# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/61 "2021-03-01T16:22:06Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Thanks but cooking them isn’t my problem. It’s the peeling. They peel easier if you keep them in the fridge for a few days _after_ boiling. Over time, water exudes from the white, forcing the white to shrink, and the membrane to separate from it. I also add a teaspoon of baking soda to the boil water and that seems to help. I have no theory for why that works but it seems to make the whites a bit more slippery and easier to peel. ---
**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, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/62 "2021-03-01T16:24:51Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > 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 Also breaks everything else including the jar and the floor. ---
**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, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/63 "2021-03-01T18:11:24Z")
Never has in 16+ years. It’s a knack. I should have specified that it was always the metal jar lid that struck the floor. Beats a bent butter knife. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/64 "2021-03-01T18:25:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > 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 … Since I was a kid, I’ve always tapped around the lid’s rim with the butter knife handle. I think it does the same seal breaking action. ---
**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, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/65 "2021-03-01T18:43:42Z")
Butter knife stays fine. You just twist it, not use it like a lever. I also have good butter knives that are nay impossible to bend. ---
**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, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/66 "2021-03-01T18:47:54Z")
I really am going to try the butter knife trick next stubborn jar. My floor will, I assume, thank you. ---
**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, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/67 "2021-03-01T19:01:26Z")
Yeah, and to be clear, this is for store-bought jars like pickle jars, not so much Ball jars of home canned stuff. Those are too difficult to get a butterknife into, as they’re pretty flush against the glass. The stuff like jam and such, I like to put the butterknife underneath one of the “tabs” – the are where the lid is kind of folded over on itself – there’s about 6 of them on a jar, and twist. Once you hear a _pffft_ you should be good to go. It does work on the areas in between those tabs, but I like starting there. Usually it just takes one twist, but sometimes I have to go to the opposite side of the jar and do a quick twist there. ---
**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, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/68 "2021-03-01T19:08:35Z")
Good to know. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/69 "2021-03-01T22:13:54Z")
I also tap the lid with the blunt edge of a butter knife. Strike it in the direction to open helps. My Wife just gives the jars to me. That hack usually works for her. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/70 "2021-03-01T22:25:20Z")
I just don’t need any tools to open a jar. Just one whack with the palm of my hand on the lid, and it opens easily. ---
**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, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/71 "2021-03-01T22:50:12Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > just don’t need any tools to open a jar I think we have established that domestic violence is often required. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/72 "2021-03-01T22:55:44Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I really am going to try the butter knife trick next stubborn jar. My floor will, I assume, thank you If you can wedge it under there, I find a spoon to work much easier since it won’t flex. But, at least for me, I usually have the best luck with my silicone (and grippy) oven mitt. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/73 "2021-03-01T23:00:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If you can wedge it under there, I find a spoon to work much easier since it won’t flex. But, at least for me, I usually have the best luck with my silicone (and grippy) oven mitt. One of those “church key” can openers works great for popping the vacuum. That’s the can opener with a sharp end for puncturing the top of a can. The sharp end bends up at an angle and provides the perfect leverage to move the lid out just a bit. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/74 "2021-03-02T00:10:18Z")
I keep a simple flat-head screwdriver in the kitchen, for the purpose of opening jars. Just put it under the rim and twist. Works with every jar except Costco’s marinated artichoke hearts. Those jars require the insertion of a small nuclear warhead. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/75 "2021-03-02T00:19:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I keep a simple flat-head screwdriver in the kitchen, for the purpose of opening jars. Just put it under the rim and twist. Unrelated but I always tell everyone to keep one of those cheap 6 way screwdrivers in their kitchen junk drawer. You’re a lot more likely to fix something (or fix it without resorting to a butter knife) if you don’t have to go down to your basement or out to the garage to get a screwdriver. And that goes triple if you’re going to ask me to fix something every time I’m at your house. Happy to do it, just leave a screwdriver nearby for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/76 "2021-03-02T00:21:47Z")
I cut off the garlic clove ends and put a little hot water on them (put them in the sink plug). Skin comes off easy. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/77 "2021-03-02T00:23:16Z")
I have had mixed results cleaning cracked phone screens, car video screens and CDs with toothpaste. Works sometimes. ---
**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 2, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/78 "2021-03-02T02:49:37Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > And that goes triple if you’re going to ask me to fix something every time I’m at your house. Happy to do it, just leave a screwdriver nearby for me. Joey, I like the cut of your jib. My kind of friend. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/79 "2021-03-02T03:20:21Z")
Wrong end. Just use the bottle cap opener end to lift the lip of the lid until you hear the seal break. ---
**Author:** ![blabbermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/80 "2021-03-02T03:23:20Z")
Try these. You’ll be able to open pretty much any jar and you don’t have to turn the kitchen into a scene from Saturday morning cartoon violence. > **[Amazon.com: JAR HEADS Jar Opener (5PC) - Jar Opener for Weak Hands - Rubber Jar...](https://www.amazon.com/JAR-HEADS-Gripper-multifunctional-Non-Slip/dp/B07L59RQ6G)** > > Amazon.com: JAR HEADS Jar Opener (5PC) - Jar Opener for Weak Hands - Rubber Jar Opener for Seniors with Arthritis - Rubber Jar Opener Gripper Pad - USA Made Multifunctional Jar Gripper - Thick Sturdy & Non-Slip : Home & Kitchen [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=5)