Christmas bow made from a manly extension cord on wood. Photo: David15 (Getty).
Life hacks are great for a lot of reasons. Most importantly, they make everyday situations easier as long as you use them wisely. Plus, there is no greater satisfaction than figuring out a simpler way to use a product that you somehow overlooked (possibly for decades). The following batch of easy-to-use cheats aren’t exactly going to blow your mind, but if you’ve gotten this far without them, they’ll serve as a huge relief. Of course, if you’re the kind of person who is drinking soda from a straw out of a can, we’ve got another free life hack that you should probably get on toot sweet: cups. Seriously, you have no idea where those cans have been.
Who knew simple things could be so simple…er? If only there were hacks for the more complicated aspects of everyday life, like cleaning out the gutters on your house. Sadly, there are just some tasks you can’t easily weasel your way out of.
Built-In Life Hacks
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Soda Cans
The tabs aren't just for opening your drink. Once you have that accomplished (a mild feat, but a win's a win), flip those bad boys around to hold your straw in place.
Can and Straw. Photo: stayorgo (Getty).
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Pots And Pans
Those little holes at the end of the handles aren't just for hanging your kitchenware. They also come in handy while cooking. As long as you're using a spoon, hold it in place utilizing your new best friend to avoid any added messes.
Directly Above Shot Of Cooking Pan And Wooden Spoon By Napkin On Table. Photo: Natalya Danko / EyeEm (Getty).
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Applesauce And Yogurt Cups
You might get upset when you open one of these, only to realize there isn't a spoon in sight...or is there?
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Sandwich Cookies
Now to make the awkward transition from spoon to fork. Since no one likes getting their hands dirty (or milky, for that matter), why not dip your Oreos the way the cookie gods intended? The creamy center was practically designed to stick forks into it.
Stacks Of Sandwich Cookies Against White Background. Photo: Antonio Desideri / EyeEm (Getty).
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Extension Cords
This one is kind of a no-brainer, but still worth mentioning to those who get particularly frustrated when extension cords come unplugged. The best way to avoid this is to simply tie them together first. They practically tell you this is possible (and downright practical) by getting tangled all the time by themselves.
Close-up of a young man holding a plug. Photo: rubberball (Getty).
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Tennis Balls
Cut a slit in one of these, hang it on your wall, and you've got yourself a bona fide key holder (candy lips optional).
create a multi-purpose holder with an used tennis ball. Photo: Luis Diaz Devesa (Getty).
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Fuel Gauges
No matter how hard you try to commit it to memory, you will never be 100 percent sure what side of your car the gas tank is on. Fortunately, most vehicles indicate it to you right on the dashboard with a helpful arrow in either direction. No embarrassing three-point turnarounds for you today.
Gas gauge in a car. Photo: Daniel Grill (Getty).
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Smartphones
Your phone is practically an extension of your body at this point. Therefore, if you misplace it, you've lost a part of yourself. So simply put the basic elements right on your home screen. Including basic contact info (email or alt. phone) on your background photo is the best way to ensure you get it back without anyone snooping through it.
Hand of mixed race communicating with cell phone. Photo: Donald Iain Smith
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Apple Laptop Chargers
Crack open a cold one. You've earned it. Cheers!
