Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
50 Surprising Cases Of “It Ain’t Stupid If It Works”
Life is full of problems, big and small, and everyone has to deal with them. Running away from them to a remote island won't solve them; the pesky darn things seem to know how to get around, constantly finding a way to haunt us. Most of us mortals don't have the money for it in the first place.
So we have to solve them. And, believe it or not, we can do it even without having all the answers. All it takes is a little creativity. And to show you that human ingenuity has no limits when it comes to making life easier, Bored Panda has compiled a list of clever life hacks. Can't cut an onion without tearing up? Put on your ski goggles. Don't have a coin for a supermarket trolley? Use a round-headed key instead. In a way, I guess, we're all engineers, applying rational thinking to develop solutions. We just need to remember it.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I Wanted Natural Light In A Basement That Has No Windows
Paid $10 for two old windows, painted them, frosted the glass, installed them into my wall with LED lights behind them. Now it’s always 2 pm at the basement bar.
RELATED:
#2
That’s Brilliant
#3
After Repeating 6 Times That I Want To Cancel My Comcast Xfinity, I Finally Figured Out How To Get Them To Stop Arguing And Actually Do What I Asked
Bob Belcher 6 years ago (edited)
If you put the bill under your name only and you 12 month promotion period ends; call in to cancel at the end of 12 months and tell then your getting divorced and moving. Then have your spouse or partner call in and put the cable under their name. Since its a different name you're considered a new customer and qualify for promo rates. I've must have been divorced 6 or 7 times now lol.
#4
My Dog Rolo Has Always Been A Messy Drinker, My Girlfriend Turned His Water Bowl Into A Moss Garden To Keep The Place Tidy
#5
My Dad’s T Got Splattered With Bleach, He Decided To Fix With More. I Found It Adorable
Foxxy (The Original) 6 years ago
My friend did this with a pair of pants and ended up giving it a tie dye look using more bleach.
#6
My Grandpa Uses The Actual Hardware For Labeling The Drawers
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 6 years ago
Before my grandpa passed away, he was an inventor. We were looking for some solder in his old workroom the other night, but instead we found some letters that he had sent to my grandma when he was in the navy in a drawer. She had been looking for them for a long time, and we where able to return them to her :)
#7
This Gentleman At Target Who Reversed His Hooded Sweatshirt To Make A Puppy Pocket
Foxxy (The Original) 6 years ago
Naww, such a lil cutie. I remember when I had a customer came into my work and opened up her backpack and inside was a baby joey. It needed regular feeding so couldn’t be left in it’s own. I couldn’t tell anyone coz she could have gotten kicked out of the shop as animals are not allowed unless they are registered service animal.
#8
I Should Do It Myself As Well
#9
Friend's Sister Lost Her Car Key While Jogging, Someone Else Made Sure She Found It
#10
Changed The One Earphone Rubber To Black To Quickly See Which Is Which
#11
Putting Together Furniture? Use Some Of Its Styrofoam Packaging For Keeping Small Parts From Disappearing
#12
Hand Sewing A 1/4 Inches Hem And I Hate Juggling The Ruler
#13
He’s So Small He Can Sneak Through The Fence When He Goes Outside, So He Must Wear The Escape-Proof Wiener Bun Of Shame At Potty Time
#14
Wearing A Face Mask For An Extended Period Of Time. Sew A Button To A Headband To Keep From Destroying Your Ears
Lyra Fortune 6 years ago
An original idea which I'm sure could benefit essential workers and us alike
#15
This Bra Used To Protect A Horse's Infected Eye, Whilst Also Allowing It To See
#16
Sneaky Grandpa
#17
You Can Connect Two Ziplock Bags By Flipping One Inside Out To Make A Larger One
#18
"Grandma, Do You Have Some Rice That I Can Put My Phone In? It Got Wet." - She Pulls This Out Of A Cabinet
#19
My Husband Made This Book-Holder-Opener For Me To Ease Hand Cramping
#20
A Life Hack For Anyone In Higher Education
WilvanderHeijden 6 years ago
But they still have to pay for those $400 books written by their professor...
