Day-to-day life can be overwhelming, but nowadays, we can search the web for endless ways to make things easier. But with so many tips and tricks, it can be hard to know what actually works and what'll be a total waste of time. That's why we've done the hard part for you and put together this helpful list of life hacks shared on TikTok that the online world can't stop boasting about. From home decor and cooking to clothing hacks, these will have you working smarter - not harder - in no time.
Turn Any Plastic Bag Into a Space-Saving Vacuum Storage Bag
Vacuum packing your belongings is a great way to store them for long periods or simply save space when traveling. That said, this usually requires that you go out and buy a special vacuum-sealed bag, but it turns out you can use the normal trash bags you have at home. Just take a vacuum and suck the air out of your trash bag while holding the opening around your vacuum's extension.
This should create the same effect as if you were to use some special, fancy bag. Just be careful not to let too much air back in when you remove your vacuum's extension.
Hold Your Straw Up Using the Tab
This is probably one of our favorite hacks on this list, and it's super simple. If you're someone who drinks their soda out of a can using a straw, then there's actually a really easy way to make sure your straw isn't flailing everywhere when you go down to take a sip. Just bend your can's tab forward, and you can use the hole in the tab to hold your straw in place.
That's all there is to it, and you won't have to do any more guesswork when you bend over to sip your drink and end up with a mouthful of air.
How to Easily and Quickly Thread a Needle
Threading a needle is one of the most frustrating tasks out there. Luckily though, it doesn't have to be with this hack. It turns out there's a really simple and fool-proof method to thread just about any needle. All you need to do is wrap the end of your thread in some tape and push the tape through the hole in the needle. This prevents any tiny fibers from getting caught in the borders of the hole.
You just have to make sure that you fold the tape thin enough to push it through the needle, or else it'll just be too thick to fit through the hole.
Strain Your Pasta More Efficiently
Pasta is a quick and easy option you can make for just about any meal. And while straining pasta isn't exactly difficult, there's always an easier way of doing something. This TikToker found that easier way when it comes to straining pasta. Instead of pouring your pasta into a strainer, it turns out all you have to do is cover your pot with the strainer and let the water strain out.
And we have to admit, it does look a bit more efficient and quicker than just pouring everything into the strainer and then going about making your pasta and sauce.
Pants a Little Small on You? Use This Hack to Keep Wearing Them
It can be frustrating when your favorite pair of jeans or pants no longer fit you like they used to. However, you don't have to go out immediately and buy a new pair of pants, and you don't even have to give up wearing the pair you already have. Instead, you can just take a hair tie and use it to fasten your pants without buttoning them all the way up.
Just slip one end of your hair tie around the button and thread the other end through the buttonhole and loop it back around to secure your favorite pair of jeans.
Remove Tendons From Chicken Without Wasting Any of It
Raw chicken can sometimes be a bit of a hassle to clean, especially when it comes to the tendons. Raw chicken is a bit slippery, but you don't want to have to cut off and waste meat just to remove a couple of tendons. Instead, try using a fork to remove any tendons you come across when preparing your meal. Just position the ends of a tendon between two prongs of a fork.
Next, press down on the chicken, and this should allow you to easily remove any tendons, saving you some time and frustration, as well as cutting down on any waste.
How to Cut a Cake Perfectly (no Knives Involved)
This hack seems pretty obvious once you know it, but there's actually a much better way to cut a cake, and it doesn't involve a knife. It actually involves using a cheese wire. This makes a lot of sense, considering how messy and uneven slices of cake can look after they've been cut using a knife. On the other hand, a cheese wire looks like it'd cut through a cake like butter.
We also love that this is one of those hacks that doesn't require a lot, all you need is a cheese wire and a cake, and you can get to cutting.
Get Perfect and Evenly Spaced Drapes
Ever seen a set of drapes with perfect even spaces between them? If you have, you've likely wondered how someone managed to get them that way. This might just be the answer. You can use toilet paper rolls to create perfectly even spaces in your drapes, and all you really have to do is slide the rolls between every other grommet in the drape. Nobody will be the wiser.
However, you might get a couple of people staring at your drapes and wondering how in the world they stay so perfectly spaced out and even, but that can be your little secret.
Keep Long Dresses From Sliding Off Hangers
It can be annoying when your clothes constantly fall off their hangers, especially after you have folded and washed them. However, there's a pretty simple method for ensuring that things like pants and dresses stay on their hangers. For pants, just take one of the legs and put it through the hole in the hanger. Then, just fold the other leg over the one already through the hole, and they should stay on.
