24 Amazing Life Hacks
Alyssa is a wife, mom, and coffee enthusiast who loves sharing her favorite lifestyle tips with the world.
These 24 tips and tricks will help you hack your life and simplify many daily issues
Life Hacks for Everyday Problems
I'm all about finding simple solutions to life's everyday little problems. Below is my tried and true list of life hacks. These are things I've done and continue to do to solve those inevitable challenges. I've broken the list down into categories for convenience.
Hand Sanitizer Works Like a Charm
Hand sanitizer is an important staple for every household. But did you know that hand sanitizer has a few secrets? It can be used to help out in some sticky situations:
Removing Marker
Removing marker from the wall is a breeze! Use hand sanitizer for dry-erase marker, opt for rubbing alcohol to erase permanent marker. Use the scrubby side of a kitchen sponge and a little elbow grease.
Cleaning Phone/Tablet
Use hand sanitizer and a paper towel or soft cloth to clean your phone or tablet. This especially works great for removing smudges, grease, and oil from the camera area. I also use hand sanitizer to wipe off my keyboards and mice. It works like a charm!
Clean/Polish Stainless Steel
Hand sanitizer works great to clean and polish stainless steel appliances! With a little elbow grease, it removes oil, grease, and fingerprints, making them look like new. Just put some on a paper towel or soft cloth and get to work.
Note: For the above hacks, be sure you are only using regular hand sanitizer. Do not use sanitizer with glitter or extra additives.
Hand sanitizer can be used to remove marker stains, clean your phone or tablet, or to clean or polish stainless steel.
Rubber Bands to the Rescue!
If you don't have a collection of rubber bands in your house, can you call yourself an adult? Growing up, my grandfather kept extra rubber bands around the doorknob that led into the basement. Every morning he'd take the rubber band off the paper and add it to his collection. He'd use these for anything and everything! I would also take a few for fun craft projects. I used to love making homemade banjos out of old tissue boxes or rain sticks using the cardboard paper towel roll. As an adult, I proudly have a Ziplock sandwich bag full of rubber bands in my kitchen drawer. Rubber bands are incredibly useful!
Fix a Windshield Wiper
Keep a rubber band in your car. If your windshield wiper ever breaks, you can use it to secure the blade back on long enough to make it to the auto shop.
Secure Your Jeans
If you are pregnant and don't want to buy maternity jeans, use a rubber band or a hair elastic to secure your jeans. Just wrap the rubber band or elastic through the buttonhole and wind it around the button. Be sure to make it as tight as possible and zip your pants as far up as you can. Wear a long shirt, tunic, or a large sweatshirt and you're good to go! I did this for the duration of my pregnancy as I flat out refused to buy maternity jeans.
No-Slip Hangers
Instead of buying fancy new hangers, create your own no-slip hanger. Simply wrap a rubber band around either side and then hang up your dress, sweater, or shirt with no worries!
Always have rubber bands and twist ties on hand.
Twist Ties Keep You Organized
Much like rubber bands, I got my propensity to save twist ties from my grandfather. He always had a baggie of them in the kitchen drawer to the left of the sink. As you've probably guessed, I also have a collection of my own. I save them after we finish our loaves of bread and from any packaging we receive. You just never know when they'll come in handy!
Wrap Extension Cords
Wrap up your Christmas lights and extension cords by holding the plug in one hand and wrapping the length around your shoulder. Once you've got them all wrapped up, use twist ties to keep the cords neat. No more tangled Christmas lights or extension cords!
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Keep Electronics Cords Neat
Keep your computer cords tidy by gathering up the excess and securing with a twist tie. This also works great for other electronics, like behind the TV with the mess of soundbars and gaming console cords.
Make Christmas Bows
Use a twist tie instead of a pipe cleaner when making Christmas bows.
Hold Plant Stalks to Stakes
Use a twist tie to keep plant stalks straight against wooden stakes. Be sure not to secure the stalks too tightly.
Baking soda can be used as a DIY toothpaste or to clean stainless steel, while vinegar is a great all-around natural cleaner.
Baking Soda and Vinegar, Not Just a Fun Science Experiment
Baking soda and vinegar are household staples. I always have them on hand! In addition to cooking and baking, these items are incredibly helpful in completing daily tasks.
Clean/Polish Stainless Steel
Use baking soda to clean and polish your stainless steel sink.
DIY Toothpaste
Use a little baking soda and water to create a paste. Use that to brush your teeth and help whiten them. Bonus: using hydrogen peroxide a few times a month to brush your teeth can also help keep your gums healthy and your teeth sparkly white!
Kill Mold/Mildew
If you have a little mold or mildew growing on your unfinished wood, use a mixture of baking soda, hot water, and dawn dish soap in a squirt bottle to kill it and safely remove stains from the wood.
Clean Your Coffee Pot and Diffusers
Clean your coffee pot once a month with vinegar. You can also clean your diffusers with vinegar. I like to do this at the very beginning of the month so I never forget.
Clean Your Washer
Clean your washer using vinegar. Pour a little into the bleach section of the washer and run through the self-clean cycle or a normal cycle with hot water. Be sure to run an additional cycle with just water afterward to make sure your washer is well rinsed.
Beauty Hacks
The following are my favorite beauty secrets and hacks:
Beard Oil for Eyebrows
If your eyebrows are dry, try using a little beard oil to restore moisture to the skin without stinging. It also tames eyebrow hair and makes it look more healthy
Vaseline for Dry Feet
After every shower, put Vaseline on your feet to help with dryness and cracks. This is a must during the dry winter months!
Dryer Sheets for Static Hair
Static hair? Rub a dryer sheet on your locks to tame your tresses. A little hand lotion can also work in a pinch.
Keep Your Mascara Spool Brush
After you use up all your mascara, keep the spool brush. Wash it and keep it with your makeup. Use this to break up clumpy eyelashes or to spread out and remove excess mascara.
Miscellaneous Hacks
Here are a few more genius ideas:
Removing Laundry Pod From Clothing
If a laundry pod melts on your clothes and leaves a stain, you can easily remove it by running the cloth under hot water. Allow the plastic to fully disintegrate. Then throw the item back into the washer.
DIY Magnet for Posters
If you want to hang a poster or something light onto the wall, use painter's tape to secure a paper clip to the wall. Then use a magnet over your poster to keep it in place.
Use Dental Floss Instead of Thread
Use regular dental floss instead of thread to sew on buttons or fix stuffed animals. It's stronger than thread.
Remove Excess Moisture From Your Home
Use Damp Rid around your home to get rid of excess moisture. There are a variety of products available. It really works!
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Comments
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 16, 2020:
Thank you Lora!
Lora Hollings on December 14, 2020:
What useful tips, Alyssa! How clever you are. I had no idea that hand sanitizer could be used for so many purposes. And thanks for the great suggestion about removing dry marker. Thanks for sharing!
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 13, 2020:
You always make me smile Bill! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 13, 2020:
I'm happy to hear that Peggy! Have a lovely Sunday!
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 13, 2020:
I'm glad you found this helpful Pamela! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on December 13, 2020:
Love, love, love these suggestions! I will definitely try some of these, thank you very much!!!!! Happy Sunday, Alyssa!
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on December 12, 2020:
You brought back memories of rubber bands around door knobs. I now keep them and the twist ties in a drawer as you do. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I do use some of them.
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on December 12, 2020:
Alyssa, this is a terrific article with wonderful suggestions. I knew some of them but, I did not know about vinegar in the washer.
I use white vinegar for the coffee pot. It is good to do these things at the same time each month as it is easy to forget.
I appreciate all this information. I have saved this article for future reference.
