Top 10 Common Household Items with Surprising Proper Uses

1. Tennis balls

Best places to buy: Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Walmart. Average product price ranges from $5 to $15 per canister.* If you've ever visited an elementary school, you've probably seen tennis balls on the legs of chairs, tables and whatever other furniture there in the premises. That is because the linoleum floor is very easy to scratch (especially when there are a lot of youngsters running around), and tennis balls keep the bases of table and chair legs from leaving marks.

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Tennis Balls As Floor Protectors | @u/RaeADropOfGoldenSun / Reddit.com To protect your floors, take tennis balls and puncture holes in them with an awl or anything sharp. Fit the hole to the chair leg's circumference and then lay the ball on it. While not the most photogenic, this technique will prevent scratches on your floor.

2. Olive oil

Best places to buy: Costco, Walmart, and local grocery stores. Average product price ranges from $3 to $7 per container*. Wood polish is commonly associated with oil soap found in grocery and hardware stores. While these can work, they are not as environmentally friendly or cost-effective as olive oil (100% organic is ideal).

Olive Oil as Furniture. Polish ©Aerogondo2 / Shutterstock. Olive oil is a condiment that you probably already have in your cabinet. The fatty acids in olive oil bring out the wood's natural sheen. To use, apply the olive oil to the furniture with a cloth, rubbing it into the wood grain well. Leave the oil on the wood for 10 minutes to absorb it. After 10 minutes, remove any excess with a clean, dry towel.