Old newspapers at home can have more uses than just being taken for recycling. Experts have shared some clever ways to repurpose old newspapers, including using them as a replacement for cleaning cloths and as effective tools for cleaning glass windows.
Everyone desires their glass windows to look clean, transparent, and shining. However, due to the influence of dust and dirt, glass windows inevitably become dirty or develop streaks, requiring regular cleaning.
Despite the marketing of specialized tools for cleaning glass windows by influencers and businesses, Melissa Caverly, an expert running a cleaning company in the United States, shared a cost-effective method – using old newspapers that are ready for disposal to wipe glass.
Caverly suggested that you can keep some newspapers handy so when it’s time to clean the glass windows, these newspapers can come in handy and provide impressively clean results.
All you need is a basic glass cleaner spray. Spray it on the glass and then use an old newspaper to wipe the glass in circular motions, leaving it shining brightly.
This method is not only cheaper than buying chemical cleaners but also environmentally friendly. The Vinegar Institute in the US also recommends using newspapers as they do not leave streaks on the glass after wiping since they do not contain fibers.
Moreover, newspapers are better at absorbing water than paper towels, making them ideal for wiping away any residual marks.
Another clever use of old newspapers is replacing potentially environmentally harmful chemical herbicides for weed removal in the garden.
According to Real Homes website, wet several layers of old newspapers and place them in areas of the yard or garden with weeds, then cover them with a layer of soil. This method causes the weeds to die due to lack of sunlight and nutrients without the need for any chemical herbicides.
Gardening expert Evie Lane told the website that wet newspapers will gradually decompose, ultimately creating a new layer of soil over the weeds, causing them to die off.
Lane said, “Adding a layer of wet newspapers on top of the soil can inhibit weed growth and prevent seeds from germinating and taking root in the soil.”
She added that another benefit of this method is that wet newspapers can serve as winter mulch, preserving moisture in the soil, keeping it soft, and preventing it from drying out too quickly.
Previously reported by Da Ji Yuan, laundry detergent commonly used at home can also be used for weed removal, and it acts quickly. Just sprinkle some laundry detergent on the gravel or in the gaps on the terrace where weeds grow, and then pour boiling water over it. Laundry detergent containing boron is toxic to plants, effectively killing the weeds.