50 Genius uses for everyday common household items

Who can resist discovering innovative ways to utilize everyday items found around the house? We’ve gathered a selection of our top picks to provide you with a dose of inspiration. Whether it’s clever storage solutions or handy cleaning tricks, you’re bound to find some ideas that ignite your enthusiasm.

Wine Box Storage

If you’re aiming to save money, you might be on the lookout for ingenious ways to repurpose everyday household items. Here’s a suggestion: Seek out a cost-free shoe storage container at nearly any establishment that carries wine. Originally designed to safeguard glass bottles, a wine box is an ideal choice for tidying up your shoe collection due to its pre-installed cardboard dividers.

Wrench Caddy

Arrange your wrenches within your toolbox by threading them onto a sizable, vividly colored carabiner, which can be found at camping and discount stores. This method not only keeps your wrenches neatly grouped but also makes them portable and readily noticeable.

Keep the Tape Rolling

Place a rubber band over the “ears” of your packing tape dispenser, as demonstrated, to prevent the tape’s end from slipping through the slot and reattaching to the roll. Since the tape doesn’t adhere to the rubber, you’ll consistently be prepared to use it without any hassle.

Pipe Insulation

A brilliant solution for preventing objects like keys or cell phones from slipping between the seats and the console in a vehicle, a situation that can be challenging to rectify and potentially hazardous while driving, was devised by reader James Goldstein. He ingeniously inserted segments of foam pipe insulation into these gaps!

Beat The Dust out of Cushions With a Tennis Racket

Upholstery accumulates dust, which becomes airborne when you sit on it. Vacuuming helps but may not reach deep-seated dust. Periodically take cushions outside, preferably on a windy day, and use an old tennis racket to beat the dust out.

Cord Control

Simplify the cord chaos beneath your desk using a 1/2-in. foam pipe insulation. Paint it to match your wall color, and it will blend in seamlessly. For quicker painting, learn efficient techniques to get back to enjoying your appliances connected to those cords.

Custom Cord Wraps

Create your own cord wraps from old bungee cords and synthetic wine corks. Drill two holes in the cork, thread the cord through, and tie it off. You can adjust their length as needed. These versatile organizers are lightweight and work well for securing various items, including air hoses. Wine corks are a common household item, making them easy to find.

Tennis Ball Bottle Opener

Cut a tennis ball in half with a utility knife (secure the ball in a vise or using clamps during cutting). The rubbery interior of the ball is ideal for getting a firm grip on hard-to-open twist-off bottle caps or sticky jar lids.

Use Tongs to Clean Blinds

Speed up your window blind cleaning with kitchen tongs. Attach cloths to the tongs’ ends with twist ties, and then clamp the tongs onto each blade to clean both sides of the blinds simultaneously.

Milk Jug Scoop

Trim the upper section of an empty gallon or half-gallon milk jug using sharp scissors, preferably after marking the cut line. Ensure a smooth and safe edge after cutting. Reattach the jug cap, and you now have an inexpensive, practical scoop for items like pet food and potting soil. By removing the cap, you can also use the scoop as a funnel.

Grass Seed Broadcaster

When you’re cleaning out the refrigerator, remember to keep those plastic berry containers for repurposing. Discard any mushy raspberries but clean and dry the container; it’s an ideal tool for evenly distributing grass seed on your lawn!

Bread Tabs for Labeling Cords

Avoid the inconvenience of tracing cords from the power strip to each electronic device by labeling them. Sturdy plastic bread tabs are excellent for this purpose as they provide ample space for writing and can securely attach to the plug end of a cord. Additionally, they often come in various colors, making it effortless to recognize and rearrange your electrical devices.

Rubber Band and Paperclip Binder

Maintain the tidy storage of small extension cords with this straightforward office supply trick: Connect a paperclip to a small rubber band. After that, wrap the rubber band around the bundled cord and fasten the paperclip onto the rubber band. Say goodbye to tangled extension cords!

Bobby Pin Nail Holder

You can avoid the risk of hammering your fingers when dealing with small nails or tight spaces. Use a regular bobby pin as a convenient nail holder, which also keeps your fingers safely away. After getting the nail started, remove the bobby pin and continue hammering.

Paper Towel Cord Storage

Rejuvenate empty paper towel rolls by repurposing them as cord organizers. Carefully fold small extension cords and place them inside their designated storage sleeves made from the paper towel rolls. To stay organized, you can even label the cords by writing on the cardboard.

Pie Plate Dustpan

Craft an impromptu, disposable dustpan by splitting an aluminum pie plate in half using tin snips or sturdy scissors. Use it to gather the debris, and then easily discard it in the trash when you’re don

Paper Towel Boot Shaper

Maintain the shape of your tall boots during storage by placing one or two empty paper towel rolls inside each boot. This simple trick will prevent creases and save you time when it’s time to wear your tall boots again.

