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Making a house into a home is no easy (or cheap!) task. There's an awful lot of work to get done, so why not do it the best way possible? These life hacks will make getting your house in shape for summer extremely simple...
Toilet Kool-Aid
Worried about a leaky toilet? Of course, it seems like it's the worst-case scenario! Ease your mind by putting some Kool-Aid or other colored dye in the water. Just keep yourself from flushing for about 30 minutes, and if colored water shows up in the toilet bowl, there’s a leak!
Stop Squeaks
Stop a squeaky floor with just a little bit of baby powder! Rub it in on the areas that give a little more noise than other parts of the house. Use a makeup brush to get in between the tiny cracks. Sweep up any excess and you've got a totally soundless floor!
Grout Out
Need to clean the grout in your house, but have no idea how to get the dirt out? Use toilet bowl cleaner! Just line the tiles with the cleaner, wait for about 15 minutes, then use a toothbrush to scrub the hard spots. Mop it up and your grout will look brand new in no time!
Cooking Spray Doors
What's worse than a squeaky door or cabinet? Nothing, which is why investing in some cooking spray for the door might be a good option. That's right, spray a little of this stuff on there and listen to the sounds of silence. No more creaks!
Slamming Doors
Who doesn't hate the sound of a slamming door? That's why placing a small foam door bumper like the one above can be especially helpful. These things are pretty cheap online or in major retailers, and they help with protecting your doorways from the abuse over time.
Stripped Screws
Getting a stripped screw out of some old wood can be especially difficult, but there's a hack that solves this problem. Simply place a rubber band around the end of the screwdriver and use the rubber to get some grip on the stripped screw head.
Loose Screws
If you're buying furniture on the cheap, you might have an issue with craftsmanship. To fix a loose screw in your work, try coating the screw in a thin layer of clear nailpolish. It can be just the thing you need to stop that screw from moving around and stay tight and secure.
Broken Lightbulb
Potatoes might have more uses in the home than just making some fries. If you ever have a lightbulb break in its spot, you can use a potato to clean it up. Make sure the switch is turned to "off" first! After that, full steam ahead with your clever hack to cleaning up!
Caulk Edge
If you need to get the perfect edge to updated caulk, you should seriously grab a roll of painter's tape. It won't damage your walls, and it will be perfect for making a clean line. For the perfectionist in all of us, this invention is a must-have.
Crayon Nails
When you're moving out, you likely need to make the place look as perfect as possible. For those people, a white crayon is a novel solution. Use it to cover up any holes in the wall from nails or tacks. You can't tell at all!
Soap Hole
Don't have any white crayons laying around? Another option for filling the holes left behind by a nail is using soap bars. Rub a little white bar overtop the hole left in the wall and it should cover up quickly. An added bonus is that your walls smell great too!
Cool Carpet
If you have a dent in your carpet, have no fear! Ice cubes can fix that problem for you in just a few minutes. Just place an ice cube over the spot that needs a bit of fluffing. Once it melts, it will fill the area and fix that problem for you, no sweat!
Wood Floor Dents
If you have a dent in your wooden floor, you might be at a loss for how to fix it. Well, this hack is here to help! Just place a damp cloth over the issue and place an iron on top. Move the iron in a circular motion for a few minutes, and there you have it!
Tennis Ball Floors
If you've got scratchy floors with marks all over, you probably hate seeing them. How do you clean up something like that? Well, with a tennis ball obviously! Just envelope it around the bottom of a chair leg and watch the problem literally disappear.
WD-40 Crayola
kids can be pretty terrible for house care, so don't be shocked when their crayon drawings end up on the wall. If you want a quick clean-up for this situation, just rub it off using WD-40. The paint stays on but the wax vanishes right in front of you.
Screen Saver
If you have a tear in your screens, you might be inviting in bugs and tiny critters who can pass through. Stop the scurry with this clever hack, all you need is some clear nail polish. Put a little bit on over top of the tear, and it should be able to hold a little while longer!
Clean Showerhead
If you have an old showerhead, it's time to ask when the last time you cleaned it was...a while right? The hack for this is easy. Just fill a plastic bucket with vinegar and soak the appliance in it for a few hours or overnight. Once you wash off the vinegar, it should be good as new!
Potato Screwer
If you've misplaced your screwdriver, don't worry, there's a hack for that! Another option is using the pointed tip of a vegetable peeler. It won't be as quick, that's for sure, but it'll work just the same. Make sure to clean it before using it for veggies again though...
Not Cutting It
Are your old scissors just not cutting it anymore? Well, there's a way to fix that quickly and cheaply. Just pull out about 6 to 8 sheets of aluminum. Cut through with your dulled scissors to sharpen them up! You'll have some scraps left over, but your tools will be good as new!