If you're trying to hang a dress, then just fold the corners of your dress inward and then put the hanger around either the bottom or top third of your dress and pull it through.
How to Perfectly Wrap a Pan in Aluminum Foil
This is a great hack, even if you don't necessarily consider yourself a baker. It allows you to better shape and cover your pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil, which is important since it allows for a more even dispersion of heat. All you need to do is use the bottom of your pan to shape your aluminum foil, creating a perfectly shaped layer of aluminum foil you can place on the inside of your pan.
This is super easy, and it'll ensure that you don't end up with any wrinkles in your foil, which might affect the shape and how thoroughly your food ends up cooking.
Keep Things Clean and Hygienic When Working With Raw Meats
We're always looking for ways to avoid washing as many dishes as possible, so obviously, we jumped at this hack. The next time you have to pound chicken or any other type of meat, you can avoid washing your pounder by placing the meat inside a ziplock bag. This will keep you from washing one extra item whenever you finish cooking, but you should be careful not to pound the bag too hard.
You don't want to puncture the bag accidentally and potentially get any bacteria on your dishes or have to wash them after you finish. That would spoil the entire point of the hack.
No Pockets, No Problem
Hair ties are super versatile. They're so versatile that you can use them to keep track of your keys while wearing workout gear or when your clothes just don't have any pockets. Just take your hair tie and use it to fasten your keys to the inside of your shirt. Of course, you'll have to wear something, such as a sports bra, underneath, or your top will need some straps on the inside for you to fasten your keys to.
But if you're like us and you're constantly losing your keys, this is a great way to keep track of them while going for a run or working out at the gym.
Turn a Paper Towel Into a Convenient Snack Bag
Nobody likes having to do the dishes, especially not for something simple and quick. So, the next time you cook something light, why not try using paper towels as plates instead of dirtying up more dishes? If you have some paper towels lying around, you can take them and carefully open up the centers to create a little pouch that's perfect for light foods like popcorn, nuts, or even oats.
You can also just place some paper towels over your plate and place your food on top right after it finishes cooking to soak up some of that oil and make washing dishes easier.
Keep Those Flowers Perfectly Centered With This Hack
This hack is great for when you either don't have a vase at home or have one and simply don't like the way it looks. All you need is a couple of pieces of clear tape, and you can quickly turn your favorite glass into your new favorite vase. Just place the tape over the top of your glass, as shown in this photo, and place your flowers between the tape.
The tape should ensure that the flowers don't lean over and fall out of the glass, and you'll have a nice accent piece for the kitchen or living room. Just about any glass should work for this but, of course, the taller the glass, the better.
Open Your Mail More Efficiently
We realize that people don't get as much mail as they used to, but that doesn't mean companies and governments don't send you important documents through the mail anymore. And while it might be tempting to open those envelopes from the top (that is how they're supposed to be opened, after all), there's actually a much easier way. Opening your mail from the side is quicker and much less frustrating.
However, this one comes with a caveat, as you really want to be careful not to accidentally rip up any of the contents inside the envelope, especially if there is a check or money inside.
Use a Cupcake Casing When Grinding Coffee and Keep Everything Clean
For this one, you can use either a cupcake casing or a normal coffee filter, as they both work equally well. This will keep your counters from getting too messy due to the grinding process and save you time. Just place your filter or casing over your coffee grinder while you're grinding your beans, then use it as a strainer after you finish, and that's all there is to it.
This simple hack will ensure that your counters stay as clean as when you started, and you won't have to worry about a mess while brewing your favorite cup of coffee.
We've Been Eating Cupcakes Wrong This Entire Time
So, this one isn't really a hack exactly, but it definitely got us thinking. A TikToker claims that people have been eating cupcakes wrong their entire lives, and we think she might be on to something. According to her, you're supposed to cut or tear the cupcake in half and then eat it like a sandwich or an oreo. It sounds kind of crazy at first, but honestly, the more we look at it, the more it makes sense.
Cupcakes can be a bit messy the way they are, and you know what's not messy? A sandwich is what, especially one filled with icing and just all-around goodness. We'll have to give this one a shot the next time we find ourselves around cupcakes.
