There are lots of little things we have to do every day that collectively take up a lot of our time. Peeling potatoes, untangling earphone wires, even tying our shoelaces — all this amounts to precious seconds that we could be using on something far more interesting and worthwhile.
We are prepared to just let all those seconds go to waste, and that’s why we put together this selection of ingenious tricks for doing all those day-to-day things 3 times faster.
How to shake ketchup out of the bottle easily
There’s no need to tap on the bottom of the bottle. Just turn it at a 30° angle, and lightly tap the neck with your hand. The ketchup will come out easily without making a mess.
How to tie your shoelaces in a single second
Make a loop at both ends of the shoelace, at the same time passing them through each other to make a knot.
How to fold a T-shirt really quickly
Grab hold of the T-shirt at points 1 and 2. Without letting go of it at point 2, pull point 1 towards point 3, and then hold them together. Without letting go of 1 and 3, pull the left arm with point 2 towards yourself and smooth out the T-shirt. Tuck in the second edge of the shirt.
How to peel a banana in no time at all
Just break it in two, and squeeze the contents out of the skin.
How to peel potatoes in less time than it takes to find a knife
Within a minute you’ll be able to remove the skin easily enough with your hands.
How to make your own sorbet in just 2 minutes
Pour a cup of juice into a sealable bag and close it. Place it into a larger bag. Pour in 2 cups of ice, a cup of salt, and a cup of water. Shake well until the juice freezes.
How to tie your earphones in 5 seconds so they don’t get tangled later
Make a loop at one end of the earphone wires. Wind the rest of the wire around your player over the top of it. Make a loop at the other end, and pass it through the first. Draw the wires together.
How to peel an egg with one breath
Break the eggshell at both ends, then blow on it forcefully, holding it between your fingers. The egg will fly out of the shell completely whole.
How to cool down a can of soda in just 2 minutes
Pour some water into a bowl. Add 2 cups of ice and a cup of salt. Place the can in it, and stir it forcefully until it goes cold.
How to peel a pomegranate without making a mess
Cut off the top, and make incisions around the surface of the pomegranate. Turn it over above the plate, and tap it with a spoon. The granules should come out quickly without any mess.
How to freeze mincemeat
Place the meat in a sealable packet, and flatten it out using a rolling pin. Make sure it’s completely flat. Make some furrows on the surface using a ruler, pencil, or chopstick. If you then freeze the meat in this way, you’ll be able to break it into pieces and easily thaw it out when required.
