Wiping washed dishes with a towel

Even visually clean kitchen towels may have germs on them, and there will be a lot of fibers that get transferred onto the plates. A simpler and cleaner way is just to let the dishes dry on their own.

Another pointless task is washing the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. All you have to do is remove the pieces of food from the plates.

Cleaning the seams between tiles

Walking around the house with a toothbrush to clean the seams between tiles is pointless. Before cleaning, they were evenly dirty and looked somewhat normal. But what happens if you clean them? Some of them will be perfectly clean and others will remain dark. The hardly noticeable defects will now be obvious. Besides, you’ll spend a lot of time doing this and will get really tired.

Instead, it’s better to cover the seams with a sealant once a year or to rub a candle on the seams.

Carefully folding your underwear

Thin underwear is easily damaged, so it’s better to fold it carefully and keep it separate from other things, but regular underwear can just get thrown into the drawer.

Washing the kitchen stove and oven after every use

Fresh spots and stains are easily removed with a wet cloth. It’s enough to wash the surface with a detergent once a week and the grills inside the oven, once a month. Aggressive cleaning agents can ruin the surfaces, so it’s better not to use them at all.

You can wash the oven just 3 to 4 times a year since the food doesn’t come into contact with the surfaces and the high temperature destroys most of the bacteria. You can also put tin foil around the inner surface of the oven to avoid having to clean the grease more often.

Polishing wooden furniture often

Experts say that only furniture that’s already been covered with oil and wax should be continually covered with these elements. Most of the time, this is for antique furniture and expensive designer furniture. On all other types of furniture, there’s a certain finish coat that gets removed by cleaning it often. The surface gets dirty and duller faster.

Polishing agents can be applied twice a year. The rest of the time, just wipe the surface with a wet cloth and remove any stains instead of cleaning the entire piece.

Regularly vacuuming and washing the floors in the entire house

To keep your home clean, all you have to do is vacuum and mop the floors once a week and clean some localized dirt right away. For example, if you have one stain on the floor, you can remove it with a cloth instead of mopping the entire room.

It is pointless to vacuum the carpet under the table or mop the floor in an empty room all the time. The dust needs enough time to get there. If you don’t visit some rooms, you can clean them 1-2 times a month. But if you have small children or pets, you’ll have to do it more often.

Washing all your food

If a pack of celery says that it’s ready to be eaten, you don’t have to wash every little piece. The washing won’t make the food cleaner, but there’s a big chance of “infecting” them with pathogens from the sink and other surfaces.

There’s no need to wash meat. Water won’t help battle germs and bacteria — you need a high temperature while cooking to do that.

It’s better to just wipe mushrooms with a dry paper towel. Washing them makes them go bad faster, and the taste can become compromised.

 Ironing bed sheets and clothes often

Just imagine how much easier your life would become if you bought things made of materials that didn’t need to be ironed, like denim, spandex, wool, cashmere, and lyocell. There are also so-called “permanent press” materials.

But even if you’re using a fabric that needs ironing, you can still avoid doing it. You can hang wet clothes on hangers or roll dry laundry.

Manually washing dirty surfaces

To finish cleaning faster, we put detergents on surfaces and start cleaning the dirt. But if you give the detergent more time, you won’t have to clean that hard. That’s what professional cleaners do in hotels and in restaurants.

More serious stains on clothes require the same approach: you should soak them in detergent and put the pieces into the washing machine. It will save you lots of time and effort.

Cleaning coffee makers and teapots very thoroughly

Experts believe that coffee leftovers on the inside of the coffee machine make the drink taste better, and many coffee fans agree. The same is true for tea — the taste becomes better. Just wash the appliances with water but don’t use any cleaning agents.

Peeling all the vegetables before cooking

The skin contains a lot of fiber, antioxidants, and other useful elements that we just throw into the bin along with the money we paid and the time we spent on peeling.

Try not to peel potatoes, carrots, zucchinis, and other vegetables with soft skin unless you’re making a mashed dish. This way, you can save time and discover a new taste in the foods you’re used to. The exception will be vegetables with thick skin, like pumpkin or celery.

Have you ever counted the number of hours you spend cooking, cleaning, ironing, and doing other house chores?

1. Cozy Bedroom Using Blankets and Soft Textures

A variety of textures and snuggly blankets work together to transform this small bedroom into a comfortable retreat. You can achieve this snug look by adding some soft blankets and cushy pillows to your existing decor. Candles magnify the coziness.

2. Breezy Bohemian Black And White Bedroom

The white bedspread contrasts against the black accent wall to really open up the room. Layered black and white pillows add some dimension. Sleek, mid-century modern end tables offer visual simplicity. Incorporate plants to breathe life into your space.

