6 Random Household Items That Work As Cleaning Products, According to Reddit

Using a newspaper to shine windows, polishing copper with ketchup, using Coca-Cola to clean a toilet—there are many unusual cleaning techniques that use common household items in unexpected ways. One Redditor recently posed this question to the r/CleaningTips forum, asking: What's the most surprisingly effective item you've used for cleaning that wasn't meant for cleaning?

They added that they weren't "looking for hacks that mix chemicals or anything unsafe, just clever repurposing. Could be kitchen items, personal care stuff, even toys or tools. Bonus points if it saved you time or solved something that typical products didn’t!" The poster explained that "I’ve had some random household items turn out to be low-key cleaning legends. My recent favorite? A used dryer sheet for buffing water spots off glass shower doors. I was skeptical, but it actually worked way better than the vinegar spray I normally use."

The post generated over 700 comments, with Redditors sharing the surprising uses for many unexpected household items. Here are some of the top non-cleaning items that Redditors use to clean.

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Exfoliating Gloves

Forget scrubbing your skin, exfoliating gloves have become a kitchen tool for some, with one commenter saying they use them to scrub potatoes. Another added that they use them to clean the bathroom sink and shower, saying it's "been a revelation for me. You can get into awkward corners with your fingers, scrub with your hands, and then toss them into the washing machine."

Nylon Tights

According to one Redditor, you can use nylon tights to easily remove candle wax from glass, while another said that they use old tights when cleaning the top and outside of dusty candles. "It's the best way to remove the dust from candles and make them look good again," they wrote.

Baby Powder

One commenter recommends using baby powder to remove oil-based food stains. They say to sprinkle it generously onto the stain, then use a dry toothbrush to brush it out. "When it goes in the wash, put a dot of your liquid detergent on the spot," they added. 

Disposable Diapers

Another Redditor explained that they use a disposable diaper to wipe around and behind toilets, "if you get the fuzz and dog hair and people hair that want to stick to the damp porcelain." Adding that they buy the smallest quantity possible just for cleaning, "cause whatever that liner is made of just grabs that fuzzy dust."

Electric Toothbrush

An electric toothbrush is in many commenters' cleaning toolkits, with one saying they use it to clean everything from toilet hinges and window sills to around-the-sink grouting and faucets. Another Redditor agreed, saying that "a battery-powered toothbrush is amazing at cleaning corners, nooks, and crannies that you can't reach easily with anything else. Another poster said that they use one to clean the mesh screen of a juicer.

Denture Cleaning Tablets

Several posters use denture cleaning tablets to wash hard-to-clean bottles or vases. One commenter said they use them to clean sports bottles and hydration packs, while another said that they use denture cleaning tablets to remove hard water scale from their shower head. "Drop one in a plastic baggie and add about an inch of hot water. Rubber band to the shower head, and wait 15 minutes," they wrote.