With children, pets, chores, and never-ending clutter, a messy home can quickly spin out of control — causing us to feel the same way. A disorderly home can increase anxiety, along with impairing sleep and our ability to focus. This feeling of anxiety triggers avoidance strategies, making us want to forgo tidying up altogether, snowballing into even more clutter and bigger messes. However, there is a fix that can help both you and your home: the Ski Slope Method.

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What Is the Ski Slope Method?

The Ski Slope Method is designed for those who suffer from the anxiety and avoidance that comes with built-up messes. It was invented by therapist, interior designer, and author of Home Therapy, Anita Yokota, who initially taught the method to her interior design clients to create stunning home displays and to her therapy clients to help them cultivate a happy family home. 

Imagine a messy room in your home as a ski slope. You’re at the top of the mountain, ski poles in hand, ready to tackle the snowy piste. Yokota explains, “If you try to go straight down, the steep angle feels scary and overwhelming. But if you traverse the slope — skiing from one side to the other — you lessen the angle and make it down the mountain without even noticing.”

How to Use the Ski Slope Method

Now, let’s apply this visual to a dirty room. Instead of attacking it all at once, start at one corner, sliding back and forth across the room downward until you reach the end — just like you would if you were skiing down a mountain. 

This method is effective because it gives you a starting point. Oftentimes, a room is so chaotic that you don’t know where to begin, which is why many people eventually give up. The ski slope method breaks up the room into smaller, manageable chunks and tricks your brain into believing that a daunting task is more manageable. With this sense of relief, you feel encouraged to keep going. This method also allows for breaks because you aren’t creating a bigger mess during cleaning — you can tackle your kitchen over a few hours or your basement over one weekend.

Organize Anything With This Trick

The Ski Slope Method can be applied anywhere in the home or workplace. On a smaller scale, try organizing your closets and pantries this way. How often have you tried straightening up your closet, pulling everything out, only to find yourself disappointed with the amount of extra work you just created as everything lies strewn across the floor? Instead, “skiing” down your closet and pantry shelves — working from an upper corner and cascading down, side-to-side — breaks up the process. 

You can also organize your desk this way. Start in the back corner with a jumbled-up pen holder, then move across to the opposite corner, filing that stack of mail that keeps piling up. Move across the front, wipe down the keyboard drawer, and finally, tackle those disheveled storage drawers. With the burden reduced into smaller sections, you’ll be ready to declutter your desk and any other part of your home or office. This method empowers you to take control of your space, no matter the size, instilling confidence in your ability to organize effectively.

When you think you’ve seen it all, a new cleaning hack emerges, each seeming more bonkers than the next. Here’s another to add to your list: Cleaning with raw potatoes. As ridiculous as it sounds, this science-backed cleaning method is no gimmick. Potatoes contain the same chemical found in certain household cleaners and can work wonders around the house as a non-toxic, kid- and pet-friendly way to defog glass, remove rust, scrub away limescale, and more. 

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How to Clean Eyeglasses With Potatoes

Whether from humidity, wearing a mask, or cooking over a hot oven, foggy glasses are downright disruptive. But it’s easy to remedy the fog with a russet potato. Wash and dry the spud and cut it in half. Gently rub all over the surface of the glass. This creates a thin, starchy film on the lenses. If there is a lot of residue or you notice streaks forming, wipe the lenses with a microfiber cloth, then let the glasses dry thoroughly to avoid smudging. After they’re dry, you’ll see less fogging when you wear them because the starch layer forms a barrier between the heat and the glass without obscuring your vision. 

Try This Next

Potatoes work on glass and similar materials to defog and clean. Try using a potato on these items next:

• • Windows: After wiping the potato around in a circular motion, spritz with water to remove residue and streaks, then wipe with a lint-free towel.
• • Car windshields: Not only can a potato clean a windshield, but the starch forms a protective layer, acting as a water repellent and reducing the severity of fog and ice.
• • Mirrors: Wipe down bathroom mirrors with a potato to reduce fogging from hot showers.
• • Ski and swim goggles: You can clean goggles with potatoes like you can clean eyeglasses. This is great for goggles that fog up easily. 