3. Long & Narrow Bedroom Flooded with Natural Light

A large, east-facing window lets in plenty of natural light to help this tiny bedroom feel roomy. The black rail headboard allows the light to flow through while light colors give the illusion of a much larger room.

4. Small Bedroom with Natural Light & Pink Pops

Use symmetry, natural light, and simple nightstands to make your bedroom feel larger. A low table at the footboard emphasizes the room’s width. Do not forget to add some personality like some fun pink accents to your space!

5. Small Basement Bedroom with Lots of Character

Light-colored walls, comforter, and decoration help this bedroom look a lot bigger than it is. Dark furniture grounds the space and provides some contrast. Oversized pom-poms on the blanket add some playful character and make the space seem bigger.

6. Add Farmhouse Character with a Vintage Headboard

Using an old door, you can upgrade your small bedroom. Not only does this project make your room seem bigger, but it is also a great story. Spice it up with lights and a paint color that reflects your personality.

7. Industrial Bedroom in Geometric and Mustard

Simple colors paired with geometric shapes help give this bedroom a spacious feel. Upgrading your bed frame to the black railing and adding some small geometric triangles are the first steps. Floating crate shelves and accent color are next.

8. Small Bedroom Sophistication: Tufted Bench Project

Additional seating can be difficult to arrange in a small bedroom — chairs can take up too much room. This project to make a tufted bench makes finding additional seating effortless. Tie the bench in with coordinating pillows and a quilt.

9. Nautical Bedroom in Navy and Damask

Gray paint matched with a navy bedspread and white accents combine to make this bedroom seem quite airy. A hand-painted wooden sign and damask curtains add a lot of personality and emphasize the nautical feel. A barn door saves space.

10. Eclectic Wonderland Refresh in Whites and Grays

Express your style with decor that tells your story. Go shopping around your home to find some new decorations that will refresh your space. Small decorations keep the room feeling big, and coordinating turquoise accents tie it all together.

11. Simple Dark Colors with Fluffy Pillows

Usually, choosing light colors keeps a room feeling spacious. However, this bedroom with dark blue with white accents shows that it is possible to approach the small bedroom problem in other ways. Use some fluffy pillows to add some character!

12. Colorful Wall-Sized Curtain to Hide Eyesores

Would you believe that behind this colorful curtain are some unsightly vertical blinds and an air conditioning unit? Lightweight curtains extending from wall to wall are actually an easy and inexpensive way to add lots of colors while hiding the unsightly.

13. Hide Off-Center Windows with Curtains

Symmetrical style can easily be shaken by pesky, off-center windows. With a smidgeon of measuring and math, you can conquer the off-center window problem with a single upgrade. Use the right curtains for your space, and you will be unstoppable!

14. Bright Bedroom in Blue and White

Painting your walls white can work wonders when trying to make a tiny bedroom seem more spacious. Adding cool blues as accents will help keep the bedroom feel like a tranquil oasis. Dark wood furniture adds some much-needed warmth.

15. Wallpaper Focal Point Project

Adding a focal point not only adds flow but helps a room feel spacious. While this wallpaper is mid-century modern, you could use any wallpaper that fits your decor. Imagine using this technique on other furniture like bookshelves or nightstands!

If your child can walk, they can do some simple, age-appropriate chores. Yep, even toddlers.

The earlier you start having your kids do chores, the sooner they’ll be good at it.

How to Get Kids to Do Chores

Before you start assigning jobs around the house, there are a few things to consider.

After all, they’re just kids!

Don’t insist on perfection

It’s okay if the task isn’t done exactly how you’d do it.

If you find yourself re-doing the chore, or criticizing how it was done, your son or daughter will lose enthusiasm quickly.

They will get better at it in time.

Just try to embrace the fact that you didn’t have to do it yourself!

Be consistent

If your kids aren’t being as cooperative as you’d like, be consistent with the consequences until it becomes a habit.

You know your child best, so brainstorm ways to motivate them.

Some kids respond better to positive rewards (like earning allowance or screen time), and others are motivated to avoid punishment.

Let them help decide

We all have different personalities, with tasks we enjoy more than others.

Children are the same!

Make a list of age-appropriate chores, and let your child decide which they’re willing to do.

That’s not to say that they can’t also have regular daily tasks that are non-negotiable. But for weekly chores, having their input means they’ll be more willing to contribute.

Kids need to feel like they’ve been heard. Not like they’re living in a dictatorship.

Give them praise

Giving compliments and praise (when earned) is an excellent way to get anyone to do anything!

It makes them feel valued and proud of their effort.

Praise your child’s efforts if they’ve done a particularly good job, or took on more responsibility than asked.

This is a lesson within a lesson – it also teaches your child to offer praise to others when they’re inspired or impressed.

Give specific directions

It’s important to remember that your child has probably never done that task before.

The more specific you can be, the better.

Walk him or her through the chore one little step at a time for the first few tries.

