. I used the garden hoe to reach those high parts of the wall. Worked a treat and no teetering on ladders as just had to lean over the upstairs bannister.

M0nica Wed 30-Jul-25 17:27:05

I use an old fashioned nutcracker to get twist lids off bottles and draining spoons are good for reaching up to top litchen cupoard shelves to pull thing sforward so that they are reachable.

Calendargirl Wed 30-Jul-25 15:18:46

My late mum used to use a snooker cue to press the buttons on her tv, to change channels. Saved her getting up and down.

(Not sure why she didn’t have a remote? Maybe before they were a ‘thing’).

Allira Wed 30-Jul-25 15:09:27

Elowen33

Allira

There's no spare Coca Cola in this house because I refuse to buy it.

I do remember a teacher getting the children to take a baby tooth in each and watch it dissolve in Coca Cola 😯

Any food and drink with high acidity or sugar will effect teeth without sufficient dental hygiene.

Dissolving teeth in Coke over night is an urban myth.

Not overnight! I didn't say that.

No, it wasn't an urban myth.
Coke contains an acids (citric and phosphoric acids) which erode tooth enamel over time.
Anything which discourages children from drinking it is fine by me!

teabagwoman Wed 30-Jul-25 15:09:18

I use my nutcrackers to open bottles etc. works especially well on bleach bottles where you have to press in and turn. I use a ladle to close the window over the kitchen sink, a child’s loo step to reach higher shelves and spice jars to keep paper clips etc in my desk.

DollyRocker Wed 30-Jul-25 14:19:25

Left over hair dye is brilliant for cleaning my chrome bathroom fittings. Comes up gleaming. A walking stick turns off the fire alarm. An old washing machine glass door/window used for an outside plant saucer.

jojogogo Wed 30-Jul-25 14:08:18

smile

nanna8 Wed 30-Jul-25 13:53:58

One of my daughters used to clean her bike with Coca Cola back in the day. She said it was good for removing rust. I can’t stand the stuff but my Dad loved it and he said during the war it used to have cocaine in it. Would have been interesting.

kittylester Wed 30-Jul-25 13:49:09

Elowen the overnight bit maybe an urban myth but it doesn't take very long.

pably15 Wed 30-Jul-25 12:47:47

oreo, one of my walkin kitchen cupboards has been taken over by my O H, it's full of coffee jars with nails of different lengths screws and nuts and bolts, tools that he can't use now as he has alzheimers...

Oreo Wed 30-Jul-25 12:45:26

henetha

My air vent thing in the kitchen only works if I hit it hard with a wooden spoon.

I find the same thing with DP funnily enough.The mere fact of seeing a waved wooden spoon gets him moving.🤭

Aely Wed 30-Jul-25 12:44:28

MiniMoon

I can't reach the kitchen window over the sink. DH opens it for me, but to close it I have found a solution. A spaghetti spoon.

I use a long-handled pot scourer which just nicely hooks over the window handle.

Scribbles Wed 30-Jul-25 12:29:50

Elless

Another Ikea double up here - we all have a long handled shoe horn that we use as a back scratcher 🤣

Me, too Elless! 😅

Mt61 Wed 30-Jul-25 12:13:52

Super big jam tubs with lids from the bakery.
Store my cleaning stuff upstairs. Husband uses his for carrying tools, mixing plaster.
Got my friend two, she’s using them to clean her dogs paws in the back of her car after a muddy walk.

Flippinheck Wed 30-Jul-25 12:12:39

Astitchintime

MiniMoon

I can't reach the kitchen window over the sink. DH opens it for me, but to close it I have found a solution. A spaghetti spoon.

I use the top end of my long Ikea shoe horn for exactly the same purpose.

The potato masher works too.

Elowen33 Wed 30-Jul-25 11:58:43

Allira

There's no spare Coca Cola in this house because I refuse to buy it.

I do remember a teacher getting the children to take a baby tooth in each and watch it dissolve in Coca Cola 😯

Any food and drink with high acidity or sugar will effect teeth without sufficient dental hygiene.

Dissolving teeth in Coke over night is an urban myth.

Allira Wed 30-Jul-25 10:59:33

Oreo

Also coffee jars when empty and washed make brill containers for all sorts of stuff, nails, screws, rubber bands, you name it.

Mustard pots.
The garage has shelves of jars containing items which might come in useful one day.

henetha Wed 30-Jul-25 10:56:08

My air vent thing in the kitchen only works if I hit it hard with a wooden spoon.

Oreo Wed 30-Jul-25 10:51:31

Also coffee jars when empty and washed make brill containers for all sorts of stuff, nails, screws, rubber bands, you name it.

Babs03 Wed 30-Jul-25 10:49:23

Am sure many already do this but I keep ice cream containers and takeaway containers and use them like Tupperware.
The big yogurt buckets are also handy.

butterandjam Wed 30-Jul-25 10:39:47

Magenta8

I once used my eyebrow tweezers to pull a broken Yale key out of a lock.

I wish we'd met earlier. I had to use a very expensive locksmith.

Allira Wed 30-Jul-25 10:36:50

There's no spare Coca Cola in this house because I refuse to buy it.

I do remember a teacher getting the children to take a baby tooth in each and watch it dissolve in Coca Cola 😯

Oreo Wed 30-Jul-25 10:31:03

Any spare Coke in the can, pour it down the loo and leave overnight.
Gawd knows what it does to your insides😲