National Grandparents Day, this Sunday, is the perfect time to celebrate those wise, loving figures who always have the best advice, a warm hug, and a pocket full of peppermints at the ready. But beyond their unmatched love and storytelling skills, grandparents are the original life hackers—masters of resourcefulness who can turn the simplest items into problem-solving tools. Let’s honor them today by sharing five of the best grandparent life hacks that are still surprisingly useful today!
1. Ice Cube Ironing Grandparents have a hack for everything, including getting wrinkles out of clothes without the hassle of ironing. Toss a couple of ice cubes into the dryer with your wrinkled shirt, and let it run on high for 5-10 minutes. The steam from the melting ice works like magic, releasing wrinkles and saving you time!
2. Baking Soda for Everything! From whitening your teeth to scrubbing the toughest stains, baking soda is the ultimate multi-tasker, according to many grandparents. Need to freshen up your fridge? Just place a small bowl of baking soda inside. Got a clogged drain? A mixture of baking soda and vinegar works wonders. It’s like having a whole cleaning aisle in one little box!
3. The Rubber Band Grip Got a stubborn jar lid? Wrap a thick rubber band around the lid for extra grip. This trick isn’t just for the elderly—anyone who’s struggled with a pickle jar can appreciate the genius of this simple hack. It’s the grandparent way of saying, “Work smarter, not harder.”
4. Vinegar for Shiny Windows Want streak-free windows? Grandparents swear by a solution of vinegar and water. It’s natural, cost-effective, and leaves your windows sparkling clean without the harsh chemicals. Plus, if you’re using old newspapers to wipe them down, you’ve just unlocked another grandparent gem.
5. Potato Power for Silverware If your silverware is looking a bit tarnished, grab a potato. Boil some potatoes, keep the water, and let your silver soak in the cooled potato water for about an hour. The starch helps lift the tarnish, leaving your silver looking as good as new. It’s a quirky yet effective hack straight from grandma’s kitchen.
So this National Grandparents Day, let’s do more than just celebrate our grandparents—let’s learn from them! Try out these life hacks, and maybe you’ll find a new favorite way to simplify your day-to-day. After all, if it’s good enough for grandma and grandpa, it’s definitely good enough for us.