Use simple language that they’ll understand.

Easy, Age-appropriate Chores for Kids

1. Laundry

There are actually plenty of laundry tasks that kids can do.

With the exception of operating the washer and dryer, it’s one of the easiest tasks to start kids with.

Even very young children can:

• Sort dark and light clothing
• Fold towels, washcloths, and small clothes
• Match socks
• Put their laundry away
• Unload the dryer

2. Clear the dinner table

In an effort to teach your kids to clean up after themselves, have them clear the table after dinner.

If they’re really young, start by having them bring their own plastic dishes to the sink or the counter.

They can also help wipe down the table after all the dishes have been cleared.

3. Set the table

Most kids really like helping to set the table for some reason.

Start them on the non-sharp, non-breakable items, and grow from there.

4. Pick up after themselves

It’s never too early for your children the adage “Don’t put it down, put it away.”

When they’re done playing with a toy, reading a book, or wearing an outfit, teach them the next step: Put it away.

At the very least, have them tidy the areas where they’ve left a mess.

Before meals, outdoor play, at bedtime, or when leaving the house are all good times to incorporate this routine.

5. Make their bed

Even very young children can learn how to straighten out their sheets, or at least pull the comforter up.

Add it right into their morning routine: Brush teeth and hair, get dressed and make the bed.

6. Choose an outfit for the next day

To avoid fights in the morning, try having your child choose his or her own outfit for the next day.

Anytime kids feel like they got to make the decision, they’re far more willing to cooperate.

If you’re going somewhere that requires a certain type of clothes (such as a church), give them some guidelines. Or specific options to choose from, at the very least.

7. Small kitchen tasks

It will serve your children well as adults if they know their way around the kitchen.

And since they eat food, there’s really no reason why they can’t pitch in!

Here are some ways kids can help in the kitchen:

• Put away groceries
• Wash produce
• Simple meal prep (with a plastic knife when appropriate)
• Help clean out the fridge
• Sweep the floor

8. Dry mop floors

Have your child push a dry mop around the hard-surface flooring of your home.

They’ll think it’s a fun game, and it will help pick up dust, pet hair, and fine dirt and crumbs.

9. Empty or load dishwasher

A routine daily task like putting away dishes is a great habit to instill when your child is young.

That way, by the time they’re 6 years old or so, they can take the job completely off your hands.

Start with unloading clean dishes, and eventually teach him or her to rinse and load the dishwasher.

Depending on the age of your child, you may need to handle the sharp knives and breakable dishes first.

10. Feed pets

Helping to take care of the household pets is SUCH a great way to teach young children responsibility, and how to care for another creature.

Using a measuring cup, your young child can pour dry food into a dish.

Then add on more detailed pet care tasks as they get older.

As you can see, assigning some simple household tasks to your children will really serve them (and you!) well in the long run. They’ll have a head start on being self-reliant when they leave your home and venture out on their own.

You keep it around way too long

Is the sponge by your kitchen sink more than a week old? Yikes. It’s best to toss sponges after about a week of use. Keep one around longer and it’s bound to be teeming with bacteria—and smelling up your kitchen.

You leave it in the sink

After scrubbing a batch of grimy dishes, it’s tempting to toss your sponge in the sink and forget about it until your next dishwashing session. However, no matter how carefully you wash your dinnerware, your sink is a haven for bacteria—and leaving your sponge in a germ-filled environment is a bad idea. Sponges are less likely to dry properly if left in a damp, moist sink environment—making it a perfect breeding ground for even more germs.

You use it for everything

Avoid using your kitchen sponge to sop up every little spill. The more surfaces you touch with your sponge, the more likely it is to become contaminated. Keep your sponge away from meat juices, and use paper towels for those types of messes.

You stick it in the microwave

Many online outlets have touted this trick for banishing germs (guilty!), and while it does work on some pathogens, the ones that survive being nuked are bigger, badder, and more likely to make you sick. Skip this tip and replace your filthy sponge instead.

You run it through the dishwasher

Like the microwave, the high heat of the dishwasher only serves to leave behind superbugs that multiply to recolonize your trusty sponge. When you start to feel like it’s time for a run through a cycle, resist the urge and toss the nasty sponge instead.

You don’t clean it between uses

If you sop up messes and wipe down counters with your sponge, then leave it by the sink without so much as a rinse, you’re encouraging bacterial growth. Give it a quick cleanup now and again; experts suggest cleaning sponges between uses with diluted bleach.

You use whole sponges to clean

If throwing away a sponge every week sounds wasteful, but you’re not ready to part ways with your favorite cleaning tool, try slicing your sponge in half as soon as you pull it out of the package and before you put it to work. Half of a sponge handles most cleaning tasks as effectively as a whole one, and helps you stretch your dollar further.

