A few years ago, I may or may not have stained our back steps while working on a post about making your own firestarters using egg cartons, dryer lint, and melted wax. (Okay, so I definitely did stain the step. But in my defense, I figured it would be relatively easy to pour the melted wax into an egg carton without making a mess. This did not turn out to be the case.) The greasy wax left behind an unsightly stain on the concrete steps, and to put it briefly, my husband was not pleased.

Even though I don’t really understand why something like a concrete stain would drive him crazy, I DO understand getting irrationally upset over little things once in a while. ;-) There are a hundred little habits of his that drive me up the wall, and sometimes I get a little more annoyed by them than I should. But that’s just part of being married for as long as we have, and we’ve found that trying to solve the problem usually helps smooth things over. So for my husband’s sake, I resolved to find a way to eliminate that stain for good and restore our clean concrete.

After a lot of digging around online, I finally came across a tip that sounded promising. Someone claimed that Drano (yes, the stuff you use to unclog drains) can help clean concrete. I was willing to give it a try, and let me tell you, it worked so much better than I could have imagined! The greasy, waxy stain virtually disappeared, as did the other small greasy stains I tried it on. Here’s how it works, so you can use this miracle concrete cleaner too!

How to Clean Concrete Stains

You’ll need:

• Drain cleaner*
• Stiff scrub brush
• Paper towels
• Hose

*Note: I used Drano Max Gel, but I’m sure other similar cleaners would work well too!

Directions:

Start by squeezing or pouring drain cleaner onto the stain to cover it. Let the cleaner sit on the stain for a few minutes to help it sink it.

Then take a stiff scrub brush and give the stain a good scrub (be sure to use a nylon brush as a metal brush can damage concrete). Use that elbow grease! :-)

Once the stain has lifted, use paper towels to mop up as much of the cleaner and stain as possible. (You may want to use gloves for this part to make sure you’re not making too much contact with the drain cleaner.) Dispose of the paper towels.

Finally, take your garden hose and rinse the area thoroughly with plenty of water. There won’t be very much cleaner remaining, but you’ll still want to dilute any remaining cleaner as much as possible so it doesn’t hurt the environment.

I think the pictures capture just how effectively this method works! If you have tough concrete stains that you haven’t be able to remove, I definitely recommend giving this method a try. And who knows, it could just save your marriage too! ;-)

Have you tried to remove a stain from concrete?

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Throughout my blogging career, I’ve discovered and shared new uses for clothespins, coffee filters, clear nail polish, and a whole lot more. So when I first encountered the idea that hairspray could be used as a simple sealant around the house, I had to learn more!

As it turns out, hairspray is a pretty handy tool to keep on hand, and an inexpensive one at that! If you don’t normally use hairspray and want to buy some for any of the purposes listed below, feel free to choose the cheapest option — it’ll work just as well!

12 Practical Household Uses for Hairspray

1. Add Grip to Hair Accessories

Before putting bobby pins in your hair, spray them with hairspray so that they stay put!

2. Prevent (or Halt) Runs in Tights

Spray a new pair of tights to keep them from running. You can also use hairspray to stop a run that’s already started!

3. Speed Up Your Manicure

After painting your nails, spray them with hairspray to make the polish dry faster.

4. Keep Dust off Your Curtains

Spray your curtains to keep them looking beautiful and dust-free!

5. Prevent Skirts and Dresses from Clinging

If your skirt or dress is sticking to your legs, use hairspray to eliminate the static.

6. Add Shine to Gifts

Spray wrapped gifts to make your wrapping look shiny.

7. Preserve Art Projects

Spray over your kids’ artwork to set colored pencils, crayon and markers. It will also preserve chalk art on the sidewalk!

8. Turn a Towel into a Makeshift Lint Roller

Spray a clean towel, and then use the towel to remove lint and pet hair from your clothes, furniture or carpet.

9. Thread Needles Effortlessly

Spray the tip of your thread before running it through a needle.

10. Protect Flowers’ Color as They Dry

Coat a rose before hanging it to dry. The hairspray will preserve the color!

11. Tame Unruly Eyebrows

Hairspray a toothbrush, and use it to tame unruly eyebrows.

12. Remove Ink Stains from Fabric

Ink stains come right out after being sprayed with hairspray! Click here to learn how.

What other uses for hairspray would you add to this list?

