Here on my blog, I aim to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make life a little easier. But sometimes the tips I want to share aren’t something I can write a whole blog post about. And since I just can’t waste a good idea, I put them away to use at a later date. Today I’m going to share some of these tips and tricks in tenth edition of my ongoing series I like to call “Why Didn’t I Think of That?”
Note: Many of the tips I share on the blog come straight from your comments and emails. If you have a great idea you’d like to share, leave it in the comments and your idea could be included in the next Why Didn’t I Think of That? post!
Be sure to scroll down to see some of these brilliant hacks in action on video!
A stress-free cake
Making and decorating a cake in the same day can take hours! You can save yourself a lot of time and stress by making the actual cake up to a week in advance and freezing it. Take it out of the freezer the morning of your party to thaw, then freeze as usual. Your thawed cake will be super moist and taste great!
Peel the eggs in a flash
Hate the delicate task of peeling hard-boiled eggs? Here’s a trick that makes it quick and easy! Simply place your hard boiled egg in a glass jar and give it a good shake. The shell will fall off in no time!
VIDEO: This trick makes peeling eggs quick and easy!
Refresh your fridge
You can use used tea bags to get rid of bad smells in the fridge. After brewing a cup of tea, squeeze out the remaining liquid from the tea bag and let it dry. Place the dry tea bag in the refrigerator. The porous tea leaves will absorb any lingering odors in your fridge and leave things much fresher!
Fix for smelly hands
Smelly foods like onions, garlic and fish can remain on your hands even after repeated washing. To get rid of the smell for good, rub them on something stainless steel. The steel will bond with the smelly sulfur molecules, transferring them away from your hands and fingers.
Shake unpopped popcorn
Here’s an easy way to separate those unpopped kernels from your microwave popcorn bag. When your popcorn is done, remove the bag from the microwave and open it just a little bit. (A little, meaning not enough for the popcorn to pop.) Then turn the bag upside down and give it a good shake, and the unpopped kernels will fall right out! This also helps get rid of some of the loose shells, keeping them off your teeth. 😉
VIDEO: An easy way to get rid of those unpopped nuts
A cleaner breakfast
Certain snacks are sure to mess up your fingers, like Doritos, Cheetos, cheddar popcorn, etc. But there’s an easy way to enjoy your breakfast without messing up your fingers. Just use a pair of chopsticks! It might look silly, but it totally works!
VIDEO: Enjoy a snack without dirty fingers!
Related: This amazingly simple hack will double your fridge space
Clean vases with eggshells
Vases, bottles and other containers with small holes may seem impossible to clean, but there is an easy way! Crush a few clean eggshells and put them in a bowl with a little water. Then place your hand over the opening and shake it well for about a minute. The eggshells will help you scrape off the residue stuck to the inside of the container!
VIDEO: Cleaning hard-to-clean objects
Related: 8 smart reasons to save your eggshells
The secret of the spaghetti spoon
That hole in the center of your spaghetti spoon can be used for more than just straining your pasta! You can also use it to measure spaghetti before you cook it. The amount of spaghetti noodles that can fit through the center hole is usually one serving’s worth.
Related: 15 Things in the Kitchen You’re Using the Wrong Way
Sheet Storage Hack
When storing extra sets of sheets and pillowcases, store them together! Simply fold the sheets and one of the pillowcases and slide them into the remaining pillowcase. This way, all the bedding stays together in one tidy package, making it quick and easy to grab new bedding when you’re ready to make your bed.
Related: 16 brilliant bed tricks that will make you sleep like a baby
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Series
What’s your best random life hack?
