Taking care of a home can be tough – at least if you do things the way people tell you to do them. If you’re too smart (or lazy) to walk the beaten path, checking out these home hacks can change your life.
Learn to Repair Your Fridge
Can you read a basic repair manual? If so, this hack is for you. See your fridge? It can cost a few thousand bucks to replace. If you learn to fix your refrigerator, though, you’ll be able to put that off for years. Seriously, learning how to fix your refrigerator is one of those hacks that really can save you some money.
Pay Attention to Fan Direction
You know that little switch on your fan that switches the direction in which it spins? It turns out that it actually has a purpose! If you set your fan to go counter-clockwise, it’s going to pull the cool air up. The other way around will push air back down. Switch them out to save on your energy bills and get the most out of your fans.
Magnets Matter
Magnets are awesome. If you’ve got anything metal, congratulations – you can use magnets to hang those items up. A magnet strip on the kitchen wall is great for hanging knives or kitchen tools, while a strip in the pantry is great for spices. You can even put magnets under the cabinets to hold metal lids. Seriously, magnets are awesome.
Go Vertical
If you’re hurting for space, you’ve got to look at your walls. Walls are great places to hang more than just art, especially when you’re trying to maximize floor space. You can hang chairs, bikes, yard tools – if it fits on a hook, you need to think about keeping it up and out of the way. Don’t be afraid to look at the ceiling, either- hanging bikes from the ceiling is a time-honored tradition in the suburbs and one that you might want to embrace yourself.
Shoe Organizers
The humble shoe organizer is an ugly piece of decor that’s not so great for shoes, but it is great for virtually everything else. Want to keep your toiletries organized in the bathroom? Shoe organizer. Kids can’t keep their toys straight? Shoe organizer. Trying to figure out where all of your crafting supplies should go? Shoe organizer. If all else fails, you can probably even put shoes in there.
Sticky Lights!
Don’t have the budget for LED lighting everywhere? Grabbing a handful of battery-operated lights can be a real game-changer. Throw them in the pantry, under your sink – anywhere that needs some more light, really. Doing so will make your home look amazing and cost next to nothing.
These hacks all solve small problems, but they can make a huge difference. Don’t be afraid to get creative when you’re taking care of your home. If you put in the work, you can transform a space without blowing your budget.