#21
When You Don't Have A Suit But Need One
#22
When Your Phone Touch Is Broken
Laura Jones 6 years ago
its these techno tips that are invaluable for us non technos who would never work these things out
#23
Instead Of Buying Those Cheap Plastic Chair Mats, I Bought A Box Of Laminate Flooring Planks And Put Them Together. Took Less Than 10 Minutes And Feels Sturdy. Chair Rolls So Smooth
#24
Someone At My Work Created A Clock Out Of Two Cups To Keep Track Of How Fresh The Coffee Is
#25
In Queensland We Get A Lot Of Insects Who Escape The Heat By Getting Inside Via The Drains. My Wife Had This Idea As A Barrier. Those Are Stocking Socks
#26
The Vet Said The Anti-Scratch Cone Would Be $50.00. Tractor Supply Had It For $19.95
ZombieGirl 6 years ago
But you can get an actual cone from a pet store for the price of that hat, lol
#27
I Was Running Late For Work And Couldn't Find Her Leash, This Is How I Walked My Dog This Morning
#28
Crazy Sore Muscles But No Bath Tub? Improvise. Adapt. Overcome
#29
To Remove Strong Adhesive Labels From Plastic Containers, Simply Put Them In The Freezer For A Few Hours Before Peeling
Steve Barnett 6 years ago
Thank you, I will try this next time. If it does work, whether you're male or female, I will divorce my wife and marry you. This has been a bane of my life for so long; my wife will understand.
#30
Got Her Spayed And The Vet Didn’t Have Cones Small Enough
#31
The Easiest Way To Water Your Garden
Eduard Korhonen 6 years ago
That will only work if it's raining. But if it's raining, they're getting watered anyway
#32
Use Bobby Pins To Untie Stubborn Shoelaces
#34
Soviet Lifehack
#35
If You're Like Me And Have A Broken Laptop Hinge
#36
I Use The Selfie Camera More To Plug Things Into The Back Of My Computer Than To Actually Take Selfies
#37
Why Is This Not Marketed As A Feature On All Wheelbarrows?
#38
Hate When Companies Ask For Your Email Address? This Is For You
#39
New Safe Browsing Accessory
#40
Cables Managed
Láďa Durchánek 6 years ago
This looks so good I want to buy some cables just to have them organised.
#41
My Grandma's Elderly Neighbors Have A Hook And Pulley System To Pull Groceries Up To Their Kitchen
#42
Many Thanks To The Stranger Who Let Me Know There Was No Bog Roll Today. I'll Be Doing This In Future When I Can
#43
Reuse A Pringles Can For Other Snacks That Come In Bags To Avoid Loud Bag Crinkling In The Office
#44
Use A Fork When Grating Last Bits Of Food To Avoid Possible Injury And To Shred Really Really Really Quickly
#45
My Grandma’s Technique For Cooking With Hot Oil
#46
When Disassembling Items, Punch Your Screws Thru Some Cardboard And Label The Sets. This Will Help You Retain Your Hardware, Remember Placement And Order Of Reassembly
#47
My Mom Uses Ski Goggles When She Cuts Onions
#48
How My Grandma Closes The Bag Of Chips
#49
This Genius Watching Taken Using A Clear Plastic Bag To Hold His Phone On A Plane
#50
Don't Have A Coin For A Supermarket Trolley? Use A Round Headed Key Instead
#51
When Your Geometry Knowledge Comes In Handy
#52
A Simple And Effective Way To Move Your Clothes Without Taking Off The Hangers
Foxxy (The Original) 6 years ago
I must remember this for when we move house, would save so much time and effort.
#53
Charging A Phone When The Cord Does Not Reach The Floor
#54
The Bottom Of J.lohr (As Well As Any Similar Shaped Wine Bottle) Makes A Great Press For Homemade Ravioli
#55
I Used Command Hooks To Hang My Pan Lids Onto The Inside Of A Cabinet Door
#56
My Brother Cooking 2 Pizzas At Once
#57
Put A Rubber Band Around The Inside Of The Pockets Of Your Shorts And Never Worry About Your Phone Or Keys On A Run
#58
How To Easily Carry Clothes When Moving
Carrie Laughs 6 years ago
Plastic coat hangers aren't always that strong though - best to use a wooden one as the main.
