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I’ve been cleaning professionally for 18 years, and I still get a specific kind of satisfaction from this: watching someone realize that the product they’ve been ignoring under their sink is secretly a genius tool for a completely different problem. Let’s walk through some double-duty for items you have at home already (and if you don’t, I’ve got links for you from top brands like Cascade, Bounce and Dawn). Here we go!

 

1. Dishwasher Tablet to Clean Greasy Air Fryer Basket

The Problem

Your air fryer is one of the greatest inventions of the last decade — until you have to clean the basket. The baked-on grease and carbon buildup that accumulates on the grate and in the basket is resistant to heavy scrubbing (you can wreck the nonstick coating), and most baskets aren’t fully dishwasher-safe. So people either scrub ineffectively or live with a grimy basket.

The Unexpected Fix

One dishwasher tablet – but a good one. These work exceptionally well because they work hard at cutting grease and contains powerful enzymes. Fill a basin or bucket with hot (not boiling) water, drop it in the basket, and let is soak for 30 minutes up to overnight. The next morning, use a soft cloth to remove chunks of buildup and rinse and dry before using again.[/product_listing]

 

Dishwasher tablets contain protease enzymes specifically engineered to break down protein and fat bonds — the same molecular action that dissolves baked-on casserole works identically on air fryer grease. The tablet does the work so you don’t have to.

 

You may also like:

Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – $19.99

Swiffer PowerMop Multi-Surface Mop – $39.99

Compressed Air Duster – $129.99

2. Dryer Sheet to Remove Pet Hair From Clothing (Before You Wash)

The Problem

If you have a pet, you know: washing something covered in fur often just makes it worse. The water mats the hair deeper into the fibres, and it comes out of the wash just as hairy as it went in — sometimes more so.

The Unexpected Fix

The dryer ‘sandwich’ – but with a twist. Before anything goes into the washing machine, toss the hairy item in the dryer on Air Fluff (no heat) with 2–3 dryer sheets for 10 minutes. Check the lint trap. That’s where your pet’s extra hair ended up. Once done, launder and dry the clothing as usual. You’ll notice a significant reduction of pet hair. [/product_listing]

 

Here’s the science: static electricity is what makes pet hair cling. Bounce sheets contain a cationic surfactant that neutralizes static charge, releasing the grip. Air fluff tumbling moves the hair to the lint trap. Heat would set it deeper — air fluff is the non-negotiable part of this.

 

You may also like:

Pledge Multisurface Antibacterial Cleaner Spray – $7.27

Attitude Daily Shower and Tile Cleaner – $17.99

Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner (3 Tablets) – $10.57

3. Dawn Powerwash to Clean Greasy Kitchen Cabinet Doors

The Problem

Cabinet doors above and near the stove accumulate a sticky, greasy film — a mix of cooking vapour, dust, and oxidized (yellowing) oil — that regular all-purpose sprays smear around without actually cutting through. It never looks clean and it feels sticky to the touch. Yuck.

The Unexpected Fix

Spray it directly on the cabinet door, wait 3–5 minutes, wipe with a damp microfibre cloth in a single pass. That’s it. No scrubbing. Rinse with a clean cloth and water and call it a day. The cloth will come away visibly mucky, which is also deeply satisfying.[/product_listing]

 

Dawn Powerwash is a concentrated degreasing formula that comes out foamy and clings to vertical surfaces. The surfactants surround grease molecules and lift them off the surface during the dwell time. You’re letting chemistry lift the grease instead of your elbow. Remember to test on an inconspicuous spot on painted or lacquered cabinets. This will work beautifully on laminate, wood veneer, and factory-painted finishes.

 

You may also like:

The Pink Stuff The Miracle Cream Cleaner – $7.97

The Clean People Fabric Softener Sheets – $21.99

Electric Spin Scrubber – $62.99

4. Handheld Fabric Steamer to Sanitize Kids’ Fabric, Plush and Plastic Toys

The Problem

It’s cold and flu season and you’re looking at the toys that have fallen everywhere, been chewed up and drooled all over, and played with day after day. Most of these toys you can’t put in the washing machine — the electronics, the glued eyes, the delicate stuffing. And bleach wipes near something that goes directly into a child’s face feels wrong. So most people just… don’t sanitize them. But they should be sanitized now and then, and there’s a simple way to do it.