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While we all already make an effort to clean our sheets and blankets on a regular basis, other bedding items can present more of a challenge. Both for my own benefit and for yours, I’ve made an effort to find and share solutions to help us keep all of our bedding clean (like how to clean and freshen your mattress, for instance!)

I have another bedding solution to share with you today, in the form of a simple way to freshen and lightly clean your bed pillows! But before we get into that, let’s start by discussing why you ought to freshen up your pillows the first place.

Related: How to Rescue Your Old Yellowed Pillows

The Problem(s) with Pillows

Our pillows go through a lot as we rest our heads on them night after night. Not only are they subjected to body oil, sweat, and the occasional drool spot, but they are also constantly compressed by the weight of our heads.

These conditions can eventually take their toll on a pillow, leaving it stained, flattened, damp, and even a bit musty-smelling. Luckily, there’s a simple solution that can help you address all of these issues at once—giving it a bit of fresh air and sunshine!

The Benefits of Airing Out Your Pillows

Our grandmothers were firm believers in the restorative powers of sunlight and fresh air, and for good reason! We now know that ultraviolet rays from the sun can actually kill germs and bacteria, which is part of why airing out your pillows outdoors is such a good idea.

Another reason to air out your pillows in the sun is that it helps eliminate any moisture that may have been trapped inside. Even trace amounts of moisture can attract dust mites and germs, and it can also hinder the fluffiness or loft of your pillow.

After a few hours of fresh air and sunshine, your pillow will be cleaner, fresher, and fluffier—what more could you want? :-)

How to Air Out Your Pillows

To air out your pillows, try to pick a day that’s sunny, warm, and not too humid or windy. (Humid conditions can prevent your pillow from drying out completely, and debris kicked up by wind may leave it dirtier than it was before!)

Start by removing the pillowcase and any protective coverings, set the pillow outside in full sun (on a trash bag if the surface is dirty). After a couple of hours, flip the pillow over to expose the other side.

As far as how long to leave it, the longer you leave it out in the sun and fresh air, the better. But if that isn’t possible for whatever reason, even an hour or two in the sun can make a difference!

Do you use fresh air and sunshine to freshen things up?

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While those bleach gel pens they sell in the laundry aisle at the store do have a certain appeal in term of convenience, I’ve never been able to justify buying one. I just couldn’t justify the cost, especially for something I would only use occasionally!

So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered that not only is it possible to make your own bleach gel pen at home, but that it costs literally pennies to make! That’s all the justification I needed, and it was so much easier than I could have imagined too!

Today I’ll be showing you how it’s done so that you can make your own bleach gel pen at home. I’ll also share a few practical and fun ways to put your homemade bleach pen to good use! :-)

How to Make a DIY Bleach Gel Pen

You’ll need:

• 1 cup water
• 2-4 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/3 cup liquid bleach
• Small saucepan
• Whisk
• Glass measuring cup
• Squeeze bottle

Directions:

Add the water and about 3 tablespoons of cornstarch to the saucepan. (Feel free to use slightly more if you want a thicker gel, or slightly less if you want it to be on the thin/watery side.) Whisk the mixture until the cornstarch has dissolved completely.

Place the saucepan over medium heat, whisking continuously, until the mixture comes to a boil. Make sure to keep whisking as it heats, or the mixture will quickly turn into a gloopy mess!

Remove the pan from heat and pour the thickened gel mixture into a heat-safe glass measuring cup to cool completely. Once cooled, add the bleach, stir well, then pour the finished bleach gel into a squeeze bottle.

3 Ways to Use Your Bleach Gel Pen

1. Remove Stains from White Clothes

This bleach gel pen will help you make short work of all manner of unsightly food splatters and drink spills on white clothing.

Just cover the stained area with bleach gel, let it sit for a couple of hours, then wash as usual to remove the stains.

2. Restore Stained Grout

While bleach isn’t my first choice as a grout cleaner, it can really come in handy for tackling stubborn grout stains and areas of discoloration. Learn more about how to clean grout here.

3. Create Custom Designs

And finally, you can use your bleach gel pen to create custom designs on colored fabrics. The applications for this are virtually limitless, as you can customize everything from clothing to throw pillow covers and beyond!

Just draw your chosen design onto the fabric you want to customize, then let the bleach gel sit and dry for a few hours. After waiting, machine wash the item in cold water, and you’re done!

Have you ever used a bleach gel pen at home?