#59
Stop Water From Puddling Up On Your Canopy
#60
Drilling A Hole In A Ceiling? This Saves From Dust Debris
Steve Barnett 6 years ago
For drilling into walls, use a post-it. Make a small tear in the middle of the sticky part and fold it slightly.
#61
Be Organized
#62
I Put A Bubble Level On My Basic Drill So I Know When I’m 90 Degrees Perpendicular To Ground When Drilling Vertically
#63
Grilling Meat On A Skewer? Use Two Skewers So They Don’t Turn Back Once You Flip Them
#64
Serve Condiments In A Muffin Tin
#65
I'm A Woman In Construction, This Is How I Choose To Eat Bananas
#66
I Put On Doll Eyes On My Laptop To Help Create “Eye Contact” By Looking At The Camera
#67
How To Reorganize Furniture
#68
If You Drop Nail Polish Pour Sugar On It. After A Few Minutes, You Can Just Sweep It Away
#69
Writing Dates And Hours On The Packaging Of Your Medication Eliminates The "Did I Remember To Take It This Afternoon Or Do I Need To Take It Now?" Problem
#70
Use A Ladder When Hauling Tall Plants
Nadine Bamberger 6 years ago
Then be very easy on the brakes or you'll guillotine your cactus.
#71
IKEA: Download The Manual And Sharpie Its Name, Along With The Hex Wrench, To The Bottom For Future Tightening And/Or Disassembly
#72
A Coworker Was In Need Of A Bowl, So I Fashioned One Out Of A Plate
#73
How To Get Your Cat To Look At The Camera
Marky Mark 6 years ago
Much better than my old idea of attaching a small rodent or bird to the phone.
#74
My Roommate Changed My Life Tonight. Candle Warmer And Queso Dip
#75
Someone “Enhanced” These Lost Keys To Make Them Easier To Spot
#76
Wrap A Piece Of Lettuce Around One Side Of Your Sandwich/Burger To Keep The Goods From Falling Out The Other Side
#77
Baguette Wouldn’t Fit In My Backpack, So I Put A Cup On The Top And Zipped Up My Bag To Keep It Protected
#78
I Figured Out A Solution For Snacking And Keeping My Game Controllers Clean
#79
I Always Mince The Giant Bag Of Garlic, Freeze It, And Break Off Squares For Cooking. It's The Easiest Way To Cook With Fresh Garlic. Also, A Great Way To Prevent Waste
#80
We Wanted To Quit Wasting Food, Then We Realized We Could Use A Dry Erase Marker On The Top Of Our Freezer. Now We Always Know What Is In There
#81
Get Keys On A Keyring With A Staple Remover
#82
Staying In A Hotel? Attach Your Car Keys To Your Phone Charger So You Can't Forget It
#83
This Is Clever. So I Know Who Owes Me Money
#84
I Use An Upside Down Metal Dish Rack To Keep My Tupperware From Flipping Upside Down In The Dishwasher
Hollybolly 6 years ago
I sort the dishes in so that the coffee cup handles do lay upon an edge of the containers to keep them from flipping
#85
If You Want To Attach A Poster To The Wall And Not Ruin The Wallpaper With Push Pins, Just Use A Paper Clip And A Small Magnet
#86
Storing Seed Packets In The Photo Album
#87
No More Smudging Or Lead On The Hand
Rosie Hamilton 6 years ago
The price of gloves at the moment though! My husband needs them for work and they've tripled in price.
