Life can be challenging sometimes. We might not have control over everything in the universe, but we can take more control over our lives by learning some super helpful hacks.
You never know what kind of crazy situation you might end up in. Whether you need to treat a wound or heat a room without power, these hacks have you covered.
Humans can’t see the future, but we can be prepared – and that’s just as good! Here are 30 life hacks that will prepare you for anything.
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1. Fish For Your Food
Craft a makeshift fishing rod using a can and some dental floss. First take the tab off the can, then tie the floss around it to act as a fishing hook. Wind the rest of the floss around the can, and wait to see what you catch!
2. Escape A Sinking Car
If your car is sinking in water, DO NOT try to push the door open! The door won’t budge because of the pressure of the water, and you will find yourself panicking. Instead, roll your windows down and swim out through them.
3. Protect Your Face From The Cold
If it’s freezing outside, you’ll definitely want to keep your skin safe from frost bite. Baby oil can help to create a layer of protection that will minimize the harmful effects of frigid air. Your skin will thank you!
4. Find North
If you are ever lost, knowing which way North is could save your life. Place a stick into the ground so that it casts a shadow in the sun, and mark the location of the shadow. Wait 15 minutes, then look again at the shadow. Place your left foot on the first mark and your right foot on the second, and you will be facing North.
5. DIY Lantern
If you need a little light, make your own lantern with a water jug and a headlamp. Secure the lamp onto the jug with the light facing inward. It will light up your dark night right away!
6. Strengthen Your Hands
You might not think about working your hands out in the gym, but having stronger hands will help you to become better at climbing, hanging, and other useful escape tasks. Work out your hands for a few minutes each day with a hand strengthener.
7. Start An Emergency Fire
If you need to start a fire and don’t have any matches around, look for crayons. They are made of wax, so they will burn like candles. Your kid might be super mad at you for a little while, but sometimes you need to act fast without many resources.
8. Stay Warm In The Cold
If you are stranded in the cold, don’t eat the snow – no matter how hydrating it looks! It takes the human body a lot of energy to melt snow, which means that you might get hypothermia by doing this. Focus on staying warm, and get to safety as quickly as possible.
9. Disinfect Your Water
The best way to purify water is to boil it. But if you can’t get to a heat source, there is another way. Pour a few drops of unscented household bleach into a water bottle and let it sit for a few minutes. The chlorine in the bleach will help to disinfect the water.
10. Use Pants To Help You Float
If you are stranded in water, you can use your pants as a makeshift flotation device. Tie the legs of your pants and whip them to fill with air. Use your hands to keep the waste closed so that the air stays in.
11. Protect Matches From Water
The last thing you want is to find a soggy match when you are trying to spark a fire. Waterproof your matches by coating the heads in nail polish. Once the top half of the match is dry, repeat the process with the bottom half.
12. Use Tin Foil To Cushion Batteries
If you need AA batteries and all you have is AAA, you’re in luck. You can ball up two pieces of tin foil and place them in the excess space around each battery. The foil will keep the current conducting and keep the battery from sliding around.
13. Use Your Bra As An Air Mask
When times are tough, it’s time to toughen up. Your bra can be a HUGE help in case of a fire. Using it as an air mask will prevent ash, smoke, and dust from getting into your lungs. Cover your mouth and nose, and breathe easier.
14. Hide Money In Your Phone Case
Keep a $20 in your phone case at all times. That way if you are ever out of cash you will have something to fall back on. This also works great for people who have lost their wallets.
15. Unfreeze A Car Lock
If your car lock is frozen, you aren’t going anywhere! Fortunately here is a hack that can help. Take a straw and blow onto the lock several times. The hot air you exhale will help to heat the lock.
16. DIY Toilet Paper Dispenser
Keeping your toilet paper dry will save you SO MUCH GRIEF! Cut a slot out of an old coffee canister so that you can pull the toilet paper through, then place the rest of the roll inside. Now your TP will be safe no matter where you go.
17. Treat Tiny Wounds
If you have a small cut or rash, coat it with Chap Stick to help protect the skin from dirt and bacteria. It will also stop small cuts from bleeding. It’s like the back-up for emergency kits!
18. Pack Spices On Your Camping Trip
Old Tic Tac containers work great for carrying spices. They are portable and easy to transport because they won’t break easily. Just shake a little of your favorite spice onto your meal and snap the lid shut again.
19. Keep Beans Or Rice Dry
If you are traveling with dry beans or rice, keep them safe by transporting them in closed bottles. Plastic bags are likely to rip, exposing your food to the elements. Bottles can seal, which mean your food will be fresh when you are ready for it.
20. DIY Raft
To make your own raft, first gather a bunch of branches. Next bundle them together, and cover them with a tarp. Float your way to safety!
21. Make Kindling From Cotton Balls
Cotton balls make great kindling for a fire. Soak a few in petroleum jelly, then toss them into the fire pit just before you light it. It will spark right up!
22. Fill Flat Tires
If your tire is flat and you don’t have a spare, fill it with grass to get you to your destination. The same trick works for bikes, but consider trying leaves.
23. Waterproof Your Technology
If your phone or other devices need to go into water with you, you can at least protect them first. Place each item inside a condom and secure it so that no water can get in. It may not be ideal, but it works!
24. DIY Mosquito Repellant
Don’t let those pesky insects gobble you up this summer! Keep them away with a homemade spray. Mix together water, brown sugar, and yeast. That’ll teach ’em!
25. Remove Ticks
Wind a piece of string through a mechanical pencil, then loop it back through. You can use this device as a type of lasso to remove ticks. If you have a tick stuck in you, get it out ASAP!
26. DIY Candle
You can place a wick in a container full of vegetable shortening to act as a makeshift candle. The shortening will melt kind of like the wax in an ordinary candle. The best part is it will last for hours!
27. Start A Fire
When life hands you lemons – start a fire with them! Lemon juice can conduct electricity, which can spark a fire if needed. Insert pieces of zinc or copper into a lemon. Connect the ends to a metal wire that is ungrounded on both ends. When you touch the wire tips together they will spark.
28. Ward Off Mosquitoes
Burn sage to keep the mosquitoes away. They hate the smell of it, but to you it can be the beacon of a bite-free night. You can even use it to cleanse the space.
29. Open Stubborn Jars
Opening a stuck jar is so tricky! Use duct tape to take the headache out of this necessary task. Stick a bit of duct tape onto the lid, then leave extra to act as a handle. Pull on your tape-handle, and watch the lid turn open. Victory at last.
30. Heat A Cold Room
If you have no power in the middle of winter, all is not lost. You can still heat your room using a few large bricks, a terra cotta pot, and some candles. Set the candles on a plate, and place the bricks around them. Next rest the pot on the bricks. It’s your own mini heater!
Sometimes we find ourselves in tricky situations, but we can always adapt to new experiences by staying flexible and creative. Remember these hacks next time you are in a bind, and good luck!
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