8 Kitchen and Home Hacks to Spend Less Time on Daily Chores
Summer is the hardest time to spend long hours in the kitchen. Between the heat and the extra cleaning the season brings, every shortcut counts. Here are 8 hacks — a mix of small useful buys and zero-cost ideas — that genuinely reduce daily effort in the kitchen and around the home.
1. Aluminium Stretch Covers — A Universal Lid That Fits Everything
The problem: lids that never fit, food that dries out in the fridge, half-cut fruits with nothing to cover them properly. One product fixes all of this — aluminium stretch covers.
These small foldable covers stretch to fit any size or shape of vessel. Round, square, oval, a plate, a half-cut watermelon — the same cover handles all of it. They seal food smells inside the container, so your fridge does not end up smelling like a mix of last night’s curry and this morning’s cut mango.
They are reusable. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, let dry, and use again for days. Available in packs of 25, 30, 50, and 100 — links are in the video description.
If you have containers at home with broken or missing lids, these covers solve that problem without buying new containers.
2. Air Fryer Liners — Stop Scrubbing the Basket
Anyone who cooks regularly in an air fryer knows the frustration. Oil bakes onto the basket, you have to soak it first, then scrub hard — and over time, heavy scrubbing damages the non-stick coating.
Air fryer liners (parchment paper with small holes) solve this completely:
- Place a liner at the bottom of the basket before adding food
- Cook as usual — all the oil and residue stays on the liner
- Remove and toss the liner after cooking
- The basket stays almost completely clean
You can use one liner or double up for messier foods. Your basket’s non-stick coating lasts far longer because you are no longer scrubbing it repeatedly.
3. The Right Way to Wash a Non-Stick Pan
There is one common mistake that destroys non-stick pans fast: washing a hot pan under cold water.
The sudden temperature drop causes thermal shock — the coating cracks and peels. Once the coating starts going, the pan becomes difficult to use and unsafe to cook in within months.
The correct method:
- Remove the pan from heat and place it on the countertop to cool
- Pour a little warm water (not cold) into the pan — this loosens the oil without shock
- Wash with a soft brush only — no steel scrubbers, no abrasive sponges
- Rinse and dry
The same rule applies to your non-stick kadai and tawa. This one change makes non-stick cookware last for years instead of months.
4. Clean Your Mixer-Grinder Without Getting It Wet
Water inside the motor housing of a mixer-grinder can permanently damage the machine. But the inside of the grinding jar builds up a lot of grime: dry masala dust, splashes from wet grinding, and residue packed around the blade.
The safe cleaning method:
- Take an old soft cloth — thinner fabric works better
- Add a few drops of any cooking oil (coconut, refined, or whatever you have)
- Dampen the cloth slightly — barely moist, not wet
- Wrap the cloth around a fork handle to reach behind and below the blade
- Wipe the inside walls thoroughly, then clean the outside of the machine the same way
The oil helps the cloth pick up dust and residue without needing water. Clean regularly — not just monthly — so grime never builds up to the point where it needs soaking or heavy effort. If liquid spills during grinding, clean it immediately.
5. DIY Wardrobe Organizer from an Old Face Towel
No sewing, no tools, no cost. Take an old face towel that is too worn for daily use and turn it into a wardrobe hanging organizer:
- Fold both corners inward along the length
- Fold the bottom edge upward to create a pocket — fold it higher for a bigger pocket, lower for a shallower one
- Pin both sides on the back with safety pins
- Attach to a hanger with safety pins at the top
- Hang inside your wardrobe
It becomes a hanging pocket for small items — hair accessories, belts, socks, small stationery. Use a hand towel for a bigger version. Old towels that are no longer good for daily use are perfect for this.
6. File Holder on the Inside of the Wardrobe Door
If your wardrobe is small and shelf space is always full, the inside of the door is completely unused storage.