#88
Mosquito Bites? Itch Goes Away In An Instant With This Stuff
#89
Life Pro Tip: To Make Cheap And Easy Organizers For A Folder, Cut A Strip Out Of The Top Corner And Fold It 90 Degrees To Make A Tab
#90
When You Have A Birthday During A Pandemic And You Still Want To Blow Out Your Candles
#91
If You Stain A Shirt, You Can Simply Outline The Stain With A Sharpie And Give It A Name. This Will Make It Seem Like You Visit Islands
#92
My Husband Is Using Our Baby Monitor To Keep An Eye On The Temperature Of His Smoker While He Works
#93
Use A Grater To Slice Cold Butter For Pie Crust. Super Quick And Satisfying Too
#94
I Added A Rubber Bumper Designed For Boats To The Kerb Outside My House. Now I Can Park As Close As I Like And Not Ruin My Wheels
#95
Use A Bag Clip To Secure Your Face Mask More Tightly And Comfortably
#96
My Roommate’s Living In 2030
#97
How To Become The Office Hero When An Ice Cream Truck Comes By
#98
When You Don't Want To Buy A Smaller Pan For Just One Recipe
#99
Attach The Extra Silicon Tip On The Jack In Case You Lose One While You're Out
#100
I Built A “Replica” Of A Solid Piece Of Furniture I Wanted To Order To See If It Was Going To Fit Through The Narrow And Weirdly Shaped Staircase In My Building. It Doesn’t Fit
#101
Lifehack For Covid-Era Travellers - No More Ear Strain On Long Flights Because Of Mandatory Mask Policy
#102
Cutting Your Own Hair During This Pandemic? Set Up A Conference Call Between Two Screens So You Can Hit Up The Back And Sides
#103
Improvise, Adapt
#104
It Works
#105
Freeze Your Freezie Pops Standing Up So You Don't Have To Cut Through The Freezie To Open Them
#106
My Girlfriend Came Up With A Crazy Good Microwave Life Hack For Multiple Plates. Heats Up Evenly
#107
Wrap Your Christmas Lights Up On Cardboard. No More Untangling Cables Next Year
Jessica Nametz 6 years ago
My dad has his Christmas lights on specially cut pieces of wood for just this reason! Makes putting them up and taking them down so much easier! And you can store them inside a box or stacked and they won't tangle.
#108
Frozen Cubes Of Espresso In My Iced Coffee. Next Level Wife
#109
A Guy On My Flight Folded His Newspaper To Make A Phone Holder
#110
I Needed A Hands Free Way To Read While Snacking On Peanuts, Thought Ya'll Would Approve
#111
My Stepmum Uses A Trivet To Stop Her Laptop Overheating When She Is Gaming
WilvanderHeijden 6 years ago
Not placing the laptop on a cloth but on a hard surface so the ventilation holes don't get blocked has the same effect.
#112
And Little Creativity Goes A Long Way Huh
#113
Just Laminate A To-Do List So You Don't Waste Paper For Your To-Do Lists, Also Works For Planners
The squares are optional since you can easily remove your finished task.
#114
Use A Pizza Wheel To Make Easy Work Out Of Herbs
#115
Dry Erase Marker On The Fridge Was A Game Changer For Me. It Saves Me So Much Food
It also makes it easier to just pick a weeknight meal, instead of endlessly scrolling through recipes.
Kathryn Baylis 6 years ago
Or you could just use a magnetized white board instead of defacing your fridge—-to mitigate the risk of anyone accidentally picking up a NON-dry erase marker and making your note permanent. You know, like a small child mimicking mom/dad...
#116
Hotel Curtain Won’t Stay Closed. No Problem
#117
When You’ve Got Too Many Groceries For Your Reg Cab Pickup
WilvanderHeijden 6 years ago
That's a lot of plastic bags to bring home all those ecological and biological products. /S
#118
$2.87 Headset Hanger At Walmart
#119
Remove Your Ice Tray To Get Unlimited Ice
#120
Drained My Water Heater And The Hose I Used Was Just A Little Short Of The Drain
#121
Need New Coasters? Go To The Tile Store. Just Stick Adhesive Felt Or Cork On The Underside.
#122
This Is How I Cleaned My Keyboard Today
#123
Tape End Hack
#124
She Livin' In 2222
#125
Transport Your Knives With An Empty Paper Towel Roll And Rubber Band
CrunChewy McSandybutt 6 years ago
I needed this a while back when I was taking my favorite knife in for sharpening.