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For over a decade now, I’ve made it my personal mission to find and share tips, products, and ideas that make homemaking easier, and that’s why I’ll be showing you how to use Bissell Little Green machines in this post. Clean carpets and rugs can be tricky to maintain, so this little green carpet cleaner could make a great addition to your arsenal of cleaning tools.

I was initially introduced to the BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner via TikTok, where I watched video after video of people using it to clean spills and messes around the house. Between its compact size and affordable price tag, it certainly held more appeal for me than a rental for carpet cleaning.

What Are People Saying About the BISSELL Little Green Carpet Cleaner?

To find out more about this mini cleaning machine, I started by checking out the Amazon listing and customer reviews. The sheer volume of rave reviews there is certainly impressive! Here are a couple that caught my eye:

• “If they had 10 stars I would give them all… this was the best purchase of the year for me. It turned my couch from disgusting to almost new.”
• “This machine got all the dirt out, and to think I just found out about it on TikTok!!!”

So far, so good! I was intrigued, so much so that I had to buy a BISSELL Little Green Carpet Cleaner to give it a try for myself! Several of the videos and reviews I’d looked at specifically mentioned the Oxy cleaning solution, so I made sure to buy that as well. (There was a small bottle of cleaning solution included with the machine, but it wasn’t the Oxy that supposedly packs more of a punch against dirt.)

Testing the BISSELL Little Green Machine

After unboxing the machine and setting it up, I tested it out on a pet stain on a rug and a slightly grimy upholstered headboard. I’m pleased to report that this little cleaning machine was every bit as effective at removing stains and dirt as the videos and reviews suggested it would be!

Little though it may be, this machine cleans much more deeply than your average stain treatment. Plus, it does a great job of rinsing out the dirt and debris and cleaning solution, which means I don’t have to worry about lingering residues.

How to Use the BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner

1. Unbox and Assemble

When you first open the box, have a Phillips screwdriver handy — you’ll need it to attach the hose storage bracket after you line up the screw holes. Once you’ve done that, it’s just a matter of attaching the flex hose and inserting a few other snap-on parts. The whole assembly and setup only takes a couple of minutes!

2. Vacuum the Area

Before using the machine, it’s important to vacuum the area you wish to clean to pick up any dirt, dust, and hair that may be sitting on the surface. A few passes with your vacuum make it easy for the Little Green to draw out deep, ground-in dirt and grime.

3. Add Cleaning Solution and Hot Water to the Tank

Lift the clean water tank straight up to remove it from the machine. Unscrew the black cap at the bottom of the tank, then fill the tank with cleaning solution to the indicated level. Finally, add hot tap water to the tank until the level reaches the fill line (about 48 ounces), and add an ounce of Bissell Boost, if desired.

Replace the cap on the bottom of the tank, the replace the tank back on the machine by lining up the guides with the indentations on the tank and sliding it down until it’s seated. Attach the Tough Stain Tool (the brush head and cleaning solution dispenser) to the hose.

4. Pre-Treat Stains (Optional)

For severe stains or heavily soiled areas, you can improve the effectiveness of the machine by pretreating these areas. All you have to do is hold the cleaning tool just above the stain and press the trigger to dispense the cleaning solution.

Spray the stained or soiled area thoroughly, then let it sit for about five minutes before you start cleaning. (It’s tempting to skip optional steps, but I recommend taking a few extra minutes to do this one — it really helps break down stains!)

5. Clean the Area

When you’re ready to start cleaning, make sure the machine is plugged in and set it on the floor — don’t hold or carry it while you use it. Press the power button under the handle to turn the Little Green on, then press the trigger on the brush tool to dispense the cleaning solution over the area. Release the trigger and use the brush to lightly scrub stained and soiled areas.

After spraying and scrubbing, apply pressure to the Tough Stain Tool and pull it toward you to extract the cleaning solution and loosened dirt. The suction is surprisingly powerful, and it’s oddly satisfying to watch the dark, murky water zoom through the hose and into the reservoir.

6. Extract Excess Water

Once you’re satisfied that the area is clean, make a final pass over the area to extract any remaining moisture from your carpet or upholstery. Just press the brush tool down and pull it toward you without pressing the trigger — the goal here is to remove excess liquid not add more! Continue until water stops collecting in the dirty water reservoir.

7. Empty and Store the Machine

When you’re finished using the machine, rinse out both tanks and the brush attachment before replacing them. Wrap the flex hose around the machine and snap it into its clips, then wind the cord around the cord holders on the back of the machine.

