Okay, so maybe it takes a bunch of plastic forks, and there’s no guarantee that they’ll actually keep critters out of your garden or potted plants, but some people still insist it works for smaller pests. The thing about inserting a bunch of plastic forks upside down in the ground of your front lawn is this: it looks super tacky. But hey, if you’re determined to try anything to keep the pests from crawling around in your plants, you can give it a shot!
If you think about it, the forks actually do make some sense. After all, they serve the same purpose as chicken wire – to deter and block pests from certain areas. They won’t keep everything away, but they’ll make it less likely for snails and some small animals to harm your plants. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t have a drawer full of extra forks from takeout restaurants just rearing to go for this project?
Keep Your Sponge Fresh With a Binder Clip
Holding your dish sponges with binder clips is a great way to keep them on your sink without taking up so much space. And, as an added bonus, this method of storage helps air-dry them quickly—which is more sanitary and keeps bacteria from building up on the sponge. It should also be noted that this wonderful method of air-drying your sponges and keeping them easy to access is dirt cheap.
Binder clips cost next to nothing; chances are, you already have more than a few of them in your home anyway! If you don’t already, they’re definitely worth picking up the next time you’re out at the office supply store. Not only can you use them for the kitchen sink, but they’re always good to keep around just in case you need to, you know, hold a number of different pieces of paper together, right?
All-Natural Mosquito Repellent
No one wants mosquitoes hanging around their house or garden. No one says, “Hey, let’s set up these plants so we attract as many of those little bloodsuckers as possible!” Quite the opposite, in fact. But so many mosquito repellants rely on chemicals to deter the itchy little bastards. Luckily, there’s a way to keep them away from your garden without spending too much money or risking your health.
If you haven’t noticed when you’re buying candles or sprays that are anti-mosquito, one of the main ingredients is usually citronella – which is one of the reasons why this hack works so brilliantly! This particular grouping of plants is enough to keep the bugs away independently–no spray is needed. All you need to do is plant some citronella geranium with marigold, lemongrass, thyme, and catnip in your garden or in pots around your house. Bonus: your cats will love you for planting catnip – seriously.
Use Baby Food Jars for Spices
Anyone who has an infant or a toddler in the house can tell you that they are in no way having a shortage of baby food jars. If you do not like the idea of throwing away a perfectly good jar, let alone how they just sit in the landfills for all of eternity, then this hack is perfect for you. Take those clean baby food jars, and use them as a storage container for your spices in your spice rack.
By using the same jars for different spices, you will have a nice and uniform look, plus you will be able to see what jar contains which spice. We would also recommend labeling each jar with the name of the spice inside it. For that, you can use blank stickers or a permanent marker.
Stinky Sneakers No More
The plague of smelly sneakers has been around since, well, the invention of sneakers, probably. The odor is one that can not be mistaken, and once it is in the lining of the sneaker — you're doomed. The smell seems to be the most daunting problem to rid oneself of. Not only is it a nuisance, particularly in potentially embarrassing social situations, It feels like something you can't get away from.
Don't worry! There is a way to get that persistent funk out, but it requires a four-step process in order to work. First, wash the sneakers and allow them to air dry. Once that is done, sprinkle them with deodorizing power, preferably a homemade version. Next, stuff them with newspaper and allow them to sit overnight. Finally, place them into your deep freezer for several hours.