5 Home Hacks To Simplify Your Life - Hacks

Saving time, money, or both appeals to most people. It's been an amusing journey discovering ingenious, inexpensive hacks for day-to-day living and addressing issues that might annoy or burn time.

This grouping focuses on home, garage, and pool tips. 

Fellow Hack Lovers, I hope something proves useful. Thanks so much for reading!

✅ Use bubble wrap to improve heating and cooling efficiency in your home

Whether you're a homeowner or tenant, this suggestion might appeal. After the rent or mortgage payment, energy costs rank high on the list of monthly expenses…especially if you live in extremely hot or cold climates.

Owners of rental properties rarely spend monies for upgraded energy-efficient windows, doors, and proper weather stripping. Hence, these tips might be most beneficial for tenants.

Adding a layer of bubble wrap to windows can create an extra layer of energy-saving protection all year long. It's a quick, fun fix and a great way to recycle plastic.

Instructions:

Use large pieces of wrap, preferably with medium to large-sized bubbles. Cut sheets slightly smaller than window glass. 

Spray the glass with a thin film of water. Apply the wrap with the bubble side toward the wet glass. Press carefully for a firm hold; if it slips, spray with water again, and reapply.

For the frugal, the bubble wrap can be removed at the end of the season, saved, and reapplied next year. Or, it also can be left on windows for several years. 

A downside is that views will be a bit fuzzy; apparently, the smaller the bubble, the greater the impaired view. But the wrap won't impede sunlight.

✅ Use foam pool noodles as boot holders

A use for foam pool noodles outside the swimming pool…

Those living in colder climates likely have a couple of pairs of tall boots. How to keep them in good shape and from flopping over? 

Cut a foam pool noodle into quarters by sawing back and forth with a saw, pair of scissors, or a serrated bread knife. Place one-quarter of the pool noodle into each boot, shoving it all the way down into the boot so it hits the sole. 

Voila, your boots will stand up and last longer.

✅ Protect your car in the garage with a pool noodle bumper

Another use for foam pool noodles…

Many folks live in a home of an era when garages were built to actually house vehicles, not with sizeable expanses worthy of extra residential space. You know the kind -  from prior decades with barely enough room to squeak into while gingerly opening the car door and simultaneously praying to the garage gods not to smash it into the wall.

If you enjoy (or not so much) that daily endeavor, chances are you've accumulated a few dings over the years. 

This brilliant suggestion protects both the garage and your car using a lowly foam pool noodle.

Instructions:

1. Measure the wall for the noodle height placement where the car doors knock into it. It's probably about 27–28 inches high, depending upon the size of your vehicle.

2. Secure a pool noodle by drilling 1–5/8" drywall screws through the noodle and into the drywall. Because it is light, there's no need to worry about hitting a stud.

3. If attaching the entire noodle, you'll need about four screws. Or you could cut it to a shorter size if desired (for example, if you own a smaller or two-door vehicle).

For a visual tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmnRHWpLxcg.

Second alternative:

Another site suggested using mounting tape, a simpler DIY fix than drilling holes.

If you're a tenant instead of the owner, this might be a more appealing option…or for those who don't own a power drill.

That tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72oGoZUdPgMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72oGoZUdPgM

✅ Use a pool noodle to prevent the munchkins from falling out of bed

Who knew foam noodles were so versatile?

Have the kiddies outgrown the toddler beds, but now can fall out of a bigger one? 

Make a temporary railing at the edge of the bed. Place a pool noodle under the sheet, forming a small ledge so they don't roll off the side. 

An idea for sleepovers of the grands, too.

✅ Use tennis balls to absorb oil in the pool or hot tub

It's impossible not to accumulate oil, hair, or residue from human occupancy in a small body of water.

Toss a tennis ball into your pool or hot tub to absorb oils. Let it remain to float about.

A prominent Phoenix, Arizona pool service company confirms this works. The semi-absorbent surface of the ball traps residues on the water surface, acting like a mini-filter.

It's an inexpensive hack for cosmetics, oils, and sunscreens in the water.

References:

1."Hack Your Life" television program

2. https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/pool-noodle-as-boot-filler/

3. https://southshorepoolsupply.com/tracys-tips-the-tennis-ball-trick/?amp

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmnRHWpLxcg

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72oGoZUdPgMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72oGoZUdPgM

6. https://glassdoctor.com/blog/diy-project-insulate-your-windows-with-bubble-wrap

7. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/06/australian-summer-keep-home-cool-without-air-conditioning-

8. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/diy-window-insulation-tips-draught-proofing-winter-cold-house/101173968 =

Your time is valuable. I'm honored you chose to spend some of it here. Victoria🙏😎

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