The kitchen is hands-down our favorite room in the house... and not just because of food prep. The kitchen is a place where form meets function, and if things are streamlined, every task flows as smoothly as melted butter into a bowl.

Thank goodness for DIY tips that totally change the kitchen game. From steam-cleaning a microwave to the most genius way to freeze soup, it's already hard to imagine how we lived without these hacks. Read up, Pin away and watch your kitchen become the most hack-tastic place it can be.

1. Store spices in empty Tic Tac containers.



2. To clean a blender easily, just blend soap and water.



3. Use a wooden spoon to keep pots from boiling over.



4. Get grip with a rubber band when opening tough jars.



5. Store foil, plastic wrap and parchment paper in a handy magazine rack.



6. Use binder clips to keep sponges upright, dry and slime-free.



7. Store snacks in shoe pockets, and make the most of the pantry door.





8. Use a Food Hugger to keep ends fresh.



9. Freeze leftover soup in a cupcake tin. Pop them out, and you'll have ready-to-heat individual soup portions.



10. Hang knives horizontally with magnets, and save MAJOR space.



12. Make mini baking soda pouches that de-odorize your fridge, so you don't have to put the whole box in.



13. Freeze ice cream containers in a plastic bag -- it keeps the ice cream soft and scoop-able.



14. To enliven stale chips, drizzle with olive oil and zap them in the microwave.



15. Shake pancake batter in a plastic bag to mix, then tie the ends for easy pouring.



16. Steam-clean the microwave by heating a bowl of water and vinegar inside. Then wipe clean.



17. When you run out of dishwasher soap, make your own with baking soda and salt.

