You know when you see a simple timesaving trick or organizing tip and think, ‘why didn’t I think of that?!’ Over the past few years, I’ve stumbled upon ideas on blogs, in magazines, and categorized on Pinterest that have rocked my world. Some of them are so simple, and SO clever, I’ve slapped my head in disbelief that it could really be THAT easy. Here’s a few of my very favorite organization tips, storage ideas, DIY tricks, and things that will make things simpler, cleaner, and all around better.
Trust me, you’ll never look at tinfoil, ketchup bottles, and seat warmers the same way again.
Pour cooking grease into a bowl covered in tinfoil. Once hardened, just ball it up and throw the tinfoil away. No clogged drains or icky messes!
{via Better than Burgers}
Write a dosing chart with marker on medicine bottles to keep track of when meds were taken. Especially helpful when multiple family member are sick, or when you have ‘medicine head’ yourself.
{via landeesee, landeedo}
Use a dry erase marker on your washer to write what shouldn’t go in the dryer.
{via Mommy Savers}
A cereal container makes a great trash can for the car.
{via Pinterest}
Stick a magnet strip on the back of your medicine cabinet door or the side of a drawer to corral bobby pins.
{via Camille Styles}
Another bobby pin trick… use a tic tac container to hold them in your purse. No more stray bobbies! {yes, I use a lot of bobby pins} 😉
{via do it and how}
Put Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in a preheated waffle iron for easy Cinnamon Waffles.
{via Lady Behind the Curtain}
Use your seat warmer to keep pizza hot while driving home.
{via 9gag}
Use a potato peeler to cut thin slices of onions.
{via Chef Pins}
Use a ketchup bottle to dispense batter for perfect pancakes.
{via 9gag)
Use frozen grapes in your wine glass on warm days instead of ice cubes which will only dilute your wine (and WHO would want THAT?!)
{via Weekend Homemaker}
Make a market bag from a tank top.
{via Making Lemonade}
And a reusable produce bag from a citrus sack!
{via Making Lemonade}
Hang a picture using a soda can tab.
{via Apartment Therapy}
Use a Paint Stick and Screw to Hang a Wire-Backed Frame
{via View Along the Way}
Use a Hose to Clean Your Paint Roller in Under a Minute
{via View Along the Way}
Use Press and Seal wrap instead of tape to protect awkward spaces while painting.
{via Family Handyman}
Use a rubber band around an open paint can to wipe your brush to make quick (clean) work of touchups.
Freshen old tape by microwaving it for 10 seconds and it’ll be almost good as new.
{via Family Handyman}
Use a rubber band to remove a stripped screw. Really.
{via Pinterest}
Use mailing tube or wrapping paper rolls to roll table runners and linens to avoid wrinkles and fold lines.
{via Real Simple}
This particular idea uses the paint stirrer sticks as portable samples of the paint colors in your home– which I actually do. But when I first saw this pin, I thought it was popsicle sticks… which are even more portable!
{via Natty by Design}
Store plastic bags in empty tissues boxes for free bag dispensers.
{via Real Simple}
Stick a flashlight to the fuse box using a magnet and never have to curse while trying to see the breakers again. (not that YOU’D curse, just sayin’ SOMEONE might curse)
{via The Weekend Homemaker}
Mismatched tea cups and saucers from the thrift store made pretty jewelry holders.
{via Martha Stewart}
#1 Tip for organizing your home effectively: Protect Your Prime Storage Real Estate (do it once, and it’ll change your home organization forever!)
{via Fieldstone Hill}
Use a Command Hook on the back of a high chair to hold bibs.
{via Pinterest}
Store all the Lego manuals in one binder so you have them at your fingertips (plus find a bunch of other great Lego storage ideas in the link under the photo).
{via Just Like the Number}
Use a toilet paper tube as a ‘cuff’ to keep wrapping paper from unrolling.
Use binder clips to organize and hold charger cords on your nightstand or desk.
{via Pinterest}
And last but not least, a gentle reminder…
{via Pinterest}
I’m guilty as charged. Reading all these great ideas is one thing, but getting up and making them happen is another. Did you see any you could use? Choose your favorite, most likely you have the supplies on hand already. Let’s get it done right now! Go ahead now, I’ll wait.
:: plays Jeopardy theme music ::
Did you do it? I’m so proud of you! Now go do another, let’s get this thing done now! {it IS my motto for 2013, right?)
What brilliant timesaving tricks make life easier for you? Any ideas that you’ve found totally rock your world? Please share!
Would your friends love to see these ideas too? Go ahead and share them use those cute buttons below! They’ll love ya for it, and so will I. 😉
I am going to use the magnetic bobby pins, plastic bags in tissue boxes, and toilet paper around wrapping paper tricks as soon as I get home. Great ideas!
What a great round-up! I love all the tips. Anything to make our lives a little easier works for me!
We’ve only gotten to the first tip and Alex has already dropped a number of expletives cursing his own stupidity.
I know, right? Though I’d LOVE to read the timesavers Alex would come up with…
Wow. I mentioned it to him and now he’s on a total roll with ideas.
Here’s one he hasn’t actually tested out yet, but he was saying the other day we need to get an egg slicer for slicing mushrooms. And I see that Real Simple suggested this, so probably everyone else already does it and we are the only fools still slicing mushrooms by hand: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/new-uses-for-old-things/use-egg-slicer-mushrooms-10000000694941/index.html.
Also he says, “When I need to walk somewhere, I run there.”
And finally, “If you sleep in the boxers you wore that day, and then keep them on for the next day, that saves a ton of time.”
I told you that man is brilliant. Back when you first stayed up all night talking to him, and then you came in all aglow the next day dreamily talking about meeting ‘the one’, I said something along the lines of ‘I bet he even repurposes one-trick kitchen implements so that they do DOUBLE DUTY’. Way better than Casey’s ‘use the water in the toilet to clean the floors instead of a bucket.’ As for the boxers, I’m sorry to tell you that’s already made the #1 spot (out of 1 spots) on the list of Men’s Best Timesaving Tips. But I’ll totally give him the running one. That would save a TON of time. 😉
I’m such a sucker for lists of small tricks.
Thanks for curating this one!
So many wonderful ideas! I especially love the idea of using the cereal dispenser as a garbage receptacle for the car. Perhaps it would help keep the back of my car from looking like the kids took a bat to a garbage pinata!
I love the cereal dispenser as well, and I’m laughing about the garbage pinata. SO TRUE for us too!!
Such great tips ~ I love having them all in one post for reference.
Hey Carrie! Great post. Pinned immediately! xo
Thanks Malia! You are so sweet!
Love the Lego directions binder!
This should be bookmarked! Simple organizational tricks can improve the home’s productivity.
I love these im going to try them all, you are so talented thank you 🙂 x
All of these are great tips, but my favorite is definitely the binder clips.. Very Clever, I’ve tons of cords that I keep hanging over other objects on my desk and sewing areas, and tons of binder clips in a drawer just waiting to be used, so I’m going to try that today.
I am going to use many of these. This is a great list I have not heard of 95% of them and I am on pinterest a lot.
Flashlight near fuse box: genius
Magnetic bobby pin strip: genius
Rubber band on paint can: Nobel Peace Prize Worthy!
I’m just beginning to paint old furniture so thank you!