Kitchen Tips

Making Kitchen More Convenient

Do you often feel overwhelmed in the kitchen? Don't worry, today I'm sharing some super useful kitchen tips that will help you say goodbye to chaos.

Use Clothespins to Hold Nails: I remember when my parents were renovating our home, they would often accidentally hit their fingers. With this trick, you won't have to worry anymore. Clip the nail in a clothespin, then hammer it - the clothespin will protect your fingers, making it both safe and simple. This method isn't just for nails; you can use clothespins to help secure any small items that need fixing. Think about it - when you need to hang small decorations or secure light cables, clothespins become very useful. Their versatility is particularly evident in the kitchen, where you can use them to hold freshly cooked noodles to prevent them from falling into the water, or to secure food that needs to be flipped while cooking.

When using this trick, here's another tip: choose thicker clothespins, as they're more stable when hammering and less likely to break. Also, the clothespins should preferably be made of wood or plastic, as metal ones might get damaged or deformed during hammering, affecting both safety and effectiveness.

Wooden Spoon to Prevent Boiling Over: At my home, water used to boil over when cooking noodles. With this method, you won't have to worry about that anymore. Place a wooden spoon across the pot, and it will absorb heat, preventing water from boiling too vigorously. I learned this from an old chef, and it works wonderfully. This method not only prevents water from overflowing but also helps prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The wooden material prevents deformation at high temperatures, and its smooth surface won't cause food to burn like metal might. When using a wooden spoon, it's better to choose a longer one for better coverage across the pot surface, making it more effective.

In practice, place the handle of the wooden spoon across the pot rim, with its head just touching the water surface. The wood will absorb some heat, slowing down the boiling rate. This method works not just for noodles, but also for cooking porridge, eggs, and other foods that require long cooking times. The wooden spoon can also serve as a temperature indicator - if bubbles form around the spoon head, it indicates the water is very hot, and you may need to adjust the heat.

Storage and Organization

As our homes fill with more items, organizing and storing these belongings becomes a major challenge. Here are some DIY storage methods I frequently use to make the most of every inch of space in your home.

Alternative Use for Shoe Rack: I used to struggle with messy shoes until I started using a tension rod with shower curtain hooks. This instantly solved the problem. The tension rod can be fixed in the closet or doorway, with hooks holding the shoes, making them both organized and easily accessible. This method isn't just for shoes; it can be used to store other small items like hats, scarves, and handbags. Installing the tension rod is very simple - just apply pressure at both ends to maintain tension between two points. Choose an appropriate length based on your space requirements.

In practical use, you can install the tension rod at the top of your closet or between doorway sides, saving floor space while making items easier to categorize and access. You can choose different sized shower hooks based on shoe sizes to ensure they won't fall off easily. When using this method, arrange shoes based on frequency of use, placing frequently worn shoes in the most accessible spots and less frequently used ones further away.

Toothpaste to Fix Wall Holes: During moving or renovation, walls often end up with small holes. Apply some toothpaste, smooth it with a putty knife, let it dry, then paint over it, and the wall will look perfect again. I discovered this trick while renting, and it saved me a lot of money. This tip isn't just for wall holes; it can also be used to repair small holes in wood or fill tiny gaps. Toothpaste's adhesive properties and color work well to conceal these minor imperfections.

When using this method, first ensure the hole is clean and dust-free, then fill it with toothpaste. Smooth the toothpaste with a putty knife until it's level with the wall surface. After it dries, choose paint that matches the wall color for touch-ups. For walls with special or complex colors, apply a light-colored base coat after the toothpaste dries, then paint with the original wall color for better results. This method is not only economical but also allows you to quickly restore wall appearance without causing damage.

Hang Cleaning Supplies on Tension Rod: Previously, cleaning supplies would pile up under the sink in disarray. Later, I installed a tension rod under the sink and hung spray bottles and cleaning cloths on it, making them easy to access and organize. This storage method not only saves space but also makes cleaning supplies visible and easy to select and use.

When installing the tension rod, choose an appropriate length based on the under-sink space. If there's enough room, consider installing two tension rods to separate different types of cleaning supplies - one for spray bottles and another for cloths and brushes. When using this method, arrange items by frequency of use, placing the most commonly used items in the most accessible spots. You can also add small hooks to the tension rod for hanging cloths and other small items, making them more convenient to access during cleaning.