Clever Cleaning: Common Household Items Can Double As Cleaning Tools

NEW YORK (WLNY) --They are some of the best cleaning tools around, and chances are you already have them in your house.

Common household items -- vinegar, toothpaste and even crayons -- can double as clever cleaning agents.

Elaine Griffin, contributing design editor for Better Homes and Gardens joined The Couch to share her tips.

Olive oil + lemon juice: Cleans and polishes wood (1/2 t. olive oil + ½ c. juice). You can also use vinegar instead of lemon juice.

Eraser: Rubs off scuff marks on a tile or linoleum floor AND cleans crayon off a laminate countertop.

Vodka: Spritz on countertops to kill germs; evaporates quickly so no streaks

Dryer sheets: Wet and remove mineral deposits and soap scum on a glass shower door. Tip: Keep shower door open after showering to allow air to circulate and better dry the walls to inhibit soap scum and mineral deposits.

Denture-cleaning tablets: Drop in a couple tablets once a week to keep toilet bowl clean

Nail polish remover: Removes crayon from a hardwood floor

Whitening toothpaste: Cleans grout lines

Microwave: Disinfect sponges and cleaning rags by nuking them for one minute

Vinegar: Clears hard-water buildup in a tub/shower, shower head, water-level ring in toilet bowl

Crayons: Minimizes a scratch on a wood floor. Color in with similar crayon color and buff with a soft cloth.