25 Clever Life Hacks You Shouldn't Miss Out On

Discover practical tips to streamline cleaning, cooking, organizing, and boosting daily productivity.

1. Transform a Bowl into a Temporary iPhone Speaker.

Boost the sound at any spontaneous gathering by placing your phone inside a bowl: The curved surface will enhance the audio from its speaker.

2. Install a Lazy Susan in Your Refrigerator.

Tired of removing multiple plastic containers from your fridge just to grab something hidden behind them? Install a Lazy Susan on every shelf. Now, simply spin to easily access items stored at the back.

3. Set Up Auto-Fill for Frequently Used Words on Your Phone.

Typing on a smartphone's small keyboard can be far more frustrating compared to the spacious layout of a computer keyboard. Save time by setting up text replacement shortcuts for commonly used words. For example, if you frequently type your full name for forms, program your initials to auto-expand into your full name. Apply this to usernames, email addresses, locations, or quick phrases like "On my way" or "Arriving shortly."

4. Remove Scratches from CDs and DVDs Using a Banana.

To fix scratches on a CD, peel a banana and gently rub the fruit on the disc in circular motions. Use the inside of the peel to work the banana deeper into the scratches, then wipe off the residue with a lint-free cloth. Finish by spraying Windex on the disc and polishing it with a clean cloth.

5. Chill a Warm Soda in Just Three Minutes.

Imagine reaching into the fridge for a LaCroix, only to find the shelf empty. The pantry cans are warm, and chilling one in the fridge would take too long. For a quick solution, place your drink in a large pot, cover it with ice, and add water. Sprinkle in a few cups of salt, stir until dissolved, and your beverage will be ice-cold in minutes. (Alternatively, skip the can and simply use a cup of ice if portability isn’t a concern.)

6. Remove Water Rings with a Hair Dryer.

Oops—you skipped the coaster a few times, and now your beautiful coffee table has unsightly white water rings from your glass. Don’t worry; a hair dryer can save the day. Use it on a low heat setting to gently remove the stains. Once they’re gone, apply a bit of olive oil to restore the wood’s natural shine.

7. Use a Mesh Bag to Keep Small Items Secure in the Dishwasher.

For washing small items like corn-on-the-cob holders in the dishwasher, place them inside a mesh laundry bag (the type used for delicate clothing). This prevents them from slipping through the dishwasher grates. It’s also perfect for tiny containers, measuring spoons, and reusable bottle caps.

8. Remove Burn Marks by Boiling Salt Water.

The upside: You’ve prepared a gourmet meal. The downside: Your pan now has stubborn burn marks. Instead of endless scrubbing, try this trick from Martha Stewart. Fill the pan with cold water, add two to three tablespoons of salt, and let it sit overnight. The next day, boil the water, discard it, and give the pan a final wash with soap.

9. Schedule Your Workout Between 5 P.M. and 6 P.M.

During this time frame, your body reaches its peak physical performance, with the lowest risk of injury. Your muscle strength, lung capacity, and hand-eye coordination are all optimized, making it the ideal time for exercise. Additionally, maintaining a consistent workout schedule helps build a routine that’s easier to stick to, even on low-motivation days.

10. Organize Your Keys with Color Coding.

Struggling to identify your keys? Solve the issue by color-coding them. No special tools are needed—just use nail polish. Apply a small dot of color to the top of each key. Be careful not to paint any part that touches the lock to avoid polish getting inside. For nighttime visibility, consider using glow-in-the-dark paint.

11. Remove Furniture Scratches with a Walnut.

Fix scratches and dents in wooden furniture by rubbing a walnut over the affected area: The oil from the nut will make the marks vanish.

12. Use Dental Floss to Cut Perfect Cake Slices.

For clean, precise cake slices without smudged frosting or crumbling, use unflavored dental floss to slice through the cake. This method also works wonders for cutting soft cheeses!

13. Remove Strawberry Stems with a Straw.

Skip the strawberry huller: Easily remove stems by pushing a straw through the berry from the bottom to the top.

14. Steam Wrinkled Clothes in the Bathroom While Showering.

When you’re in a hurry, such as during travel, freshen up wrinkled clothes by hanging them in the bathroom while you shower. The steam from the hot water will help smooth out the wrinkles. Afterward, gently smooth the clothes by hand for best results.

15. Use Crayons as Emergency Candles.

In a power outage with no candles handy, crayons can save the day. Stand one upright in a small glass and light it like a regular candle. The crayon will burn for about 30 minutes, providing light in an emergency.

16. Keep Sheet Sets Organized Inside Pillowcases.

Say goodbye to rummaging through your linen closet for matching sheets: Neatly fold each set and tuck them inside one of the pillowcases for easy storage and access.

17. Apply Wax to Your Stovetop for Effortless Cleaning.

Once your stovetop is spotless, apply a thin coat of car wax and polish it with a clean towel. This makes future spills and food splatters easy to wipe away, while keeping your stove looking glossy and brand new.

18. Secure a Nail with a Clothespin While Hammering.

Using a clothespin to hold a nail while hammering will make you question why you ever risked smashing your fingers in the past.

19. Cool Wine Without Diluting It.

When you need to chill wine without diluting it with melting ice, opt for reusable plastic ice cubes. These won’t melt like traditional ones. For example, Kikkerland offers colorful cubes filled with real water. Alternatively, try stainless steel wine pearls from Uncommon Goods, which contain food-grade freeze gel.

20. Clean Your Blender with the Blender Itself.

Avoid the risk of cutting your fingers by cleaning your blender with soap and water. Simply pour them in, turn it on, and rinse. Easy as that!

21. Check If Your Eggs Are Spoiled with This Simple Trick.

Check if an egg is spoiled by placing it in a bowl of cool water. If it lies flat on the bottom, it’s fresh. If it stands upright but stays submerged, it’s still edible but not for long. If it floats, it’s gone bad. This works because fresher eggs have less air inside their shells, causing them to sink.

22. Create a DIY Air Freshener with Dryer Sheets and a Fan.

Make a DIY air freshener by attaching one or two dryer sheets to the back of a running fan. They’ll stay in place and effectively neutralize odors.

23. Secure Your Trash Bag Using Adhesive Hooks.

If your trash bag keeps falling into the bin, try this trick. Use two adhesive wall hooks and a drawstring trash bag. Attach one hook upside down on each side of the bin and loop the bag’s drawstrings onto them.

24. Substitute AAA Batteries When You’re Out of AA.

Out of AA batteries? If you need to power your remote without a store run, use a AAA battery instead. Fill the extra space on the negative end with a small ball of aluminum foil to make it work.

25. Smooth Out Wrinkles in Clothes with a Hair Straightener.

While straightening hair with a clothes iron is an age-old trick (now making a comeback), using a hair straightener to smooth collars and gaps between buttons is equally effective.