52 tiny annoying problems, solved! (Because when you can't control the big stuff, start small)

The Guardian

08-06-2025

Stuffed-up sievesAlways use a dishwasher. If one isn't available, soak in the sink first, to loosen particles, then take a dish brush or nail brush to it. Rinse under a fast hot tap.Aggie MacKenzie, TV presenter and author
Coffee that clogsCoffee brewed with a French press leaves behind a slurry of grounds and water, and usually too much liquid for the kitchen bin. But coffee grounds can clog up plumbing and create major problems, which I learned the hard way. I now place a single paper towel over the sink waste and filter the grounds until they are dry enough for the trash.Brandon Wilks, Fairbanks, Alaska
Dodgy dishwashersIf your dishwasher is not working well, it could be down to a simple blockage: something small enough to pass through the filter, but large enough to clog the spray arm holes from the inside. In my experience it's either lemon pips or pine nuts. The two spray arms (some posh dishwashers have three) are easy to remove; shake over the sink, the pine nuts will dislodge and your dishwasher will clean like new again.
Tim Dowling, Saturday columnist
Too much TupperwareEveryone has way too many plastic storage containers, and half don't have a lid, are stained or bubbled. Scale it back. Unfortunately, Tupperware isn't accepted by local household recycling services but you can try TerraCycle, donate to charity or repurpose, such as into tubs for planting seeds. If you still have quite a few, use a CD rack for the lids.Abi Macdonald, professional organiser, Norwich
Glasses half-full or emptyI get annoyed with half-full glasses of water around the house, especially as we're on a meter. I make myself feel better by pouring them into a little watering can, for when I need to do the plants. Also, keep a bottle of water in the fridge so you don't have to run the mixer tap to get cold water after using hot.Hilary Osborne, Guardian money & consumer editor
Wobbly tablesI find it annoying when tables wobble. Despite all of our modern technology, we have not fixed this. My solution is to carry with me a small wooden wedge.Chris Haji-Michael, Austria
Manky clothsI hate wiping up crumbs with a damp cloth – that is gross. So I have a small dustpan and brush used only for the kitchen side and tables. I can't live without it. I even run it through the dishwasher to freshen it up.Victoria Cozens, Essex
Preserving paintbrushesTo get the paint out of the paintbrush ferrule (where the bristles are fixed, and buildup ruins the brush), I use a cat comb. Brushes last longer and stay flexible.Diana Howard, Aix-en-Provence, France
The wonder tapeI have recently discovered the novelty of double-sided nano tape. It has lots of uses, including tacking random things to the wall, from pictures and shower gel to a bread knife or small scissors. It can stop mats slipping. It could hold things down on boats, perhaps. I like thinking of ways to use it next.Lindsey Wilson, Norwich
Sticky label marksStubborn stickers? Warm with a hairdryer for a few seconds to soften the glue, then peel off smoothly.Mimi Glenn, Warwickshire
Lazy curtainsIf you have those corded curtain tracks, you'll find they become sluggish over time – because you haven't lubricated them since they were installed. Never use WD-40. Just take an old clean rag, liberally saturate with cheap furniture polish, then wipe the track with it, leave to dry – and you'll find they glide.Charlie Holding, London
Kids' tat gone wildKids attract endlessly annoying knick-knacks, so I've bought two clear over-door hangers for my daughter, which are meant for shoes, and put them inside her wardrobe door so they don't make her room look messy. Also good is to have a box for each person in the house, kept in their bedroom, and when they leave random bits lying around, put them in there. Abi M
Recycling runneth overIt is possible to fold most empty soft plastic packaging into a triangle shape with little effort. This saves space and prevents any remnants leaking out. I do it all the time – if I'm out, it means I can take my rubbish home without making a mess in my bag/pockets.Ollie Williams, Berlin
You v onionsPutting a teaspoon in your mouth seems to help with onion tears. But best of all is wearing contact lenses – not possible for everyone but a bonus if you use them.