#126
Make A Door Sign For When You're On Autopilot In The Morning. Then You Can't Leave Without Removing It. (Also Hang Your Mask On The Door So You Don't Forget It Too)
SirPatTheCat 6 years ago
Knowing me I would just look at it, not register, open the door, and leave lol
#127
Keep Flies Out Of Your Wine
#128
My Dad Put An Example Of Each Bandaid On The Outside Of The Ziplock Baggies
#129
To Think, We Were About To Pick Them One By One
#130
Reheating Pizza On A Flattop Stove Burner Makes The Bottom Crispy Without Getting Burnt
#131
Put An ‘S’ On 2 Of The Short-Side Corners Of Our Almost-Square-But-Not-Quite Blanket So I Don’t Have To Figure It Out Each Time I’m Changing The Sheets
Kathryn Baylis 6 years ago
Or take some embroidery thread in a contrasting color (pre-washed so the color won’t run) and, using a simple embroidery stitch, create a small discreet square, or an “S”, or whatever you want instead.
#132
My Wife Had An Idea To Save Some Space In Our Medicine Cabinet. She Clipped Off The Cover And Instructions For Each Med And Placed In Separate Bags
#133
After Washing And Drying Your Mattress Pad Cover, Are You Left With Fuzzy Fabric Pills? Use A Comb And Rake The Fabric
Foxxy (The Original) 6 years ago
Or just put a cover straight over it, out of sight, out of mind lol.
#134
After Installing A Car Registration Sticker, Score It With A Razor Blade To Prevent Thieves From Stealing It
aussie snowdropper 6 years ago
melbourne australia here we dont have car registration stickers anymore,its not hard for the cops to type in your plate into the laptop !!!!!
#135
If You Want An Air Purifier But Only Have $39, Slap A 20x20x1 Filter On The Back Of A Box Fan
Mewton’s Third Paw 6 years ago (edited)
That’s ugly and costs $40. I have a top of the line air filter thing that looks nice and cost like $95. Twice as much but worth it if you’re gonna be spending money. $40 is too expensive for an ugly burden. $95 is reasonable for something helpful and attractive tho. I’m too cheap to spend $40 on something s****y.
#136
Fruit Fly Infestation? Pour Vinegar And A Tiny Bit Of Dish Soap In A Shallow Dish/Bowl And Watch The Little Jerks Drown
#137
Use A Herb Jar Lid With Cardboard In It To Stabilize A Wobbly Desk/Table. Won't Slip Out When The Desk Moves And Is Quite Incognito
#138
Dropped Your Grinded Herb On Ground? Use A T-Shirt Over A Vacuum Hose To Pick It Up
#139
Light A Candle Before You Shower To Keep A Pocket Of The Mirror Un-Fogged For Hair Combing, Etc
#140
My Parents Used Two Coat Hangers And Scrap Wood For A Temporary Shelf
Foxxy (The Original) 6 years ago
Eek, don’t like that idea. I would be worried the electronics would fall off and smash.
#141
Toaster Not Working? No Problem!
#142
My Friend Forgot Her Fork Today
#143
Cheese Grater Broke, Used A Vegetable Peeler To Shave My Parmesan
#144
Facetiming The Pot
wandile dludlu 6 years ago
First world problem... 3rd world countries looking at that like, you're wasting data to watch water
#145
Use A Food Clip On Your Toothpaste
#146
Parmesan Cheese Lids Fit Mason Jars
#147
No Vacuum Or Sweeping Required
#148
When The Power Is Out And This Is All You Have. Works In A Pinch But Just A Little Slower
#149
Life Pro Tip
#150
My Boss Ties Pieces Of Paper To His Hoodie So He Remembers To Look At It Later
#151
Keep Track Of Bobby Pins. I Noticed This In Our Bathroom, My Wife Is A Smart Woman
#152
When Your Headphones Start To Peel, Use Some Adhesive Tape To Clean It
John Smith 6 years ago
If you have headphones with foam pads that are worn out, check to see if you can take off the foam, then order replacement foam covers instead of throwing away the headphones.
#153
So I Used Dental Wax For My New Slipping Glasses That Came Without Adjustable Nose Pieces
#154
Hiding A Beer Like A Pro
#155
Vacuum Sealing Watermelon Causes All Of The Juices Be Sucked In, Increasing The Sweetness Of The Fruit And Deepening The Color
#156
Use An Old Aux Cord To Keep Your Dongle On Your Keys At All Times
WilvanderHeijden 6 years ago
Or refuse to buy a smartphone without a proper headphone connection.
