Work on your balance with a cushion
If you want to make your workout more challenging and get better results, try exercising on an unstable surface. A good alternative to a BOSU ball is a couch cushion. Squat, sit-up and do yoga poses on the cushion. You can also use it for lunges and curls, which are great for toning your lower body.
Use vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner
Vinegar is an inexpensive, multipurpose cleaning product that you can use to clean every room of your house from top to bottom. It can be used to clean everything from clothing stains to tough household messes.
Protect clothes with a pillowcase
To protect your expensive clothes and winter coats from dust and moths, cover each item with an old pillowcase. Cut a hole in the closed end of a pillowcase and slip it over a hanger. The pillowcase protects your clothing from mildew, which can grow in plastic storage containers.
Use mayonnaise to clean water rings
Using mayo to get rid of water rings on wood furniture is a trick that many people use. Dry the area with paper towels and then spread mayonnaise on the spot. Let it sit for several hours, and the stain will disappear by the next day.
Clean up old sweaters with a razor
To keep your knit sweaters and cardigans looking as new as the day you bought them, all you need is an old razor. If your sweaters have pills, try running a dull razor over the fabric – the fabric will be intact, but the pills will be removed.
Use nail polish to fix pulls in stockings or tights
Stockings and tights can be hard to keep in good shape, no matter how careful you are. But a run in your stockings doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re trash. You can stop them from getting worse by dabbing a tiny bit of clear nail polish on either side of the run.
Remove old polish with a kitchen sponge
Use an old kitchen sponge to clean off nail polish. Soak the sponge in nail polish remover and roll it up so that there’s a hole in the center. Put it in a jar and when you’re ready to remove old nail polish, immerse your fingers in the middle of the sponge until the polish has been removed.
Portion your ingredients with an ice cube tray
If you’ve recently upgraded your kitchen with a fridge that makes ice cubes, don’t throw out the old ice cube trays. They make great storage containers for compound butter and other cooking stocks. When you’re ready to cook, just drop a cube into your pan. There’s no need to measure out butter and stock every time you want to make a meal.
Clean your utensil drawer with a lint roller
While a thorough dishwasher rinse will get your utensils clean, you still need to pay attention to the space where you store them. A lint roller makes quick work of cleaning out your utensil drawer. Just put one in each compartment and sweep away!
Use chalk to eliminate odor
If you have a stash of sidewalk chalk in your garage that’s been gathering dust, consider using it to freshen up the closet. If you’re tired of the lingering odor in your clothes hamper or closet, try putting a few pieces of chalk there. And if you want to take things up a notch, add a few drops of essential oil to your chalk.
Open a stiff jar with a spoon
You don’t need superhuman strength to open a stuck jar – a little kitchen ingenuity will do the trick! Breaking the seal on a jar can be tough, but this trick makes it easy. Press the base of a metal spoon into the lip of the lid and apply pressure. The lid should pop right off!
Clean your cutting boards with baking soda
Clean your cutting boards easily with this simple trick that uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. If your cutting board starts to smell like food, sprinkle some baking soda on it and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse off the baking soda and your cutting board will be nice and fresh again!
Clear your drains with a zip-tie
To unclog a drain, try using a zip tie. It works on sinks, tubs and garbage disposals. Cut notches into the tie with scissors, stick it down your drain, and watch as it removes hair and other debris from the pipes.
Dislodge gum and candlewax with a Ziploc bag
To remove gum or wax from an object, fill a Ziploc bag with ice cubes and rub the gum or wax gently until it hardens. To remove the hardened gum, first break it with a blunt object. Next, vacuum up the pieces. Finally, carefully peel off any remaining wax with a plastic spatula.
Use cupcake cases to protect your drink holders
Have you ever thought of using cupcake cases for something other than cupcakes? Keep your drink holders in the car clean by placing silicone cupcake cases in each one. The crumbs will collect inside the cupcake case and you won’t have to clean them out manually.
Place your phone in a mug for an instant speaker
Mugs are an essential part of our lives. Who would want to drink tea or coffee from a glass? However, one of our favorite uses for mugs is as a homemade speaker. Place your phone in a mug, turn it to its highest volume, and enjoy the amplified sound!
Revive Velcro with a toothbrush
Velcro, in its natural state, is sticky. However, over time it will lose this function. This is because dirt and debris can clog up the fabric or flatten it out from repeated use. Don’t throw out that old velcro just yet! You can revive it with an old toothbrush and a little elbow grease.
Keep your veggies fresh for longer with paper towels
Keep your fruits and vegetables fresher longer by lining your refrigerator’s produce drawer with paper towels. They will absorb the moisture that causes produce to rot. When the lining gets dirty, just throw it out and replace it with fresh paper towels.
Unclog your dishwasher with Kool-Aid
For a quick and cheap fix that will prevent your dishwasher from clogging, pour Kool-Aid mix into the detergent cup and run a regular cycle with the machine empty. Any color of Kool-Aid works to remove soap scum in your dishwasher, but if you prefer a lighter shade, go for it. The powder’s citric acid does the trick.
Clean out your coffeemaker with Alka-Seltzer
To clean your coffeemaker, run a brew cycle using water and four Alka-Seltzer tablets. Then run plain water through the chamber, filling it completely and emptying it completely, until no residue remains from the Alka-Seltzer tablets. Effervescent heartburn aids contain baking soda and citric acid, making them powerful cleaners.
Clean your shower with cooking spray
Shower doors can get grungy with soap scum, but regular cleaners won’t dissolve it. Spray the glass with cooking spray and leave for 30 minutes. The oil in the spray will make it easier to wash off soap scum, making your windows shine. Wipe it off with soapy water.
Smooth out your phone screen with an eraser
If your phone’s screen is scratched, you can fix it by cleaning the affected area with a cloth dipped in water. Wipe it dry with another cloth. To remove the scratch, rub the area gently with a clean, soft pencil eraser, going in the direction of the scratch. Repeat this several times until the scratch is gone.
Use vapor rub as an insect repellent
A great way to stay safe on a walk in the woods is to rub some vapor chest rub on your ankles, wrists and neck before you leave the house. Vapor rub may not be your favorite scent, but it repels gnats, mosquitoes, and disease-carrying ticks. They’ll seek out someone else to bite.
Polish your silver with a banana peel
When you’re rushing to get the chores done before the weekend and you have an overripe banana sitting on the counter, try this trick: run the peel through a blender with some water, then use the resulting paste to polish your silver. Dip the piece in water to rinse off the paste, and voilà! Your silver will sparkle like new.
Use beer to repel slugs
If you’re plagued by slugs, try this tip: Pour leftover beer into jars and bury them in the ground around your plants. The slugs will be drawn to the jars and drown. Be sure the rims of your jars are at ground level. Check back on them a day or so later. It’s just as effective as salt without all that messy hand-picking!
Try olive oil instead of shaving cream
Shaving creams can cost a small fortune these days, but if you keep some olive oil on hand, you’ll be glad to know that this kitchen staple also makes an excellent shaving oil. And here’s a little bonus tip: skip moisturizer after using olive oil, since it already contains skin-nourishing nutrients.
Clean up your keyboards with baby wipes
Baby wipes are useful in so many ways: they can be used to clean up spills and messes, as a substitute for toilet paper, and even as an effective tool to clean your kids’ sticky fingers. When you’re ready to clean your keyboard, mouse and other electronics, don’t waste money on expensive cleaners. Just use baby wipes. They work just as well on your desk, TV and other surfaces.
If you’re out of dryer sheets, try aluminum foil
If you didn’t know that aluminum foil can be used in dryers, join the club. It turns out that a sheet of foil works just as well as a dryer sheet. To reduce static, roll up some wadded foil into balls about three inches in diameter and place them in your lint trap. Or wrap a tennis ball in foil and place it in the lint trap.
Protect your fridge with wax paper
To keep your refrigerator and cabinets clean, line the top with wax paper. The grease and grime that collects on the paper over time will keep your refrigerator cleaner. The papers can be swapped out for fresh ones without you having to resort to harsh cleaners.
Get the most out of your dish soap with a rubber band
Here’s a tip to save you some money: wrap a rubber band around the neck of your dish soap pump. This will help it last longer. The band will prevent you from pushing the pump all the way down and getting more soap than you need.
Recover from a hangover with a spoonful of honey
Raw, organic honey is one of nature’s superfoods. If you can, buy it locally and check the ingredients to make sure it hasn’t been adulterated with any additives. The next time you overindulge on alcohol, try a tablespoon of honey in hot water or herbal tea. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK, the fructose helps speed up your metabolism of alcohol.
Remove calluses with aspirin
Aspirin can also do more than fight pain. To remove calluses from your feet, crush six to eight aspirin tablets with lemon juice. Add warm water to make a paste and spread it on the calloused area. Cover with a warm towel, then wrap in plastic and leave on for ten or fifteen minutes. Scrub off with a pumice stone.
Lubricate your doors in cold weather with Vaseline
Although petroleum jelly is useful for protecting your skin from the sun and insects, we don’t recommend using it as a body lotion. To avoid frozen car doors, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the insulation.
Dye your hair with coffee
If you are a brunette and you want to brighten your hair, you don’t need to visit the salon or spend hundreds of dollars on color treatments. Instead, make yourself a strong pot of coffee and pour it directly on your hair after shampooing. Let it sit for about ten to 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water and follow up with conditioner.
Treat warts with teabags
If you are in need of wart removal, try using tea bags as an effective and inexpensive alternative to costly medical procedures. Tea leaves contain tannic acid, which can be used to help get rid of warts. To try this remedy, warm a tea bag and place it on the wart for about 15 minutes, up to three times per day.
Try an avocado face mask
For an affordable, all-natural alternative to a spa day, try using avocados on your skin. Their vitamin-rich flesh is loaded with nutrients that can make your skin glow. To make a moisturizing facial mask, stir together ½ cup mashed avocado and one tablespoon milk or oatmeal. Smooth the mixture on your face and leave it on for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water, then pat your face dry.
Soothe your pet’s skin with apple cider vinegar
You may already know that apple cider vinegar can be used to clean your home, but did you know that it can also be used to help relieve your dog’s itchy skin? Spraying your dog’s coat with a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water will help get rid of the itching and make your pup’s fur shiny.
Use a piece of spaghetti as a match
When you don’t have any fireplace matches and need to light a fire, try using a piece of dry spaghetti. The thin texture of the pasta will work just as well as a match, and it’s easier to store than boxes and boxes of matches. Simply light one end of the spaghetti and use it as a long match. Make sure the flame is extinguished before throwing it away.
Treat sunburn with your frozen veggies
If you’ve been sunburned and are in pain, try placing a bag of frozen peas, carrots or mixed berries against the sore areas. It will help ease the pain. Just be sure to wrap the bag in a cloth or towel before applying it to your skin – ice applied directly to the skin can make things worse.
Try hairspray as an alternative to bug spray
To keep bees or flies from congregating in your home, try spraying them with hairspray. The propellant in the hairspray causes the insect to lose control of its wings and fall to the ground. It’s unclear exactly why this happens, but one theory is that the chemical reaction between the propellant and the insect’s body makes it difficult for it to breathe or stay airborne.
