At the risk of sounding negative, letโs just go ahead and admit that life is hard. That doesnโt mean itโs bad, but there are a lot of challenges! There are big ones, like managing relationships, learning new things, and overcoming difficulties. And then there are small, everyday ones, like trying to figure out how the heck to store the lids of your cooking pots.
Thatโs where life hacks come into play. Itโs been a popular internet trend for a decade and a half. The term โlifehackโ was first used in 2004 in relation to ways that computer programmers manage to bypass annoying or time-consuming programming steps. In 2005, the word lifehack was voted the second-most useful word of the year, just behind the word podcast.
Nowadays, the term refers to anything that, well, makes your life easier. This could be something that helps get around all the little daily challenges and frustrations we all have. Whether itโs how to paint your nails without having the polish run or making a grilled cheese sandwich in a toaster, life hacks are all about making your life better.
And everyone wants to make their life better, so settle in and read the 75 life hacks that everyone should know.
1. Fit two pizzas on one pan.
Source:
Lifebuzz
Want to cook two pizzas but only have one pan? Hereโs how to cut them up to make sure they fit.
2. Expand your kitchen space with a cutting board in a drawer.
Source:
Cliq Studios
If your kitchen space is tight, try this handy hack: just place a cutting board in a drawer and voila, extra counter space.
3. Test egg freshness by floating them in a bowl of water.
Source:
The Happy Chicken Coop
Eggs are a fridge staple, but itโs easy to lose track of their expiration date. That means youโre not sure if theyโre going bad. To test freshness, let them float in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs sink completely.
4. Use a cheese grater for cold butter.
Source:
The Bearfoot Baker
Have you ever tried to spread cold butter and found that it doesnโt work? A cheese grater is a perfect way to get cold butter spreadable in no time.
5. Steam shirts with โฆwell, steam.
Source:
Reader's Digest
You donโt need anything fancy to steam your clothes. Just hang them up over a boiling pot of water on the stove. You can also hang them in the bathroom during a steamy shower.
6. Use a rubber band to grip a stripped screw.
Source:
Lifehacker
If youโre struggling to get a stripped screw out of the wall, just put a rubber band between the screwdriver and the screw to make it easy to grip.
7. Use command hooks to keep garbage bags from slipping.
Source:
Cnet
Having your garbage bags slip into your trash can is super annoying. Help keep them upright with a couple of well-placed command hooks.
8. Cool wine down with frozen grapes.
Source:
Spoon University
Want to cool your wine without watering it down? Instead of ice cubes, toss in a couple of frozen grapes.
9. Make a makeshift corkscrew with a screw and some pliers.
Source:
WikiHow
Have you ever wanted a glass of wine but found yourself frustrated because you couldnโt find a corkscrew? Just reach into your toolbox or junk drawer in a pinch.
10. Microwave two bowls at once.
Source:
Lifehacks
To get two meals ready in one go, pop one bowl on top of a mug. Now no one has to wait for their food.
11. Mount pot lids with towel racks.
Source:
Today's Homeowner
Pot lids are clunky and awkward to store. However, you can store and find them with ease by mounting them on a towel rack on your cabinet door.
12. Use a screwdriver if you donโt have a funnel.
Source:
Reddit
Trying to put new oil in your car but donโt have a funnel? Just insert a screwdriver and let the oil run down the blade.
13. Press a shirt collar with a hair straightener.
Source:
Mums Grapevine
The next time youโre running out the door only to realize your collar is wrinkled, just grab your flat iron and give it a quick press.
14. Supply a restless toddler with a box and crayons.
Source:
Pinterest
Toddlers can get stir-crazy if theyโre trapped indoors. To keep your kiddo from coloring on the walls, give them a box and crayons and let them go crazy.
15. Use a pants hanger to consult notes while on the computer.
Source:
USF Encounter
Itโs annoying to crane your neck back and forth when trying to consult handwritten notes while working on the computer. To avoid this, suspend your notes from a pants hanger. You can also use it as a way to suspend cookbooks while you make dinner.
16. Remember that your fuel gauge points to the side where your gas tank is.
Source:
Allstate
If you canโt remember which side your gas tank is on, check your fuel gauge. Thereโs usually a tiny arrow pointing to the correct side.
17. Use a shot glass to peel a kiwi.
Source:
Goods Home Design
You can do this with any soft, round fruit. Start the cut with a knife, then easily slide the skin off using the edge of the glass.