You don’t squeeze it out

When you’re done washing dishes or wiping down surfaces with your kitchen sponge, be sure to wring it out completely. A wrung-out sponge will dry quicker than a sopping wet one, and a drier sponge equals a cleaner sponge.

You use a sponge when you should be using paper towels

Some tasks are better suited for paper towels. Cleaning up meat juices, for instance, is best left to absorbent paper towels. Instead of potentially contaminating other surfaces—like your sink—with a sponge coated in raw chicken juices, you can simply toss the soiled paper towels when you finish tidying the meal prep area.

source: bobvila

My mom was raised during the Great Depression, which had a big impact on the way she makes, uses, and disposes of things. She’s always been very resourceful, preferring to make things from scratch instead of buying them at a store, a trait I’ve always admired.

Additionally, she has always been vocal about the importance of “using things up,” aiming to use everything until it is either completely gone or completely beyond repair. And finally, she has always hated throwing things out, and will go to great lengths to give something away or donate it to avoid waste.

 Cereal Liner Bags

• Make a piping bag for frosting. Rinse and dry the bag, then scoop frosting into one of the bottom corners. Snip the corner off with a pair of scissors, then pipe!
• Cut the bag into small squares, and use the squares to keep burger patties separated in a stack. Stacking up the patties like this is an easy way to save space in your fridge or freezer!
• Use the bags to wrap up homemade bread, rolls, and buns before storing them in your freezer.
• Use the bag to store leftovers or to portion out other foods. Seal it with a Foodsaver or other vacuum sealer to keep it fresh.
• Use a cereal liner bag to crush up crackers, cereal, nuts and more without making a mess. Cereal liner bags are thicker than regular ziplock bags, which makes it less likely that any sharp bits will tear through it.

Mesh Produce Bags

• Use a mesh produce bag as a yarn holder. Place your yarn inside the bag, thread the end through one of the holes, then pull it through.
• Use it as a scrubber for cleaning jobs around the house. Just wad it up and use it to scrub dishes, countertops, and more!
• Stretch the mesh bag over an old picture frame, staple it in place, and use it as an organizer for your earring collection.

Glass Jars

• Keep any empty glass jars you use, wash them out, and remove the labels. They make great flower vases that you can use around the house!
• Use an empty glass jar to collect cooking grease. It’s not good to put it down your sink! Just collect it a little at a time, and then when the jar is full, you can just toss it in the trash.
• Use an empty jar to make a beautiful water candle. These will look great around the house, or as decor for your dinner table!

Disposable Razors

• When your disposable razor gets too dull for shaving, you can still use it to remove pills from sweaters! You can also use it to remove pills from hats, scarves, t-shirts, and more.

Egg Cartons

• Keep any of those clear plastic egg cartons. They make the perfect packaging for mini cupcakes and muffins!
• If any of your friends or family have chickens, ask if they’d like your old egg cartons. They could usually use the extras! (And who knows, you might get a few fresh eggs for your efforts!)
• Paper egg cartons can be split up and used as seed sprouting containers. Once the seedlings get big enough to plant, just wet down the whole egg carton cup and plant it right in the ground. The soggy paper will break down over time in the dirt.
• Use an old egg carton to organize and protect small Christmas ornaments.
• You can also use an egg carton to organize other small stuff. Use one for jewelry, beads, office supplies, buttons, nuts and bolts, and more!

Tissue Boxes

• Use an empty tissue box to store your plastic grocery bags. And there’s even a way to make them pop up just like tissues! Slide the bottom of each bag into the handles of the next bag, then insert them all into the box.
• Use an empty tissue box as a tiny trash receptacle on your desk. You can also place one in the living room as a handy place for discarded treat wrappers.
• Cut the tops off a few old tissue boxes and use them as drawer dividers. They can help keep smaller stuff more organized instead of rolling around in your drawer.
• Use an old tissue box as a small trash receptacle for your bathroom counters. It’s the perfect place to toss out cotton swabs, cotton pads, and other single-use cosmetic items.
• Use a tissue box as a trash receptacle in your car! You can either toss it out when it’s full, or empty it and reuse it again.

Newspaper

• If you park outside in the winter, you can use old newspaper to prevent ice from forming on your windows. Just lay a few pieces of newspaper over your windshield at night.
• Newspaper is surprisingly good at absorbing odors! Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper in shoes, a diaper bag, or even your fridge to help eliminate yucky smells.
• Use old newspaper as packing material when moving, or to protect a package you’re shipping.
• Use newspaper as a paper towel when cleaning glass and mirrors! Newspaper won’t leave behind any fibers or residue, just a streak-free shine!

Tin Foil

You can use tin foil to soften rock-hard brown sugar, shine silver, and more! Check out 15 amazing uses for tin foil at the link below.

