We all know that some hacks are better than others. And while I’m sure I’ve shared a lifehack or two that’s made some of you roll your eyes and yell, “THAT’S NOT A HACK!”, I’m confident that most readers will enjoy the fresh batch of tips and tricks I’ve put together below.
1. Toys are essential for entertaining kids while they take a bath, but storing them can be a nightmare.
If this is a problem you’re currently dealing with, take inspiration from 8FootSix and use a tiered hanging fruit basket as tub storage.
2. The next time you head out on a grocery run, take a picture of your refrigerator before hopping into your car.
As you’re walking around the store, you can reference the photo and it’ll help you remember what you do or don’t need.
3. If the cake you just pulled out of the oven has domed, grab a clean tea towel and use it to gently press down the small mound.
This should help create the flat surface you desire. Just remember to not press too hard, or you’ll end up caving in your cake.
4. Keep all of those tubs of dollar store Play-Doh neat and organized by using a coffee pod carousel for storage.
While this hack won’t guarantee that the lids will always be put back properly, at least you won’t have to worry about the containers being left all over the place!
5. “Broken seat belt on a high chair? No problem.”
Dad hacks for the win! This smart papa used his own belt to ensure this kiddo stayed put while sitting in a restaurant highchair.
6. “Ergonomic Mouse Pad. Instead of being on a flat surface and going through constant wrist pain get an old thick binder and put your mouse pad on it.”
If you’re going to be sitting at a desk all day, you might as well make it as comfortable as possible, right?
7. When you have beautiful hardwood floors, the last thing you want to do is scratch them while moving furniture around.
To protect your floors and give yourself peace of mind, use leftover corks to create bumpers for furniture legs.
8. Whether you live in a rental property or simply can’t afford to redo your space, vinyl is the answer to your bland kitchen dilemma.
The Nic Studio used colorful vinyl paper designed to look like tile to give her kitchen a fresh, temporary backsplash.
9. Over-the-door shoe racks are great for a number of things, but I think I like this idea more than the rest.
Those pockets are the perfect size to store dolls and all of their itty bitty accessories.
10. To prevent chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of your batter mixture, toss them with a bit of flour before folding them in.
This should ensure that your yummy batch banana bread has chocolate chips in every bite.
11. One way to cut down on cleanup while painting is to line a large bucket with a plastic bag, turning it into a easy-to-use paint tray.
Once you’re finished painting, simply remove the bag, cut a small hole in the bottom, and let all of the leftover paint drain back into the can.
12. Tension rods are one of the most versatile products out there.
For example, Hometalker Amanda C. used a few of them to create a perfect storage system for all of the shoes and boots that were cluttering up her closet.
13. “Use a carabiner to hold all your hair ties.”
Hopefully, this storage trick will prevent you from misplacing all of your hair ties and winding up with none when you need them most.
14. Never forget cutlery again with the help of this handy hack by Oh Happy Day!
Simply pack your lunch in a paper bag, and seal it shut with a fork equipped with a clothespin.
15. Instead of making one massive pan of meatloaf, use a muffin tin to create individual pucks.
Not only will the tin allow the meat cook faster, it’ll also make portion control much easier to manage.
16. “Use a pool noodle on the frame of your bed to save your shins.”
Yikes! Just thinking about slamming my leg into one of these sans pool noodle is making me cringe.
17. Ensure any mess your little one creates while hanging out in their car seat is easy to clean by placing a bed sheet over the seat before strapping everything in.
When you remove the car seat, all you have to do is lift the sheet and give it a few flicks before tossing it in the washing machine.
18. This clever homeowner decided to turn Ikea cutlery holders into a wall unit for their toilet paper.
You can get these holders for $4.99, and the best part about them is that they can be spray painted to suit the style of your bathroom.
19. “If your zippers break, use para cord.”
If everything else about the bag is perfectly fine, why wouldn’t you do this? It’s much less expensive than buying something brand new.
20. “Your coffee cup leaks because you line up the lid opening with the seam on the cup, which is the point where the seal is imperfect. Don’t do this and it will be less likely to leak.”
See, you learn something new every day.
21. “A piece of lime or a bit of vinegar added to boiling water prevents the pot from turning black.”
This means less time spent scrubbing stubborn stains, which is a win in my books.
22. For those of you who like to bake, this hack is something you’ll want to remember.
Everyday items, like pearls, corkscrews, and tongs can be used to create fun patterns in pie pastry.
23. Treat you and your fellow campers to a hearty breakfast by lining the bottom of a paper bag with bacon and cracking a couple of eggs on top of it.
Place each bag over the campfire and let the flames get the job done.
24. “Travel a lot? Take a pic of where you park at the airport to save your sanity when you return.”
The last thing you want to be doing after a trip is wasting time looking for your vehicle.
25. So, you spilled water on your laptop.
According to one Reddit user , the worst thing you can do it try to turn it on, which is what some people instinctively do to see if it still works. Instead, let it dry for two to three days.
26. The next time you go camping, don’t forget to pack an emergency blanket.
Place it on top of your tent to reflect the sunlight and keep your tent cooler.
27. Do you keep pulling up on the wrong side of the gas pump?
It’s OK, (me too). The fuel gauge on your dashboard actually has a little arrow that shows which side of the car your gas tank is on.
28. If you have too many grocery bags to carry home, a cooler can do the trick.
It’s on wheels, it holds a lot of stuff, and unlike those folding shopping carts, it looks cool. (Ha! Get it?)
29. If you’re hand sewing something and can’t hold a ruler, use your thumbnail instead.
This Reddit user used markings on a thumbnail as a way to keep a hand sewn hem straight and even.
30. Now here’s some handy portion control.
If you find you’re plowing through a bowl of candy too quickly, mix up your treats. A bowl that has some m&m’s mixed in with Skittles will force you to eat them one-by-one. Because a mouthful of both is not the greatest experience.
31. Kids tend to grow out of their clothes really quickly.
But if you want to get a little more wear out of pajamas, cut the feet off and get at least a few more months out of them.
32. A toothpick works really well to keep all your small electronics together.
Slide one through the prongs of a plug and fold a cord underneath it for safe keeping of both items.
33. A bobby pin a day keeps the dentist away.
Use a bobby pin at the end of your toothpaste tube to make sure you squeeze out every last dollop.
34. Never end up with an unsatisfying watermelon again.
Take this chart with you the next time you go to pick out a watermelon.
