Sometimes, it’s the tiniest tricks that can make a huge difference in everyday life. Whether you’re tackling an annoying household task or looking for a way to save time, there are clever hacks out there that feel like they should be common knowledge—but aren’t. We’ve rounded up a list of smart and surprisingly simple ideas that could make you wonder how you ever managed without them.
Revive Stale Bread with a Splash of Water
When we buy fresh bread, it’s usually only good for a couple of days before we have to throw it out, but there’s a simple way to prevent this. Just run it quickly under the tap to dampen the crust, then pop it in the oven for about 10 minutes. The heat works magic, rehydrating the bread and giving it a fresh, soft centre.
Use a Wooden Spoon to Stop Water from Boiling Over in Pots
You’re probably tired of constantly scrubbing your hob after hot pasta water has boiled over, but you can prevent this by placing a wooden spoon across the top of the pot. The spoon interrupts the bubbling foam, which then keeps it from spilling over.
While it’s not a tried and tested solution, the trick buys you time to reduce the heat or give the pot a quick stir, making it easier to keep your cooking mess-free.
Remove Sticky Labels with Olive Oil
Do you find yourself always struggling with those stubborn sticky labels that leave a mess behind? If you dab a bit of olive oil onto the residue, let it sit for a few minutes, then rub it away with a cloth, the oil will break down the adhesive, so it’s much easier to remove those annoying leftover bits.
Chill Wine Quickly with Salted Ice Water
We’re all guilty of forgetting to put a bottle of wine in the fridge, but luckily, there’s a simple solution to cool it down. All you have to do is fill a bucket with ice, water, and a handful of salt, then submerge the bottle. The salt lowers the freezing point of the water, enabling it to cool the wine much faster than ice alone.
Store Ice Cream Upside Down to Prevent Freezer Burn
We can all agree it’s so annoying when we open a tub of ice cream to find that it’s gone crusty on top. To prevent this, you can store it upside down in the freezer, as this creates a seal by pressing the melted layer against the lid, reducing the amount of air that can creep in. It’s a small tweak that keeps your dessert creamy and delicious for longer, so you can enjoy every scoop.
Use a Rubber Band to Open a Stuck Lid
Nothing is more infuriating than a jar lid that just won’t budge when we try to open it. A simple step to make our lives easier involves wrapping a rubber band around the lid for extra grip, then twisting. The added traction makes it much easier to open without straining your hands or hunting for gadgets.
Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil for Fresh Flavour Anytime
To prevent throwing away fresh herbs, you can try chopping them up, popping them in an ice cube tray, adding olive oil, and then putting them in the freezer. It means you’ll always have fresh herbs on hand; the cubes are perfect for tossing into soups, stews, or pans.
Remove Scuffs from Shoes with a Pencil Eraser
Our scuffed trainers and shoes can be very unsightly, but we don’t need to walk around with them like this. Simply use a clean pencil eraser to gently rub away marks, which is especially handy for white soles, and you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it makes. For deeper scuffs on leather, a touch of leather polish can help restore the shoe’s shine.
Keep Bananas Fresh for Longer with Plastic Wrap
After our weekly shop, bananas are one of the fruits we always have to eat first as they’re notorious for going off quickly. But if you wrap the stems of bananas in cling film, then this will curb the ripening process, giving you longer-lasting bananas. This trick works by reducing the release of ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening.
Use a Spoon to Peel Ginger
There’s no denying that peeling ginger can feel like a fiddly chore with a knife. Instead, grab a spoon and scrape it against the skin; the thin edge of the spoon removes the peel without wasting the juicy flesh underneath.
Not only is this method safer than using a knife, but it also preserves more of the ginger for your recipes.
Stop Your Bin Bag Slipping with Clips
Do you find that your bin bag keeps slipping into the bin? You might want to try grabbing a couple of bulldog clips and attaching them to the sides to hold it in place. It’s a quick fix that saves the hassle of fishing the bag out when it collapses under the rubbish, which isn’t something anyone wants to do.
Reheat Pizza with a Glass of Water
A takeaway pizza is often a bit of a letdown the following day, as it turns into a chewy disappointment when microwaved. However, there is an easy way to fix this; all you have to do is place a small glass of water in the microwave with your slice.
The moisture from the water keeps the crust crisp and prevents the toppings from drying out, giving you a much closer result to last night’s.
Use a Hairdryer to Remove Wax Stains
We’ve all probably spilt candle wax at some point and found it almost impossible to clean, but a hairdryer can help. Gently heat the wax until it softens, then blot it up with a paper towel. You’ll be pleased to know this method works on a variety of surfaces, such as wood and fabric and avoids the risk of scratching any hard surfaces.
Sharpen Scissors with Tin Foil
You don’t have to fret if you feel that your scissors are getting blunt; simply fold a piece of tin foil into a thick square and cut through it a few times. While this trick doesn’t truly sharpen the blades, it can help realign the edges, improving performance for light cutting tasks. For heavily used scissors, professional sharpening is recommended.
Prevent Keys from Jangling with Heat Shrink Tubing
It can be annoying when we always hear our keys jangling, but there’s an easy way to stop this. All you need to do is slip some heat shrink tubing over the top of each key and use a hair dryer to shrink it into place. Not only does this reduce noise, but it also makes the keys easier to grip; it’s a particularly useful trick for those with larger key rings.
Use Nail Polish to Identify Keys
It’s easy to lose track of which key opens which door when we have a handful all on one keyring. If you’re always fumbling with a ring full of similar keys, paint the tops with different colours of nail polish.
It’s a quick and creative way to know which key is which without testing them all, and you can even assign specific colours to family members or locations for extra convenience.
Keep Your Bin Smelling Fresh with Baking Soda
Nothing is worse than a bad-smelling bin, especially when it’s your turn to take it out. To reduce its smell, sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom before adding a new bag. It absorbs odours effectively and keeps smells at bay between bag changes. If you want to make it smell even fresher, then try adding your favourite essential oil to the bottom before you sprinkle over baking soda.
Use a Bread Clip to Hold Your Flip-Flop Together
At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced the annoyance of having our flip-flop break on us in the middle of the day. When the thong part of a flip-flop breaks through the sole, slip a bread clip over the base to hold it in place. While this is a very temporary fix, it can help you get through the day without going barefoot.
Remove Pet Hair with a Damp Rubber Glove
Finally, if you own a pet, then you know that their hair clinging to furniture can feel like a losing battle. But there’s a simple solution: just put on a damp rubber glove and rub it over the surface; the hair will stick to the glove just like magic.
This method is quicker and more effective than vacuuming and works well on upholstered furniture, car interiors, and even clothes.