# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/81 "2013-02-01T22:22:20Z")
For the pee in the dark thing–just sit down instead. No need to worry about turning on the lights or aiming. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/82 "2013-02-01T22:40:23Z")
Tap together the two halves of a pistachio shell to reproduce the sound of a very tiny horse (or that of a larger horse a long way away.) I’ll get my coat. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/83 "2013-02-01T22:44:00Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I started a linen revolution on this board when I mentioned that I store each set of sheets in its own pillowcase for easy storing on a shelf and grabbing; full sets in an inside out pillowcase and queen sets in a right-side out pillowcase, so I don’t have to remember which is which. I’ve since seen the tip oodles of times on the internet, though, so it’s probably pretty well known by now. 🙂 Oh my god, that is brilliant! > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Or stick your wet phone in some dried rice for a while. Not to wantonly disagree with my learned Scottish friend, but I tried that trick with an MP3 player I’d washed. Thing is dry, but completely inoperable. Probably cellphones are sealed a little tighter, though. ---
**Author:** ![Noodles\_Fellicini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Noodles\_Fellicini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noodles_Fellicini)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/84 "2013-02-01T22:47:19Z")
**RobDog** I would like to pre-order your helpful hints book. I can tell it will change my life. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/85 "2013-02-02T00:08:35Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Once a month release a small mouse down the back of your sofa. Hey presto, no more crumbs! Someone’s been reading Viz. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/86 "2013-02-02T00:10:19Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Someone’s been reading Viz. For far, far too many years. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/87 "2013-02-02T00:50:12Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > For the pee in the dark thing–just sit down instead. No need to worry about turning on the lights or aiming. Yep. I am in this camp. Also, sitting down minimizes the noise in case you are among light sleepers. How do you know how long to wash your hands with soap to ensure you are clean? - wet hands, apply soap, sing the ABC song, when you reach the end, you can rinse. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/88 "2013-02-02T02:12:05Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Yep. I am in this camp. Also, sitting down minimizes the noise in case you are among light sleepers. That, and since it’s dark, nobody will see you pissing like a sissy! 😛 j/k ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/89 "2013-02-02T03:00:02Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > \ > In other suggestions, during wintertime, if you have a good chunk of ice on the roof of your car, wait until you’re going about 30 or more down the road _and nobody is behind you_ then punch the inside ceiling of your car. Most often the ice will fly off the top of your car when it won’t hurt another car. What works even better is cleaning your car off properly when the snow is still snow (this is a huge peeve of mine this year - no one seems to be cleaning their cars here this year). > [@DCnDC](#): > > Never buy green onions again: buy a bunch and stick it in a glass with water on a windowsill that gets sunlight, and change the water once a week. Snip the green part as you need for cooking, and it will continually grow back. This is, and remains, our most and only successful houseplant ever. On a related note, I keep my bunch of cilantro in the fridge in a glass of water - it stays fresh for as long as the stems stay in water. > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > \ > Not to wantonly disagree with my learned Scottish friend, but I tried that trick with an MP3 player I’d washed. Thing is dry, but completely inoperable. Probably cellphones are sealed a little tighter, though. Glad to know I’m not the only one who washed their MP3 player (with the same effect). I tried to use desiccant (like the stuff in shoe boxes) on mine, but it didn’t work, either. Some more tips - I get a gleaming clean shower and tub by spraying it with some kind of cheap scum remover, then going over it with a magic eraser. I find that either method on its own doesn’t work, or has me scrubbing my arms off to get a good result. The combination works like a charm with minimal effort. I also cut up and freeze green peppers in one meal sizes as soon as I buy them - I got tired of buying green peppers and then throwing them out when I never got around to using them. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/90 "2013-02-02T04:25:55Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > People in this sort of thread are often shocked and awed that there are little tabs at each end of the aluminum foil box and you’re supposed to poke them in to keep the roll of foil (or plastic wrap or whatever) from coming out of the box when you pull on it. I always forget that. Then one day I had a brand new box of cellophane wrap and was all giddy on using the tabs…pushed em in, then tried to pull on the plastic and the roll fell right out…as usual…and that shitty cutter thing never worked either. Instead of downsizing on the length of the roll from 25ft/50ft to the _under-equivalent same price_ Metric length…they instead did it on the width…but then PUT IT IN THE SAME BOX that is an inch too wide (25mm)…Ha Ha, no one will ever notice the lesser amount.:smack: Now my plastic wrap has spider/roach motel holes built in. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/91 "2013-02-02T04:40:10Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Not to wantonly disagree with my learned Scottish friend, but I tried that trick with an MP3 player I’d washed. Thing is dry, but completely inoperable. Probably cellphones are sealed a little tighter, though. Although it’s certainly worth a try if you have gotten your cell phone/mp3 player wet it didn’t work for me. About a month ago my cell phone (in a rubber case even) hit the sink in about two inches of water. There’s no way it could have been in there for more than a second since my hand chased it into the water when I saw it heading that way. I tried the rice thing and no dice. When I called to get the replacement I was told that once seal is broken (and that it happens instantly) you can forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/92 "2013-02-02T06:08:02Z")
Something I’ve posted before: I sometimes work as an editor, and occasionally I want to check two printouts of a document to see if they’re exactly the same version. Fast way to do this: I put two versions of the same page side by side, cross my eyes so that one page seems to go “on top” of the other, and look at a “combined” page as if it were a 3D Viewmaster. If there is a difference of even one word between the two, my binocular vision makes the errant word leap out at me. It also works for words on a computer screen, and for non-flat surfaces – for example, if I want to compare the ingredients on two cans of something or other. I also use the [Chisanbop](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chisenbop) method of counting on my fingers; I’ve never encountered anyone else who does this, but it’s pretty handy (hur hur). ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/93 "2013-02-02T06:37:37Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I think catfish’s comment about so much wrong in this thread must be referencing all the wasted wine. The wasted booze and a couple of other questionable “repair” items mentioned prompted the response. (when I’m not drinking, I’ll enumerate them) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/94 "2013-02-02T12:36:27Z")
