Learning something new is one way to improve your life for the better. You never know how useful a simple tool can be until you use it for something other than what it is intended for. With a little bit of our imagination, it can be used for a multitude of jobs.
Make your home cozier and save money in the process with these simple hacks. You don’t need to be a DIY expert, plus most of the materials needed are common household items. Here are some useful hacks we feel you might have overlooked.
Floss The Easy Way
Dental hygiene should be a given. Brushing your teeth a couple of times a day will surely help with your dental bill every year, and your dentist will surely be grateful. But most people forget the most important part of oral hygiene: flossing.
People forget to floss in between the teeth, and if ever they do remember, they have trouble getting a grip on the tiny thread. The trick is to make a knot to ensure a good grip between your fingers. Dental plaque doesn’t stand a chance now.
Royal Flush
Public restrooms are suspicious when it comes to cleanliness. One can only do so much to protect oneself from leftover germs from the previous users of the facility. If one is wise, one will use a seat cover before sitting one’s behind on the throne.
Not everyone knows this, but this is why we are here. So spread the news: when placing a disposable cover on the toilet seat, the flap should be sticking out in the front for easier disposal after use. Just remember to throw it in the trash so that it ends up in a landfill instead of in the ocean.
Hang In There
Moving day can be a pain, but not if you know exactly how to move things with ease. Packing clothes can be time and energy-consuming. This trick is so valuable you would think that everyone would know about it by now.
When moving clothes from one apartment to the other, there’s no need to take clothes off their hangers. Now tie a few hangers together to create a makeshift rod. Hang the rest of your clothes on it. Simple and easy. And that’s all you need.
Labels Are Important
While they can be constricting and limiting at times, labels can be helpful. For example, if you need to identify which cord to unplug from a cluster of anonymous cords, you might be there a while without a label to help point the way.
Make sure not to throw away the tag that comes with your bread bags. After finishing the loaf, you can use it to keep things organized. Simply write on the tags and attach them to the correct cords. Now you’ll never unplug the wrong thing again.
Save On Washing Up
Chinese takeout has taken over the fast-food industry. You can enjoy a good and hearty meal without toiling for hours in the kitchen. It is conveniently enough placed in a take-out box that is called an oyster pail. It turns out that these boxes are more useful than you’d think.
These oyster pails can be unfolded to make a plate to hold your meal. In the same way it was unfolded, it can be refolded to store leftovers. You get the benefit of eating off a plate without the hassle of cleaning up after.
Perfect Portions
Hosting a dinner party with your favorite Italian dish can be intimidating if you do not know how to portion the servings for each guest correctly. No host wants to suffer the extreme humiliation of serving the wrong amount of pasta to their guests. Here is a tip for the next party.
When measuring pasta, use a good spaghetti spoon to ensure that everyone has enough. The hole in the middle of the spoon is exactly enough for one portion. There will be no embarrassing dinner parties from now on.
Smooth And Silky Hair
Luscious locks are not achieved in one day. Long, smooth and silky hair is a product of good genetics and fine maintenance. Some people get it wrong by washing it too often, robbing the hair follicles of their natural oils.
This does not mean that you should give up washing your hair altogether. There should be a balance. When washing hair, you should focus on shampooing your roots. This is where oil builds up in excessive amounts. There’s no real reason to wash your tips.
Homemade Peanut Butter Hacks
Stay away from processed foods and start living a healthy lifestyle. A good old homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be just the thing you need to quench your craving for something sweet yet unhealthy.
Peanut butter sometimes separates from top to bottom when stored too long. The trick is to store it horizontally while laying it down. This will allow the separated bits of oil and peanut to mix back when taken off the shelf for another serving.
Soda Can Secrets
Everybody loves a cold soda right out of the fridge on a hot summer day. Nothing else can refresh and cool you down than a cold can. But have you ever wondered what the hole in the tab was for? It is certainly not there for just decorations.
It turns out the best way to enjoy your beverage is to slip a straw through the hole in the tab of a can. This holds it perfectly in place. Just face the hole of the tab over the opening of the can and place the straw right through.
