Everyone enjoys saving money, especially when it comes to improving your home. So check out these inexpensive, handy hints using everyday items.\n\n\n

Use a Ceramic Mug as a Sharpening Stone\n
If you find yourself in need of sharpening a utility knife, pocket blade or scissors and don\u2019t have access to a sharpening stone, you can simply flip over a ceramic coffee mug and use the outer edge of the bottom, the non-glazed part, as an emergency sharpening stone. This isn\u2019t a perfect solution for continually sharpening your blades, but if you need to quickly sharpen and clean up the edge of a blade this method will do in a pinch.\n
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Zip-Tie to the Rescue\n
When bathroom sinks get clogged, you don\u2019t have to go out and buy chemicals. Instead, use a long zip tie. Cut several notches on the zip tie\u2019s end. It\u2019ll hook the hair clog, allowing you to pull it out.\n
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See Out of Your Windshield Better\n
When you\u2019re behind the wheel, nothing is more crucial than good visibility. But most other drivers, procrastinate cleaning the windshield wipers or even replacing them, if necessary. Windshield wipers are notorious for drying out and cracking in a short time. To help prolong their life and clean them, soak a clean white rag with your favorite glass cleaner. Wipe the rag up and down the length of your wiper blades.\n
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Bring Dead Markers Back to Life\n
To bring your permanent marker back to life, simply remove the back from the maker. This will be different for each brand of permanent marker; for Sharpies simply remove the back nib. Next, deposit a few drops of isopropyl rubbing alcohol onto the felt material inside. Shake the marker a bit to ensure the rubbing alcohol is absorbed. It\u2019s the solvent that the ink is mixed with that dries out first, making the pigment unable to flow. Once the felt absorbs the rubbing alcohol for a couple of minutes the marker will be practically good as new!\n
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Zip-Tie Phone Stand\n
When referencing DIY plans or a recipe, most of us use our phones to display images or instructional videos. The only problem with this method is that our phones don\u2019t prop themselves up, making it difficult to see the screen while working. You can make a smartphone stand out of just about anything these days, but it doesn\u2019t get much simpler than looping zip ties around your phone (2 on each side). All you have to do is tighten the zip ties until they are snug to the phone with the zip-tie heads facing down and near the edge of your phone.\n
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How to Make Your Own Ice Pack\n
Ice packs are a great way to keep your lunch cool, but they\u2019re a bit expensive if you\u2019re in the habit of losing them.\u00a0This DIY ice pack trick is reusable, so it is good for the environment.\n
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The Miracle of a Walnut\n
Furniture gets beat up over time, but you don\u2019t have to replace furniture that has unsightly scratches. In fact, you can remove years of damage with a simple snack food: walnuts. Simply rub a walnut over a scratch in wood several times. Then, with your fingers rub the scratched area. This will help the wood absorb the oil from the nut. Lastly, use a soft cloth to buff the area.\n
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Pool Noodle Wrist Rest\n
Keep your wrists from getting fatigued during a long day at the computer by making this pool noodle wrist rest. First mark where you want to cut the noodle. For the wrist rest shown, we made the height slightly less than half of the full noodle diameter. (You could cut the noodle exactly in half and make two equally sized wrist rests.) Use a utility knife to slice the pool noodle lengthwise at the marks; then pull the pieces apart. Clean up any areas along the cuts and then place one of the pieces flat-side-down in front of your keyboard.\n
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Use Soft Socks to Clean Blinds\n
No need for a special tool to give your window blinds a deep cleaning, just slip a soft (and clean!) sock onto your hand. Your hand is the perfect tool for wiping over, through and under the blinds to get every nook and cranny that collects dust. Spray a bit of all-purpose cleaner onto the sock for added disinfecting umph.\n
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Quick Smartphone Speaker\n
Use a small piece of pottery or a bowl to amplify the sound produced by your smartphone. You can create a quick speaker on your desk at work or in your living room at home by simply placing your smartphone (speaker side down) in a container made of ceramic, plastic or other hard material. The sound will bounce off the hard bottom surface and amplify it throughout the surrounding area. It\u2019s great for watching videos without headphones or playing music when hosting a party.\n
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Wine Box Shoe Storage\n
Why pay for a fancy compartment-style shoe storage container when you can just pick one up for free at almost any store that sells wine? Designed to protect fragile glass bottles, a wine box is perfect for storing footwear because it comes equipped with cardboard dividers\u2014a place for each shoe. In addition, the exterior cardboard is very sturdy. You could get fancy, too, and paint or cover the exterior of the wine box with decorative wrapping paper if you plan to keep it in your closet or entryway.\n
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source: family handyman\n
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