Whether it’s saving us time or reducing clutter, it’d be great if we could make the most mundane tasks more convenient without having to do much. Thankfully, you can! Here are ten obvious life hacks that you’ve probably seen but haven’t tried yet. You’ll probably wonder why you didn’t start using them sooner because they’re really quite simple & most of them use things you probably have lying around your house.
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Using a Binder Clip as a Cable Organizer
To fix a desk overrun with tangled charging cables & cords, grab a medium or large binder clip—the kind you probably have lying around—and clip it to the edge of your desk. Then, thread your phone chargers and other cords through the metal handles of the clip. Now your cables are neatly organized. No more crawling under the desk to fetch that annoying cord!
Turning a Pot Handle into a Spoon Rest
Whenever you’re cooking and wonder where to set down that messy spoon, your pot has the answer. Most pot handles have a hole at the end. Just slide the handle of your spoon through the hole and let the spoon rest right over the pot to keep your countertop clean. Best of all, the spoon’s within easy reach when you need to stir again.
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Placing a Wooden Spoon Over a Pot to Prevent Boiling Over
Similarly, to stop pots from boiling over & making a mess on your stove, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot while your food is cooking. The spoon breaks the surface tension of the bubbles. As such, the liquid doesn’t spill over the sides. However, you must use a wooden spoon—metal utensils get rather hot and don’t have the same effect.
Marking Your Water Bottle to Track Hydration
If you’re struggling to drink enough water each day, take your water bottle and use a marker or some tape to draw lines along the side. Label each line with a time like 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM & so on. This way, you’ll have a visual clue that reminds you to sip throughout the day. You don’t need to waste money on buying an expensive bottle with the marks already on it.
Using an Egg Carton to Hold Condiments in the Refrigerator Door
Put any empty egg cartons in your fridge’s door compartment and put all your condiments in the individual cups. Whether it’s ketchup or hot sauce, your egg carton will keep them upright & organized. You can grab what you need without creating a spill! It’s a great way to keep your fridge tidy because you’re using something you’d otherwise throw in the recycling bin.
Wrapping a Wet Paper Towel Around a Beverage for Quick Chilling
Whenever you need to quickly chill a drink, try this quick trick. Simply wrap a wet paper towel around your bottle or can and pop it into the freezer. In about 15 minutes, your drink will be ice cold! The wet paper towel speeds up the cooling process because it conducts the cold more efficiently. As such, you won’t be waiting around for ages. It’s a cool trick that’s always useful so make sure that you do it.
Storing Plastic Bags in a Tissue Box
Don’t you just hate all those plastic bags under your sink?! It doesn’t have to be that way. Grab an empty tissue box to use as a dispenser and then fold or stuff the bags into the box and whenever you need one, just pull it out like you’d grab a tissue. This method keeps the bags organized & easy to access so they’re not spilling all over the place. Really, it’s another way to upcycle that’s great for the environment. And it’s good for you, too!
Using Nail Polish to Identify Keys
We’ve all had those times when we fumble at the door with a bunch of similar-looking keys. There’s an easy fix for that! Simply use nail polish to paint the tops of your keys in different colors. For example, red for the house key, blue for the office, green for the mailbox and so on. Just make sure you let them dry completely. So the next time you’re at the door, you’ll know exactly which key to use!
Filling Ice Cube Trays with Leftover Coffee
Any leftover coffee sitting in the pot is also more useful than you might realize. Pour it into an ice cube tray & freeze it so you can use it as coffee ice cubes—perfect for cooling down caffeinated drinks without watering them down. You could also use these cubes in smoothies for an extra kick of caffeine or any other recipes. Really, there are so many ways to use coffee ice cubes!
Using a Muffin Tin for Condiments at a Barbecue
Use a muffin tin when you’re hosting a barbecue to serve condiments. Fill each cup with different toppings like ketchup, mustard, relish, mayo, barbecue sauce, or even chopped onion & pickles. Why? Because it keeps everything organized in one place and your guests can easily help themselves. But that’s not all. You’ll also have far fewer dishes to wash afterward which is always a good thing!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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