Many household products start out with one specific purpose in mind, but other uses are quickly found in addition to that product’s original intent. Some household hacks are silly, some are wasteful, but are truly useful in a pinch! Here are some useful household hacks you might really like to try.
The best household hacks are those that are really useful. It could be for homemade cleaning solutions (cleaning products), uses for white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, how to use essential oils in your home, uses for old socks, or perhaps the right way to do something, such as clean your washing machine, clean your dishwasher, how-to or simply how to take those unorganized methods of storage and make them into innovative solutions that actually work.
20 Useful Household Hacks
Oh sure, there are all kinds of hacks and you will read about some incredible household hacks that show you how to MacGyver a plastic bag and rubber band to make a spaceship or other such nonsense, but the reality is most hacks are what we oldtimers used to call tips and tricks. Duct tape was the favorite for men everywhere, women preferred bobby pins.
My favorite household tips I have learned from professionals, such as how to care for wooden furniture, the twice a year cleaning secret for sparkling shower doors, and how to remove paint from unwanted places.
However, this post is dealing with key tips on new uses for a few common household products and bi-products: coffee filters, toilet paper rolls, plastic lotion bottles, and dryer sheets. Nearly everyone uses these common household items on a regular basis, so why not share some of the best hacks out there using these easy instructions.
Throughout history, people have looked for clever tricks and an easy way to do a task at hand with only basic products at their disposal. If it takes less time than the normal method, bonus! Here are some wonderful shortcuts, incredible hacks, and easy solutions you might really like to try using common household products you have at home:
Paper Coffee Filter
In addition to their intended purpose; filtering brewing coffee, paper coffee filters have these wonderful, originally unintended uses:
1. When potting flowers a coffee filter placed at the bottom of the flower pot will prevent the fresh dirt from falling out while allowing water overflow to still seep through the seepage holes.
2. Use a coffee filter as a splatter guard in the microwave.
3. Place a coffee filter in between pieces of good china to prevent scratches.
4. Run out of paper towels? A coffee filter is a great way to absorb cooked bacon grease.
5. Get rid of the corn silk easily from that corn on the cob with a dampened coffee filter running it down the length of the corn.
Toilet Paper Roll Tube
Every household has them. Finding creative ways to use those empty toilet paper rolls takes some imagination.
6. Save up your used toilet paper roll cardboard and donate them to your local library or school for craft purposes.
7. Cord keeper – store unused extension cords inside the old toilet paper rolls to keep them neatly folded.
8. Toilet paper rolls can be cut down the middle and used to keep rolls of gift paper neatly rolled up.
9. Rolls that are cut down the middle and or into two pieces can be used by your small animals. Pet mice and hamsters love to curl up inside them and Guinea pigs love to carry them around in their cages and gnaw on them.
10. To hold fire starters for a campfire.
Plastic Lotion Bottles
Keep those empty plastic lotion bottles out of your recycle bin, and instead reuse them for one of these great ways to re-purpose them:
11. Plastic bottles can be cut and used to store your keys and or cell phone while at the beach.
12. Removing the top and the front part of one about ¼ from the top makes a gadget and wire holder. You will have to cut one hole in the back of it so you can plug in your gadget. Once that is done, the next time you have to plug in your cellphone or iPod, simply use the premade holder. Plug it into the wall outlet, drop the gadget and its wires into the specially made holder until it recharges. No more messy wires running all over the place. This is the original post with instructions.
13. Make your own shampoo and use the old (clean) lotion bottle as a dispenser.
14. Make your own foaming hand soap and use the (old) clean lotion bottle as a dispenser.
15. Make your own homemade body wash and use the old (clean) plastic lotion bottle as a dispenser. Try this formula: Mix together a ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk with 1/3 cup liquid Castile soap. Add a few drops of essential oil for a wonderful scent!
Note: remember to clearly label the new contents when you reuse a bottle for something other than its original purpose.
Dryer Sheets
The next time you see dryer sheets on sale, stock up on them as dryer sheets have many alternative uses other than a substitute for liquid fabric softener:
16. Dryer sheets work great at keeping your drawers fresh smelling. Simply rip off a dryer sheet and place it in the drawer. A dryer sheer works the same way for smelly shoes and sneakers. Just insert a dryer sheet inside each shoe to freshen them up in between wear!