Toilet Paper Roll Hair Band Organizer

Maintain the organization of your elastic hair bands by preventing them from scattering in drawers, the bathroom sink, or on the floor. Slide them onto an empty toilet paper roll, and then neatly store the roll in a drawer. The small cardboard tube keeps your circular hair accessories well-organized while remaining readily accessible.

Tin Can Water Bottle Holder

Ensure you have easy access to cold water while mowing the lawn on hot days. Secure an empty and clean tin can to the handle of your walk-behind mower using zip ties. Choose a can that is spacious enough to accommodate your water bottle, and you’ll stay hydrated as you work.

Egg Carton Painting Props

Store a couple of empty egg cartons along with your other painting supplies. They prove to be highly useful for elevating a small project above the work surface, simplifying the task of painting intricate areas, nooks, crannies, and the base of the project.

Greenhouses from the Salad Bar

Repurpose a plastic clamshell container from the salad bar as a miniature greenhouse for seed starting in the spring. After cleaning the container, puncture a few holes in the top. Fill the bottom with potting soil and sow your seeds. Seal the lid, and position the container in a sunny area. It functions as a mini greenhouse, permitting sunlight to reach the plants while retaining moisture.

Tape Containers for Furniture Glides

If you don’t have furniture glides available when you need to move a heavy piece of furniture by yourself, you can improvise using the base of a FrogTape container under each leg of the furniture. This will enable the furniture to glide smoothly across the floor.

Garden Gloves to Dust Knickknacks

Put on a pair of cotton garden gloves and transform your fingers into cleaning tools for small knickknacks and other accessories in your home and office. You can also spray them with antibacterial cleaning solution to effectively eliminate germs while you clean.

Pipe Insulation for Baby-Proofing

Make your home baby-proof with foam pipe insulation. Cut the tube to the desired length and place it on edges and corners that might pose a hazard to small children. The natural curvature of the foam helps keep it in position for an easily removable baby-proofing solution. Alternatively, you can use the adhesive strip to secure the insulation for a more permanent safety solution.

Coffee Filters for Dusting

When cleaning your computer monitor or TV screen, try using a coffee filter. The thin, cloth-like paper is effective at capturing dust and can cover a large surface area. Coffee filters are also handy for dusting various other household items.

Quick Smartphone Speaker

Create an instant speaker for your smartphone by placing it, speaker side down, in a small piece of ceramic, plastic, or other hard material like a bowl or pottery. This will cause the sound to bounce off the surface and amplify it throughout the room.

Floor Swiffer for Walls

A Swiffer Sweeper floor mop serves a purpose beyond cleaning hard floors. You can utilize it to dust interior walls and trim as well! Attach a dry cloth to the rectangular end and run it along walls and trim. This allows you to safely capture dust, cobwebs, and dirt without the need for a ladder.

Bathroom Drawer Insert from the Kitchen

A silverware drawer insert can be repurposed effectively in the bathroom to organize toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, razors, clippers, lip balm, and more. The varying sizes of compartments help keep these items neat and easily accessible. In a small bathroom, efficient organization makes the most of every square inch.

Paint Stick to Clean Lint Buildup

Occasionally, it’s crucial to clean the area around your dryer’s lint trap, as the screen may not catch all the debris. You can effectively use a paint stir stick with a clean rag wrapped around one end for this task.

Write Notes on the Washer

When loading your washing machine, use a dry-erase marker to indicate on the lid which items should not go into the dryer. This way, anyone switching the load from the washing machine to the dryer will know which items require line drying. Most washing machine lids have an enamel finish similar to a whiteboard, and dry-erase marker notes can be easily wiped off with a dry paper towel.

DIY Hand Scrub

Harsh hand cleaners can be harsh on the skin, particularly in cold weather. However, Jay Bjornstad, a reader, uses a mixture of dish soap and sugar as an alternative. This combination effectively removes grease and leaves his hands clean after a day in the workshop without causing irritation.

Trash-Can Amplifier

Employ a small trash can to safeguard your speaker from outdoor elements such as rain and enhance your music experience. Position the trash can on its side and place the speaker inside, which can help amplify the sound.

Pool Noodle Wrist Rest

Create a simple wrist rest for your desk using a pool noodle. Mark the noodle where you want to make the cuts and then slice it lengthwise at those marks using a utility knife. It may require a few passes with the knife to cut all the way through to the center of the noodle. Once done, separate the pieces and place one piece flat-side-down in front of your keyboard.

Coat Your Snow Shovel with Car Wax

To make snow shoveling more manageable, apply car wax to your metal shovel. Follow the application instructions provided on the car wax package. Doing so will allow snow and ice to easily slide off the shovel after each scoop, making the task less strenuous.

Rubber Band Clamps

Special woodworking clamps designed to secure hardwood edging during glue setting can be costly, and they might not be frequently used. Rather than purchasing these specialty clamps, consider modifying some of your spring clamps. With the addition of a few rubber bands, you can quickly create makeshift edge clamps.

