9 Surprising Pantry Item Cleaning Hacks

Cleaning is a hassle sometimes. There's all the manual labor involved, and the money we spend on cleaning products is enough to depress you. Even when you get to the store, how do you know what to buy? There are so many options that simply going to the supermarket for them becomes stressful. But do not despair. There are surprising ingredients in your pantry that can save you time and money when it comes to cleaning up.

Aluminum Foil

This one may come as the obvious choice for all you avid grillers out there. But for those of you who don't know, a ball of foil is great for scraping leftover gunk off your grill.

Onions

Onions are another useful tool for cleaning up after a barbecue. Cut it in half and use the cut side to rub off grease and residue on the grill grate. 

Ketchup

Usually ketchup is only good as a condiment for your burgers, but it has other uses too. It's actually perfect for cleaning tarnished copper. Put a little on a damp cloth and get to rubbing for a shiny new look.

Mayonnaise

The world has a love-hate relationship with mayo, but you should love it for its cleaning powers. If your wood furniture is stained with water rings, dab some mayo on the spot, let it sit, and then gently rub it until the ring is gone. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. 

Banana Peels

Don't throw them away. Instead blend them up to make a paste and use them to clean tarnished silver. Just be sure to rinse your silver thoroughly after.

Tea

Brewed black tea is great for removing rust. Soak your rustiest items in it for a few minutes and then just wipe them clean. Perfect for old gardening tools and old canning lids.

Olive Oil

Two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice is a great solution for polishing wood. Olive oil alone is also useful for polishing shoes.

Club Soda

We all know that club soda is a quick fix for stains. But it's also good for cleaning those annoying streaks off stainless steel. Soak a cloth in some club soda and rub down your appliances.

Beer

We're not sure why you would ever have leftover beer, but if you do, use it to clean. Beer is an effective cleaner for plain gold jewelry. It also cleans wood, but make sure it's flat and wipe clean with a dry cloth once you're done.