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| Pages: [1] 2 |
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Do you have any cool "Life Hacks" that have worked for you?
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Posted 1/18/17 10:05 AM  |
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mrsrainbow
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 1465 total posts
Name:
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Any cool
I love my Swiffer hack - you can reuse the cleaning solution by submerging the cap in boiling water. It will twist right off and you can keep refilling the bottle with whatever cleaning solution you want.
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:30 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
I'm cooking/kitchen obsessed so......................
My favorite is to cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice in a bowl, add a little water and thrown the lemons in, put the bowl in the microwave and cook until it boils. Then let is sit for 10-15 min and you can wipe away any gunk or messes with the wipe of a paper towel. Cleans AMAZING!!.............and the microwave smells fresh and clean.
Put a Ziploc bag inside of a tall glass, let any grease that you need to dispose of cool, and then pour it right into the Ziploc, seal, and toss. No keeping cans of fat around and no pouring fatty gunk into your drains.
Dawn Dish Soap is amazing. Pour some on ANY laundry stain, even grease and sauce, let it sit and then wash............your clothes will come out stain free and like new.
When decorating gingerbread houses with the kids, I put all of the goodies into muffin pans. Keeps everything organized and neat and I don't need 100 bowls!
Bake bacon. It's super easy clean up, you can cooks a ton at a time, and it always comes out perfect. Line the pans with tin foil so after the grease cools all you have to do it ball up the tin foil and toss..........and your pans will stay much cleaner.
When you want to freeze sauce, after it cools press a piece of plastic wrap down to "seal" the top of the sauce and then cover and freeze. It will keep your sauce from developing ice all over the top which just ends up making your sauce more watery when you defrost and reheat.
Mise en place. French for "everything in its place". Cooking is SO much easier when your have everything prepped and ready to go, kind of like when you see a chef cooking on a show. I pre-measure, dice, chop, etc everything I need for my recipe in advance so when I am cooking, I just have to "grab and add" as I go along and I don't have to waste time getting things ready along the way.
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:35 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Hofstra26
Mise en place. French for "everything in its place". Cooking is SO much easier when your have everything prepped and ready to go, kind of like when you see a chef cooking on a show. I pre-measure, dice, chop, etc everything I need for my recipe in advance so when I am cooking, I just have to "grab and add" as I go along and I don't have to waste time getting things ready along the way.
This is the only way I can bake now! It makes it SO much easier. Whenever you watch those cooking shows it's like "I could do that! It's so fast" And you can- if you prep properly!
ETA: I have to try the Dawn dish soap and the lemons in the microwave. DH SUCKS at cleaning out the microwave and he's really the only one to use it. So it looks like crap.
Message edited 1/18/2017 10:44:42 AM.
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:44 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Hofstra26
Mise en place. French for "everything in its place". Cooking is SO much easier when your have everything prepped and ready to go, kind of like when you see a chef cooking on a show. I pre-measure, dice, chop, etc everything I need for my recipe in advance so when I am cooking, I just have to "grab and add" as I go along and I don't have to waste time getting things ready along the way.
I need to start doing this more.
On Saturday I was cooking something and I was getting stressed out because the sauce was boiling and I had to add stuff, but I had nothing prepped and I was chopping garlic, measuring out spices, etc- all while trying not to let the bottom of the pan burn.
My kitchen looked like it had exploded- cabinets open, stuff everywhere.
After that I said- why am I not prepping all the ingredients ahead of time so it's less stressful?
Dumb of me!
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:46 AM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Hofstra26
Put a Ziploc bag inside of a tall glass, let any grease that you need to dispose of cool, and then pour it right into the Ziploc, seal, and toss. No keeping cans of fat around and no pouring fatty gunk into your drains.
This is awesome! Thanks!
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:51 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Any cool
I use a plastic cutlery tray in my bathroom drawers to hold toothpaste, toothbrushes and flossers in one. Then brushes, combs, hair ties, etc. in another. Then I have one in the medical drawer with thermometer,first aid stuff. Keeps it all organized! Plus easy to wash, and toothpaste isn't getting all over my drawer! Best part is, they are $1 at Dollar Tree (white only)
Message edited 1/18/2017 11:06:23 AM.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:06 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
I also hung a shoe organizer on the inside of my linen closet door, and that is where the bathroom cleaning supplies, etc. go
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:07 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
I have a whiteboard calendar near the front door. Great place to put important activities, shopping lists, to-do list, etc.
