Every common household product has a specific purpose, but they can often be used quite effectively under very different circumstances. Here are a few examples:

You can use common hairspray to stop flies and bees from pestering you. One squirt will generally send them into a quick tailspin. Hairspray can also be effective in stopping the spread of poison ivy or poison oak. Just coat the area with hairspray and the rash will be effectively contained.

If you're plagued with too many cords around the house--and who isn't--you can help organize the tangled mess by stuff lengths of them into old toilet paper rolls. Whether they're electrical cords or speaker cables, it will help reduce the jumble.

If you find yourself having to deal with a blood stain on a piece of clothing, you can get the stain out quickly by pouring on a little hydrogen peroxide on it, and then gently wiping the area. The results can be quite dramatic.

Instead of spending big money on expensive room fresheners, you can make your own by simply placing a little of your favorite perfume or after shave onto a light bulb. That way, you'll get a nice scent every time the light is turned on. Along those same lines, you can make clothes drawers smell sweet and fresh by placing fabric softener sheets on the bottom of each drawer.

If you've got armies of ants in your kitchen, you could spend lots of money on expensive traps and baits, or you could try a couple home remedies, using common household items. The first would be to draw a line on the counter or shelf, or wherever the ants' main trail is, and see for yourself if they don't stop using that route. The second line of defense would be to sprinkle salt around on your shelves. It is also a natural ant deterrent.

If you left the pot on the stove a bit too long and now have a baked-on mess to deal with, try this before you either buy a commercial product or toss the pot in the recycle bin. Just add a couple drops of dishwashing detergent to the pot, and then add only enough water to cover the bottom. Then bring the mixture to a boil, and the food will lift right off.

You don't have to spend big money on specialized products when oftentimes the same results can be gained by adapting common household products to new inventive uses.

Copyright 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher