Here on my blog, I try to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make life a little easier. But sometimes, the tips I want to share are not ones I can write a whole blog post about. And because I just can’t screw up a good idea, I put it away to use at a later date. Today I will share some of those tips and tricks with you Eleventh Edition In my ongoing series of “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Be sure to scroll down to see some of these brilliant hacks in action On video!
1. Key ring helper
Having trouble keeping the key ring open long enough to slip the key onto it? Use the main remover! Clamp the teeth of the staple remover between the rings near the opening. The teeth of the staple remover will keep the ring open, making it easier to slide your new key onto the ring!
2. Color coded eggs
If you store hard-boiled eggs in their shells, it can be hard to tell them apart from your raw eggs once you put them in the fridge. Here’s a simple tip to help you mark your hard-boiled eggs! While you are poaching the eggs, add just a splash of balsamic vinegar to the water. A darker vinegar will slightly tint the outside of the eggshell. (But don’t worry, it won’t affect their taste). Once you put your eggs back in the fridge, you’ll know that slightly darker eggs are hard-boiled!
3. Light candles with spaghetti
Regular matches often burn out before you can manage to light a stubborn or deep candle wick. In these cases, raw spaghetti noodles can help! Light one end of a piece of spaghetti, and it will burn long enough to light all of your tallest or most stubborn candles.
4. Save water for water
Your houseplants, potted plants, and garden need water, but they’re not picky about where it comes from. So save the water you use to boil or steam vegetables, pasta, eggs and more and use it to water your plants! (Let the water cool to room temperature first, so you don’t accidentally boil your plants.) Reusing your cooking water is a great way to save water overall!
5. More popped popcorn
Tired of all the unpopped kernels at the bottom of your homemade popcorn? Try soaking the kernels in water for a few minutes before making popcorn! Water encourages faster popping, so you’ll end up with fewer unpopped kernels after cooking!
Related: How to Make Amazing Homemade Popcorn in Your Microwave
6. Drip-free cone
Next time you’re making ice cream cones for yourself or your kids, stick a marshmallow in the bottom of the cone before adding any ice cream. The marshmallows will help prevent any ice cream drips from escaping the bottom of the cone! Plus it’s an extra treat you’ll enjoy once you’ve eaten the ice cream. 🙂
7. Crystal clear mirrors
Instead of using paper towels, use brown paper bags or pieces of newspaper to clean windows and mirrors. Paper bags and newspapers will leave no lint behind, and your mirrors and windows will stay clean and streak-free!
Related: 9 Unexpectedly Useful Things You Can Do With Paper Bags
Video: No more mirror or window streaks!
8. Easy support assembly
Use a fork to help hold your taco shell in place while you fill it! Simply slide the edges of the taco shell between the tines of the fork and set the fork down on a flat surface. You’ll be able to scoop your taco fixings into it more easily!
9. Toasted Sandwich Tip
In my opinion, the best BLTs have bread that is nicely toasted on the outside but soft on the inside. An easy way to achieve this at home is to toast two slices of bread in the same toaster slot! The bread is toasted well on the outside, while the inside remains soft and delicious.
VIDEO: Toast on the outside, but soft on the inside
10. A quick cooling drink
Need to cool a drink fast? Wrap a damp paper towel around the bottle or can, then place the drink in your freezer for a few minutes. Your drink will be chilled and ready to sip in a hurry! (Just don’t forget it’s there, or you run the risk of cleaning up the soda explosion!)
Video: How to quickly cool a can of soda
11. Cleaner bath toys
Most bath toys have a hole in the bottom that lets water in. If the soapy water gets inside the bath toys and stays there, they can soak in there over time! An easy way to avoid this is to use a dot of hot glue to seal the hole. They will still float, but you won’t have any problems with mold and mildew growing inside them. (Just make sure your little ones don’t miss the squeaky effect first!)
Like the tips in this post?
Then you’re really going to love my new Eternal Daily Tips calendar — “Why Didn’t I Think of That? 365 Tips and Tricks for Solving Life’s Little Problems.”. It’s a bit like my blog in that it features “one good thing” every day!
The daily tips in this calendar cover every aspect of life, from house cleaning and laundry to beauty and organization. I’ve poured all of my first-hand experience and research into these pages, so you can trust that every tip has my OGT seal of approval!
But you might be thinking, “Why would I buy a calendar in April?” And that’s a great question! One of my favorite things about this calendar is that it is perpetual. At the end of each year, you can turn the pages back and start over! So it’s a calendar you can start using at any time of the year.
OGT readers are loving it so far:
I’ve had this calendar for a few weeks now, and I learn or remember something valuable every day. My rule is no sneaking ahead! It is well built on heavy stock, beautifully designed, and sits naturally on my desk next to my computer. What a clever idea – Jilly, thank you so much for coming up with another great idea!
Carol O.
I love my new perpetual calendar! Every day, I look forward to turning the page to read a new daily tip. Thank you for giving me a new idea every day of the year. I look forward to using it year after year.
Cathy
I just love this perpetual calendar. It is very colorful and handy. I look forward to Jilly’s emails every day because she always has helpful tips for things I would never have thought of. Now I can look at these different tips every day, and the calendar will never end. Thanks for another great idea!
Christine
“Why didn’t I think of that?” category
