Are magnets sitting pretty on your fridge? You’re selling them short! Using magnets just to hold up crayon drawings is like forcing Billy Joel to play Chopsticks on repeat. C’mon, people!

 

These multi-use tools are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes and can save your rump by fixing problems all over the house.

Below are 15 of our favorite magnet tricks around the house. Do you know any others? Tell us in the comments.

1. Corral Paper Clips (and Bobby Pins!)

If you have a home office, chances are you have paper clips. To prevent them from becoming a mess, place a magnet in your desk drawer and stick the clips to the magnet. Tip:This works with bobby pins, too.

2. Keep a Sliding Door Shut

If you have a drafty sliding door at home, keep it closed tightly with magnets. Superglue one small magnet on the door and then attach a second one to the frame.

3. Organize Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap

If you’re short on drawer space, organize your aluminum foil and plastic wrap on the side of the fridge for instant access. Hot glue a small magnet inside the boxes. The magnet will stick to the fridge and keep the boxes in place. Tip: The hot glue makes it easy to peel the magnet off of the back and reuse it on a new box.

4. Find a Stud in the Wall

When you’re hanging a framed photo or mirror, it’s important to find a wall stud before you grab your nail and hammer. Otherwise, you could have crumbling drywall on your hands. You can do this really easily with a magnet and some painter’s tape.

5. Keep Chip Bags Closed

Chip Clips are nice, but this is way cooler: place magnets on opposite sides of a closed chip bag to keep your favorite snack from going stale.

6. Retrieve a Ring from the Drain without Dirtying Your Hands

So, you’ll need a special kind of magnet for this trick called a Mighty Magnet. If you take your rings off to wash dishes, it’s worth preemptively grabbing one and storing it under your sink!

If you do drop your ring, don’t panic. Crawl under your sink and detach the pipe to your sink only. Then, move the magnet along the pipe trap (it’s shaped like a “U”) until you hear a metallic clink. The magnet has found your ring! Then, slowly draw your magnet to the top of the pipe and grab your ring. At this point, it may be worth visiting your local jeweler for a quick clean.

7. Extract Batteries

Dead batteries can be a pain to remove from some electronics (like remote controls). To make life easier, use a magnet to attract the metal battery out of its tight grip. All you need to do is hold a strong magnet at one end of a magnet and slowly lift up. The battery should loosen enough for you to easily grab it.

8. Keep The Trash Can Closed

Place a magnet sticker on the inside of the lid and the lip so that the top will stay put. This way when you shut the lid, even if it’s on a spring, it’ll close.

9. Keep a Trash Bag from Slipping

This is one of my personal favorites: Use magnets to hold the edges of the trash bag to the outside of a metal trash can. Simply pull the bag over the edge and then place small magnets over the edge. Boom, done!

10. Use Magnets To Label Recycling and Trash

Keep track of which container is trash and which one holds recyclables in the specified by affixing labels to the bins with magnets. Now there’s no excuse not to recycle!

11. Sort Spices

Keep your cumin and coriander organized by placing magnets on the bottom of your spice containers. Attach them to a sheet of steel on your kitchen wall, a stainless steel backsplash or your refrigerator. No more sifting through a cluttery cabinet!

12. Organize Jewelry

Organize your loose bracelets and bangles with magnets. All you need is an old-fashioned tray made of metal. Pop a few magnets on it, hang up your jewelry and you’re done!

13. Hang Knives

If you haven't figured it out already, metal sticks to magnets, so all you need to do is install a strong magnetic strip along your kitchen backsplash. It’s important to use a strong magnet, otherwise you might have sharp knives falling like rain in your kitchen, which is not at all safe.

14. Magnetize Chalkboard Paint

Next time you paint a surface with chalkboard paint, coat it with magnetic primer first. Follow it up with chalkboard paint, and then your surface will double as a magnet board! Note:Magnetic primer is not as strong as a regular magnet surface, so you’ll likely need 2 to 3 coats of the primer before you begin your project.

15. Organize Makeup

Display every eye shadow you own with your own makeup magnet board. First, purchase small circular magnets and hot glue them to the back of your makeup containers. Then just stick the magnets on a metal tray or piece of stainless steel. Tip: When the makeup runs out, the hot glue makes it easy to peel the magnet off of the back and reuse it on a new makeup container.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

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