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7 household items that secretly have superpowers
Every household has its legends. Not the glamorous ones like the stand mixer you use twice a year or the fancy ‘decorative’ candles you’re emotionally afraid to light. I mean the quiet ones. The leftovers. The forgotten bits. The things destined (you thought) for the bin until you realise that they have superpowers. Or more likely: when your mother or grandmother tell you they have.
Yes, your home is secretly a training camp for tiny eco-friendly heroes: coffee grounds with a black belt in deodorising, lemon peels which moonlight as natural cleaning agents, socks capable of dusting like Olympic gymnasts. You’ve been overlooking them, I know. And honestly? Same. But it’s time they stepped into the spotlight, capes fluttering softly in the breeze of your energy-efficient ventilation system.
So gather your would-be castaways. We’re about to uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary… Meet the everyday heroes quietly saving the planet from inside your kitchen drawer!
1. Coffee grounds
This morning they fuelled your will to live. And this afternoon? They’re ready for a second shift.
Coffee grounds are basically gritty little miracle workers hiding inside your compost caddy. Dry them out and suddenly they’re excellent at absorbing smells. The kind your fridge develops when you forget leftover stir-fry or keep cheese long enough to qualify as a roommate.
They also moonlight as a gentle scrub: mix a spoonful with a drop of soap and they’ll help you tackle burnt-on bits in pans without the dramatic scratching. And – plot twist – your plants adore them as well. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to soil, giving houseplants (particularly acid-loving ones) a quiet nutritional spa day.
If you want to dig deep, here you can find a list of smart uses.
2. Lemon peels
Lemon peels are basically tiny, citrus-flavoured superheroes. They degrease, they shine, they freshen ánd they’ll have you remembering those long, lazy summer days in Tuscany, even when it’s raining sideways
Rub a leftover peel across greasy pans, taps, cutting boards, or stovetops and you’ll see the natural oils cut through grime like they were born for this. Toss peels into a bowl of water and microwave for two minutes for the easiest deep-clean of your life: the steam softens gunk and makes wiping effortless. Simmer them on the stove and your kitchen turns into a lemon grove.
If you want more structured ideas, here’s a simple guide.
3. Old socks
Single socks everywhere are raising their hands right now. Finally, my moment!
Before you toss that lone ranger, put it to work. Slip it over your hand, and voilà: a dusting mitt that handles shelves, blinds, baseboards, and all those awkward spaces your vacuum disrespects. Old soft cotton socks also make perfect reusable furniture polish applicators and leave your grandma’s table smooth and streak-free.
Got a pet? Stuff a sock with another sock, knot it, and suddenly you’ve got a chew toy with a backstory.
Socks may not be glamorous, but neither is dusting. And yet here we are: a perfect match. Want more? We’ve got you!
4. Baking soda
If baking soda had a résumé, it would just be one page:
Skills: everything.
It deodorises shoes, freshens fridges, it lifts stains from mugs, sinks, fabrics, tiles, grout, carpets, your mattress and probably your conscience. Mix it into a paste and watch it tackle oven grease or bathroom stains that have emotionally defeated you.
But hold my beer, because then, when it meets vinegar, it creates a foamy, spirited, volcano-esque reaction that unclogs drains and clears build-up. It’s basically magic, but for sure the closest your cleaning routine will come to feeling like a science fair.
6. Vinegar
She’s tangy. She’s feisty. She works harder than any commercial spray. Vinegar is the household equivalent of a character who seems annoying at first but ends up saving the world the second half of the movie. The acidic queen of clean has entered the building!
Diluted vinegar is the go-to for streakless glass, descaling kettles, dissolving limescale on taps, refreshing laundry (a splash in your rinse cycle makes clothes softer), and sanitising surfaces without harsh chemicals.
Its only weakness? A brief eau de salad dressing. But no worries, it evaporates, leaving nothing behind but shine.
6. Newspapers
Printed newspapers may be old-school, but when it comes to window cleaning, they are – and I say this with confidence – absolutely iconic.
Crumple a page, spritz your window, and swipe. The ink and paper fibres polish glass to a streak-free shine without lint, smears, or microfibre cloths that always seem to mysteriously disappear.
Shred old papers for composting (worms love the carbon), wrap gifts in them for eco-chic flair, or stuff damp shoes with them to speed up drying.
Have a surplus of newspapers? Find more ideas here.
7. Eggshells
Eggshells look delicate, but beneath that humble exterior is a brilliant natural abrasive.
Rinse, dry, and crush them into tiny shards. Mix with a touch of dish soap and they become a gentle scrubbing agent for vases, bottles, mugs, and other small spaces. They’re tough enough to clean, but soft enough not to scratch.
Gardeners also love them: finely ground shells add calcium to soil and help support strong plant growth.
Florine started out as an art critic, but that turned out to not be quite her thing. So, she did what any sensible person would do - packed her life (and family) into a tiny campervan and roamed the planet for seven years. Now back in the Netherlands, she’s juggling life as a strategic advisor for a Dutch non-profit, while also writing for magazines and platforms. When she’s not typing away, you’ll probably find her treasure-hunting at thrift stores to jazz up her tiny house by the sea. Or wandering outdoors, because apparently sitting still isn’t really her vibe.
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