15 Useful Life Hacks You’ll Wish You Learned Years Ago
Everyone runs into little problems every day. And most people just put up with them, not realizing there are easier ways to deal with all of it. That’s where life hacks come in. These simple tricks can make daily tasks faster, cleaner, or just less annoying. Once you learn them, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them.
Some might even save you time, money, or stress. Here are a few you’ll wish you learned years ago.
Write Expiration Dates Directly on Food
Credit: Canva
Using a dry-erase or chalk marker on containers, especially for opened dairy, sauces, or dips, turns your fridge into a low-effort reminder system. You’ll waste less food and spend less time decoding what’s still safe to eat.
View Clipboard History With One Shortcut
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
That link you copied ten minutes ago is still there. Hit the Windows key + V to view your clipboard history and scroll through a list of your recent copy-pastes. You’ll get access to everything from copied text to images, which is especially helpful during busy workdays or side-by-side comparisons.
Meditation Changes Your Reactions
Credit: Getty Images
Regular meditation doesn’t make life easier, but it definitely makes you better equipped to handle it. By slowing down and observing your thoughts, you give yourself more room to respond instead of react. Over time, things that once set you off can start to pass without pulling you in.
Delete Full Words, Not Just Letters
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
There’s no prize for tapping backspace 12 times to fix a sentence. Hold Control (or Command) and hit backspace to delete entire words at once. It’s a small shift in habit that streamlines typing, especially for people who write or edit often.
Store Chips in the Freezer
Credit: Getty Images
It turns out that chips and crackers hold up just fine in the freezer. They don’t freeze hard or lose flavor—they just stay crisp. This is great news if you shop in bulk or hate stale snacks. Bonus: no more rushing to finish the bag before it goes soggy.
Say It Out Loud When Unplugging Devices
Credit: Canva
Next time you turn off the stove or unplug the iron, say it out loud: “I unplugged the toaster.” This will plant a clear memory so you won’t replay it hours later in your head. It’s surprisingly effective for anyone who overthinks.
Choose Heavier Fruit at the Grocery Store
Credit: Getty Images
Give two oranges the same size a quick weigh in your hands. The heavier one usually has more juice and better flavor. The same goes for avocados, nectarines, and peaches. Once you start using this trick, it’s hard to stop noticing how accurate it is.
Get Pet Hair Off Furniture Fast
Credit: Getty Images
Forget peeling endless layers off a lint roller. A rubber or latex glove that’s slightly damp works wonders for removing pet hair from upholstery. Rub it in circles, and watch the fur clump together. It’s quick, reusable, and way more satisfying than tape strips.
Stretch After Long Hours at a Desk
Credit: Getty Images
Too much sitting tightens your hip flexors and shortens your chest muscles, often leading to nagging back and neck aches. Adding a short daily routine of stretches for these areas can dramatically reduce that pain and help improve posture without any fancy equipment.
Read 3- and 4-Star Reviews Before Buying
Credit: Getty Images
The most helpful product feedback usually comes from reviewers who land in the middle. Three- and four-star reviews tend to be more thoughtful and balanced, highlighting both positives and drawbacks. It’s an easy way to shop smarter without getting distracted by extremes.
Put Corn Starch on Sticky Spills
Credit: Getty Images
For kitchen messes that feel like a trap, such as cracked eggs, syrup puddles, and oil splatters, sprinkle cornstarch on top before wiping. It absorbs the mess and makes cleanup way less annoying. It’s especially handy on counters or floors when paper towels just smear things around.
Use a Wet Paper Towel to Reheat Food
Credit: Getty Images
Leftovers in the microwave get dry fast. Placing a damp paper towel over your plate helps lock in moisture so things like pasta, chicken, and rice reheat without getting rubbery. It’s the difference between edible and regrettable.
Make Lettuce Last Longer
Credit: Getty Images
Lettuce seems to wilt the second you look away. Wrapping your leafy greens in aluminum foil instead of plastic gives them a longer shelf life. Foil slows down spoilage by letting moisture escape while keeping just enough in, so salad night isn’t a race against time.
Clean Bottles Using Denture Tablets
Credit: Canva
Long-neck water bottles and travel mugs are annoying to scrub, but a denture tablet does the work for you. Drop it in with warm water and let it fizz. It breaks down odors and buildup, and is great for travel or when you’re too lazy for bottle brushes.
Separate Bank Accounts for Bills and Fun
Credit: Canva
Budgeting gets easier when your money knows where to go. Keep one account for bills, another for spending. Automate deposits to the bill account, and leave the debit card at home. You’ll stop accidentally spending rent money on pizza, or at least make it harder.