Method4
Housekeeping Hacks
1.Screw a magazine holder to the back of a cupboard door in order to hold a blow-dryer. Select a magazine/file stand made from plastic, wood or metal wire. You can also use sturdy cardboard. Secure it with 2-4 screws. This spot is perfect for most standard hairdryers.
- Use several adhesive strips that can be removed instead of screws.
2.Instead of using rods, use coat hooks to hang towels. Each hook can hold two large towels. You may find that the towels dry quicker if you stack towel rods one on top of another.
3.Use magnetic strips to store personal items behind cabinet doors. Use removable adhesive strips or peel-and stick magnetic strips to fix the magnets. Magnetic strips can be used to hold tweezers and other magnetic items, such as bobbypins, cosmetic brushes and tweezers.
- Before you try this, check to see how many items of personal care are magnetic.
4.Purchase a drill attachment with a scrubber to clean ceramic and tile. Let your drill do all the work instead of using elbow grease to scrub a toilet or tub. Where you buy cleaning supplies, look for different types scrub brush attachments.
- Start by setting the drill at its lowest speed, and then increase it as necessary. Please read the instructions for the brush attachment.
- Do not use the attachment for cleaning fiberglass, laminated wood, stone or other surfaces, unless it is specifically designed to do so.
5.Fill a bucket with a dustpan if it won’t fit underneath the sink. Place the bucket directly in front the sink. Place the handle of the pan over the front edge. Turning on the faucet will cause the water to flow down the handle channel, over the edge and into the bucket.
- The first few times, have some towels on hand. You may need to practice a little bit before you get the water flow and placement just right.
6.Paint the keys in nail polish. This will color code them. It’s a good hack if your keyring has a lot of keys that look similar. Any type of nail polish will work, although gel nail polish is best for metal keys.
7.Shoe hangers are a convenient way to store your household cleaners. Fill the pockets of the shoe hanger with cleaning bottles and attach it to the backside of the closet door or pantry. Select a shoehanger with clear or mesh pockets to easily distinguish the cleaning bottles.
- You can use a shoe rack with hooks if you have a closet rod.
- Add a lock on the door to ensure safety if you have children around.
8.Try different home remedies for to remove permanent marker. Different DIY removers work better on different materials. Try the following:
- Hand sanitizer is a great option for fabric.
- Rub alcohol can be used to clean your skin and wood surfaces.
- Try hairspray, or toothpaste to paint your walls.
- Mix 1 part baking powder and 1 part toothpaste for ceramics or glass.
9.Soak an old paintbrush for 30 minutes in vinegar to make it easier to clean. After 30 minutes, remove loose paint with a paintbrush or wire brush. After 30 minutes, use a wire brush or paintbrush cleaner to remove the loosening paint.
- You can reduce the time of soaking to 10 minutes if you heat the vinegar in a pot to almost boiling.
10.Vanilla extract can be used to reduce the smell of water-based paint. Pour 1 US gal (3.8L) of paint, add 1 tbsp (15ml) vanilla extract. Vanilla will mask any unpleasant paint odor. Peppermint essential oils work well.
- This hack does not work with oil-based paints, as the essential oils or vanilla extract create a solution that can negate or worsen the scent of the paint. Oils are not soluble in water-based paints, but they still remain separate to mask paint odor.
