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Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things
Discover ingenious ways to use or reuse more than 250 common household items to replace, restore, repair, or revive almost anything in your household—including yourself.
When you have a household problem, don’t run to the store and waste good money, just open your pantry door—and EXTRAORDINARY USES FOR ORDINARY THINGS. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with baby oil, bleach, duct tape, tea, rubbing alcohol, and dozens of other handy items. This book will open your eyes to over 2,300 creative and helpful uses you can make of familiar household products. You will discover how to save time and money with items in your pantry, medicine cabinet, wastebasket, and recycling bin that you can use to solve common household problems or to substitute for products that you would otherwise buy.
The over 2,300 extraordinary uses includes:
• Aspirin can revive a dead car battery and a coating of petroleum jelly will keep the battery’s terminals from corroding
• A dab of shaving cream can keep your bathroom mirror from fogging and can remove juice stains on carpeting
• Petroleum jelly makes a great lip balm, makeup remover, and moisturizer
• A turkey baster is the perfect tool for watering Christmas trees and hard-to-reach plants
• Beer can be combed through your hair as a setting lotion, used as lure to trap insects, and polish gold jewelry
• Sandpaper can be used to sharpen needles and scissors, roughen slippery soles of new shoes, remove ink stains and scuff marks from suede, and remove stains on grout lines
• Wax paper will prevent a cast-iron skillet from rusting, restore the nonstick surface on your iron, and use on the bottom of a microwave when cooking messy foods
If you hate to throw things away or if you delight in dreaming up new ways to use ordinary items, then you’ll love the ideas in this book. You’ll be amazed at the problems you can solve. It’s a book you’ll be sure to turn to again and again for helpful ideas, trustworthy advice, and entertaining reading.
When you have a household problem, don’t run to the store and waste good money, just open your pantry door—and EXTRAORDINARY USES FOR ORDINARY THINGS. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with baby oil, bleach, duct tape, tea, rubbing alcohol, and dozens of other handy items. This book will open your eyes to over 2,300 creative and helpful uses you can make of familiar household products. You will discover how to save time and money with items in your pantry, medicine cabinet, wastebasket, and recycling bin that you can use to solve common household problems or to substitute for products that you would otherwise buy.
The over 2,300 extraordinary uses includes:
• Aspirin can revive a dead car battery and a coating of petroleum jelly will keep the battery’s terminals from corroding
• A dab of shaving cream can keep your bathroom mirror from fogging and can remove juice stains on carpeting
• Petroleum jelly makes a great lip balm, makeup remover, and moisturizer
• A turkey baster is the perfect tool for watering Christmas trees and hard-to-reach plants
• Beer can be combed through your hair as a setting lotion, used as lure to trap insects, and polish gold jewelry
• Sandpaper can be used to sharpen needles and scissors, roughen slippery soles of new shoes, remove ink stains and scuff marks from suede, and remove stains on grout lines
• Wax paper will prevent a cast-iron skillet from rusting, restore the nonstick surface on your iron, and use on the bottom of a microwave when cooking messy foods
If you hate to throw things away or if you delight in dreaming up new ways to use ordinary items, then you’ll love the ideas in this book. You’ll be amazed at the problems you can solve. It’s a book you’ll be sure to turn to again and again for helpful ideas, trustworthy advice, and entertaining reading.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Reader's Digest Association
5,145 books505 followersThe Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global media and direct marketing company based in Chappaqua, New York, best known for its flagship publication founded in 1922, Reader's Digest. The company's headquarters are in New York City, where it moved from Pleasantville, New York.
The company was founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace in 1922 with the first publication of Reader's Digest magazine, but has grown to include a diverse range of magazines, books, music, DVDs and online content.
The company was founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace in 1922 with the first publication of Reader's Digest magazine, but has grown to include a diverse range of magazines, books, music, DVDs and online content.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 6, 2017
This is an entertaining if a little frustrating book. As its title states its a book about the origins and history of everyday objects.
Now the reason why I say frustrating is two fold. The first is the choice of the "things" in that some like doors and windows, although steeped in history and archeology - after all how many amazing buildings still stand that are a testament to time and human endeavour - are not exactly surprising or unexpected. However there are other entries which are totally surprising and unexpected (well at least for me they are). So you have a mix of the predictable and well known (after all the motor car?) but at the same time there are still those that can surprise and educate.
The other reason why this book frustrates me and this one I sort of know the answer to - is that many of the entries although following various themes (food and drink, sports and leisure and so on) many of the subjects are reduced to quick little paragraphs that really can only glancingly touch upon the facts. Now the challenge is do you cover more topics and reduce the coverage or increase the coverage and reduce the topics otherwise you will end up with a book the size of a telephone directory.
So there you have it - a book filled with fact, some and amazing and fascinating others are predictable or just not that very enthralling - however you cannot dismiss the amount of work that went in to this book, a perfect table top edition designed for random reading and periodic perusing.
