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Cutting corners is often considered a bad thing. But when it comes to chores, errands, and pesky little tasks that eat up your day, some creativity and resourcefulness can save precious time and energy.

From starting a campfire to raking leaves and stopping the pasta water from boiling over the pot, many of the “problems” we face today have been tormenting people for ages, and believe me—there are more ways to take care of them than just your way.

Continue scrolling to learn how to make things easier!

#1 Bandaid Kept Falling Off. Cut The Wings Down The Middle And Cross-Crossed Them And Now It Stays On All Day

Image credits: jesiweeks3348

#2 Need More Light When You’re Camping? Put A Water Bottle On Top Of Your Phone Flashlight For A Lantern Effect

Image credits: iamg0d

#3 I Use An Apple Corer To Prep My Roast Potatoes

Image credits: CraftyHolic

#4 My Amazing Wife Taught Me This Fire-Starter Life Hack And It Works So Well

Take the lint you get from the dryer after you do your laundry and stuff it into a used up toilet paper roll or rip a paper towel roll in half and make two. It works INCREDIBLY well as a fire starter, and it creates less waste!

Image credits: TheSuppishOne

#5 Ice Cream Life Hack. Our Helper Slices The Ice Cream Into Squares As Soon As It Arrives From Grocery. Result: Easy Frozen Ice Cream Removal When We’re Ready To Eat! Do You Do This Too?

Image credits: yellowbelle45

#6 A Lawnmower Is More Effective At Picking Up Leaves Than A Rake

Image credits: Low-Baseball-7978

#7 Pizza Cutters Are An Under Utilized Kitchen Utensil

Image credits: MatternTimes

#8 Use Baking Sheets To Polish Your Faucets And Other Chromium Details

Image credits: Quietation

#9 Use Broth In Your Boxed Mac N Cheese If You’re Out Of Milk

Image credits: changetocomeyear3mil

#10 My Car Visor Hack That Doesnt Extend. A Hair Ponytail Ring Thing, Hard Card Paper Cut To Size. Easy To Slide In Out As Needed

Image credits: hotmailist

#11 If You Get Splinters In Your Fingers, Try Using Your Phone’s Flashlight Like This, You Will See Them Much Better To Remove Them

Image credits: mrflamingosaurus

#12 Wow Just Wow

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#13 Need Tweezers In A Pinch?

Image credits: Apps4Life

#14 Hack For Drying The Toilet Brush

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#15 You Can Trim The Nappy Bristles Off The End Of Your Broom To Make It More Effective Before You Replace It

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#16 Zipper Always Falling Down? Use A Key Ring To Keep It Up

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#17 Have A Slat Bed That Creaks And Squeaks? Slide Cotton Swabs Under The Slats Where It Meets The Frame

Image credits: thewun111

#18 Do Y’all Grate Frozen Onion? Family Doesn’t Like Large Chunks Of Onion So I Grate Them

Image credits: goddessbotanic

#19 Life Hack: Vacuuming Into Those Annoying Gaps. Insert Vacuum End Into Toilet Roll And Squeeze Tight. It Can Get Those Hard To Reach Places In Between Stuff

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#20 You Can Use Your Pocket Knife As A Pill Splitter In A Pinch

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#21 A Very Important Playlist

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#22 This Is Life Changing

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#23 You Can Stir Natural Peanut Butter Before You Even Open The Jar By Carefully Putting The Jar Into The Whisk Attachment Of A Stand Mixer

I ran it for about five minutes on the second lowest setting. This is my very first proof of concept. My intention was to 3d print an attachment, but this worked so well, I might reconsider.

Image credits: GameCounter

#24 Beer Can Taco Stand

Image credits: wrapped-in-reverse

#25 How To See Back Of Head! I Use Facetime And Screen Mirror To See The Back Of My Own Head When Preparting

Image credits: Friendly_Reserve_940

#26 Handwritten “Open Date”

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#27 Height Adjustable Desk In Hotels

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#28 Line The Underside Of Couches/ Furniture With Pool Noodles To Prevent Pet Toys From Going Under

Image credits: MrBiteyDaHoneyBadger

#29 I Use A Hairpin To Mark The End Of My Duct Tape

Image credits: Rough3Years

#30 Never Using Lighter Fluid Again

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#31 Guy On The Plane Put His Boarding Pass In His Phone Case, Holding It Up With The Tray Table Latch

Image credits: Jhawk2k

#32 I Thought This Was Well Known Untill My Father Who Has Been A Mechanic For 30 Years Had Not Seen It Before

Open your cable tie packets in the middle and you will never spill them all over the floor again. Pull out however many you need from the centre as seen below.