The Unexpected Fix

Your fabric steamer — the one you use for wrinkles on your blouses. Good quality steamers reach 212°F, which the CDC confirms kills influenza viruses. The same tool works on stuffed animals, fabric toy organizers, car seat inserts, and anything else that’s fabric and handled constantly. Fill steamer and allow to heat fully — wait until steam is consistent, not spitting water. Skip toys with exposed metal parts, battery compartments, or heat-sensitive plastics. Check the toy before you start — if in doubt, leave it out.[/product_listing]

 

The key to this working is time. You need 3–5 seconds per section for the surface to reach ‘killing’ temperature. This is the difference between a cosmetic steam and actual sanitization.

 

You may also like:

Vacuum Storage Bags – $42.99

Vitruvi Cloud Bedside Humidifier – $215.24

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – $17.07

5. #0000 Steel Wool to Remove Hard Water Stains on Glass

Super-fine #0000 steel wool. This is a professional window cleaner’s secret that works identically on shower doors, and the first time you try it, your brain will not believe what you’re seeing.[/product_listing]

 

This works safely because the Mohs hardness scale ranks glass at 5.5–7 and steel at 4–4.5. Steel is softer than glass. Physically, it cannot scratch it. The ultra-fine fibres of #0000 grade provide just enough mechanical action to break the mineral bond — without abrasion.  Start by cleaning the glass surface to remove any debris or mess, wet the glass with soapy water, and scrub the affected area with the #0000 steel wool pad in a gentle circular motion. Rinse well and buff dry with a microfiber cloth.

Five products and five new uses to make cleaning a little easier!

 

You may also like:

Scrub Daddy Scrub Mommy Sponges – $16.52

Swiffer Wet & Dry Sweeper Starter Kit – $19.98

Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber – $19.98

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A man in Abbotsford, B.C., has been arrested after police say a motorhome crashed through a perimeter fence on Saturday and entered an active airport runway.

Abbotsford Police Department says officers responded to the Abbotsford International Airport at 4:36 p.m. on July 25.

Airport staff had responded immediately, while air traffic control implemented measures to safely reroute aircraft operating at the airport, police said.

In a recording, air traffic controllers can be heard warning aircraft of the danger.

“Pull up and go around, pull up and go around immediately,” an air traffic controller can be heard saying to an aircraft. At one point, they are also heard speaking with someone saying they won’t talk to the vehicle that went on the runway.

Police arrived at 4:41 p.m. and arrested the 53-year-old.

According to authorities, airport operations were briefly disrupted but have since returned to normal. No injuries were reported.

The man was taken into police custody and faces charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle and mischief.

The investigation is in its early stages, but police are working to determine the circumstances that led to the man driving his motorhome onto the runway.

Abbotsford International is about 70 km inland from its better-known cousin, Vancouver International Airport.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police. Anyone who has relevant dash camera footage is also asked to call 604-859-5225.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Two wildfires threatening the village of Clinton, B.C., and the surrounding area merged late Saturday, a day after the Pear Lake blaze destroyed structures, including homes, on the outskirts of the community.

An update from BC Wildfire Service said the Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek blazes combined and remained very active on Sunday, moving north and northeast of the Chasm area, about 20 kilometres north of Clinton.

Fire information officer Shae Stearns said crews continued to work in Clinton to protect structures and fight what she described as active fire in the community, which was ordered evacuated as the Pear Lake fire surged on Friday.

“There’s no longer like the head of a fire progressing toward Clinton, (it’s) more like decreased fire behaviour,” she said in a phone interview on Sunday.

But there was still “quite a lot of ground firefighting-wise to cover,” she said.

The wildfire service updated its mapping on Sunday, showing the estimated size of the Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek fires combined was nearly 670 square kilometres. The roughly 250-square-kilometre French Bar Creek fire also continued to burn to the northwest, making up the Big Bar complex of fires.