17. Dryer sheets can also be used to remove static from the body. Simply take one and rub it over a person’s hair to remove the static.
18. Cleaning mirrors and glass is a breeze when you use used dryer sheets. Use a bit of vinegar water in a spray bottle, spritz the mirror and wipe off excess water with the dryer sheet until dry. If you choose to use vinegar full strength, that should help deter your mirror from fogging up, too.
19. You can also dust with a dryer sheet as well as remove pet hair from furniture. It can be a better solution than a lint brush!
20. Wipe a dryer sheet over your computer screen to remove static.
What other household hacks do you have for these products?
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Marie says
To keep the soil from coming out of the bottom of a potted plant I use a piece of napkin or newspaper…it’s an added bonus for the plant when it decomposes.
As for the used dryer sheets, i have used them in sewing projects in place of facing (used for colors and lapels in some garments). Unused dryer sheets can be placed in a hat to repel insects (my husband is a tasty morsel).
Marie says
Oops, typo! I meant to say “collars” and not “colors”.
Murphy Day says
I save all my dryer sheets after using in a zip lock bag in the bathroom as they are amazing at cleaning the shower and tub…soap scum doesn’t stand a chance!
Summer says
Awesome tip
Gaynor says
Hey thanks for the tips. Re dryer sheets used for facing. Fantastic idea one extra tip I’d use would be to spray fabric glue on one side to stop slipping and then spray starch if using for collar and cuff
Alex says
Hi.i will certainly ntrhbthenhat for moskitos. In our home we have too many. I
Another use I give to the used dryer sheets is to secure 2 or 3 of them to my floor sweeper. My floors , wood and tiles, are shiny and clean in a fast way. Good luck.
Maria says
I put dryer lint in my empty toilet paper tubes to make handy fire starters.
If you wipe your clean mini blinds with dryer sheets it helps keep the dust and dirt off of them.
Sabina says
The empty toilet rolls are also great for growing seedlings in spring – when they have to be put in a bigger pot the roll just stays in place and you don’t risk hurting the roots of the plant 😉
Stephanie says
Dryer Sheets work great to get bug off the front of your car with out scratching the paint
Jerri says
I have been using new, wet dryer sheets to get the dried on bugs off the front of my car for about three years. Just wet the NEW dryer sheet, rub over all buggy areas on your car and let it set for a few minutes. The fabric softener in the dryer sheet loosens the bugs immediately. Then rinse and rub the loose bugs with a clean, wet rag. DONE.
Terry says
Love the ideas! I would caution those with pets…the dryer sheets if ingested can cause terrible reactions. My cat chewed on one 7 years ago, and has suffered ever since with hyperesthesia.
Mary says
What is hyperesthesia? My chihuahua lives dryer sheets, now I’m worried!
Terry says
Feline hyperesthesia is a seizure disorder which has resulted in my cat mutilating his tail. I was just warning some pet owners about the possibility of harm from dryer sheets. These are full of chemicals and not all animals react the same when eating the dryer sheets.
Rachele says
Using dryer sheets to get deodorant stains off your shirt works like a charm too 🙂
Erin says
How do you mean? Do you just rub at the stain? Clean dryer sheet? Used one?
Rachele Hoffman says
Yep just rub the stain with an unused sheet! I haven’t tried using a dirty one but it might work!
Roxanne says
I cut used dryer sheets in 4 and wrap 1 around my cotton pads to remove nail polish. It works like a scrubby and really helps the non-acetone polish remover work quicker. Dr Oz say Don’t Use Acetone!
Marie Harris says
My mom uses used dryer sheets in place of regular Swifter pads. It takes two of them, fold each one around each side of the Swifter broom (they will overlap on the bottom) and tuck each end into the slots on the top. They work even better than the regular pads that you buy for the Swifter when it comes to picking up hair off the floor and trap dirt and dust just like a Swifter pad. I love using something I would normally throw away in the place of something I would buy.
Janice says
To clean the sole plate of your iron, run a hot iron over an unused dryer sheet. It will remove any burnt on debris without scratching the metal. The dryer sheet can then be used in the dryer, and then again for any of the other suggestions mentioned above.
