Are your kitchen appliances looking a little grimy lately, or maybe you're having problems buffing out those splatters after cooking last night's dinner? Instead of sticking them into the dishwasher, try grabbing a pinch of cream of tartar. 

This tip comes courtesy of household weblog Tales and Tips from a Real-Life Housewife, who states that a pinch of Cream of Tartar on a wet sponge and a little elbow grease will help remove the buildup. You can also mix it with lemon juice or vinegar to make a metal-cleaning paste.

The reason why this works so well is that Cream of Tartar contains Potassium bitartrate, which is a byproduct of making wine and is an ingredient of baking powder and sodium-free salt substitutes. It's also great for  keeping fruit from browning and you can easily purchased it at places that stock spices.