18. Make a quick grilled cheese in the toaster.
Source:
Instructables
If you donโt want to dirty a pan, turn your toaster sideways to make a quick grilled cheese. Just keep an eye on it and clean it carefully (unplugged) to avoid a food fire.
19. Secure shirt buttons with clear nail polish.
Source:
Reddit
Losing a shirt button can mean unexpectedly flashing your coworkers. Keep your buttons in place with a small dab of clear nail polish applied to each one.
20. Use a laundry basket for your toddlerโs bath.
Source:
Pinterest
Tired of your toddler standing in the tub? Encourage them to sit with all their toys nearby by putting a laundry basket in the tub.
21. Leave a tea bag in your shoes to banish foot odor.
Source:
Apartment Therapy
Sneakers are prone to getting smelly fast, especially if you wear them while working out. To keep your shoes fresh, toss a couple of tea bags and let them sit overnight.
22. Disguise alcohol in this sneaky soda disguise.
Source:
Buzzfeed
Plenty of pools and parks donโt let you bring alcohol on the premises. The next time youโre on a picnic and want to enjoy a brew, slip it into this handy soda sleeve.
23. Find a lost earring with pantyhose over the vacuum cleaner.
Source:
Pinterest
Small jewelry has a way of getting lost in crevices under furniture. To pick it up with no effort, wrap a piece of hose around the end of your vacuum attachment.
24. Hide money in an empty tube of Chapstick.
Source:
All Created
Next time youโre at the beach, donโt hide your cash in the toe of your shoe like everyone else. Instead, use an old tube of Chapstick.
25. Organize your cables with toilet paper rolls.
Source:
Lifehacker
Cables are a part of life, but theyโre also major tripping hazards. Keep them out of your way with a few toilet paper rolls.
26. You can charge your phone using a television.
Source:
Trip Advisor
You settle in your hotel room for the night but then realize you forgot your charging dock As long as you have a cable, most televisions have a USB port on the side.
27. Melt two pieces of soap together.
Source:
9gag
Is your last bar of soap getting down to its final little sliver? Just add it to the new bar, allowing the two to fuse into one.
28. Peel boiled eggs with ease.
Source:
Swiss Villa
Stop struggling to peel hard-boiled eggs by dropping them in an ice bath before you start the process. The shells will slip right off.
29. Put a special character in your password.
Source:
Crambler
To make your passwords super secure, add a special character. We donโt mean something like %!&*. Instead, try a character used in a non-English language, like รฑ or ร.
30. Make sure your drink isnโt touched while youโre gone.
Source:
Lehigh Valley with Love
If you have to run to the bathroom at a restaurant but donโt want to lose your drink, let your server know youโre coming back by putting a coaster over the top.
31. Make cleaning your microwave easy with a glass of water.
Source:
Steve Spangler Science
Microwaves can be a pain to clean as food gets old and dries out. Before you clean, place a glass of water inside and then microwave it. The steam softens the food residue.
32. Mark the edge of your tape with a paperclip.
Source:
Thrifty Fun
Trying to find the edge of the tape is a pain. Make it easy to spot and grab hold of by sticking a paperclip on the end.
33. Keep your car doors safe in the garage with some pool noodles.
Source:
WikiHow
Trying to pull into your garage can be hard, and it might mean bumping into a wall. To keep your car doors scratch-free, mount pool noodles on the walls.
34. Use a shoe when you donโt have a cup holder.
Source:
Rennlist
In a pinch, a sneaker will hold a cup just as well as a cup holder. Itโs better than accidentally spilling soda all over your seat!
35. Make sure you donโt hit your fingers with the hammer.
Source:
Make Magazine
Are you prone to smacking your fingers with a hammer while trying to mount a photo? Hold the nail in place with a clothespin.
36. Use a frozen sponge in a plastic bag as an icepack.
Source:
The Kitchn
This hack is perfect if youโre tired of your kids losing pricey ice packs at school. Instead of spending more money, make a DIY ice pack for super cheap.
37. Arrange your food to heat evenly in the microwave.
Source:
Appliance Video
If youโre tired of microwaving your food only to find cold spots throughout it, arrange it in a circle. Itโll heat evenly on all sides.
38. Reuse pant hangers as bag clips.
Source:
Pinterest
Itโs easy to accumulate an embarrassing number of these pants hangers. Instead of tossing them, give them a quick makeover to turn them into bag clips.
39. Line the bottom of the trash can with paper to prevent leaks.
Source:
Treading My Own Path
The bottom of the trash can become gross from leaks that turn into mold. Make cleanup easy by lining the bottom with paper towels. You can also use newspaper for extra protection.
