30 seasonal life hacks that will save your holiday

WASHINGTON — As the TV specials have all taught us, the holidays are fraught with peril. Events and circumstances put our annual celebrations in jeopardy.

Whether it’s a snowpocalypse, an anemic Christmas tree or The Grinch, this time of year raises the holiday threat level to a reddish orange.

How can we ever survive such catastrophes and save Christmas, Hanukkah or Festivus? The answer: Be prepared.

We scoured the internet and found some of its more clever holiday life hacks, to help you dodge disaster in your household. Check out the gallery below.

Procter & Gamble's Crest toothpaste fills the shelves of a grocery store on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Aventura, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Get tree sap off your hands with toothpaste Rub in a large dab before washing it all off with soap. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
power bar with switch isolated on white background
Flying with gadgets? Pack a power strip  Keep your phone and other gadgets charged when there’s only one outlet available at the airport. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/kingjon)
This product photo provided by Lay's shows a bag of their Chicken & Waffles flavored potato chips. The new flavor, along with two others - Cheesy Garlic Bread and the Thai-inspired Sriracha - will be sold at retailers nationwide starting in mid-February 2013. After trying them, fans have until May to vote for their favorite. The flavor with the most votes in May will stay on store shelves. The other two will be discontinued. (AP Photo/Lay's)
Alternative wrapping paper (Part 1) No wrapping paper? Empty out that bag of Ruffles, turn it inside out and voila. Burp. (AP Photo/Lay’s)
present boxes wrapped in kraft paper
Alternative wrapping paper (Part 2) Craft paper, newspaper and paper bags will do the job as well. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/kobeza)
Alternative wrapping paper (Part 3) One ubiquitous pharmacy has no problem wasting paper with its receipts. Make the most of it! (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
aluminum foil
The cookie box hiding in plain sight That box of aluminum foil is perfect for those holiday cookies you’re giving away. Remove the roll (then use some for wrapping it all up). (Getty Images/iStockphoto/pioneer111)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrJvRucJskM
Seamless Christmas green silver tinsel. Isolated on a white background.
Give that homely Christmas tree some cosmetic surgery with green tinsel So you couldn’t find the perfect tree. No worries. Just use some green tinsel to fill in all the bald spots. Who’s ready for her closeup? You are, O Tannenbaum! (Getty Images/iStockphoto/saoirse_2010)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOarIb7DzI9/
https://www.instagram.com/p/_hI5IRQJI3/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNYQN2tADv7/
Slow cooker on an isolated white background with a clipping path
Put that slow cooker to work Keep hot chocolate or mulled cider ready for your Uncle Bob. Use it to keep those mashed potatoes warm (and add more butter along the way, so they’re especially scrumptious). Or use it to make an easy breakfast overnight. You’ll have the energy to tear off all that wrapping paper. Perhaps French toast casserole? Or some steel cut oats? (Getty Images/iStockphoto/MarkUK97)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1NcAm5ZQFU
Use masking tape to track that gift card balance. It’s easier than keeping the receipts. Just slap a strip on the card, then scribble in the new balance each time you use it. (Thinkstock)
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-12,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Use Scrabble tiles for place settings Use double-sided tape to keep them on the rack. Spell out the guests’ names or share a festive greeting. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Friends enjoying party and celebrating together. New year, Birthday, Holiday Event concept
10 ideas for getting guests to leave when the party’s over: 1. Start doing dishes, cleaning up etc.
2. Ask for help doing the dishes, cleaning up etc.
3. Put the booze away
4. Change the music to something less-festive
5. Turn up the lights
6. Yawn a bunch
7. Fake an illness
8. Fake a family emergency
9. Tell them your carbon-monoxide detector has gone off (kidding … kinda)
10. Just be direct: “We’re wrapping it up for the night. Time to leave. Thanks for coming out!” (… Or apply an ounce of prevention beforehand: Specify how late the party runs in your evite/invite.) (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Viktor_Gladkov)
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Procter & Gamble's Crest toothpaste fills the shelves of a grocery store on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Aventura, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
power bar with switch isolated on white background
This product photo provided by Lay's shows a bag of their Chicken & Waffles flavored potato chips. The new flavor, along with two others - Cheesy Garlic Bread and the Thai-inspired Sriracha - will be sold at retailers nationwide starting in mid-February 2013. After trying them, fans have until May to vote for their favorite. The flavor with the most votes in May will stay on store shelves. The other two will be discontinued. (AP Photo/Lay's)
present boxes wrapped in kraft paper
aluminum foil
Seamless Christmas green silver tinsel. Isolated on a white background.
Slow cooker on an isolated white background with a clipping path
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-12,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Friends enjoying party and celebrating together. New year, Birthday, Holiday Event concept

Jack Pointer

Jack contributes to WTOP.com when he's not working as the afternoon/evening radio writer.

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