# Clever hacks that you've never gotten to work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692 "2021-02-25T01:15:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/41 "2021-02-27T11:41:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Once you got the technique down anything flat and sturdy will do. Around the house, I usually use spoons … … but I can’t be there all the time, so I’d suggest that you simply twist off the top. 😉 Seriously, while I knew folks who could use the “Bic lighter on a beer bottle” hack, I never could. It was easier to use the bottle opener that I always had on my keychain; or when twist-offs were introduced, to twist off the caps. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/42 "2021-02-27T12:32:52Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Um, you know it doesn’t get past the shell, right? > Absolutely zero flavour difference. I bet if I let my loves eat both kinds, somebody would notice a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/43 "2021-02-27T12:48:43Z")
Nah, Real Men don’t strike matches on their jeans zippers. Real Men strike them on their stubble. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/44 "2021-02-27T14:42:32Z")
At one point I invested in some strike-anywhere matches (hard to find but it can be done) just to put in my camping kit to cover a SHTF situation. Since then however I discovered that you can light safety matches without the striking strip. You need a near-perfect surface, neither too smooth nor too rough, that will generate enough friction to ignite them. I use a piece of either floor tile or frosted glass. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/45 "2021-02-27T16:34:26Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > One that appears regularly in Popular Mechanics is the suggestion to drill holes in the rim of your paint can, in that little valley that runs around the opening, so the paint can drip back in. One time they published an article about all the tips they get, and they said that one just never, ever, works. They just publish it from time to time because so many people keep sending it in. I use a flat headed screwdriver and whack it with a hammer to make holes in the groove of paint cans. It does work to let the paint drain back in. You just can’t put the lid on right away. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/46 "2021-02-27T16:41:23Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > One that appears regularly in Popular Mechanics is the suggestion to drill holes in the rim of your paint can, in that little valley that runs around the opening, so the paint can drip back in. > [@Paintcharge](#): > > I use a flat headed screwdriver and whack it with a hammer to make holes in the groove of paint cans. It does work to let the paint drain back in. You just can’t put the lid on right away. Doesn’t the paint dry out? I can’t imagine wanting to puncture a paint can unless I was sure I’d be using the entire can that day. ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/47 "2021-02-27T16:42:46Z")
The groove is covered by the lid when resealed. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/48 "2021-02-27T16:56:10Z")
Right. Got it. I wasn’t thinking of that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/49 "2021-02-27T16:57:30Z")
Every time I read a thread or article about hacks about boiling eggs I just smile. Eggland’s Best Peeled Hard-Boiled eggs in a pouch. There is almost always a bag in the fridge for when I want egg salad or deviled eggs. No muss, no fuss and most importantly, no stress. Why? Because like the OP, I’ve never had any of the hacks work 100% of the time. Or even 75%. So fuck it, I’ll spend a little extra and save myself the hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/50 "2021-02-27T17:11:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Every time I read a thread or article about hacks about boiling eggs I just smile. Eggland’s Best Peeled Hard-Boiled eggs in a pouch Any deli that has (made on site) egg salad or anything else with a lot of eggs likely has peeled eggs on hand. Ask if you can buy them. At my store we put them in containers for customers to buy, plus we have one or two customers that will buy an entire ‘pouch’ of them at a time. Not even that expensive, especially considering you don’t have to cook or peel them and if you buy 12 eggs, you’ll get all 12 eggs (not paying for anything you broke). I think we sell a 12-pack for like five dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/51 "2021-02-27T17:42:53Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > I use a flat headed screwdriver and whack it with a hammer to make holes in the groove of paint cans. It does work to let the paint drain back in. You just can’t put the lid on right away. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Doesn’t the paint dry out? I can’t imagine wanting to puncture a paint can unless I was sure I’d be using the entire can that day. There’s about a 1% chance that some day I’ll be reading a Popular Mechanics and see this one in there, and remember the thread we are having. If so I will be happy to find out how it went! ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/52 "2021-02-27T18:02:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Eggland’s Best Peeled Hard-Boiled eggs in a pouch. There is almost always a bag in the fridge for when I want egg salad or deviled eggs. No muss, no fuss and most importantly, no stress. And here’s an equivalent for garlic: > **[Spice World Minced Garlic](https://spiceworldinc.com/consumer/products/garlic/#peeled-garlic)** > > Add bold, savory flavors to your dishes with Spice World's fresh garlic, organic garlic, minced garlic, peeled garlic, and squeezable garlic products. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/53 "2021-03-01T07:36:27Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Add a teaspoon of baking sofa when you boil the eggs. > [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ll bet they taste divan. > [@elbows](#): > > Um, you know it doesn’t get past the shell, right? > Absolutely zero flavour difference. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Can you couch that in different terms? > [@Napier](#): > > I bet if I let my loves eat both kinds, somebody would notice a difference. Must be all that windy weather Up North. Keeps people inside away from the whooshing noises. Well done, especially @Napier . ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/54 "2021-03-01T07:40:19Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > rill holes in the rim of your paint can, in that little valley that runs around the opening, so the paint can drip back in Or you could just buy one of those $2 snap on/snap off reusable pour lid. works great. Says the guy that just got done painting six rooms, a couple hallways and a three story stairwell. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/55 "2021-03-01T08:36:14Z")
Only “hack” I’ve ever found to be worth its salt was sliding a butter knife under the rim of a pickle jar to break the airtight seal so you don’t have to be an Olympic arm wrestling champion to open it the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/56 "2021-03-01T11:21:53Z")
Alternative: doubled sided tape around the outside of the cap. Even the most stubborn caps come off once you have good grip IME ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/57 "2021-03-01T16:08:10Z")
Alternative alternative: lean over and whack the jam or jelly or pickle jar lid **hard** on the black quarry tile kitchen floor. Also breaks the airtight seal and makes it possible for mere mortals to open. Scares the beejezus out of the unsuspecting dozing nearby roommate though, but is satisfying since I hate that damn quarry tile floor. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/58 "2021-03-01T16:13:20Z")
Yes, yes, yes! That’s the way I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid, and it never fails to work. I figured it out on my own, but I always thought that’s what everyone did. Instead, I hear all these tips about whacking the jar, or running it under hot water, or saying a prayer to St. Jude, and I’m like, just use a butter knife and pop open the vacuum seal! ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/59 "2021-03-01T16:17:35Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This thread should probably have a disqualified clever hacks that are presented in compilation videos of clever lifehacks. More than half of them are just faked. And the other half use hacks that even if they work are much more trouble and less effective than the conventional methods. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/60 "2021-03-01T16:17:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m like, just use a butter knife and pop open the vacuum seal! Whacking on the floor is more fun. However, I am going to file away the butter knife trick and use it next time. I hear a sigh of relief from my kitchen floor already. Stupid damn floor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=4)