Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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SALT LAKE CITY — People always want to make life just a little bit easier, and if it happens to be something you can do yourself and is adorable, well then all the better.
Today I list nine do-it-yourself projects you can do and the appropriate links that will help you to alleviate clutter or stress in your future productive lives.
Shutter mail organizer
The first is the Window Shutter Mail Organizer by Instructables. This is something I could use in my house, since as it stands, all my mail ends up on our counter and sits there in a pile until somebody goes through it. The other thing I like about it is that cost is low or maybe even free. I am sure with a search of the KSL classifieds under the free section or other internet-savvy searches, you can find a spare window shutter. I like most people keep every can of paint I ever purchased, so as soon as you can find a can that hasnt hardened in to a rubbery cylinder, off you go!
Cargo blocks
I have always fretted over how to strategically place groceries or other food-related items in my trunk so they would not slide all over the place. I would come up with creative uses for the spare blanket, jumper cables and whatever else was available, short of putting a kid back there to hold on to stuff. I have seen trunk organizers on various websites but this idea never dawned on me. The Easy Configurable Cargo Blocks for Your Car Trunk is a great way to control food traffic in the trunk while driving. I plan on making several so next time I'm on my way to my parents, they can eat a whole casserole and not half of one.
Color-coded keys
As I generally stare at my keys for several minutes trying to figure out which one is my house key, I have always thought about purchasing a color-coded key to identify the keys I use most. Now with this painfully obvious idea, I don't have to go through the hassle. With a little bit of nail polish, I can stop sifting through a key ring that looks like that of a warden's and start identifying the ones I need. I'm fairly certain I no longer need half of the keys I have on the ring, but the one I throw away will go to a secret treasure chest or safety deposit box that I have forgotten about. Now who looks silly? If I can just convince my wife to allow me access to her stash of polish, I can get to work on the Five-Minute DIY Color Code Your Keys project.
Etched measurements
Every once in a while my wife lets me cook. Usually this involves me making pancakes or French toast. Sometimes, however, I will have just watched Pixar's “Ratatouille” and feel I was meant to be a French chef. In this instant, I will try something daring like homemade soup. When filling up large pots or kettles, it can be a hassle to fill up a small measuring glass over and over to make sure the measurements are right. The website imgur.com has an ingenious way to get the markings to be permanent and looking good. I would advise in following all the directions in How to Add Permanent Markings to a Kettle and practice your technique prior to marking up your pots, pans and other metal.
Under the cabinet drawersMy wife frequently complains about a lack of storage in the kitchen. This is mainly due to her not being able to reach much higher than the first set of shelves in the cabinets. That means the successive shelves in the cabinets are a sparsely populated wasteland of ugly cups, dishes from relatives and the designated “my area” to retrieve things. I think this idea is brilliant for storing flat items and the random things that accumulate. If only a step stool could spring out of these, then my wife could reach the top of the shelves where we keep the serving plates, vases and all of my candy. The How to Build Under the Cabinet Drawers project has detailed instructions at the familyhandyman.com website.
Canned food cabinet
More space and less clutter means everyone in the house is a little happier. This is why I love the space saving ideas that are out there. I for one am not a fan of looking in my pantry and finding that I have three bottles of the same dressing and four cans of enchilada sauce. With this nifty DIY project, your cans, spices and other hard to organize items can be right there is a space that many people take for granted or allow to collect dust and old drawings from your kids. The DIY canned food cabinet tutorial is perfect for those older houses that just don't have space to store things, especially in the kitchen.
Lazy Susan in the pantry
I may be harping on the space-saving and organization, but I tell you, life gets easier when you can find the peanut butter and those little cookies that your kids love. This DIY project is or as the title states, "The Great Pantry Makeover", shows that utilizing an under-utilized device (the Lazy Susan) in a new way can make access to the great recesses of your pantry much easier.
Multitool
The Multi Key + Bike Tools + USB Drive + Bottle Opener + Screwdriver is the ultimate in making life easier, especially if your key ring is getting out of control. I especially like the option to add a few tools, because you never know when you may be thrust into a “MacGyver moment” and need a screwdriver.
Baby broom
Get Your Baby to Help with the Housework title says it all, really. You have probably wondered how you could harness the unlimited energy that comes from your kids. I know I have. Dress them up in a cleaning onesie, and your kids can finally clean up the messes instead of making them.
Now you have seen a few of the ideas I have been able to find, but I am most assured that there are readers out there with some other great DIY projects that can make life easier. Post them in the comments, so we can all bask in your genius. This article is for entertainment purposes only. Any projects that are started should be done with safety in mind along with reading the complete instructions provided by the link provider.
