This Simple And Affordable Household Item Does More Than Just Clean Your Kitchen

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Steel wool is a simple and affordable way to maintain a clean kitchen. It can help you get the burnt mess off your oven racks and bring your dish and cookware to a shine. However, these aren't the only ways you can use this cleaning tool. It can be used for more purposes, like removing rust from tools or sharpening a dull pair of scissors. Additionally, it'll assist you in keeping pesky critters away from your home, double as sandpaper, and make achieving the distressed paint look simple and easy. You just need to be cautious and wear protective gloves anytime you use one to keep the abrasive fibers from hurting your hands.

You also need to choose the grade of steel wool based on the type of task you're undertaking. For instance, if you want to remove glue stains from your furniture or banish rust from tools, use one that's rougher than its brethren. Ones graded #44 like Homax Heavy Duty Steel Wool will be ideal for tough jobs. In comparison, use one with a #0000 grade if you plan on using it on fragile items or want to polish surfaces. Homax Grade #0000 Super Fine Steel Wool is a good option. Ready to learn all the ways you can use these cleaning tools in your house? Here are 20 ideas to get you started.

If you're wondering how to restore a rusted crowbar to its former glory without preparing a concoction or spending money on packaged products, give your steel wool a chance. Simply rub it over a rusted tool and watch the oxidized layer of iron give way to a shiny instrument. Although time- and effort-intensive (depending on the layer of rust), this process is economical and doesn't require other ingredients. However, don't be too rough since you don't want to scratch your tool's surface or mar its appearance.

What do you do when your scissors lose their sharp edge? Instead of tossing them away and buying a new pair, grab some steel wool from your kitchen. Now, decide how you'll be using them. For instance, do you need them to cut through some craft paper? Or, do you need them to cut straight through bolts of fabric? If you need them for the former, buff the blades with the wool to sharpen them. In case it's the latter, cut a few strips of steel wool to bring your dull scissors to life.

Nobody likes freeloaders, especially the disease-spreading type. But your efforts to banish rodents from your house will go to waste if you don't block off their entry and exit points. So, inspect all nooks and crannies for holes they might be using. Once you find them, stuff them using steel wool. This inexpensive solution will make it difficult for them to come in or move out since they can't chew through steel wool. Its abrasive texture will also discourage them from trying to shove it away using their body weight.

In case you constantly drag around your heavy furniture or prefer wearing black-soled shoes, chances are your flooring might sport ugly scuff marks all over them. You can leave them as is and let them age your floors, or you can grab steel wool and get to work. Rub it over the marks and watch as they become history in real time. Plus, your floors will get a good scrubbing. Win-win! However, keep your knee pads on hand if you'll be dealing with a large area, and clear your schedule.

Tired of plucking out your pet's shed hair and other nasties every time you give them a bath? DIY a budget-friendly and disposable drain strainer within seconds. Position steel wool over your shower or tub's drain such that it intercepts the flow of water. And you're done! Its coarse surface will trap hair and other debris while allowing the dirty water to go down the drain. After you're done giving them a bath, don your cleaning rubber gloves, grab the offensive steel wool, and put it in the trash.

After you painstakingly sand your latest wood project, you'll be eager to stain or paint it. But before you add the finishing touches or use a sanding sealer to hide its imperfections, ensure you have a pristine surface to work with. Move a fine grade (0000) steel wool over the sanded surface to remove the lingering dust and smooth out any minuscule bumps on the wood. Remember to work along the grain for best results. Finally, run a damp microfiber cloth over the area to sop up any residue.

As fun and empowering as DIY projects are, they can be a pain to accomplish, too. Just imagine creating holes in the wall to hang up a few family pictures. Now, think what would happen if the holes are too wide for the screw you have on hand. Do you get a filler and patch the hole before drilling a new one? Maybe you'd prefer buying a thicker screw? Well, instead of wasting your time or money, fold a little bit of steel wool around your screw to put it in place.

You might invest in kitchen wallpaper thinking it'll add charm to your home, but your mischievous kid may consider it another blank canvas they can use to create their next masterpiece. So, if you want to get your money's worth, apologize to the charming stick figures and put your steel wool to use. Test it in a small hidden area first, and if it doesn't create more problems, rub it against the crayon marks. Move it gently in the same direction and you'll be all set. Don't use this method on painted walls, however.

