logo
The $5 item that keeps selling out at Bunnings for a VERY specific reason: 'Holy grail'

The $5 item that keeps selling out at Bunnings for a VERY specific reason: 'Holy grail'

Daily Mail​3 days ago
A cleaning expert has detailed her secret weapon when it comes to breathing new life into dirty white sneakers - and it's surprisingly found in the aisles of Bunnings.
Home expert Caroline Solomon regularly shares cleaning content to her social media channels, including a string of videos that highlight different methods to clean a variety of white sneakers.
One helpful explainer video about 'how to clean your white leather sneakers' sees her incorporate a cleaning product that's not traditionally thought of as a shoe cleaner.
'I'm sharing two easy ways to make your white leather sneakers look brand new again,' Caroline said at the start of the TikTok video.
'The first thing you need of course is a Magic Eraser.'
For the uninitiated, a 'Magic Eraser' is a cleaning block sponge made of melamine foam, and is best known for its ability to remove grime and scuff marks on walls and floors.
But as per the Mr Clean website, their melamine sponge is not only superb for 'removing marks from all around the house' but can also be used as a 'sneaker cleaner'.
In Australia, Bunnings sell a large Mr Clean Eraser Pad Block for $4.98 - or you could buy a 4 pack of Mr Clean Melamine Eraser Cleaning Pads for $7.49.
Caroline explained the method to clean dirty white sneakers with the Magic Eraser, starting by first running the melamine sponge under water to get it 'damp, but not soaked'.
Then, she demonstrated gently scrubbing the foam block along both 'the sneaker and the rubber sole of the shoe'. (But always do a patch test to ensure it isn't too abrasive.)
The result? Instantly refreshed looking sneakers.
To up the ante of, the cleaning expert suggested additionally cleaning your shoelace.
She demonstrates this by removing the laces and soaking them in a warm soapy mix for 10 minutes, before using a cleaning toothbrush to further scrub them clean before hanging to dry.
The combination of the Magic Eraser cleaned shoes and washed shoelaces made the once-dirty white sneakers look refreshed.
The comments section was filled with replies from people who'd tried Caroline's suggestion.
'This worked for me,' read one reply.
A 9-pack of he original Mr Clean Magic Erasers can also be found on Amazon for $47.14, which equates to just over $5 per sponge
However, one queried the state of the Magic Eraser at the end of the cleaning procedure.
'This worked so good. Thank you! But, my Magic Eraser was completely torn apart once finished. Did yours? Totally worth it.'
To this point, Caroline agreed that she'd sacrificed the sponge for the tough cleaning job.
'Yes sadly it will take a toll on your Magic Eraser but agree it's well worth it.'
Another person chimed in: 'I cut mine in half to get more use out of them that way! They get worn faster when wet so I also only wet half of sponge.'
On the Bunnings website, the Mr Clean Eraser Pod Block has a stellar 4.9 stars rating, with many reviews raving about how it 'works great' to remove scuffs and marks from walls and floors.
However, none of the reviews made mention of its bonus use to clean up dirty sneakers.
Meanwhile, one of Caroline's other white sneaker cleaning videos offered alternative advice for tackling dirty 'white canvas sneakers'.
In one of the videos, Caroline recommended making a paste from 'equal parts baking soda and dish soap in a bowl' - using about a tablespoon of each.
Once stirred into a paste consistency, Caroline demonstrated painting the white canvas sneaker with the mix and using a cleaning toothbrush to scrub it section by section.
The sneaker was left to sit with the mix applied for a couple of hours before being rinsed off 'with a damp paper towel' and left to dry overnight.
For more set-in stains on white sneakers, another one of Caroline's white sneaker cleaning videos suggested a more potent DIY cleaning formula, comprised of '1 tablespoon of baking soda, half a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and half a tablespoon of warm water'.
This mix was spot applied and scrubbed into the shoe with a cleaning toothbrush, before being wiped off with a damp sponge.
'Lay them out to air dry and voila,' Caroline concluded.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Six ways to elevate your home and make it look expensive on a budget
Six ways to elevate your home and make it look expensive on a budget

Daily Mirror

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Six ways to elevate your home and make it look expensive on a budget

