Here on my blog, I strive to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make 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, so I tuck them away to use at a later date.
I’ve built up quite a catalog of these life hacks, so I decided to share a couple dozen of them today! Enjoy the first installment in the “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” series.
Be sure to scroll down to see some of these brilliant hacks in action on video!
1. Remove Strawberry Tops With A Straw
Use a drinking straw to quickly remove hulls from strawberries. This will save you a lot of time when using fresh strawberries in your baked goods or homemade strawberry ice cream!
2. Slice More Than Just Eggs
In addition to slicing hard-boiled eggs, an egg slicer is a perfect tool for slicing other soft fruits and veggies too, like mushrooms and strawberries.
3. Prevent Cutting Boards From Slipping
If your cutting board tends to move around on your countertop when you’re using it, place a damp towel underneath it. This will provide enough resistance to keep it from sliding, and you’ll be much less likely to have a knife mishap!
4. Keep Wastebasket Liners In Place
I love reusing plastic grocery bags as liners in my smaller trash cans, but I hate when the handles slip down into the can, making it hard to get out. A simple fix is to place small removable hooks upside down on opposite sides of the can. Just slip the bag handles under the hooks, and the problem is solved!
5. Snap A Photo Of Your Fridge
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to call home while at the grocery store to ask my husband or kids how much milk we had in the fridge because I forgot to check before I left. Now when I’m heading to the store, I stop and snap a photo inside of my fridge so I can refer to it while I’m shopping.
6. Connect Hangers With A Soda Can Tab
You can use an aluminum tab from a can of soda to create tiered hangers. Not only does using tiered hangers save on precious closet space, but it’s also handy for keeping outfits together.
7. Turn An Empty Bottle Into A Charging Station
You can use an empty oval-shaped bottle (like a baby shampoo bottle or similar) to make a convenient charging cradle for your devices. Use a utility knife or craft knife to cut a straight line across the front side of the bottle, then cut around to the back so that the back side is an inch or two taller than the front.
Cut a hole near the top of the back side of the bottle. Finally, plug your phone in, hang your cradle on the charger, and place your device inside. Easy!
8. Clip Recipes To A Hanger
Hold your cookbook open to the correct page by hanging it from a clip-style hanger. It’s also a great way to keep a printed recipe closer to your eye level (and away from spills and splatters) while cooking.
9. Stick A Bread Tab To The End Of Your Tape
Use the plastic tab from a loaf of bread to mark the end of a roll of tape. No more hunting for the end, or struggling to get it unstuck!
10. Clean Keyboards With A Sticky Note
If your keyboard keys are looking a bit dusty and grungy, all you need is a sticky note! Press the sticky side in between your keys to pick up dust and crumbs easily.
More Ideas You'll Love
11. Keep Cords In A Glasses Case
Carrying around cords can turn into a tangled nightmare. Keep your cords organized and easy to find by storing them in a spare glasses case. (Looking for a way to keep your cords neatly coiled? Try a small hair clip!)
12. Protect Photos & Documents In Transit
If you’re transporting important photos or documents and are concerned about them getting bent or wrinkled, just place them in a large plastic baggie with a piece of cardboard or a paper plate to keep the bag sturdy.
13. Stop Toilet Paper From Unrolling
Tuck the end of the toilet paper roll inside the cardboard tube to keep pets and kids from unrolling them.
14. Make A Pop-Up Grocery Bag Dispenser
Make a pop-up dispenser for your plastic grocery bags by storing them in a tissue box. Before putting a bag in, thread the bottom of the bag through the handles of the previous bag. This will make them pop up just like tissues.
15. Turn Old Markers Into New Crafts
Make watercolors out of old washable markers by placing them upside down in a bit of water with the cap off. The color will mix into the water, making some fun watercolor paints for the kids.
16. Test Your Eggs For Freshness
How fresh are your eggs? Find out by putting them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom, old eggs will float, and eggs that are in-between will stand up on their ends.