Georgina Hayden, Feast columnist
Half-edible asparagusI used to get frustrated with asparagus – one end takes longer to cook than the other. Perfectly cooked tips result in raw stalks; tender stalks yield mushy tips. The solution was both lazy and stupidly obvious: I leave on the rubber band the spears come bundled with, so they can stand upright, shoulder deep, in the simmering water for a few minutes; long enough to cook the stalks. Then I reach in with scissors and snip the band, so they fall over and the tips cook. If your asparagus doesn't come with a rubber band – or if you want to avoid microplastics – tie with butcher's string to get the same result. After I invented this, it occurred to me that maybe everyone already does this – maybe that's what the rubber band is for. Still, it's changed my life for the better. TD
Mango messStand it upright and cut into two cheeks, using the stone as a guide. Then do the hedgehog trick, scoring the flesh in a crisscross section. When you flip it inside out, there are chunks of mango to cut off. GH
Unopenable jarsSome people say pierce the lid with a knife but I think that is a recipe for disaster. If you tap the edge of the lid on a hard worktop to release the air pressure, it opens straight away. GH
No ice cube tray, no problemFreezing fruit is a way of keeping drinks super cold in the summer and looks pretty. Just put grapes in the freezer, on a baking sheet. When they have frozen, put them in a tub so you don't waste so much space. Or, as a friend's mum used to, freeze slices of lemon and lime for gin and tonics. GH
Garlicky fingersI love garlic but the smell on my hands after peeling and chopping it was a big put-off. A transformational life hack was discovering rubbing and washing your hands with stainless steel after cutting garlic almost completely removes the smell. You can even buy a bar of stainless steel that looks like soap and does the trick.Tenzing Sonam, India
Leftover bits and piecesI have a sandwich bag in my fridge of all the odds and ends of cheese; they keep for ages. I would always freeze feta, though, as it doesn't last long. Likewise, keep any last little bits of carrot, onion or other veg in a bag and next time you are making a ragu or soup, chuck them in. If you buy a pot of cream for a recipe and use only a small amount, freeze the rest in an ice cube tray. Do the same with wine. GH
Eggshell everywhereI always crack eggs on a worktop or chopping board. Just a tap to break the shell will make sure it doesn't go everywhere. If you do it on the edge of a bowl or pan, you push shards of eggshell into the egg. Likewise if you use a knife you are more likely to get tiny bits of shell in your food. If you do get shell in the egg and try to use your fingers to pick out any fragments, it is absolutely impossible. If you use the rest of the shell, you will get it every time. GH
Eggs that are hard to peelI've found that placing the eggs directly into already boiling water, then transferring them immediately to cold water once they are cooked makes peeling much easier. I presume the thermal shock facilitates the separation of egg from shell. I really cannot bear to see people starting the eggs in a pan of cold water.Nicolas Magand, Strasbourg
Wasted honeyI find it really frustrating when measuring honey for a recipe, because you will always end up leaving honey on the tablespoon, so it's not an accurate measure. But if you brush the spoon with a little bit of oil first, the honey will glide straight off. GH
The faff of peeling gingerPeel root ginger with a teaspoon. It's unbeatable for getting into all the nooks and crannies. Anonymous
Lost toolsFor some reason, most of the tools available are designed in earthy colours, so the minute you drop your trowel on the ground it becomes impossible to find, especially if you wander away and come back. I have taken to putting a ring of neon tape round the handle, so it is immediately obvious where a tool is.Claire Ratinon, Saturday gardening columnist
Squirrels obsessed with your bulbsThis is deeply annoying. You plant all these bulbs, they cost lots of money, and then the squirrels dig them out. Some people try the cayenne pepper trick – putting it all over the soil after you have planted bulbs – but it is arduous and not very kind to the squirrels. The main way to get rid of them is with chicken wire over the pots. But an easy hack is to get the clear plastic lid of a storage crate and whack it on top with heavy stones. Put that on your pots and squirrels can't get into it but the sunshine can.Alice Vincent, Saturday gardening columnist
