17 Surprising Ways to Use Steel Wool Around the House

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Steel Wool, Still Going Strong

A tool that ’s now commonplace in the modern home , steel woollen came about somewhat by accident . It is believed that 19th - hundred mechanics used to gather up the shavings beneath their lathe and use them to polish up metal surfaces . By the other 20th century , sword woolen was a mass - produced cleaning putz , still made from thin , shave steel . Sold in small rolls or organize into pad that are sometimes soaked in soap , this handy product is a valuate assistant in place and workshops everywhere .

Steel wool is manufactured in eight degree , which range from extra - coarse ( gradation 4 ) to super fine ( form 0000 ) . The coarser the telegram , the more harsh the sword woollen . There are innumerable ways to make the most of steel wool ’s unparalleled scratchy holding , especially for the finest mark .

1. Maintain Garden Tools

Give yourgarden toolsa spa handling at the oddment of each season . fray them clean with a piece of 000 ( extra - ok ) steel woollen soaked in ordinary home oil . pass over them dry with a clear rag before put them away for winter , and they ’ll be ready to strike the footing run come springiness .

2. Keep Out Rodents

Blockmiceand other vermin from entering your home through small holes around pipes , mopboard , and other vulnerable arena . englut some steel wool into those entry points and varnish it up with sullen - responsibility tape recording . Even mice do n’t want metal mouth !

3. Start a Campfire

wrap up a low man of brand wool around a cotton bollock to make a warm and easycampfirestarter . Store a few in an airtight container or traveling bag until you ’re quick to use them . When you want to take off a flak , screw up up the cotton plant nut and heat the steel wool by rubbing the lead of a9V batteryover it . switch on some tinder , and you ’ve aim yourself a campfire .

4. Distress a Paint Finish

practice steel woollen to take down the glossary on a rouge last and reach adistressedlook on your furniture . More malleable thansandpaper , steel fleece is easier to hold and mold more pronto around ill at ease configuration . you may also use a finer - grade steel fleece for burnishing .

5. Tighten a Loose Screw

Wind a little blade woollen around a screw before place it back into a hole that ’s tease apart up over clip . The steel woolen will tighten it up and help oneself hold the screw in seat .

6. Polish Brass

Take the tarnish off realbrasswith some surplus - fine steel wool . It work on equally well with a commercial polish or a DIY intermixture of salt andlemon succus . Avoid using sword woolen on brass plate , as it can scratch the thin plating . How can you tell the difference between brass instrument and nerve home base ? A magnet will wedge to organisation scale , but not to real cheek .

7. Finishing or Refinishing Woodwork

habituate the finest class ( 0000 ) steel woollen to smooth the open on a slice you ’ve stained and shellacked . It will remove any dust particles that may have settle during drying and give you a super politic surface for that last pelage ofshellac .

8. Remove Rust

Rid your upcycling labor of rust by working over the rusty spot with brand woolen until it ’s clean . If you’replanning on spray paintingthe project afterwards , utilise that brand woollen to rough up the intact open of the piece so the rouge has something to cling to .

9. Clean Tires

Revive tired - looking tires by applyingWD-40and scrub up them down with the fine ( 0000 ) blade woollen . Whether black - walls or livid - wall , they ’ll gleam with new life .

10. Wash Your Windows

utilise the fine blade wool toclean your windowswithout water or chemical . Keep a vacuum handy to remove all the grime you undo as well as the rubble create by the sword fleece . If your window framing is aluminum , you’re able to houseclean it with steel wool as well — and then lease the sunlight glow in !

11. Remove Scuffs on Sneakers

Give the midsoles of drag - up stool pigeon a makeover by brush them up with blade fleece , toothpaste , and some one-time - fashioned elbow joint grease . Then rinse with H2O . Your kicks will thank you .

12. Clean Your Grill Grates

Eliminate stubborn , stuck - on deposits on yourgrill grateswith steel wool . Soak the grate in soapy water system first to damp the worst gunk , then go to work with some brand fleece . With a short muscle and effort , you ’ll be searing up steaks on clean grates in no time .

13. Erase Scuff Marks

When shoes leave black marks onvinyl flooring , all it takes is a small blade wool and water to remove the scuff . Throw in a little cubitus grease , and you ’ll soon have your vinyl floor shining again . Dampened sword wool can also help get wax crayon marks off wallpaper when your toddlers decide to add their own aesthetic expression to the aim .

14. Strain Hair in the Tub

When washingdogs , lay a thin strip of sword wool in the drainpipe before starting . The sword wool will lease H2O through but should get those annoying dog hairs along with the weed , sticks , and unidentifiable debris that catch in slurred coats . When you ’re done , there ’s no penury to cleanse out the drain — just lift up the steel wool and bewilder it away .

15. Make a Homemade Stain

Although steel woolen is typically used to help remove stains , it can also make a stain forwood labor . Simply put some steel fleece into a glass jar and rain cats and dogs white vinegar over it . The vinegar will remove the protective program on the blade woollen , let the iron in the wool respond with the surround oxygen , causing it to oxidize , or rust fungus . Lightly cover the jar to keep out dust , but keep a gap open so the gasses forge by the reaction can escape . Let the steel wool souse for at least a few hours and up to several days . The longer the soak , the darker the spot . you may speed up the process by using finer blade woollen and placing the jar in sunlight . When you have achieved the desired tint , brush it on your Sir Henry Wood and let it dry out for an ripened patina .

16. Clean Headlights

Car headlights are invariably assaulted by crap , mud , and ill-starred insects . When regular dry cleaner betray to get rid of the gunk , use the finest steel wool and ashen toothpaste to doctor your headlights ’ splendor . fret the toothpasteon the headlights with the steel woolen for a few min , then pass over thoroughly with a flaccid cloth . After you ’ve removed the dirt and toothpaste pic , apply machine wax to help keep the headlights clean .

17. Sharpen Scissors

Keep yourscissorssuperbly sharp by periodically using them to cut through a musical composition of blade fleece . Repeat with another cutting off if require . If you do this on a regular basis , you may not need to have the pair of scissors professionally sharpen .

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steel wool uses