Cooking Expert Hack
This hack will keep your cooking area safe and clean. Dealing with food means you must keep things sanitary and the kitchen, but spoons often fall from the pan. As everyone knows, cleaning it up right away is easier than cleaning it after it has dried. But wiping something up while cooking can be dangerous when dealing with hot objects.
Use this trick to keep your spatula from getting dirty in between stirring the food as well as keeping it safe for the next use. This hole in the handle doubles as a holder for a wooden or a metal spatula. This also gives you, the cook, quick access to your tools.
Got Clogged Up
No one wants to deal with a clogged drain. It is no walk in the park to get your sink flowing right again. Some people would prefer to call a plumber, but just in case, you still might benefit from knowing what different plungers do.
Flat plungers are perfect for sinks. Less-than-solid waste gets stuck in those, and therefore suction is needed to dislodge the drain. A toilet plunger fits right into the tapered hole where suctioning is needed when your toilet is blocked. The other type is a taze plunger, used to clear large pipes. This one is mostly used by professionals, and it’s best left at that.
Take A Chill Pill
Small pieces of jewelry can be a pain to store. They can get everywhere, and finding the right storage container for them can be difficult. This hack will help you if you have a large collection of earrings, rings, and other small accessories.
A pillbox is a perfect container to store them in. This also doubles as a storage container for beads, buttons, or bobbins for your next do-it-yourself craft project—no more misplaced or missing earrings.
One Tack Hack
Tic Tac is a popular candy. It can be a good substitute for smoking or snacking. One pop of the candy and your breath will always pass the freshness test. Some people are okay with popping more than one, but for those who only need one Tac, here is what they can do to avoid an overflow.
The lid of the Tic Tac box has an engraving on the inside. This will fit the shape of one tic-tac and you can use it to control how much you get when pouring. Give it a shake and open it facing down. A single tic tac should fall through the engraving giving a single candy every time.
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk
It is a waste to spill milk. It should be avoided at all costs. Adults may make a couple of splashes from time to time, but we are here to show you a better way of pouring milk to avoid spillage all together.
When pouring milk, unscrew the cap, and with the opening at the top instead of the bottom, start pouring. This will ensure that the contents come out smoother. Why? Air will freely enter the carton while the liquid exits. Simple physics, but that is all it takes.
Benefits of Wood
Hangers are a necessary tool to keep your closet organized. It keeps the clothes looking new and well taken care of. Some might write them off as common household items, not paying too much attention to them. But as it turns out, investing in a good wooden hanger is more important than you might think.
First off, they were made to repel moths and bugs from winter tweed jackets or delicate lacework for months on end. The wood can be well-scented and durable as well. It may be a little bit more expensive but consider it as an investment for your clothes.
Bottoms Up
We did say that we are going to introduce hacks that are unconventional and creative at the top of this article. What can be more creative than using Coca-Cola to clean the loo? It is amazing how the acidic property of the beverage can easily remove stains from any bowl.
About two liters of Coke would do. Pour it down the drain or toilet bowl and leave for hours. The phosphoric acid of the beverage will break down the materials clogging the plumbing. Now imagine what it’s doing to your insides when you drink it!
No Spilled Juice
Young kids can be a delight, but what is not amusing is cleaning up after them. Children are still learning to master their fine motor controls and need a little bit of help when it comes to eating and drinking. Here is a hack that can be a lifesaver.
The next time you give your child a juice box, simply pull out the flaps on the top of the juice box so that your little one can hold on to them while sipping their drink. This way, your child can practice autonomy while you can look forward to not cleaning up after them.
Piggyback Backpack
Looking for extra space to store your hiking gear or shoes? It is true that it is always best to travel light, but when you have no choice but to bring a couple of extra things, a good trick is making use of the diagonal patch on your backpack.
These patches are fondly called “pig snouts.” As it turns out, they are not just there for style points. They can be used to store shoes. By lacing strings through them, you gain extra room for other items inside the backpack.
Ice In The Veins
During the summer season, a cold drink can be a real lifesaver. Using the classic tumbler might do the trick but even still, keeping a cold drink cold can be tricky. Filling it up with ice can only last so long.