Very muddy bootsThe mud these last few winters has been so infuriating that my partner has made a welly puller. It is a plank of wood with a triangle cut out of it that you can put your heel into, mounted on a smaller piece of wood at a 30 degree angle off the ground. You have to use it properly or it gets covered in mud and doesn't save your socks from getting covered, too. Take your first boot off using the toe of the second boot, then use the welly puller to take off that one. If you are not particularly handy with wood and nails, put a trug with a few inches of water in it at the back door. Stand in it and swish the mud off. CR
Forgotten things on your to-do listI'm a big fan of the principle of 'universal capture', which is productivity geek speak for always having ready access to somewhere you can scribble something down when you think of it, in a way that you'll then see it later, so as to take action on it if necessary. The unfortunately named Braintoss lets me email a note to myself with two clicks, rather than going through my email app, and as I know I'll check my email, I'm sure to encounter the reminder. Whenever I travel, I carry a plastic pouch that closes with a zip, so I can throw receipts, random papers, bits of currency, etc in there. All of this is really just a way of respecting the fact that the human brain is far too limited to serve as a useful repository for endless task lists.Oliver Burkeman, author of Meditations for Mortals
InterruptionsOne idea I've found useful for dealing with irritating interruptions when you're trying to concentrate is: be careful not to define more things than necessary as 'interruptions'. If you're the kind of person who tries to schedule your whole day very strictly, you're pretty much asking to feel annoyed when reality collides with your rigid plan. If you have autonomy over your schedule, a better idea is to try to safeguard three or four hours at most for total focus – this is, it turns out, the maximum countless authors, scientists and artists have managed in an uninterrupted fashion anyway. If I'm working at home on a day when it's not my turn for school pickup, and my son bursts in to tell me excitedly about something he's done, it's a shame if I feel annoyed by the intrusion rather than delighted by the serendipitous interaction, solely because I've defined that period as time for deep focus. OB
A stranger at the doorI discovered this by accident, but unsolicited door-knockers are eager to conclude their business and go away if you open the door while holding some kind of large electric gardening implement. I just happened to be carrying a hedge trimmer when the bell rang, but a chainsaw would be even better. You could leave it on a hook by the door. TD
Random keys in the kitchen drawerYou know that box of old keys you see every day and don't have a clue what they're for? Take time to go through them, trying them out in various places. Soon you will know they are of no use to you. Chuck the lot. I did that a few years ago and all was fine. Aggie M
Paperwork mountainsWe have a 'deal with them once' rule. As soon as it comes through the letterbox, any junk gets put straight in the recycling, rather than put away or allowed to clutter up surfaces, because that means you end up dealing with it at least twice, picking it up and moving it around. Instead, open your mail when it comes in, get rid of the envelope straight away, then have a paperwork system, so you've got sections for action required, pending or needs putting away, and teach everyone to follow suit. Abi M
Foundation smudgesYou have done your makeup; now you want to put on a pale top without getting a tidemark on the neck. Simple: turn it around, put it over your head back to front, then scooch it round the right way before you put your arms in the sleeves. A tiny bit of foundation at your nape is way less visible than under your face.Jess Cartner-Morley, Guardian fashion editor
Tangly washingTo avoid this, put cords in a tote bag, tie it and wash. For hoodie strings, tie them in a bow around the neck, then put the whole thing in the tote bag to wash.Morwenna Ferrier, Guardian fashion & lifestyle editor
Crumpled clothes on arrivalEver made pinwheel pastries? That's the trick here, but with clothes. Lay tops on top of each other, fold sleeves diagonally across, then – as carefully and tightly as if rolling pastry – roll together, from neck down, so you end up with a swiss roll of fabric. Do the same with trousers or dresses. Place in your case and fill the gaps with PJs, denim shorts, socks, things that don't have crease issues. It takes longer than chucking everything in but works like a charm and saves space. JCM
