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40 Handy Hints for Frugal Homeowners

Writer Matthew Cannon

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HH improvised caulk gun clamp zip-ties

Improvised Caulk Gun

Over the years, I have accumulated quite the collection of caulk guns because I’m always forgetting to bring one along to the job site. This time, I improvised a caulk gun instead of buying yet another one. I zip-tied the tube of caulk to the bar of a trigger-style clamp and stuck a wood scrap in the tube’s end to act as a plunger, dispensing caulk as I squeezed the clamp’s trigger. — reader, Frank McDonough

Check out our expert caulking tips to get perfect results every time!

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HH eye level cookbook pants hanger

Right-Height Cookbook

A countertop isn’t the best place to set a recipe or cookbook while you’re cooking. It takes up counter space, is difficult to read and is likely to get splattered with ingredients. Instead, I clip my recipe onto a clothes hanger with pants clips and hang it from a cabinet handle. Open your recipe book or web printout to the desired page, and close the hanger’s clamps on each side. You now have a hanging recipe stand. These 25 why-didn’t-I-think-of-that hacks will help you save time, get organized and work more efficiently in your kitchen.

If your cookbook is on the thicker side, it may not be able to hold the weight of the book. However, if you are using a relatively small cookbook, a magazine or just a single-sheet recipe, this life hack will work perfectly for you.

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HH handy hint swiffer sweeper dryer sheetFamily Handyman

Use Dryer Sheets to Clean Your Floors

Don’t throw away used dryer sheets. There’s another use for them. Wrap a couple of dryer sheets onto the flat head of a sweeper. The dryer sheets pick up dust and hair just as well as name-brand sweeper refills. Say goodbye to those dust bunnies!

Over the course of a week, these cleaning ideas will make the whole house shine. Spend one day on each room, so nothing is overlooked.