I love an unexpected surprise. Like when you find money in your jeans pocket. Or when you go to buy that jacket you've been coveting forever, only to be told that it's 50% off. Or, hidden talents. Like when I bust out my cherry stem tying at a party! Or, more likely, when something you thought had only one use, actually has a few secret super powers you were totally unaware of. 

For our Tip Tuesday, we rounded up 5 items that you definitely have in your house and can actually be used for a whole slew of different things: 


1. Coffee: I can't get through a morning without this miracle beverage. Coffee also happens to have some other super powers. Caffeine tightens the skin and stimulates and constricts it, too. Making it a popular ingredient in scrubs that fight cellulite and in under eye creams. Try using coffee grounds in a body scrub! Here's a great DIY recipe for you. 

Coffee can also be used as a rinse to give more richness in colour to brunettes. Pour two cups of strong coffee over your hair and let it sit (while covered - try plastic wrap) for a few hours then shampoo and condition as normal. 
(via xojane.com) 

2. Pantyhose: Pantyhose can actually make a great cleaning tool! Use over a tennis racket as a sort of filter to clean a pool. Or, use as a gentle scrubber for pots and pans. They can do double duty to store bulbs or anything small that might get lost. I love the idea of stretching over a brush for a quick and easy clean up for hair build up. Check out even more uses here. 

3. Pickle Juice: Who knew that pickle juice was such an excellent cleaner? Apparently, it can be used to clear blackened copper pans as well as grills. Bonus points: pickle juice makes an excellent addition to a bloody mary cocktail and dill pickle bread. There are even more pickle juice powers right here.

4. Hairspray: Hairspray can actually be used as a stain remover. Spray a bit on a lipstick stain, let sit for a bit and wipe off, then launder as normal. Or, on an ink stain - hairspray should eliminate that bad boy completely. A spritz of hairspray can also preserve flowers or your little one's artwork (this works great for chalks that smudge easily). Get the downlow on what else hairspray can do!

5. Nail Polish: Keep jewelry from tarnishing, stop runs and prevent shoe laces from unravelling by coating with a clear nail polish. The handy brush also makes nail polish an excellent item to use if you need to colour code or mark things. I always mark my plastic dishes at a potluck with a dot of polish on the bottom so I know what's mine! Coat screws in polish for extra hold or to prevent splinters by coating wood. More uses right here.

What items or ingredients do you know of that have a hidden talent?