We never know when we’ll need a quick fix to brighten our homes or make our lives easier. When you don’t have the correct change to unlock a supermarket cart or need to get things sparkling clean, practical hacks can come in handy. Often, the solution is right in front of us, and it can be solved with the help of various household objects.
Use your key to unlock a shopping cart
Next time you head out to the supermarket, you won’t have to worry about not having the correct change for a shopping cart. A rounded key can be used to unlock your shopping cart instead, which is pretty handy since you’ll always have one on you. Simply put the rounded end of the key where you would normally put a coin, and it should release the cart.
To make your tulips stand straight, use a penny
If you notice that your flowers are starting to droop and look sad, put a penny in the water. The copper in the penny will quickly energize your flowers. Make sure to cut the leaves off the stems so that none of them come into contact with the water, as this can harm them.
Photograph your store point cards
Instead of carrying around a bunch of loyalty and discount cards, take a picture of them. Take a photo of the bar code on the back of the card as well as the front so you know which bar code belongs to which card. Then, at the store, scan this barcode to collect your points and discounts.
Use a toothbrush to thread your needle
Because not everyone is patient or nimble-fingered, this tip can be a true lifesaver. Simply wrap your thread around an old toothbrush and press the needle’s eye against the bristles of the brush. This will quickly bring the thread through the eye of the needle, saving you a lot of time and frustration
Use toothpaste to clean tea-stained spoons
We all have that one teaspoon that is terribly stained brown by all of the tea and coffee we stir it in. This is caused by the tannins in drinks, which are also responsible for staining our teeth. To get your spoons sparkling again, you can try scrubbing them with toothpaste, which will dissolve the tannins and bring your spoons back to life.
Add some sugar to your flowers’ water to revive them
When your flowers start to droop, pour out the old water and add fresh water with a few spoonfuls of sugar. Cut about an inch off the bottom of their stalks at an angle to increase their water intake. Over the next few hours, watch your flowers start to stand up again and come back to life.
Cut shavings into the top of a match to light it in the wind
It can be extremely irritating when the match just won’t catch, no matter how much we try to protect it from the wind. This old trick will help you to keep it lit long enough for you to use it. Simply cut little shavings around the head of the match so that they are curling downward. This will help the flame to burn brighter and protect it from blowing out so easily.
Use a mirror to tell if your bed linens are damp
A good test to see if your bed linens have been properly dried is to place a mirror under the covers and wait a few minutes to see if it steams up. If it mists up after 5-10 minutes, your linens are still damp and may be unsafe to sleep in. A damp bed can be a breeding ground for mold and fungi, which can be dangerous, especially for people who suffer from asthma or allergies.
Keep your stored seeds fresh with silica packets
You can now store your seeds without worrying about them going bad and rotting before you have a chance to plant them. Simply store your seed packets in an airtight container, such as a Tupperware box, with a silica packet inside. The silica will keep your seeds dry and, therefore, fresher for longer, preventing mildew and germination that can ruin your seeds.