Paint Brush Drip Stopper

Prevent the issue of paint running down the side of the can and onto the floor when wiping your paintbrush by using a heavy rubber band. Simply wrap the rubber band around the center of the can, and then wipe the paint against it. Excess paint will drip back into the can without creating a mess or causing the lid to get gummed up.

Spray-Clean Roller

To remove most excess paint from your roller sleeve, place the roller frame inside a bucket and use a garden hose with a nozzle to spin it. This method will save you time, and you can finish cleaning with soap and water. For professional painting techniques, check out the tutorial recommended by reader Decie C. McKnight.

Small-Parts Clamp

Create a small-parts clamp by encircling the jaws of needle-nose pliers with a rubber band. This rubber band will keep the pliers’ jaws closed, making it easier to hold small items. This technique is particularly handy for positioning nuts in tight or hard-to-reach areas or for initiating small finish nails.

No More Rusty Garden Tools

When you’re changing the oil in your lawn mower, consider reusing some of it by pouring a quart or so into a 5-gallon bucket filled with sand. Then, store your garden tools in this mixture. This approach helps prevent rust on your tools and keeps them in good condition for future use, as suggested by reader Gary Snell.

Panpipe Tool Storage

This tool storage idea, resembling a Pan flute, is excellent for keeping track of small tools like chisels, files, pencils, scroll saw blades, and hobby knives. To accommodate larger tools, use PVC cement to connect short sections of 1-1/4-inch PVC pipe side by side, and add 1/2-inch pipe pieces for slimmer tools. Create a simple case around the pipes, forming a base and a wall-mounted storage solution.

Stay-Put PVC Pipe Cutter

A clever method for cutting PVC pipe on the go involves notching the top of a 5-gallon bucket. Simply create a couple of notches on the bucket’s rim, and you’ll have a stable platform for sawing the pipe. As an added benefit, you can load the bucket with tools and easily transport them along with you.

No-Rattle Ceiling Fan

To prevent screws from loosening and causing humming or rattling in the ceiling fan’s light globe, place a wide rubber band around the neck of the globe where the screws hold it in place. This rubber band will keep the screws secure, reduce noise, and safeguard the globe from over-tightening.

Handy Bench and Tool Bucket

A 5-gallon bucket with a lid is a versatile garden tool. Load it with your gardening equipment, and use it to move your tools conveniently. The lid can shield your tools from rain, and it also serves as a portable stool for resting or pruning. To make it easier to open and close the lid, simply trim off all but two of the plastic tabs.

Paper Tube Saw Guard

You can safeguard your fingers and your bow saw’s blade in a cost-effective manner. Simply slide an empty gift wrap paper tube over the blade by slitting the tube lengthwise and then placing it over the blade. This will help prevent accidental injuries while using the saw.

String Pipe Cutter

Impress your friends and puzzle your neighbors by cutting PVC pipe using a string. This is a valuable technique to use when you have to cut pipe that’s situated in a confined space, like a wall. You can utilize a mason’s line to saw through 2″ PVC pipe in less than a minute, making the task easier and more convenient.

Foam Ball Hand Protector

To shield your hand when using a masonry or cold chisel, create a protective barrier by cutting a slit through the center of a soft foam ball and then sliding it over the shaft of the chisel. This simple solution will allow you to hammer away without risking injury to your hand.

Make a Mattress Sling

Carrying a heavy mattress is challenging, especially with the handles not designed for it. To make it easier, fashion a rope sling for better control. Thread the rope through the mattress handles, add a 5-inch piece of 1-inch PVC pipe over the rope ends, and loop and tie each end to create a comfortable grip. Flip the mattress over with the sling on the bottom, and you’re good to go.

PVC Knife Holders

For safe knife transport during picnics and camping, a reader ingeniously created knife containers using PVC pipes and caps. They glued one cap in place and marked the unglued cap with an ‘X’ to indicate the opening end. This smart solution ensures organized and secure knife storage during outdoor adventures.

Power Cord Coilers

Organize the cords of your drills, saws, sanders, and routers on a crowded shelf by using elastic ponytail holders. Wrap them snugly around the cords to keep them coiled neatly and in place, even when you’re using the tool. This quick fix will help you maintain a tidy and safe workshop.

Light-Duty Extension Cord Storage

To maintain the organization of light-duty extension cords, insert them into empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes. Before storing these tubes in a drawer or bin, label them with the length of the cord. This extension cord storage trick allows for easy identification and access to the right cord while also making efficient use of the tubes.

Chainsaw Blade Guard

Tired of cluttered countertops with curling irons lying around? Use hook-and-loop tape to attach 5-inch lengths of 2-inch PVC pipe to your vanity door to hold the curling irons. Similarly, fasten 3-inch pieces of 1-1/2-inch-diameter pipe to manage the cords. Measure your curling irons to determine the ideal holster length. Make sure the curling irons have cooled down before stowing them away.

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