If you're wanting to enhance and elevate your home, as well as make it look more put together, even if you're on a budget, one interior design enthusiast shared her top tips to achieve this Making your house feel like a home can be a difficult and often daunting task, especially if you don't have a big budget for it. While we all want our homes to feel like us, it's often hard to notice the things that can do with an upgrade. ‌ Luckily, one interior design enthusiast has come to help. With almost 300,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, Mel Lloyd has become a go-to person for any interior and home tips as she often makes videos about the best ways to clean or decorate your home - even if you have to stick to a smaller budget. ‌ In one video, she went on to share her top six tips you can elevate your home to make it look more luxurious and put together, even if you're on a budget. ‌ "How to elevate your home (on a budget)," the text said at the start of the video. Mix your lighting Mel's first tip was to mix the different light sources in your home so you have several options. Not only does this help give you a choice with how much light you want to use in the room, it can also make it look more expensive and coherent. Having several, smaller lamps within a room that go together will help enhance the ambiance within the room, according to designer Dara Huang. ‌ She also suggest opting for a mix of wall lights, floor lamps, ambient lights for shelving, and table lamps, for the best effect. Add architectural details Next up, Mel suggest adding architectural details in your home in order to make it look more exciting and less bland. ‌ In the video, Mel is seen doing some DIY in her home as she added some panelling on one of her walls in a bedroom all by herself before painting it all the same yellow colour. This made the room look like it had more going on, without having to spend money or expensive paintings or décor items. Layer textures For her third tip, Mel urged viewer to layer textures in your home, such as when making your bed. In the video, Mel is seen adding a forest green blanket to the end of her bed that's in a different material and texture from the white bedding. ‌ Mixing textures in interior design involves combining different materials and patterns to create a visually interesting and layered space. The key is to balance contrasting elements like smooth and rough, matte and glossy, or soft and hard, to add depth and character Upgrade your hardware A cheap way to give your kitchen or furniture an upgrade without having to spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds is to simply change out the hardware on them. ‌ In the video, Mel is seen having changed out the knobs on her kitchen cupboards to simple gold ones that matches the rest of her hardware. This is a great way to make your home look more coherent, especially if you have matching material for all your hardware and other items with similar metals in your home. Add statement mirror or art Empty walls can quickly make a whole room look empty and cold. While panelling can be a great alternative for some rooms, as mentioned before, Mel also suggest adding a statement mirror or artwork to make it look more put together. ‌ In the video, Mel shows off the big mirror she has standing on top of her mantelpiece in her living room, as well as a big painting she's hung above a chest of draws. While mirrors and art can be expensive, especially when buying them new, it can be worth going into charity shops or vintage shops to find some unique items that suits your home. Flowers and greenery For her sixth and final tip, Mel suggest adding an element of greenery into your home, whether it's a bouquet of flowers or potted plants. According to home stylist Allisa Jacobs, you should use different sized plants in order to make a room more interesting, including taller plants to help move your eyes up and make the room feel taller in height. You can also add plants to a space to add dimension to a room, with Allisa explaining that "plants provide sense of movement, life, and depth".

I'm petite & curvy – the 3 pairs of M&S jeans that are flattering for larger hips and the styles to avoid
I'm petite & curvy – the 3 pairs of M&S jeans that are flattering for larger hips and the styles to avoid

The Sun

time10 hours ago

  • The Sun

I'm petite & curvy – the 3 pairs of M&S jeans that are flattering for larger hips and the styles to avoid

SHOPPING for jeans isn't always easy, with shops like Marks & Spencer have a wide range to choose from it can be hard to know which style is right for you. Don't worry, you don't need to try on every pair to find the perfect fit though, this fashion fan has done all the hard work for you. 2 Posting on TikTok, Hayley shared a handy guide on which styles are best for curvy girls like her. The 55-year-old explained: "I've never been one for wearing jeans until recently and it really is a minefield trying to navigate the most flattering style for my figure." PALAZZO This style has a very wide leg that flares out from the waist and are generally more flowy than other jean styles. Hayley said she'd be keen to give this style a go as someone who has tried the shape before but never in denim. WIDE LEG This style might vary from shop to shop, as the fashion fan noted the wide leg style in Marks & Spencer didn't actually look too wide, so it could be something she could get away with wearing. BARREL Like wide leg jeans, this style has plenty of room down the length of your legs but tapers in slightly at the ankle and hips, giving them that classic look, like a barrel. "Barrel seems to work well for larger hips and shorter people," Hayley pointed out. BOYFRIEND A big no-no as far as the fashion fan was concerned, boyfriend jeans are supposed to look like you've borrowed them from your man's wardrobe. Usually, they have mid to low-rise fit and are loose around the leg, tapering in just at the end. Hayley recommended sticking to straight up and down for a more flattering fit if you're more on the curvy side though. MOM Another no for Hayley, mom jeans usually have more space around the zipper area and tapered at the bottom but can look unflattering. FLARES You might think flared jeans are a win for bigger hips, but Hayley said she steers clean because they're usually too tight on her thighs. That said, if you do have bigger hips but slim legs, this style could work for you. STRAIGHT This style can be hit or miss for fashion fans with big hips since the straight cut can often often be lost once they're on. Why is it so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans... Deputy Fashion Editor Abby Mchale has revealed why it's so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans... If there is one item of clothing that is never easy to buy it's jeans. If you think you've got your size nailed after finding the perfect fit, nine times out of ten when you next come to buying a pair you will most likely still have to try before you buy. But what is it about jeans that makes them such a difficult fit? Well there isn't a universal size guide that every retailer sticks to, so this means that one brands size 12 could be an inch or so different to another brands and that can make all the difference. Plus, it's all about the denim, some jeans are made with stiffer denim that don't give them as much give. Whereas some stretchier denims obviously have more stretch which means they can be more forgiving. However, don't forget that all denim does eventually stretch, so when you're trying jeans on and they feel ever so slightly tight, remember that they will actually give after wearing them. So sadly this does mean the best piece of advice is to just try them on, however if you are short of time or can't be bothered then the Japanese jean test I have found works quite effectively. Wrap the waistband of the jeans around your neck, if they can wrap all the way round and don't leave a gap then they should fit your waist.

