101 household tips 101

I love to discover tips which make housework easier! From time-saving tricks to finding new and ingenious uses for old things, the Internet provides a wealth of information and advice.

In this post I've collected 101 visual tips from all over the web to help you save time and money in every room of your home.

by Amanda Kennedy on 03.04.13

The simplest way to slice a bunch of cherry tomatoes is to sandwich them between two plastic lids and run a long knife through all of them at once!
Via Food52.com

Keep brown sugar soft by storing with a couple of marshmallows
Via Storage and Glee

Far cheaper than having coloured keys specially cut!
Via The Chive

Install a regular coat rack low down the wall to store shoes safely of the floor
Via Destination Unknown

Repurpose a cereal canister as a trash can for the car
Via BHG.com

Deodorize sponges in the microwave. Soak in water spiked with white vinegar or lemon juice and put on fill power for one minute. Use tongs to remove as it will be hot!
Via Shine

Use a magnetic strip to store bobby pins on inside of a cupboard.
Via Superwoman

...Or store them in an empty Tic-Tac dispenser!
Via One Frugal Chick

Clean cat litter trays quickly by lining with a garbage bag.
Via DIY Tip of the Day

Use a Post-It note when drilling to catch the dust
Via Lifehacker

Organize jewellery on a corkboard for easy viewing when deciding how to accessorize an outfit
Via  Dee Gater

Repurpose an old picture frame as a serving tray
Via Camp Granma

Boil orange peel and cloves to get rid of unpleasant smells in the kitchen.
Via Heart of a Country Home

"File" clothes vertically in drawers so you can see your clothes at a glance.
Via Chasing Cheerios

Fill an old box with skewers to make an all-purpose knife block
Via The Daily What

Hang onions in cut-up tights or old stockings to make them last for months!
Via BuzzFeed

Create a thrifty watering can by puncturing holes in the top of a used milk bottle.
Via A Journey to a Dream

Use a paper plate to prevent splatters when using an electric whisk.
Via Cooking Club

Store cupcake and muffin cases in a mason jar
Via Table for Two

Remove pet hair from furniture and carpets with a squeegee.
Via Bobbenblog Lite

Cover paint trays with aluminium foil to make cleaning up afterwards a breeze.
Via OurHumbleAbowed

Place a layer of waxed paper on top of kitchen cupboards to prevent grease and dust from settling. Switch out every few months to keep them clean.
Via In This Crazy Life

Flip a toaster on its side to make grill cheese
Via YesEmails

Easily draw out a splinter for easy removal by applying a paste of baking soda and water.
Via Wikihow

Create a thrifty organiser for wrapping paper using cup hooks and painted dowel rods. This technique is also ideal for storing rolls of foil, kitchen roll and greaseproof paper on the inside of pantry doors.
Via Woman's Day

Water  straight from the tap becomes cloudy when frozen. To make ice cubes crystal clear, allow a kettle of boiled water to cool slightly and use this to fill your ice cube trays. 
Via Instructables

Use a large muffin tin to cook stuffed peppers in the oven - it will help keep them upright.
Via Better Recipes

Hang a bundle of chalk in the closet to keep everything fresh and dry. The chalk absorbs excess moisture -  a thrifty alternative to an electric dehumidifier!
Via Martha Stewart

To prevent potatoes budding, add an apple in the bag.
Via My Fridge Food

Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when hard-boiling eggs to make the shells incredibly easy to peel off.
Via Delighted Momma

Tie a sprig of eucalyptus to your shower head. The steam will help infuse your bathroom with an invigorating fragrance.
Via Apartment Therapy

Use bread tags to label power cords.
Via Apartment Therapy

Use non-stick cooking spray in votive holders to prevent wax from sticking to the sides.
Via Real Simple

WD40 can be used to remove crayon marks from any surface!
Via Real Simple

Use a tension rod and shower hooks to store saucepans inside a cupboard.
Via DIY Home Sweet Home

Make a simple laundry bag using an old pillowcase and an embroidery hoop.
Via Martha Stewart

Use a lint roller to clean the bottom of your handbag
Via Real Simple

To get rid of the musty smell on old towels, wash using 1 cup of white vinegar on a hot cycle, then repeat with 1/2 cup of bicarbonate of soda
Via Pinterest Upload

Use a fork to press garlic when there isn't a garlic crusher available.
Via Real Simple

When hanging a picture frame, put a dab of toothpaste on the frame where you need the nails to be. Then simply press against the wall to leave marks (which can later be wiped) as guides for hammering in.
Via Somewhat Simple

Put a dry towel in with a wet load to reduce the drying time (this really works, I've been doing it for years!)
Via eHow

To tell if eggs are fresh, immerse them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will lie on the bottom, while stale eggs will float to the surface. 
Via Discount Queens

Use hairspray on the end of your sewing thread to help it slide through the eye of your needle.
Via Real Simple

Sprinkle salt in the spaces between patio slabs and at the bottom of walls to get rid of pesky weeds(but be careful NOT to get salt near plants you want to keep as salt will kill them!)
Via One Good Thing

Re-purpose an old CD spindle to make a pretty small cake/biscuit holder.
Via All4Women

Clean patio stones with a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water in  a spray bottle. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse off (soiled areas may require a little scrubbing). Also helps get rid of weeds too!
Via Thrift Culture Now

To clean a wooden chopping board, sprinkle on a handful of Kosher salt and rub with half a lemon. Rinse with clean water and dry to ensure it is clean and germ-free.
Via Off the Wheaten Path

Use scrap paper to help hang an arrangement of picture frames easily. Cut templates for each frame,marking nail locations on the paper, then tack to the wall until you find the ideal arrangement. Then simply nail through the marks on the paper!
Via Centsational Girl

