Stay safe while picking up broken glass.
Picking up broken glass can be tricky. Shatter can send pieces far from where the drop occurred. Instead of breaking out a broom, dampen a cloth to pick up smaller fragments. The smaller shards will stick to the moisture, while the cloth protects your hand.
Keep boiling eggs from cracking.
There's an easy way to keep boiled eggs from cracking while cooking. Adding a little vinegar to the water will keep the egg whites from seeping out. What's better, the vinegar will also make it easier to peel the shell when you're ready to eat your egg.
There's an easy way to kill a tree stump.
If you've got a stubborn tree trunk in your yard that only grows stronger roots, there’s a way to get rid of it without spending a fortune. You can drill holes into the top of the stump. Then fill the holes with Epsom salt, which will dry out the tree from the inside out over a course of weeks.
Use pillowcases for cleaning ceiling fans.
If you've got ceiling fans in your home, you may get frustrated when cleaning them results in dust falling just about everywhere else. By using a pillowcase to dust a fan, you can catch the dust inside the pillowcase, then dump it and wash the pillowcase.
You can use a jar to remove a splinter.
Stubborn splinters can be hard to remove, but this method can keep you from digging into your skin with pins and get it out in a less-stressful way. Fill the jar with hot water. Then press the area with the splinter tight against the mouth of the jar. Steam will draw out the splinter, while the suction of the jar mouth will apply the necessary pressure to help force it out.
Soap can save pots and pans from baked-on burns.
Fill the pot with hot water, then add a few squirts of dish soap. Bring the mixture to a simmer. You can use a spatula or another appropriate tool for your pot or pan to get the burnt bits off as the residue is softened by the hot water.
Boiling water can get rid of pesty weeds.
Do the little weeds that sprout up between driveway pavers and in sidewalk cracks drive you wild? All you need is some boiling water to get the situation under control. Pour boiling water with a tablespoon of salt onto the problem areas. The weeds should die out quickly, though it will take longer for larger areas.
Milk can save clothes from destructive stains.
Having a pen explode in your pocket is usually the end of that item of clothing. If you've got some milk nearby, you can actually salvage it. Milk will lift the stain out of the fabric. Then just wash it as usual, and voilà!
A simple mixture can clean unique glass items.
If you have a unique vase or a bottle that's hard to clean inside, an easily made mixture can do the trick. Simply shake a mix of sand and water in a bottle. Sand works as an abrasive to scrub it without damaging it.
Test to see if you have butter or margarine.
Do you have an unknown yellow rectangle in your fridge that may be butter, but might also be margarine? You can test the purity by rubbing some of the mystery substance on a piece of paper. Then light the paper on fire. If it smells good, it's pure butter. If the smell is bothersome, it's margarine.
A little lemon juice can go a long way for stains.
If you have some stains in your clothes, a little lemon juice and some salt can be a game changer. Simply apply to the stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. When it's ready, rinse with warm water and wash. It's a great gentle stain remover that you can use on your old favorites without putting them in jeopardy.
Potatoes can be a pin cushion.
And not just for sewing, either! Many household handypersons have used potatoes to keep track of different screws and nails while they’re working on projects.
Apply cold water to sprains with this handy trick.
If you have a sprain you're looking to bandage up, you may want to keep the bandage wet. Put the end of a cloth bandage in a jug of cold water, then wrap yourself with the other end. As long as the end stays in the jug, the bandage will stay wet and cold, which will help the compression and healing process.
Seltzer water can help bring the shine back to gold jewelry. Simply add some dish soap to the seltzer. Let your pieces soak for at least five minutes to loosen the dirt or debris.
Peanut butter can get gum out of (almost) anything.
If you've ever experienced the horror of a kid getting gum stuck in their hair, you’ll know how much damage a wad can do. The oils in peanut butter help harden the gum, which makes it less sticky and easier to remove.
Ketchup is great on burgers, dogs, and copper.
Believe it or not, you can polish copper with ketchup. Simply spread ketchup on the thing you’re trying to polish, then sprinkle some salt on it. As you rub the solution on the copper, the shine will come back like it never left.
A flashlight can help with small missing objects in an unexpected way.
Shining the light directly on the floor isn't the best method when you're looking for something small. Lay the flashlight on the floor, beaming the light around the room slowly. When the light catches your item, it'll cast a shadow, making it easier to find.
Upcycle your paper towel rolls.
If you're still using standard paper towels, you can make use of their core rolls when you're through. You can stuff reusable bags or plastic bags in the tubes to keep them condensed and in one spot. It'll free up a lot of space under your sink, trust us.
Water will help you dislodge glasses that are stuck.
Have you ever stacked drinking glasses and gotten them stuck together? Put the bottom glass in a bowl of warm water. Then fill the top glass with cold water and watch them pop apart.
Never get locked out again.
If you've got a self-locking door, chances are you've found yourself stuck outside your house more times than you'd care to admit. Twist a rubber band so that it makes an X over the door latch. Then loop the ends around the door handle on each side of the door. Now you’re clear from getting locked out.
Never deal with a leaky trash bag again.
After you replace your trash bag, add an absorbent layer to your trash. Throw some paper towels or newspaper at the bottom so they can soak up anything that might leak. It'll be enough to catch most, if not all, of the liquids that make their way into your trash.
A cheap, easy fix to broken keyboard feet is already in your office.
Typing with your keyboard tilted is a lot more comfortable for many people. If your desktop keyboard is positioned that way but missing a foot, a very common office supply is an easy solution. Simply use an appropriately-sized binder clip to prop it up. Depending on how your keyboard is set up, you can even tape or glue it in place if your keyboard moves a lot.
Keep your beverages from getting watered down.
Whether you're making lemonade, iced tea, or a mixed drink, you want the flavor to last. To cool down your drink without watering down that flavor, make sure you've always got an empty ice cube tray on hand. Then fill it with enough of the drink mix to make sure you've got plenty of flavored ice.
Store your nut butters upside down.
Nut butters can be delicious, but they lose a little something every time they separate. If you keep your jars upside down, that brings the oil to the top. When you're ready to enjoy some, it will be easier to mix. Many swear by this to keep the quality of peanut butter perfect.
Protect your arms from grease splatter and burns.
Cut the bottom off a 2-liter bottle. Stick your hand in, then feed the handle of your cooking utensil through the mouth of the bottle. Now your arm is safe from anything while you prepare the food.
Use a glass to give a microwave a second level.
Most microwaves don't have shelves, but it's easy to add one to your own. Simply put a tall glass in the microwave, then add the second plate on top of the glass. Now you can warm up two plates at once.
The answer to all your new shoe pain is in your drawer.
If you've got new shoes that can use some breaking in, throw on your thickest pair of socks to do it. Many fans of this hack say wool socks give you the ideal stretch so the shoe isn't too loose.
This household item can replace an iron in a bind.
Did your iron break at the worst possible time? Fill a flat-bottom pot with water and boil it. Once it's good and hot, use the bottom as you would an iron. You'll be amazed at how well it works.
Extend the shelf life of your tomatoes.
Tomatoes spoil way faster than you might hope. Fight back by storing your tomatoes stem end down. Air enters the scar where it was attached to the vine, while moisture exits.
Keep your potatoes white while cooking.
When you're multitasking in the kitchen, you may find that your potatoes turn a gray/brown that makes them look unappetizing. It happens due to a starch release that makes them oxidize. Save your shredded or diced potatoes by covering them with cold water until you're ready to prepare them.