Sticky Drawers
Do you have a drawer in your home that just doesn't slide out easily? Many places do, but there's an easy fix for this common problem. Just rub a bar of soap underneath the drawer on the wooden or steel bars. This will help it glide in and out without any friction!
Particleboard Parts
Particleboards are rarely built to last. They chip and break easily, but they don't have to. You can suspend its lifespan by adding on some regular school glue to any issues. Using plastic wrap, smooth the glue over the flaws. Color to match the board, and ta da!
Sprinkler System
Don't have a sprinkler in your shed? Don't worry, as long as you have a water bottle and a hose, this hack is easy enough to figure out. Poke some holes in the top and let Mother Nature do the rest of the work. Your yard will be looking good in no time!
Frayed Fix
If you've got a frayed carpet causing you trouble, trim off the excess, squeeze a little bit of fabric glue into the carpet base, and wait for it to dry. Once it has had some time to relax. The old snag will be unnoticeable in no time at all!
Duct Does it
This isn't so much a hack as it is a glowing endorsement. Duct tape is a household staple for a reason. It can fix everything from a torn tent to a burst pipe to trash cans. If you've got a problem, there's a high chance duct tape can solve it!
Bumbling Bed Frame
If you've got a bed frame that likes to be a little loud with squeaks and creaks, there's a way to fix that. Move the mattress so you can find the source of the sound. Once you have it, rub a candle over the point, making sure the candle is wax. It should stop the noise!
Cat Litter
Cat litter is weirdly the one surefire way to get an oil stain out of your pavement. Maybe your car had an accident in your driveway and you want it cleaned up. Scatter some extremely absorbent cat litter over the flaw. Let it set, then scrub it all away!
Coffee Draino
If you don't feel like shelling out for some Draino, another way to keep drains from clogging is to mix ground coffee with dish soap and boiling water. Mix it up, pour it down the issue drain, and watch as your sink fixes itself with this cheap hack.
Tub Ring
If your tub has that icky ring around it, you can use your breakfast cup of joe to fix it! Use some leftover grounds from your coffee to scrub the soap scum ring. Use a little soap to give it a cleaner feel. Easy to do and you'll smell lovely!
Fresh Furniture
If you can't use polish on your wood, another great option is using essential oils. They revitalize your furniture while also making them smell incredible. According to Jane Wilson of Fantastic Cleaners Melbourne, "You can use lemon essential oil to quickly polish any dark wood and effectively clean stains and spots."
Waxy Furniture
If you've accidentally let your candle melt to the very bottom and get some wax on your furniture, there is a way to save it! Simply use some ice cubes to get the waxy residue off your items. Don't risk scraping it off, just freeze it off!
Candle Carpet
If you somehow get some candle wax melted into your carpet, there's a way to get it out, but it won't be easy. First, you need to put a paper bag on top of the wax. Next, you should go over the area lightly with a steam iron. The wax will cling to the bag instead!
Hair Dryer Hack
If you've got a hairdryer at home, there's another hack at your fingertips. Hairdryers can be used to pull crayon designs off the wall, meaning you don't have to worry about ruined decor. Just heat and wipe, no big deal at all on your wall!
Cooking Oil Labels
If you like to reuse jars and bottles, the one thing standing in your way might be the sticky label on the front. They can be hard to peel off, and their leftover residue is gross! Instead of breaking your nails, use some cooking oil to loosen up the gunk and wipe away the residue.
Microsmells
Vinegar is a magic elixir for a lot of home cleaning remedies, including this one. Put a bowl of vinegar into the microwave and heat it up for about 5 minutes. After that, wipe the inside of the device. All the bad smells in your microwave will disappear!
Streak-Free Mirrors
Mirrors are hard to clean because you can see all the mistakes super clearly. One way to avoid a streaky mirror is to use the magical ingredient (vinegar, again) to wipe them down. White vinegar works best, and make sure to mix it with some water!
Cleaning Blinds
If you have the need to clean your blinds, a simple wipe down won't get the job done. In order to get an overall shine, you should try rubber bands and towels wrapped around a pair of kitchen tongs. Talk about easy access!
Toilet Mouthwash
Don't worry, this hack is actually pretty clever! If you're out of toilet cleaner, there's another option for you...mouthwash! Put a few capfuls in and let it sit for a half-hour. Once you scrub the bowl, any icky grime will come right off without any issue!
Clothespin Saver
Doesn't it seem gross to put your toothbrush right on the counter? One way to separate your brush from the porcelain is by attaching a clothespin to the head of it. It'll keep it aloft enough that you can sleep easy at night (and brush cleanly in the morning!)