You will need to prepare this the night before. Try storing a half-filled water bottle laid at an angle in your freezer. When you need to go out the next day, there will be a cold container waiting to be filled with your favorite beverage. This keeps cold drinks cold for longer.
Little Spoon
Yogurt makes a great snack. It can easily be packed for lunch as dessert, but sometimes you might forget to pack a spoon for it during the morning rush.
If ever this happens to you, don’t fret. You can make a makeshift spoon from the lid if it’s made of foil. Foil can easily be molded into the shape of a spoon with a handle. Afterward, it can be disposed of easily.
Stop For Gas
For young people or those who have just discovered the joy of driving, it may be hard to remember where the gas cap is located on your car. This may pose a problem when stopping for gas. You might not know which side to park on for access to the pump.
When in doubt, look at your gas indicator on the dashboard. There should be an arrow or a small triangle beside the gas gauge. This will indicate which side the tank is on. This is a useful hack for first-time drivers. So drive safely and enjoy the road.
Low and Slow
Tired of ordering food online or getting food from a takeout box? A home-cooked meal is always better than processed food. A slow-cooker is the ideal kitchen tool for anyone who wants a home-cooked meal without the fuss.
There are so many meals you can cook using this handy invention. Just throw the ingredients in and forget about it for a few hours. You can start cooking a meal before you leave for work. When you come back home, a meal will be ready for you.
I Peel You
Here is one creative hack that can benefit any home cook. A simple vegetable peeler can do wonders in a kitchen, but it shouldn’t be relegated to just peeling vegetables. Here is one way of using the vegetable peeler that most people do not know about.
Using a vegetable peeler to cut onions can help speed up the task. It can cut onions into uniform slices, just as well as a master chef could. No more tears when it comes to cutting onions into strips.
Keep It Cool
Luck favors those who are well prepared. For active people, sprains and bruises may be a common occurrence during sports or outdoor activities. An Ice pack at home can be handy during these times, but they never seem to be one available when you need one.
Here’s how keeping a frozen sponge in your fridge can help when someone gets into an accident, has a fever, or gets burned. These frozen sponges barely take up space in the fridge and are reusable. They save you money from the disposable blue pack frozen gels you used to buy.
Cold Summer Drink
Who doesn’t want to have a good old slurp of their favorite flavor of Slurpee during a hot summer’s day? Getting the best out of a $3 drink requires a hack known only by a small circle of Slurpee drinking elites.
Pay for the drink as usual and at the counter request for the convex lid typical of a Slurpee beverage. Fill your cup half an inch from the brim, then place the cup upside down and fill it up just a little more. Are you impressed with this hack?
I C What You Did There
A healthy dose of vitamin C is what we all need nowadays, especially with this pandemic going on. You can take a pill, but the more natural ways are always the best. Not to mention you’ll also benefit from the fibers this fruit provides.
The next time you want to eat an orange, try this method. Slice the top off and bottom layer as well. Peel the fruit like you normally would as shown above. This will look like an ammo belt of vitamins to help you fight off tiredness and bad skin.
Unraveling The Foil
Aluminum foil is an essential tool in any kitchen. You will need it for cooking and for keeping food warm. It is a necessity when it comes to preparing for big dinner parties. Here’s a quick hack that will help the next time you need to get it out of the box quickly.
Not many people know that there is a small tab on the side of the package, but anyone could see a “press here to lock roll.” Try it the next time you need to unroll the foil. Pressing the tab should secure the roll while pulling out the desired length with one hand.
A Better Flow
Here’s a creative way to fill a bucket with water. When the worst comes to the worst, and there’s no way of filling up a bucket besides through an unwieldy facet, a dustpan can be invaluable for saving you time and effort.
Use a dustpan to redirect water flow from the sink to the bucket. Place it under the faucet with its mouth facing towards the sink. The water will naturally pour it straight down the handle. The bucket will fill up sooner than you think.
Keep It Safe
Keeping your valuables safe and dry at the pool can be challenging. Having one eye on your keys or phone and another on the kids leaves you no time for rest and relaxation. While you can’t do the same for your offspring, you can lock up your valuables to keep them safe.