40. Wrap your drink in a wet napkin for quick cooling.
Source:
John R. Leeman
If you want to cool your beer down in no time at all, just wrap it in a wet paper towel or napkin before sticking it in the fridge. Itโll be ice-cold in about 15 minutes.
41. Use duct tape to open a jar.
Source:
Instructables
Duct tape is a quick and easy way to open a stubborn jar. Just wrap a little bit around the lid and pull to avoid straining your wrist.
42. Use Coca-Cola to clean your toilet.
Source:
The Spruce
Coca-Cola has a long history as a refreshing beverage. But, itโs for more than just drinking. Its level of carbonation makes it perfect for cleaning the grime out of your toilet. Fun fact: it can also remove rust!
43. Put your phone on airplane mode to charge quickly.
Source:
WhistleOut
Donโt have a turbocharger? Just put your phone on airplane mode to charge it super-fast. To shorten the time to a full battery, donโt use it while itโs charging.
44. Itโs easier to reverse into a small parking spot.
Source:
Driving-Tests
If youโre trying to squeeze into a tiny parking spot, try going backward instead of forward. Itโs often easier to reverse into tight spots without hitting the other cars.
45. Extend the range of your keychain fob with this odd trick.
Source:
Wonder How To
This might seem unbelievable, but it really works. If your key fob range isnโt what it used to be, you can extend it up to 15 feet by holding it underneath your chin when you use it.
46. Use a dustpan to fill a bucket with water.
Source:
Nordsland
Trying to fill a bucket in a sink thatโs too small? Instead of wrestling with it, just place the bucket on the floor and use a dustpan to direct the water into it.
47. Buff furniture with a walnut.
Source:
Lifehacker
If you have scratches in your wooden furniture, thereโs no need to despair. Just grab a walnut and rub it on the scratch for a few minutes. The oil will buff the damage right out.
48. Use a shoe organizer for cleaning supplies.
Source:
Popsugar
Itโs so annoying to fumble through a closet looking for the right cleaning supplies. Use a shoe organizer over the top of your closet door to keep supplies organized and easy to find.
49. Use a can opener on hard-to-open plastic.
Source:
YouTube
Some plastic packaging can be harder to open than itโs worth, and scissors are almost worthless. For a blade thatโs much stronger, use a can opener and cut along the thinnest edge.
50. Differentiate your keys with a coat of nail polish.
Source:
JewelPie
Trying to fumble with your keys while you stand on your front step is so annoying. Make it easy to differentiate between all your keys with some color-coding nail polish.
51. Shine your headlights with toothpaste.
Source:
Lifehack
As time passes, your headlights build up grime, making them less effective when youโre trying to see the road late at night. To return their shine, polish them with toothpaste and then wipe it away with a rag.
52. Clean your faucet with a bag of vinegar.
Source:
DIY Network
If you have buildup on your faucet or showerhead, fill a plastic bag with vinegar, attach with a rubber band, and leave it overnight. When you remove it the next morning, youโll see a shiny surface.
53. Use a squeeze bottle to make perfect pancakes.
Source:
Two Healthy Kitchens
Making pancakes can be a messy, complex process. To get the perfect pancakes every time, use a squeeze bottle for your batter. Itโll make the whole process less messy and produce pancakes all the same size.
54. Dental floss is an easy way to cut a cake.
Source:
Instructables
If you want super-clean cuts in cake, bread, or other soft foods, donโt use a knife and make a mess. Instead, reach for unflavored dental floss. It cuts just as well and is incredibly clean.
55. Use adhesive Velcro to keep your remotes within reach.
Source:
Pinterest
Remotes go missing constantly, and itโs so annoying to have to take all the couch cushions off to try to find them. Keep them in the same place by using adhesive Velcro attached to your coffee table.
56. Keep your chargers in a glasses case while you travel.
Source:
Pinterest
Donโt let your chargers sit in your luggage in a tangled mess when you travel. To keep them organized and super easy to find, put them in a glasses case.
57. Need an umbrella in a downpour? Find a bar.
Source:
Metro Magazine
People go in and out of bars every night and in all kinds of weather. Because of that, they tend to accumulate a lot of personal items like umbrellas that get left behind and never claimed. If youโre getting wet and donโt have an umbrella on hand, pop into the nearest pub to ask the bartender for a spare.
58. Light a low candle with a dry spaghetti noodle.
Source:
Lifehacks
Trying to light a low candle is a quick way to burn a couple of fingers. Instead of using a match, light the end of an uncooked spaghetti noodle to keep your hands safe.