Rubber Band Ties
If you want to avoid soapy overuse, there's a hack for that! All it takes is one rubber band tied around the center of a spout. This will be able to slow the flow of the soap, meaning you won't have to worry about being too soapy.
Magic Eraser
If you have a ceramic stovetop, you've got some pretty good taste! However, those kinds of counters can be hard to clean. Thankfully, all it takes is a magic eraser to get things back on track. No caked-on messes can withstand that incredible force!
Spiced Magnets
True or false: your spice drawer could likely use a makeover. Thankfully, a magnetic spice rack will help to organize your spices as well as give your fridge a modern feel (aside from the notes and calendars). It's both functional and fashionable!
Clean Pan Problems
If you have a pan that just won't get clean, it might be due to the cleanser you're using. Maybe try medicine instead! That's right, an Alka-seltzer tablet can be just the thing you need to cut through stubborn grime. Drop it in with hot water and let sit for 15 minutes.
Blender Blues
There's nothing more annoying to clean than a blender. The juices are so stubborn, but maybe you're just not thinking the right way. Instead of scrubbing, just add some water and dish soap to the center. Turn it on and watch as your blender gets a personal dishwashing treatment!
Silverware Porcelain
If you can't seem to organize your bathroom, there might be another way. Use instead, a silverware organizer in one of your drawers. You'll have everything from toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss, and anything else always in place.
Fitted Suspenders
If you have a flimsy fitted sheet, the edges flying off is no new problem, but it is a solvable one. Just attached some suspenders underneath the mattress to have a sure-fire way to keep the sheets on. Easy fix!
Trash Holes
Ever have trash bags sticking to the bottom of your cans? There's an easy fix for that, obviously. Just drill a few holes into the bottom of your trash cans. Anything sticky will seep out onto the street, not into the center of your bins.
Old News!
If you have a problem with leaky garbage bags, old news might be the best news for you! Throw in some old newspapers when you put a new trash bag in. It will absorb any leaky liquids that would have otherwise been spilling out of the bottom. Easy!
Wiped Bags
If you have an old container for plastic wipes, you also have a container for grocery bags! Just roll them up and stick them inside the empty container. Feel free to decorate it to make it better for your own styles.
Straw Flowers
Have flowers wilted in your house? Don't worry, there's an easy fix for this common issue. Just surround the tired stems with straws! They will help the flowers to stand up straight a little longer!
Pot Lids
A pot lid can get lost in the shuffle, but it doesn't have to. Use a magazine organizer on the wall to keep your lids organized and in the most reachable spot. Never worry about losing your lid over a lid ever again!
Broken Locks
Have a bedroom door that should never be locked? Use a rubber band for peace of mind! Just loop the rubber band around a doorknob, covering the latch bolt so that it is closed into the door. Loop the other end of the rubber band over the opposite doorknob. Done!
Tight Garage
If you have a door that jumps out, this hack is for you. In your garage, cut a pool noodle in half. Attach each side to the wall with adhesive of some kind. Whenever you open the door now, your car is protected from dings and dents!
Covered Collectible
Alarm systems can be pretty ugly to look at...so don't! USe a piece of artwork on hinges to cover the unsightly system. After all, who wants to show off how well protected their house is when they could show off some nice painting!
Plaster Nails
Before nailing into a plaster wall, make sure you're taking proper precautions. In this case, that means putting down some painter's tape! This way, you can prevent flaking, dust, and an unsightly wall. All it takes is tape!
Magnetic Tape
Hammering a nail seems easy enough, but they're also easy enough to lose. Fix this problem by adding some magnetic tape to your hammer. This way, you'll never be looking around for those pesky nails again!
Mason Jar Paints
Excess paint shouldn't go to waste, so make sure you store yours! The best way to keep paint fresh is by concealing it well, so mason jars are the perfect solution. These jars are air-tight and very cute, so your decor won't suffer.
Remove Excess Paint
Need to remove excess paint. Yep, there's a hack for that, and yes, it does involve another rubber band. Wrap a rubber band around a paint can or paint tray. Use it to wipe off excess paint back into the receptacle. Simple!
Furry Friends
Have any furry friends in your house? That means you also have fur all over, sorry. One way to get that pesky hair up and out is by using a squeegee. It works better than the countless lint rollers and is almost half the cost!
Cat Claws
If you have a cat, you know the claws they wield. Protect your furniture with aluminum foil! If your kitty won't stop clawing at one piece of your chair or a part of the rug, cover it in foil and they should lose interest ASAP.
Steady Rug
Have a rug that just won't sit still? Add some caulk to the bottom! It won't move at all and won't damage the rug. The slip in your carpeting won't be able to withstand this incredible life hack!