9 TikTok home hacks that will change your life

Save time and money by implementing these clever tips and tricks in your home

With an average of 689 million worldwide users every month, social media platform TikTok is so much more than a stream of silly videos and well-choreographed dance clips.

READ MORE: The ultimate DIY hacks

Many of its users share practical, priceless home hacks that could save you both time and money – and some of them are absolutely genius.

Windows and doors specialists Genesis Collection have pulled together 10 top TikTok household tips that you never knew you needed.

1. Don’t be blinded by the obvious

If you have Venetian blinds in your home, you probably assume that once they’re closed, you’re shut off from the outside world, right? Well according to TikTok user @kriskoevists, many of us are doing it all wrong.

When it comes to closing your blinds, you need to make sure the slats close downwards rather than upwards. Though both may look right from the inside, a passerby outside could get a bit of an eyeful if they look up to a second-floor window if you’ve done the latter.

@kriskoexists
Quarantine realizations 😂👌🏽 should be so simple #lifehack #blinds #privacy #apartmentlifestyle #citylife #tipsandtricks #lifehack #realization #umm #what#
♬ Sneaky - Pacifica Music

2. Remove stickers smoothly

Now this is one that has wasted more of our time over the years than we care to consider.

If you’ve ever needed to remove stickers or decals from the inside of a window or mirror (er, hello kids) then you know the drill – you pick away at the stubborn sticker, grab a corner and go to pull and it breaks off, or even if you get a clean lift, you’re still left with glue residue, which is a nightmare to clean.

Not so with this tip from @acleanbee. Her technique is to heat the sticker or decal with a hairdryer so that you melt the glue. Once suitably hot, use a knife or another sharp object to carefully ease under one corner, and then peel it off.

@acleanbee
sharing how to remove stickers from glass and mirrors! #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips #foryoupage #foryou #4yp #4u
♬ original sound - acleanbee

3. Reuse empty candle jars

If you like to burn posh candles that come in their own jar, don't throw them away when they reach the end of their life. It turns out they are a lot easier to clean up and transform into something new than you thought.

Fill the jar with boiling water from the kettle, scrape off any labels from the front (a Stanley knife or similar works a treat) and then wait for the wax to rise to the top and the water to cool.

Once cooled, it should be easy to remove the wax and wick, then just give the jar a little scrub and you'll have a nice clean glass that you can repurpose as a pretty storage solution.

@homethirty_one
Cleaning out old candles and reusing the jar 🕯 #cleantok #hack #tips #cleaning #cleaningtiktok #fy #foryou #foryoupage #fyp
♬ Stuck in the Middle - Tai Verdes

4. Tear tape right

Think you know how to tear tape? Well before you embark on your next DIY job think again. This hack works particularly well for masking tape and could save you a lot of time and energy.

TikTok user @mancrafting says that when you’re ready to tear a length of tape, you should simply fold the piece you want under at a right angle, which both makes it easier to tear and also leaves a visible flap so you can find the end of the tape again.

@mancrafting
I use this tip everytime I use masking tape. #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #tapehack #shoptips #tipsandtricks
♬ NEVER KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE - Jared Gelman

5. Curtains that hang just right

The queen of home hacks Mrs Hinch revealed this tip to keep your curtains gathered in the right places, which has been shared lots across TikTok, including by @rightguysaldireviews, who details the technique in full.

It’s best done the first time you put new window dressings up or when you rehang them after they've been cleaned, as it requires taking the curtain pole down.

Using old (but clean) toilet rolls, you want to feed one toilet roll onto the pole between each curtain hole, which will help support your curtains as they hang.

@rightguysaldireviews
#hack #interiordesigner #fyp #viral #foryou #rightguysaldireviews #righguys® best hack on tiktok #tiktokuk #home #homehack #oldvideo #reposted
♬ original sound - Official Right Guys Reviews®

6. Limit paint splashes

Painting your house can get messy at times, and the clean-up job is never fun. If you would like to limit splashes and ensure your paint trays can be reused time and again, then try this simple trick from TikTok user @diyonabudgetofficial.

Simply place a bin bag over your paint tray and tie it before you add the paint. Once you’re finished, just unravel the bin bag and put it in the bin, with no need to clean the tray.

@diyonabudgetofficial Paint tray tip 👌🏻 #diy #painting #paintinghacks #diytiktok ♬ original sound - DIY On A Budget

7. Try this trick for treat jars

How about this sweet hack to add a fun and friendly twist to your home? Displaying jars of sweets and biscuits is a great way to make storage work double-time as cute décor, but there's no need to waste lots of money keeping them filled when you can cheat a little.

TikTok user, @makaylann0 suggests putting a smaller glass upside down inside your larger glass jar to create the illusion that there are more sweets in the jar than there actually are. You’ll save a little money, and your guests will be none the wiser!

@makaylann0
Use this simple hack to step up your home decor game! #thriftflip #glasspainting #science101 #decorhacks #homedecorideas #springdecor #easterdecor
♬ sonido original - m a y i t a

8. Ensure sweet-smelling dreams

This method from @mama_mila_ requires a little more effort than some but will ensure your freshly-made bed smells amazing.

Firstly, while your bedsheets are washing (use ½ cup of white vinegar instead of fabric softener for extra soft sheets), vacuum your mattress.

Next, add 3-5 drops of your favourite essential oil and half a cup of baking soda and sprinkle liberally over your mattress. Vacuum the mattress again, put on your clean sheets and there you have it – the next best thing to staying in a posh hotel.

@mama_mila_
Treat yourself to the best nights sleep ✨ #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips #cleanhome #homehacks
♬ Celebrate the Good Times - Mason

9. Leave plastic containers spick and span

Are your plastic containers showing signs of previous use and staining? Well @adikempler thinks they have the answer.

All you need to do is pour some washing-up liquid into the offending container, add some warm water, place a few bits of shredded kitchen roll in and pop the lid on.

Then comes the fun part: you need to shake it vigorously for 45 seconds to one minute. Then rinse out the water and it should look as good as new.

@adikempler
This hack has saved so many of my Tupperware friends. Try it!!!! #fyp #cookingvideos #cookinghacks #lifehacks #hacks #stainremover #foryou #foryoupage

♬ original sound - adikempler

Main photo: travelarium.ph/Shutterstock