Learn more about life hacks for a clean home

by Abby Hardison  Rowan Public Library


A common trend on social media and pop culture websites for several years has been the propagation of “life hacks,” also called “life pro tips,” where folks share their improvised, inexpensive or especially clever ideas to make life easier.

This is not a new concept. Domestic goddess Heloise (and her mother before her, also Heloise) has been doling out her famous “Hints” for decades in newspapers and magazines.

Websites such as Pinterest and Facebook are full of household tips and tricks to make life cheaper, easier, cleaner and more organized, by using paper towel rolls, shoe organizers and wall hooks, among other things.

RPL has some great books on organizing the home, including Marie Kondo’s bestseller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” (2011), but getting rid of stuff isn’t the only way to streamline your life and home. Repurposing and reusing items, or upcycling, as it’s also called, is another way to take items that you don’t need and turn them into things you never thought possible!

A great example is Yankee Magazine’s 2004 book “Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs & More,” which is chock full of all sorts of ideas that will make you say “Huh!” Another cool book in the collection is “Making it: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World” (2012), by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, which has everything from making your own cleaning products to cheap gardening projects.

On March 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. at our Salisbury headquarters on West Fisher Street, we are showcasing our collection of books to bring out your inner Heloise and make the Pinterest people jealous.

We’ll show you organization ideas for every room with repurposed and attractive items, such as cardboard boxes turned into chic storage containers with a little contact paper and paint.

Rein in your bathroom vanity area with drawer organizers meant for tableware, and use a tension rod under the sink to hang all your spray bottles.

To find out more and see pictures, you’ll just have to come and see us at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 5 at the library. For more information, check out www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.