15 Secrets From Grandma’s Diary That Can Make Us More Productive Around the House

You most likely have noticed how Grandma seems to have a hack for everything around the house. Come to her with any problem, and the solution would be right in the cupboard of her kitchen. Luckily, we gained access to some awesome secret tricks that we can use around the house.

Here at Bright Side, we believe “sharing is caring” and that’s why we want to share these hacks with you because we care.

1. Figuring out the contents of your honey

If you are confused about whether your honey contains sugary mixtures, then you can test it using starch. You can probably find starch somewhere in your kitchen cabinet. All you have to do is simply sprinkle a little bit of starch on a spoonful of honey then wait and watch. If the starch sinks into the honey, then this honey contains a higher amount of sugary mixtures. If the starch stays on the surface, then this honey contains a lower amount of sugary mixtures.

2. Removing food odor from hands with tomato sauce

If you’ve been cooking and cannot get the smell of food off your hands then this is the solution for you. If you have some tomato sauce or juice, rub your hands with it and the smell is gone. No tomato sauce? No problem. Salt is also another solution to your odor problem.

3. Making bathtubs sparkle with grapefruits

Follow your grandma’s lead and wipe the surface with half a slice of grapefruit for a wonderfully fragrant, gleaming bathtub. The acidic nature of grapefruit and the harsh composition of salt make up a fine scrub for the tub. Just add a little bit of water, and then sprinkle some salt in the bathtub. After that, get half of a grapefruit and use it to scrub the bathtub. When you’re done, use warm water to wash everything away. Do this once every 2 weeks for prime results.

4. Eliminating carpet dust and odor using dried tea leaves

Sprinkle dry, used green tea leaves on musty, dirty carpets to clean them up. Allow the tea leaves to work their magic for 20-60 minutes before vacuuming or sweeping them up. Tea leaves can also be used to spruce up delicate Persian and Oriental rugs. Sprinkle nearly dried, whole tea leaves on the rugs in this situation, and later gently sweep them away.

5. Using vanilla as an air freshener

Ever wondered why grandma’s house always smells so good? Vanilla is the secret here. Douse cotton balls with vanilla and hide them in plants or, more surprisingly, rub or put a few drops of vanilla over a cold light bulb; when you turn on the lights and the light bulb heats up, the vanilla fragrance will spread around the room.

6. Getting gum out of hair using peanut butter

Say goodbye to the days when you had to get a very short “emergency” haircut because you had gum stuck to your hair. Instead, rub some peanut butter on the gum and wait for a few minutes. The oily composition of peanut butter will make the gum come right off. After that, you can rinse your hair normally.

7. Reviving your flowers with mouthwash

Fill your vase with 4 pints of clean water and stir in a tablespoon of mouthwash. Use clean cutting scissors to cut the flowers in a slanted position, then insert your freshly cut flowers in the vase. To avoid bacterial spread, be sure to use clean cutting scissors. The mouthwash aids in the killing of germs that speed up flower decomposition. As a result, your flowers will last longer.

8. Cleaning bottles with sand and water

The insides of bottles, which are typically difficult to clean, can be rinsed out using a mixture of sand and water. The rough mixture will clear up all those hard-to-reach places after some vigorous shaking. Just make sure to rinse the bottle with water and let it air dry afterward.

9. Eliminating bad smells with peanut butter

Frying pans and the entire kitchen usually smell awful after frying something like fish. A simple solution is using peanut butter to eradicate the smell. Cook the peanut butter for one or 2 minutes on high heat. The bad smell will be quickly absorbed by the peanut butter. It will also disperse the more pleasant peanut butter scent around your home.

10. Removing rust from knives using onions

Onions are excellent for eliminating rust from knives since they are acidic. All you have to do is rub your knives with onions or just chop through an onion in a sawing motion with your knife. They’ll be rust-free in no time.

11. Removing ink stains on white shirts using tartar

You don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive stain removers to remove ink stains. According to wise grandmothers, most stains can be removed using common home items that you probably already have on hand. To remove ink from a white shirt, wet the fabric with cold water and apply a paste of cream of tartar and salt before washing. The chemical property of tartar and salt will remove the ink from the shirt.

12. Keeping fabric from losing its color using salt

Most kitchens have salt, but it can also be utilized in the laundry room too. Give your colorful clothes a dose of salt to keep them from fading in color during the wash. The salt aids in the absorption of the color into the fabric, protecting it from fading. To obtain the most benefits from salt, use it both before and during your wash.

13. Removing stink from shoes with kitty litter

Make sure you get odor-controlling kitty litter since it can be utilized to remove odor from shoes. Kitty litter should be used to line the insides of the shoes. Allow the shoes to sit overnight or until the smell is gone. Afterward, just remove the kitty litter from your shoe, and you’re good to go.

14. Cleaning burnt pots using salt and potatoes

If you’ve burned your pots there’s no need to worry. You can add some salt to the pot. Wait for a little, and then use a potato cut in half to rub the burnt area. Wash the pot with water and repeat the process if necessary.

15. Repelling flies using coins inside a zip lock bag full of water

Fill a zip-lock bag halfway with clean, clear water and drop 3 or 4 coins in the bottom of the bag to make your own fly repellent. Once the bag is securely closed, it can be hung from any large main opening, like above a door or large window to keep the flies from entering.

Do you think we missed one of grandma’s secrets? Do you know any tricks that were passed on in your family? Share them with us in the comments below.