How To Remove 3 Common Household Eyesores

Drain Rust. Since drains are frequent friends of water, they’re extremely prone to rust. This can give your house an unwanted Blair Witch vibe, but it can also ruin your drain! For light rust, sprinkle salt on the affected area and then squeeze some lemon or lime juice over it (don’t use too much, or you’ll wash the salt away).

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Let the mixture sit for 24 hours – adding some more juice occasionally – and then wash it away with cool water. If your rust has gotten pretty serious, you may need to repeat this a few times. Tip: If the rust has spread to your porcelain tub, you can use a pumice stone to remove it!

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Moldy Grout. Grout is often the odd man out when it comes to…you know…attention of any kind. Unfortunately, the moisture that hangs out between your tiles is a playground for mold and mildew, which isn’t a tasteful addition to your kitchen backsplash or shower.

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Fighting grout-gunk is easy if you can remember to do it, though! All you need is baking soda, vinegar and a toothbrush. For details, read: A Shout Out to Grout.

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Wood scratches. Nothing says “ramshackle home” quite like a bunch of scratches on your wooden tables and chairs. If you have damage to unfinished wood, you’re in luck because all you need to fix it is a nut! Simply rub a walnut (pecans, almonds and Brazil nuts also work) into the scratch so that it fills the area.

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Let it sit for 5-10 – the oil from the nut will soak in and repair the scratch. Then, buff the area with a soft cloth. Done! If you need to deal with scratches on finished or painted wood, check out these simple de-scratching tips.

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