Household Products, More Uses Than One

Most household products are multi-purpose, other than what they were originally intended for, as you will find in this article. Sometimes that can also save you a lot of money, rather than purchasing specialty items or separate items for each job.

For Your Pets

There's really no need to go out and spend your hard earned money for your pet's care, when you probably have ordinary household products that can do the job just as well, for a fraction of the price of something you'd buy in a pet store. Here are some ideas that can save you money:

* Corn Oil - I'm sure any brand of corn oil will do. Just use a few drops, massage the oil into your cat's ear. Repeat for 3 days. This will rid the cat of ear mites. The oil smothers the mites but will not harm your cat.

* Dawn dish washing liquid - Add a few drops to your dog's bath. This will rid your dog of fleas. No need for expensive flea baths anymore. Just be sure to rinse him well.

* Bounce sheets - If your dog has been out in the rain, you know how smelly that can be. Wipe him down with a dryer sheet and he'll instantly smell fresh.

For People

Here are some handy tips for household items that you probably already have on hand:

* Gatorade - 2 glasses can help to relieve a headache immediately, with no side effects, as you might get with over the counter headache remedies.

* Colgate toothpaste - Makes an excellent burn salve.

* Altoids - Not just for fresh breath, but will help to clear up a stuffy nose. No need to run to the store for expensive medication that could possibly give you side effects.

* Horse Radish/Olive Oil - Mix 1 tbsp of horse radish to 1 cup of olive oil. Let it sit in a bowl for 30 minutes and then apply to aching muscles for instant pain relief.

* Vinegar/Honey - Blend 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1/4 cup of honey. Take 1 tbsp six times a day. Excellent for a sore throat. The vinegar also kills the bacteria that may have caused the sore throat in the first place.

* Alka-Seltzer - Dissolve 2 tablets and drink at the onset of a urinary tract infection. This should help instantly. Of course, for something this serious, it's probably also a good idea to get a medical opinion.

* Honey - Excellent for alleviating skin blemishes. Dab some on blemish, cover with band-aid. Works overnight.

* Listerine - Soak toes in Listerine to rid yourself of unsightly toe fungus.The antiseptic leaves toe nails looking healthy again.
* Listerine - also good for broken blisters. Apply a few drops, the powerful antiseptic disinfects the blister.

* Vick's Vapor Rub - Also works very well in giving toe nails a healthy look. Takes away the yellow and dryness that nail polish can leave behind. Apply a generous amount to your nails.

* Formula 409 - This cleaning liquid also doubles as a bug killer. Helps rid your yard of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets. So much better than using harsh chemicals, especially if you have small children or pets. I find that spraying regular dish soap also helps with this problem.

* Elmer's (or Le pages) white glue - Excellent for helping to get rid of splinters. Add glue to the affected area, let dry and then peel off. The splinter should come out with the glue.

* Vinegar - Apply a vinegar soaked cotton ball to bruises. It helps to reduce the soreness and discoloration as well as promoting quick healing.

* Quaker Oats - Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats to 1 cup of water, then warm in the microwave for 1 min. Apply to areas where arthritis might be a problem. Helps to relieve the soreness and pain.