Scraping dried glue from glass surfaces, like your windows, can seem impossible. After all, you must apply firm pressure while using sharp objects like a utility knife. This is where steel wool comes in. It's abrasive enough to scrape the glue off your windows without you constantly worrying about hurting yourself. Dampen it in soapy water and scrub it over the affected area to get rid of the dried glue stains. Be gentle and exercise patience, or you could leave behind unsightly scratches.

Gardening tools are essential for maintaining a thriving garden. But when your plants go dormant in winter, you might also retire them for the season. Alas, cleaning off soil and sticky tree sap isn't enough. You must give them an oil treatment, too, to keep the metals from reacting with the moisture in the air and developing a layer of rust. So, to ensure your tools look new when you bring them out in the spring, dip a steel wool in oil and rub it over them. Once done, buff with a clean microfiber cloth before putting them back in place.

While you can use crackle paint to achieve the distressed look and get "antique" furniture for a fraction of the cost, why buy them when you have the necessary implements at your disposal? Steel wool is ideal for taking down the sheen of your paint a notch or two. You can even get the peeling effect if you want to age your surfaces a lot. Plus, you can fold or scrunch it in the shape you want for the desired results. You can also get into tight corners for a flawless finish.

This hack is perfect for individuals who can't remember the original color of their car's tires but would love to. Spray some WD-40 on super-fine (0000) steel wool and rub it in circular motions over the dirty patches. It might take a while, depending on how dirty your tires are, but you'll soon notice a difference between the scrubbed and non-scrubbed area. Keep going to maintain squeaky clean car tires. Remember that this process requires a significant amount of time and effort, so plan accordingly and don't attempt to clear all the tires in one-go.

In case you're all about eliminating smelly shoe odors with ingredients you already have, why not apply the same principle to clean your sneakers? Combine the abrasive power of steel wool with toothpaste to wipe away dirt and dust. Or, mix warm water with a dash of liquid dish soap and soak the wool in this concoction. However, if this seems like too much work, buy pre-loaded steel wools like S.O.S. Steel Wool Soap Pads. Once your shoes look clean, dry them with a clean microfiber cloth prior to using them.

A BBQ grill is one of the most important entertaining essentials for your outdoor space. Unfortunately, all your grocery runs and careful planning and plotting will be for naught if the grates sport dried food residue and greasy stains. But before you call off the party or order in, fill your kitchen sink or bathtub with water and add a generous amount of dish soap to it. Mix the two well and put your dirty grates inside. Allow the soap some time to loosen the gunk before rubbing it over with steel wool to get your barbeque party going.

Since you must sand your hardwood floor, deck, or other wooden projects before staining or painting them, sandpaper is a must-have item in your toolbox. But if you're short on time and can't run to the store for a new one, go to your kitchen and grab your steel wool. Then, don your gloves and rub it over your wooden surfaces as you would sandpaper. Remember, you need a fine-grade steel wool for this hack to work as desired.

Staining is a great way to highlight the organic beauty of your wooden projects. It also keeps them from getting damaged due to exposure to the sun's UV rays or the moisture in the air. Yet, if you'd rather not buy stains, DIY one at home using steel wool. Put it in an old mason jar (it must be clean and dry) and dunk it in distilled white vinegar. Now, let the solution marinate for a day or two. Once the time is up, follow a few helpful tips savvy DIYers should know before using wood stain.

Furniture tends to get dirty, lose its sheen, and accumulate a few stubborn stains over time, and wood pieces are no different. If yours look like they could use a good cleaning, spray some all-purpose cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe it along the furniture's length. Bring out your steel wool for the hard-to-remove stains, maintaining an easy pace. Wipe it down with another cloth and apply a little wax, like Howard Products' Wood Polish & Conditioner, to bring back its shine. After 20 to 30 minutes have passed, lightly buff the surface with super-fine (0000) steel wool.

Regular wear and tear will dull the shine of your sterling silver jewelry and make it look dated. To ensure it stays sparkling and enhances your OOTD (outfit of the day), buff it with steel wool. Be gentle since you don't want to scratch the surface of your jewelry. In case your pieces are too dirty or tarnished, dampen the scrubber and add a drop of liquid dish soap to it. Then, rub it over the affected areas. With that said, avoid using steel wool over precious stones or shiny pieces.

If your chrome taps are looking grimy, chances are hard water deposits, dirt, and soap scum are to blame for their predicament. Eliminate them from your faucets with super-fine (0000) steel wool. Simply scrub the stains and spots to uncover their shine. In case it takes a while, don't wet them or use soap (or any other chemical cleaners) to hurry along the process. Keep going and you'll slowly see the shine return to your dirty and dull taps. You can use a similar process to clean your chrome furniture, too.