Most of us have heard of using nail polish to stop a run in panty hose and of using lemon juice to prevent sliced fruits from turning brown.  But there are hundreds of uses for other everyday household items that you might not be so aware of.  Here are some of them:

Floss is extremely helpful in cleaning teeth and preventing gingivitis.  However, you can also use it to slice cake and cheese.  Grab a length of floss that is longer than the diameter of the cake or cheese, hold it taut, and then slice, moving the floss side to side.  This may be a lifesaver on picnics or any other occasion when a knife cannot be found.

Baby wipes are not only for cleaning baby’s bottom!  You can use them to wipe your computer keyboard, clean up spills at the office or in the car, and even to clean your hands after using a shopping cart or eating greasy foods.  Even if you do not have a baby, you can still keep a pack of baby wipes in your purse or desk drawer for cleaning emergencies.

Denture tablets contain cleaning ingredients that not only work on stubborn denture stains, but also on mineral deposits on glassware.  If your flower vases or coffee pots need a cleaning, try dropping one or two denture tablets in and fill with water.  After the tablets stop fizzing, rinse the glass container out.  With your coffeemaker, you can run it while the tablets are in the coffee pot for a more thorough cleaning.

Rubbing alcohol can be a great disinfectant, but it can also be used for sprains and muscle aches.  Just put one part rubbing alcohol and three parts water into a sealable plastic bag and put it in the freezer.  Regular ice packs are hard and don’t conform to the shape of sprained ankles or sore shoulders.  But this rubbing alcohol infused ice pack will – it makes a very soothing and comfortable alternative to traditional ice packs.

Hate the idea of giving your dog a bath, even though he’s starting to smell not so fresh?  And certainly, wet dog smell is only slightly better than stinky dog smell.  An option for those days when you just don’t feel like putting you and your dog through a bath is to use baby powder.  Depending on the size of your pet, rub a handful or two of baby powder into the fur.  Let it sit in the fur for a couple of minutes and then brush it out.  Your dog will smell wonderful and will certainly thank you for saving him from a bath!

Not everyone has carpet cleaner on hand when spill happen.  The next time this happens to you, try shaving cream!  Just blot up the rest of the mess, dab it with a damp sponge or wash cloth, put some shaving cream on it, then clean it up with a wet sponge or cloth.

Alka-Seltzer works wonders on acid indigestion, but did you know that it can also clear clogged drains?  Put two Alka-Seltzer tablets in your drain and follow with a cup of vinegar.  After a few minutes, turn the hot water on full stream – your clog should be gone!

Irons tend to get dirty and stained after many uses.  Try using a non-gel toothpaste to remove any foreign substances from your iron.  Just rub some toothpaste on with a cloth and then rinse off.  Obviously you would only want to try this when your iron is off and not plugged in!

We all know the usefulness of nail polish for a run in your stockings, but what about a hole in your screen door or window screens?  It’s not worth replacing a whole screen for couple little holes, but what if those holes are letting in insects?  Just take some clear nail polish and fix up those tiny holes like new!

Duct tape has a million and one different uses (just ask MacGyver!), but it can also make a great bandage.  Just take some tissue to cover the wound and stick a piece of duct tape over it – a handy dandy bandage in no time.

There’s a product out there for all of life’s little calamities, but it would be impossible to have them all on hand.  With these helpful tips, you can fix up whatever’s wrong with what you already have in your own house.