Hey, it's hot outside and it's hot inside — no one is here to judge you for wanting to put a minimal amount of effort into your Summer activities. But just because you're feeling super lazy, that doesn't mean you can't have a fun and fulfilling few months in the sun. Whether you're just trying to make it through the day without melting into a puddle or you're hoping to have the best Summer road trip, backyard BBQ, or pool party ever, we have rounded up all the genius time-, sanity-, and money-saving hacks you need in your Summer toolkit. Are you ready for the ultimate lazy Summer?
— Additional reporting by Erin Cullum, Alessia Santoro, Rosy Pahwa, Emily Co, Nicole Yi, Sarah Lipoff, and Macy Cate Williams
If you want to sit on the side of the pool to watch the kids, cutting the legs off classic plastic chairs and placing the seat on the floor next to the pool allows you to dangle your feet in the water with the comfort of a seat back.
Your fan should spin counterclockwise in the Summer.
If you're at a pool with lots of mosquitoes around, lay out dryer sheets to keep the bugs away. The sheets will repel them.
This hack is genius!
For the ever-thirsty kid — or the mama who wants to enjoy her beverage but is needed for playtime in the shallow end — create a pool noodle cooler by looping string through the noodles and wrapping them around a plastic container filled with ice.
All you need are two household ingredients — baking soda and powdered sugar — for this easy DIY ant trap.
If you're stepping away from the kiddie pool for a while or leaving it full overnight, cover it using a fitted sheet so the water stays clean and bug-free.
Try this easy DIY!
Warm a spoon under hot water and hold it on the bite. The heat destroys the protein that causes the itchy reaction, and you have one less irritated and scratchy kid on your hands.
Turn a bag you already have into a beach bag by using waterproof spray on it to keep all of your belongings dry.
Enjoy your Summer nights with the help of scented glass jars topped with floating candles that keep bugs away. Along with being easy, this DIY gives your lemon and orange peels a second life — and you can toss the ends of fresh herbs into the mix too.
Keep fabric from wrinkling while traveling by wrapping it around a pool noodle and pinning into place.
If your little one gets clogged ears from swimming, plug their nose for them and have them attempt to blow up the balloon. Works like a charm.
Instead of trying to tip over the heavy pool and risk breaking it, use a small amount of hose and a little bit of science to drain the pool efficiently. (See the step-by-step guide.)
The cinnamon naturally repels ants and other bugs for a scream-free outdoor play session.
When you roll your clothes, they take up less space, and older kids who dress themselves can see what they have at a glance so they won't take out and destroy an entire pile to find their favorite dinosaur shirt.
The only thing worse than a leaky popsicle is the residue that it leaves all over your hands and clothes. Pierce the popsicle stick through a cupcake liner, and voila — no more drips!
Instead of wrapping (and breaking) water balloons on the hose or a sink head, little ones can help you fill them with a condiment bottle. Fill up the bottle, slide the balloon opening over the top, and pinch the opening shut while your kid squeezes the bottle. Easy!
Instead of chopping off half of the strawberry, push through the bottom with a straw and remove the stem easily.
If your kid needs something to play with, it won't take you too long to fashion these.
All you have to do for this crazy pool-cleaning hack is put a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser in the filter bucket overnight.
Use ice cube trays!
This easy sunburn remedy is made from raw honey and aloe vera.
Despite our best efforts, sunburns happen — cool the burn from the get-go (instead of waiting until you get home) with a bottle of aloe gel that can sit in the cooler with the juice boxes and sandwiches.
Even though everyone loves pretending their half-circle watermelon slice is a big smile, big pieces of watermelon are hard to eat and the juice gets everywhere. Cut it up for little hands and mouths by slicing it tiny, and let them eat their watermelon rectangles to their heart's content!
Like a giant rocket you can sling or these cool battle sticks.
Wrap pool noodles around trampoline springs to prevent injuries that can happen when people land on the springs.
Wherever you go with your family this Summer, snap a full-body shot of your kids in the morning so that if anyone were to go missing (hopefully this never happens), you have a completely accurate and up-to-date photo of your kid in the exact outfit they're wearing.
Perfect if you're worried about future bumper damage to your car.
Keep pesky bugs and wasps away while enjoying lunch on your patio this Summer with a homemade wasp trap that repurposes a plastic bottle. Get the simple DIY here!
The touchscreen still works through the bag, but you don't have to worry about sneak-attack kiddo hugs getting water all over your phone.
All you need is apple cider vinegar and dish soap. Get the DIY here!
Prevent the slamming of doors and finger ouchies by attaching pool noodles to doors.
Don't add to the heat by turning on the oven! Take a look at our Summer slow-cooker recipes and leave the scorching temps outside where they belong.
On those rough days when they wriggle out of your sunscreen grasp before they're completely covered, cool down their sunburns with a frozen aloe cube. Sweet relief!
For little ones who don't mind Mama picking out their clothes, preplanning outfits for a vacation can be a huge help. Seal them in individual bags with accessories and make getting dressed less of a headache.
An inflatable pool is just as much fun in the living room! Give your kids a new perspective and keep them busy by throwing some of their indoor toys into the pool on a rainy day.
All you need is a plastic box, some small fans, a USB cable, and some ice. Watch the step-by-step DIY now.
Watch how here!
Mix a little baking soda and water, put it over the splinter, and place a Band-Aid over it. In about an hour, the splinter will be ready to push out with ease!
If you have to inflate a kiddie pool or beach ball, use a blow dryer on the cool setting — not hot! — to fill it to capacity in minutes (without passing out due to lack of oxygen).
With Summer comes lemonade and other sugary drinks that bugs love diving into. Punch a hole through a cupcake liner with a straw and create a lid for any type of cup.
Mix lemonade Kool-Aid into your shampoo, lather your hair, and rinse to remove any chlorine buildup from your hair.
Slice up pool noodles for an endless source of bath toys. If you find any of the toys getting moldy, just throw them away and create more on the cheap.