Odd socksI solved this by throwing out all my socks and buying only black ones. They end up not matching anyway because they fade at different rates, have different size bands at the top, etc, but it's better than it could be.Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, Guardian columnist
Shoes that rubThey felt fine in the changing room but now you've got a blister coming on? With leather shoes, you can fix this with a hairdryer. (Check they are leather: most 'vegan leather' is plastic, which will melt.) Dampen the leather with a wet cloth, then point a hairdryer at the problem area until you feel the leather warm and soften. Put on thick socks and go for a walk. JCM
People 'borrowing' your tightsIf more than one person in your house wears tights, they never end up in your possession. The only way round this is by enforcing rigid brand allegiance, so you know if they're from M&S, they're definitely yours.Zoe Williams, Guardian columnist
Mascara splodgesIf you splodge mascara on your face, don't panic! Wait a minute or two for it to dry, then brush away using a clean spoolie or an eyebrow pencil's brush. It will easily come off without disturbing your makeup.Jaz Crush, makeup artist, London
That last tiny bit of nail polishCut old tights into small pieces and use to remove nail polish. The nylon's slightly abrasive quality makes the polish come off faster than with a cotton ball.Francesca Fortunato, New York
Crinkled clothingI never iron clothes. I just shake them really well when I take them out of the machine, hang out, then fold neatly. If an item needs ironing, I won't buy it. Abi M
Tangled jewelleryIf you want to wear multiple necklaces but avoid tangling, you need a magnetic clasp – attach each necklace to its own connector and voilà.Chloe Mac Donnell, Guardian deputy fashion & lifestyle editor
Stinky foam slippersFreeze them, wash on a gentle cycle, then air.Lee Setili, Georgia, US
Bobbles on tightsWrap parcel tape round your hand and go over the garment as you would with a lint roller. Aggie M
Frizzy hairSleeping on a satin pillowcase stops you getting so hot: it repels sweat and keeps moisture in your hair. Also, a microfibre towel is gentler on your hair's cuticles. Michelle Druy, hairdresser, Surrey
The unavoidable running blistersSooner or later, if you are running you will get a big bastard blister on your heel, and there is no point using anything other than one of those expensive padded blister plasters. Normal plasters won't get you home without pain, or let you run again next day.Phil Daoust, Guardian Fit for ever columnist
HiccupsI have a guaranteed cure. 1 Take a deep breath and pinch your nose. 2 With nose pinched, try to expel air through it, to the point where your ears almost pop. 3 Maintaining the ears-about-to-pop sensation, sip and swallow cool water from a glass or cup. This technique has never let me down. I believe it works by forcing your brain to concentrate on other small motor actions, thereby forgetting about the hiccups.David Daniel, Shanghai
Stubbed toesWhen someone has a minor injury, such as stubbing their toe, give them a full minute to themselves so they can enter, then exit, their 'bubble of pain'. This is what we do in our family and I swear it helps get rid of pain much faster. We don't ask, 'What happened?' or, 'Are you OK?' until the injured person speaks first. A hand on their shoulder or a respectful bowing of the head to the Gods of Minor Pain is sufficient at this time. Anonymous
Face ID failsBring your iPhone to eye level and be sure your face is square on to the top of the screen, your eyes are open and the phone isn't facing into direct sun. Still having problems? Try redoing your scan in the face ID settings, enable mask mode or set up an alternative appearance – helpful if you sometimes wear glasses.Samuel Gibbs, Guardian consumer technology editor
Phone storage woesDeleting unused apps and games, storing photos and videos in the cloud, and clearing unwanted offline music and films can quickly free up space, but don't overlook WhatsApp and other messaging apps. Every picture, gif and meme sent or received eats up space, so regularly clearing out messaging storage can save you gigabytes of memory. WhatsApp has a tool for it, 'manage storage', in its settings. SG
Email inbox clogged with marketing bumfGet a bespoke email address, make it incredibly short, then use it only for such purposes as logging on to the free wifi in public places. ZW
Beat the bots!I find if you shout 'I WANT TO SPEAK TO A PERSON', sometimes the robot puts you through. RLC
Keep repeating 'help', until a real person does.Tuesday Simmonds, North Norfolk