15 Lifehacks
Have you ever spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out the logistics of organizing all of your electrical cords? What about opening that annoying plastic packaging that never seems to want to open? Lifehacks can solve many of the problems you didn’t even know you had, and the best part, there are thousands of them. Lifehacks are lot like recycling, you take simple ordinary things and re-purpose them for tasks they were not designed for and you were unaware they could accomplish. Here are some of my favorites.
#1 Take pictures of your friends holding items that they are borrowing.
This one is probably my favorite, and it’s so simple. Who doesn’t have a camera phone on them nowadays? A quick flash and you are all set. No more forgetting that you let your friends borrow anything. For an added bonus, try printing the picture out and hanging it somewhere you will see it regularly.
#2 Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize your electrical cords.
I love this one. My wife is always complaining about the unnecessary amount of loose cords we have, so I found this lifehack to be of particular use.
#3 Dry erase marker stains? Use another dry erase marker to color over it, and then erase it!
Anytime dry erase marker has been sitting for too long, it stains. Use a new dry erase marker over the stain and erase it. It will almost certainly take a few times, but you will see results after the first.
#4 Iron a paper bag on your upholstery to get melted wax off after it dries.
I needed to use this on just the other day. We had a babysitter over who accidentally knocked a candle over on our brand new couch. When we got home and I saw the mess all over the side of my couch, I was quite upset. My wife quickly stepped in with this lifehack and had the entire mess cleaned up in less than 10 minutes.
#5 Use a can opener to open those annoying plastic packages.
I can’t tell you how many times I have cut myself trying to open those plastic packages. So you can probably imagine how relieved I was to see this lifehack. It’s so simple. The best part; it doesn’t hurt at all!
#7 Use a bread tab to keep your spot on a tape roll.
Trying to find the used end of a tape roll can be one of the most frustrating experiences, enough to ruin your day. So, next time you finish a loaf of bread, save the little bread tabs and avoid a headache later.
#6 Freeze a wet sponge and place it into a sandwich bag for a drip free ice pack.
This lifehack might be a little less relevant since reusable ice packs have become so popular. But, if you don’t want to shell out the $5 for one, and happen to have some old sponges lying around, then this lifehack is for you!
#8 Wrap your drink container in a wet paper towel and place in freezer for 15 minutes. Your drink will be ice cold.
Now, I have only tried this with a glass drink container, but I’m pretty sure it will work equally as good with an aluminum can. This lifehack may not be the most miraculous thing you’ve heard today, but it will definitely get your drink colder quicker than just putting it in the freezer.
#9 White wines makes red wine stains come out much easier.
I did not know this one. Apparently, if you pour white wine onto a red wine stain quick enough, it will neutralize the stain. Dab the affected area with towel, making sure not to rub, and the color should come right out.
#10 WD40 lifts stains.
What can’t WD40 do? It can remove ink, crayon, and even grease stains. Just coat the area with WD40 and dab with a towel. For some stains you may need to let it sit for a while. Still, this lifehack has helped tremendously by removing stains from my kids.
#11 Got a paper cut? Rub Chap Stick on it.
There is nothing worse than a paper cut. They are tiny little devils, and no matter what you do, they suck. Luckily there is Chap Stick. I have not tried this particular lifehack, and I’m not too excited about the next time I need to, but rest assured, I will use Chap Stick.
#12 Use frozen grapes in your white wines to keep them cold without watering them down.
We should have all been doing this from the start. This lifehack makes so much sense, and yet I’ve never even thought about it before. Another one like this is freezing coffee in an ice tray to use with ice coffee and no water it down. Same principle.
#13 Cut a toilet paper roll in a straight line to use as a wrapping paper saver.
During the holiday season, if your house is anything like mine, you have partially used rolls of wrapping paper all over the place, and it’s a mess. This lifehack may not help you find a good place to keep all of your clutter, but it will make your clutter look a lot nicer.
#14 Tie extension cords together to keep them from separating.
My dad taught me this when I was a kid, and now I do it almost obsessively. Just tie the two ends of the extension cords together before you plug them in and avoid the unnecessary trip to plug them in any time the cords get tugged on.
#15 Make a small cut in a tennis ball, then nail it to the wall to hold all sorts of household items.
This lifehack is pretty ingenious. The tennis ball will hold just about anything light; your keys, papers, even light towels. Just make a small incision in the tennis ball and opposite the cut, put a nail through. Hang the nail somewhere near your door for a simple key/mail holder.
