Our 18 Best Home Hacks of 2021
We are already halfway to 2021, and this year we have tried hard how best to manage our households. We are learning to be the best gardeners, the best cleaners of all things, and better use foil, paper towels and drying sheets. As we enter the last half of the year, let’s revisit the best homemade tips, tricks, and tricks we’ve learned so far.
Use aluminum foil for anything
Undoubtedly, aluminum foil is a staple food preparation, especially during the summer season. But it also has the potential for much more. Aluminum foil can clean cast iron pans without damaging the cookware. Foil can create a colorful planting box for your plants and speed up basic household chores like ironing. Foil can do all of this and more .
Buy a bidet
Bidets are common in countries like the UK and Japan and are growing in popularity in the United States, especially since the start of the pandemic when we realized we might need a more natural way of cleaning. However, a lack of information and misinformation prevents some from taking advantage of this environmentally friendly way of using the bathroom.
The bidet reduces the use of toilet paper while providing a hygienic way to clean the undercarriage. Here’s how to install and use a bidet in your home .
Fertilize your plants correctly
Feeding plants is not as easy as feeding your cat or dog. Your pet has ways to tell you that it needs more food or is full; but a plant that needs more sun or water gives smaller, less discernible clues. Yellowed leaves or small dots may indicate your plant needs more fertilizer or needs a break. Here’s how to know when your plant needs more fertilizer and when it’s enough .
Grow a greener, healthier lawn
Lawn maintenance is not as easy as it sounds – it takes a lot more time and attention than you might think. The most important elements are root health and strength, weeding, watering, fertilizing and aeration. Here are our top tips to help keep your lawn healthy and vibrant .
Use a screwdriver to decide how much to water your lawn.
Once your lawn is perfect, it needs the right amount of water to keep it healthy. Over-watering is a common mistake homeowners make, but luckily, it’s easy to fix. There are several methods you can try to determine the optimal lawn watering schedule, including sticking a screwdriver into the ground to establish water saturation. Here’s how .
Organize your fridge to keep food from spoiling
Food stays fresh longer in certain areas of the refrigerator. The top shelf is the warmest, so things like leftovers and any food you eat quickly should be on the top. The middle shelves are the coldest and best for dairy products or products that require more refrigeration. We’ve got some more tips to help you organize your refrigerator like you heck an adult .
Reduce the use of paper towels
It’s almost reflexively reach for a paper towel when there is a leak, but you are likely to use paper towels way more often than it should. Some spills can be removed with a cloth or sponge, while other tasks are best done with a microfiber cloth, which can save paper towels and money. Here are our tips for when to use these paper towels and when to leave them on a roll .
Keep Plants Alive While On Vacation
Having a lot of baby plants means every time you go out of town, lead a frantic search for a plant nurse. However, it is easier said than done so that someone does not forget to water and feed their green babies. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep your plants alive without the need for supervision. Plants in a water bath, creating a temporary greenhouse, or turning on a ceiling fan when you are away can help. Here are the rest of our tips for keeping your plants alive while you are on vacation .
Grow your own loofahs
Sounds incredible, but the bathroom loofah is made from organic material that can be grown in your backyard. The middle loofah belongs to the pumpkin family – it is a vegetable that resembles a cucumber. Growing them in your backyard is easier than you think, and you can eat them or let them dry to cleanse them and use them as a new body exfoliator. Read detailed instructions here .
Display your books in unconventional ways
Old books either clutter up the room or turn it into a work of art. A book exhibition is more about appearance than reading functionality and can bring a unique decorative style to your home. You can arrange them by color, place them in display boxes, or turn them into a coffee table. Here are some fresh ideas for showcasing your old books .
Use vinegar in your garden
Vinegar is a magic substance that can do anything – it can work wonders for your garden. Vinegar can kill unwanted weeds, keep pesky insects and animals from eating your greens, and kill unhealthy molds or diseases on your plants. Here are some more ways to use vinegar in your garden .
Clean between dirty oven doors
Oven window doors are easy enough to clean on both sides, but getting between the panes is not easy. Depending on the type of oven, you can remove the latch door and open it to clean the inside. Other ovens have a gap at the bottom so you can insert a cleaning stick between the glass panes. Here’s how to clean the dirt between your oven’s glass door .
Secure the door hinges with toothpicks and wood glue.
When the holes holding the door hinge deform, no screw, no matter the size, can fix it. So instead, Tiktoker Mercury Stardust uses toothpicks, wood glue and scissors to fill the hole and reattach the loop. Here’s how to do it .
Clean up your disgusting coffee maker
Washing all kitchen utensils is not part of our daily routine and daily cleaning is not required. On the other hand, regular cleaning of appliances like the coffee maker is important to prevent hard water build-up, mold and other germs. Here’s how to properly clean your coffee maker – it’s probably dirty in there.
Air dry your clothes
Your grandmother probably knew that drying clothes in the sun was good. Ultraviolet rays whiten white, kill bacteria and give your garments a natural fresh scent. But air drying is about more than just tossing clothes over a line in your backyard. To begin with, sweaters should be laid out evenly, and dark ones should never be dried in direct sunlight. Here are some more tips on how to best air dry your clothes .
Use hair clips throughout your home
The bobby pins, widely known for keeping the hair from falling out, are actually more useful than we think. For example, bobby pins can replace a broken zipper pull, olive or cherry pits, and unclog drains. For a complete list of unexplored bobby pin tricks, read the full article here .
Use napkins for everything
Drying sheets are no longer just for your laundry. They also protect skirting boards from dust, clean stained pots with a single soak and remove mineral stains from mixers. The static-cling technology and weaving of the fabric make these scented fabrics much more useful than you might imagine. Here is a collection of 17 ways to use drying sheets outside the dryer.
Use hydrogen peroxide correctly
You were probably told to use hydrogen peroxide on open and cut cuts, but it can actually prevent healing as it kills the healthy cells in your skin that help your wounds heal. Instead, use an antiseptic to protect plants from fungus, or use one to disinfect sponges. Here are other options for the practical use of hydrogen peroxide .