Cleaning the machine before putting it away will not only ensure that it’s clean and ready to use again, but it will help prevent musty odors (or worse) from developing in the tanks or other areas of the machine.

More Helpful Tips for Using the Little Green Machine Carpet Cleaner

• After cleaning a high traffic area, lay a clean, dry towel over the the damp spot to help protect it from the dirty shoes of anyone who accidentally steps on it.
• Spilled wax, grease, or ink on your carpet? You may need to treat those carpet stains before using the Little Green.
• If there’s a lot of cleaning solution left in the clean water tank after using the machine, you can leave it in the tank for future use. 
• When emptying the dirty water tank, dump it out in your toilet or sink, then rinse with warm water before putting it back.
• Before using the machine on upholstery, take a look at the stuffing or filling — dark-colored stuffing may discolor the fabric when it gets damp.
• To avoid dirty water drips, place the entire machine over (or in) your sink before removing the dirty water tank to empty it.
• If the dirty water is really dirty, you may want to dump it outside rather than down a drain to prevent plumbing issues.

More Bissell Green Machine Carpet Cleaners

In addition to Bissell’s Little Green Machine, they now offer other models with additional features, including the Little Green HydroSteam, Little Green Cordless (sounds handy for cars and boats!), Little Green ProHeat, and Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaners. I haven’t personally tried any of these new models, but if they’re anything like the original, I’m sure they’re just as effective for spot-cleaning rugs, carpets, and more.

Jillee’s Take:

Should You Buy the BISSELL Little Green Carpet Cleaner?

You SHOULD buy it if:

• You have pets, kids, or frequent accidental spills on carpets and rugs.
• You need a lightweight, portable cleaner for stairs, car interiors, or furniture upholstery.
• You want something far more effective than a spray bottle, but don’t want to store or rent a massive full-sized carpet shampooer.

You SHOULD PASS if:

• You are looking to clean large, wall-to-wall carpeted rooms (you’ll want a full-sized carpet cleaner for that).
• You rarely deal with fabric or carpet stains and prefer basic spot-treatment sprays.

The Last Word of My Bissell Little Green Review

To sum things up, the BISSELL Little Green Carpet Cleaner is an effective, lightweight, and compact cleaning machine, and I’m already looking forward to testing it on other surfaces! It’s easy to carry, set up, and use, making it an ideal solution for cleaning carpeted stairs, furniture upholstery, car upholstery and car mats, boat carpets, and more.

If you frequently find yourself cleaning spills and stubborn stains on your carpet or upholstery, this little machine is a great tool for the job!

Do you have a carpet cleaning machine at home, portable or otherwise?

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One of the perks of having such smart and savvy readers is that I know just who to go to when I need advice or input! :-) I did just that a few weeks ago when I started thinking about name brand products versus their generic or store brand equivalents.

I usually buy name brands for certain products and generic brands for others, and sometimes I don’t even have a specific reason for choosing one over the other. I wondered if there were any great generic or store brand products that I was missing out on, so I knew exactly what I needed to do next!

I logged on to Facebook and asked my followers which generic products they prefer over the name brand equivalent, and I ended up receiving nearly 70 thoughtful replies that were packed with great recommendations! (A big THANK YOU to those of you who responded—I appreciate your input more than you know!)

In fact, I found the input so helpful that I sifted through the replies and organized them into a handy list so I could share them here with all of you! So in today’s post, you’ll learn about over a dozen of the best generic and store brand products according to readers like you!

This list really helped me to reevaluate my own shopping habits, and I hope it will do the same for you! :-)

17 of the Best Store Brand Products, According to OGT Readers

From Target:

1. up & up Advanced Therapy Lotion

This thick and creamy lotion helps to soften and moisturize even the driest of skin. Reader Joy says it’s “better than Eucerin,” which was all I needed to hear!

Eucerin has always been my go-to when I’ve had really dry skin. But the up & up product is less than half the cost of a smaller bottle of Eucerin, so that’s a big motivator to make the switch!

2. Market Pantry Butter

Market Pantry is another of Target’s many store brands. I’ve heard several good things about Market Pantry butter, both in terms of quality and price!

From Costco:

3. Kirkland Signature Toilet Paper

You didn’t think I’d write a post about generic brands without mentioning Kirkland, did you? Many Costco members (including myself!) swear by the products from Costco’s store brand Kirkland Signature.

