Did you know you can kill weeds with vodka? Remove stains on clothes with aspirin? Make jewellery gleam with tomato ketchup? Here are 40 surprising tips to save you time and money

To create a simple Chinese lantern, mark two lines around a clean empty can, about 2.5cm from the top and bottom. With a sharp craft knife, make vertical cuts about 1.5cm apart between the lines. Make a cut across the bottom of two adjacent strips to make an opening for a candle. Gently press down on the can to make the strips bend in the middle. Insert a tea-light through the opening, then tuck the cut ends of the opening strips inside the can. Finally attach a hanging loop. You can spray-paint the can before cutting it if you like.

and for ... apples

If you've been heavy-handed with the salt shaker when cooking a soup or stew, simply drop a few apple (or potato) wedges into the pan. After cooking for another 10 minutes or so, remove the wedges, which will have absorbed the excess salt.

and for ... aspirin

Before giving up hope of removing a stubborn perspiration stain from a shirt, try this. Crush two aspirins and mix the powder in 100ml warm water. Soak the stained part of the garment in the solution for two to three hours.

B is for ... bread

You can remove most dirty or greasy fingerprints from painted walls by rubbing the area with a slice of white bread. Bread does a good job of cleaning nonwashable wallpaper as well. First cut off the crusts to minimise the chance of scratching the paper.

and for ... baby oil

Buff up a dull-looking stainless steel sink by rubbing it down with a few drops of baby oil on a soft clean cloth. Rub dry with a towel and repeat if necessary. This is also a terrific way to remove stains on the chrome trim of kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.

and for ... bicarbonate of soda

Even the smelliest shoe or trainer is no match for the power of bicarbonate of soda. Liberally sprinkle powder in the offending loafer or laceup and let it sit overnight. Discard the powder in the morning. (Be careful with leather shoes as repeated applications can dry them out.)

C is for ... crayons

Crayons make an excellent filler for small gouges or holes in resilient flooring. Select a colour that closely matches the floor. Melt the crayon in the microwave on medium power over a piece of greaseproof paper, until you have a pliant glob of colour. With a plastic or putty knife, fill the hole. You can use a softened crayon to cover even quite deep scratches on wooden furniture.

and for ... carpet remnants

Place a series of carpet offcuts upside down and cover them with bark mulch or straw for a weed-free garden path. Use smaller scraps as mulch around your vegetable garden.

and for ... coffee grounds

They're full of nutrients that acid-loving plants crave. Save them to fertilise rose bushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens and camellias. It's better to use grounds from a drip coffeemaker than the boiled grounds from a percolator as the drip grounds are richer in nitrogen.

and for ... compact discs

Use them as garden/driveway reflectors. Drill small holes into a CD and screw it ito a gatepost or stake. Install several of them to mark out a night-time path to your front door.

and for ... correction fluid

Dab small nicks on household appliances with correction fluid. Once it dries, cover your repair with clear nail polish for protection.

D is for ... dental floss

Secure a button permanently with dental floss - it's much stronger than thread. Make hardwearing repairs to outdoor items. Because dental floss is resilient but fine, it is an ideal replacement for thread when you are repairing an umbrella, tent or rucksack.

E is for ... emery board

If a favourite pair of suede shoes have become stained and tired, an emery board can revive them. Rub the stain lightly with the emery board, and then hold the shoe over the steam from a kettle to remove the stain. This technique will work for suede clothing too.

F is for ... fabric softener

End clinging dust on the TV. To eliminate the static that attracts dust, dampen a duster with a little fabric softener straight from the bottle.

and for ... freezers

Place candles in the freezer for at least two hours before burning. They will last longer.

G is for ... golfing equipment

If a screw won't grip because its hole has become too large, dip the tip of a golf tee in wood glue and tap the tee into the hole. Cut the tee flush with a craft knife. When the glue dries, you can drill a new pilot hole in the same spot.

H is for ... hairspray

To keep a child's priceless work of art at its very best before you put it on the pinboard or fridge door, preserve it with hairspray to help it last longer. This works especially well on unstable chalk or pastel pictures as it stops them from getting smudged so easily.

I is for ... ice cube trays

Here's what to do with a half-drunk bottle of red or white wine. Freeze the wine into cubes that can be used later in pasta sauces, casseroles or stews.

and for ... ice cubes

If you're putting sealant around the bath, run an ice cube over it to get a nice even bead - it will never stick.

J is for ... jars

If you've taken a break from gardening, help your gloves dry out by pulling each one over the bottom of an empty jar. Stand the jar upside down on a radiator or hot-air vent. Warm air will fill the jar and dry damp clothing in an instant.

K is for ... ketchup

Keeps silver jewellery sparkling. Soak it in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If it has a tooled or detailed surface, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into the crevices. To avoid damaging the silver, don't leave the ketchup on longer than necessary. Rinse and dry.

L is for ... lemons

Get rid of tough stains on marble. Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh in some table salt and rub it vigorously on the stain. You will be amazed how well it works.

and for ... ladders

A straight ladder or front part of a stepladder makes a shallow planter with ready-made sections that look appealing filled with annuals, herbs or salad greens. After a couple of years of contact with soil, a wooden ladder will decompose.