To remove the sticky residue from tape, decals or labels use sticky tape to “pluck” at the surface, just press and peel repeatedly until all the gunk is gone. I’ve seen several posts about drying electronics, one way to do it is to dunk the soaked gadget in alcohol and then letting it dry, the alcohol will absorb the water and then evaporate much faster than the water itself. > [@slitterst](#): > > Yes, it is counter-intuitive, but here’s what happens. > > A regular nail uses the point to slide between the wood fibers. At the end of the board, this leverage within the grain can cause the board to split. > > Blunt the tip and the nail will now have to sever the wood fibers, rather than sliding between them. by cutting its way through the board, the nail isn’t applying leverage to the grain. No splitting. > > Here’s my related trick. To keep a screw from splitting the end of the board, run your drill in reverse as you push the screw in. This will drill a pilot hole. Once you’re about halfway through, put the drill in forward and finish driving the screw normally. I wonder if nails with a chiseled point wouldn’t work even better, place the chisel edge at a right angle to the wood grain and hammer away. It should cut through the fibers better than a blunt nail. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/95 "2013-02-02T13:24:14Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Something I’ve posted before: I sometimes work as an editor, and occasionally I want to check two printouts of a document to see if they’re exactly the same version. Fast way to do this: I put two versions of the same page side by side, cross my eyes so that one page seems to go “on top” of the other, and look at a “combined” page as if it were a 3D Viewmaster. If there is a difference of even one word between the two, my binocular vision makes the errant word leap out at me. It also works for words on a computer screen, and for non-flat surfaces – for example, if I want to compare the ingredients on two cans of something or other. > > I also use the [Chisanbop](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chisenbop) method of counting on my fingers; I’ve never encountered anyone else who does this, but it’s pretty handy (hur hur). Chisanbop… I never knew it had a name. I learned that finger counting thing as a kid. I don’t think I know anyone who does it, but then again, the subject doesn’t come up much. One of those useful skills, like giving change by counting up, rather than trying to do the math in your head. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/96 "2013-02-02T14:07:51Z")
To keep your ice cream for a long time without having it go all crystallized, simply repeat what the manufacturer did when they packaged it. After all it never seems to go off at the grocery, only once it’s spent a couple of weeks in **your** freezer. Use a spoon to flatten the surface of the remaining ice cream and then cover it with Saran, such that it touches the entire surface of the ice cream. Voila, your ice cream won’t ever get yucky again. ( This is why ice cream is always filled to a volume that insures it will be touching the packaging!) ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/97 "2013-02-02T14:17:21Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > To keep your ice cream for a long time without having it go all crystallized, Or, do what I do and make the size you buy a single serving (regardless of its actual size)!😃 ---
**Author:** ![bot3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bot3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bot3)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/98 "2013-02-02T15:14:02Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > Erm, what? Counter intuitive this sounds. See examples I would like to. 😃 Absolutely true. A sharp point will actually separate the along the grain lines and set up stresses that will follow the grain direction along the whole board. Blunting the point will cause the nail to shear the grain as it gets pounded down. You can in fact buy nails with blunted tips. ---
**Author:** ![bot3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bot3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bot3)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/99 "2013-02-02T15:32:45Z")
Perhaps not a trick so much as knowing your job and doing it properly. When putting electric cable or any cable through joist, make sure you drill your hole through the center of the board and not the edge near the bottom. Doing so will reduce the strength of the beam. I’ve seen many electricians drill the bottom of the joist to thread in wire and I just shake my head. To under stand the reasoning consider…Imagine a thick piece of wood about 3 feet long. And imagine you could bend it slowly into a “u” shape. Notice where the stress takes place on the wood fibers. The outside edges stretch and will eventually snap, while the inside edges will compress and fold. The center section has the least amount of stress and remain stable. Removing material at the edges will weaken the member while the center removal of material has little effect. The bottom of the joist takes all the stress from the floor and weight from above. You want to keep as much material in that area to provide greatest strength. edit…Same thing with steel. Notice on many bridges and steel girders you’ll see holes in the center to reduce weight but not the edges. Airplanes are built the same way. Lots of holes in the center structural members to reduce weight but never at the edges. ---
**Author:** ![bot3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bot3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bot3)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959/100 "2013-02-02T15:39:31Z")
> [@bot3](#): > > Absolutely true. A sharp point will actually separate the along the grain lines and set up stresses that will follow the grain direction along the whole board. Blunting the point will cause the nail to shear the grain as it gets pounded down. You can in fact buy nails with blunted tips. Edit…Think of splitting wood for burning. The axe cuts through the grain and the wood follows the stress along the same grain lines. You don’t split wood across the grain, only with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-useful-tricks-that-you-think-most-people-are-not-aware-of/648959.md?page=6)