A local official from Clinton confirmed over the weekend that the Pear Lake blaze inflicted structural losses on Friday, though the village itself was mostly spared.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District advised on Sunday that residents of 70 Mile and surrounding area would soon be under an evacuation order, with it set to take effect 10 a.m. Monday due to the Pear Lake wildfire.

People are being asked in this area to prepare to leave when the order takes effect.

The owner of a towing and autobody business three kilometres south of Clinton, however, said he and his family lost everything, including their two homes.

Steve Larabie, who initially stayed behind, said there were about 3,000 vehicles and 50 pieces of equipment at the business. Vehicles and excavators were burning and gas and diesel were exploding as the flames roared in, he said on Saturday.

Conditions got so bad that Larabie said he had to flee.

By the next day, the two fires had merged and crossed over a stretch of Highway 97, which would require repairs, Stearns said.

On the east side of the highway, the wildfire service noted the flames were moving into an area already scarred by wildfire, helping to moderate its activity.

But the region has been plagued by drought, raising the risk of ignitions and aggressive fire behaviour. “The fuels are still very dry, even when we have those cooler temperatures and a higher relative humidity,” Stearns said.

While it was raining in Metro Vancouver on Sunday, she said significant rain was not expected in the Clinton area, about 350 kilometres to the northeast.

To the east, the Central Okanagan emergency management centre issued an evacuation alert for residents of more than 500 properties in the La Casa area north of West Kelowna, B.C., late Saturday due to a nearby blaze, but it was lifted the next day.

“Although the wildfire remains classified as out of control, significant progress has been made by firefighting crews in reducing fire activity and protecting the area,” the centre said in its statement on Sunday.

Crews re-established a perimeter around the fire and reported no spotting or spread, it said.

In the Fraser Canyon, the community of Boston Bar and surrounding areas remained subject to evacuation orders prompted by the Brunswick complex of fires, which together span more than 355 square kilometres.

The wildfire service said in an update Sunday that the Brunswick and Ainslie Creek blazes continued to move south on either side of the Fraser Canyon, but they weren’t growing at a significant rate.

It said there hadn’t been significant growth in the northeast section of the Ainslie Creek fire since July 24, but the blaze remained active.

The Anderson Creek fire was active where it had burned into the Ainslie Creek blaze, consuming patches of unburned fuel, the service said.

The wildfire service’s website showed there were 31 evacuation orders and 28 evacuation alerts across B.C. on Sunday, mainly concentrated in the province’s central and southern Interior.

The service’s provincial situation report said some areas saw rain and cooler temperatures over the weekend, providing temporary relief, but much of B.C. remained wracked by drought with limited rain.

Personnel from Yukon Protective Services, Alberta Wildfire and Mexico are set to arrive in B.C. over the coming days to aid in the fight against about 140 active blazes throughout the province, the service noted.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Quebec and a union representing 3,500 paramedics have reached a tentative labour agreement after more than three years without a collective agreement.

The workers include more than 1,000 paramedics who work for Urgences-santé, the public ambulance service serving Montreal and Laval.

The union says the agreement was reached after six days of negotiations and will be presented to members as soon as possible.

Neither the union nor the Quebec government released details of the proposed contract.

The office of Quebec Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau says the agreement would improve paramedics’ working conditions while helping ensure efficient and continuous ambulance services for the public.

The tentative deal comes after more than a year of strike action that began in July 2025, with the dispute centred largely on pay.

—with files from Lia Lévesque in Montreal

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Enjoyers of the Halifax Public Gardens say they are left with questions and sadness following the recent vandalism of a historic tree that was first harmed in a 2022 tree attack incident.

The Halifax Regional Municipality says last weekend a weeping European beech was significantly damaged for a second time, and it cannot say how the new damage will affect the tree’s long-term health.

The over 200-year-old tree was one of about 30 trees that were girdled in the gardens in July 2022.

Girdling refers to hacking away at the bark around the circumference of a tree as a way of killing it without cutting it down.