The most frequently mentioned product, surprisingly enough, ended up being toilet paper! Reader Michele says, “I think the best toilet paper out there is Kirkland’s, for the quality and the price!”

4. Kirkland Signature Batteries

People say these batteries work just as well as the name brand ones. Plus, they’re quite a bit cheaper than the name brands, so you can save yourself a considerable amount by buying a big pack that will last for months!

5. Kirkland Signature Pet Food

Kirkland Signature pet foods come in a couple of different varieties, but many people rave about the Nature’s Domain line in particular. These are high-quality grain-free pet foods that you’d likely pay an arm and a leg for at any other store. (There’s even an organic option available, if that’s your thing!)

From Kroger:

6. Simple Truth Canned Goods

If you shop at Kroger stores (which includes Smith’s, King Soopers, Fry’s, etc.), then you may be familiar with the store brand Simple Truth. This brand aims to offer organic, “free from,” and natural foods at an affordable cost.

Simple Truth canned goods are a particularly popular choice due to their price and overall quality. They also appear to contain less sodium than some of the name brand canned goods, which is another plus.

From Walmart:

7. Great Value Single Serve Coffee Cups

Walmart’s store brand Great Value offers items like single serve coffee pods at a reasonable price. Reader Holly likes the French Roast and Colombian varieties in particular. She says they are “…the only ones I’ve found that are strong enough for me. I think they’re better than Starbucks!”

8. Great Value Pie Crusts

These pie crusts are inexpensive, but they have a good texture and a neutral flavor. If you’re making a labor-intensive pie filling, using a pie crust like this is an easy way to save yourself some time and effort!

9. Great Value Ketchup

Readers like this ketchup for its smooth texture. They also like that it has a bit of a vinegar-y bite to it and a sweet finish.

10. Great Value Sunscreen

All sunscreen is held to the same FDA standards, so a store brand like Great Value will work just as effectively as the name brand stuff. And sunscreen can be quite expensive, so it’s a great way to save!

From Aldi:

11. Berryhill Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Reader Sandy actually prefers Aldi’s version of Nutella to the name brand stuff. She says it’s “…more chocolate-y and has a better mouthfeel.”

12. Meat Counter Products

Reader Keriann thinks that the quality of the products from Aldi’s meat counter is worth the slightly higher price tag. She claims that “…Aldi meat is by far better than almost anywhere I’ve been to.”

13. …And Everything Else!

Reader Stacey is a big fan of almost all of Aldi’s store brand products. She says, “I use their brand of taco seasoning and love it more than any of the brand names. The cheeses are delicious and so are the sandwich meats. The veggies and fruits are the best too.”

From Trader Joe’s:

14. Trader Joe’s Canned Tuna

Reader Diane prefers the texture of Trader Joe’s store brand canned tuna. She says, “There’s actually meat in there, not mush.”

From Whole Foods:

15. 365 Organic Whole Wheat Bread

Whole wheat bread can be really hit or miss, but people seem to like Whole Foods’ store brand bread. They say it’s hearty and tastes great toasted!

From Multiple Stores:

16. Malt-O-Meal Cereals

While the Malt-O-Meal brand was acquired by Post Cereals in 2015, and thus no longer technically qualifies as a generic brand, I couldn’t bring myself to take exclude Malt-O-Meal cereals from this list. They are still reliably cheaper than the name brands, after all!

Everyone has their own favorite variety, and many people prefer the Malt-O-Meal versions to their name brand counterparts. (The “Marshmallow Mateys vs. Lucky Charms” debate can be particularly lively!)

17. Medications

Generic medications cost less than their name brand counterparts because the seller isn’t spending as much to package or market them. Whether you’re buying store brand over-the-counter pain relievers or a generic prescription medication, they can save a lot of money over the name brand offerings!

What’s your favorite generic or store-brand product?

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Even though my blog isn’t food-focused, I’ve certainly shared a lot of kitchen tips over the years! I love finding and sharing information that helps make daily life easier. And for many of us, our daily lives involve quite a bit of time spent in the kitchen! And in my experience, having a tip or trick up my sleeve that can save me a little bit of time or effort in the kitchen can be hugely rewarding. I’ve posted many of my favorite time-saving kitchen tips here on my blog, including how to shred chicken in seconds, how to soften butter quickly, and how to craft the perfect cinnamon roll.

