Tips

Seven tips for making old things look brand new

Jun 29, 2017

Everyone loves new things. There’s nothing quite like taking a shiny new appliance or gadget out of its wrapping and admiring it in its pristine condition. Of course, the newness and shininess doesn’t last long.

Before you know it, your once gleaming appliance is grimy and seemingly ruined forever. But before you start considering buying new, here are a few tips for getting old things looking as sparkling and brand new as the day you bought them.

1. Plates

Porcelain plates always end up covered in ugly scratch marks from cutlery, especially when they’re used frequently. You can actually get polish made specifically for porcelain that will have your good plates looking, well, good again!

2. Copper pots

Copper pots are one of the best things you can cook with, because of the way they hold and distribute heat. However, they look old and dingy very quickly without proper care! Try sprinkling salt over the surface and then add a little vinegar, and buff with a sponge. It will be gleaming like new again!

3. Baking trays

Spread a paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on a grease and fat covered baking tray and leave it for 30 minutes, then rinse and wipe clean. Just like new!

4. Leather

Make your leather furniture and accessories look like new by polishing with a little baby oil on a soft cloth.

5. Microfibre furniture

Use a sponge and rubbing alcohol to get rid of any stains. Dampen the stain with a sponge soaked in alcohol, let it dry, and then go over the area thoroughly with a brush.

6. Towels

Get your towels fluffy again by rinsing them in salt water after washing. Dry them in a well-ventilated area to keep them fluffy, and if needed, pop them in the dryer for a few minutes to finish them off.

7. Canvas sneakers

Scrub your sneakers with a mixture of one teaspoon of dishwasher cleaning liquid, three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons of baking soda. They will be bright white and new again!