Here are some really handy hints for all of you wonderful cooks out there. I hope you enjoy this and find at least one idea you haven’t thought of lately.
Pegboard and Dowel Drawer Organizer
My kitchen drawers used to be an absolute wreck; pans and dishes crammed in however they’d fit. And nearly every time I needed something, it was always at the bottom of the drawer. My solution was to cut a piece of 1/8-in. pegboard to the size of the drawer bottom and attach dowels using screws from underneath. Now my pans are organized and easy to access. The 10 minutes it took to build was easily made up for with how much frustration it has saved me. — Jim David
No-Slip Kitchen Towels
Hanging a dish towel from an oven or dishwasher door makes sense. The towel is in a convenient location, and the oven’s warmth quickly gets rid of dampness. However, the one drawback with hanging your towels here is that they are constantly falling off! Here’s a way to keep the towel from slipping off: Fold your towel into its desired form and attach Velcro strips in two spots, one on the front and one on the back, as shown in the photo. Stitch in place, or use fabric iron-on Velcro strips and follow the directions on the packaging. Finally, hang your towel from the oven or dishwasher door and match Velcro ends together. No more towels on the floor!
Reusable Icy Drinks in an Instant
The next time you do yard work on a sweltering hot day, make the chores a little more bearable by having icy water bottles at the ready. Fill your water bottles a quarter of the way, so that when they are on their sides the water settles just below the bottle’s neck, and stick them in the freezer. An ice block on the side of the bottle puts more liquid in contact with the ice, cooling it faster.
All Your Condiments in One Place
The next time you host a barbecue or a patio party, pull out a muffin tin. Rather than using it to bake muffins (although you can do this later too), fill the cups with various condiments and barbecue toppings. This way your condiments are easy to access and your buffet lines will move along quickly. You will also dramatically increase your table space, and cut down on the separate serving bowls to clean up afterward.
For a truly impressive backyard barbecue, a home cook needs the right tools and a great plan for a successful day out in your yard.
Mega Soap Dispenser
I modified my kitchen soap dispenser inlay by adding plastic tubing into a gallon of soap that rests beneath my sink. To make this clever contraption, start by attaching plastic tubing that is slightly bigger than the diameter of your soap dispenser head. Next, thread the plastic tubing through the soap dispenser inlay into a gallon of soap. This clever kitchen hack ensures that my soap supply lasts well over a year so I hardly ever have to change it out. — Steve DiLuigi
Organize Your Coffee Pods
Coffee pods can be a disaster to keep organized, but this hack uses simple T-molding as an ideal organization system for Keurig, Nespresso or any other type of coffee pod. T-molding is designed for wood floor transitions, and it also makes a perfect storage rack for coffee pods because it has grooves for the pods to slide onto. This T-molding design also works great for a wine glass storage rack.
Save that Six-Pack!
Do all of your small bottles in the refrigerator door like to tip over after opening or closing the door? Fortunately, the answer to tidying those wayward bottles is just a recycling bin away. To keep all of your condiments under control use an empty six-pack holder to hold and organize the condiments in your refrigerator door. This organization solution is also great for transporting your condiments for a backyard BBQ or picnic!
Magazine Rack Hack for the Kitchen
Magazine racks ( you can find these at the Dollar Tree) can be used for more than just organizing papers and magazines in your office. They can also be used for organization in your kitchen. We filled the containers up with the clutter that normally barricades the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Place all of your kitchen cleaning supplies into magazine racks, putting the most frequently used items towards the front.
The Drill Brush
To make this drill brush you’ll need: a drill, a washer, a bolt, a long machine screw and a brush head replacement. Start by threading the machine screw though the brush head so the head of the screw rests in the brush head hole. On the other side of the brush head, slide on the washer and secure it in place with a nut. Make sure to tighten it well with a wrench. However, do not over-tighten, as this may cause the plastic brush head to crack. Next, attach the scrubber head to the drill. Now simply point and press the drill to start and let the drill brush do the work.
Trash Bag Dispenser
You can build a simple dispenser for your trash bags using 1/2-in. pipe and a few fittings. Screw a floor flange to the cabinet, thread in a 3-in.-long pipe nipple, and then thread a 90-degree elbow onto the nipple. Cut the vertical pipe so it’s a bit longer than the width of the roll of bags. Thread the vertical piece into the elbow and slip on the roll.
