Social media often gets a bad rep for sucking us into never-ending clickholes for hours on end. But it's not all a waste of time. In between all the adorable cat videos and mindless TikToks we watched this past year, we also watched some pretty incredible DIY projects, learned some truly yummy new recipes, and — of course — had our minds blown by all of the clever life hacks people shared.
Scroll on for some of our favorite life hack videos from 2021, which we're still thinking about.
1. Bringing Multiple Kids to the Beach (Without Losing Your Mind)
One of the most challenging parts about traveling with kids is suddenly having to lug around a ton of extra stuff wherever you go. Luckily, though, @feathrheathr can help take some of the pain out of those stressful trips to the beach.
Watch as she shares tips and tricks for traveling light and keeping all that pesky sand from getting into everything you own.
@feathrheathr They had the best nap time after #winwin #SkipTheRinse #momhacks #fyp #momtok #momcontent #doakickflip #draftpicks @wonderfoldwagon #wonderfoldlife
2. Removing Old Food Stains From Tupperware
How many times have you microwaved some pasta sauce inside a plastic storage container, only to find yourself with a stained and dirty-looking container by the end of it? No matter how many times you scrub it (or run it through the dishwasher), that faded red hue never seems to go away.
But what would you say if all it took was some water, a paper towel, and a microwave to get rid of that stain once and for all? Cleaning maven Andrea Jean will walk you through how to do it.
3. Putting a Kid in a Shopping Cart Without Actually Lifting Them Up
Bringing kids to the grocery store can be a recipe for disaster, depending on how much they beg through each and every aisle. But keeping them occupied and entertained in the shopping cart can definitely make things easier.
TikToker @athomewithshannon shows parents a clever way to load their kids into a standard shopping cart without breaking their backs trying to lift them up and into the child seat. (Trust us, you're going to wonder why you hadn't thought of this yet.)
@athomewithshannon Life Changing MOM HACK #momhacks #parentinghacks #familyhacks #tiktokpartner #learnontiktok #momhack
4. Getting a Baby To Sleep Through the Night by Eating a Banana
We know what you're thinking — this one sounds pretty weird. But believe it or not, a ton of parents swear by it.
TikTok mom @agoyneee_xo recently heard that feeding your baby or toddler a bit of banana before bed can actually be a natural sleep aide. And, according to health experts, it's actually true. Bananas contain several ingredients that aid in rest and relaxation, including magnesium and potassium.
@agoyneee_xo
5. Instantly Relieve Headaches With Hand Massage
How many times as a crippling headache totally derailed you from your day? Maybe you're dehydrated, or you just didn't get enough sleep last night — whatever the case, a persistent headache is a real buzzkill. But believe it or not, you may be able to make it go away quicker than you think (and not just by popping a pain reliever).
Earlier this year, TikToker @onlyjayus went viral for sharing several "body hacks" that helped people deal with common ailments; and in this one, she shows how to use pressure points on the hand to soothe headaches right away. (Give it a try!)
@onlyjayus Body Hacks pt2 ##fyp ##bodyhacks ##lifehacks ##hacks ##science ##humanbody ##health ##themoreyouknow ##medical ##lifeadvice ##fact ##facts ##funfacts ##onlyjayus
7. The Best (and Easiest) Way To Pump and Store Breast Milk
Pumping and storing extra breast milk can be a job and a half, but @unlicensedtomom gained a ton of praise on TikTok for sharing a few pointers that most moms admitted they never thought of before. (And while she technically posted the clip at the end of 2020, it didn't go viral until 2021 — when parents everywhere started bowing down to her.)
Instead of making a total mess transferring pumped breast milk into storage bags, @unlicensedtomom proved you can pump your liquid gold directly into the bags and then label them accordingly so that your freezer becomes an organized stockpile and you don't lose a drop.
@unlicensedtomom All this wasted time washing pump parts ##RedBullDanceYourStyle ##MyHobby ##NeonShadow ##momhack ##breastfeeding ##pumping
8. Toddler-Proofing a Smartphone in a Few Simple Steps
Toddlers are like magnets when it comes to smartphones. No matter what you do, they're going to get their hands on the things. (And somehow, they'll manage to take a million photos or order a giant Lego set on Amazon before you've even noticed.) But earlier this year, one dad shared a clever way to "toddlerproof" your phone so that curious little hands can't navigate around to different apps and wreak havoc in the process.
Honestly, it's all pretty impressive. Check it out:
@melissajean1223 Sometimes screens allow us to get something done so #sorrynotsorry #parenthack #iphone #screentime #momminainteasy #newmom
9. Cleaning the Shower Without Even Trying
Staying on top of household chores feels next to impossible when you've got kids. But as a professional cleaner, @vanesamaro91 has developed all sorts of short cuts for staying on top of it all. One of her favorite cleaning hacks involves keeping a kitchen scrubber in the shower that's always filled with dish soap and vinegar.
About once a week (or as often as you can remember), @vanesamaro91 suggests picking up the scrubber and giving your shower a quick once-over. You can do this while you're letting your hair mask or conditioner set in, if you really want to multi-task while you're at it. Either way, this easy routine will take the stress out of cleaning your shower — which nobody really wants to do1
@vanesamaro91 #cleaningtip #cleaningtiktok #clean #tiktok #lifehack #learnontiktok #cleaning #cleaninghack #PepsiApplePieChallenge
10. Repurposing Baby Clothes Well Into the Toddler Years
In the early years, kids grow like weeds. In the process, it can often feel like they're outgrowing their clothes the second they start wearing them. But TikTok user @rebladd has a clever hack for extending the life of newborn-sized clothes. (At least, when it comes to baby gowns.)
Watch how she transforms this infant gown into a toddler dress using nothing but a pair of scissors, and prepare to be amazed …
@rebladd If you have a baby, you’ll want to watch this! #diy #babyclothes #babygown #babyhack #hacks #fyp #ThatsWhatILike #f4f #momhacks #brokemomhack #foryou