That vandalism incident prompted increased security at the historic gardens, and arborists were brought in to work on saving the harmed trees that were between 50 and 250 years old.

Tom Boates, a Haligonian who regularly walks the gardens, says he was baffled and saddened to learn about the second round of harm caused to the weeping beech.

Rob and Melinda Shilton, a couple visiting the Halifax Public Gardens from Calgary, say they’re left wondering who would do this and the reasoning behind why someone would harm a beautiful tree.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Mark Wasyliw, the independent MLA for the Winnipeg riding of Fort Garry, was asleep in his Crescentwood home Saturday morning when he heard a loud bang and the sound of glass shattering.

He told Global News when he went down to his living room to find that one of his flower pots from the front yard had been thrown through the window.

“There was a man with his head sticking through the hole and he was talking gibberish – not making a lot of sense – but started asking, demanding, for alcohol,” he said. “Then he started pointing (at) objects in our dining room and telling me to bring those items to him.”

Wasyliw was one of numerous people to call 911 about break-ins Saturday morning in the 100 block of Kingsway Avenue.

Police determined six homes and a high school had been broken into after rocks and bricks were thrown through windows and glass doors. In some cases, residents were confronted and threatened by the suspect, and items were stolen.

Police say the suspect did not know any of the victims.

Wasyliw says he went upstairs to get his phone to call the police when he heard another crash; the man had thrown concrete through a window. The man then appeared to have fled, Wasyliw said. As he called police he heard more crashes outside.

When police arrived, one of the victims flagged them down and pointed out the suspect who was walking down the street. He was allegedly armed with a broken liquor bottle, which he dropped before being arrested without incident.

None of the victims was injured. The value of the damage done during the spree is approximately $25,000.

The man, 35, was taken into custody and has been charged with seven counts of breaking and entering. He also faces one count each of assault with a weapon, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and failure to comply with conditions of a release order.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As the search for a missing Calgary boy continues, his family are asking people to continue looking even as an Amber Alert issued last week expired.

The 11-year-old, Parker, has been missing for 10 days as of Sunday.

“Each day we continue to hope, to search, and to believe that bringing him home is possible,” read a statement from the family posted Saturday on Facebook. “Every hour matters. We are asking our community to stay with us, to keep looking, and to continue supporting the search in whatever way you can.”

Search efforts continued Sunday, with police closing a parking lot and pathway entrance at Nose Hill Park through the weekend.

Though the search continues, the family also noted that an Amber Alert issued two days after Parker went missing has since expired.

But the family is stressing this expiry is “normal.”

“This is a normal part of how the Amber Alert system works and does not mean the search is ending, slowing down, or becoming any less urgent,” the family wrote. “The Amber Alert was never intended to remain active indefinitely.”

The alert was issued July 19, after the province issued an exemption to the alert for the vulnerable missing child.

Though his disappearance doesn’t meet the legislated criteria for an Amber Alert, the province granted an exemption because of the “unique circumstances of this investigation.”

Parker is neurodivergent and non-verbal and may become even more scared if confronted by strangers, according to police.

A missing child alert is still active.

Lee Wayne, the commanding officer of Calgary Police’s missing persons team, provided more details on the ongoing search and investigation into Parker’s disappearance in a video post Sunday.

Wayne said the team has worked with frontline patrol to determine search parameters and investigative steps that could be taken.

This has included a canvass speaking with members of the public and gathering video footage, and asking for tips. Wayne said more than 500 tips have already been received.

Parker went missing on July 16, and was last seen in the 5000 to 6000 block of Travis Crescent N.E. in the city’s Thorncliffe neighbourhood at around 12:52 p.m.

Police have previously asked residents on several nearby streets, including Travis Street, Travis Crescent, Trail Drive, Taylor Crescent and Travis Place N.E., to repeatedly check vacant homes and surrounding properties.

Local real estate agents have also joined the search, organizing checks of vacant properties and listings in and around Thorncliffe.

According to police, Parker is also known to close and lock doors behind him so people have been asked to check properties, sheds and other places even if a lock has been used as it’s possible the boy was the one who locked up.