#157
How To Bake Two Pizza's At Once In One Pizza Sized Oven
#158
I’m Not Promising 100%, But You Won’t Be Stirring All Day
#159
Put On Ski Goggles When Chopping Onions So You Don't Cry Your Eyes Out
#161
When Your Side Of The Bed In The Hotel Room Does Not Have A Nightstand
#162
Hubby Was Using The Oven And I Needed To Proof My Focaccia, So I Ran The Dryer For 3 Minutes Then Put In My Dough. Worked Great
K.Kobayashi 6 years ago
Then watch in horror as hubby throws laundry into dryer without checking.
#163
Never Leave Your Gym Lock At The Gym Again By Using It As A Carabiner To Hold Your Bag Together. If You Try And Walk Off Without It, The Unhooked Strap Will Alert You To Its Absence
#164
Using A Hair Clip To Hold The Side Of A Book When Reading On An Angle Or Laying Down To Prevent "Page Flopping"
#165
The Hack Of All Hacks
#166
Need A Quick Camera Mount For Your Phone? Use A Trigger Clamp
#167
Never Have To Remember When The Warranty Is Up On Your Car Battery. Just Some Duct Tape And A Permanent Marker
#168
I Got Tired Of Small Pill Organizers So I Converted A Cheap Fishing Tackle Box Into A Mega Pill Box
Rosie Hamilton 6 years ago
Isn't the point of pill organisers to help people know if they've taken the right pill at the right time of day? That's what I use mine for.
#169
About 2 Minutes After Realizing There Was No Bottle Opener In My Hotel Room I Discovered This Gem And It Works Like A Charm
#170
Let Your Jell-O Shots Set Upside Down On The Lid To Make It Easier To Take
#171
I Designed And Printed A Stand To Use A Leftover Fan As A Food Cooler
#172
Tic-Tac Containers? Pro-Tip: Store Spices In Magnetic Paperclip Holders And Put Them On Your Fridge. Bonus Points For Alphabetically
#173
Use The Wire From Chinese Takeout Containers To Stop Laundry Detergent From Dripping/Leaking All Over Your Appliances
Wendy Merron 6 years ago
Or, you could keep the laundry soap container on it's side to keep it upright.
#174
No Problem
#175
Dad From The Future
#176
No Knife Holder - No Problem
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 6 years ago
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE PRECIOUS BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#177
Local Pool Doesn’t Allow Alcohol, So I Bring Water
WilvanderHeijden 6 years ago
Oh, what a rebel!!! /S But seriously, you know there's a reason why alcohol in pools isn't allowed. It's to keep dumb people from doing stupid things while they are drunk.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Julie 6 years ago (edited)
I don't know if you would consider this stupid or smart. I have loaned out so many books, or tools and such over the years that were never returned. Now I still don't refuse loaning...but instead I take a digital pic of them holding what I am loaning. I use it, to get my stuff back...infact now I don't even have to use the photo as leverage..they know and return it accordingly. 😏
Mike Crow 6 years ago
A life hack I was taught was to take a photo of your young kids when you get to a busy place like an amusement park. That way if one got lost you can show the staff exactly what they look like at that time. This is good as many parents freak when their kids go missing and forget what the kids were wearing.
Craig Silberman 6 years ago
Most of those were brilliant ideas, even a few "hacks," and not the least bit stupid, so why were they in an "it ain't stupid if it works" post?
Julie 6 years ago (edited)
I don't know if you would consider this stupid or smart. I have loaned out so many books, or tools and such over the years that were never returned. Now I still don't refuse loaning...but instead I take a digital pic of them holding what I am loaning. I use it, to get my stuff back...infact now I don't even have to use the photo as leverage..they know and return it accordingly. 😏
Mike Crow 6 years ago
A life hack I was taught was to take a photo of your young kids when you get to a busy place like an amusement park. That way if one got lost you can show the staff exactly what they look like at that time. This is good as many parents freak when their kids go missing and forget what the kids were wearing.
Craig Silberman 6 years ago
Most of those were brilliant ideas, even a few "hacks," and not the least bit stupid, so why were they in an "it ain't stupid if it works" post?
Related on Bored Panda
