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LIFE

25 time-saving life hacks from Indy moms

Cara Anthony
cara.anthony@indystar.com
TheCityMoms social network offered some their favorite tips and tricks.

From Swiffer Sweeper secrets to easy eggs, Indy parents are finding creative ways to save time and money.

The Star asked theCityMoms, a social network and support group for local moms, to share their tips and tricks for everyday living. Here are some favorite life hacks (think of these as household short cuts) from Indy moms.

Not sure this is a hack, but definitely a time saver ... I make the kids scrambled eggs in the microwave. One egg takes about 45 seconds.

— Kayla Weil, 30, Greenfield mom of two

A muffin tin can double as a drawer organizer

Turn your muffin tin into a drawer organizer. And use your pop can tab as a hanger extender.

Desta Ntamere, 32, Indianapolis mom of three

Food storage containers for hair accessories. Clear, durable, and the bright colors make them easy to find even in the darkest corners of your kitchen cabinets.

— Esther Fancher, 34, Carmel mom of one

Bacon bowls with scrambled eggs. Wrap bacon inside of cupcake tins and pour scrambled eggs in. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes and you have bacon and egg "cupcakes".

— Michelle Weber, 39, Indianapolis mom of two

Megha Mundade suggests writing the days of the week on a bottle of antibiotics and crossing them off each day.

I write the days of the week the antibiotics need to be taken and cross off each day as we finish that day's dose. Helps me remember if we gave a dose that day and when to throw them out.

— Megha Mundade, 32, Indianapolis mom of two

Dryer lint inside of an old toilet paper tube is excellent kindling for a fire. Throw in a used dryer sheet, and it can even make the room smell good.

— Megan Bohrer, Indianapolis mom of two

I use my old bottle brush to clean my glassware. Especially champagne glasses, because they are so narrow and difficult to clean. To make sure I don't get them mixed up, I use a sharpie to write "glassware" on the handle.

— Michelle Shepherd, 31, Indianapolis mom of two

Wrap a rubber band around the top of a soap dispenser so 'one' pump is just enough for little hands.

— Angela McCary, 35, Martinsville mom of two

I wash out Parmesan cheese containers and use them for crafts. I also have one for snacks, veggie straws are great in there so they don't get crushed.

— Angela McCary, 35, Martinsville mom of two

Mackenzie Ruark Daniels recommends layering two each of waterproof mattress pads and sheets when making the bed for a crib.

When making the bed for a crib (or newly potty-trained toddler), put down a waterproof mattress pad, then sheet, then another waterproof pad and another sheet. If there's an accident in the middle of the night you can just strip off one set and put the kid right back to bed.

— Mackenzie Ruark Daniels, 34, Westfield

Save time when cutting up food for a baby or preschooler by using a pizza cutter.

— Hillary Brown, 35, Irvington mom of one

Take silicone cupcake liners and put them in the cup holders of the car. Then you can just pull the liners out and rinse off spills/crumbs.

— Hillary Brown

I use dental bibs (those blue sheets dentists hang around your neck) as disposable changing pad covers. They're way cheaper than the ones sold in the baby section and are great on-the-go or after a messy diaper change.

— Jessica Lymberopoulos, 26, Indianapolis

Mary Graham's tip: use an appliance timer and novelty light as a "clock" for when kids can get out of bed.

An appliance timer plus a novelty light equals a "clock" for when kids are allowed to get out of bed. It keeps my girls in bed until 7:30 on the weekends because they can't get up until the light comes on!

— Mary Graham, 33, Beech Grove mom of two

When we go on trips I pack each individual outfit for the kids in a Ziploc bag. Shirt/pants/socks in a bag for my boy, onesie/pants/socks/hair bow for my girl. Just grab a baggie in the morning and you no longer are searching around for a tiny sock in the depths of some suitcase, and you have the right amount of clothes for the length of the trip (and then my husband can't feign outfit ignorance when it comes time to get them dressed in the morning!)

— Jill Morrison, 36, Noblesville mom of two

When we travel or need to bring Legos or small toys on the go, we use pantyhose to stuff them in. Takes up less space than a box or bag. You can also hang them by tying them to dresser knobs, etc., when on vacation so you don't lose them.

— Sara Carter, Whitestown mom of two

Cara Krueger uses the extra pole pieces that come with a Swiffer dust mop as a toy for her toddler.

I take the extra pole pieces out of a Swiffer dust mop so it is the perfect miniature size for my toddler, who loves to mimic mommy to mop the kitchen floor.

Cara Krueger, 30, Westfield

• Freeze water bottles the night before to take with you to fairs the next day. Keep them in the storage compartment under the stroller while at the fair instead of paying for them. Cool and refreshing on hot days.

• Decorate a cabinet and put empty water bottles in it for toddlers to play with when they start to walk. Tell them it's their own cabinet to open and empty as much as they want. There is something about crinkly water bottles that babies love.

• Buy peeled garlic from Costco. Mince or dice the garlic and place in a Ziploc gallon bag. Flatten to 1/4-inch thick sheets and freeze. Pinch off a piece from the freezer when you cook.

• Use an old toothbrush to clean the diamonds on your ring or to clean under the nose pads of your reading glasses.

— Enny Reindl, 39, Westfield mom of two

Repurpose cardboard boxes by using wrapping paper to make them "pretty." I repurposed a Pampers wipes cardboard box to organize paper/plastic bags in my pantry for reuse.

— Poonam Gill, 33, Fishers mom of two

I take a large three-ring binder, put protective sleeves in it and store all of the manuals for our home appliances in their own section. I call it our 'Manual of Manuals'. That way, if we ever need to reference how to work something, I just pull it out!

I clean my microwave each week by creating a 50/50 potion of water and vinegar. I microwave it on high for 5 minutes, then wipe all of the grime down immediately after. All that gunk just comes off easily.

— Jeanine Bobenmoyer, 37, Butler-Tarkington mom of two