Use ice-cubes to lift out indentations made by furniture on your carpets.
Via North Carolina Charm

Prevent soil from escaping through the holes in the base of flowerpots by lining with large muffin cases.
Via This Old House

Place a length of masking tape along the edge of a spirit level and mark the location of nail holes for your picture frame. Then simply transfer the level to the wall to ensure you hang your pictures straight.
Via The Family Handyman

Use a toothpick to prevent tape ends from sticking back to the roll
Via Real Simple

To easily peel potatoes, boil with the skins on them immerse in cold water for 5 seconds. Then twist the potatoes between your hands and the skin will peel right off!
Via All That's Interesting

To decorate a chocolate beautifully, lay a piece of lace over the cake and sprinkle icing sugar over the top.
Via Painted by Cakes

Use toilet paper rolls to easily organise power cords
Via Clipper Girl's Saving Spot

To stop the annoying sound of a dripping tap, tie a piece of string around the faucet which is long enough to reach down to the sink.
Via Re-Nest

To sharpen scissors, simply cut through sandpaper.
Via U-Create Crafts

A very simple solution to get rid of furniture scratches!
Via Obrienkr18 (Uploaded to Pinterest)

Use rubber bands to help open a jar easily: place one around the jar lid and another around the middle of the glass. The rubber provides friction to prevent your hands from slipping.
Via Martha Stewart

To prevent your eyes watering while chopping onions, wipe the chopping board with white vinegar (which won't affect the taste of the onions)
Via Pinterest Upload

Use ketchup to remove the tarnish from copper pans. Slather  the pan with ketchup and leave for 30 minutes for the acid to break down the tarnish, then rinse clean and buff with a soft cloth.
Via Pinterest Upload

Re-purpose an unwanted Slinky to create a pretty bird feeder
Via Re-Nest

Store bed sheets inside their pillowcases for easy storage and access
Via Storage and Glee

Place a few drops of essential oil on the cardboard tube of a toilet roll to make your bathroom smell wonderful
Via Ekwetzel

Drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets into the toilet bowl at night to clean off stubborn stains.
Via Stockpiling Moms

Use baby powder to easily remove sand from your skin
Via I Heart Nap Time

Take a bunch of bananas apart to prevent them from ripening too quickly
Image via Keepon

Store cut lettuce in mason jars and refrigerate to make it last much longer
Via Salad in a Jar

Organise scarves by tying around trouser hangers to store in your wardrobe
Via Squidoo

Use cupcake cases to cover drinks glasses in the summer and prevent flies from dropping in
Via Modern Day Proverbs Wife

Line salad drawers with newspaper to absorb bad odours in the fridge
Via Babble

Use binder clips to keep stacked bottles in place in the fridge
Via In This Crazy Life

Another way to clean a chopping board is to cover liberally with Kosher salt and leave overnight. Scrape off with a cloth in the morning to find the salt has absorbed all moisture to leave your board clean and dry.
Via Joseph the Butler

Use egg boxes to store delicate Christmas tree decorations
Via Gifts that say Wow

Cut the top off a screw-top bottle and use to seal open bags.
Via Very Pinteresting

This has to be the simplest way to open those annoying blister packs!
Via Babble

Tape a laundry bag to the inside of your tumble dryer door for easy drying of sports shoes
Via Good Ideas for You

Use a cut potato to easily remove a broken lightbulb
Via Pinterest upload

Use a magazine holder to store rolls in the kitchen
Via Recreate Design Company

Use chalk to remove grease stains from clothes. Simply rub white chalk on the affected area and wash as normal - the chalk will absorb the grease and be washed away in the cycle.
Via Budget101

They look pretty too - a great tip for parties!
Via Daily Pix

Slot the stick of an ice lolly through a cupcake case to prevent drips on little fingers.
Via Good Ideas for You

Store laundry dispensers in the drawer of your washing machine so you won't forget where it is
Via Glamumous

Trouser hangers make great frugal cooking book holders!
Via Simply Frugal

Use an empty toilet roll to store hair accessories for easy access
Via Good Ideas for You

Place a wooden spoon over a pan to stop the water from boiling over
Via The Life of a Not So Ordinary Housewife

Another great use for used drinks cans!
Via Buzzfeed

Just don't press down too hard or you will squash the bread!
Via TheChive

Pin document wallets inside your pantry door to store recipes and takeaway leaflets
Via MawMawOfTwo

Towel hangers on the inside of a pantry door make great storage for awkward saucepan lids!
Via Squidoo

A genius tip to help prevent paint spillage!
Via Buzzfeed

Use a rubber band to rescue a stripped screw
Via Re Create Design

Store matches in a mason jar and add a disc of sandpaper to the lid on which to strike them.
Via The Burlap Bag

A ball of aluminium foil makes a great glassware scrubber!
Via Budget 101

Wrap rubber bands around the ends of a coat hanger to prevent dresses from slipping off.
Via Re Create Design

Yet another use for drinks can ringpulls! Use to create a hanging loop for picture frames by screwing into the back.
Via Babble

For even more storage in the kitchen, cut up a shoe holder to hang inside a cupboard door.
Via Mrs Polly Rogers

Lost the back to your favourite earring? Use a pencil eraser instead!
Via Good Ideas for You

Use a tension rod to store spray bottles in your undersink cabinet
Via Blue Velvet Chair

About this post

Most of these tips were found via Pinterest (which by the way is a great resource for discovering tips to help around the home!). Wherever possible, I've attributed the image and tip by means of links to the original site or web-page, but if you think I have made a mistake please let me know the original source and I will correct the link.