Simply use a clean jar. Place all valuable objects inside and enjoy the rest of the day at the beach or at the pool without worrying about your items getting waterlogged. Now there’s no reason to worry about getting a water-damaged phone again.
Smooth Like Silk
Traveling for work requires a good set of shirts freshly pressed and ready for business. There are times when staying at a hotel can be difficult as they may not provide a hanger for you to hang your clothes on.
Never turn up to a meeting with creased clothes. Use this hack the next time you go traveling for business: when there are no hangers available for your polo or blouse, use the tab at the back of your shirt and find a hook or something hook-like to hang it on. This ensures a smooth shift before your meeting in the morning.
Sample Fabric
When going on an all-out shopping spree, you’ll often find a small bag attached to your new clothing. It may contain a spare button or a piece of fabric matching your clothing. This button is for when one of your buttons falls off and gets lost, but the piece of fabric has a different story.
The matching fabric is meant to test out chemical products, such as fabric softeners, bleach, stain removers, detergents, and the like. You can test chemicals and such on this small piece of fabric to find out what works and what doesn’t. It’s a real lifesaver at times.
Coasting By
When buying a drink to go, you’d expect it to come with a lid to avoid spillage. It’s a given that a lid is meant to be at the top, but we have another suggestion for using it.
Not a lot of people know that plastic lids are specially made to fit at the base of a cup too. This means that the lid can also be used as a coaster for the drink to prevent leaving ugly rings on your table.
Run Forest Run
Ever wonder why there’s an extra hole on the side of your running shoes? You can easily lace up your shoes without using this extra hole. So what is its purpose?
n athlete will appreciate this hack. The hole on the side can be used to lace up your trainer for an even tighter hug on the feet. This will ensure a comfortable fit and prevent injury.
Lush Lashes
Whether it’s for a quick touch-up or for a full-on glamorous look, no makeup look is complete without mascara. This is where our hack comes in.
We have a hack that can save anyone a whole bunch of money on mascara. When filling up the brush you should never pump the wand in and out because doing so can cause it to dry out faster.
Keeping It Hot
Having an oven in the house means you can make more varieties of food. It can be used for baking cakes, cookies, roasting, grilling, and more. However, this hack doesn’t require you to use your oven, at least not after you’re done cooking.
When the guests are running a little bit late, and you need to keep their dishes hot, use the oven’s warming drawers. It’s the best thing you can do to keep the dishes toasty.
You Have Got To Ketchup
Squeezing out the last contents of the ketchup bottle can be frustrating. No one wants to get a splat of ketchup over their shirt after hastily turning over the almost empty bottle.
One way of getting the contents out smoothly is by applying a consistent amount of pressure in one place. Just be patient, and it will come.
Sparkling White With Just A Pea
Sometimes less is more. The amount of toothpaste you use does not change the quality of your brushing. Toothpaste companies suggest that you use only a pea-sized amount when brushing your teeth.
This means that one tube of toothpaste can last much longer than expected if you use just the right amount. This can save a lot of money in the long run. So keep this in mind the next time you brush.
Emergency Exit
Headrests keep the head comfortable through long drives. But there are so many things it can do if you have the know-how. The next time you find yourself in a dangerous situation, remember this hack.
If you find yourself locked in a car and need to escape, use the headrest as a tool for breaking out. Press on the button and hold, then pull it out till the headrest is released. Use the steel bars to break the window of the car.
The Key To Not Chipping
When adding a new key to your keyring, you may have to sacrifice a nail or two depending on how unyielding your ring is or how fat your new key is. Fear not; we have you and your manicure covered with this hack.
Wedge a staple remover in between the keyring to give it a little bit of wiggle room. Insert your new key. Done! Look, mom, no more broken nails! It is so simple even a child could do it.
Hair Hack
Keeping a bobby pin in place can be challenging at times, especially when you are not an expert at hairdressing. It should be easy enough to use; just clip it on and expect the hair to stay in place, right? Well, it turns out there is more to it than that.
According to the manufacturer of the bobby pins, there is a right way of placing them in the hair. The side with the ragged edge should be on top. The smooth edge should be facing the scalp. This pin ensures a tighter hold on the hair, and thus a more effective way to keep things in place.