# Neat useful tricks that you think most people are not aware of **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959 "2013-01-31T21:35:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/261 "2013-02-21T00:49:01Z")
And if you do lock your key on the inside anyway, you will always be able to get in if you keep a spare key in another pocket or elsewhere on your person. I’ve kept a spare key in my left hand pants pocket for years. This has saved me time, annoyance and money on at least three occasions. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/262 "2013-02-21T01:13:32Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > If you park near shady trees, be sure to balance the need to keep your car cool with the need to keep your car free of bird poop. For me, the coolness starts to outweigh the poop at about 90 degrees or warmer. In my work I frequently select trees for parking lots. Any of these parking lots _always_ fill the spaces and under the trees first in the summer. The other three seasons this is true to a lesser degree. The bird issue depends on the local bird population and the type of tree selected, some being much worse than others. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/263 "2013-02-21T01:22:22Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > In my work I frequently select trees for parking lots. Any of these parking lots _always_ fill the spaces and under the trees first in the summer. The other three seasons this is true to a lesser degree. > > The bird issue depends on the local bird population and the type of tree selected, some being much worse than others. As to that, I never wash my car, the dirt protects the paint from bird shit. (ok, I did lie a little. I do wash my car once a year, but all the bird shit doesn’t stick.) ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/264 "2013-02-21T01:37:44Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > As to that, I never wash my car, the dirt protects the paint from bird shit. > > (ok, I did lie a little. I do wash my car once a year, but all the bird shit doesn’t stick.) I see you’re of the Quentin Crisp school of housekeeping: “After the first four years the dirt doesn’t get any worse”. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/265 "2013-02-21T01:59:33Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > in summer there is a fast way to remove all the hot air in your car that doesn’t require keeping the windows rolled down all day which could invite theft. > park your car with windows rolled up and doors locked like usual. When you are ready to use it again open the drivers side door as wide as possible, start the engine and use the power windows to roll the back windows down as much as you can. While still standing outside the car with the drivers side door still wide open and the rear windows down turn the ac on full blast. After 5-10 seconds all the hot air will have been blown out and the car will be relatively cool. at that point get in, close the door and roll the windows back up. I thought you were going a different direction here. You can also open one passenger side window, and open/close the driver’s side door a few times. That will pump out the hot air and replace it with ambient air. At least it should make it a bit easier for your AC to cool down the car. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/266 "2013-02-21T06:12:32Z")
Somewhere in the middle of a really big Word document and want to get to the beginning (or the end)? Just hit Ctrl+A to select all the text, then hit the left arrow to skip back to the space before the selected text (i.e. the beginning of the document), or the right arrow to go straight to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/267 "2013-02-21T06:40:52Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Somewhere in the middle of a really big Word document and want to get to the beginning (or the end)? Just hit Ctrl+A to select all the text, then hit the left arrow to skip back to the space before the selected text (i.e. the beginning of the document), or the right arrow to go straight to the end. Or you could just click Ctrl+Home or Ctrl+End. This works on other applications as well, including web pages. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/268 "2013-02-21T06:41:03Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Somewhere in the middle of a really big Word document and want to get to the beginning (or the end)? Just hit Ctrl+A to select all the text, then hit the left arrow to skip back to the space before the selected text (i.e. the beginning of the document), or the right arrow to go straight to the end. Er, isn’t that what Ctrl+Home is for? ---
**Author:** ![kjbrasda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@kjbrasda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjbrasda)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/269 "2013-02-21T07:48:00Z")
Open a banana from the other end (not the stem end). It opens neater, less squishing, seems to leave less strings, and you still have a handle! just pinch and pull apart. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/270 "2013-02-21T13:56:12Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > Use discarded toothbrushes to clean your combs. And electric razors/clippers. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/271 "2013-02-21T19:18:14Z")
Don’t you hate it when you open cans with a hand-cranked opener and it leaves the top hanging onto the rim by a little flange, forcing you to yank it back and forth to remove and leaves a sharp point that then slashes open your hand when you go to wash the can? Do this: when you first attach the opener, crank it _backwards_ for half a twist, then go forward as usual. No more sharp flanges. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/272 "2013-02-21T19:54:38Z")
When booking intercontinental round-trip flights that have a significant fuel surcharge, it is sometimes possible to get that surcharge dropped by booking an additional random leg some time after your return flight. If the cost of the additional flight is less than the fuel surcharge (and it can be substantially so), you win. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/273 "2013-02-21T20:33:27Z")
Regarding the splitting wood issue - my shop teacher always told us to use soap on the end of our nails (the bar kind of soap). Always has worked for me. And hey, now you have another use for the end of life bars of soap! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/274 "2013-02-21T20:56:50Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’ve heard things like this before. Am I the only person who just folds the last inch of masking tape under itself? > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I thought you were going a different direction here. > > You can also open one passenger side window, and open/close the driver’s side door a few times. That will pump out the hot air and replace it with ambient air. At least it should make it a bit easier for your AC to cool down the car. Some electronic car keys have a feature that rolls the windows down for you. Press the unlock button once for the door. Press it again and hold it down and all the windows will open. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/275 "2013-02-21T21:15:17Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Some electronic car keys have a feature that rolls the windows down for you. Press the unlock button once for the door. Press it again and hold it down and all the windows will open. Well I will be damned. I just ran outside and tried this and it worked! There isn’t much use for that feature here on the coast where it never gets very hot but it’s a fun trick. I got to teach it someone else in the parking lot on my way back into the building. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/276 "2013-02-21T22:17:17Z")
Depending on the season, the tree thing might also have your car’s paint covered in sap. Not fun to remove, even with wd-40, which takes almost anything off paint and doesn’t seem to mar it. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/277 "2013-02-21T23:23:34Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Or you could just click Ctrl+Home or Ctrl+End. This works on other applications as well, including web pages. > [@AaronX](#): > > Er, isn’t that what Ctrl+Home is for? Yes, but I find it a little more awkward because I have to completely reposition my right hand to reach the End or Home buttons on my keyboard. My method is faster for me – YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/278 "2013-02-21T23:26:42Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I haven’t read this whole thread, so sorry if this has been described already. > > I use the “autocorrect” tool in Microsoft Word to create super-easy macro-like devices. Be sure to choose a brief few letters to represent the “misspelling”. > > Example: go into autocorrect, and tell it that the misspelling “LL” should be corrected to read “Landlord”. I type a lot of real estate documents, and use the word Landlord frequently. > > You can use it for larger blocks of text, as well. I prepare loan documents, and the dollar figure for the loan will appear over and over. I can tell autocorrect that the misspelling “bux” should be corrected to the phrase “Six Million Four Hundred Thousand Thirty-five Dollars ($6,435,000)”. > > You can even use it for a whole page of text. Legal descriptions (like several paragraphs of surveyor’s gobbledegook) can be blocked before turning on the autocorrect, and the misspelling “LGL” assigned to it. However, big blocks of text like this never survive overnight in the autocorrect tool, for some reason. This is BRILLIANT. I’m going to incorporate it into my bag of tricks right away! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/279 "2013-02-22T00:09:34Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Yes, but I find it a little more awkward because I have to completely reposition my right hand to reach the End or Home buttons on my keyboard. My method is faster for me – YMMV. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/280 "2013-02-22T00:50:49Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Depending on the season, the tree thing might also have your car’s paint covered in sap. And you would know Mr. Picea, wouldn’t you? :dubious: At least if you’re anything like your relative, Pinus strobus, a known culprit on my street… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=15)