# Life hacks you figured out on your own **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041 "2023-03-11T20:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/21 "2023-03-12T13:53:42Z")
When you take a trip, and first get to your hotel room, hang up your suits (or, anything you’d typically hang in the closet) in the bathroom, and run the hot shower with the door closed for about 20 minutes. This will create a steam bath to relax whatever wrinkles were picked up while the clothes were in your suitcase. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/22 "2023-03-12T14:23:19Z")
If the plug for an appliance has trouble being inserted and removed from an outlet, the metal tongs may be dry. Rub a finger on the side of you nose, just above a nostril, which tends to be a naturally oily area of your face, then rub it on all sides of the tongs. There is just enough oil to both lubricate the plug and ensure a good connection, but not enough to pose any danger. ---
**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 12, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/23 "2023-03-12T14:27:32Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I know I’ve seen people doing it since I figured it out, but using chopsticks to eat Cheetos. Much cleaner. Now you can get (or 3D print) chopsticks that stay on your hands so you don’t get cheeto dust on your keyboard/mouse/controller. [![](https://takemy.money/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/snactiv.gif) ](https://takemy.money/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/snactiv.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/24 "2023-03-12T14:37:30Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Rub a finger on the side of you nose, just above a nostril, which tends to be a naturally oily area of your face… If you do the same thing, and put your finger in the froth of your carbonated drink, it will dissolve the bubbles. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/25 "2023-03-12T14:43:13Z")
Use your computer desktop background as a never-ending reminder or educator of things. I collect several hundred informative images - such as the progress of the war in Ukraine, a medical appointment coming up, the syllabus for an MBA class I’m taking, some French words I want to learn, the effect of certain drugs I may take, or some study guide material for an upcoming exam - and then set my Windows background to auto-cycle on random once per minute. This means that over the course of one day, I’m constantly being reminded of things I need to learn or recall - essentially a never-ending flashcard show. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/26 "2023-03-12T14:55:19Z")
If you’re buying eggs and you still have a couple left over from last week in the egg container in your fridge, buy a different color (white or brown) than last week. Then you will always know which eggs are the older eggs and should be used up first. ---
**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 12, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/27 "2023-03-12T14:57:26Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > If you do the same thing, and put your finger in the froth of your carbonated drink, it will dissolve the bubbles. I remember people rubbing their fingers on their foreheads and using that to help get rid of the foam in the beer bong. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/28 "2023-03-12T17:32:11Z")
nevermind ---
**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 12, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/29 "2023-03-12T17:49:09Z")
A quick shot of cooking spray (Pam, etc) on the pasta water will keep it from foaming up nearly as much. The 7.25 ounce boxes of mac and cheese taste better if you replace the butter and milk with a dollop of sour cream and some of the macaroni water. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/30 "2023-03-12T18:23:42Z")
That’s also a good way to lubricate your fingertips to play fingerstyle guitar. There are oils like that on your (my) forehead, too, which I use when playing for an audience because nobody’s going to think I’m picking my nose or something. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/31 "2023-03-12T18:38:38Z")
The only way to get plastic food containers really squeaky clean is to rub liquid dish detergent directly on the container, then rinse. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/32 "2023-03-12T18:45:14Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I mounted [a vinyl-coated wire shelf above my sink and use that as my dish drainer](https://imgur.com/a/E0CKO7f) Oh, man; I like this one. This apartment’s kitchen is very small and counter space is at a premium. This would help out a lot. I keep two condiment squeeze bottles (like you find in a fast-food restaurant) on the counter, one filled with olive oil, the other with regular cooking oil. When you only need a small amount of oil, it wastes far less than trying to pour it out of a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/33 "2023-03-12T21:46:01Z")
Store tins of anything thick (like baked beans) upside down. That way the juice will be at the bottom when you open it. If you use bar soap, stick the last bit of the old one to the new one. Soak them in warm water for a few minutes first and they will weld together. ---
**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 12, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/34 "2023-03-12T22:04:48Z")
You can fit more pizza on your plate if you alternate which direction each one is in. > [@bob\_2](#): > > Store tins of anything thick (like baked beans) upside down. That way the juice will be at the bottom when you open it. If I know I’m going to be painting something in the next day or so, I’ll turn the paint can upside down or a day, or at least a few hours, to make mixing it easier. > [@california\_jobcase](#): > > A quick shot of cooking spray (Pam, etc) on the pasta water will keep it from foaming up nearly as much. If you use a convection oven, some pam on the tray will keep the parchment paper from blowing around. I learned that one from someone in culinary school, so it might be more common than I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/35 "2023-03-12T22:22:14Z")
That is not a life hack, but you are right. And if you really have to use them, don’t try alone. One person up, one person down, holding the ladder. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/36 "2023-03-12T22:34:32Z")
Well, my ceilings are 11 feet high, so a ladder is pretty much necessary if a light goes out. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/37 "2023-03-12T22:41:45Z")
I understand, my ceilings are 3,20 m high, which is about the same, but please don’t do that alone. It is a miracle that I still can walk (or worse), and did this mistake just once. It hurt for weeks, and I was lucky. Still not a life hack. Just common sense. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/38 "2023-03-12T22:49:41Z")
…I still don’t get it. Not using ladders is common sense? If something happens near the ceiling that you need to deal with, a ladder is the right tool for the job. If you don’t use a ladder, then your options are to either let whatever’s wrong stay wrong, or to use something much less appropriate for the job, like stacked furniture, which is much more likely to cause disaster. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/39 "2023-03-12T22:50:01Z")
How many Becks does it take to change a light bulb? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/40 "2023-03-12T22:52:21Z")
can’t you just write ‘use me first’ with a sharpie, or something? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=3)