Jonnie says
You can dust your base boards with dryer sheets, and cut your toilet paper roll in half, then cut little slits at the bottom of each half to make them fold in, fill with soil, and put in a seed. They become excellent seed starter pots, along with cardboard egg cartons, they can be planted easily as well, once the seed has started to grow.
Tara says
These are awesome! Keep ’em coming everyone.. 😁 I love this! Who knew dryer sheets were so useful?!
Susan Majeski says
I use toilet paper rolls to keep my gloves sorted. They’re just the right size to hold a pair and I save oodles of time fishing around for a matched pair. I might tackle my sock drawer next!
Shonn says
As soon as you said gloves, I thought, “socks!” 🙂
Alex says
And my mom’s nylons. She washed them and never paired them up…this is a great idea to sort them up.
Diane says
Coffee filers are used to make wreaths – seen them on pinterest all white and then colored on the edges.
Brooke Albrecht says
Be careful with fabric softener sheets…they are extremely toxic ~not only for humans but to the Earth also, they are made with carcinogens and should be banned! They can be used to keep rodents & mosquitos away-rule of thumb if it wards off pests it shouldn’t probably be used on human bodies!
Leigh says
Except, many herbs and spices can ward off insects. For example, anything spicy can keep ants away (I use pepper and cinnamon) and lavender helps keep spiders away.
Linda says
I was hoping someone would bring this to light. All these chemicals are causing cancer and autoimmune diseases and probably lots more!
Ingrid says
Not just dryer sheets. Nail polish messes with hormones that can lead to cancer. How about all those room fresheners people spray around a room and those that are automatic.
I’ve been in someone’s house and the thing sprayed and I started couphing!
Just about everything is bad! I don’t wash clothes all day everyday. That’s the least of my worries.
Alex says
Thank you! I’m all for banning these nasty products.
Paulea Connors says
Save your lunch size applesauce containers for potpourri burners for easy wax clean up. They don’t melt so don’t worry.
CJ says
Used dryer sheets and alcohol clean dry erase boards easily with no scrubbing involved. Can reuse plastic container i.e.,wipes,or coffee creamer to store wipes in and just add a little alcohol to make wet.
Stephanie says
You can use dryer sheets when you wash your car too! Wet a dryer sheet and use on the front/grille of the car to remove all the bugs and guts and then wash as usual! Saves time not having to scrub all day!
Anne Marie says
In the UK, we are not allowed to use toilet roll tubes. We certainly cannot allow children to bring them in. When you think where they have been and the state of some houses, you really wouldn’t want to use them. I do use them at home and collect them for my grandson. But then my loo is clean!!!!!!
Susan clark says
You could microwave toilet rolls as it kills all the germs.
Debbie says
I would not put them in my microwave that I put food in that is gross
Alex says
Why not? The microwave skills everything.
Kathryn Kuskoski says
When the commode is flushed bacteria can travel as far as 6 feet away.
Marsha says
coffee filters are wonderful for cleaning mirrors and windows because they are lint free.
Zandz Mom says
Toilet paper: towel rolls: buy the 30+ pack of shower caps for washing/conditioning hair; individually place themselves in the tolls for easy retrieval
Zandz Mom says
Typos: them (not themselves) & rolls (not tolls)
Dang auto correct!
Louise Brusse says
How come almost everyone uses dryer sheets. They are full with chemicals. And the smell. Why does everything have to smell?The other day I tried to buy detergent without a smell and had a very hard time finding one. All those chemicals in our environment is not good. What is wrong with everything smelling natural.
Carly says
I never use chemicals.Instead I use natural products.Peroxide is amazing for cleaning cat litter tray.Smell is gone instantly.I also clean my toilet and countertops with it as it is non toxic.
I add baking soda to my laundry detergent to clean better,brighten and remove odours. I use flannels spritzed with essential oils as dryer sheets.and scent house with cloves and cinnamon sticks on stove then later strains for effective mouthwash.
Rachel says
All Free and Clear. My children and I have very sensitive skin and this worked great even when they were infants!.Scent free.
pam says
wish i could print all this
Kim says
That’s why I put toilet seat down when I flush itki
Tina G. says
hard, dried food in the pan you cooked in, or maybe the pan boiled nearly dry – – –
just place one or two fabric softner sheets in and add very hot water and let soak a few hours
plus. Add some dish soap and wash. Thoroughly rinse. Viola.