Life is busy, and we are all trying to fit more and more into the 24 hours we have each day. Until we can figure out how to outsource sleep, we need tips and tricks to save us time and energy.
From home organization and cleaning tips to shopping secrets and beauty tricks, these life hacks will help save you time, money and energy and make your life run just a bit more smoothly.
Never Touch A Too-Hot Steering Wheel Again
When parking in the direct sun on a hot day, turn your steering wheel 180 degrees. Doing so will ensure that the part of the steering wheel that your hands touch stays cool. So, when you come back to the car, you don’t have to try to drive with a too-hot wheel.
Do This If You Bought The Wrong Foundation Color
If you accidentally buy a foundation that’s too dark, it’s not a total loss. Mixing it with moisturizer will help lighten it. The more moisturizer you mix in, the lighter the color will become. (Plus, don’t forget the old standby beauty trick of testing a concealer or foundation color on your inner arm!)
Save Money On Starbucks Lattes
Want to save money on coffee without scrapping your Starbucks run altogether? Instead of ordering an iced latte, order a double shot of espresso with ice. Then, you can use your own milk and sugar to make an iced latte. Genius, right?
Use Non-Gel White Toothpaste To Clean Dirty Sneakers
Toothpaste doesn’t just get your pearly whites looking clean. You can also use it to clean your sneakers. Apply the toothpaste to an old toothbrush and scrub away at any dark spots on the white soles. Make sure to use only white, non-gel toothpaste, as colored toothpaste may have the opposite effect.
Here’s The Best Time To Buy A Car
If you want to get the best deal on new vehicle, waiting until the end of the month or the end of the year may help you score a better bargain. That’s because salespeople with quotas to meet will be more likely to strike a deal. Holidays are also a good time to car shop.
Use Shaving Cream To Heal A Sunburn
Have a sunburn but no aloe vera on hand? Use shaving cream to help heal a sunburn instead. The menthol in shaving cream can have a cooling effect, and it does have moisturizing properties, but one dermatologist cautioned that while it’s helpful in a pinch, it shouldn’t be left on your skin for a long time, nor should it be used on a severe burn.
Use Aluminum Foil As A Funnel
No funnel? No problem. Form foil into a cone shape and problem solved!
Make Siri Pronounce Names Correctly
You don’t have to put up with Siri mispronouncing your name or anyone else’s for the matter. You can teach her by saying, “Siri, learn to say my name.” Or, if she mispronounces it, you can say, “Siri, that’s not how you pronounce…”
Your Dishwasher Can Wash More Than Dishes
Your dishwasher can clean more than you may have thought. For example, you can run a rinse cycle to rinse off vegetables far more efficiently than you could rinse them by hand. You can also use the dishwasher to sanitize toys and your kitchen sponge.
Keep Your Garden Plants Watered
You don’t need a fancy drip irrigation system to keep your garden looking green and healthy. You can keep your plants watered with just a soda bottle. All you need to do is puncture it with small holes with an electric screwdriver. This allows water to seep out from the bottle slowly.
Clean Your Microwave Without Scrubbing
Clean the microwave without having to do a lot of scrubbing with this easy trick from the Happier Homemaker. Simply pour equal parts water and vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and then microwave it for about 7 minutes. The steam will help loosen any debris, making it easier to clean.
Save Money On Prescription Drugs
Many people don’t realize that it’s possible to buy prescription drugs at Costco and Sam’s Club even if you’re not a member. These stores may have discounted or lower rates on drugs than other pharmacies, so filling prescriptions here can end up saving you money.
Zip Up Clothes Before Washing Them
Before throwing your jeans or other zippered clothing into the washer, make sure to zip them up first. That’s because sharp metal zippers can snag or tear other clothing that’s being washed. This will help protect your clothes.
Fall Asleep Faster With Socks On And The Temp Turned Down
Sleep experts have long advised that 60 to 67 degrees is the ideal temperature for a good night’s sleep. And while this may seem contradictory, there’s also evidence that sleeping with socks on can help you fall asleep faster. If the idea of sleeping in socks horrifies you, try leaving them on while you get comfortable in bed and then remove them after your sheets are warmed up from your body heat.
