Here on my blog, I strive to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make life a little bit easier. But sometimes, the tips that I want to share aren’t something I can write a whole blog post about. And since I simply cannot waste a good idea, I tuck them away to use at a later date. Today I’ll be sharing some of those tips and tricks, in the eighth edition of my ongoing series I like to call “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?”
If you have a great idea you’d like to share, share it with us in a comment at the bottom of this post! You and your idea could be featured in the next “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” post!
Check out the videos throughout this post to see some of these brilliant hacks in action!
1. Smart Cookie Storage
I get so many great ideas from my readers, including this one from a reader who wrote to share a clever way to repurpose a Pringles chip container. She said that when her son was deployed to Afghanistan, she sent him homemade cookies packed snugly into an old Pringles container. Brilliant!
2. Easier Plugging
Rather than moving around to tell where each port is on your laptop, make a mark above where the port is. I drew a line above the USB port and a dot above the charging port, but you can use whatever symbols make the most sense to you. Plugging things in just got a lot easier!
(If you don’t want to write directly on your laptop, cut up a sticky note into small squares and use those instead.)
3. Notebook Index
Here’s an easy index system for notebooks. Write a list of categories on the front or back page of your notebook. Each category should have its own line. Then, go through your notebook and make a mark at the edge of the page according to the line for that category.
For example, say you have a notebook of recipes, and the “Dinner” category is written on the 11th line on your index page. On each dinner recipe, you would mark the edge of the 11th line. Then when you look at the notebook from the side, you’ll know exactly where the dinner recipes are!
4. Sifted Cereal
While some people like the powdery stuff at the bottom of the cereal box, others (including myself) find it too sweet. If you’re in the “too sweet” camp, there’s an easy way to get rid of it!
When you get to the last bit of cereal in a box, pour it into a mesh colander or sieve before transferring the cereal to a bowl. The sugary powder will get sifted out, leaving just the cereal pieces behind.
5. Brilliant Bacon Breakfast
Combine bacon and pancakes into an all-in-one breakfast that’s sure to be a new family favorite! Cook some bacon on your griddle, then leave the grease and one strip of cooked bacon on the surface.
Pour pancake batter over the top of the bacon and cook the pancake as usual. Then dig into a salty, sweet, and totally delicious breakfast!
6. Simple Razor Cover
Need a safe way to cover your razor on an upcoming trip? Use a binder clip! Just clip it over the blades before tossing the razor in your bag.
7. Fabulous Frozen Grapes
Frozen grapes are one of my all-time favorite treats, but they’re pretty useful too! You can use frozen grapes as ice cubes in your favorite drink. They’ll keep your drink cold without watering it down.
More Ideas You'll Love
8. Microwave More
If you have a small microwave, you can microwave two bowls at once using a mug! Just prop one of the bowls on top of the mug, so it will be raised above the other bowl, giving you enough room to squeeze both in.
9. Steam Away Wrinkles
Here’s an easy way to smooth out a wrinkled blouse if you don’t have an iron on hand. Just put a pot of water on your stovetop to boil, and hang the shirt above the pot. The steam from the boiling water will help release the wrinkles, and your shirt will be wrinkle-free in no time!
10. Fix For Tight Shoes
If you have a pair of shoes that are just a little too tight, try stretching them out! Put on your thickest pair of socks, then put the shoes on. Turn on your hair dryer and point it toward the shoes. The heat will relax the outside of the shoes, and the thick socks will help stretch them out a bit. Brilliant!
Related: 25 Quick and Clever Solutions For Your Clothing Catastrophes
The “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” Series
- For even more simple tips and tricks that will make your life easier, check out the other installments in this series, including ones you may have missed!
- Explore the “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series archive.
You can save the wax cereal liners and reuse them. Just shake or rinse them out. They’re great for freezing or small amounts of leftovers in the fridge – like pizza etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea for marking/coordinating your notebook with the markings on the edge of the paper – also, you can do this: color-coordinate – use a different color for each subject as well or instead of counting the lines. Who doesn’t have multiple colors of sharpies?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I go to beauty supply store and buy bulk shower/tint caps.,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.then use them to cover odd sized bowls or dishes of food.