Cardboard Tubes

Don’t toss out the tubes from toilet paper and paper towel rolls! Use them to keep pants crease-free, make fire-starters, and organize extra cables. Check out 10 smart ways to use cardboard tubes at the link below!

Paper Bags

And finally, don’t toss out paper bags either. Use them to ripen fruit faster, make homemade popcorn, serve snacks, and more! Check out 9 useful things you can do with paper bags at the link below.

 

Towel Bar For Lids Storage

Kitchen organization gives your kitchen space and room to have everything you need fit in it. Your cabinets don’t have to be excessively packed. You need to install a towel bar near your pots and pans to store lids without having them get lost in the shuffle. This bar can be installed next to a drawer or cabinet. Don’t they just look easy to retrieve and safe from breakage?

Pot and Pan Holder From Towel Bars

An easy way to save kitchen space and to decorate it at the same time is to hang your pots and pans from a towel bar. This gets you a lot of storage room and beautifies your kitchen with lovely pottery wear. You can have one or two bars depending on the number of pots and pans that you have.

Hanger for Cups and Mugs

Coffee lovers are going to love this a whole lot more. You can display your super collection of coffee mugs and your k-cups. Now you’ll have your very own coffee station in your kitchen with your coffee maker and coffee supplies. Family and friends streaming in the kitchen can prepare their coffee as they check out how organized your space is.

Charging Station Using Towel Bar

Use a towel bar or IKEA’s Fin torp system (affiliate) to make a designated charging station for your devices. All you’ll need is a phone basket and the bar placed next to a  socket. Your devices are safer as they won’t be susceptible to falls or the cables being hazardous to your playful kids.

Bars as Kitchen Towel Hangers

You can add a towel bar to that fake drawer in your kitchen to hang your dishtowels from. This is so handy during holiday baking and dish-washing. Plus it’s not a drawer that was useful anyway. So there’s no loss at all. Your favorite kitchen towels can get a spot of their own now.

Yoga Mats Storage

Yoga can’t get any more interesting than this. Especially when you can have a storage corner for your yoga mats. Use a towel rack to store your mats. What a great space saver for your small home gym! To add more fun to this installation activity you can spray paint the bars to add aesthetics to them. This is motivation enough to wake up and have your morning exercise routine.

Toiletries Storage Hack From Towel Bars

Even if towel bars are known mostly for the toilet, they could be used in a unique way. All your body products and hair products don’t have to lie on the floor or in closed cabinets. You could have them in one place at the same time and use them after using the washroom. Create a storage area above the toilet with hanging wire baskets on towel bars to corral all your toiletries. Now you have more space to move around and utilize.

Gift-Wrapping Material Holder

Wrappers can easily get messy once they unravel and thus be a pain in the neck. To avoid this create a vertical system for storing and organizing your gift wrap behind the door by using a couple of towel bars. It’s totally out of the way and won’t clutter up your closets! This keeps them intact and saves on space. More to the wrappers you can have baskets for your scissors, pens, notepads, and ribbons that come in hand while wrapping a gift.

Chopping Boards Holder

Nothing makes work in the kitchen easier than chopping boards. They are that one thing that your kitchen shouldn’t miss. How easy you retrieve them when about to chop your onions makes the whole difference. You don’t have to place them inside a drawer that has your every other cutlery and utensil.  Creatively hang your chopping boards on a towel bar installed on the end of your island or kitchen counter.

Laundry-Room Drying Bar as a Towel Bar Hack

There are clothes such as cotton shirts that can’t be dried in a drier coz of their tendency to shrink. Thus they need to be air-dried separately and this warrants a drying area for them. Unlike the traditional drying rack, a towel bar creates more space for lots of shirts. So put up a towel bar in the laundry room (under a shelf) to hang items that can’t be dried in a drier. In addition to this task, the bars can be used to hang already ironed clothes when ironing after a laundry day.

Scarves Organized On a Towel Holder

Women’s scarf organization problems get solved with this genius hack. With just a towel bar and shower curtain rings a magic formula for successfully organizing a ton of scarves is devised. Your head scarfs and winter scarfs are all neatly arranged and ready for use whenever the need arises. My favorite scarves will definitely take the first bar. No debate about this.

Towel Bar as a Gardening Tools Organizer

Gardeners in the house, this is your cue to get your spaces neat and easy to navigate. To maximize the space in your tool shed, hang your gardening tools using a bath towel rod. Whatever tool is needed can now be picked easily without having to waste time looking for it.

 Towel Bar Organization Hack For Jewelry

Ladies rush over here. Don’t make a mess of your bedside or dressing drawers by placing your necklace, loops, and bangles anyhow.  Use a towel bar and shower curtain hooks to hang all your jewelry. Before discovering this easy DIY craft I would struggle to untangle my neckpieces whenever I wanted to use them. It was so frustrating that some would end up breaking from their whole pieces. I no longer get frustrating mornings since I installed this Towel Bar Jewelry Hanger. Life is enjoyable and I can beautifully be adorned in my pieces.