59. Open a beer with an old bottle cap.
Source:
WikiHow
Do you want to have a brew, but canโt find your bottle opener? Just use an old bottle cap to pop open the drink. You can even do it with one hand.
60. Keep pasta from boiling over with a wooden spoon.
Source:
Lifehacker
Youโre cooking spaghetti and suddenly hear sizzling as the water overflows. No need to panic โ just rest a wooden spoon on the edge of the pot to stop it from boiling over.
61. Make storing meat in the freezer super easy.
Source:
Bluesticks and Gumdrops
If you plan to store a big pack of ground meat for a long time, divide it up and put it into plastic bags. Itโll be much easier to store, and you wonโt have to defrost a huge amount of meat all at once.
62. Fix a too-short shower curtain with some extra rings.
Source:
Stay Dry Systems
If your shower curtain wonโt reach all the way to the floor, you donโt need to toss it out in favor of a new one. Just buy some extra curtain rings and double up to extend the length.
63. If youโre traveling, buy one adapter and a power strip.
Source:
Anker
If youโre going overseas, thereโs no need to go out and buy an adapter for every single device you have. Just buy a single adapter and a regular power strip.
64. Remove pits from cherries with a funnel.
Source:
Cook Live Chuck
Taking pits out of cherries can take an eternity, but it doesnโt have to if you have the right tools. Just use a regular funnel to pop the stones out in a fraction of the time.
65. Store your pot lids on command hooks.
Source:
Pinterest
Hereโs another easy way to store your pot lids. Mount command hooks on the inside of your cabinet doors, then use as a shelf. Itโs a simple hack thatโll only cost you a couple of bucks.
66. Use masking tape to help hang things on the wall.
Source:
Goshen University
Hanging pictures and other items on the wall can be tricky. Itโs hard to tell if theyโre hanging straight, even if you have a second set of eyes! An easy way to make sure theyโre level is to put a piece of masking tape on the wall and then line the picture up with it.
67. Protect your hands with a soda bottle while cooking.
Source:
Garden Gate Magazine
Bacon is delicious, but cooking it is precarious. With so much oil in the pan, it tends to spit, causing painful burns. Protect your hands by cutting the bottom end off of a soda bottle and poking your fork through the top.
68. Improve the grip of a wrench with a coin.
Source:
Acme Tools
Are you trying to tighten something but your wrench is too big? โResizeโ it temporarily by inserting a quarter into the gap. This will help you get a grip on what youโre trying to tighten.
69. Use vinegar to keep animals away from your trash.
Source:
Thrifty Fun
If you have raccoons or opossums that have nightly parties in your garbage can, add a little vinegar. You can put it both in the can and on the ground around it. Itโll keep them away and stop them from tearing your trash bags to pieces.
70. Unclog your kitchen sink with a dishwasher tablet.
Source:
Bren Did
Do you have a kitchen sink thatโs prone to clogs? Cut through the blockage with a regular dishwasher tablet. Let it dissolve in your sink with some hot water, then rinse the excess away. Itโll get rid of all the gunk in your drain.
71. Clean window screens with a lint remover.
Source:
Reddit
Window screens attract a lot of dirt and dust, not to mention all the insects. To get rid of them, use a regular lint remover and roll gently over the screen. Repeat as many times as necessary!
72. Deodorize your trash with coffee grounds.
Source:
Pinterest
If your trash gets smelly after a couple of days, thereโs no need to dump it before itโs full. Just add your coffee grounds to the top to cut back on the smell. You need to throw them away anyway, so you might as well kill two birds with one stone!
73. Start a fire with potato chips.
Source:
Lifehacker
If youโre trying to start a fire while camping for the weekend, toss in a couple of potato chips. The combination of starch and oil is the perfect fire starter. Of course, you have to be okay with not eating them afterward.
74. Keep ice frozen longer with salt.
Source:
Woodchuck Cider
If you want to avoid refilling your cooler every couple of hours at your next barbecue, use this handy hack to keep ice frozen longer. Just sprinkle some salt over the ice and itโll melt slower, keeping your drinks colder for a longer period.
75. Eating an apple is a good substitute for brushing your teeth in a pinch.
Source:
Pantry Spa
Itโs not a substitute for actually brushing your teeth, but thereโs a reason an apple is called โnatureโs toothbrush.โ Itโs highly effective at removing bacteria from your teeth and cutting back on bad breath, so itโll do in a pinch!
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