Vinaigrette Scratch Remover
Minor scratches in wood furniture don’t need to be sanded out; you can hide them. Mix one-part vinegar with three-parts canola or olive oil and wipe it on the scratch using a soft cloth. The scratch virtually disappears, and you can dress your salad with the leftovers.
Easy-to-Make Wine Rack
I never have enough space for wine storage, so I made this wine rack using pantry shelves and 1x2s. I used a router to round over the top edges of 1x2s, cut them so they’re a few inches shorter than the shelf depth; then spaced them about 2 in. apart. Then I screwed them to the shelf. I adjusted the shelf spacing so there’s about 5 in. of clearance for the bottles. — Robert Lackey
Clean a Cast Iron Skillet with Coarse Salt
To prevent rust and extend the life of a cast iron skillet, it’s best not to use soap to clean it. Instead, use a about a tablespoon of coarse salt to scrub the pan after a meal. The salt breaks up bits of stuck food and residue on the skillet. Then you can toss the dirty salt in the trash, rinse the pan with hot water and dry it with a clean towel. To further protect a cast iron skillet, rub a few drops of vegetable oil over the entire cooking surface.
Make a No-Slip Cutting Board
Most cutting boards don’t come with any kind of rubber surface on the bottom to prevent them from sliding on a counter top, but with a couple of rubber bands, you can stabilize your cutting board and keep it from moving around during use. Slip on two rubber bands—one at each end of the cutting board—and you’re good to go. Make sure that the rubber bands lay flat and aren’t twisted when you put them on so the board will sit steady on your counter top.
Use a Pool Noodle Inside a Drawer
I have always hated the way drawer organizers move around when you open and close a drawer. I solved the problem at my house with a pool noodle!
I measured the distance from the back of the drawer organizer to the back of the drawer and used a utility knife to cut the noodle to size. The pool noodle fits snugly in place, so the drawer organizer doesn’t move around anymore. You could also cut the pool noodle in half lengthwise to reduce the amount of space that it takes up. — Roy Allison
Super-Secure Garbage Bags
Trash bags and waste bins should work perfectly together, but that’s rarely the case. As trash bags start to fill up, the bag slithers into the bin and you have to dig it out. To keep handled or drawstring trash bags in place, all you need are two medium or large self-adhesive command hooks. Position the hooks at a location that allows full use of the bin.
Homemade Heating Pad
Next time you have a sore neck or back, don’t reach for an electric heating pad. Instead, fill a sock with uncooked rice, tie the end and microwave it for two or three minutes. I like this better than a heating pad, as it conforms to whatever body part that needs heat. You can even put in some fragrant herbs like cinnamon or lavender to make it smell nice!
Hang Bananas Under Cabinets
My wife and I wanted to get a banana tree to keep our bananas fresh longer and to help them ripen evenly. But counter space is an issue in our kitchen, so we thought of a solution: Instead of adding something else to the counter top, I attached a small adhesive hook under the cabinets to store bananas. When we need it, it holds bananas without taking up any of our limited counter space. When it is not being used, it is hidden from view. It works great, and I didn’t have to drill holes in the cabinet! — Michael Blough
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Remove Hard-Water Buildup with a Lemon
To get rid of hard-water buildup on a faucet, try this natural solution: Cut a fresh lemon in half. With one of the halves, use your thumbs to gently open up the center. Then press the lemon onto the end of the faucet. Put a small plastic bag around the lemon and secure it around the faucet with a rubber band. Be sure that the rubber band it cinched tightly and that the lemon is around the end of the faucet. Leave the lemon in place for a few hours to allow the citric acid to work its magic. After you remove the lemon, you may need to use a gentle scrubbing pad to wash off any loosened hard-water buildup.
Make Your Reusable Grocery Bags Last Longer!
Have you ever had a heavy load of groceries that your reusable grocery bag just can’t handle without ripping? We’ve got the perfect solution for you! Find a scrap piece of plywood lying around your workshop and cut it to the measurements of the base of your reusable grocery bag. Replace the thin plastic insert (so prone to cracking and splitting) with the measured and cut piece of plywood and place it in the bottom of your reusable grocery bag.
