16 ways to get more from household basics

Vinegar may be pretty assaulting on the olfactory senses, but it is probably one of the most diverse products you have in your household arsenal.

Vinegartips.com recommends using it to make your pup's coat really shine. Just mix a cup of the white distilled variety with one quart of water, then rub down their coat with your hands.

The versatile ingredient can also be used to maintain skin and nails, soothe bug bites, remove stains, and maintain a healthy and green garden, according to the site.

Winnie may have been on to something.

Some varieties of honey can be used as a very effective antibacterial agent, according to US News & World Report.

The most potent type, Manuka honey, is found in New Zealand, US News reports, but there are honey-based wound creams and lotions you can purchase through Honeymark International.

The sweet treat can also be used as a shampoo booster, hair conditioner, pore cleanser, and scar fader, according to Women's Health Magazine.

If you've got a slug problem, you might want to think twice before you toss out the empties from last night's beer pong match.

Turns out the little pests will wander right into jars of brewski if you leave them hidden properly in the ground, according to Wisebread. Be sure the rims of the jars are at ground level and check back on them a day or so later to easily dispose of the unsuspecting critters. It's just as effective as salt without the hassle of finding the slugs yourself.

Wisebread also recommends using beer to cure your lawn of brown spots, revive wooden furniture, and remove stains.

Forget pricey pesticides. If you want to keep ants at bay, cinnamon may be all you need.

Use it to deter the six-legged critters from invading your home by spreading powdered cinnamon anywhere you catch sight of them, Anniesremedy.com says. Not only will you be bug-free, but your home will smell delicious, too.

Save big on cleaning costs by repurposing your toothpaste, Good Housekeeping says.

The magazine recommends using the minty stuff to clean sink fixtures and eliminate garlic or similarly malodorous scents from your hands after cooking.

Also, if you're needing your silver to look good for a last minute dinner party or event, toothpaste can act as an emergency polisher.

Before you trade in your tired old flatware for something shinier, give those spoons a second chance.

Sara Noel, founder of the Frugal Village, says you can save on expensive eye cream if you toss a pair of spoons in the freezer and apply them to your puffy eyes in the morning.

Banana peels can be a great, cheap trick to getting your silver to shine again.

Just use the inside of the peels to rub down whatever needs to be untarnished and watch them work their magic, Lifehacker says.

Before you drop cash on Drain-O for that clogged sink, just grab some baking soda from the fridge and let it do the work at a fraction of the cost.

First, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, Real Simple suggests. Then slowly add equal parts white vinegar and let it sit for five minutes. Douse the drain with a gallon of boiling water afterward and run the water to check your results.

Check out 59 more amazing things you can do with baking soda.

If it's not your drink of choice, consider using vodka for medicinal, cleaning, deodorizing, and other miscellaneous purposes.

For example, rinsing with vodka after shampoo and conditioner can help treat dandruff. One blogger recommends mixing one cup of vodka with two teaspoons of rosemary and letting it sit for a few days, then straining. Keep the mixture in the shower.

It can also act as an insect repellent, hairspray, ice pack, or room freshener.

Not all of us can afford to take a spa day when our skin starts looking sad during the dry winter months. For an affordable, all-natural alternative, avocados can be a great source if you're looking to treat yourself to a facial.

The vitamin-rich fruits are packed with essential nutrients that your skin will love. Plenty of sites out there offer recipes on avocado facials, like this one from Naturenews.com. Just mix some avocado with a little milk or oatmeal and slather it on your face. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water and enjoy the silky smooth results.

Commonly used as an antiseptic, it makes for an excellent household cleaner. Mix with water and use it to disinfect countertops or as a makeshift stain remover.

It also has various health and beauty purposes, and is great for lightening hair, disinfecting toothbrushes, and whitening nails.

Sponges don't have to remain in the kitchen to be effective.

This Old House recommends using sponges to keep your potted plants hydrated. Place wet sponges into the bottom of potted plants to help plants retain moisture.

Check out 43 other genius things you can do with a sponge — such as absorbing oil leaks, removing lint, and combating blisters.

Avid bakers, take note: You can save old butter wrappers to use instead of pricey non-stick cooking sprays.

Just stash them in your freezer and use them piece-meal to grease baking sheets and pans whenever needed.

Coconut oil has long been beloved by families on a budget, but its uses extend far beyond the kitchen.

Use it as a a moisturizer on your face, body, or hands. Rub a little bit between your hands and it will instantly become an oil that you can rub all over. Though it’s greasy at first, it will quickly absorb into your skin and nails.

It can also be used to remove makeup, prevent acne breakouts, and treat infections, among many other things.

If you never knew it was safe to put aluminum foil in dryers, join the club.

Turns out they make excellent alternatives to dryer sheets, according to Noel.

"Wad foil into balls that are approximately three inches in diameter and use them to reduce static in your dryer," she says. "You can wrap a tennis ball in foil, too."