Are you a fan of clever shortcuts or just looking to streamline your daily routine? You’ve landed in the right spot for practical tips on maximizing your time. We’re excited to share 21 innovative life hacks that can be applied to everyday situations, from tidying up those pesky wrinkles to cleverly storing unusual bread shapes. What sets these hacks apart is their reliance on common household items like clothespins, a pot, and other unexpected tools.
Let’s dive in and explore this treasure trove of time-saving ideas together!
Use a Safety Pin to Fix the Laces
When dealing with unruly laces, don’t let frustration get the best of you. Instead, reach for a trusty safety pin and use it as a makeshift guide to re-lace them. The weight and size of the pin make it an ideal tool for this task, allowing you to easily manipulate the string into its proper place. With this simple trick up your sleeve, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of lace management.
And speaking of mastery, there are plenty of other practical life hacks waiting to be discovered and put to use in your daily routine!
Use Toilet Paper Roll to Plant Seedlings
When it comes to starting seeds early on a budget, creative thinking can be a lifesaver. One simple yet effective solution is to repurpose toilet paper or paper towel rolls as mini-greenhouses for your seeds. The porous nature of the roll makes it an ideal container for protecting sensitive seedlings until they’re ready to be transplanted into the ground. And if you’re wondering what to do with leftover rolls, there are plenty of other clever uses waiting to be discovered!
Remove Chair Marks on the Carpet with a Damp Cloth and Iron
When dealing with the aftermath of a party or rearranging furniture, it’s not uncommon to encounter pesky divots in your carpet caused by the weight of each piece. To tackle these imperfections swiftly, try using a damp cloth and an iron. Simply place the iron on top of the wrinkled area, allowing its heat to smooth out the fibers and remove any noticeable depressions.
Tie a Colored Bow on Your Suitcase to Distinguish It
Standing at the baggage claim, staring down at a sea of identical suitcases, and wondering which one belongs to you? It’s a frustrating experience that can leave you feeling anxious and disorganized. To avoid this stressful scenario, consider taking a simple yet effective approach: add a distinctive touch to your luggage. This could be anything from a colorful ribbon tied around the handle to a small piece of cloth attached to the side panel.
By doing so, you’ll be able to quickly identify your bag without having to rifle through every single one on the carousel. With this clever trick up your sleeve, you’ll be back in control and ready to tackle whatever adventures await you.
Use a Hair Straightener to Iron a Collar
When a last-minute crisis strikes and your shirt’s collar starts to wrinkle, don’t panic! A hair straightener can be a lifesaver in this situation. To use it effectively, approach the process as you would with an iron – just make sure to take extra precautions when treating your shirt to prevent any damage. By doing so, you’ll be able to achieve a smooth and wrinkle-free finish in no time.
Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode to Charge it Quickly
In a situation where your phone is running low on power and you need to recharge it as quickly as possible, try a simple trick. Instead of plugging it in normally, activate airplane mode first. This will allow the phone to redirect its energy towards charging, as many functions are unavailable while airplane mode is enabled. By doing so, you’ll be able to charge your phone faster and get back to using it sooner.
Use a Clothes Peg and Double-Sided Tape to Hang the Key
If you or someone you live with is constantly misplacing keys, finding a dedicated spot to keep them can be a game-changer. One simple solution is to use double-sided tape and clothespins to create an easy-to-use key hook. By placing a few of these hooks in strategic locations throughout your space, you may find that it helps break the habit of misplacing items.
Tie Two Forks Together with a Rubber Band to Make a Pair of Tong
When faced with the absence of a pair of tongs in your kitchen arsenal, a clever hack lies in combining two forks using a humble rubber band. The remarkable elasticity and tensile strength of this simple tool make it an effective substitute for grilling, tossing, or flipping various types of food to achieve the desired result.
Use a Clothes Peg to Hold a Nail in Place
Clothes pegs, also known as clothespins, are incredibly versatile tools that can be used in various creative and practical applications. However, their most valuable contribution might just lie in promoting safety. In this regard, they offer a simple yet effective solution to prevent accidental injuries, making them an invaluable addition to any home or workspace.
Use an Empty Bottle to Fill Oversized Basins
When faced with the challenge of transferring water from one container to another, a common hurdle is finding a way to bridge the gap. One simple yet effective solution is to use an oversized water bottle or plastic container as an extension tool. By keeping this makeshift extender nearby, you can avoid the frustration of repeatedly trying to fill the larger bin and save time in the long run.