17. Use Sunglasses As A Phone Stand
If you’re referencing something on your phone, it can be hard to see when it’s lying flat on a table. Make a simple kickstand for your phone by placing it on a pair of sunglasses.
18. Use Nail Polish To Color Code Your Keys
Make your keys easily identifiable by painting the ends with different colors of nail polish. This is very useful when a lot of your keys look the same!
19. Don’t Waste A Drop Of Nutella
Got a nearly empty container of Nutella on hand? Get one last treat out of it by placing a scoop of ice cream inside, and eating it out of the container. Yum!
20. Take A Photo When A Friend Borrows A Book
I’m always happy to lend things to friends, but I’m not great at keeping track of who has what. An easy way to keep track is to snap a photo of your friend with the item they’re borrowing. You can also just keep a note on your phone with their name and the item.
More Ideas You'll Love
21. Carry More Bags With A Carabiner
Make it easier to get all the grocery bags in the house in one trip by using a carabiner. Slide the bag handles onto the carabiner, and you’ll be able to carry several bags at once!
22. Add Accented Letters To Passwords
A simple way to create a stronger password is to add a letter with an accent mark. It’s easy to type on your devices, just hold down the letter and the accent options will pop up.
23. Hide Your Stuff In Plain Sight
Going to the beach or the pool this summer? A lot of people aren’t careful about their valuables while they’re in the water, and someone may walk off with them!
But you can easily “camouflage” your valuables by storing them inside an everyday item like a large sunscreen bottle. Just cut part of the container off, wash it out, place your items inside, and slide the bottle back together.
The “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” Series
- For even more simple tips and tricks that will make your life easier, check out the other installments in this series, including ones you may have missed!
- Explore the “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series archive.
Soda can tabs to connect hangers aren’t always the best bet, particulary with fine fabrics which may become snagged. A far better choice is plastic chain available at any hardware store: simply choose a chain with sufficiently large links through which your hanger tops will fit.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for adding to my tips, Rose_Anne. That’s a great idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Some great ideas.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Kind of off topic, but I really love that green nail polish you show in the color coded key tip, where could i find a bottle of it?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.RE: The carabiner tip for many grocery bags: if you are on foot or taking public transportation you can use a dog collar [I use one from the Dollar Tree], string the bags on the collar, split the bags into 2 groups, toss one group over your shoulder and the collar on your shoulder. This lets your back and legs take the weight of the groceries instead of your arms and hands. I’ve done it many times and I’m over 60.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This has nothing to what you shared , but our tax preparer gave us an awesome idea. Keep all your tax records , receipts , insurance paperwork and important information and records in a plastic zip lock inside a plastic container. If your home is damaged during a storm or water damaged then at least you will hopefully still have that information.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Like you tips. Some i have..Used . Some not seen before and will try. I know you have seen many uses of fabric softener sheets. I love using them for scrubbing in the kitchen washing dishes whatever you need to scrub. You can even stitch them to your dish cloth.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I really enjoy reading these tips! Thank you
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a tiny dot of colored nail polish on top of kindle to mark where the charger port is. I put a dot of polish on top of laptop where the USB port is and a dot on the upside of the cord. Match the dots without fumbling to plug in cord. I do the same thing with the recharge cord for the Roomba and a matching dot on the Roomba itself. Small pieces of sticker also work well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love that idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you’re going to the beach you can hide your wallet in a clean dipper folded as a dirty dipper. No thief will ever expect it to find it in there.