Image credits: J-R-Hudson

#33 Use An Old Cupcake Tray To Organize Your Nuts And Bolts When Dismantling Something (In My Case, My Car’s Bumper)

Image credits: leroy_pylant

#34 When Painting Put A Garbage Bag Over The Tray For Less Clean Up After

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#35 You Can Make Loads Of Fun Things With The Tape Too, And Stick Things To Eachother And The Walls And Hang Stuff From The Overhead Fans And Lights – Super Universal, And Cost Like $1 Per Roll

Image credits: LinusEkenstam

#36 This Is Genius

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#37 When Reheating Thick Pizza In The Oven, I Skewer The Centers With Stainless Steel Straws To Ensure The Center Heats More Evenly With The Outside

I’ve never done a test by reheating one with and one without the skewer simultaneously, but the science checks out and the pizza reheats perfectly.

Image credits: ThingCalledLight

#38 Use Magic Erasers To Remove Yellow From Headlights

There are several life-hack type tricks for deyellowing and defogging headlights, and I’ve tried a number of them. Toothpaste, bug spray, etc. None really worked. I was detailing the car and thinking that a magic eraser would probably do it… did a quick google search, verified my theory and went to town. 20 minutes later my headlights were significantly less yellow and also pulled some of the weird, hazy film off as well.

Headlights were on a newish Tacoma, which are notorious for going all yellow and ugly. Note: doesn’t seem to help the “fogging” as much. Some folks suggested added some rubbing compound to help actually polish them.

Bonus tip: magic erasers also work similarly to clay bar for pulling bits of gunk out of the paint. Just know that they are microabrasive, so don’t go crazy on one spot or it might damage the clear coat.

Image credits: imgur.com

#39 Love This. I’ve Been Doubling Up On The Hollow Hotel Pillows But That’s Usually Too Much. Will Definitely Try Your Method Next Time

Image credits: azrubicon

#40 Defrost Things Quickly. Needed To Defrost These In A Jif And Chatgpt Put Me On This Life Hack Called A Metal Pan Sandwich, So I Thought I’d Share

Image credits: Alive-Eye-676

#41 Using Medical Gloves Instead Of Bubble Wrap

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#42 Use Yellow Ducktape On TV Remote If You Have Black Furniture

Image credits: Xx_memelord69_xX

#43 I Lost A Silicon Tip. But I Found That It Got Easier To Simply Tell Which Was The Right One

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#44 Keeping Yourself Online. Did Anyone Think About This?

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#45 My “Odd Socks Box” – Everytime A Lonely Sock Appears In The Washing Cycle It Goes Here Hoping To One Day Be Reunited

Image credits: Sad-Appearance4437

#46 I Got Tired Of Family Members Using A Cup Then Abandoning It

So now we each have our own colored rubber band we put around whichever cup we’re using that day… And I end up washing fewer dishes.

Image credits: Gtapex

#47 Organize Your Spaces With A Dab Of Hot Glue And Some Magnets. I Use Them All Around The House

Image credits: wittynamehero

#48 Ice Cream Mug. Hands Won’t Get Cold, Ice Cream Is Insulated, More Steady To Sit On Soft Surfaces. You Are Welcome

Image credits: reddit.com

#49 I Like To Make My Own All Purpose Cleaner

I try to avoid store bought cleaners for a variety of reasons. Yeah, it’s not that expensive to buy a bottle of cleaner. Most range from $3.99-$5.99. But homemade cleaner is gentler on the respiratory system, results in less plastic waste, saves a few dollars, and utilizes ingredients a lot of people already keep on hand. I use 1 cup water, 1 cup white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol. I used to add essential oils (as you can see on the photo) but I ran out a while back and don’t feel like spending the money to buy more. Skipping the essential oils also makes it safer to utilize on upholstery. I use it to deotorize my couch. What kind of frugal cleaning tips do you have?

Image credits: Baggle-Me-Fingies

#50 4 Binder Clips And 2 Paper Clips Can Make You A Quick Phone Stand For This Slow Office Month

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#51 Put A Small Amount Of Water In A Glass When You Microwave Your Pizza To Keep The Crust From Getting Chewy

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#52 Because Your Dad Deserves The Nobel Prize In Science

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#53 Damp Fabric And Cold Drink In Front Of The Fan With The Window Open Better Cooling

Image credits: ConfusionVisible

#54 I Feel Like This Straw Washing Hack Is Genius

okay i feel like that’s genius. however, this is the first time in my adult life that i’ve ever lived somewhere that has a dishwasher, so this is all kind of new for me. my mom would have me unload the dishwasher as a kid, but never load it and we def didn’t have metal straws back then.

