# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/450 "2023-04-29T20:44:59Z")
I hate running out of forks, because I eat a lot of frozen entrees mostly, so I’ll only use 1 fork per meal so it’s not worth running the dishwasher just for some forks. So one day inspiration hit and I looked up my flatware pattern and found a place online I could buy just the forks. They were $5/fork, so I bought eight for $40. Now I have service for six with 14 dinner forks, and I can get buy on the salad forks, so that’s 20 meals. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/451 "2023-04-29T21:54:50Z")
> [@EnolaStraight](#): > > Unlike liquid bleach, the foam will fill every nook and cranny of your sink drain. If you have a disposer in the sink, run that (with running water) while you are pouring the bleach, which throws the bleach combo everywhere. I tend to fill the sink with warm, soapy, bleach water. When it is almost overflowing and then pull the plug and turn on the disposer. It works well for me. If you have a bathroom in the basement that rarely get used, be sure to run water in the shower and sink and flush the toilet once a week. This helps keeps things in working order as well as prevents a stinky dried-out trap in the pipes. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/452 "2023-04-29T23:31:31Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So one day inspiration hit and I looked up my flatware pattern and found a place online I could buy just the forks. They were $5/fork, so I bought eight for $40. Now I have service for six with 14 dinner forks, and I can get buy on the salad forks, so that’s 20 meals. A few years ago I bought a mid-range flatware pattern. It came with 8 of everything, but 16 teaspoons. I thought that was the dumbest thing I’d seen ever seen. We quickly discovered that for the first time in years, we weren’t running out of teaspoons w lots of forks & knives left over. We ate no takeout, but lots of stuff you eat with a spoon or serve out of a container (e.g. yogurt) into an individual bowl. Turned out to be super handy. Who knew? Not I. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/453 "2023-04-30T15:39:56Z")
Mount battery chargers to the underside of shelves to save space. However, it really only works for batteries that slide in (like the 40v Ryobi) or clip in (like the 18v Ryobi). The Milwaukee battery is staying in place with just a little bit of friction. It falls out from time to time, so I don’t usually let it live there like I do with the others. [![](https://i.imgur.com/lwJlKJk.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/lwJlKJk.jpg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/yZSeHll.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/yZSeHll.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/454 "2023-05-03T22:33:08Z")
I’ve been doing that for a long time. I agree that’s the method for reheating pizza that gets the best results. As for having multiple households being keyed the same, I’d rather not have that many extras of keys to my home floating around. Strikes me as suboptimal security. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/455 "2023-05-03T22:39:01Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > That’s added work. You’re buying a new dozen anyway, just choose the different colored ones from last week. I just leave them in the carton they came in, turned so the end with the date is the visible end. Works for me. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/456 "2023-05-04T01:36:57Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > As for having multiple households being keyed the same, I’d rather not have that many extras of keys to my home floating around. Strikes me as suboptimal security. Years ago I re keyed one of my doors to be the same as my parent’s house, but I didn’t tell them. The idea being, if I ever do need a key to my house (be it that I’m locked out or I need someone to come help me) I can call them, or either of my sisters, however, they’re clueless that they could let themselves into my house if they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/457 "2023-05-04T12:27:44Z")
Didn’t O. Henry write a story about this—the parents had _also_ rekeyed their house to match their child’s, but didn’t tell them? Then one day it all ended tragically due to deep love but poor communication. “The Gift of the Locksmith” or some such. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/458 "2023-05-04T22:25:29Z")
FWIW, I did tell my dad a few years ago. If for no other reason, so if they ever need to get into my house, they’re not smashing down a door or breaking a window just to find out I overslept and my phone wasn’t charged (for example). Luckily, my dad would never tell anyone (unless/until necessary) so I’m not real concerned about it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/459 "2023-05-05T23:55:06Z")
