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Genius Cleaning Hacks That Reuse This Common Medicine
By TIM BUTTERS
Clean Floors
Alka-Seltzer contains a potent blend of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, which makes it tough on the dirt, grime, and stains that floors attract.
Simply fill ½ a gallon container with warm water and add four or five tablets to the equation. Then, wait about a minute before grabbing your mop and cleaning the floor.
Brighten Whites
Having your dazzling whites turn grubby yellow is disappointing, but Alka-Seltzer’s citric acid and sodium bicarbonate can help restore them to their former glory.
Soak your faded whites overnight in a bowl containing 4 quarts of water and two tablets of Alka-Seltzer. The next morning, dry the clothes and watch the yellow stains vanish.
Unblock Drains
With some vinegar, Alka-Seltzer can cut through common blockages in your drains. The fizz breaks up the blockage, while vinegar penetrates debris and removes odors.
For best results, remove any standing water and put a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets directly down the sink. Pour a cup of vinegar, wait 10 minutes, then pour boiling water.
Clean Coffee Makers
Use Alka-Seltzer to keep your coffee maker in pristine condition. Simply fill the coffee maker with water and drop in three Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Leave them to fizz for 15 minutes or more before running the pot on a full cycle. Once complete, rinse the pot thoroughly and run two further cleaning cycles before brewing.
Remove Stains
A caffeine stain can make the most exquisite porcelain cup look unappealing. Cleaning these stains can be challenging, unless you use Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Pour a little warm water into each stained vessel, pop an Alka-Seltzer tablet in, and wait for about 15 minutes. With a little gentle scrubbing, the stains should disappear.