The average consumer spends far too much money purchasing replacement stuff that shouldn’t have needed replaced. The problem is that most companies would rather sell you something new that teach you how to make your old products last longer.

And while the old adage may go: “If you can’t fix it, Duck (tape) it.” The truth is that duck tape can only do so much in a world of perishables and high tech devices. The best way to ensure that your things last a long time, is through plain old-fashioned common sense and proper care.

Introducing 40 Life Hacks to help extend the life of some of the most important things you own:

Food & drink

Wine
An open bottle of wine oxidizes quickly. If you cannot drink the entire bottle within the week, it will lose its flavor quickly. However, there are a few simple ways to extend the life af any open bottle of wine.
Tip 1: To keep wine fresh, you can freeze the bottle, provided you thaw it slowly.
Tip 2: You can also refrigerate wine to slow the oxidization process (keeps wine for up to three days). Tip 3: A purchased air-pump cork is a helpful tool to remove the excess air from a wine bottle, thus hindering the process of oxidization all together.
Tip 4: Last but not least, adding marbles to a wine bottle helps to displace some of the empty space, thus reducing the amount of air in the bottle. Plus it looks pretty classy.

Fruits & Vegetables
Tip 1: While many refrigerators have a bin designated for “fruits and vegetables”, it is actually better to store these in separate bins to slow the process of ripening—or I should rather say, over-ripening.
Tip 2: One bad apple really can spoil the lot. So, throw out any damaged or decaying fruit/vegetables before putting them in your refrigerator, and you will find that everything in the bin will last longer.

Herbs
Dried herbs is a bottle are fine when you are cooking for yourself or in a pinch. However, the most savory recipes are made with fresh herbs. The problem with them, is they can have a short shelf life. The refrigerator can add a few days, but an herb saver will add up to three weeks.

Berries
Berries are so good (and good for you). The biggest problem with them is they often get a coat of mold before you even remember they’re in your refrigerator. The best way to make berries last is to use a solution of one part vinegar to 10 parts water to soak them in. Soak for about five minutes, rinse, and then put back in the refrigerator. This will help some berries last as long as two weeks.

Bananas
Wrap the stem tips of bananas with plastic wrap to keep them from over-ripening too quickly.

Grandma’s Fruitcake
Do absolutely nothing. These make excellent doorstops for centuries to come.

Home Appliances

Furnace
Clean or replace the air filter at least once a month to ensure proper airflow and reduce the amount of effort needed to pull clean air through the house/apartment.

Oven
Wrapping the drip pans on an electric stove with aluminum foil can actually short circuit the burner, so it is best to purchase a pan that is designed to be cleaned easier.

Washing Machine
Tip 1: Overloading the washing machine not only compromises how well the clothes will be cleaned, but also put excessive stress on the agitator motor.
Tip 2: Clean screen inside water hose at least once a year for optimum washer efficiency.

Clothes Dryer
Tip 1: I know you’ve heard it before, but you should always clear the lint from the trap/screen after each use. It allows the dryer to run at its maximum efficiency, thus requiring less time to dry the clothes.
Tip 2: Dryer sheets create a gooey build up on the screens, so wiping the screen clean with a rag can only go so far. Once every six month you should clean the screen with soap and a scrub brush. This will keep the air flow freely through your dryer and add years to its life.

Dishwasher
One of the best ways to keep your dishwasher mineral-deposit and soap-scum free, is to run two cups of vinegar through the system every couple of months. Do this by placing the vinegar right side up in a bowl, then running it through the “light” cycle.

Refrigerator
Tip 1: Clean the compressor coils every 6 months to ensure it is running at maximum efficiency. A harder working refrigerator not only uses more energy, but it will also wear out more quickly.
Tip 2: Another way to reduce the work of a refrigerator is to take up as much empty space as possible. This may mean adding water jugs to empty shelves. The simple fact is, the less air that needs to be kept cool, the more efficiently your refrigerator will run.
Tip 3: Take time to clean the gaskets around the refrigerator door once a year to help seal in the cold air.

Vacuum Cleaner
Tip 1: You can reuse a vacuum cleaner bag several times before throwing it away. Just turn it over in the trash can and dump out as much as you can. Also, never allow a trash bag to go past half full before emptying, as it just makes it more difficult for the motor to inhale dirt efficiently.
Tip 2: Keep the vacuum cleaner brush free of all rug, animal, and human hair/fiber/debris, this helps maintain maximum efficiency and minimum motor wear.

