Here are a few life hacks to help you navigate fall and winter. If you’d like to share yours, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

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You can keep your bathroom mirror from fogging up by applying a thin coating of soap. Either squeeze some liquid soap onto a rag and rub it onto the mirror or scribble all over the mirror with a bar of soap and then rub that in. Shaving cream works, too. Your mirror should stay clear for at least four or five days. This technique also works with eyeglasses, which is great for those who get frustrated because their glasses fog up when they walk into a store while also wearing a face mask. And while you’re at it, apply this treatment to the inside of your vehicle’s windshield and windows to keep them from fogging up.

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When homeowners and renters want to keep the warm air from leaking out of their homes and apartments, they often use caulk to seal up the gaps around windows. But you wouldn’t want to caulk up the gaps that would keep you from opening windows on warm days. That’s when you use rope caulk. Rope caulk comes in 1/8-inch-width, 90-foot-long rolls that you can slowly unravel. Break off as much as you need, and push it along the gap; for wider gaps, you can fold a piece of rope caulk against itself and twist to make a thicker rope. On a warm day, you can carefully pry it away with an old knife—and because it’s like cookie dough, it can be rolled between your fingers, reshaped, and reused. Lowe’s carries a gray-colored rope caulk, and Home Depot carries a wood-tint rope caulk. Click here for Lowe’s and click here for Home Depot; each costs just short of $7.

 

It’s not too late to weatherproof your entry doors. There are several types—adhesive foam, adjustable brush-type that can be attached to the bottom of the door, and rubber gasket type. Visit any home-improvement or hardware store; you’ll have lots to choose from.

 

If you hate scraping the ice off your windshield in the morning, try ice-proofing the glass with vinegar. Make a solution of three parts vinegar and one part water, and then pour the mix into a spray bottle. The acid in the vinegar is the key ingredient, and if you spray your windshield right before going to bed, you can keep nighttime precipitation from freezing. If you forget, then you can still spray this solution onto your frost-covered windshield to remove the ice a bit easier in the morning.

 

It never hurts to have plastic grocery bags on hand for emergencies. (Once while driving down the street, I saw a woman running around picking her groceries up off the ground after her bag burst. I was able to pull over, grab a few bags from the glove compartment, and help corral the groceries.) Take an extra grocery bag, flatten it out and fold it length-wise into a one narrow strip. Then, starting at one end, make a triangle by pulling the top corner to the side edge. Continue folding the bag like this, over and over, the same way the military folds the American flag. A bunch of these folded-up grocery bags can be slipped into a ziplock bag for neat storage.

 

Don’t you hate scratching at a roll of tape while trying to find the end (especially when wrapping presents)? Next time, fold down the end of the tape 1/4-inch and stick the tape to itself so you can find the end more easily and quickly.

 

Soup is really popular this time of year. You can make it individual servings available superquick by preparing a batch, pouring it into a muffin tin, and sticking it in the freezer. When you need a quick bowl, pop out a serving and warm it on the stove or microwave.

 

It might not snow here this winter—at least it hasn’t yet. But if it does, grab your shovel and keep it by the door so you won’t have to trudge through the snow to the shed in search of it later. Right before you do use your shovel, spray it, front and back, with cooking oil or lubricating oil (like WD-40). Snow won’t stick to the surface, which should make your job a little easier.

 

If you have superdry skin, and winter weather is making it even dryer, get your hands on some glycerin. Liquid glycerin can be found at drugstores and variety stores for around $5 or $6. Add some to your favorite lotion and you’ll notice its soothing and moisture-retention properties. Another thing you can do is to apply lotion as soon as you exit the shower or bathtub. After applying the lotion, gently pat yourself dry. Your skin will benefit from the extra moisture and you’ll feel more comfortable and less itchy.