However, glass isn’t the only thing potatoes can clean. 

Potatoes Can Remove Rust

Potatoes contain high levels of oxalic acid, an organic compound produced by plants, animals, and even humans. This chemical is also found in many household cleaners, including rust and stain removers and bleaching agents. When rust is exposed to oxalic acid, iron oxalate is formed. This water-soluble compound can be dissolved and washed away. 

One of the most common kitchen rust culprits is the cast-iron skillet. If yours needs a refresh, sprinkle it with coarse salt, cut a potato in half, and rub it over the rusty areas, slicing off the dirty parts of the potato when necessary. Rust, grime, and burnt bits will slowly come off, allowing you to easily wipe it clean.

To clean rust off other items, such as knives, baking sheets, or household tools, cut a potato in half and dip it in a mixture of baking soda and salt. The dual action of the baking soda and salt provides extra grit while the oxalic acid breaks down rust. Wash away the grime, and it will look as good as new.

Use Potatoes to Scrub Showers and Bathtubs

Thanks to potatoes’ oxalic acid and starchy texture, they make an excellent cleaner for shower doors and bathtubs, breaking down lime buildup and mildew stains. Cut a potato in half and scrub firmly in circular motions. The acidity and abrasiveness of the potato will lift grime, soap scum, water stains, and lime buildup. You can also dip the end of the potato in salt before scrubbing to increase the abrasiveness. Rinse all scrubbed areas thoroughly with warm water when you’re done to remove any residue.

Shine Silver With a Potato

Unlike the other methods in this article, this hack doesn’t use a raw potato but rather the water you boiled it in. After cooking, set the potatoes aside to use in a recipe, and keep the water in the pot removed from the heat. Fully submerge your tarnished silver into the pot and allow the items to soak for at least an hour or overnight for best results. Wipe them with a silver-safe cloth such as microfiber, lint-free flannel, or silver polishing cloths. The stains and grime should lift with ease.

There are many times when you need a corkscrew but can’t find one. Maybe you’re having a picnic at the park or just moved to a new house and everything is still in boxes. Or perhaps you’re at a hotel on vacation. The list goes on and on (and is making us regret not always buying screwtop bottles of wine). However, next time you need to uncork a bottle of wine, get creative. There are plenty of ways to pop a bottle open with items you have lying around that will have you enjoying your favorite vino in no time.

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Push the Cork In With Chapstick

Let’s start with the simplest solution: pushing the cork into the bottle. Take any hard, narrow tube, such as chapstick, a Sharpie, or the back of a wooden spoon, and press into the cork until it pops loose. If you have a colander handy, strain the wine to catch any small bits of cork that may have broken off.

Hook the Cork With a Wire Hanger

Sorry, Mommie Dearest — this trick uses your least favorite item. Take a clean wire hanger and bend the hook until it’s much narrower, about 1/2-inch wide. Gently wiggle the hook between the cork and the neck of the bottle until the hanger slides past the cork. Then, twist the hook to catch the bottom of the cork and pull it up to release the cork.

Use a Hammer and Screwdriver

For this method, you’ll need a hammer, screwdriver, and a screw that is longer than the cork. Use the screwdriver to twist the screw through the cork until there’s a 1/2-inch gap between the head of the screw and the top of the cork. Then, take the claw of the hammer and pull up the screw to pry the cork out of the bottle.

Pop the Cork Out With a Bike Pump

Pump, pump, pump it up  — uh, we mean out. To uncork a bottle of wine with a bike pump, insert a long pump needle through the cork and pump air into the bottle. The buildup of air pressure should push the cork out. Make sure to wear safety glasses and aim the bottle away from your face, as the cork can launch out forcefully.

