“Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” – Part Fifteen

Here on my blog, I strive to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make your life a little bit easier. But sometimes, the tips that I want to share aren’t something I can write a whole blog post about! And since I simply cannot waste a good idea, I tuck them away to use at a later date. Today I’ll be sharing some of those tips and tricks with you in the fifteenth edition of my ongoing series “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?”

If you’re interested in more tips like this, grab a copy of my eBook Hack Your Life! It contains nearly 100 of those tips that will help you solve the little everyday problems that life throws your way. From the best way to clean your computer keyboard, to how to quickly peel a kiwi, the tips in this book cover a range of topics including cleaning & organizing, cooking, entertaining, and much more. You can buy it in my shop, or download it for free if you’re an OGT Plus member!

1. Freeze Your Water Bottle

During the summer, the water in your reusable bottle can go from icy cold to lukewarm in a matter of minutes. But there’s a simple way to keep your water colder for much longer!

Before bed, fill your water bottle halfway with water and place it on its side in your freezer. In the morning, just fill the rest of the bottle with water for icy cold water that actually lasts!

2. Better Microwaved Pizza

When you reheat pizza in a microwave, the crust can turn unpleasantly tough. To avoid this, just place a small glass of water in the microwave along side your pizza. The added moisture will help preserve the texture of the crust!

3. iPhone Cursor Hack

Anyone with an iPhone can tell you how annoying it is to edit text after you’ve typed it. Selecting the right spot in the text to place the cursor is so tricky that it’s often easier to just delete it all and start over!

But I recently learned there’s actually a MUCH simpler way to do it—just hold down the space bar! This allows you to move the cursor around freely so you can put it right where you want it.

Related: 13 More Brilliant iPhone Hacks That Make Life Easier

4. Waterproof Your Canvas Shoes

Canvas sneakers are great for everyday wear, but they don’t do much to keep your feet dry. But you can waterproof your canvas shoes using only a bit of beeswax and a hair dryer!

Spread the beeswax over the outside of your shoes, then use the hair dryer to melt the wax. As the wax becomes more pliable, spread it out in an even layer and remove any excess wax as needed. Once the wax has melted and disappeared, you’re done!

Related: How To Clean Your Canvas Shoes So They Look Good As New

5. Start Fires With Chips

Even when you have a good amount of twigs and kindling to start a campfire, an added boost can help get things started. Have a bag of snack chips nearby? Add a handful to your kindling!

The fat, oil, and additives in snack chips tend to burn up easily. Use them to get enough of a flame going to light your kindling, and you’ll be well on your way to a roaring campfire.

6. Keep Garlic Fresh

Worried about keeping those garlic bulbs fresh long enough to use them? Place them in a lidded container and cover them in coarse salt. The salt will draw enough moisture out of the garlic to help keep it fresh and ready to use!

7. Grater Breadcrumbs

You don’t have to pull out your food processor just to make breadcrumbs! Instead, freeze a piece of bread until it’s solid, then grate it up with your box grater. You’ll have perfect breadcrumbs with less cleanup!