20 tiny hacks to make life way better
Watch: Cooking hacks
Life can be tough - and we're fans of any ways possible to make it slightly easier. That's why we've found 20 of the best hacks to simplify your life, and make getting reading, travelling, organising your home and cooking a tiny bit less stressful.
You'll wonder why you never thought of them before...
1 Mark your luggage
Now holidays are back on the agenda, time to get the suitcases out. Yes, the black ones, that look like everyone else's suitcases.
To avoid a mix-up ruining your holiday - or standing by the luggage carousel for an hour because you don't recognise that it's your bland bag going round again - tightly tie a coloured ribbon to the handle, the brighter the better. Instant recognition and easier to describe if it goes missing, too.
2 Photograph business cards
Unbelievable but true, many businesspeople still use business cards. To avoid a wallet stuffed with random bits of cardboard that you'll never look at again, just photograph them whenever you pick one up.
Add to an album on your phone, or use an app to keep them organised. Instant access whenever you need one.
3 Wash delicates inside tights
Yes, the washing machine claims it's got a 'delicates' cycle. But when it comes to lace and silk, do you trust it? Avoid hand-washing by putting your most fragile items inside a stocking or tights before washing, to avoid them being bashed around.
But be warned, when they say 'do not tumble dry', they mean it.
Read more: The 50 Best Life Hacks You'll Ever Learn
4 Put ICE in your phone
The catastrophists amongst us often wonder what will happen if we have a terrible accident. Will we have matching underwear/clean boxers on? How will they contact our loved ones?
Simple. In your phone contacts list, put ICE (in case of emergency) in front of your partner's/next of kin's name, so helpers will know who to call first.
5 Use a storecard app
If your bag is weighted down by plastic store-cards, time to use an app. Try Stocard - and iPhone users can stick them in Apple Wallet.
Just scan the barcodes on the cards with your phone, and they'll appear in the app, so they're all in one place. Stocard will even open the right card for you when you're in the store, and keep you updated on offers.
Read more: 50 Easy DIY Home Hacks That Will Improve Your Life
6 Use boxes for undies
Is your underwear drawer in chaos? It doesn't need to be. Save packaging boxes and slot them inside - then there's one for pants, one for socks, one for tights... and you always know where they'll be.
This is also a winner with children's clothes drawers. No more rummaging first thing in the morning.
7 Always take teabags
Call us British - but teabags abroad tend to be very weak indeed. That cup of tea will arrive with one feeble bag, no milk, and you'll curse yourself for forgetting your own.
If you travel regularly, always keep a pouch of your favourite teabags (we all know it's Yorkshire) in your case. Though we can't help on the milk front.
8 Put your phone in a bowl
If you're somewhere without a speaker and you want to play music, put your phone in a jug or bowl to amplify the music and improve the sound quality. Just make sure it's clean and dry first.
9 Cool wine fast
If you're at a party (or just had a very bad day) and you need to cool wine quickly, wrap the bottle in wet paper towels and put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Speedy cooling is guaranteed - but don't forget about it, and don't do this this with Prosecco unless you want a dramatic explosion.
10 Clean jewellery with gin
Rocks looking a bit murky? Use a baby toothbrush dipped in gin to give jewellery a good clean and bring it up sparkling. Works for both real and costume, and removes all grime.
11 Use spaghetti as a spill
If you've run out of matches, use a strand of spaghetti as a spill. Light the end on the cooker and apply to firelighters, celebratory cigars, birthday candles.... You may smell burnt pasta for a few minutes, but it's a good emergency solution.
12 Make fancy chocolates
If you're short of a gift but have chocolate in the cupboard, you're golden. Melt it in a bowl over a barely simmering pan of water, then pour into silicone ice cube trays.
Pop a nut in each, or even a coffee bean. Leave to set, pop out and present wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow.
13 Put a toast rack in the fridge
Fridge a bit of a mess? Store flat packets sideways in a metal toast rack. That way, you can always see what you've got and they won't get buried under an avalanche of bigger stuff. Perfect for ham, bacon and cheese slices.
Read more: 6 tasty midnight snack hacks you need to know
14 Add potatoes to de-salt
If you've tipped too much salt into a soup or stew, add a few chunks of potato. They'll absorb the excess as they cook, then you can fish them out.
15 Microwave two bowls at once
If you're microwaving two bowls, rather than heating them separately, create a tiered system by balancing one on a mug so there's room for both. Pour a little water into the mug first so it doesn't overheat.
16 Mix dough in a bag
If you're mixing a small portion of dough or pastry, and don't want to mess up a big mixing bowl and board, stretch a freezer bag over a jug and put the ingredients in, then close and knead the bag.
17 Find lost items
If you've lost something small - like a jigsaw piece, pill or earring - stretch a pair of tights over the vacuum nozzle and run it under the furniture. It's the simplest way to locate a vanished item.
18 Use eggshell to remove eggshell
If you're baking and have dropped eggshell in your cracked eggs, use a larger piece to fish it out. It's magically attracted, and saves you a lot of fishing.
19 Use a sterilising tablet in flower water
To keep flowers fresh for longer, chuck a sterilising tablet into the water. It saves spilling the powder that often comes with cut flowers, and works a treat.
20 Make small holes in flower stalks
If you love tulips or any other flower with a fleshy stem, poke tiny holes in the stalks with a needle or cocktail stick before placing into the water. They will never droop and the petals will stay put.
