If dealing with daily messes has you feeling like you're constantly running out of your go-to household cleaner, you're not alone. Trying to make budgets (or that last little bit of cleaning solution) stretch calls for inexpensive, on-hand, and effective alternatives. Ice, surprisingly, checks all three boxes.

Our cleaning and plumbing experts share how they use ice around the home to keep things clean and fresh.

You’ve rearranged the furniture in your space for a fresh new feel, but now you're left with unsightly dents in the carpet. Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, says to place a single ice cube in each dent. 

"Wait until it is completely melted, which normally takes about 15 to 30 minutes, then blot any excess moisture with a towel," he instructs. "Use a spoon or soft brush to fluff the fibers."

Avoid rubbing the carpet. Instead, blot gently to prevent fibers from loosening or becoming compacted. "As the ice melts slowly," says Schrader, "the moisture rehydrates the compressed fibers."

Use ice cubes to effortlessly clean your garbage disposal, suggests plumbing expert Jimmy Hiller. “Tossing a handful of ice down the disposal and running it for 30 seconds is all it takes,” Hiller says. “No other tools or products are needed—but if you add a few lemon or orange peels, it will add a deodorizing effect.” 

The ice acts like "tiny chisels breaking up gunk," Hiller explains. "The ice cubes slam and scrape against the grinding components, knocking off stuck-on food, grease, and slime from the blades and chamber walls."

Avoid using large chunks of ice—they should be no larger than what would come out of your standard ice cube tray. To prevent clogs, always run cold water when cleaning with ice. "And keep in mind that ice cubes are only for maintenance," says Hiller, "not for clearing a blockage that has already jammed the disposal."

If a sticky substance (such as chewing gum) has become accidentally embedded in a tablecloth, throw blanket, or favorite sweater, Schrader suggests using ice to clean up the mess.

"Apply an ice pack directly to the gum for a few minutes until frozen solid, then carefully scrape off the gum with a dull knife," he says. "Avoid trying to pull the gum off while it is warm—it will only smear into the fabric."

That morning cup kicks off the day just right, but unsightly stains in your carafe can kill your caffeine buzz. “When coffee starts burning the inside of a glass coffee pot, use a few tablespoons of salt and a handful of ice to get rid of stains,” suggests Taylor Riley, partner at Brooklyn's GermSmart Commercial Cleaning. “All you need to do is put the salt and ice into the coffee pot and swirl around until the stains are gone.”  The ice moves the salt around, and the salt acts as an abrasive agent against the stains.

You’ve spent a great deal of time (and perhaps money) selecting your outdoor seating, but now it’s covered in a season's worth of gunk. If sap has tacked itself onto your pool chairs or patio sectional, ice can help, says pool service and maintenance expert Jeremy Yamaguchi.

"Put some ice in a plastic bag and put the bag over the surface," says Yamaguchi. "Let it rest there for a few minutes, and then take a flat, hard item (like a butter knife) and scrape off the sap."

(And you might want to consider repositioning your furniture so that sap removal doesn’t become a regular on your chore list!)