—with files from Global News’ Prisha Dev and Rebecca Lau

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Toronto police said on Sunday they’re investigating after two Jewish-owned bakeries that are part of the same chain were vandalized, with at least one showing evidence of shots fired.

The first call came in at about 8:12 a.m., with reports of a window being struck by gunfire at Kiva’s Bagel Bar at Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West.

Police received another report at about 8:30 a.m. of a broken window at Kiva’s Steeles Avenue West location. There was no evidence of a firearm being used there.

There were no reports of injuries.

“We understand that this is concerning for those that work and live in this area, especially members of the Jewish community and we have all the resources available to thoroughly investigate this matter,” Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury told reporters on Sunday.

Members of Toronto police’s guns and gangs and hate crime unit are investigating. Bradbury said police will be canvassing the area, resulting in an increased presence.

While the two businesses are part of the same bakery chain, it is not clear at this time what other connections there may be between the two incidents.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Montreal’s main animal protection organization is calling on the province to scrap rules that bar pets in rental units as the tally of animal surrenders surges this month.

The local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it is dealing with more than double the number of abandoned animals that it typically registers daily.

SPCA executive director Sylvie Bourbonnière says that while it ordinarily takes in about 20 pets in a 24-hour period, it’s been receiving at least double that number since shortly before Canada Day, with up to 70 surrendered animals arriving on exceptional days.

Bourbonnière says the vast majority of Montreal landlords impose major restrictions or refuse outright to rent to residents with pets.

She says the situation complicates the search for housing and, for SPCA staff and volunteers, adds a lot more pressure — on them as well as the group’s finances.

Canada Day in Montreal has traditionally been synonymous with moving day, as junk piles up on street corners, sweaty bodies heave couches up and down twisting staircases and abandoned animals show up in droves at the SPCA.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Made-from-scratch Buttermilk Waffles & Blueberry Compote

Part 1: Classic Crispy-Fluffy Buttermilk Waffles

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups All-purpose flour

2 tbsp Cornstarch

2 tbsp Granulated sugar

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp Fine salt

3 Large eggs, separated

2 cups Buttermilk

6 tbsp Unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the iron: Preheat your waffle iron. Preheat your oven to 200°F (95°C) with a wire rack inside to keep finished waffles crisp.

2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Whip egg whites: In a clean bowl, beat the reserved egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 2–3 minutes.

5. Combine batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined (a few lumps are fine — don’t overmix). Gently fold in the whipped egg whites until just incorporated; streaks of white are okay.

6. Rest the batter: Let the batter rest for 5 minutes so the leaveners activate and the flour hydrates.

7. Cook the waffles: Brush the iron with oil or butter. Pour in enough batter to mostly cover the grid, close, and cook until deep golden and crisp, about 4–5 minutes depending on your iron.

8. Keep warm and serve: Transfer cooked waffles directly to the oven rack (not stacked) to stay crisp while you cook the rest. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.

Extra Tips

● For extra crispness, letting the batter rest longer (up to 30 minutes) deepens flavour.

● No buttermilk? Mix 2 cups milk with 2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar and let sit 5 minutes.

● Leftover waffles freeze beautifully. Reheat straight from frozen in a toaster.

 

Part 2: Blueberry Compote

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups Fresh or frozen blueberries

3 tbsp Granulated sugar

1 Lemon, juiced and zested

1 tbsp Water

1 stick Cinnamon

1 tsp Cornstarch

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Make the slurry: In a small bowl, whisk the water and cornstarch together until smooth to make a slurry. Set aside.

2. Combine in saucepan: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Simmer the berries: Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries start to break down and release their juices, about 5 minutes.

4. Thicken: Stir in the cornstarch slurry and continue to simmer, stirring, until the compote thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes.

5. Finish and serve: Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract if using. Let cool slightly — the compote will continue to thicken as it cools. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Extra Tips

● Frozen blueberries work great and don’t need thawing — just add a minute or two to the simmer time.

● For a thicker, jammier compote, mash more of the berries as it cooks.

● Keeps in the fridge for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.