Make Your Appliances Smudge-Free
If you own stainless steel kitchen appliances, you may want to consider using car wax to clean them rather than a surface cleaner. Simply apply a light coat of car wax to the appliance, allow time to dry and buff clean to resist fingerprints and smudges. No more kiddos fingerprints on the fridge.
Tennis Ball Bottle Opener
The rubbery interior of a tennis ball makes it perfect for gripping stubborn twist-off bottle caps or sticky jar lids. And the soft exterior eases the strain on your hands when bearing down on the item you’re trying to open. To make this handy bottle and jar opener, use a utility knife to cut a tennis ball in half. For safety, stabilize the tennis ball in a vise or clamp it to a work surface while cutting, so it doesn’t move around.
Make Your Own Ice Pack
Ice packs are a great way to keep your lunch cool, but they’re a bit expensive if you’re in the habit of losing them. This DIY ice pack hack is re usable, so it is good for the a home cook and the environment.
The Best Way to Deal with Broken Glass
Broken glass items such as bottles, light bulbs, glassware, mirrors and windows can be a serious safety hazard if not disposed of properly. Broken glass should always be placed inside of something that will not be punctured by shards of glass. So sweep broken glass into an empty cereal box before throwing it away in a garbage bag. This prevents the glass from ripping the garbage bag and creating another hazardous mess.
Let me know if you liked any of these ideas. By the way, if you love reading magazines, like I do, Check out magazines.com. I get all my favorite magazines for only $2 each for a full year. After I read them, I pass on to a friend, who passes on to my other friend, who passes them down to her mom. My mags sure get around!
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Very useful tips!
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Thank you Jonetta, so glad you liked them!!!
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Reblogged this on olderfatterhappierdotcom and commented:
More great hints from Kelly!
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Thank you so much! I’m so happy!!!
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Particularly liked the tennis ball jar and bottle opener, and the banana hanging idea, both will serve me well! Thanks for a fascinating blog!
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I can’t tell you how happy that makes me! Thank you! I would love to see a pic when your done to add to the post!
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I shared the cut-open tennis ball Idea with a friend just today. And I am gonna hang my bananas under my cupboard next time i have a bunch of them! Great and helpful ideas, all of them!
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Phoebe, I am so glad you liked them….Love to see a pic and share with everyone if okay? kelleysdiy@gmail.com
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Brilliant ideas! I’ll be using some 🙂
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Awesome! Thank you so much!
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These are all so clever if not damn near genius. I will be using many of them 🙂 Thank you.
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Oh My Goodness!!! Thank you so very much!! What a compliment!
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Thank you for such useful tips . Do find time to visit my post on cooking here https://sunniesmybunnies.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/15-reasons-on-why-you-should-cook-with-your-kids/ 🌼
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Love your blog and your sweet kiddos! I love the cooking with the kids! So much fun!
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Thank you so much 🌼
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❤️️☺️
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Those are all amazing ideas!
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I’m so glad you liked them Robin!!! Which is a help to you?
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Which is one you will most likely use?
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Definitely the 6 pack holder on the fridge door. We have a bunch of little bottles that are always falling out. Polishing the stove is a great one too.
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I’m glad you liked them Robin, thank you for looking!
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So many great ideas as always.
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Thank you so much! Which interested you?☺️❤️️
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Too many to list them all but I especially liked the muffin tin as a condiment tray.
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☺️❤️️
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Great tips! Definitely using the one to clean my cast iron skillet!
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Wonderful! I am so glad you found it useful☺️❤️️
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The salt in the cast iron frying pan TOTALLY worked. I used to soak it in salt water for a time, then scrub, but no more. Thank you!
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That’s what I love to hear! I am so happy it helped and has made your life just a little bit easier! Stay tuned…next week giveaway starts!
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Thank you loved this
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Oh, you’re so welcome..it’s really my pleasure hearing from readers with their comments..thank you so much!☺️❤️️
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Thank you for sharing these are handy for sure!
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I’m so sorry, I just saw your comment! Thank you for checking out my hints for the home cook!😊❤️️🤗
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Not a problem keep them coming!
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🤗❤️️
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