11 Household Hacks That Will Save You a Lot of Time and Money

2 years ago

We tend to think that caring about comfort is a very modern thing and in previous periods of history, people used to be much more austere. However, household tips and tricks can be traced well into ancient times. For example, tough Vikings went through a lot to get the swankiest pillows and duvets: turns out, they used quite rare feathers in them.

We at Bright Side believe that home hacks don’t have to be complicated, that’s why we prepared this compilation of tips that will make your life a little easier.

1. Zip up your hoodies.

Zip up your hoodies before you put them in the dryer in order for the zippers to not get wavy. What’s more, don’t use high temperatures while drying because this can cause the fabric to shrink, and the zippers will get wavy.

2. Use wool dryer balls instead of expensive dryer sheets.

Wool balls are meant for the dryer to make the laundry fluffier and softer. They are reusable, and they can endure up to 1,000 loads, which makes them a much better deal than store-bought dryer sheets. There are no toxic chemicals and scents if you’re allergic or sensitive to those, but you can add your favorite essential oil if you feel like adding a fragrance to your laundry.

3. Clean the shower head correctly.

If your shower stream seems to be weaker than before, you might have hard water: in this case, the minerals are jamming your shower head and nozzle. Use a toothbrush soaked in white vinegar to scrub the water jets. After that, wipe it and turn on the jets to maximum to get out the clogging minerals.

4. Disinfect your shoes if they smell.

If your shoes have an unpleasant smell, you can try spraying a disinfectant inside the shoe to eliminate the bacteria that is causing the smell. Deodorant might work, too, but it will mask the smell, not eliminate the reason.

5. Use hydrogen peroxide to clean white sneakers.

Some sneakers can’t be washed in the washing machine: it’s true for Converse, and it’s a good idea to check the care instructions for yours. If that’s the case, getting rid of stains might be a challenge, but dipping a soft brush in hydrogen peroxide and scrubbing should help. And if you have leather shoes, baking soda will come in handy.

6. Be careful working with drywall if you have hardwood floors.

If you have hardwood floors in your house and are planning to work with drywall, be very careful not to get the drywall dust on the floor because it can scratch the finish. You can use plastic to cover the floor.

7. Don’t use oven mitts wet.

Water transfers heat faster than dry fabric. So if you ever get an oven mitt wet, don’t use it to pull anything out of the oven because it might lead to getting burnt.

8. Use a flashlight to find small shards of glass if you broke something.

If you’re cleaning broken glass from the floor, it’s a good idea to dim the lights and hold a flashlight parallel to the floor: it’ll make visible the small shards you may have missed.

9. Shake out towels before putting them in the dryer.

Shake out your towels after you wash them. If you do this, they’ll dry better and be fluffier because this way the terry loops are fluffed (this also helps with absorbency). Also, don’t iron terry towels, this makes them absorb liquids worse.

10. Regularly check for mold in the areas you normally don’t go.

Make sure you check for mold in those areas in your house that you don’t go to regularly because it can grow just off humidity in the air and on almost any surface. If you spotted some, don’t try to clean it up the way you’d deal with dust: mold will come back very quickly.

11. Use risers to create more storage space and protect the floors at the same time.

Bed risers are little pieces of plastic, metal, or wood that are installed under the bed legs. They lift the bed up, creating some extra space underneath it and at the same time protecting the floors from damage.

Which household hacks do you use in your everyday life?