LIFE HACKS Before LIFE HACKS were COOL!

Guys, the other day as I was scrolling through Pinterest I realized that I had been sharing Life Hacks, long before Life Hacks were really a thing! What? I was a head of the curve for something. 

That truly has never happened!

While I didn't call them LIFE HACKS I did call them Lifesavers, and I had an entire Lifesavers Series dedicated to them weekly! Just random little hacks that I used to get by! Crazy right!?!  

Here are some of my favorites, that I still use a few years later!

Shred Chicken in a MIXER! 

I don't have a kitchen aid, but this mixer here! Ive had for 10 years and it is going strong! Highly recommend!

Shaker Top for Mason Jars!

(we all know my love for all things canning and jars!) 

Bleach Wipes Solution

which led to Reusable Bleach Wipes!

Now, I'm digging through the archives to find all my Life Hacks, from before they were considered Life Hacks! Ha!

What is your favorite life hack?

*This post contains affiliate links, if you purchase something after using one of my recommendation links I receive a small percentage at no cost to you!*

{Tip} Sifting Flour without a Sifter!

Do you sift your flour when baking? I do.

Some recipes call for you to do so, and others don't.

But I have made it a habit to sift all my flour, because I find it does help.

 I know for a fact, I make a molasses cookie that if you don't sift you can tell. The color, texture and taste is completely different While other recipes you may not be able to tell, but I started to sift all the time so that I wouldn't forget in recipe that called for it.

So your probably thinking, how does she sift all her recipes without a sifter? Well, I don't.

I have a small hand held sifter, but the other day when I went to sift flour it was dirty.

And I knew if I washed it, it would make more of a mess if I didn't get it dry.

So I went digging through  my cabinets and had an aha! moment.

My cheese grater. Yup. Sounds weird, but in a bind it worked! 

I put my sifter in a large bowl, scooped some flour inside.

Then using a spoon, I tapped the sides and pushed the flour around!  

Yes, it probably took a little longer than my sifter. But it got the job done!

Look at that! Light fluffy flour! Without a sifter!

What tools do you use not for their original purpose?

Plus! Stop by on Friday to see what I needed sifted flour for!

Foaming Soap Refill

As I continue to Purge. Organize. Clean. Repeat. I came across an empty foaming bottle that I had put under the sink for when the second one was empty.  I got them cheap with coupons when they were on sale, or else I would not have bought them honestly. Holy expensive, and my kids will use an entire bottle if no one is looking!

So before I threw them out I looked to see if I could refill it, and low and behold I can.

All you need to do is put 1/5 of the bottle full of soap, I would get even less because if its too thin you can always add more. But if its too thick, you will clog up your foaming nozzle.

I used baby soap, and its been great having it in the tub for the kids! 

I have also done my second one with dish soap, and love it!

Add water. 

I would say use water from a bottle or fill a cup, just so that it isn't pressurized from your tap. 

If you try from the tap, it will bubble up and make a mess.

Pour your water in slowly. Add your top, mix it  up a little. Don't shake, just swish it around.

What Household Hacks have you figured out lately?

Lifesavers Series: Shredding Chicken

How many of your recipes tell you to shred your meat? 

I can think of at least 3 off the top of my head!

When I saw this on pinterest, I thought it was too good to be true!

Take your cooked meat, I tried it with Chicken.

Put it in your stand mixer, or a bowl to use a hand mixer.

Turn it on. I used low, then went up to medium.

Can you believe it? So awesome. Quesadilla night will never be the same again!

Have you done this? Isn't it amazing?

Any amazing lifesavers tips you've found lately?

Lifesavers Series: Orange Vinegar

Just another tip to save you some time, money and frustration!

When I first saw this pin, I thought huh. Makes sense orange cleaner like you buy in store. 

But then I got thinking about my vacuum. I have a Rainbow vacuum that uses a water bowl, to catch all the dust and dirt in. And you can buy special "oil" to add in to make your house smell but they can't create bubbles. Trust me. Don't add liquid potpouri, it bubbles. But I do sometimes add vinegar to the water to help make it smell better than mud.  

Well now my house can smell citrus-y fresh!  

So, I know I will probably use it more in my vacuum than a citrus/vinegar cleaner but it's nice to have found an at home version!

Lifesavers Series: Shaker Top on Ball Jar

Just another tip to save you some time, money and frustration!

Saw this out in blogland and had to try it! 

At first I didn't believe it! But a cheese shaker lid fits onto a regular (not wide mouth) ball jar! 