Take an old plastic file holder (the kind used for A4 documents) and stick it inside the wardrobe door with double-sided foam tape. When the door closes, it is completely hidden. When it opens, you have an accessible slot for small flat items — documents, scarves, folded socks, anything that usually gets lost.
Zero cost if you have an old file holder at home.
7. Reuse Old Jam and Honey Bottles as Kitchen Storage
Fancy kitchen jars from stores are expensive and often unnecessary. Jam jars and honey bottles — once empty and washed — are already beautifully shaped glass containers that look good on any shelf.
- Store dry spices, sugar, or small pulses in them
- Label with white masking tape and a permanent marker
- Paint all the lids the same colour so the collection looks uniform and styled
- If the lid is broken: repurpose the bottle as a small planter, a pen holder, or a desk organizer
Before buying new storage jars, use what you already have. If the old bottles look good enough, you save money and space. If they don’t work out, then buy new ones.
8. Coffee Mugs and Bowls as Everyday Organizers
Before buying any organizer, look at what you already own. A tall decorative coffee mug on the dining table holds spoons and forks neatly and looks intentional. A small ceramic bowl placed near the front door works perfectly as a key bowl — no more searching when you’re leaving the house.
The mindset: whenever you buy something, ask whether it can serve 3 or 4 purposes. A mug that you don’t use for tea can become a spoon holder, a plant holder, or a desk organizer. This reduces clutter and avoids unnecessary purchases.
Small hacks that sound simple often make the most difference in daily life. Try the ones that match your kitchen and home — even one or two of these can save real time every day.
Watch the video
Frequently asked questions
Are aluminium stretch covers safe for storing food in the fridge?
Yes, food-grade aluminium stretch covers are designed for direct food contact and are safe for fridge storage. They stretch over any shape — round kadais, square containers, plates, and cut fruits — and seal food smells inside the container so your fridge stays odour-free. They are reusable for several days; just wipe with a damp cloth if food touches the surface.
Can air fryer liners be used with any air fryer model?
Most air fryer parchment liners fit standard basket sizes between 6.5 and 8 inches. Check your basket's diameter before buying. The liner must have perforated holes so hot air can still circulate — a solid sheet without holes blocks airflow and affects cooking results. Never preheat the air fryer with a liner inside and no food on top; the liner can fly into the heating element.
Why should I never wash a non-stick pan directly after cooking?
A hot non-stick pan placed under cold water suffers thermal shock — the sudden temperature change causes the coating to crack, warp, and peel over time. Always let the pan cool on the countertop first, then add a little warm water to loosen the oil, and wash with a soft brush. This single habit can extend the life of a non-stick pan from months to several years.
How often should I clean the inside of my mixer-grinder jar?
Wipe the inside of the grinding jar every few uses, especially after grinding wet masalas, coconut, or anything liquid. If spills happen during grinding, clean immediately — dried residue around the blade is much harder to remove later. A light clean with an oil-dampened cloth every week keeps the machine in good condition without risking water damage to the motor.
Is it safe to use an oil-dampened cloth to clean electrical appliances like a mixer-grinder?
Yes, if the cloth is barely damp — not wet. A few drops of cooking oil on a soft cloth picks up dust and dried residue effectively without introducing moisture into the machine. The oil acts as a gentle cleaning agent that loosens grime without scratching. Never use a wet or dripping cloth inside any electrical appliance.
Can I reuse aluminium stretch covers multiple times?
Yes. If the cover stays clean — for example when covering a dry container or cut fruit — you can reuse it for several days without washing. If food touches it, wipe it clean with a damp cloth and let it dry before using again. They are not single-use; a 25-piece pack lasts much longer than you would expect with regular reuse.
About Jasmine Choudhari
Jasmine Choudhari shares practical, no-frills ideas for organising small Indian kitchens and homes. Follow her on YouTube (600K+ subscribers · Silver Play Button), Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. For collaborations: collab@jasminechoudhari.com.