No matter whether you’re crafting a gourmet meal, or just trying to get dinner on the table, we could all use a little help in the kitchen! And I think I’ve got just the post to help. :-) Today I’ll be sharing 13 quick and easy cleaning hacks that are sure to save you time in the kitchen! From saving salty soups to wrapping up leftovers, these tips will help you save time and energy (and maybe most importantly, stress!) on many different cooking and baking tasks!

Related: 13 Surprising Problems You Can Solve with Wax Paper

13 Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks

1. Save Salty Soups

Ever been a bit too heavy-handed with your seasonings when making soup? Salt can make the difference between a bland soup and a delicious one, but too much salt can be very unpleasant! To rescue a salty soup, drop a peeled potato into the pot. The potato will help absorb some of the excess salt and save your soup!

Related: 9 Brilliant Ways to Save Time in The Kitchen, According to Chefs

2. Rescue Rice

Rice can be tricky to get right at the best of times! And if you happen to overcook it, the rice at the bottom of the pot can burn and affect the taste of the rest of the rice. But there’s an easy way to salvage your rice! Just placed a slice of white bread on top of the rice for 5-10 minutes. The bread will draw out the burned flavor and aroma, leaving you with plenty of palatable rice to serve! (Just be careful not to scrape up any of the burned bits off the bottom of the pot when you go to scoop the rice.)

Related:  9 Time-Tested Kitchen Hacks That Will Always Be Useful

3. Pop More Popcorn

I love homemade popcorn, but I used to get so frustrated by how many kernels remained unpopped after making it! But then I learned a simple tip that really helped. All you have to do is soak your popcorn kernels in water for about 10 minutes before popping. The additional moisture from the water creates more steam inside each kernel during cooking, resulting in fewer unpopped kernels!

4. Prevent Potato Sprouts

Can’t seem to keep your potatoes from sprouting in storage? Just drop an apple in the bag or basket where you keep the potatoes! The apple will help prevent premature sprouting.

5. Faster Defrosting

You can defrost meat quickly by pouring white vinegar over the surface of the meat. The vinegar will lower the freezing temperature of the meat, causing it to thaw faster. And as an added bonus, the vinegar will also help tenderize the meat too!

6. Fish Out Fat

Here’s a great tip for getting rid of excess fat and oil from sauces, stocks, stews, and soups. Wrap a few ice cubes in a paper towel, then skim them across the top of your soup. The ice cubes will encourage excess fat to solidify, making it much easier to scoop out and discard!

7. Thicken Runny Sauces

Struggling with a runny sauce? Toss a dry lasagna noodle into the sauce. The noodle will absorb the excess liquid without changing the taste or texture of your sauce. Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency, just pull the noodle out and discard it.

8. Ice-Free Ice Cream

Having an icy crust form on the surface of your ice cream can make it unpleasant to eat. But it’s easy to prevent that icy layer from forming in the first place! When you’re ready to put your ice cream away, press a piece of wax paper into the surface of the ice cream before replacing the lid. This will help keep your ice cream ice-free!

9. Keep Cake from Sticking

Use a damp towel to ensure your freshly baked cake doesn’t stick to the pan. After taking the pan out of the oven, set it on the damp towel to cool for a few minutes. Then turn the pan out onto a plate, and the cake should slide right out! This works for ceramic and metal baking dishes only – not for glass!

10. Quickly Warm Baking Ingredients

I can never seem to remember to let my eggs and butter warm up to room temperature before I start a baking project! But luckily for me, there’s an easy way to speed up the process! Just place your eggs and wrapped butter into a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes. The water will warm them right up!

11. Roast Without Flipping

When roasting foods like fries, vegetables, and potatoes, you typically need to flip them once or twice during cooking to ensure they cook evenly. But you can eliminate the need to flip by pre-heating your baking sheet before putting your food on it! (While this works great for roasting, I don’t advise trying it with baking!)

12. Easy Reusable Wrap

Instead of covering your leftovers with single-use plastic wrap, use a shower cap instead! Unlike plastic wrap, a shower cap is quick and easy to apply, and you can rinse and reuse it again and again!

13. Simplify Plastic Wrap

Sick of fighting with tangled plastic wrap? Just store the roll in your fridge instead! Chilled plastic wrap is much easier to handle than room temperature wrap. You’ll save yourself so much time and frustration with this tip!

How do you save yourself time and effort in the kitchen?

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