Apply Heat With a Lighter

Use a lighter to apply heat to the neck of the wine bottle. The heat will cause pressure to build inside the bottle until the cork slowly rises and pops out. This method should only be used for bottles that are at room temperature — trying this with a chilled wine bottle may cause the entire bottle to explode.

Twist the Cork With a Key

Take a key and insert it into the top of the cork at a 45-degree angle. Press down until the key is lodged in as deep as possible, and twist the key while pulling up. The cork will loosen and eventually pop out. If you don’t have a key, you can use any other serrated object like a knife, though you should take the necessary precautions if you do.

Squeeze the Cork With Tweezers

Similar to other methods, you can also carefully wiggle a pair of tweezers between the cork and the neck. Once fully inserted, pull the tweezers up to release the cork.

Pull the Cork Out With a Shoelace

Tie a small knot at one end of a shoelace. (You can also use string or a thin piece of rope.) Use a flat screwdriver to push the string between the cork and the neck of the bottle until the knot slides past the bottom of the cork. Pull the string upwards — the knot will catch the bottom of the cork and release it.

Put the Bottle in a Shoe

While we’re on the subject of shoes, let’s use one to open a bottle of wine. Insert the bottle into a shoe, such as a sneaker. Lightly bang the shoe against a wall or the ground several times. The pressure will release the cork, allowing you to pull it out. Don’t hit too hard, or you’ll risk cracking the bottle.

No matter how much you clean your home, tiny balls of fluff still accumulate on top of fans, under couches, and everywhere in between. Where does all that dust come from? Turns out, it’s coming from inside your house (at least partially). Researchers believe at least one-third of the dust in our homes is made up of human skin and hair, pet dander, tiny food particles, and fabric fibers. The remaining ingredients — like dirt, pollen, and bacteria — are introduced every time you walk through the door or open a window. While that may mean dust is inevitable, you can do a few things to keep it at bay.

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Change Your Sheets

Hair and skin cells make up a portion of dust, and one of the places in which they most accumulate is the same spot you spend eight hours every night: your bed. Regularly washing sheets and blankets in hot water reduces this buildup and destroys the dust mites that feed on it. Dermatologists recommend washing your bedding at least every two weeks or more if pets snooze in your bed, too.

Swap Out Soft Surfaces

The soft and comfy surfaces in your home feel great underfoot, but they’re notorious dust collectors. Carpeting, rugs, and fabric window treatments like heavy drapes attract tons of dust with the additional downside of being difficult to thoroughly clean. Curtail dust by replacing old carpeting with hard flooring and swapping non-washable drapes for wipeable blinds or launderable curtains.

Reduce Clutter in Your Home

You don’t have to become a minimalist to stop dust in its tracks, but paring down clutter piles does help. Bookcases, countertops, and other high-clutter zones attract and trap dust, making those areas more difficult to thoroughly clean.

Keep Your Vacuum in Tip-Top Shape

We don’t need to tell you that vacuuming regularly knocks down dust buildup. However, neglecting your vacuum’s maintenance may negate your dustbuster’s hard work. Vacuums with too-full dust cups don’t efficiently catch dirt and dust, and models with HEPA or cartridge filters need those areas cleaned for peak performance.

Change Your Air Filters on a Schedule

Replacing your home’s HVAC air filters helps trap dust floating through the air, keeping it out of your lungs and preventing it from landing on surfaces you’ll be stuck cleaning. Air filters last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, based on style — pricier pleated air filters typically have the longest lifespan. Regularly scheduling this task also keeps your furnace in good working condition.

Groom Pets Regularly

Brushing and bathing your cuddly companions reduces the amount of dander and fur they shed around your home, which contributes to dust. On average, dogs should be bathed every one to three months, with weekly touchups. Even self-grooming pets, like cats, need regular baths at least every six weeks.

Use a Humidifier

Enlisting the help of an air purifier may seem like the obvious choice when it comes to trapping dust in your environment, though it’s not the only appliance that can help. When humidifiers mist into the air, the additional moisture bogs down dust particles and keeps them from floating away. That heavier dust becomes easier to collect as it settles, making it easier to keep in check.