 Craft Supplies Towel Bar Organizer

Art is magnificent and so much relaxation for me and my kids. Every now and then do crafts and paint as a bonding activity. Almost all the time things get messy and everything is thrown everywhere. I came across this DIY idea which has helped me hang pails and baskets from a towel bar to organize my craft supplies and my kids are getting the hang of placing things where they ought to be. You could also do the same and create more space for yourself and have an organized home.

DIY Mudroom From Towel Rods

Do you have kids and are in the midst of the spring season where the rains are an almost daily thing? Here’s a simple idea for the mudroom. All you need are towel bars and s-hooks to hang backpacks, jackets, raincoats, and more. How genius of an idea! The rest of the house doesn’t get dirty with a mudroom in place. And you only need cheap tools to be able to create one.

Cleaning Supplies Hanger

Install a towel bar just behind your cabinet door in the washing area or in the washroom. Use this door rack to hang your cleaning supplies under the sink. You could hang two or more spray bottles and retrieve them easily during wash or cleaning time. The hack is an easy one to come up with and serves to help from spillage of cleaning liquids and saving on space as well. Your general cleaning days don’t have to be hectic when you know where every supply of yours is stored.

1. Air Vents

As the hot weather approaches, your air conditioner will soon be humming along every day. Now is the perfect time to clean any dusty air vents in your home. Use your vacuum’s brush attachment to get rid of dust. For extra grimy vents, unscrew them from the wall or floor, then wash in the sink with hot, soapy water.

2. Clothing Closets

As you put away winter clothes and bring warm-weather clothes out of storage, take this opportunity to clean your closets from top to bottom. Set aside unworn clothing to donate, wipe down dusty walls, and mop the floor.

3. Grill

Summer means grilling season! If you haven’t touched your grill since last year, get it ready for that first rack of juicy ribs with a thorough cleaning. Set the burners on high (with the lid closed) for about 15 minutes to burn off any food or grease. Then, use a grill brush to brush the grates clean. Wipe down the interior and exterior for a shiny finish.

4. Patio

Most likely you did some patio maintenance with your spring cleaning. But summer is another great time to sweep your deck or patio, spray down dusty furniture and get everything in tiptop shape for evening sessions enjoying the balmy air. To deep-clean a concrete patio, mix 1/2 cup baking soda and one gallon of water for a gentle cleaning solution. (You can add a few drops of dish soap if you have some stubborn stains.)

5. Laundry

Beach towels, sports uniforms, and swimsuits will be in heavy rotation this summer, creating more laundry. Plus sweat, chlorine, grease, and campfire smoke all make for extra smelly clothes! For odor-fighting power, add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle or 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash cycle.

6. Trash Can

Speaking of smells, hot summer weather tends to make your trash can even stinkier than usual. Take your empty bin outside and scrub it with soap and water, then rinse with the garden hose. Another tip is to soak a cotton ball in essential oil (5-15 drops) and toss it into your trash can before putting in a new liner for a long-lasting fresh scent.

7. Kid Clutter

With kids spending their days at home, there will be plenty of messes to clean up. Minimize this as much as possible by getting rid of toy clutter. Any toys that haven’t been played with for a while can be donated, or host a fun summer yard sale with the kids’ help!

8. Windows

Time to let the sunshine in! Get your windows sparkling clean with this homemade window cleaning solution. Mix one part of distilled vinegar with 10 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Spray on the solution, then use a lint-free towel to wipe down the window. Use a second clean cloth to dry the window thoroughly.

9. Dust

Dusting is a year-round chore, but it can be an even bigger problem in the summer because most of us have our house sealed up with the air conditioner running—so the dust is trapped inside. Use a microfiber cloth (which is better at trapping dust, then a regular cotton cloth) to wipe down surfaces. Dampen the microfiber cloth with an all-purpose cleaner, then start from the top with door frames and ceiling fan blades, and work your way down to tabletops and baseboards.

10. Refrigerator

There’s never a bad time to deep-clean your fridge, but we love the idea of getting it spotless and ready for fresh summer produce. Wipe down the trays and drawers with a sponge and soapy water. Any parts that are removable can be scrubbed in the sink.

For particularly sticky messes, try using a magic eraser. When everything is clean, do a final wipe-down with a spray bottle full of diluted vinegar. It will disinfect without adding any harmful chemicals to your food storage area.