Great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There’s an easier way to get the tiny bits out of the cereal bag. Just clip the bottom corner of the bag and shake them into the garbage or sink. How much you clip depends on the size of the pieces of cereal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweetened cereal ‘dust’ can be used to roll cookies in to add extra crunch. I also save and use non sweetened cereal ‘dust’ and bitty crumbs to add to my meatloaf!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have used the pringles can to give Christmas cookies to our mail person and paper deliver. I covet the can with Christmas theme scrapbook paper. Or you could us wrapping paper.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When you have to throw out a microwave oven, keep the turntable. Put them in the oven when preparing meals, and they can be used as a hotplate to put plates on while you are serving/arranging food on the plates. it keeps everything hot!
When cooking fresh tomatoes in a pan, use a pair of eyebrow tweezers to remove the skins as they cook.
Instead of a piping bag, use a small dropper (like an eye dropper) to make spots to decorate desserts with e.g. fruit couli, coconut cream. Also savoury courses with sauces. I use tahini, reduced balsamic, roast pepper purees.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas! Thanks Alex. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We lost the remote to our tv, so I put marks next to each different catagory(power,volume,channel,input). I used a sharpie paint pen but you could use diff color nail polish or just little stickies. I figured whoever gets the tv next will not be upset that they can read which button is which.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For my hearty breakfast I make french toast,when one side is done I flip it over add cheese and bacon or tomatoes and bacon , I place the cooked side of #2 piece on top,flip over to finish cooking . I did this often for children who didn’t like eggs . It was a real hit.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Fry up bacon and do toast in the fat if you wish , yum!
Do you have a recipe for Biological odor removal?? Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t, but I might be able to make some suggestions! Where is the odor (carpet, body, etc.)?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you are referring to armpit odor, red onion is the answer. When my daughter hit puberty, armpit odor was a nightmare (My hubby had the same problem in his teens). She eats 3Tbs of chopped red onion each day, usually mixed with tuna salad. It took 3 days to change the ph balance and she’s so happy . She’ll probably need to do this through adulthood.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Side note: this also works for normal vaginal odor, providing that your physician has ruled out other causes.
For the end of a bag of cereal, I just cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and shake the cereal dust into the trash. Just make sure to cut the hole smaller than the cereal pieces so you don’t lose the good stuff. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What I do sometimes if I let clothing air dry and is wrinkled, I just put a damp,washcloth in the dryer with the item for about 20 minutes. It works and sometimes it doesn’t need to be ironed after this treatment.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love all your cleaning tips and homemade cleaning products. Any tips for cleaning the car? Especially for keeping the dash shiny and protected from the sun? I read somewhere that vaseline works well. I tried it, and it did work pretty well. Any other suggestions? Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.i have been a car detailer for 29 yrs & what i use is floor wax now vaseline works decent but its always feeling oily car wax on the other hand once u apply it & it dries i hard on the dash & no greasy feeling. Just put car wax on a sponge & apply it to the dash & it will be shiny just let it dry about 15 minutes depending on the weather
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Today!…..I will try the shoe stretching trck.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.i did it and it works. may have to do it several times as i did, before it’s done.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your collection of “Why Didn’t I Think of That” tips! I sometimes steam clothing while I’m in the shower. I !have so many charging cords in my surge protectors that I wrap each one with a piece of masking tape and write the name of what the cord charges on it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used the empty toilet paper rolls to store your small appliance cords. You can write on the roll what the cord goes to. You can use paper towel rolls if you need larger ones, and you can cut them to size if you want to!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Don’t the cookies taste salty if you store them in a Pringles container?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m a big fan of the salty sweet combo, but you can wipe out the container first. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I individually wrapped my cookies using the Press ‘N Seal type film wrap and this got them all the way to my son in the Air Force overseas and still FRESH! Easiest way to wrap was to space the cookies down the middle of a long strip, then fold over both sides so the top is double sealed. Then I accordion folded the line into the Pringles container. This makes it easy to remove them without having to DUMP them out. He cut between the cookies to savor each one. Additionally, the cookies were not salted on the edges.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How do you remove small scratches from eyeglasses or sunglasses?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have seen people use a little bit of toothpaste and use a microfiber to buff them out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi – use Pledge (and only Pledge) to clean them. We have done this for years and it works every time, plus your glasses are really clean! Of course, don’t use it if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Do NOT use Endust or its equivalent – you will have an icky, smeared mess that is truly difficult to get rid of (personal experience, lol).
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I haven’t found any tricks for this yet, sorry Norman!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Toothpaste
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used the Easier Plugging tip on my TV – I put a post it (the little flag kind) where the power button is so that when I can’t find the remote at the end of the day, I can see exactly where the touch button is on the TV.
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