Stop Wearing Shoes Indoors

Wearing shoes indoors is a point of contention — some visitors don’t mind leaving their sneakers in the entryway, while others can’t stand the idea of going barefoot in anyone’s home (including their own). However, many doctors recommend ditching shoes at the front door to keep out pollen, dirt, and other dust-creating particles, along with bacteria that can make you sick.

_{Featured Image Credit: Su Arslanoglu/ iStock}

Have you ever found yourself winding down for the evening when an electrifying spokesperson pops up on your TV with a revolutionary new product that will “change your life”? Most of the time, you probably find yourself disappointed with the cheap set of knives or single-use items you end up buying. But some infomercials actually promote high-quality products that absolutely warrant your attention and your cash. Here are 10 as-seen-on-TV products that are very much worth buying.

Drop Stop

We’ve all lost small items to the perilous spot between the driver seat and center console in your car. But there’s one way to prevent your phone and keys from falling into that graveyard full of french fries and loose change: the Drop Stop. This malleable stopper fits over your seat belt buckle and seals the gap, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road and your phone within reach.

TubShroom

Don’t look at your shower drain — the buildup of gunk and hair is enough to strike fear into the heart of anyone. You can prevent future clogs and plumbing emergencies with TubShroom. This small metal object fits into any open drain and catches loose hairs before they get any further into your pipes. After each shower, simply remove and rinse the TubShroom.

Fasta Pasta

A watched pot may never boil, but the Fasta Pasta can solve that problem by completely removing your stove from the equation. Place your pasta in the plastic tray, measure out the water, and let it cook in the microwave for 12 to 13 minutes. Remove the Fasta Pasta and drain the water using the built-in vents for a quick and delicious meal.

Scrub Daddy

Doing dishes rarely brings a smile to your face, but that’s not the case with Scrub Daddy, first featured on the television show Shark Tank. Don’t let the playful grin fool you — Scrub Daddy is tougher on dirt than a regular kitchen sponge. It’s designed to be soft in warm water and firm in cold water, while the smile is used to clean both sides of dirty utensils at the same time.

Hover Cover

Heating up a bowl of pasta can make your microwave look like an art gallery, but you can prevent food splatter using the Hover Cover, a plastic cover that’s both microwave and dishwasher-safe. The built-in steam vents allow heat to escape while keeping sauces and soups in your bowl. For easy storage, use the magnets on the top of the Hover Cover to attach it to the roof of the microwave.

Shoe Slotz

If you’re running low on room for shoe storage, Shoe Slotz can double your storage capacity in the blink of an eye. Rather than store your shoes side-by-side, Shoe Slotz organizes each pair into a single stack for easy access and convenient storage.

Flex Seal

Leaky roof? Use Flex Seal. Drafty windows? Use Flex Seal. Runny nose? Okay, maybe not Flex Seal, but you get the idea. Flex Seal is a versatile rubber spray-on sealant that fills cracks and openings. It can be used on wood, glass, metal, and any other surface around the house where you’re worried about water creeping in and causing damage. Flex Seal comes in a spray can, as a liquid, or as a waterproof tape, making it easy to apply no matter the circumstances.

‘Ove’ Glove

Avoid potential burns using the ‘Ove’ Glove, a kitchen safeguard that withstands temperatures up to 540 degrees Fahrenheit. The ‘Ove’ Glove is perfect for taking trays out of the oven, changing hot lightbulbs, or moving cast iron pans from the stove if they’re too hot to touch.

OxiClean

Few as-seen-on-TV products are better known than OxiClean, a versatile cleaner made famous by the late, great television spokesman Billy Mays. But OxiClean actually lives up to the hype — according to Consumer Reports, OxiClean MaxForce even does a better job at stain removal than any traditional liquid detergent, getting rid of a wide variety of stains such as grease, dirt, and wine.

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