(found this tip also online)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you need a mirror to check your hair or makeup and don’t have one, use your cellphone camera in selfie mode. Works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wanted to remember some of the items on your “Why didn’t I think of that” page, so I took my IPhone and took a picture of the sections I wanted, right of the computer screen. That way I didn’t have to print off the whole article.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.thank you so much for all the pertinent information and help that you provide so freely. Generally when I get your emails, i found it best to wait until I had at least an hour, due to the fact that I end up cross referencing so many things, then printing or saving to file. LOL. My home is cleaner, healthier, prettier and happier now. Should I nominate you for an order of magnitude? God Bless. See you again soon.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! Thanks so much Diane, you made my day! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have the old range hood. Its metal. I keep a magnetic refrigerator clip (you know, like a binder clip)on the side to hold by recipes. Right beside the baking supply cabinet.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I spray painted my magnetic binder clip (same as hood color) and attached to hood in front. Easy access to recipe……………..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you don’t have a garbage disposal you can keep an empty plastic gallon ice cream container lined with a grocery bag, place your food trash there till garbage day. Stops unwanted smells
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep an empty tissue box in the bathroom and fill it up with squashed empty TP rolls and other small cardboard items, then just toss the whole thing in the recycling. Love the garbage in the car idea too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just heard a great tip for keeping things safe at the beach. Wrap your wallet/keys/phone etc. in a clean disposable diaper. Roll it up and tape shut like you do when its dirty. No one will steal a diaper that looks used. I may just have to buy diapers… ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea! Only draw back might be if some ‘helpful’ person decides to throw it into the garbage for you! lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Now for my own idea: The other day I was annoyed how much room the dang placemats took up. Didn’t really like them in a drawer or a cabinet (nothing really worked). I thought I would try hanging them up on a wood skirt hanger. I was surprised they didn’t look too bad hanging, plus the hanger holds quite a few placements.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I put a clean pillowcase on my bed pillow, I pin a safety pin to one hem, inside the pillowcase. When I wash my hair, I flip the case to the side with no pin in the hem. This keeps my hair cleaner, longer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A fantastic use for an empty tissue box: trash container for the annoying “small trash” items in the car, like used gum, tissues, snack wrappers, receipts…it will hold a TON of stuff, and the plastic on top keeps it from falling out. Put one in the back seat for the kids, too. When it’s full, toss the whole thing. I store my empty tissue boxes in the garage so a new one is always handy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes tissue boxes work great! I’ve cut them down to smaller boxes and have one taped by my sewing machines and on the ironing board. Cut down, they don’t take up much room in a night stand.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Be careful with the hanger for your devices when they’re charging. If the plastic touches the metal prongs, or the charging adapter itself gets too hot, the plastic could melt and start a fire.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have found so many great ideas on the One Good Thing site. Thank you so much. One thing I have started doing is using a grease pencil (china marker) to mark the storage containers I put my pasta and rice in. I used to cut out the directions and put it in the container or tape on the outside. All I really needed was the time for cooking. My containers are glass so this works well. The reason I don’t use my label maker is that I may not put the same thing back in that container. I buy different thicknesses of spaghetti (depending on my mood and what is available in the store I’m in) and sometimes try different shapes of pasta I don’t normally use. I really loved the information you did on rice. Now I don’t have any hard pieces because there wasn’t enough water. My husband always complained about that, and I didn’t think to use more water because all the directions given are basically the same. Even in the old cookbooks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you Marlene!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love Love Love these ideas, why didn’t I think I think of them?!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I recently organized my spice and baking items cabinet. I put them in alphabetical order so I can find them faster. I also made an alphabetical list of all my items so I know what I have “at a glance” since some of the lesser-used items tend to get moved to the back. I post this on the inside of the cabinet. And of course I put the date I opened the spice in Sharpee marker on the spice!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just found you! I can’t believe how many great one good things you share in your emails! I’m already a fan!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks
Good ideas. I keep extra money that I’m saving for other stuff in a little folder, that is my filing cabinet. No one can get to it, because I have the key. I had the unfortunate experience of having money taken out of where I thought was a safe place. It turned out a friend of one of my brothers had been sneaking downstairs and my mom caught him. My mom didn’t tell my brother about it until after we had moved, because she didn’t want to ruin a friendship. Another tip we use is to save the plastic liners that are in the cereal boxes. We then rinse them out, and put meat bundles inside- after the meat has been divided up, leftovers, this also good for baked goods that you want to save. It protects stuff while in the freezer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You’re right . . . several of these I asked myself, “why didn’t I think of that?” Great ideas, as usual. Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.so much!
