TikTok is filled with “mind-blowing” hacks, but let’s face it — not everything works like magic. More often than not, they’re just a waste of time. But every once in a while, a genius tip will grace our screens, which will get us thinking, “I wish I knew that sooner!” Discover these 11 TikTok life hacks that will actually make your life a little easier and fun.

1. Remove Surface-Level Scratches

Get those pesky scratches on your car? Simply mix white vinegar and coconut oil and apply it on the affected surface using a microfiber cloth. Watch the scratches disappear, and say hello to your brand-new-looking car.

2. Clean Using Lemons

When life gives you lemons, turn them into your cleaning allies. Lemons are an excellent alternative to commercially available cleaners that are laden with chemicals. Here are some TikTok life hacks that make sense:

Deep Clean Your Microwave

Pop lemon slices into a bowl half filled with water. Cook on high for five minutes, then wait until the steam and lemon do their job. Remove the bowl and wipe the inside using a clean cloth.

Bonus!

Don’t put the lemon slices into the trash bin. Let them cool for a while, grind them and put them inside your garbage disposal to eliminate unwanted odors.

Sanitize Kitchen Utensils

Rub squeezed lemons over your chopping board, knives and other stainless tools to bring back their shine.

Say Bye to Dandruff

Got stubborn dandruff despite using anti-dandruff shampoo? One of the best TikTok tricks is to use fresh lemon juice with warm olive oil to eliminate dandruff. Rub the concoction into the scalp, leave it for 15 minutes, shampoo then rinse. Try it once and see if it’ll work for you.

3. Got No Funnel? Use a Chopstick

Everyone knows the struggle of pouring liquid from a big container into a smaller one. If you don’t have a funnel at home and don’t want to make a big mess either, use a chopstick. Simply place it into the receiving container and then place the lip of your pouring bottle right up against the chopstick. This will guide the liquid down a certain path, eliminating spillage and the need to clean up.

4. The Right Way to Store Produce

@brennan.kai

if you don’t know, now you know— storing your produce properly helps extend its life 🌍🍓🥑 here’s a few food storage hacks to help you avoid food waste & save money 🤍 thank you all for following along during food waste week— hope you stick around for minimalism week, starting on Monday ✨ happy weekend & cheers to our earth & all its incredible resources! ♻️ #sustainability #zerowaste #lowwaste #plasticfree #sustainable #ecohome #environmentalist #foodwaste #earthday #earthmonth #minimalist #minimalism #foodwastetip #foodwastesolution #foodwasteprevention #compost #cooking #recipe #cookwithme

♬ Sunday – HNNY

Produce spoils faster than usual nowadays. Your fridge’s moisture is to blame, as it’s causing most fruits and vegetables to soften and lose their texture. Here’s what to do to keep produce fresh for an extended period.

• Berries: Pour vinegar and water, rinse, then put in an airtight container with a cloth to absorb moisture.
• Carrots, celery, lemons and limes: Double their life span by storing them in a container filled with water.
• Leafy greens: Wash and use a salad spinner to dry them. Use a container with holes and add a Swedish dishcloth to absorb moisture.
• Bell peppers: Chop them and store them in an airtight container with a wet cloth.

5. Wash Clothes the Right Way With Your iPhone

Many people ignore laundry care labels in clothing as if tossing everything in the washer will do the trick. Honestly, we can’t blame you. Reading each laundry care label is a nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to decipher it yourself anymore. Use this trick if you have an iPhone with iOS 17 or above.

• Take a picture of the tag
• Tap the “i” symbol on the middle bottom of your screen
• Select “Laundry Care” 
• Your phone will translate the icons on the tag, telling you exactly what you need to do

6. Use Kool-Aid for Toilet Leak Detection

Your favorite cool summer drink may be the key to having a clean, leak-free toilet. TikToker Jordan the Stallion poured Kool-Aid inside the toilet tank or the “back compartment.” Wait for a couple of hours, then go back to the toilet, lift the seat up and see if the water is the same color as the Kool-Aid. If it is, it means that you have a leak in your toilet, which may explain why your water bill is so high.

@jordan_the_stallion8

#stitch with @thelifebath #fyp

♬ original sound – Jordan_The_Stallion8

7. Preserve Your Pasta Sauce

Don’t let your leftover pasta sauce spoil in your fridge. With food waste accounting for up to 40% of the food supply, reducing food waste is more important than ever. Instead of leaving the sauce in the jar, pour it into a silicone Souper Cube tray to help you save money and reduce food waste. 

8. Remove Meat From Rotisserie Chicken

One of the best TikTok life hacks we’ve encountered is this hack that lets you remove the meat fast from a rotisserie chicken and get the absolute most out of it. Simply put it in a zip-close bag and massage the chicken, carefully shredding it with your hands. Watch as the meat effortlessly slides off. After massaging for minutes, remove the bones, and you will have all your separated chicken.

9. Pillowcase Too Big?

No problem! Julie Eigenmann shows us the right way to tuck the fabric inside. Another tip — consider switching your cotton pillowcase with a satin one. The latter can help your natural waves look luxurious the next day.

@julie_eigenmann

Just in case u didn’t know this yet. Comment if u do this or if this is new to u. No judgement here. It’s good to learn something new everyday even if it’s as simple as this.☺️#homehack #hack #pillowhack #hometip

♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] – Elliot Van Coup

10. Vegetable Scrap Hack

Another ingenious way to limit your food waste is to never throw out vegetable scraps. Throughout the week, you’ll probably use a lot of veggies, resulting in leftover scraps, such as potato skins, carrot skins and broccoli stems. Don’t put them in the trash bin just yet — place all scraps in a zip-close bag and put it in the freezer. Make sure they’re washed thoroughly before placing them in the freezer.

At the end of the week, dump everything in a big pot, add a whole head of garlic, drizzle some olive oil, add water and salt. Simmer it for 30 to 40 minutes and strain it.

11. Peel Price Tags Easily

Price tag stickers can be a hassle to remove, especially if you fail to remove everything on the first try. This hack shows that all you need is heat to remove them effortlessly. In this case, TikToker Sidney Raz poured hot water into a mug with a sticker at the bottom. You can also use a hair dryer on high heat, put it in front of the sticker for a while and it should peel off easily.

@sidneyraz

peeling all the stickers now #inmy30s #tipsandtricks #learnontiktok #lifehacks #peeling #oddlysatisfying

♬ original sound – sidneyraz

Hacks That Actually Make Sense

There you have it — 11 must-try TikTok viral hacks! Hopefully, you found new tricks to add to your routine, whether it’s making a vegetable stock out of scraps or finally perfecting how you store your produce. Keep exploring, experimenting and trying something new every day.