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

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 fourteenth edition of my ongoing series “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?”

Missed the last installment, or want to revisit some of your old favorite tips? You’ll find links to every post in the “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series at the bottom of this post!

1. Tape Your Dustpan

Use a piece of painters tape to eliminate that frustrating line of dirt that is often left behind after sweeping. Tape the front edge of your dustpan to the floor using a piece of painters tape. The tape will bridge the gap between the dustpan and the floor, making it much easier to sweep up every last bit of dust.

2. Improve Your Trash Can

You can use your power drill to make it easier to put a new trash bag in your trash can. Just drill a couple of holes into your trash can, about half way up from the floor. When you put a new trash bag into the can, these air holes will allow air to escape to prevent bubbling.

3. Dust With A Paint Roller

Using a paint roller can make it easier to dust hard-to-reach places. Just wrap a microfiber cloth around the roller and secure it in place with some rubber bands. Then you’ll be ready to dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, door frames, and more!

4. Clean Car Crevices

Some double-sided tape and a ruler can help you clean out the deep crevices in your car. Just wrap a length of double-sided tape around the ruler, then stick the ruler into your car’s hard-to-clean nooks and crannies. The dust, crumbs, and debris will stick to the tape, and your car will be much cleaner for it!

5. Find Bits Of Glass

When you’re cleaning up broken glass, you can use a flashlight to make sure you’ve gotten every last bit of it. Just turn off the lights in the room and shine the flashlight around the area where the glass broke. Any bits of glass you may have missed will reflect the light and be much easier to spot!

6. Toilet Paper Air Freshener

Use essential oils to turn your roll of toilet paper into a bathroom air freshener! Just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the inside of the toilet paper roll. Every time the roll spins around your toilet paper holder, it will reactivate the scent of the oil and freshen the air.

7. Tape Edge Trick

Sick of losing the edge of your tape? Just fold the edge of the tape under itself! This little tab will make it much easier to find the edge of the tape when you need it, and can be a real time saver!

Here is a slightly different take on the same dilemma:

8. Longer Lasting Lipstick

Want your lip color to last longer? Grab some translucent setting powder and a tissue. Hold the tissue to your lips, then apply the setting powder to your lips over the tissue. This will help set your lipstick without making your lips look powdery or dry.

Related: 9 Brilliant Hacks That Solve The Most Annoying Beauty Problems

9. Simplify Sliced Onions

Thinly sliced onions are great on burgers, salads, and sandwiches, but they can take a long time to cut by hand. Instead of using a knife, you can do it much faster with a potato peeler! The slices come out extra-thin, and it requires much less time and effort.

10. Mason Jar Dish Scrubber

Turn a small mason jar into a soap-dispensing dish scrubber! You’ll need a small jar, a mason jar lid that already has a hole in it (like this one), a sponge, and a hot glue gun.

Cut a sponge so that it’s the same size and shape as your jar lid, then use hot glue to glue the edges of the sponge to the top of the lid. Fill your jar with dish soap, put the finished sponge lid on top, and it’s ready to use!

11. Filter Grip Tab

Depending on the layout of your HVAC system, it can be tricky to grab onto the old filter to remove it. So before you slide a new filter in, use some painters tape to put a simple “grip tab” on one corner of the filter. When you go to remove the filter down the road, the tape tab will make it much easier to grab!