I bought these [0.25" colored dot stickers](https://www.amazon.com/26656-Coding-Circle-Labels-Colors/dp/B07WDH85QY/ref=sr_1_8?crid=QWBE69QVKUY4&keywords=.25%22+dots&qid=1683330426&sprefix=25+dots%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-8) for an organizing project, but they’ve turned out to have other uses too, especially the brightly colored ones. There are two green ones on the seat belt tongues in my back seat so I know which side goes up (and these only go into the buckle one way) when trying to seat-belt the handles of the cat carriers. There’s a bright orange one on the toaster that has a stiff cord’s plug that I can barely see to plug in behind microwave. And there’s a now blue one on top of the Micro HDMI cable to my power bank that annoys the crap out of me trying to get it plugged in correctly. > [@TruCelt](#): > > An ADHD hack for time-blindness - I set alarms on my computer every couple of hours throughout the day. This just allows me to take a moment and orient myself to the passage of time and whether I am where I need to be in whatever task(s) I have set myself. It prevents that horror of suddenly realizing it’s 7:00pm and I have no idea what to cook for dinner. I have to log out of work by 4:37pm so I have a smart light programed to turn blue at 4:32 in case I lose track of time. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/460 "2023-05-06T01:45:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > An ADHD hack for time-blindness - I set alarms on my computer every couple of hours throughout the day. This just allows me to take a moment and orient myself to the passage of time and whether I am where I need to be in whatever task(s) I have set myself. It prevents that horror of suddenly realizing it’s 7:00pm and I have no idea what to cook for dinner. I do this too! Only the alarms are on my smartwatch. When I realize the alarm went off, it works quite well. I’m just a little inconsistent with recognizing when alarms are happening. The best alarms are the ones halfway across the room that I have to physically turn off. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/461 "2023-05-06T01:55:31Z")
It seems kind of obvious, but the best bookmarkers I’ve found are those half-clear colored sticky flags for documents. > **[Amazon.com : 3M Flags (MMM6835CB) : Tape Flags : Office Products](https://www.amazon.com/Post-Portable-Dispenser-Dispensers-6835CBEU/dp/B000SHU86Q)** > > Amazon.com : 3M Flags (MMM6835CB) : Tape Flags : Office Products ---
**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:** [May 7, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/462 "2023-05-07T22:31:06Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The best alarms are the ones halfway across the room that I have to physically turn off. My phone (which has my wake-up alarm) is in my living room, the next room over from my bedroom. By the time I get up and go over to the living room, it’s too late to just roll over and go back to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/463 "2023-05-08T01:25:10Z")
In the unlikely event you hear it go off. … And if that event _is_ likely for you, wait 10 years and get back to us. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/464 "2023-05-09T18:29:37Z")
Pfft - like he’ll remember! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/465 "2023-05-09T21:59:28Z")
Get one of these - helicopter alarm clock. [https://www.amazon.com.au/Tiangtech-Novelty-Helicopter-Propeller-Creative/dp/B00YXBIMIO](https://www.amazon.com.au/Tiangtech-Novelty-Helicopter-Propeller-Creative/dp/B00YXBIMIO) Sits by the bed so that you can adjust it during the night if necessary, but when it goes off, it flies around the room and you have to get up to find where the little bastard is beeping at you. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/466 "2023-05-09T22:22:15Z")
No need to reach for the scissors to open a net wt bag of oranges or onions. Never dig in to tear with the fingers either save those digits. Simplyz rip the packaging along the seam it tears easily. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/467 "2023-05-10T13:56:41Z")
I haven’t cooked lasagna noodles for years. That was the worst part of making lasagna - trying to handle those hot, slippery noodles. I put them in uncooked and have never had an issue. I also do that with hot dishes (casseroles) that have noodles. I just made a pan of pizza hot dish. I mixed in the uncooked egg noodles with the other ingredients and it came out great. One less step and one less dirty pot! ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/468 "2023-05-10T16:56:23Z")
My mom taught me this trick. It saves on so much time, effort, and frustration, I’m amazed the whole world isn’t woke to it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/469 "2023-05-10T19:01:18Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > trying to handle those hot, slippery noodles Here’s what I figured out on my own: use a fork. But don’t spear the noodle, slip it between the tines, about halfway along the noodle’s length, so it doesn’t slide off. Pull it out of the water and lay it down on a sheet of waxed or parchment paper. I haven’t tried not cooking the noodles, or using no-cook noodles, but maybe I will next time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=24)