I am always looking for fun ideas to make life easier and smarter. Here are 21 “Why didn’t I think of that” life hacks for everyday use.

Sometimes the simplest idea is just waiting to be discovered! Read on to find out what they are …

1. Prevent the Zipper from Dropping Down

If you have ever been embarrassed to discover that your pants zipper is open – you need this life hack!

Grab a small split key ring like this and thread it through the hole in the zipper pull. When you zip up, hook the key ring over the button of your pants before fastening them.

No more wardrobe malfunctions!

2. Easily Apply a Screen Protector with Tape

Do you get nervous knowing that you have ONE chance to get that screen protector on perfectly? This clever hack takes away the strain.

Remove the old screen protector and clean your screen. Place the new protector over the phone with the protective film facing downwards.

Attach it to the phone with tape along the side. Next, flap it open and gently peel off the protective cover.

Press flat and you have a perfectly aligned protector with a crystal-clear view and no bubbles.

3. Use an S-Hook to Hang Trousers

Why bother ironing trousers when they get creased as soon as you pack them into a closet? These neat little S-hooks provide an innovative way to hang up your trousers.

Fold your trousers or jeans in half lengthways, slip the S-hook through two of the outer belt loops, and hang them up on a rail!

Check out more genius life hacks here!

4. Use a Rubber Band to Remove Excess Paint from the Brush

Calling all home interior decorators – this life hack ensures that the lid comes off your paint cans the next time around. I am usually the one looking for a screwdriver to pry off a stuck lid.

Don’t use the rim of the can to wipe off excess paint. Attach a rubber band around the middle of the can and use it to clean your brush.

Simple, effective, and easy.

5. Keep your Plants Hydrates with Old Sponges

Here is a life hack that gives you one less thing to worry about when planning that relaxing weekend away. And you don’t need to ask the teenagers to do you a favor and water your plants!

Cut up old sponges and place them at the bottom of the pots before filling them with soil and your plants.

The sponges retain water, offering a steady supply of moisture for days while you soak up the sun on the beach.

This is one of the life hacks every girl needs to know!

6. Use a Carabiner Hook to Carry Multiple Plastic Bags

When I learned that carabiner hooks are strong enough to support mountain climbers, I was quite open to trying this life hack.

Carrying loads of grocery bags requires more than two hands. Simply thread a heavy duty carabiner hook like this through the handles and lift multiple bags in one go.

The result – fewer trips to the car and more time for tea (and a decadent slice of cake).

7. Remove Wrinkles by Adding Ice Cubes to the Dryer

This life hack turned me into a curious scientist, delving into research. The cool (icy-cube) principle we are talking about is called thermodynamics.

As the cubes melt, they release moisture in the form of steam, which penetrates the fabric, relaxing the fibers, and reducing wrinkles.

It is like having a steamer inside your washing machine. Don’t give yourself a headache with the science – just try this icy-cool hack – it works!

8. Use Chopsticks Easily

Whether you are planning a formal Eastern dinner for friends, or are just lounging on the sofa eating Chinese take-outs, you need to eat with chopsticks.

But, not everyone can do this! This clever life hack makes use of the metal spring from a clothes peg, helping you master the art of chopstick eating like a kitchen ninja.

These lovely decorative bamboo chopsticks impressed my guests!

9. Attach Magnets to the Drill

Another endeavor that requires more than two hands is drilling! With the drill in one hand, how do you also hold nails, screws, and drill bits?

This life hack is so easy. Attach magnets with adhesive backing to your drill and they will hold all you need for that home DIY project.

10. Use a Paper Roll to Make a Hair Dryer Holder

Hair dryers are notoriously tricky to store. The awkward shape makes it impossible to fit them neatly into a drawer or on a shelf.

This smart life hack uses a kitchen towel paper roll to make the perfect holder. Use double-sided tape to attach it firmly to the inside of a cabinet door.

Not only does the hair dryer slip perfectly into the tube, but you also make use of the blank space inside the door. These other paper tube hacks will blow your mind.

Get creative and decorate the tube with a paint technique or pretty floral wrapping paper like this.

 11. Tie Elastic Bands to Hangers to Prevent Clothes from Falling Off

Say goodbye to finding your best shirt on the closet floor! This clever hack uses elastic bands to keep clothes on their hangers.

Simply wrap the bands around the end of the hangers. The added grip stops clothes from slipping and keeps them on the hangers, where they belong.

 12. Store Dishwashing Liquid Inside a Sponge

When kids see this life hack, they think I am a magician. And, then they get inspired to help me wash the dishes, which is a total win.

Freeze dishwashing liquid in ice cube trays like this. Cut a small but deep slit into the sponge and insert a frozen cube. When you wet the sponge, the dishwashing liquid oozes out giving you a steady supply of soap.

 13. Create an Ice Pack with: 1 Part of Alcohol, 3 Parts of Water

Banish aches and pains fast with a homemade ice pack! No need to go to the pharmacy when you are not feeling up to it.

Use a small ziplock bag and fill it with 1 part alcohol and 3 parts water. Freeze it and you have a ready-made ice pack for instant relief.

This practical life hack is a game changer!

 14. Keep Your Yarn in Place While Knitting

Crocs may not be considered by everyone to be the most fashionable footwear, but they are ideal for keeping your yarn in place when you knit!

Slip a long knitting needle through your ball of wool. Then slip the ends into the small holes in your shoes. Your woolen ball unwinds perfectly as you knit!

 15. Restore Markers with Alcohol

Dried-up markers do not always mean end-of-life, and the sudden end of your lesson or project!

Remove the top and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Give the marker a good shake and it will be ready to write again, extending its life for a while longer.

 16. Use a Toothpick to Clean the Stove Top

Stove tops tend to get grimy in the most difficult places. Sponges, clothes, and wipes just don’t work to get them clean.

This smart life hack uses a toothpick wrapped in a paper towel. Simply push it into the small gaps and lift out the dirt.

 17. Prevent Spoons from Slipping with Rubber Bands

Here is another hack that uses versatile rubber bands. Don’t let your spoon slip into the baking mixture, you will have a sticky mess.

Wrapping a rubber band around the top of the spoon creates a non-slip grip. The spoon will also stay upright against the side of the bowl and won’t slip down when you stop for a rest.

 18. Prevent the Cream from Spilling out of the Tube

We all know the dreadful moment when you open a tube of cream, only to have it gush out from the lid packed with product, all over your designer OOTD.

Simply cover the top of the tube with a small piece of clear plastic before replacing the lid. The cream remains inside the tube where it belongs.

 19. Prevent Photos from Bending

Nothing beats the charm of a printed photo over a digital image. But, scrappy, dog-eared, and bent photos are not going to impress the younger generation.

This clever life hack uses a standard sandwich zip lock bag like this and a stiff piece of board to store your photos. They stay perfectly flat and are always ready to be shown off.

 20. Use Vinyl Glue to Fill a Hole in the Wall

Are your walls looking less than pristine? You don’t need a builder!

Vinyl Glue is a versatile filler that can be used to fix small holes and gaps in a wall.

Fill your gap, cover the spot with a piece of plastic, and allow it to dry. Peel off the plastic. The Vinyl Glue is transparent, forming an invisible patch that blends into the wall.

Check out these other simple life hacks next!

 21. Use the Dish Rack to Hold Plastic Containers

My last “Why didn’t I think of that” life hack makes packing your dishwasher a breeze!

Stashing slippery plastic containers in a dishwasher can be a challenge. Simply place your dish rack over them, and they will all remain in place.