That Tiny Pocket on your Blue Jeans …

… is for your pocket watch. Well, maybe not yours, but the cowboys who made blue jeans famous in the 1800s were plumb grateful for it. Typically, watches were carried on chains and worn in waistcoats, but hard field labor made that a lot less practical. Outdoors, the “watch pocket” on any pair of jeans did just the trick—even after watches moved to the wrist. “This extra pouch has served many functions, evident in its many titles,” the Levi Strauss website reminds us: “frontier pocket, coin pocket, match pocket, and ticket pocket, to name a few.”

Home Burglaries Are More Likely to Occur During the Day

We usually think of home burglaries occurring in the cover of night, but in fact, homes are more likely to be subject to burglary while the sun is out. According to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics, burglaries were 6 percent more likely to occur between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (when residents were at work or running errands) than at night.

Keep Spiders Away

So what does wd 40 do? Well, WD stands for “water displacing” and it’s mainly used is as a solvent. WD-40 has lubricant-like properties, that do not come from the substance itself, but rather from dissolving components. Have a fear of spiders? Just spray some WD-40 on places where spiders and other insects can get in, such as windowsills and door frames. It will keep the spiders and other bugs out.

A Messy Home Might Help Stoke Creativity

In areas where you get creative—your home office, workshop, or kitchen—researchers have found that clutter can enhance creativity. In several experiments, subjects were asked to complete creative tasks—complete a puzzle, take a “Remote Associates Test,” and create a drawing—in a cluttered room and a pristine one. Those in the messy room completed the puzzle fastest, scored highest on the Remote Associates Test, and earned the best marks from the drawing-judging panel.

Last-Ditch Patching Fix

You’ve made two trips to the home center store already but you’re eyeing a tiny hole in your wall that you’ve got to patch up and you’ve run out of material. Head to to the bathroom and grab that tube of toothpaste for a quick fix.

Most Toilets Flush in E Flat

Sharp-eared bathroom users may have noticed that the distinctive sound of a toilet flushing corresponds with the E Flat note.

If you think all of your refrigerator is one consistent temperature, think again—depending on the model, the amount of chill in the fridge can vary widely. For example, a study conducted by CNET found temperatures could range in French-door models from 32.8º to as high as 50.7º Fahrenheit.

Spaghetti Strainer

The hole in a spaghetti strainer actually serves two purposes. Besides allowing water to fall out the bottom when you go into scoop out some noodles, the little hole is a measuring tool you can use prior to cooking the noodles. The hole measures out one full serving of noodles.

Peanuts aren’t technically nuts

They’re legumes. According to Merriam-Webster, a nut is only a nut if it’s “a hard-shelled dry fruit or seed with a separable rind or shell and interior kernel.” That means walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pistachios aren’t nuts either. They’re seeds

Keeping a Refrigerator Full Doesn’t Use Less Energy

If you’re trying to save some money on your electricity bill, picking up some extra groceries is not going to do it. While the myth persists that a full fridge uses less energy, according to researcher Jacob Talbot of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, “A full refrigerator doesn’t decrease energy use.” Instead, he suggests focusing on checking the seals on the door to prevent leaks and keeping the unit between 36º and 38º Fahrenheit.

Firefighters use wetting agents to make water wetter

The chemicals reduce the surface tension of plain water so it’s easier to spread and soak into objects, which is why it’s known as “wet water.”

There’s a Difference Between Couches and Sofas

We use the two terms interchangeably, but coaches and sofas are two distinct things. To help define the difference, look no further than eBay, whose helpful selling guide helps sellers tell the difference between the two by defining the couch as “a piece of furniture with no arms used for lying” (even though that definition is slightly outdated) and coming from the French word “couche.”

Sofas come from the Arabic word “suffah,” referring to a wooden bench covered in cushions and blankets. That’s evolved to mean they are furniture for more formal occasions and seat four or more people, compared to the couch, which seats two to three.

Shoes Were Once Seen as Ways to Fend Off Evil Spirits

Europeans once stashed their shoes in walls, chimneys and under floors in an effort to fend off evil spirits. It wasn’t because they smelled bad—the shoes were seen to possess magical charms that served as protection. So many shoes were found in old buildings that the Northampton Museum and Art in the United Kingdom has created a Concealed Shoe Index to track these discoveries, tracking about 1,900 concealed shoes so far.

 

source: bestlifeonline, familyhandyman

You’re cleaning your windows with newspapers

If you’re using the same dish towels to clean your hands, dry dishes, and wipe down counter tops, you’re likely just spreading germs and messes around instead of truly cleaning things up.”The dish towel picks up crumbs, grease, food, and whatever else (germs, anyone?) is on the counter, and it stays there just waiting for you to wipe your hands or dry dishes or cookware,” Mary Gagliardi, a cleaning expert at Clorox, told INSIDER. “Think your cookware is clean? Not if you wipe it dry with a towel that’s not really clean!”

Keep your towels separate for each use so that you can be sure that they’re actually clean. And don’t forget to swap them out and wash them regularly. “Let the used towels air dry before adding them to your laundry basket where they can wait for laundry day,” Gagliardi said.