I have a Google Calendar and on-line lists, but having the whiteboard is a great place to put stuff temporarily, especially as we're just entering or leaving the house.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:16 AM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by BargainMama
I also hung a shoe organizer on the inside of my linen closet door, and that is where the bathroom cleaning supplies, etc. go
I have one in my coat closet. I keep plastic bags in the top row, sunscreen and bug spray below that, then each of us have a slot foror hat and gloves, and my girls' fleeces go in the bottom bc I can't stand hanging them. So easy.
Also cereal boxes make great magazine holders. Just cut them to shape and use them for anything. I use them to organize coloring books and other craft stuff. I also keep two in my kitchen cabinet. One for Tupperware lids and one for Pyrex lids. Takes little space and keeps them all organized.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:22 AM |
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Pomegranate5
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 4798 total posts
Name:
Pomegranate5
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Hofstra26
I'm cooking/kitchen obsessed so......................
My favorite is to cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice in a bowl, add a little water and thrown the lemons in, put the bowl in the microwave and cook until it boils. Then let is sit for 10-15 min and you can wipe away any gunk or messes with the wipe of a paper towel. Cleans AMAZING!!.............and the microwave smells fresh and clean.
Put a Ziploc bag inside of a tall glass, let any grease that you need to dispose of cool, and then pour it right into the Ziploc, seal, and toss. No keeping cans of fat around and no pouring fatty gunk into your drains.
Dawn Dish Soap is amazing. Pour some on ANY laundry stain, even grease and sauce, let it sit and then wash............your clothes will come out stain free and like new.
When decorating gingerbread houses with the kids, I put all of the goodies into muffin pans. Keeps everything organized and neat and I don't need 100 bowls!
Bake bacon. It's super easy clean up, you can cooks a ton at a time, and it always comes out perfect. Line the pans with tin foil so after the grease cools all you have to do it ball up the tin foil and toss..........and your pans will stay much cleaner.
When you want to freeze sauce, after it cools press a piece of plastic wrap down to "seal" the top of the sauce and then cover and freeze. It will keep your sauce from developing ice all over the top which just ends up making your sauce more watery when you defrost and reheat.
Mise en place. French for "everything in its place". Cooking is SO much easier when your have everything prepped and ready to go, kind of like when you see a chef cooking on a show. I pre-measure, dice, chop, etc everything I need for my recipe in advance so when I am cooking, I just have to "grab and add" as I go along and I don't have to waste time getting things ready along the way.
These are amazing! Thank you!
I just recently started baking bacon and it is so easy and mess free.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:22 AM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Hofstra26
Dawn Dish Soap is amazing. Pour some on ANY laundry stain, even grease and sauce, let it sit and then wash............your clothes will come out stain free and like new.
Along these lines, I keep Murphy's Oil Soap (the pourable liquid, not the spray) in my laundry room. I pre-treat grease based stains with it, and will add to my load when necessary. Oil-based soaps get out oil-based stains.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:30 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by pharmcat2000
Posted by Hofstra26
Dawn Dish Soap is amazing. Pour some on ANY laundry stain, even grease and sauce, let it sit and then wash............your clothes will come out stain free and like new.
Along these lines, I keep Murphy's Oil Soap (the pourable liquid, not the spray) in my laundry room. I pre-treat grease based stains with it, and will add to my load when necessary. Oil-based soaps get out oil-based stains.
Yes, we use Lestoil for grease stains and it works great.
But it stinks!
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:33 AM |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
I use the Swiffer with a microfiber pad dipped in warm water and vinegar to wash my windows.
Much easier to clean the casement windows without having to stretch to far. Works great on the picture windows too.
Warm water and baking soda is the greatest cleaning combo ever.
Makes stainless steel sinks sparkle without scratching, cleans stovetops and grates too.
Put a paste on baked on food in a warm oven, let sit for a while, then sponge off. Follow with lemon water to freshen.
Removes soap scum from tiles and glass shower doors without scratching.
Those old fashioned rubber finger tips - slipped on top of broom / mop / sweeper handles keeps them from slipping when propped up against a wall.
Binder clips make great chip / cracker / cookie bag closures and cable keepers.
I have magnetic picture sleeves, panoramic size, on my fridge to keep papers, business cards, stuff, without having to use a ton of magnets.
Stuff doesn't fall off this way.
Message edited 1/18/2017 11:48:05 AM.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:46 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by Pomegranate5
Posted by Hofstra26
I'm cooking/kitchen obsessed so......................
My favorite is to cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice in a bowl, add a little water and thrown the lemons in, put the bowl in the microwave and cook until it boils. Then let is sit for 10-15 min and you can wipe away any gunk or messes with the wipe of a paper towel. Cleans AMAZING!!.............and the microwave smells fresh and clean.
