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)

**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

GoodHangups + Holiday Cards The perfect way to display the 100's of cards we get each year. And they are removable and reusable...so after the holidays you can use them for your posters, prints and more! #holidaycards #goodhangups #holidayhacks Plus you can get 25% off all GoodHangups today at www.goodhangups.com

A post shared by GoodHangups (@goodhangups) on Dec 11, 2015 at 9:01am PST

Is it wrong that I get some kind of strange satisfaction from doing this? FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TOO! #elfdust #homeatlaststudio #tfrygreenart #smashedcandycanes

A post shared by T Fry-Green Art (@t_fry_green_art) on Dec 15, 2016 at 5:52am PST

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/

I've been wanting to try this for a couple of years! #yeswedidthis and it only took 2 rolls of Saran Wrap and scratches up arms! I hope it holds up until next Christmas! #Christmashacks #saranwrap

A post shared by ashleighmiller517 (@ashleighmiller517) on Dec 29, 2016 at 6:52pm PST

Here's a neat Christmas tip for you. Use old egg cartons to store Christmas tree ornaments. #MassyCard #Christmashacks

A post shared by Massy Card Barbados (@massycardbb) on Dec 8, 2016 at 6:12pm PST

https://www.instagram.com/p/_hI5IRQJI3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNYQN2tADv7/

My favorite way to make my tree smell amazing all season! Drip a few drops of your favorite conifer oil (Idaho Blue Spruce and Northern Lights Black Spruce are my favorites) on several salt dough or clay ornaments (wood works as well). Enjoy the aroma of a real tree, even if you have a fake one! Adding a few drops to your tree's water (for live trees) will help it last longer, too! #christmashacks #christmastree #ornaments #smells #mmm #holiday

A post shared by Angie Hepp (@hope_essentials) on Nov 28, 2016 at 10:07am PST

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)

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Pumpkins Transitioned Fall to Winter ... thank you @amyg for the inspiration! Thank you @alyssawashere2 for the art! #pumpkinsnowman #snowman

A post shared by Jeri (Rimmer) Gintert (@tahoeswimmer) on Dec 3, 2018 at 2:50pm PST