Summertime! When the kids are off of school and days at the pool and weekend BBQs fill up your schedule. This year, make your summer as simple as possible.
These inexpensive hacks will not only impress your friends — they will also make your life a little easier. Here are 20 clever ways to make your summer as simple as possible.Ā
Images via Kelly Ladd
DIY Air-Conditioning
Now you can sit outside and enjoy a nice cool breeze, even in the dead heat of the summer. Simply place a bowl of ice in front of a fan and, voila, instant AC!
Frozen Aloe Cubes for Sunburns
Itās inevitable that sometime this summer someone in your house is going to get a sunburn. Ease their pain by freezing store-bought aloe into ice cube trays and then placing one on the skin. As the aloe melts, it will cool the skin.
Frozen Water Balloon Cooler
For your next party, add a little flair to the cooler by using frozen water balloons to chill your beverages. Best part, when the ice melts, you can have a stellar water balloon fight. Score!
Bug-Free Lemonade
Hereās a clever and inexpensive way to keep bugs out of your lemonade as you swim in the pool or chillax in the hammock. Simply stick a straw through the bottom of a cupcake liner and place it upside down on top of your cup.
Portable Marshmallow Roaster
Going on a picnic or afternoon outing in a park? Hereās a portable way to roast marshmallows with has zero mess. Line a terracotta pot with tin foil, place your charcoal inside, light it up, and then roast your marshmallows.
Burger Labels
Make it easy for your guests during your next BBQ by labeling your burgersā buns. Simply write "rare," "medium," or "well" on the bun with ketchup.
Pre-Party Ice Cream Prep
Make it easy on yourself during your next summer party. Be the hostess with the mostest by scooping the ice cream into lined muffin tins ahead of time and putting them back in the freezer until it's time for dessert. Easy prep work and more time to spend with your guests!
Self-Draining Ice Bucket
This little detail will go a long way. Instead of using a typical ice bucket, place ice cubes in a colander on top of a bowl. As the ice melts, the water will strain through. No more fishing ice out of the meltwater. Your guests will always have solid ice cubes for their drinks!
Beach- and Pool-Safe Phone Pouch
This summer, the last thing you want is to get water or sand in the crevices of your phone case while youāre at the beach or pool. Simply place your phone in a ziplock bag and swipe your heart out, while keeping it water and sand free.
Natural Bug Repellent
Keep those mosquitoes away by simply sticking cloves into lime slices and placing them in a bowl on the table. Smiley faces arenāt required, but preferred!
Cool-Down Necklace
Cool the kids down while they are playing in the summer heat by making a necklace from cut sponges. Then soak the sponges in water and place in freezer. When itās time to play, place the necklace around the childās neck. This also works great for soccer and football games.
Mess-Free Popsicle
Eliminate those sticky fingers with this simple idea. With the tips of your scissors, cut a āXā into the bottom of a cupcake liner. Then stick the bottom of the popsicle stick into the liner. The liner will collect all of the drips. Win for mom!
Sandal Saver
Those plastic sandals are cheap for a reason. The toe inserts are notorious for popping out. Keep them in place with a plastic tag from your bread bag. It totally works and you canāt even feel it.
DIY Sprinkler
Donāt have a sprinkler for the summer? Thatās okay! Make one from a 2-liter bottle. Just drill holes into it and connect it to the hose with duct tape. Instant fun!
Easy Strawberry Top Remover
Instead of wasting half of your strawberry by cutting off the green top or messing up your manicure by picking them off, just stick a plastic straw through the bottom all the way through. The green top just pops off.
DIY Water Balloon Pump
Donāt have an outside hose to fill up those water balloons? Thatās okay. Fill up an old hand soap pump with water, wrap the end of the balloon around the nozzle, then pump away.Ā
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No-Mess Watermelon Slices
Fun idea for a party or simply to avoid little sticky fingers. Cut a small hole at the bottom of a watermelon slice, stick a thick popsicle stick into the bottom, and let the kids eat it like a popsicle.
Chapstick Money Holder
Hate leaving cash or a wallet in plain view while at the beach? Clean out an old Chapstick container and unscrew the top part. Then roll your money up and place in side. Stick the cap on and toss in your beach bag.
Glow Stick Lanterns
Throwing a nighttime BBQ? Light up the party with glow stick lanterns. Fill some old jars with water, crack the glow stick, and place it inside the water. The water will amplify the glow stickās light.
