Life is always hectic, but you can get your home running smoothly with a few easy (and cheap!) home hacks. Need to make changes quickly? Check out these useful tips and tricks you maybe haven’t heard of
Hacks for a Cleaner House
These days, no one has time to spend cleaning the house. From keeping the kids busy to working at home and getting food on the table every night, there’s just not enough time in the day for your usual household chores. Use these easy home hacks to help you clean up quickly and effectively without the effort.
- Use lemon juice to clean stained wood. The natural acidity of lemon juice acts as a great natural stain remover, especially for wooden surfaces like cutting boards. Scrub used cutting boards with a raw lemon wedge after cooking to quickly remove stains.
- Dust with a paper coffee filter. Don’t have time to run to the store for a restock on cleaning supplies? Use a paper coffee filter to dust surfaces, from blinds to coffee tables.
- Polish wooden furniture with olive oil. Wooden furniture can become faded after years of use, but a quick rub-down with olive oil on a clean cloth will restore natural shine and nourish the wood.
Hacks for Smarter Pet Care
There’s nothing better than sharing life with a pet, but daily care is no easy task and the cost of supplies can add up quickly. Luckily, there are easy ways you keep your pet happy and healthy using things you already have laying around. No more expensive pet store visits needed!
- De-skunk a dog with hydrogen peroxide. Have an overly curious dog who couldn’t keep his nose out of a skunk’s business? Tomato juice is mom’s favorite way to get rid of the stink, but if you don’t have that on hand, a bath with hydrogen peroxide will do the trick. Scrub your pup with soapy water and hydrogen peroxide (don’t get it near sensitive areas like the eyes, nose, or mouth) to remove odors.
- Deter bugs with Vaseline. If you keep your pet’s food outside, it may attract unwanted pests like ants, flies, and other critters. Keep these pesky insects away with a thin layer of Vaseline around the sides of your pet’s bowl.
- Pick up pet hair with a dryer sheet. The downside of pet ownership is shedding. Whether you have a dog or cat, your floors, furniture, and clothes are likely always covered in fluff. If you run out of lint roller sheets and can’t make it to the store, just use a clean dryer sheet! The static electricity will pick up fluff easily and clean your furniture quickly.
Hacks for Quick First Aid
It’s a fact of life that kids are prone to accidents. Bumps and bruises are a normal part of the day for most parents, so having quick solutions on hand is a must. Use these tricks to perform simple first aid in a pinch while you’re at home.
- Treat sunburns with frozen vegetables. If your little one comes in from playing outside and has a burn, use a bag of frozen vegetables or fruit as a DIY ice pack. Be sure to wrap it in a towel or cloth beforehand, as you should never apply ice directly to the skin.
- Fix up small wounds with raw honey. Honey is naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, making it the perfect choice for a quick wound treatment. Just apply it to a cleaned scrape or cut, then cover with a bandage.
- Banish itching with banana peels. The natural oils found in banana peels moisturize and soothe itchy skin, making it the perfect treatment for bug bites, allergies, and mild rashes. Plus, you’ll get a tasty snack out of it!
Do you know any home hacks we haven’t mentioned? Share them with us!
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Featured Image Credit: Autri Taheri