# Household products that are worth their weight in gold **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697 "2005-12-21T22:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/41 "2005-12-23T14:50:23Z")
_Kaboom_. Oh, I love this stuff. It’s one of the few things I’ve seen advertised on TV that worked just as well as the ads said. With _Kaboom_, all I have to use to clean my tub is a paper towel! Spray it on, let it sit a couple of minutes, and _swish!_ dirt and soap scum are gone! ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/42 "2005-12-23T16:12:03Z")
Zout stain remover. We keep a bottle next to the hamper, and just pretreat any stains as you put them there! It’ll work fine even if it takes you several days to get the load washed. Awesome stuff. I second “baby wipes” by the way. They are great to have in the car for a quick washup, or emergency stain removal (they work wonders on fabric stains). I’ve been using them in my car for years! ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/43 "2005-12-23T16:21:47Z")
I am currently in love with our little Christmas tree light-switch. It’s a foot-operated push button that can be moved around as necessary (as the space under the tree gets filled with packages). No more bending over, hunting around for the outlet to turn the lights on and off! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/44 "2005-12-23T16:57:05Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > **Imitrex** for migraines. This stuff has rescued me from migraine pain on countless occasions. I have to second this one, and add in Topamax for daily use in preventing migraines. I know technically they’re not ‘household products,’ but damn if they’re not worth their weight in gold. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/45 "2005-12-23T18:12:22Z")
I thought of 2 more. Cascade \*\*Complete \*\* powder dishwasher soap. The “Complete” means it has an enzyme formula (whatever) but that makes all the difference in the world in the dishes coming out actually clean, completely clean. Also, microfiber hair drying towels. This makes such a difference in how long it takes for your hair to air dry or blow dry. Evaporation is a really inefficient way to dry hair that is soaking wet. The microfiber towels are super absorbent, and that way you only have to take your hair from damp-dry to dry. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/46 "2005-12-24T00:39:31Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered this. Is it a PA thing? Good question. It’s hard to say if Octagon can be bought in other areas of the country because, well, I haven’t lived other places. :dubious: I used to buy it at K-Mart, but since Mall-Wart has displaced them, I’ll have to see if I can buy Octagon at K-Marts in other areas. ---
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/47 "2005-12-24T04:34:09Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > I am currently in love with our little Christmas tree light-switch. It’s a foot-operated push button that can be moved around as necessary (as the space under the tree gets filled with packages). No more bending over, hunting around for the outlet to turn the lights on and off! We have a _remote control_ switch for the Christmas tree lights! Between that and the Santa’s Magic Water Spout I bought at the tree stand this year, we do NOT have to crawl under or around the tree for any reason whatsoever!!! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/48 "2005-12-24T05:02:52Z")
One more vote for Dawn dishwashing detergent. I used to pop popcorn for a movie theater, and Dawn works better than the commercial janitor stuff on removing grease. Let me tell you, when you pop multiple cubic yards of corn in one day, the grease DOES build up in the whole room! I’ve been happy with all of the Burt’s Bees products I’ve bought. Mostly it’s lip balm and gloss, but I got some cuticle cream the other day that did wonders for my nails and cuticles. Plus it smells wonderful. I had to put it on about four times a day at first, because my nails and cuticles kept sucking it up…now I only need to put it on once a day. I guess I just need to dip my whole body in beeswax and honey every day during the winter. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/49 "2005-12-24T13:16:56Z")
> [@Kiminy](#): > > We have a _remote control_ switch for the Christmas tree lights! Between that and the Santa’s Magic Water Spout I bought at the tree stand this year, we do NOT have to crawl under or around the tree for any reason whatsoever!!! If we got a remote control for the tree, it would be lost in the sofa cushions along with the remote for the TV and the one for the DVD player. ☹ > [@LynnBodoni](#): > > One more vote for Dawn dishwashing detergent. Well, there ya go! We got the Administrative vote! Doesn’t get much more definitive than that, folks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/50 "2005-12-24T13:47:45Z")
Another vote for baking soda. What else can clean and deodorize so well so cheaply and greenly. A plumber’s snake. One will replace a million bottles of Drano, which is expensive, extremely toxic and DOES NOT WORK. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/51 "2005-12-24T14:33:00Z")
[A good can opener.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=349445) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/52 "2005-12-26T21:02:29Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > _Kaboom_. Oh, I love this stuff. It’s one of the few things I’ve seen advertised on TV that worked just as well as the ads said. With _Kaboom_, all I have to use to clean my tub is a paper towel! Spray it on, let it sit a couple of minutes, and _swish!_ dirt and soap scum are gone! I tried Kaboom after seeing your post. Works many times better than anything else I’ve tried. Definitely a thumbs up. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/53 "2005-12-26T21:55:43Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] I also love the Swiffer duster. I have the handheld one and the long extending one. My only complaint is not being able to buy _just_ the refills. I hate buying a new handle each time. QUOTE] ?? Around here it’s easy to just buy a box of refills. Maybe you’re not looking on the right shelf? ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/54 "2006-01-03T03:32:45Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > Yeah, but have you ever tried the KY Warming Gel? Yowza! A little dab’ll do ya’ that’s fer sher. I don’t know what they did to it, but not only is the warming feature kinda cool, a little dab _will_ do ya (hee hee). And I never need any more. With regular KY, I was always adding more and more and more…ugh, what a mess. Oh, and I talk like this in person, too. ---
**Author:** ![suezeekay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@suezeekay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suezeekay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/55 "2006-01-03T06:15:58Z")
WD-40. I use it on everything, like the lawnmower and the pruning shears, ad infinitum. [http://www.twbc.org/wd40.htm](http://www.twbc.org/wd40.htm) This time of year I spray it on the rubber gasket around the car doors and trunk to keep them from freezing shut. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/56 "2006-01-03T14:00:06Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > ?? Around here it’s easy to just buy a box of refills. Maybe you’re not looking on the right shelf? I can find the Swiffer floor mop refills, but not the hand-held duster refills. I’ve looked. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697/57 "2006-01-03T17:00:51Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I tried Kaboom after seeing your post. Works many times better than anything else I’ve tried. Definitely a thumbs up. I’m glad! I always hate to gush about something, and then when someone tries it on my recommendation, they hate it! Good thing it’s available at Wal-Mart, or I might never have tried it (I’m gun-shy about ordering infomercial products!). It really is the best thing I’ve ever used to clean my shower. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-products-that-are-worth-their-weight-in-gold/336697.md?page=2)