Put a Ziploc bag inside of a tall glass, let any grease that you need to dispose of cool, and then pour it right into the Ziploc, seal, and toss. No keeping cans of fat around and no pouring fatty gunk into your drains.
Dawn Dish Soap is amazing. Pour some on ANY laundry stain, even grease and sauce, let it sit and then wash............your clothes will come out stain free and like new.
When decorating gingerbread houses with the kids, I put all of the goodies into muffin pans. Keeps everything organized and neat and I don't need 100 bowls!
Bake bacon. It's super easy clean up, you can cooks a ton at a time, and it always comes out perfect. Line the pans with tin foil so after the grease cools all you have to do it ball up the tin foil and toss..........and your pans will stay much cleaner.
When you want to freeze sauce, after it cools press a piece of plastic wrap down to "seal" the top of the sauce and then cover and freeze. It will keep your sauce from developing ice all over the top which just ends up making your sauce more watery when you defrost and reheat.
Mise en place. French for "everything in its place". Cooking is SO much easier when your have everything prepped and ready to go, kind of like when you see a chef cooking on a show. I pre-measure, dice, chop, etc everything I need for my recipe in advance so when I am cooking, I just have to "grab and add" as I go along and I don't have to waste time getting things ready along the way.
These are amazing! Thank you!
I just recently started baking bacon and it is so easy and mess free.
You're welcome. 
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| Posted 1/18/17 12:18 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
|
Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
There is a show on Tru TV called Hack my Life that has some cool hacks. (and is pretty funny too).
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| Posted 1/18/17 12:19 PM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by NervousNell
There is a show on Tru TV called Hack my Life that has some cool hacks. (and is pretty funny too).
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| Posted 1/18/17 12:19 PM |
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gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Plastic placemats in my fridge. Something leaks/spills. Easy to clean up
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| Posted 1/18/17 1:04 PM |
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Jennifer
Happy
Member since 5/05 4230 total posts
Name:
.
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
When we were in New Jersey the gas attendant noticed we had sap on the car. He told us to use hand sanitizer to get it off.
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| Posted 1/18/17 1:08 PM |
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gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Pillowcases also clean ceiling fans great!
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| Posted 1/18/17 1:08 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
If you have cooked on residue on glass or aluminum pots, pans or baking dishes, take a small wad of aluminum foil and ball it up. A little water and the aluminium foil takes off all the cooked on gunk fast and easy. No ruining your finger nails trying to scrape stuff off.
I use a cardboard milk box from Costco to hold paper bags under my sink. It keeps them neat and you don't collect to many.
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| Posted 1/18/17 1:33 PM |
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gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
I also clean my grout with bleach for the toliet. Leave it on for 30 min. Then wipe off
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| Posted 1/18/17 2:03 PM |
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jlm2008
LIF Adult
Member since 1/10 5092 total posts
Name:
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Any cool
Tension rod in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I hang all my cleaning solutions, i.e. windex, fantastic, etc on it. Saves so much room.
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| Posted 1/18/17 10:15 PM |
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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
* i have two brooms in the house. one for sweeping and the other for scrubbing the bathtub. this way i don't have to get on my knees to scrub the tub.
* if you sew/piece... like for a quilt, and you want to make sure to keep your 1/4" seem (or any other length). using double-sided tape, secure an old gift card or cc to the surface of your sewing machine at the proper distance. the height of the side of the plastic card gives you a little bumper for your fabric.
* if you have a chest freezer, place a closed container with ice cubes in it. if the power goes out and you aren't sure how long the power was out (ie, not sure if the food thawed and then re-froze)... if the ice cubes are still cubes or a version thereof, it wasn't too long. but if the cubes are now one big bloc that means that they melted and then re-froze.
* keep a container with old, stained, ripped clothes... things your kids have outgrown but you just wouldn't give to someone as a hand-me-down, or those magical socks that are partnerless. this way, when you have a yucky mess to clean up you can just use an item from this stash and throw it away.
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| Posted 1/18/17 11:10 PM |
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hope123
LIF Adult
Member since 2/08 1097 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any cool "Life Hacks"?
Posted by LSP2005
If you have cooked on residue on glass or aluminum pots, pans or baking dishes, take a small wad of aluminum foil and ball it up. A little water and the aluminium foil takes off all the cooked on gunk fast and easy. No ruining your finger nails trying to scrape stuff off.
I use a cardboard milk box from Costco to hold paper bags under my sink. It keeps them neat and you don't collect to many.
I tried the aluminum foil with water on my glass stove top and it worked great. Can't wait to try it on pots. Thanks!
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| Posted 1/19/17 4:18 PM |
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