Whether you are a homeowner or an apartment renter, it seems like there’s always work to be done on the home front. Declutter here, fix a lightbulb there … so much to do, so little time. But what if I told you I have collected and tried some of the best time-saving tips that you are sure to need at some point? You’d keep reading, right? Go ahead and bookmark this page because these are solutions you are sure to need:
Use a simple garbage bag hack.
Apparently, there is a right way and a wrong way to put a garbage bag in your garbage can. And chances are that you have been doing it the wrong way all along. Here’s the right way: Open the bag. There is no need to shake it open to let it expand either. Place the open, drawstring side of the bag over the rim of your garbage can (as if it is a hat) and simply push the bag down inside of the can. It doesn’t seem as if it would make life easier, but I promise you, somehow it does.
Slice the perfect avocado.
Ever wish you could slice your avocados into perfectly proportioned cubes instead of the whole mashed and messy method? Well, if you have a cooling rack, then you’re in luck! Slice the avocado in half, remove the pit and scoop each half out of the skin. Next put a cooling rack over an empty bowl and place the avocado halves on the rack. Press the avocado through the rack with your palm and voilà— restaurant-quality cubed avocados!
De-clog any drain.
I once dated a plumber who scolded me for my overuse of Drano. Apparently, it’s damaging to pipes and a major plumbing no-no, but it works so darn well. So, what’s a woman with hair in the drain to do? Coffee grounds, my friends. Mix them up with a little dish soap, put the mixture in your clogged drain and pour some boiling hot water over it. Clog free and plumber approved!
Say goodbye to mice.
I have an unrealistic fear (and disgust) of mice. They haunt my dreams, and if I hear one or see one (or its droppings), my home is no longer what I like to call a safe place. I have tried everything to get rid of the pests: peppermint oil on cotton balls, kitty litter, sound repellents and every trap ever made — to no avail. I even resorted to screaming, “you are not welcome here, please leave,” because someone on the internet said it worked for her. Then my mom, God bless her, sent me Tougher than Tom Mice Eliminator Pouches, which have a special formula of natural ingredients and essential oils. I placed them around the house, and I haven’t heard or seen evidence of a mouse since. Home sweet home thanks to Tom! Others swear by good old-fashioned snap traps, but I just can’t handle that cleanup.
Clean your dirtiest pans.