Keep Those Jeans Perfectly Cuffed
You don't have to go out and buy sewing materials or look up YouTube tutorials to cuff your jeans perfectly. All you really need is a hair tie. Just place it around the cuff of your jeans and roll them up to hide the hair tie. Not only is this a cheap alternative to buying a brand-new pair of jeans, but it'll probably also save you a lot of time searching for the right fit.
This hack comes at just the right point in time, too, since 80s fashion and styles are probably more popular than they have been since... well, the 1980s.
Keep Chips From Going Stale With This Sealing Trick
It might be tempting to finish off a bag of chips after you open them. After all, if you don't, then they're more likely than not to go stale and taste worse the next time you open the bag. However, finishing an entire bag of chips in one sitting probably isn't the best thing for our health, and there's actually an easy way to keep those chips fresher for longer.
Just fold the two corners of your bag and roll the top backward. This should allow you to fold the flaps and create a seal. And don't forget to squeeze the bag to release as much air as possible.
The Best Way to Reheat Pizza
Yes, we know that title is bold, considering everyone has a different way to reheat their pizza, and they all swear by it. However, this method really does do a good job of reheating pizza evenly. Instead of throwing your pizza in the microwave or oven, put it in a pan and throw a lid on top. Turn your stove to medium heat and wait around five minutes or so.
The lid helps ensure that the top of your pizza is warmed enough to remelt the cheese, while the pan will make sure that the bottom of your pizza is crispy.
Remove Stems From Fresh Herbs in a Jiffy
Who doesn't like using fresh herbs when they're cooking? They're far better than the mass-produced dry herbs you find in containers at the supermarket. And it turns out that there's actually a really neat way to easily remove the stems from any herbs you buy from the market or produce yourself. All you need is a cheese grater, allowing you to pull herbs through, stem first, to separate leaves from stems. This will allow for easier preparation before drying and before cooking.
So, if you have a small garden or are thinking about starting one, then why not give this simple hack a try? We're sure your taste buds will thank you for it.
You Don't Need to Throw Out Leggings Just Cause the Elastic Is Stretched Out
Leggings are great for so many occasions, but unfortunately, the elastic in them can wear out quicker than the actual garment. This is not only frustrating, but it can also lead to a lot of waste. Luckily, there's an easy fix, and it doesn't require any sewing. Just take some shoelaces, or two if yours are short, and tie them around your waist. Then, just fold the top of your leggings over to hide the laces, and you should be good to go.
You could also fold your leggings down before you tie the laces and just fold them back up, but either way works just fine and can save you some money.
Perfectly Cut a Mango
Mangos are a great summertime snack, but they can sometimes be difficult to prepare. Luckily, there's actually a really easy way to slice a mango. All you need to do is make a bunch of intersecting cuts on the inside of your mango slice. You should end up with cuts in the shape of squares. Just make sure that your cuts are deep enough. They should extend all the way down to the skin of the mango.
Then, just push the mango inside out, and this will allow you to easily cut off all of the little squares and leave you with a bowl of uniformly cut mango pieces.
Make Sure You Get Butter in All the Right Places
Nothing beats movie theater popcorn. But we think everyone can agree that sometimes we wish there was a better way to get more butter in the bucket. Well, it turns out that there actually is, and all you need is a straw. Just take your straw and use it to guide the butter to the bottom of the bucket, slowly working your way up to ensure that you coat all of your popcorn.
This is one of those hacks we wish we would've known about years in advance because this would've seriously changed our movie-going experience. But we suppose best late than never.
Store Forgot to Remove the Security Tag? No Problem
Most of the time, an employee at the store will remove any security tags that might be on your new clothes. However, sometimes they forget, and you don't notice the mistake until you're already at home. When that happens, odds are you're not going to feel like going all the way back to the store. Fortunately, there's a hack to remove security tags, and all it involved are two forks.
Just position the inside of the tag between the prongs of the two forks and then give it a good twist until the tag pops off, which shouldn't require too much twisting.
The Best Way to Slice a Pepper
Here's another great cooking hack. Sometimes slicing bell peppers can be a bit annoying, especially if you're trying to ensure you get all the seeds out. However, there is a better way. All you need to do is place the bell pepper on its top and cut off the corners in quarters. You can use the seams along each quarter as a guide for where to make your cuts.
This will leave you with four slices and no extra seeds. You can even place the quarters on top of each other and slice or dice them as needed afterward.
