Can a banana peel be used to polish your shoes, or is that just a myth? As it turns out, one of the main ingredients found in shoe polish is potassium, which bananas contain a lot of; this is probably where the idea of using bananas to wipe your shoes came about.
Technically, using the inside of a banana peel can work on polishing your shoes when you’re squeezed for time—but keep in mind that you need to buff it afterward with a cloth, just like regular polish.
How to Deal with Odors in Your Fridge
Some studies show that storing newspapers in your fridge to remove odors is a great trick that works. But this is only a makeshift solution to a potentially more persistent problem; basically, it's solutionism at its worst. One reason for odors could be from lingering bacteria or moldy food that needs to be cleared out, not covered up.
If you're struggling to keep your fridge smelling clean, then it's high time you start taking stock of what you have inside. Another great tip is to use containers with tightly-sealed lids to avoid any unexpected spills or subtle odors.
Does Salt Prevent Colors from Bleeding in Wash?
There's nothing more adult than enjoying a freshly washed bunch of laundry, especially when your clothes happen to stay brightly colored. Back in the day, we might've used salt or vinegar to prevent the colors from bleeding during washes; that method remains more of a myth and hasn't been proven to be effective.
So save your salt for cooking delicious meals that give you the energy for finishing up your house chores, and safely use a commercial dye fixative product to prevent color bleeding instead.
Does Hot Water Actually Sanitize Items?
Is it true that hot water can be used to sanitize items reliably? This cleaning hack does seem to hold water! The definition of “hot water” would mean that water needs to boil for it to properly sterilize and sanitize items, at least 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is almost double the heat that most people can handle when washing their hands. Even though you could sanitize items with hot water, it’s probably more efficient to incorporate a cleaning product into the process.
Do Dirtier Clothes Equal More Detergent?
Did you ever wonder why they made those cute little detergent pods? It's to help get the correct dosage when doing laundry because dirtier clothes don't mean you need more detergent.
Seeing as a high-efficiency washing machine uses less water, and having too much laundry can soak up all the water, meaning there won't be enough liquid to completely dissolve the detergent.