Yes, it make your whites white (and your reds pink!), but there is so much more to bleach than its uses around the washer machine. Although it is generally viewed as a harsh cleaning agent, bleach has nurturing side too. Read on to see how this laundry room staple can help out in the rest of your house as well.
- Mix equal parts of bleach and water to make a cleaning solution for mildew, hard water residue and rust stains on the tub, shower curtain, shower door and around the toilet and sink.
- Use undiluted bleach to kill weeds, moss and algae in your yard.
- Mix 1 part bleach and 3 parts water to use for kitchen cleaning solution. It is great for killing germs in the sink and on the countertop and stove.
- Add a few drops of bleach to each gallon of water you put in your humidifier to prevent bacteria from growing.
- Add a capful of bleach plus one sugar cube in the water of your flower vase to help cut flowers last longer.
- Rub bleach on your white porcelain items, let sit for ½ hour, then rinse them off and towel dry to give them a pristine shine.
- Brighten your glassware by adding 1 teaspoon of bleach in your warm soapy water. Let them sit for 15 minutes and then wash as usual.
- Clean plastic lawn furniture by mixing equal parts of bleach and water in a spraying bottle. Spray them thoroughly and rinse. You can also use this mixture to rejuvenate a wooden fence. Wash away that gray look by simply spraying this directly onto wood.
- Remove lingering smells from coolers and other closed containers by wiping or spraying them with a mixture of one part bleach and 3 parts water.
- Cure poison ivy by wiping a small amount of bleach over the affected area to dry it up. Be sure to rinse well before wearing colored clothes so that you don’t stain them.
- Clean smelly feet by mixing 1 part of bleach with 3 part of hot water, soak for 10 minutes, and dry with a hair dryer.
- Get sore throat relief by mixing 2-3 drops of bleach with a 16 oz of warm water. Gargle and spit until the glass is empty.
