Set aside your bucket of standard cleaning supplies, and instead use everyday household items and even food to make your place sparkle.

• Fabric-Softener Sheets

  TV screens generate a lot of static electricity, which attracts dust. Simply wipe the screen with a fabric-softener sheet, and the problem is solved.

• Flour and Cooking Oil

  Use flour to buff and polish stainless-steel sinks. Just sprinkle a little into a dry, clean sink and buff well with a soft cloth or paper towel. Wash the flour down the drain. Next, put a little cooking oil on a towel and rub the sink with the oil for a nice shine.

• Dry Mustard

  Eliminate odors from plastic food containers with powdered dry mustard. Fill the container with warm water and add a few shakes of the mustard. Soak for a few hours or overnight, rinse and dry. Use the same technique for removing odors from your cutting board.

• Potatoes

  Slice a potato in half and rub the cut side over a laundry stain prior to washing. The starch helps break down the mud. Another use for a cut potato is to rub it on white shoes. It helps shoe polish go on more smoothly.

• Apple Peels and Cream of Tartar

  Use apple peels to get stains out of aluminum cookware. Fill the pan with water, bring to a boil and toss the peels inside. Simmer for about 30 minutes. The acid in the peels should remove the discoloration. If you don't have apples, adding a tablespoon of cream of tartar to the water should work just as well.