Amplify Music With This Neat Trick
No speaker? No problem. Amplify music or the sound on an iPhone by placing it inside a bowl or glass. The sound waves will bounce off the side, making it louder.
Use Common Household Ingredients To Unclog A Drain
A slow-draining sink, bathtub or shower is frustrating. Not only do you have to wait for the water to drain, but you’re left with a residue to clean up. Who wants that?
If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals to unclog your drain — or don’t have any on hand — you can follow the following DIY remedy: First, boil water and pour it down the drain. Then, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain (some DIYers recommend mixing in a 1/4 cup of salt) followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush again with hot water from the tap. Voila!
Treat A Smelly Garbage Can With Bread And Vinegar
Even if you line your trash cans with bags, chances are they’ll start to smell after awhile. One easy fix is to pour vinegar over a slice of bread, then drop into the bottom of your trash can overnight. Remove it the next morning before you put in a fresh garbage bag and see if you notice the difference! Try adding a paper towel or sheet of parchment paper underneath the bread for easier cleanup.
Drill A Hole In Your Trash Can Liner To Fight Suction
If you have a trash can with a liner in your kitchen, you know the pain of trying to remove a full bag without it tearing and garbage spilling everywhere. Combatting the suction generated between the bag and liner can help. All you need to do is drill a hole into the side of the plastic liner and voila! Suction solved. It’s important that you drill the hole on the side of the plastic liner and not the bottom so that your liner can still contain any leaks that may occur.
Aluminum Foil Will Let You Use Your Phone While Wearing Gloves
If you live in a cold climate, you know the pain of wearing winter gloves while trying to use a touchscreen. You could shell out for those touchscreen-friendly gloves, or you could simply use aluminum foil. Simply wrap a bit of foil around all the fingers you need to use on your phone screen and voila!
Clean Your Oven Door With A Dishwasher Cleaning Tablet
It seems too good to be true, but you can use a dishwasher tablet to clean the baked-on grease from your oven door. According to a writer who tested this for TheKitchn, the key is to wear gloves (the tablets contain bleach) and to wet — but not soak — the tablet before using it to scrub away the grime.
Add Tea Bags To A Sink Full Of Dirty Dishes
Ironically, the same chemicals — tannins — that cause tea to stain cups over time can also be used to clean dishes. If you have a sink full of greasy dishes, BobVila.com suggests you fill it up with hot water and about a dozen used tea bags before you take to scrubbing. The astringent properties in tea tannins can help cut grease. If you have just one greasy pot to clean, adding hot water and just a couple tea bags should do the trick.
Peel A Hard-Boiled Egg By Shaking It
Who knew the most efficient way to peel an egg was actually to shake it? Instead of spending minutes trying to pick away the shell piece by piece, follow this advice from AThriftyMom. Put a hard-boiled egg inside a glass or jar with an inch of water at the bottom. Then shake and swirl the glass. The eggshell should come off on its own.
Make Your Perfume Last All Day
Rather than spraying perfume on your clothes or wrists, trying spritzing it onto your hairbrush and then running it through your hair. This will help the scent last longer. Avoid spraying perfume directly on your hair, however, as the alcohol content in the perfume may be too drying.
Protect Your Hands From Broken Glass
If you find yourself with broken glass scattered across the floor, don’t pick it up with your hand and risk cutting yourself. Use a slice of bread! The bread will latch onto both small and big shards of glass, making it a safer way to clean up an accident.
Prevent Necklaces From Getting Tangled With A Straw
Whether you’re traveling with your jewelry or looking for a better way to store it, using a straw can save you from major headaches. A poster at ThriftyFun shared this idea: Run a necklace through a straw and then close the clasp. This will prevent it from becoming tangled with other chain necklaces.
Repair Small Dents In Your Car
Forget expensive auto body shops. If you have a small dent in the body of your car from a minor fender-bender, try this trick first. Pour hot water over the dent. This makes it more malleable. Then, use a plunger to help pull the dent out. Although this only works on certain small dents, it could save you a trip to the mechanic.
Keep Your Dog Calm During Thunderstorms
If your dog gets anxious during thunderstorms, here’s something you can try. Calm your dog by lightly rubbing them with a dryer sheet. Dogs reportedly can feel the static electricity in the air, so this move should help comfort them.