Now the reason why I say frustrating is two fold. The first is the choice of the "things" in that some like doors and windows, although steeped in history and archeology - after all how many amazing buildings still stand that are a testament to time and human endeavour - are not exactly surprising or unexpected. However there are other entries which are totally surprising and unexpected (well at least for me they are). So you have a mix of the predictable and well known (after all the motor car?) but at the same time there are still those that can surprise and educate.
The other reason why this book frustrates me and this one I sort of know the answer to - is that many of the entries although following various themes (food and drink, sports and leisure and so on) many of the subjects are reduced to quick little paragraphs that really can only glancingly touch upon the facts. Now the challenge is do you cover more topics and reduce the coverage or increase the coverage and reduce the topics otherwise you will end up with a book the size of a telephone directory.
So there you have it - a book filled with fact, some and amazing and fascinating others are predictable or just not that very enthralling - however you cannot dismiss the amount of work that went in to this book, a perfect table top edition designed for random reading and periodic perusing.
February 11, 2019
The sort of book to dip into often because there are so many tips you cannot remember them. Every time I browse through I see something else to try. Nice small size but loads of pages. These are genuine uses, not daft ideas.
November 8, 2020
Clear, well organised and inspiring too. Positively makes you want to go and try stuff out.
July 16, 2008
I picked this up as an impulse buy. It has some amazing things you can do with stuff around your house. Smoothe save-irritated legs with hair conditioner, it acts like a lotion and can soothe pain away. Remove lipstick from fabric by using hair spray... Yeah, a lot of money saving tips!
January 9, 2020
I like to look at books like this, you never know what you could learn. And also interesting to see all the family tips listed in another source.
August 13, 2022
Great tips and tricks!
May 17, 2025
Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things: 2,317 Ways to Save Money and Time by Reader’s Digest Association is an extensive and practical handbook that reveals innovative uses for over 200 common household items. Clearly organized for quick reference, the book provides creative and effective solutions for everyday tasks including cooking, cleaning, repairs, and home upkeep, enabling readers to save both time and money. Its user-friendly layout and wide range of ideas serves as an invaluable resource for anyone looking to maximize the value of products they already have. Its practical, eco-conscious tips make it appealing to both DIY enthusiasts and those seeking simple, budget-friendly hacks. Overall, this book is an indispensable resource for the ones who resonate with practicality, creativity and sustainability in everyday life.
June 14, 2019
the ideas, suggestions and solutions are real and basic, as I suspected. I suspected that with a combination of bleach, ammonia, baking soda and a few other chemicals and products, one can solve most household issue. And it is true! I don't buy round-up weed killer anymore (saving Cahokia? No.), but instead use the more effective solution provided in the book.
The biggest advantage is that one stops using a lot of single-purpose products.
The biggest advantage is that one stops using a lot of single-purpose products.
April 28, 2009
This book is full of useful ideas/tips/recipes concerning things that many people have hanging around their house ie., plastic lids or toilet paper tubes... there are extensive sections on the use of vinegar and duct tape (separately) Indexed alphabetically by item and also in a section of superlative lists (most useful in garden, most useful for storage, etc.)
November 30, 2007
Full of Great ideas to do with everyday household items
September 17, 2008
Who knew WD-40 was so versatile?
October 25, 2008
You can laugh at me all you want (Carrie) but this book is just cool! Especially now, in this world of recycling and economic agony - knowing the 47 ways you can use a pair of nylons is great!
July 17, 2009
There are packed with ideas in this book...I could use some of them.
August 4, 2009
I found this book so useful; beside its natural usage as suggested by its title, its practical usage could also save your diems!
June 10, 2010
4/5 Learned all sorts of things from this very useful book. This was a library copy - I shall have to buy one of my own to refer to!
October 21, 2010
I want to own a copy to refer to!!
March 25, 2011
A big helping book for the whole family! Reading it really does realize that every single thing has amazing uses.
June 11, 2011
Got it on the sale rack of Barnes and Nobles, but it's fun!
June 29, 2011
So far..very informative!
January 27, 2012
Full of the "make do and mend" spirit. Lots of handy and sometimes positively daft tips, that can solve problems and save you money in these cash strapped times!
April 27, 2012
was interesting to those that like to do stuff for themselfs.
May 22, 2012
too text book for me...didn't even attempt to read so not a true rating here..
February 26, 2013
Awesome book for general information but also awesome for when you need a household fix or remedy.
June 26, 2015
amazing book of amazing ideas....simply extraordinary book...
March 16, 2016
Interesting ways to reuse items around the house. A little repetitive in places.
February 18, 2017
If you are looking for uses for ordinary household items, this is the book for you. Many, many suggestions are included to help you get the most out of the items in your home.
September 19, 2019
I loved this book! So many hot tips! haha I'm always looking for natural ways to get things done, and this has so many great ideas I can't wait to try out!
August 16, 2009
It has some interesting uses for everyday things :D
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews