# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/301 "2013-03-04T17:22:49Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I just remembered one of my favourites: if you’ve forgotten someone’s name, and are too embarrassed to ask them again, ask them how to spell it. Tip: it doesn’t work so well if their name is Joe, though. Have a pre-agreed plan with your significant other (granted, this only works if you have one) that if you introduce them to someone by saying, “Have you met my [boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/whatever]?” instead of saying his/her name, that they should then say, “Hi, I’m [name]” in an attempt to prompt the other person into saying their own name. Works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![notthatagain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@notthatagain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notthatagain)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/302 "2013-03-06T00:48:23Z")
Socks won’t stay up? Wet a bar of soap, use bar to make a ring around leg where top of sock should be. Pull sock up and when the soap dries sock stays up. If you’re on a ladder and don’t have lubricant handy you can run a screw through your hair to make it easier to turn. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/303 "2013-03-06T01:10:44Z")
> [@notthatagain](#): > > Socks won’t stay up? Wet a bar of soap, use bar to make a ring around leg where top of sock should be. Pull sock up and when the soap dries sock stays up. > > If you’re on a ladder and don’t have lubricant handy you can run a screw through your hair to make it easier to turn. Both of these sound like something you’d see on one of those fake Ren and Stimpy style advertisements… But I can see how they would work. I can also see how they could go horribly wrong. Running the screw through your hair while it is attached to the drill for example… ---
**Author:** ![notthatagain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@notthatagain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notthatagain)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/304 "2013-03-06T01:49:11Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > Both of these sound like something you’d see on one of those fake Ren and Stimpy style advertisements… > > But I can see how they would work. I can also see how they could go horribly wrong. Running the screw through your hair while it is attached to the drill for example… Soap & Socks from “ **Hints from Heloise** ” decades ago. Drunkenness and hand tremors are also not recommended while running screw through hair. ---
**Author:** ![notthatagain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@notthatagain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notthatagain)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/305 "2013-03-06T01:51:56Z")
Double post. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/306 "2013-03-06T01:55:30Z")
Socks won’t stay up? Buy new socks. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/307 "2013-03-06T02:42:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Socks won’t stay up? Buy new socks. Kayaker, you should start a thread called “The most obvious trick that everyone is already aware of” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/308 "2013-03-06T02:58:46Z")
> [@notthatagain](#): > > Socks won’t stay up? Wet a bar of soap, use bar to make a ring around leg where top of sock should be. Pull sock up and when the soap dries sock stays up. Wouldn’t that get really itchy? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/309 "2013-03-06T03:09:47Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > But I can see how they would work. I can also see how they could go horribly wrong. Running the screw through your hair while it is attached to the drill for example… I thought you attach bits to drills, not screws? ---
**Author:** ![czarcaztic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@czarcaztic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czarcaztic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/310 "2013-03-07T23:26:31Z")
> [@tripolar](#): > > which makes a lot more sense than leaving the alcohol out of the glass. Unless you’re a crooked bartender i don’t where the intended advice would be useful. whoooosh! ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/311 "2013-03-08T20:23:18Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Kayaker, you should start a thread called “The most obvious trick that everyone is already aware of” I nominate this post to be included: > [@urban1a](#): > > Whenever I would open a soda bottle which had been shaken a bit much and which started to squirt out, I’d make a run for the sink. > > But, you can also just re tighten the lid which accomplishes the same thing. > > This tip took me only about 55 years to learn. It is yours free. > > Bob Ummm, yeah… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/312 "2013-03-08T22:17:31Z")
Gargling with warm saltwater helps relieve a sore throat. Eating raw garlic will help restore a voice lost from laryngitis. Crushing raw garlic with a knife before peeling will help with the removal of the garlic’s papery skin. Magnesium supplements may help cure restless leg symptoms. Next time you rent a car and don’t know which side the gas tank is on, simply look for a tiny arrow located next to the gas gauge on the dashboard to guide you. Storing cheese in aluminum foil helps it last longer. Traveling to Puerto Rico and want to do a good deed on your way home? The island is overrun with stray dogs that are killed or otherwise mistreated. You can help by volunteering to be a flyer escort with All Sato Rescue. You never have to actually handle an animal (the airline and the rescue org do all the work), but you merely volunteer to be the animal’s official escort to another state where another rescue organization will then take responsibility for the animal’s care and adoption. Accidentally deleted text from an email? Press Ctrl + Z and, voila, it’s back! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/313 "2013-03-08T22:48:53Z")
Put a contrasting, colored tape on all sides. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/314 "2013-03-09T22:29:30Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Kayaker, you should start a thread called “The most obvious trick that everyone is already aware of” Hey! I work for a hosiery mill! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/315 "2013-03-10T01:25:52Z")
> [@LMarie](#): > > Traveling to Puerto Rico and want to do a good deed on your way home? The island is overrun with stray dogs that are killed or otherwise mistreated. You can help by volunteering to be a flyer escort with All Sato Rescue. You never have to actually handle an animal (the airline and the rescue org do all the work), but you merely volunteer to be the animal’s official escort to another state where another rescue organization will then take responsibility for the animal’s care and adoption. Please don’t do this people. We already kill millions of homeless pets every year, there is no reason at all to import more. While I’m very sad about how people in Puerto Rico treat cats and dogs, we can’t save the world. We can only clean up our little part of the world. Charity should start at home, donate to your local pet shelter instead. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/316 "2013-03-10T12:26:28Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Please don’t do this people. We already kill millions of homeless pets every year, there is no reason at all to import more. > > While I’m very sad about how people in Puerto Rico treat cats and dogs, we can’t save the world. We can only clean up our little part of the world. Charity should start at home, donate to your local pet shelter instead. Technically, it’s not much different from moving a rescued animal between states. PR _is our_ little part of the world, whether or not it’s officially a state. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/317 "2013-03-10T12:56:15Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Please don’t do this people. We already kill millions of homeless pets every year, there is no reason at all to import more. > > While I’m very sad about how people in Puerto Rico treat cats and dogs, we can’t save the world. We can only clean up our little part of the world. Charity should start at home, donate to your local pet shelter instead. We have vacationed yearly in St Martin for many years. This has led to us making many friends on the island, including the wonderful folks who run [the island’s single animal shelter.](http://www.ilovemyislanddog.org/shelter) We schedule time during each vacation to visit and contribute a day’s labor at the shelter, in addition to giving economic support. We also support local animal charities here in the US. Just another point of view. /hijack. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/318 "2013-03-10T13:32:02Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Technically, it’s not much different from moving a rescued animal between states. PR _is our_ little part of the world, whether or not it’s officially a state. And some States/County’s are better than others. The shelter in my County hasn’t put down an adoptable aninmal in years. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/319 "2013-03-10T15:57:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > And some States/County’s are better than others. The shelter in my County hasn’t put down an adoptable aninmal in years. You may want to investigate what, exactly, this means. Some shelters are notorious for setting “adoptable” standard extremely high in order to make this claim; it’s a bit of a book-cooking maneuver. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/320 "2013-03-10T16:07:47Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You may want to investigate what, exactly, this means. Some shelters are notorious for setting “adoptable” standard extremely high in order to make this claim; it’s a bit of a book-cooking maneuver. ^This…and some/others allow overcrowding, resulting in disease spread and poor feeding, exercise and socialization, in an effort to remain “no kill”. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=17)