20 Bright Lifehacks We Never Would Have Come Up With

Ashley Hunte
A container of vegan margarine on top of a kitchen scale.
reddit | elfmere

People like to throw the term "lifehack" around for a lot of things that are, admittedly, pretty dumb. But every now and then, somebody shares a lifehack that's actually really good and useful, and kind of groundbreaking.

The lifehacks in this list are just like that. Maybe you know them, maybe you don't. But they'll at least make some parts of your life a little easier.

"How to fit a pizza in a small oven."

Two frozen pizzas, halved, and arranged on a single pan so that they can all fit.
reddit | S478vau

See, this is the kind of genius I can get behind. If you're trying to make more than one frozen pizza, there's no reason why they have to be cooked one at a time!

"Sofa coffee cup holder."

A cup resting in the middle of a role of duct tape.
reddit | frankese

There are probably, like, a million ways to keep a cup steady on a couch when you don't have an end or coffee table around. But this one is honestly just really fun. Plus, you never don't have duct tape around, right?

"Different ways a pole can be used!"

A  man walking away from a car while holding a broom that's carrying several full grocery bags.
reddit | TablePuzzleheaded651

I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this might be the smartest thing I've ever seen. No one wants to make a million trips from the car to the house! And this way, you're also not completely destroying your fingers.

"Have a room temperature beverage that you want to drink cold now? Wrap it in a damp paper towel and stick it in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Boom.. refreshingly cold!"

A can of beer that's been wrapped in a damp paper towel.
reddit | azurepeak

See, this is also super clever! There's some science about how the moisture from the paper towel helps cool things quicker, but the bottom line is that you don't have to wait hours for cold drinks.

"My Mom taught me this when I was younger: if you have dip or salsa and your chips get down to crumbs, dump them in the remainder of your dip/salsa and eat them with a fork."

A bowl of crushed up chips and salsa.
reddit | The4leafclover1966

I swear, moms everywhere have the best, most innovative advice.

"I may or may not be genius. Cooler ice packs with center holes for portable A/C."

A portable fan with two ice packs attached to it.
reddit | MtBikesandBiceps

Putting ice next to or in front of a fan to make a room cooler is, like, a thing. But I've never seen it done quite like this. Smart!

"When you wanna lay down but all you brought is a folding chair."

A man resting on an overturned folding outdoor chair.
reddit | IndiaSixty

Well, that's definitely one way to use a chair (in a way that isn't just sitting on it). I bet that provides a little bit of shade, too, depending on where the sun is.

"Drill a hole in your Swiffer cartridge and refill it with water/Pine Sol."

A Swiffer mop with a hole in the tank for the cleaner.
reddit | RelevantAnimosity

See, there are so many ways to reuse the same Swiffer refill. And to be honest, you might as well. It means using less plastic and saving a little money.

"Swiffer using old sock instead of refills."

A Swiffer mop with a sock on it instead of the pads.
reddit | assbagger321

Meanwhile, this is a pretty clever way to get out of buying a bunch of those pad refills for Swiffer mops. You could probably also use a cloth of some kind if you don't have a sock that's big enough.

"The snacklebox, perfect for a day trip."

A fishing tacklebox where all the compartments are filled with various charcuterie snacks.
reddit | D1ckRepellent

Who would've thought that a fishing tacklebox would be the perfect size for an all-in-one snack box? I'm definitely going to keep this in mind for the next time I find myself at the beach.

"Instant light diffuser."

A bottle of Smirnoff vodka on top of a phone flashlight, which is glowing like a lamp.
reddit | iObeyTheHivemind

One commenter added, "In developing nations, especially the agricultural areas with primitive infrastructure, they are taking soda bottles with water and a bit of bleach and installing them like skylights in homes. The diffusion of light acts like a light bulb and reduces the reliance on candles, which can cause fires."

What a cool idea!

"All my years in kitchens and my partner blows me away with this meatball trick. Squishes the meat into a baking tray, cuts like brownies. Portioned meat balls in seconds!"

A sheet of evenly cut ground meat that's in the process of being rolled into meatballs.
reddit | BDR2017

I'm actually mad that I didn't think of this first. I bet it would be good for cookies and other rolled things, too!

"Anyone else uses a protein shaker for mixing pancake batter?"

A protein shaker bottle that's filled with pancake batter.
reddit | Electrical_Leek6750

Yup, that's pretty neat. It's one of those things that you don't think of but seems really obvious once somebody points it out. Now I know how to make pancakes without making a mess.

"To avoid having to carry the dog poo bag, flip the carabiner used to secure your baggies so that the small end is down low."

A dog poop bag resting in the carabiner attached to a dog leash.
reddit | RickDelta

"Tie a big knot in the baggy, and pop it through the carabiner. It will get stuck on the thin end."

Simple yet effective. The best kind of lifehack.

"Cut celery and place it in water for storage. Lasts longer and stays crispy."

A container filled with celery and water.
reddit | HumblePie2714

This is a hack for a very specific person in the world. And by that, I mean a person who actually likes eating celery (but I'm sure it would work with other produce, too!).

"If you're visiting an area with pickpockets, take one of these, your bag is 'locked' to others but still easily accessible to you."

A bag where the zippers are held closed with a small keychain clasp.
reddit | Resident-Embarrassed

Okay, this is a definite game-changer. Though there are still other pickpocketing methods that thieves use, this would keep someone from just sticking their hands in your bag pockets.

"Are your paper leaf bags rotting before the city picks them up? Temporarily cover them with plastic bags to keep rain out."

Garbage bags that are used to cover lawn bags.
reddit | allcars4me

This is something everyone should know. Or at least, everyone who lives in a house surrounded by a lot of trees.

"Need to measure out ingredients? measure the container as you take out the ingredient instead of trying to measure the ingredient."

A tub of vegan margarine on top of a kitchen scale.
reddit | elfmere

Yup, that's definitely going to work. And it'll be a little less effort than having to measure out an ingredient. Plus, you know exactly where to put the excess!

"Sloppy Joes In hot dog buns are a lot less sloppy."

Two Sloppy Joes made using hotdog buns instead of bread slices.
reddit | crubaderawf

Sure, it may take the fun out of eating a Sloppy Joe (if you're into making a mess while you eat), but this is probably the better way to eat them.

"An oldie... whenever you have an electrical plate off, you can make notes on its back."

The back of an electrical outlet cover that has numbers and dates written on it.
reddit | Lenni_Fashion_Ger

"Breaker number, install date/s, paint dabs, etc., etc. etc. Often comes in handy down the road."

Yes, it will definitely come in handy down the road.