Oh the possibilities!  I'm thinking craft storage, spice storage maybe?

Just wish they weren't green!  

Lifesavers Series: Humidity Free Cookies!

Just another tip to save you some time, money and frustration!

Ugh! This time of year, my fridge is packed. Not because of my garden, but because of my cabinets! 

Yup, my cabinets just don't keep food from getting soggy in the humidity! So in a desperate attempt to not have to throw out anymore cookies, crackers or chips out, I put them in the fridge. 

Sometimes I just stick the item in its original packaging, but sometimes I put them in the tupperware. Either way, my cookies stay fresh and not soggy.

And like I said, it works for any crunchy cracker, chip or cookie that I've tried it with!

Lifesavers: DIY Air Freshener

Just another tip to save you some time money and frustration!

Now, when I ran across this diy air freshner on pinterest. I had the light bulb go off and a duh moment!

Genius!  

Think about it, we put boxes of baking soda in our fridges to absorb stinky food odors. 

Why not do that for our rooms too!

All you need is baking soda and essential oil, oh and something to put it in!  

(I'm going to hammer some pretty holes in my lid!)

Wow. So simple, but works!

Lifessaver Series: Pan Scrub

Just another tip to save you some time, money and frustration!

Today I am sharing a tip that somewhat worked for me, found here. Normally if a tip doesn't work for me I don't share, but this one worked to an extent. And I think if I used it before pan got this bad, and I continue to work at it. It will work.

To scrub your pans make a paste out of:

Peroxide

Baking Soda

(I poured my baking soda over my pan, and then dripped the peroxide on top.  Adding more of each if needed)

Here's my pan before. This pan is used for french fries, chicken wings you name it. 

Normally with a piece of foil, that cleans up most of the grease.  But not all, obviously.

Here it is with scrubbing three times.  A little progress. But very slow.

So my thought is the next time I use this pan I'm going to try using the baking soda, peroxide "paste" when the pan is still warm. And each time I use it the paste hopefully it will get better?

Have you tried to clean your pans with peroxide and baking soda? 

I've seen all over that it works for a bunch of things but I'm not 100% sold yet..

Lifesavers Series: Cleaning Fruit

Just another tip to save you some time, money and some frustration!

This week I stumbled upon two great tips that I know are going to be used this weekend!

Seeing as we are buying more and more fresh fruit ( it's back in season, yea!) I wanted to know how I should be cleaning it!

Luckily for me I found two great examples on how to first clean fruit...

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and how to pick a perfect watermelon, and how to get the most out of your watermelon by how you cut it!

   

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Lifesavers Series: Cleaning my Fan

Just another tip to save you some time, money and some frustration!

{source}

This is what I've been up to this week!

And boy am I glad I found this tip!

Fortunately  I only have one fan ( for now!) and unfortunately it is in my kitchen. Gross. 

So I climbed up there with a pillow case and got to work.

Just slide your the pillowcase over the fan blade and pull all the dust inside. 

Worked like a charm! 

Lifesavers Series: An Entire Board Full!

Alright, I've been a bad blogger this week!  I didn't test out any new Lifesaver tips! 

But I do have a whole Lifesavers board of tips that I can share, from my pinterest!

I did pin a few that I want to get the ingredients for and try for next week though!

Here are some of my favorite tips from the past too!

Clean your dishwasher

Shower Magic

Tin Foil Saves Produce

There you have it, my top three Lifesavers tips! I use those on a daily/weekly/monthly basis now. 

Whats your favorite Lifesaver?

Lifesavers Series: Degreaser?

Just another tip to save you some time, money and frustration.

This week I'm not sure what to call this post.

But in the past, I called the same mixture Shower Magic.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I've been wanting to use this magic solution in my home other than the shower. And I found the perfect place.

My stove hood. 

Yup. Works like a charm!

I just spray it on the greasy hood, used a dry washcloth to work it in and ta-da!

 A clean hood!(Until we make bacon again!)

Lifesavers Series: Dried Out Baby Wipes

Just another tip to save you some time, money and some frustration!

Please tell me I am not the only person who finds open packages of wipes, after they are dried up?

I have a terrible habit of throwing wipes in the car, forgetting they are there, throwing in another package and then I have found two or three in there all dried up. Boo.

Not anymore! I used to just wet them, and they were okay. But this recipe makes them feel just like new!

Or if you are out, it tells you how to make some from paper towels!

2 cups water, 2 tbsp. Baby shampoo, and 1 tbsp baby oil.

(This makes quite a bit, so I just poured a little in each package until they were back to normal)