Make Cut Flowers Last Longer Without Plant Food
If you want your vase of cut flowers to last as long as possible, trying adding a shot of citrus soda like 7UP or Sprite to it. The combination of sugar and water helps keep flowers fresh. Although our testing found plant food is actually your best bet.
Prevent Lipstick From Getting On Your Teeth
You can prevent freshly applied lipstick from getting on your teeth by pulling your index finger straight out of your mouth through your lips. Any lipstick that would be likely to smear onto your teeth will instead come off on your finger instead. Do it again until you pull your finger out lipstick-free.
Light Candles Without Burning Your Fingers
Spaghetti isn’t just delicious, it also can be useful for lighting candles. Use an uncooked strand of spaghetti as a matchstick without having to worry about burning your fingers. This trick is especially great when you have more than a few candles to light.
Perfume You May Already Own Can Double As An Insect Repellant
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, TheDelite may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Going camping? You may be able to use regular perfume as bug spray. For example, researchers found that Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Eau de Parfum kept mosquitoes at bay during a test. Plus, it smells way better than your typical insect repellant.
Keep Your Stuff Safe At The Beach
If you want to take a dip in the water at the beach but don’t want to leave your valuables out in the open, here’s a solution: Wash out an empty used sunscreen bottle beforehand and then use it as a hidden container to store things like keys, sunglasses and your wallet at the beach. Thieves will be far less likely to steal a bottle of sunscreen than they would a bag.
Here’s How To Quickly Cool Down Your Car
Quickly cool your car off by rolling down the windows and opening and closing the passenger door several times. This forces the hot air out, cooling down the car faster than just blasting the AC.
Instead Of Dryer Sheets, Use These
Save money on dryer sheets by using reusable dryer balls instead. According to SimplyRebekah, wool dryer balls can last for years. They work by separating clothes in the dryer, increasing airflow and preventing clothes from clumping together.
Chill Wine Or Coffee Without Watering It Down
For iced coffee or wine that could be a tad more chilled, use ice cube trays to make ice cubes out of coffee or wine. That way when they melt inside your beverage, they won’t water down your drink the way that regular ice would.
Make Your Own Cleaning Products
Why spend money purchasing cleaning products when you can make your own at home for a fraction of the price? For example, you can DIY an effective glass cleaner with things you already have around that house. This recipe from Becca Piastrelli calls for water, vinegar and lemon. Not only is it more economical, but it’s also better for the environment since you won’t be buying a new plastic bottle every time.
Avoid Paint Drips On Your Floor
When painting, drips of paint can easily end up on your floor, if you’re not careful. However, there’s an easy way to avoid it. Per ThriftyFun, you only need to wrap a rubber band around an open paint can and use it to wipe excess paint off of your brush before lifting it up.
Peel A Whole Head Of Garlic Easily
Fresh garlic is delicious to use in recipes but a pain to peel. Luckily, if you want to peel garlic without a lot of work, all you have to do is place individual cloves on a plate or paper towel and microwave them for about 20 seconds. The skins will fall off easily.
Never Buy Drano Again
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, TheDelite may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Clogged bathroom drains are a fact of life, but with a TubShroom, you may never need to buy a bottle of Drano again. The product’s mushroom design catches hair and keeps it out of sight until you clean it. It’s so effective that it’s gained a cult following on Amazon.
Use Unscented Dental Floss To Cut Cakes And Cheeses
Dental floss is useful for more than just cleaning your teeth. You can also use it to cut cake, pastries or soft cheese perfectly. The floss won’t smush down food the way that pressure from a knife might.
Shop Discount Retailers Like Marshall’s And TJ Maxx On These Days
For the best deals and the fewest crowds, avoid shopping at discount stores like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx on weekends. Instead, go mid-week. Shipments often arrive on Tuesdays, so by shopping on Wednesdays, you’ll have fresh inventory to scour and smaller lines at check-out.
Blot Your Face With A Coffee Filter
Zap oil with a coffee filter instead of more expensive beauty blotting sheets. Follow these instructions from TheCakeFace. Simply cut a paper coffee filter into small pieces and apply it to your face to soak up excess oil. Clean disposable toilet seat covers also work.