M is for ... milk cartons

Keep drinks cold at a barbecue or party with ice blocks made from empty milk cartons. Rinse them, fill them with water and put them in the freezer. Peel away the container when you're ready to put them in the punch bowl. If you intend to use them as cooler blocks, leave the container in place.

N is for ... nail varnish

Preserve the important information on labels with a coat of clear varnish. Keep a shirt in good shape by putting a drop of clear varnish on the thread in the buttons. It prevents fraying and loss of buttons.

and for ... newspaper

Slow-ripen tomatoes that are still on the vine in autumn. Wrap each one in a couple of sheets of newspaper and then store them in airtight containers inside a dark cabinet or cupboard at room temperature. Check each one every three or four days; they will eventually ripen to perfection.

O is for ... olive oil

Make your own furniture polish. Combine two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice or white vinegar in a clean recycled spray bottle, shake it up and squirt it on. Leave the mixture on for a minute or two, then wipe off with a clean cloth or paper towel. If you're in a hurry, apply olive oil straight from the bottle on to a paper towel. Wipe off any oil that remains with another towel.

and for ... oatmeal

Add luxury to a regular bath. All you need is 200g oatmeal and your favourite scented oil. Grind the oatmeal in a blender, put it in a cheesecloth bag, add a few drops of scent and suspend the bag under the running water as you fill your bathtub.

and for ... oven cleaner

To remove paint or varnish from wooden or metal furniture, try oven cleaner. It costs less than commercial strippers and is easier to apply (if you spray it). After applying, scrub off the old paint with a wire brush. Neutralise the stripped surface with vinegar, then wash it off with water. Allow to dry. Warning: never use oven cleaner on antique or expensive furnishings - it may darken wood or discolour metal.

P is for ... plastic bottles

Create a drip irrigator for plants. Cut a large hole in the bottom of a bottle, then drill two to five tiny (1.5mm) holes in or around the cap. Bury the closed bottles upside down about three-quarters submerged beneath the soil near the plants you need to water, and fill with water through the hole on top. Refill as needed.

R is for ... rubber flip-flops

Slip a rubber flip-flop on to your hand and rub carpets and rugs in the direction of the pile. Any pet hair will form into balls that can then be vacuumed up. This works well on upholstery, too, including car seats.

S is for ... sand

Fill a large bucket with builder's sand and pour in about a litre of clean motor oil. Plunge spades, hoes, rakes and other tools into the sand a few times to clean and lubricate them. To prevent rust, you can leave the tool blades in the sand for storage.

and for ... salt

Watermarks from damp glasses or bottles left on a wooden surface are unattractive. Make them disappear by mixing one teaspoon of salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste on to the ring with a soft cloth or sponge until the spot is gone. Restore the lustre with furniture polish.

T is for ... tennis balls

Give yourself a relaxing and therapeutic back massage: fill a long tube-shaped sock with a few tennis balls, tie the end and stretch the massager around your back as you would a towel after a shower.

and for ... tights

To find lost small objects, cut the leg off an old pair of tights, making sure the toe is intact and pull it over the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner hose. Secure with a rubber band. Turn on the vacuum and you will soon find your valuable attached to your homemade filter.

U is for ... umbrellas

Make an instant trellis. Remove the fabric from an old umbrella and insert the handle into the ground to support climbing vines such as clematis. The umbrella's shape, covered with flowers, will look terrific in the garden.

V is for ... vodka

For a quick and easy weedkiller, mix 30ml vodka, a few drops of washing-up liquid and 400ml water in a spray bottle. Apply at midday on a sunny day to weeds growing in direct sunlight because alcohol breaks down the waxy cuticle covering on leaves, leaving them susceptible to dehydration. It won't work in shady spots.

is for ... WD40

For fast relief from a bee or wasp sting, spray WD-40 directly on the bite. It will soothe the pain at once.

Y is for ... yoghurt

Put 200ml plain active-culture yoghurt into a blender, along with a handful of moss and about 200ml water. Blend for about 30 seconds. Use a paintbrush to spread the mixture wherever you want moss to grow - between the cracks of a stone path, on the sides of flowerpots - as long as the spot is cool and shady. Keep misting the moss with water until it is established.

Z is for . . . zips

Ever lost your car keys in the sand at the seaside? Stitch a small zipped pocket to one corner of the underside of your beach towel, just big enough for keys, sunglasses and maybe a few coins.

And if you're feeling really bold ...

Four bizarre problem-solving suggestions

· If you want to post a fragile item to a friend, wrap the item in disposable nappies before sealing the package. You can be sure your gift will arrive in one piece.

· To get chewing gum out of hair, apply some peanut butter to the matted gum and hair and rub the gum until it comes out. Your child's hair may smell like peanut butter until you wash it, but it is a better solution than having to cut the gum out.

· Wash lettuce in a washing machine. If you are expecting lots of people for lunch, place one pillowcase inside another. Fill the inside case with lettuce leaves. Close with string or a rubber band and throw in the washing machine. Now run the rinse and spin cycle.

· Get the comfort of a salon treatment when giving yourself a home pedicure. Just place marshmallows between your toes to separate them before you apply nail polish.

· These tips are extracted from Reader's Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things, to be published on May 31, priced £24.99. To order a copy for £22.99 including free UK p&p, go to theguardian.com/bookshop or call 0870 836 0875.