Absolutely all great ideas! I will use many of them for sure. I will have to save this post to remember them all!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love these .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I found you by accident on Pinterest and signed up for your daily One Good Thing. I love getting the wonderful tips in my email every day. Today’s post was super helpful. Several ideas truly did make me say why didn’t I think of that.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for sharing all these things.
Thanks Charlotte!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a question. Do you have a program you use for your smart phone to help remind you of errands? I have one for the grocery store but errands I have not found one. Thank you
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have app called Reminder on my iPhone. . You can put alarms on specific time to remind you. And you can add notes into it too. Hope that helps
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes. Thank you
Absolutely – check out this post! https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/09/10-must-have-apps-to-help-keep-you-organized.html
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I attached a small white board to frig with 3M hook/loop tape. It’s divided into categories for my grocery list; before leaving for store, snap a photo with phone and viola! No need to re-write list.
Also I carry reusable grocery bags folded up in another bag with a harbinger hook, which I attach to the grocery cart ( gets them out of the way and easy to get to at check-out.)
Love all your blogs and DIY cleaning ideas.
Thanks Jillee for all your research!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your blog. I look forward daily to the tips and tricks you offer. Please keep them coming! : )
Please log in or create a free account to comment.this is one thing I do, I have a small kitchen an no room to do my chopping so I take pot holders put them on the gas range then put a large cutting board over to fit all 4 burners then i’ll put (well I use a rubber mat that ya use for like ur cabinet lining or under ur glasses for no slippage)(dollar store) then I put wat ever cutting board I need for chopping an go to town, easy clean-up.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the plastic grocery bags to line a large mixing bowl to create a counter-height disposal center. When I am cooking / baking, I use the lined bowl to throw in scraps, potato peels, wrappers – all the food trash – then simply pull the bag off the bowl and toss it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea!
Though it reminds me of Rachael Ray’s “garbage bowl” which is just a bowl for scraps that costs $20 at Walmart. I mean it’s a nice bowl & all but why do we need a special bowl for scraps? lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.GREAT TRICKS- I use large paper clips for bags of unused chips etc. or you can also use plastic clothes pins to close bags. Also the large bags of chips I cut to fit inside an EMPTY COFFEE CAN and use for scraps on counter for easy cleanup just take bag out of can and put into trash when full. I use many of the tips above esp. the one for strawberries and you can get the straws at dollar stores that are very sturdy and work great. LOVE ALL YOUR BLOGS.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Cathy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tips!!
Binder clips also work fantastic for thinner cables. I use one to keep my earphone cables from tangling up in my purse. In fact, binder clips for everything. I also use them all around in the kitchen to close bags of rice/pasta/spices/flour, or to put towels on a hook which came without a hanging loop, or to secure tea bags so they don’t vanish into the pot when I pour in the boiling water. :D
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I learned something today…………for easy peel…….I mean, when you make boil eggs…..just add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water, then boil…….they will be so easy to peel…..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I hardboil eggs on a nearly everyday basis and upon trying all of the tips I could find on the internet, the one that finally worked for me was immediately placing the eggs in ice water after boiling.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You may like to try that as well. :)
I use this too – works every time!
I use this trick too!
You are using plastic bags in you garbage container.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I always carry a foldable light fabric bag in my bag, and I do my shopping with a trolley. In fact, I almost never need the plastic bags. So I made washable garbage bags out of pul to put in my containers in the house. Pul is washable, a little stretchy and the wet stays in, no leaks. Pul has been used for washable baby diapers too.
You can buy it in fabric stores. It is better for the environment than all those plastics, who already causes damage in little babies and animals, drinking water… And so on.
Marie-Christine, what a brilliant idea. I didn’t know this fabric existed until I read your post. I really like the idea of sewing the bags to fit my containers correctly. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your ideas. Here’s one: if you have stash of cash or money orders, and you are worried about it get a toothpaste box, fold the cash and put it in, then topped it with a half used tube, glue shut and put in suitcase with other sundry items, soaps, etc. Any burglars will probably overlook it.
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