Plastic baggies are incredibly convenient because they’re easy to tuck in a lunchbox or purse. But after one use, they are fodder for a landfill heap. Using just two a week means throwing out more than 100 baggies—plus the money you spend on them—a year, says Lisa Beres, a building biologist and healthy home expert and author. And sending your kids to school with those bags every day makes the numbers add up even faster. Instead, use a reusable baggie like (re)zip, which are more durable but just as lightweight and compact as a disposable Ziploc.

Check out the Awesome Ziplock Bag Hacks Will Make Your Life Easier 

Straws

Americans use an estimated 500 million straws a day—that’s a lot of plastic going into landfills! If you like sipping your beverages through a straw, switch to a reusable glass, metal or bamboo straw, says Jonathan Zaidman, head of regional expansion for The Ecology Center. Even if you stock reusable straws at home, you can’t control restaurants that deliver a straw for every drink and refill, whether you use it or not. But you can ask your server not to leave any when you get your drinks. “It takes a little time to get used to remembering to ask, and oftentimes you ask and the server will still bring you a straw,” says Zaidman, “but we think … taking that first consumer step forward is a beneficial and impactful way to make change.”

Takeout containers

Not only does a meal out cost about twice as much as a home-cooked meal, but those takeout containers take a toll on the environment. Eating at home puts you in charge of ingredients so you can eat healthier, plus you can reduce waste by washing those plates and utensils when you’re done. Beres suggests preparing freezable meals on the weekends if your weeknights get too busy to cook. When you do eat at a fast-casual restaurant, bring your own reusable plate and silverware, says Zaidman. Some restaurants even offer discounts for people who bring in their own takeout containers, he says.

Grocery bags

If you live in an area with a tax on shopping bags, you might already be in the habit of bringing your own reusable sack to the grocery store. But don’t stop there—you can cut more waste by avoiding plastic bags other places, too. Use reusable bag for produce like apples and tomatoes, and bring a tote for retail stores, says Zaidman. If those totes aren’t your thing, feel free to use one that’s more your style. “Maybe you don’t have a tote, but you probably have a backpack or some type of sack,” says Zaidman.

Here are Some Simple Ways Green Living Can Make You Healthier

Paper towels

A 36-pack of microfiber cloths will cost you just a few bucks more than a 12-pack of paper towels, but it will last you way longer. You can wash a microfiber cloth, so you won’t need to replace them after every use. Plus, the fibers won’t leave lint behind, which makes cleaning easier. “It has a positive charge that picks up dust and dirt, which has a negative charge,” explains Beres. “They actually attract the dust and dirt, unlike a paper towel, where you’re just kind of wiping it.” If you can’t let go of your tear-and-use routine, try The Unpaper Towel, a roll of washable cloths that pops right into your paper towel holder.

Coffee filters

“A simple way to be conscious of waste is switching out even just one item in your kitchen,” says Sara Skirboll, shopping and trends expert for RetailMeNot. A drip coffee maker can use a reusable filter instead of disposable paper ones, and even a Keurig doesn’t need a new K-Cup every time. Pick up a reusable K-Cup, and fill it with your favorite coffee, recommends Skirboll.

Coffee cups

Next time you make a coffee stop, bring in your own thermos or mug. Some places, like Starbucks, sell cheap ones in-store that you can bring back to reuse, while others will lend you a mug if you aren’t taking it to go. Sure, you can’t take it to go like a disposable paper cup, but that’s actually a good thing. “There’s nothing wrong with sticking around for five to ten minutes and not always being on the run,” says Zaidman. “You get to take a breather and meet someone new or take in your surroundings.”

Food packaging

You’d be surprised how many items you can buy in bulk. Depending on where you shop, you might be able to find granola, nuts, candy, dry tea, nut butters and even laundry detergent. “You can get nearly anything,” says Zaidman. By filling up your own jars and Tupperware, you’ll save money and reduce waste, he says.

–> Read more: Types of Food Make Your Body Smell Great & Instantly Sexier

Water bottles

About 35 million plastic bottles go to U.S. landfills every year, and they can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Beyond the eco-friendly reasons to switch to a reusable water bottle, though, it also saves you money. Most tap water is perfectly safe to drink, and even investing in a filtration system saves cash. You’ll put down about $250 for a particularly good brand like Propur or Berkey, but those brands save money in the long run, especially if you spend that much on disposable bottles, says Beres. Propur and Berkey last longer without replacement filters than a typical Brita and give you even cleaner water. That filtered water will taste even better from a reusable bottle like S’well, says Skirboll. “Not only are you saving money, but you’re saving the environment and keeping your drinks cold for hours,” she says. “It’s a win-win!”

source: tasteofhome