Image credits: ShoddySun8347

#55 Use Your Spring – Loaded Salad Tongs To Keep Your Reusable Bags Open As They Dry

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#56 Saw This Here Some Years Ago And Always Use It: For When You Have To Drill Holes In The Wall, But Don’t Have Anyone To Hold A Vacuum Cleaner While Drilling

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#57 Keep At Least One Empty Tissue Box On Hand. When You’re Sick, The Spare Makes A Nifty Container To Put Your Used Ones Into – Instead Of Winding Up All Over The Place If You’re Bed Bound

Image credits: WarningGipsyDanger

#58 Used The Overnight Vinegar Hack To Clean A Decade’s Worth Of Scaling On The Shower Chain

I saw this vinegar hack on Instagram and thought I’d give it a try. You basically pour distilled white vinegar into a small ziplock, submerge the affected area and tie it with a rubber band overnight. Then I used a scrub daddy and wiped off excess stuff in the morning and voila, nearly brand new shower head chain woah! I used it on faucets around the house too, beautiful results. Only warning: the vinegar can eat through cheaper steel.

Image credits: blue-lilacs

#59 Hack For Getting Pet Hair Off Furniture Or Just About Anything

As a pet lover who has searched for ways to get fur off furniture, car interiors etc. more times than I can count, I had to share this because it’s not a hack I have seen anywhere else-use a dry shower squeegie! It works like magic!

Image credits: Alert-Knowledge-1298

#60 I Think This Is Really How To Take A Step Toward Something That You Feel Vulnerable About

I shaved my head in Dec after knowing the time was approaching. Was nervous about the “omg! You shaved your head” comments. And after many interactions where I expected big responses and people didn’t seem to care I knew it was me making it a bit deal not them.

Until a friend’s 6y/o daughter made a huge reaction at a gathering with everyone there. I lt was perfect, all the adults just quietly didn’t say anything about it.

Image credits: MagicGene

#61 Chopsticks And 2 Rubber Bands Help Squeeze Out Every Drop Of Toothpaste

Image credits: CaramelTHNDR

#62 Phone/Tablet Hack For Car Passagers

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#63 Today I Remembered That If You Don’t Have A Candle, Orange Skin And Oil Of Olive Will Do It

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#64 My Girlfriend Packs Her Underwear In Her Socks For Each Day She Won’t Be Home. I Think It’s Clever

Image credits: DestryDanger

#65 I’ve Been Married To My Wife For 11 Years And She Just Taught Me That If I Use A Cheese Grater On A Cold Stick Of Butter, It’s Easier To Spread On Toast And Muffins

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#66 Use Zip Ties And A Wall – Mounted Coat Rack To Neatly Store Hair Tools And Keep Your Bathroom Clutter-Free

My dad was tired of seeing my “tools” — hairdryer, straightener, curling wand — lying around the bathroom like a messy workbench. So he grabbed some zip ties, looped them through the handles, and hung everything on a sturdy coat rack screwed into the wall. Now it’s all tidy, accessible, and off the counter.

Bonus: no more tangled cords!

It’s a super cheap and effective way to organize heat tools if you don’t have drawer space.

Image credits: Plane-Buddy8796

#67 Keep A Top Sheet In Your Vehicle To Have Instant Shade When You Park. I Learned About This While Homeless, Living In My Suv. Having To Park In Parking Lots Without Shade

Image credits: The_Undercover_Fox

#68 Thrift Some Vintage Parm Jars To Use For Baking Soda For Easy Fridge Deodorizing And By The Sink To Wash Produce

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#69 Leafblower vs. Dry Snow

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#70 No Screens But Don’t Want Your Pets To Get Out? Baby Gate

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#71 Hack To Keep Products From Creating Mold In The Shower. My Grandma Taught Me This Trick To Use Shelf Risers To Let The Bottoms Of Shampoo Bottles Etc From Getting Moldy On The Tile Or Niche

Image credits: La-La-Lu-Lu

#72 Not Sure If This Is A Lazy Hack Or A Life Hack… Found At My Parents House

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#73 Summer Snack Hack I Learned From 8 Year Old Me: Stick A Spoon On Low Fat Vanilla Pudding And Put It In The Freezer For A Few Hours. Its Super Creamy And Cheaper Than Low Fat Icecream

Image credits: ZeraNaomi

#74 I Travel Alone And Always Lock My Doors Down This Way At Night So No One Can Open The Doors. It’s An Old Trucker Trick I Learned And I Hope It Helps Someone

Image credits: KittyCommittee86

#75 Just In Case You Have Not Learned This Little Trick Yet

When building something that will be outside or in a wet environment (like this shower stool) one of the primary concerns is where the feet touch the ground. Because wood is just a bunch of straws, the feet tend to suck up (capillary) moisture and your project can rot from the ground up. Especially if the feet are in the dirt.

To stop this you need a barrier between the ground and the wood. So wrap tape around the feet so that tape creates a “bowl”. Mix up some regular 5 minute epoxy (with epoxy, remember to stir/mix for much longer than you think you should) and pour the epoxy into your little bowl. It only needs to be about 1/8″ thick. I know it’s “5 Minute Epoxy” but let it cure overnight.

Remove the tape and rasp/file or sand it smooth. You now have a project that will last longer than if you had not done that.