25 Double-Duty Tips for Household Items

1. Coming in and out with your hands full? Loop a single rubber band around a door's inside and outside knobs, twisting it as you do so that the "X" presses the latch open. Once finished, hang the band on the inner knob for the next time.

2. To get a better grip on a stripped screw, trap one side of a wide rubber band (like the ones used on produce bundles) between the screwdriver and the screw head, and twist.

3. Keep slippery tops and strappy dresses from sliding into a heap on your closet floor by looping wide rubber bands over the ends of their hangers.

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"A five-rung pants hanger makes a great jewelry organizer. I tend to use the top rungs for bracelets and the bottom ones for necklaces." -- Raye Jean Wilson

"I use tongs to reach things on high shelves and to get items stuck behind my washer and dryer." -- Melissa Bradley

"To clean a dusty item or area, I put on cotton gloves, run my hands over it, then toss the gloves in the hamper to be washed." -- Tom Heim

"Rain-X keeps my bathroom tiles free from hard-water stains." -- Kristen Vasquez

"I use mayo to get rid of water rings on wood furniture. Dry the area and put on enough mayo (not the low-fat kind) to cover the spot, and let sit for several hours -- it'll be gone within the day." -- Nicole Fisher

Snag a spare one to stow jewelry when packing a suitcase. Another great use? For your MP3 player and earbuds.

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No need to buy pricey, not-so-eco-friendly Bubble Wrap. Socks, T-shirts, and towels make excellent padding when boxing up breakables for a move.

It does more than help with tough stains. Use it to loosen labels on washable hard surfaces or adhesive left by price stickers — the ultimate trap for clingy dusty bunnies.

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Once the tasty treats are just a sweet Valentine's memory, use the rinsed-out tray to hold tacks and paper clips in a desk drawer.

Cover the cardboard in acid-free tissue paper and roll clean linens around it to prevent fabric from creasing when stored.

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Use this manicure staple for more than just shaping your nails — it can gently buff away stains on suede bags and shoes.

After slicing onions or mincing garlic, neutralize smelly hands by rubbing fingers on a stainless steel spoon under running water.

More from Good Housekeeping: 30+ Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Clean it out, then fill it up with your preferred granular plant fertilizer for an easy way to feed your garden.