Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Do you have too many pins on Pinterest and not enough time to try them all? Don't worry — the Page Two editors of ksl.com will try them out and give you the low-down. This week we're sampling do-it-yourself alternatives for household products from the kitchen to the bathroom.
Duster covers
I feel slightly guilty posting this as a DIY tip, because the original link is to an Etsy shop selling a Swiffer washable hand duster refill set. I’m not one to undercut the little guy; rather, I am applauding the seller for her ingenuity and prompting others to say goodbye to disposable Swiffer dusters and go back to the dusting cloths of days gone by. While this Etsy option could be easily replicated with microfleece and a few quick stitches on the sewing machine, I dug out an old microfiber rag and a shammy cloth and got dusting, just the way my mama taught me. Both rags worked perfectly and got every speck of dust. The best part is both are washable, allowing them to be used over and over again. Since I did not actually purchase or make these dusters, my grade is based on ease of duplicating them vs. using an alternative. Final grade: B+
Cooking spray
Sarah at naturesnurtureblog.com says making your own cooking spray is non-toxic, cheap, green and allows you to be flexible, using essentially whatever oil you wish. The basic recipe is a mixture of oil and water, although Sarah offers a variety of tips and things to consider. I used an olive/vegetable oil mix and water at a ratio of about 2:1, put it in a spray bottle and shook it up before spritzing my pan. Not only was it extremely effective at keeping the food from sticking, I loved how I got a nice, even mist from the bottle instead of a thick, erratic spray from the store-bought aerosol version. Final grade: A
Cleaning wipes
I think I liked the idea of this product more than I actually liked making these DIY cleaning wipes. For one, it’s not a time-saver: you have to literally saw a roll of paper towels in half. For another, I had a hard time gauging how much liquid to pour in. Too little and the towels would be too dry; too much and they would be soggy and fall apart. While I certainly admire “The Damsel in Dis Dress” from mynewoldschool.com for her intrepidness, and while some may love this tip, in the end it just wasn’t for me. Final grade: B-
Dishwasher rinse agent
This tip is something I’ve been doing for a while, but the pin itself comes from a fantastic post on simpleorganizedliving.com: 101 more uses for vinegar. Instead of purchasing a rinse agent for your dishwasher, just use vinegar. We’ve been doing this for about a year, and it works like a charm. There are no spots on the glasses or silverware, and any residual vinegar smell is gone rather quickly. But while you’re investigating this tip, take a minute to peruse the entire list, then go buy a couple of gallons of vinegar because you are sure to be inspired. Final grade: A
Window and glass cleaner
Here’s another tip from simpleorganizedliving.com: a recipe for homemade window and glass cleaner. Just four ingredients (water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, cornstarch) come together to leave you with a streak-free shine. This did have a strong smell at first, but it wasn’t overwhelming and soon dissipated. I have used straight rubbing alcohol to clean mirrors with great success, but the other ingredients are what make this more of a window cleaner because they have properties to cut through grease and lime deposits. Be sure to shake it up before you use it to get the cornstarch good and mixed, and get out of the way when you spray — it can leave you with little white flecks on your clothes (but they do wash out). Final grade: A-