I quit my corporate job to go self-employed & live in an 8ft caravan – it feels huge & I'm saving to buy my own land
I quit my corporate job to go self-employed & live in an 8ft caravan – it feels huge & I'm saving to buy my own land

Scottish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

I quit my corporate job to go self-employed & live in an 8ft caravan – it feels huge & I'm saving to buy my own land

Read on to see how much living in a caravan really costs WHEEL NICE I quit my corporate job to go self-employed & live in an 8ft caravan – it feels huge & I'm saving to buy my own land Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has revealed how she quit living in a house, swapping it for a caravan instead. Freya, from the UK, took to social media to share the new caravan she and her partner, Charlie, were living in as they saved up their cash to buy their own land. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Freya showed off her new caravan Credit: tiktok/@caravanlifewithfreya 2 There was a lot more space for her, her partner and the dog Credit: tiktok/@caravanlifewithfreya Recently, Freya showed off the new caravan they had bought, an Adria Adora which was much larger than their previous home on wheels. The caravan measures 8ft wide and is a four-berth, making it super roomy for Freya, her partner and their pet dog. But Freya hasn't always dreamt of following an off-grid lifestyle as she explained that she once had a corporate job while living with her mum to save for a housing deposit. Now, Freya runs her own business while living out of a caravan as she saves up to buy her own land. Showing viewers around her new home she shared that it also comes with a relatively large kitchen and living room area which had lots of secret storage hidden away. Most importantly for Freya, she now had a full-sized fridge. She said: "I was so excited about this. Look at all that room and a huge freezer as well. "There's also a cupboard at the top and the bottom of the fridge. So plenty of space, don't have to have Charlie's beers on the floor anymore." She also pointed out that the bed was a lot bigger than they expected as it was a queen-size and also had storage space underneath. Above the bed, the caravan has USB ports to plug your phone into as well as a little spotlight for reading. I bought a £26k caravan, trolls say it's a mistake but my bank account disagrees Most importantly, Freya said they went for this type of caravan as they are well insulated to stop it from getting damp in the winter. The clip of her new home soon went viral on her TikTok account @caravanlifewithfreya with over 250k views. Many were in awe of her lifestyle and loved the look of the caravan. One person wrote: "Living the dream, I'd swap my mortgage for this any day." Another commented: "That is amazing, I'm going to look for one of those for me and my family we currently have a compass rally." How much does it cost to live in a caravan? LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs: Initial Costs Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year Ongoing Monthly Costs Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120 £40 - £120 Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80 £20 - £80 Internet and TV: £20 - £50 £20 - £50 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40 Other Potential Costs Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25 £8 - £25 Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance Variable, depending on distance Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time) Sample Monthly Budget Pitch Fees: £400 £400 Utilities: £80 £80 Maintenance and Repairs: £40 £40 Internet and TV: £40 £40 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25 £25 Total: £585 Annual Estimated Cost Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020 £585 x 12 = £7,020 Insurance: £500 £500 Maintenance and Repairs: £480 £480 Total Annual Cost: £8,000 Tips to Save Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself. Handle minor repairs yourself. Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs. While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK. "Just wanted to say your caravan/home is beautiful," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Looks amazing, I bet you can save so much money." "Love it, beautiful caravan,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Looks amazing. I'd love to live like that."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store