Clean Your Leather with Coconut Oil
To maintain the suppleness and comfort of your leather seats, consider utilizing coconut oil as a conditioning agent. Before application, discreetly test a small area to verify the desired outcome.
Wrap an Elastic Band Around a Soap Dispenser To Reduce It’s Waste
A simple yet effective way to reduce liquid soap waste is by using a rubber band as a makeshift pump stopper. By wrapping the rubber band around the pump parts, you can limit the amount of soap dispensed per use, minimizing excess product and saving you money. This natural barrier effectively prevents the entire contents from being released at once, ensuring only what’s needed for the task is used.
Use Glasses Case to Store Make-Up
When embarking on a trip, keeping makeup organized can be a daunting task. However, with a simple yet effective trick, you can ensure your favorite products remain safe and within reach. The solution lies in repurposing an extra glasses case to store long and skinny items like mascara or lip liner. This hack is particularly useful because it utilizes something most of us already possess – an unused glasses case – making it one of the simplest and most convenient solutions on this list.
Mark the Edge of Your Tape with a Paper Clip
When searching for the tailpiece of clear tape can be frustratingly elusive. Fortunately, a simple yet ingenious hack exists to alleviate this problem. By employing a paper clip in a creative manner, you effectively create a makeshift bookmark that indicates where to begin – eliminating the need for trial and error. This hack is not only effective but also versatile, as it can be applied to other situations where quick reference points are necessary.
Clean Your Shoes with Toothpaste
While this unconventional approach may raise some eyebrows at first, consider the logic: if toothpaste effectively whitens teeth, why not apply the same principle to other white surfaces? The key is to begin with small, tentative applications to gauge the effectiveness and potential risks. This experimental method requires a gentle touch, starting with small dabs on the surface before proceeding further.
Use a Pot of Boiling Water for Ironing
When you’re working with delicate fabrics or don’t have access to an iron, a hot pot of water can be a game-changer for smoothening out wrinkles. The residual heat from the boiling water can be enough to relax even the most stubborn creases. However, it’s essential to consider the type of fabric and the temperature of the pot when using this method. As the heat can vary depending on these factors, results may differ from one shirt to another.
To achieve the best outcomes, you’ll need to work quickly and apply the hot water to the wrinkled area while the pot is still at its hottest.
Saves Space on the Drying Rack
Maximize your clothing drying rack’s capacity without needing extra space by a clever hack. Simply clip your clothes with clothespins, positioning them strategically on either side of the far horizontal bars. This innovative approach allows for significantly more garments to be hung, making efficient use of your existing rack.
Use Command Hooks to Make a Charging Station
While it may seem like an afterthought, finding reliable spaces for phones can be surprisingly challenging. To streamline this process, consider designating a dedicated station on walls in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen or next to your bed. Utilize command hooks to create a versatile charging station that can accommodate multiple devices at once. For added convenience, set up the station while your phone is plugged in, ensuring everything remains within reach.
This clever hack using command hooks is one of the most effective ways to keep your devices organized and charged.
Use a Toothpick to Prevent the Vegetables From Sticking to the Knife
When it comes to chopping or slicing vegetables, a common frustration is when they stick to the blade. To eliminate this issue, try inserting a small toothpick into the surface of the knife, positioning it so that it faces the direction of the veggies. This subtle bump will encourage any stubborn produce to release and fall away as you slice, making the process smoother and more efficient.
Wrap Your Drink in a Wet Napkin for Quick Cooling
Beat the heat this summer with a clever trick! Instead of waiting for what feels like an eternity, you can speed up the cooling process by wrapping your drink in an ice-cold paper towel. The result may vary depending on the initial temperature and ambient surroundings, but it’s definitely worth a try. For even faster results, stash your wrapped drink in the fridge or freezer for a brief period – just be sure to check on it periodically to avoid any unexpected surprises.
Use Two Bags to Store Larger Loaf of Bread
When you have a large quantity of bread to store, a simple yet effective technique is to divide it in half and place each portion in separate bags. Ensure the bags are spacious enough to overlap, thereby preventing the bread from coming into contact with air and slowing down the aging process.
