Set horns to swoggled: what did you not expect to work that actually does?

[slightly_askew]

I needed to remove paint from metal hinges and latches when redoing some woodwork in our house. I had read online that you can remove the paint by boiling the metal parts in water with some baking soda added. It stunk like heck, but worked like a charm.

[Maus_Magill]

@Southern_Yankee

Trivial compared to many of the ones already posted, but I was at a Yankee Candle outlet store once and my SO bought a metal, decorative “lid” for their jar candles. The idea was that it didn’t block the light, but it reflected some of the heat back into the jar and the candle would burn more evenly. Damn if it doesn’t work. Those candles burn so evenly, no wax is left up the sides of the jar. They work on almost any jar candle.

It makes sense if you think about it. I shall have to suggest this to Mrs Magill.