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Quiz: How Can You Use and Reuse These Items?

Bet you didn’t know these 10 everyday things were so versatile

AARP

En español

Published February 24, 2021

/ Updated February 25, 2021

10 Questions

8d40111e-5bb6-4546-ba6f-6a053f794c1f

Quiz: How Can You Use and Reuse These Items?

[ {
  "question" : "Dryer lint can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Kill mice",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Start fires",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make soap",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Most dryer lint is highly flammable, so it ignites easily when used as a fire starter. Even better, you can stuff dryer lint into empty cardboard toilet-paper tubes and use them as “starter logs” for your fireplace or woodstove.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Pet hair can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Clean up oil spills",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Catch fish",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make clothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Pet hair, as well as human hair, is sometimes used to absorb oil in oil spills, and fishermen have been known to use dog hair to tie fishing flies. And yes, there are even companies that will spin your cat’s or dog’s excess fur into yarn for knitting.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Leftover oatmeal can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Reduce the itch of poison ivy",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Deter fire ants",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Strengthen concrete",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make wax",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Cooked, slightly warm oatmeal can be applied as a paste to patches of poison ivy on the skin to combat itching. You can also relieve poison ivy itch with an oatmeal bath. Grind up a cup of uncooked oatmeal in the blender until it’s superfine (and won’t clog up your bath’s drain), then sprinkle it into a tub of warm water for a good, long soak.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Lemon rinds can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "A. Shine copper and brass",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "B. Deter cats",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "C. Rid your hands of food odors",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "D. All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "You can polish metals with a pulpy lemon rind and a little baking soda. Sprinkle pieces of lemon rind around the yard to ward off stray cats. Rubbing lemon rinds on your fingers can get rid of stubborn smells such as onion and garlic.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Spent tea bags can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Kill flies",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Remove stains",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Fertilize plants",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Tea is rich in nitrogen, even after it has been steeped. Tea bags can be composted, or the loose tea can be stirred directly into the soil around plants for easy fertilization. I put my spent tea bags in a watering can to give my plants a quick drink of liquid nitrogen fertilizer.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Leftover unburned charcoal can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Deodorize shoes",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Prevent tools from rusting",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Keep cut flowers fresh",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Put a piece of charcoal in an old sock and leave it in your shoe to absorb moisture and odor. A charcoal briquette or two in your toolbox will keep tools from rusting. Add some charcoal to the bottom of a flower vase before filling with water, and this will keep the water clear and the flowers fresh for a longer time.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The bottom, or “stump,” of a head of romaine lettuce can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Kill spiders",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make toothpaste",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Grow another head of lettuce",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "After you’ve enjoyed a leafy head of romaine lettuce, save the bottom inch or so of the heart, cut a thin slice off the bottom and then place the stump upright in a shallow pan with a half-inch of water. If you keep it in a sunny location and add more water as needed, new leaves will sprout in a couple of weeks for a future round of salads.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Bacon grease can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Flavor and fry other foods",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Feed the birds",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make candles",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "If you love bacon, save the grease! It’s delicious to use in frying and flavoring other foods, including potatoes and beans. Mix bird food into hot bacon grease, and let it cool to make suet cakes for backyard birds. And you can stick a wick in a can full of bacon grease for a bacon-scented candle.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Wine corks can be used to…",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Erase ink.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Clean knives.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Kill mice.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Deodorize socks.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "High-carbon knives clean well with a dash of soap and a cork.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Tennis balls can be used to:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Protect floors.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Clean pools.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Clean shower curtains.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Most people know you can cut a hole in a tennis ball and put it on chair legs to protect the floor. But a few tennis balls in the pool cleans body oil from a pool, and adding vinegar and a tennis ball to the washing machine will clean your shower curtain, too.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

Quiz Progress

0 Correct

0 Incorrect