'I'm a former inmate
Recovering addict Tina Tsakonas has shared the cleaning hacks she picked up behind bars, saying they're the cheapest and easiest ways to keep things clean and shiny
A woman who spent years in and out of prison has shared the 'genius' cleaning hacks she picked up behind bars. Recovering addict Tina Tsakonas has been documenting her life on the 'outs' on social media for almost a decade - and has shared what she came to learn living in lock up.
Despite now having access to 'real' cleaning products, she continues to use toothpaste to clean her dirty trainers, claiming it's the best solution out there. In one of her latest TikTok videos, she revealed the four "jail hacks" that she still does to this day - including eating mustard to cure heartburn, covering her skin in conditioner to "smell good", and using deodorant to ease razor burn.
But what shocked users most was her toothpaste hack to clean shoes, as she showed her 1.3 million followers just how easy it is to scrub dirt away with the everyday product. Tina ended up in jail after her heroin addiction led her turning to prostitution, overdosing, and being homeless.
She has been in her current job for around six years - and isn't scared to share how she got to where she is today. Commenting on her video, one user said: "The toothpaste on shoes works so well."
Another user added: "I'm about to try the conditioner thing." A third user said: "Wait, does the mustard one actually work?!" One more user added: "Not my pregnant self literally climbing out of bed at 11pm to try the mustard hack."
It comes after a cleaning guru shared her trick to melting away pesky limescale build-up in the bathroom overnight. Experts from Kind Water said: "Fill a bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water, spraying the vinegar solution directly onto the areas affected by limescale in the shower. Let the solution sit for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow the vinegar to break down the limescale."
Then, you'll need to scrub the areas that are affected, then you can rinse it with water to remove the vinegar residue. White vinegar can be purchased from Tesco for just 29p, and it can also be used to remove watermarks and stains from the shower head.
The pros said: "Fill a plastic bag or container large enough to fit the shower head with white vinegar and submerge it in the white vinegar, ensuring that it is fully covered. Secure the bag or container in place, allowing the shower head to soak in the white vinegar for several hours or overnight."
"Once that's been done, gently scrub where the limescale had been, ensuring that it's all been removed. The same method can also be used with taps. If your loo is looking unsightly because of limescale, you can also pour a cup of vinegar into the bowl and let it work its magic overnight. You'll then need to give it a good scrub, and you can sprinkle some baking soda on it too for extra freshness.
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