6 Life Hacks Every New Homeowner Should Know

I’m no homeowner, but when I moved to my first apartment, oh boy, I needed the help. We’re taught a lot of things in school, and my mom did a pretty decent job at teaching me how to care for a house. However, I still called my mom when my sink clogged the first time, and I was screaming for help when my toilet broke. Sadly, there’s no life hack class one can take in college. And most of us don’t think about these things until they happen to us.

Luckily, I’ve been there, done that now. So, I can help you learn life hacks that will make your homeowner experience bliss.

1. Use Shelves in Your Kitchen Cabinets

This life hack was life-changing for me. Wire shelves are every new homeowner’s best friend. When you use trays in your kitchen cabinets, you’ll have more space to put away all your kitchen necessities. Besides, it gives you space to add another set of Tupperware. Yes, I’m an adult now, Tupperware gets me excited.

2. Tap into the Power of Baking Soda to Clear Clogs

Hopefully, you’ve read all about our genius baking soda hacks. The one thing that has saved my life multiple times is baking soda. Every homeowner knows they will deal with clogs at least once a year. Here’s how to fix them using vinegar and baking soda, no need to call in maintenance.

• Flush a pot of boiling water down the drain
• Add about ½ cup of baking soda
• Pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain slowly
• Flush another pot of boiling water

3. Upgrade Your Washing/Drying Game

While I was pretty ahead in the game of sorting colors and knowing my washing cycles, I wasn’t aware of all the hacks involved with washing and drying clothes. For example, for a wrinkle-free load, toss in some ice cubes. The vapor will give your clothes gentle steam to get rid of any wrinkles.

4. Use Magazine Holders to Organize Your Pantry

Another headache-saving life hack for homeowners. This one comes in quite handy when you live in a small apartment. You know what I’m talking about, all those cans falling on you every time you opened the pantry door. To keep things organized and help you have more space, add some magazine holders to your pantry. Use them to store cans, boxes, and more.

5. Fix a Running Toilet

Calling a handyman every time your toilet starts running will flush away your savings. Most of the time, the issue lies with the flapper chain. Be sure to check the chain has some slack, you want it not too tight nor too loose, it shouldn’t feel pulled or forced when the flapper is down. Another trick is to bend the rod connecting the float to the pump, this way, the pump is lower, and it will signal the pump to turn off sooner.

6. Clean Grout Easily

This is the one thing every new homeowner thinks won’t annoy them until they see the dirty, black, disgusting dirt piling up in your grout. What’s even more annoying is how hard the grout is to clean. Enter baking soda – I told you it would become your best friend.

• Mix a bit of baking soda and water to make a paste
• Rub onto dirty grout using an old toothbrush
• Spray white vinegar over the mixture
• Use your toothbrush (electric toothbrushes are even better) to scrub away the grime
• Rinse with boiling water

These should cover your basics for now. As you become more acclimated with your new home, you’ll discover new ideas to make your life easier.