Incredible Cleaning Tricks to Make Everything Shine

Tape off the siphon jets under the rim with duct tape, pour vinegar in, and let it sit about an hour before flushing -- remove the tape before using the toilet.

Liquid, dust, and food easily get stuck under the keys. An old toothbrush gets into those gaps and makes a keyboard look brand-new again.

Mix equal parts baking soda and vegetable oil into a paste and rub it onto cabinet doors with a soft cloth to soften and lift stubborn stains.

Pour a little alcohol or nail polish remover onto a microfiber cloth and scrub gently in a circular motion until the stain lifts, then rinse with water and let dry.

Move a squeegee back and forth across the carpet to pull up hidden pet hair -- it works like magic.

Steel wool provides just enough abrasion to scrub away sticky, built-up gunk on a curling iron.

Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, add a few drops of water to form a paste, and scrub -- the gentle abrasion lifts coffee stains from mugs, carafes, and hard surfaces in minutes.

Press a ball of play dough over spilled glitter to lift the sparkles right off the surface -- that's the whole trick.

Fill the dish with water and a few drops of dish soap, scrunch aluminum foil into a ball, and scrub the baked-on grime away -- one of the fastest ways to clean glass bakeware.

Rinse brushes with baby shampoo, then hang them to dry using a hanger and binder clip -- hanging them prevents trapped moisture from harboring mold or loosening bristles.

Pour a bottle of Coca-Cola over oil stains in the garage and let it sit -- the acid loosens the stain so it washes away easily.

Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it over the shower head so it stays soaked for several hours, dissolving mineral buildup.

Grind a small portion of uncooked rice in the grinder to absorb built-up residue and eliminate lingering odors.

Dampen a Q-tip with rubbing alcohol and gently wipe the mesh to disinfect and remove residue -- avoid saturating it too much.

Soak shoes in warm water, scrub toothpaste in with an old toothbrush until it foams, then let it sit about ten minutes before rinsing off for brighter white sneakers.

A small amount of toothpaste, rubbed gently (not scrubbed hard), can restore sparkle to an engagement ring without a trip to the jeweler.