Make Your Bed Corners Ridiculously Perfect
There's nothing better than a nicely made bed, but there's also nothing more frustrating than when your sheets aren't fitting just perfectly. If that happens, then here's a hack to ensure that your sheets always look nice and neat when they're on your bed. Just take the corner of your sheet and fold a side of it underneath your mattress. You then do the same thing with the other side until you have nothing left hanging over.
This tip is especially useful if you have an unfitted sheet and dread putting it on your bed when all your fitted sheets are dirty or drying off after a wash.
Use This Trick Next Time You're in a Public Restroom
Walking into a restroom stall and noticing the lock is broken is never a recipe for a good time. Sure, you could chance it and hope nobody tries to walk in, but there's an easy way to lock broken stall doors, and all you need is a hair tie. Just place one end of the hair tie on the lock and swing the other end through the hole the lock is supposed to slide into.
Next, slide the other end of the hair tie on the locking mechanism, and there you have it. You can now use the restroom comfortably, knowing there's no chance anyone will accidentally walk in.
Make an Easy and Delicious Egg Sandwich
So, egg sandwiches aren't the most complicated things to make, but there's probably an even easier way to make one you've never thought of before. Just pour your eggs into a hot pan with oil or butter, place two slices of bread down and then flip them both over. Make sure that the slices of bread are touching and facing in the same direction. Next, flip everything over, including the omelet.
You can flip one of the slices over and on top of the other, forming a sandwich. Just make sure you wait long enough for the bread to toast properly.
Open Bottles in Style
We could all do with a cool new way to open a bottle. When there isn't a bottle opener to be found, most people just choose to open their bottle with a lighter or something similar, but there's another way, and all it requires is another bottle. Hold the two bottles together with the cap of one underneath the other. Then gently give the lower bottle a slight kick with your heel.
This should pop open the top bottle similarly to a bottle opener. However, it might take a couple of tries to get it just right and learn how much force is needed.
Pizza Boxes Have a Secret Function
Pizza is awesome. We don't think there's any debating that fact. However, the boxes they come in aren't the easiest to store or throw away. They can end up taking up a lot of room even when there are only a couple of slices left. But it turns out that they're actually made to be refolded and sized down. Just tear off the top of your pizza box, along with the sides.
Next, fold the box over, and it should close the same as it would if there was still a top on the box. You can then easily store it in your fridge for the next day.
Use Salt to Wash Your Vegetables
A couple of green vegetables can go a long way in spicing up most dishes. However, you need to be careful to remove any excess dirt or chemicals when rinsing, and there's a really easy way of doing so. Just fill a large bowl or small pot with water and a healthy amount of salt. After you quickly rinse your vegetables, throw them in the salt water and let them sit for around 15 minutes.
The water should clean off any extra debris better than simply rinsing would, and you can even see the results after you pull them out, making us wish we knew about this hack sooner.
Get the Most Meat Out of Your Wings
This is a really neat hack for anyone who loves chicken wings and is known for cleaning them to the bones. All you need to do is hold the wing on both sides, pinch, twist, and pull. This will cleanly remove all of the meat from the chicken wing. And yes, we know that this kind of takes away from the experience of eating chicken wings around the bone, but just think of how much more meat you'll actually get.
It'll also keep you from accidentally biting into any bone and cut down on waste, as you're actually eating all of the meat on the wings when using this method.
You Don't Need a Bowl to Eat Cereal
Okay, so this one is a bit goofy, but it's actually kind of cool, and it could be helpful if you're ever camping or just don't feel like trying at life and cleaning a bowl. You can actually eat cereal right out of the box. Just tear one side of the box off, cut off one side of the wrapper or packaging on the inside, and you have a homemade bowl.
You can even pour milk into it, and it should hold. Now, whether you should actually eat an entire box of cereal in one sitting or not is an entirely different story.
Your New Favorite Breakfast
Let's face it, while we all wish we had enough time in the mornings to prepare a perfectly balanced breakfast, that's probably never going to be the case. At best, most of us have enough time to prepare some eggs, sausages, and maybe even hashbrowns, and at worst, we're scrambling to fill a bowl full of cereal. However, there is a better way, and all it involves is dicing up an apple.
This might sound pretty plain, but it's actually really healthy, and you can add tons of other things to it, such as milk, honey, grains, seeds, and just about anything else you want. It's also much better for you than a bowl (or box) of cereal.