Microwave Oven
Keep the inside of the microwave clean, paying particular attention to the small plastic cover, known as the waveguide cover. This small cover is found on the side or top of the microwave cavity and collects food particles and grease. If this gunk is allowed to accumulate on the cover, it will eventually become warped, damaged, and in need of repair.

Blender Blunders
Tip 1: One of the worst things you can do to a blender is chop ice without at least a small amount of liquid. This is very hard on both the blades and the motor.
Tip 2: Never run a blender while it is sitting over top a puddle of liquid (from spills, melted ice, etc.). The reason being, most blenders have cooling vents towards the bottom to cool the motor. The powerful suction can actually pull moisture into the motor along with the air, eventually corroding or short-circuiting the internals and sending your blender to an early grave.

Electronics

CD/DVD Player
Never leave a cd/dvd in the player, some brands continue to spin even when the disc is not playing. This can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the unit. This advice also goes for many gaming systems. Always take the disc out after watching and turn the player off.

CD/DVD-R discs
Tip 1: Do not purchase CD-R or DVD-R discs in bulk, as they have a shelf life much like flour or baking soda. The organic dye found in these discs will expire within a few years, making them unreliable for recording important data. In other words, buy these on an “as needed” basis.
Tip 2: Do not throw away scratched or skipping cd/dvd’s, these can be easily be repaired with a scratch repair kit, car polish, or even tooth paste if the scratches are minimal enough.

Keep Plug-in’s Un-Plugged
Many of us store our electronics plugged-in so they are ready when we need them. However, this may actually deplete the battery life quicker than if you’d just store it turned off and unplugged.

Ear Plugs Rescue Busted Ear Buds
I have thrown out dozens of headphones with ruined foam inserts, just because it was cheaper to buy a new pair. However, ear plugs fit just as good, last longer, and they are much less expensive.

Wet Electronic Devices
If you are human, chances are that you have dropped your cell phone, MP3 player, or ipad into water. However, if you act quick, you may be able to salvage it. The first thing you should do is turn the unit off (if it is not already), and then disassemble as much as possible, including the battery. Wipe all visible moisture with an anti-static cloth, and then submerge the entire device into a bowl of dried rice overnight.

Automotive

Tires
Automobile tires will roll most efficiently and last the longest if properly inflated and rotated as recommended by the manufacturer.

Windshield Wipers
The longevity of any rubber squeegee on a windshield wiper can be extended by keeping it clean. This is accomplished by either wet-sanding with a 1000 to 2000-grit sandpaper and then cleaning off the leftover debris with (91%) isopropyl alcohol.

Battery Life
Many car batteries are scrapped long before their time because they were not kept properly charged. Things such as stereos, GPS, cell phones, and MP3 players can deplete a battery quickly, and if the vehicle is not driven enough distance each day, it will not be able to recharge itself. One way to handle this dilemma is to keep your battery topped off with a Battery Tender or a dash mounted solar powered battery charger

Overzealous Oil Change
Today’s synthetic based oil rarely necessitates being changed every three months. So, if your cars warranty does not require that many oil changes, do some research based on where you live, how much you drive, and the type of oil you use… as you may not need to change your oil as often as you think you do.

Running On An Empty Tank
Science tells us that the sediment in your gas tank falls to the very bottom. So when you consistently drive your vehicle until it is running on fumes, you are introducing this stuff into your cars combustion chamber, which is a roadside emergency just waiting to happen. Yes, your car does have a ‘fuel filter,’ but it is not without faults. Never allow your gas tank to fall to empty, or if you can’t change your old ways, you can use a paint filter on the nozzle at each fill up to help catch anything that could spell trouble down the road.

Miscellaneous Stuff

Razor Blades
Tip 1: Keep your blades out of the way of water when not in use, so they won’t rust and dull.
Tip 2: Barbers used to keep their blades fresh and clean on an old leather sharpening tool. You can do the same thing with your razor on an old pair of denim jeans. Just brush the blade one direction 10 to 20 times, then change the direction, and do it another 10 to 20 times.

Old Paint Brushes
Trying to clean an oil based paint off of a paint brush can be a futile experience. It is almost not even worth bothering with. Instead, try wrapping the end of the brush with aluminum foil and a sealed plastic bag to keep the paint from drying. The only downfall, is this of course only works with one color.

That New Clothes Feeling
One way to make a all your clothes last longer is to wash then in cold and keep them out of the dryer. Dryers wreck havoc on fabrics. Think about what you see each time you empty the lint screen--that is your clothes slowly being eaten alive. Hang dry whenever possible.

40 Life Hacks To Extend the Life Of Your Stuff is a post from: Urbasm

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