Draven Jackson
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Have you ever been in a tight situation and the only thing that can fix the problem is the traditional DIY hacks you learned from your mom way back when? We learn so much from our mothers, from how to remove stains, how to treat burns, and how to make a bomb hashbrown casserole. In case you forgot any, here is our list of the best traditional DIY hacks that came straight from our momma’s mouths.
Remove Stains with Dawn Dish Soap
One of the top-dollar traditional DIY hacks we learned from our mothers was that Dawn Dish Soap is perfect for removing stains. No need to buy expensive stain remover – this at-home hack will save you lots of money on detergent products. To use: take a small amount of dish soap and apply it to the area with the stain. I also like to use a toothbrush here to get the dish soap deeper into the stain.
Scrub the soap into the stain with the toothbrush and then wash with hot water. It’s best now to immediately put it into the washer. This has genuinely worked for me loads of times and is an absolute lifesaver for someone who can’t wear white without spilling the entire fridge on themselves and will be extra beneficial for anyone washing dirty clothes for tiny tots.
Remove Deodorant Streaks with Pantyhose
Pantyhose? Yes, pantyhose! Another one of the amazing traditional DIY hacks that your mom definitely had in her repertoire, pantyhose are a great way to remove deodorant streaks. I also learned this while working in a woman’s clothing store, so consider it your mom’s trade secret.
To use: roll your pantyhose into a ball and start rubbing at the deodorant streaks. You’re basically using your pantyhose like a cloth. Just keep rubbing at the nasty white smudges until they disappear. Again, I’ve used this countless times to remove deodorant stains off store clothing, so you know it works.
Clean Silver with Baking Soda and Water
For anyone looking for traditional DIY hacks centered on jewelry, this is the one for you. Pro tip: store-bought cleaner DOES NOT WORK – it can create a foggy texture to your silver jewelry or tarnish the shine. However, there’s a cheap easy way to clean silver: baking soda and water.
Some people also use toothpaste here, but ultimately, it’s the same concept. Here, you’ll combine two tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of hot water. You may need to add more water or more baking soda to get the paste-y texture, but you’re going to want to create a type of paste (like toothpaste). Using a clean cloth, scrub the baking soda paste onto the silver jewelry on the dirty, discolored areas, then wash in hot water. Repeat as necessary.
There are other ways to clean silver jewelry with baking soda and water, but this is my favorite method and works best for small jewelry.
Tea Tree Oil Helps with Acne
One of the great traditional DIY hacks for all essential oil moms is using Tea Tree oil for acne. Tea Tree oil is great for inflammation, so it’s perfect for reducing the redness of acne breakouts. To use: dilute the oil by combining 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of carrier oil (or buy pre-diluted oil). Always be careful not to use undiluted essential oils on your skin.
Make sure to do a patch test first to ensure that it doesn’t cause an adverse reaction, so apply a small amount to the inside of your elbow. Wash your face with a gentle acne cleanser, then dab a small amount of oil on your blemished areas with a cotton pad. Let it dry and then apply your moisturizer (moisturizer is extremely important as tea tree oil can dry out your skin).
Use Witch Hazel on Burns
One of the best traditional DIY hacks that I learned from my great-grandma is using witch hazel to relieve burns. Another great way to decrease inflammation is with witch hazel, so it also makes a great toner. To use: soak a cloth or paper towel in witch hazel, then press onto the burned area. Be careful not to rub as it can increase irritation.
Witch hazel can also be used to treat sunburns by applying a witch hazel-soaked cloth to the sunburned area.
Onions Help Ease Itching with Mosquito Bites
One of the most useful traditional DIY hacks for summer outdoor events, onions are a great way to ease the itching of mosquito bites. As someone prone to getting eaten up during the warm summer months, this is extremely helpful and a must-have lifehack. To use: slice a cold, fresh onion and apply these slices to your bug bites (pro tip: yellow onions usually work the best). The onions work by drawing out the mosquito’s leftover saliva (which is what makes the bug bites itch), while the coolness adds extra relief.
Fresh Orange Peels Can Keep Your Garbage Disposal from Smelling
One of the top traditional DIY hacks for cleaning is throwing a fresh orange peel into the garbage disposal. Garbage disposals can tend to get super smelly based on all the gross stuff that gets thrown into them, so grandmas everywhere have been using this lifehack for generations.
The best way to do this is to collect orange, lemon, or lime rings and freeze them overnight. The hardened rind will knock any excess debris away from the shredder, and the citrus smell will make the disposal smell nice and clean for a long time.
Water Plants with Yarn
For those plant moms looking for traditional DIY hacks to help make plant care more efficient, here’s how to use water and yarn to water the plants. This is great for when you’re going to be away from home for long periods of time, like on family vacations or business trips. When you leave, put a tall bucket of water beside your plant and place threads of yarn with one end in the water and one end in the plants.
While your gone, the yarn will soak up the water and supply your plants with long-term watering but will also keep them from being overwatered. This is cheaper than buying a fancy irrigation system and will work just as well!
Have more traditional DIY hacks passed down from mother to mother for generations? Tell us in the comments!
About Draven Jackson
Draven is an avid writer and reader who enjoys sharing her opinions on movies, books, and music with the rest of the world. She will soon be working as a teacher in Japan and hopes to use her experience to connect with other teachers and students around the globe. Draven spends most of her time at home with her family, her dogs, and her ferret.
To see more, view all posts by Draven Jackson here.
