# Share your random, minorly useful tips and tricks.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 30, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863 "2005-03-30T01:23:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 10
### Author:  [@StillWL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StillWL)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/181 "2005-04-05T09:22:18Z")
As I have gotten real bad about leaving the lights on when I park the car:
Have spare battery (keep it charged using a cheap trickle charger) and jumbers in the trunk (along with those latex gloves I mentioned) - beats calling a wrecker, and, if you keep the spare charged, you can maybe install it the next time your main battery goes belly-up. So far, the $60 battery has saved me about $225 in tow-truck fees.
Oh yes, keep a flashlight in the glovebox, bungee cords and glass cleaner in the trunk.
And here’s one that might be considered unkind, but, as it is not entrapment, I have a clear conscience:
When driving long-haul, do so in the wee earlies - the drunks are home, the kids are in bed, and it’s just you and the pro truckers - and the state police.
For those wishing to exceed the speed limit: (not an endorsed practice):
STAY DOWN! - let another schmuck find the cops - take position in the no. 2 lane, going the speed limit - remember, no traffic - pretty soon some fool will blow by you in no.1. He/she is your bush-beater - stay about 2 miles behind him/her, and the cops will nab him - allowing you to continue your journey, at the limit, in lane 2.
And, since this has become entirely too common locally:
Yes, kids, your bodies also need nutrition - or you WILL pass out in a public place and inconvience a bunch of people.
If you must party 7/24 AT LEAST take the multivitamin/mineral/whatever - they will give at least a shot at staying conscious until you get home. Also note that these pills can zip right through an empty digestive tract, so have some fruit, cookies, anything bulky and ready to eat - have something in your stomach before taking the pill.
Mods - I have recently seen 2 kids (19-24, I’d guess) pass out in public. Their friends confirmed that they had not eaten recently, but had consumed various recreational drugs, This is not an endorsement of such activity, but a sincere hope that we will see fewer young adults dropping unconcious.
And to clean various surfaces: go to paint store, get either “Goof Off” or “Goo-Be-Gone” - these are mild solvents which will clean all kinds of crud (including dried latex paint) without damaging the stuff you’re cleaning.
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### Author:  [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/182 "2005-04-05T09:36:56Z")
A few kernels of popping corn in your various salts/saltlike seasoning dispensers will help prevent clumping.
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/183 "2005-04-05T10:05:19Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#):
>
> A few kernels of popping corn in your various salts/saltlike seasoning dispensers will help prevent clumping.
Good one. This works with plain white rice too, which is less noticable in salt then poppingcorn is.
Salt attracts water like mad (hence the clumping, and that’s also exactly why salt is so useful to remove stains, as other posters have noted). So put a little salt in the jar with spices, when you don’t want the spices to become damp or go soft.
I put salt in the jar with whole nutmeg-nuts, and with broth-blocks (I don’t know the English word for them, the little brown tinfoilwrapped cubes one uses as a soup-base).
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/184 "2005-04-05T10:26:17Z")
[Two](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=257728) [more](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=61333) threads like these.
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### Author:  [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/185 "2005-04-05T10:48:55Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#):
>
> No, “the noise in the other ear” isn’t mixed in with what you want to hear (the phone conversation), it’s just noise you’re trying to ignore for now (the TV, etc.). Covering the mouthpiece keeps the noise you’re trying to ignore in one ear and the noise you’re listening to in the other, thus making it easier to block out the former in your head.
I still don’t get it. ☹ If the mouthpiece is for speaking into, why would covering it be of any use?
Is there some kind of echo of the background noise being picked up by the mouthpiece and heard in the listening ear, or something?
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### Author:  [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/186 "2005-04-05T11:08:28Z")
> [@Bites When Provoked](#):
>
> I still don’t get it. ☹ If the mouthpiece is for speaking into, why would covering it be of any use?
>
> Is there some kind of echo of the background noise being picked up by the mouthpiece and heard in the listening ear, or something?
Yep. That’s it exactly. It’s much easier for your brain to filter the conversation from the noise if they’re coming into seperate ears. You know how, when you listen to music through headphones, you can tell which parts are being played into your right ear as opposed to your left? Same deal, only with words and noises rather than bass and keyboards.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/187 "2005-04-05T12:28:31Z")
If your toilet totally blocked, unbend a coat hanger, stick it down there and use it to chop up the stuff.
If you can’t get a new CD out of the tray, push down on the middle plastic knob with your thumb and the CD will pop out.
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### Author:  [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/188 "2005-04-05T13:31:44Z")
When showering keep the towel within reach of being inside your tub/stall.
When done, dry yourself INSIDE the tub/stall and work top down. Gravity does a lot of the work for you and this prevents my biggest pet peeve, sopping wet bathroom carpets.
Someone’s (or your own) dry socks will thank you.
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### Author:  [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/189 "2005-04-05T13:45:20Z")
I’m at a loss as to why anyone would carpet their _bathroom_.
Admittedly, my aunt apparently put astroturf in hers in the late 70’s. My family denies she was taking any recreational drugs. I remain unconvinced.
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### Author:  [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/190 "2005-04-05T13:59:16Z")
> [@Bites When Provoked](#):
>
> I’m at a loss as to why anyone would carpet their _bathroom_.
Cold floors during a midnight pee break, for one thing…
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### Author:  [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/191 "2005-04-05T14:01:41Z")
Actually, we have a rug over the tile, not carpet. I just assumed that’s what **BwanaBob** meant.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/192 "2005-04-05T14:22:02Z")
> [@NoPretentiousCodename](#):
>
> Cold floors during a midnight pee break, for one thing…
Ah! Here’s a tip for you from my Daddy:
When running radiant water heating in your floors, coil a few extra coils of tubing in front of each toilet. Your toes will remain nicely baked, even at 3 am on the crapper.
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### Author:  [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/193 "2005-04-05T14:44:58Z")
This may or not be true. Experiment. There will be a test.
I am told that if you’re on a phone conversation, and then pause, holding the hand set against your chest, to say something to someone else, whatever you say will be heard by the person on the phone.
E.g., To your office cohort: **"This is the asshole we’ve been stringing along about a refund."**
If this proves out, how many people have you alienated over the years? 😃😃😃
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### Author:  [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/194 "2005-04-05T14:55:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> When I have to set my alarm clock for half-past the hour (or any other time not on the hour), the next time I need to set it for on the hour, I set it for :59 instead. That way, I can set it back an hour with a single click if desired.
>
> Example: On Monday, I want to get up at 9:30. On Tuesday, I want to get up at 10:00, and on Wednesday I want 9:00. Monday night, I set the alarm for 9:59 instead of 10:00, and then Tuesday night, I can just hit the minute button one more time, instead of hitting the hour button 23 times.
Chronos with a time tip. Whodathunkit?
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### Author:  [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/195 "2005-04-05T15:25:42Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> If your toilet totally blocked, unbend a coat hanger, stick it down there and use it to chop up the stuff.
Right! Also, don’t just try to push stuff though when using a toilet plunger. Rapidly push the plunger up and down, so that it breaks up the clog.
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### Author:  [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/196 "2005-04-05T16:51:39Z")
Before you spritz lens cleaner on your glasses, let luke warm water gush over them — both sides — to wash off any small particles of grit, etc… This will help prevent scratches that could result if you simply spritz and then rub those little bits all over your lenses, even with a soft cloth.
And by the way…
Accoding to my optician, if you get the new scratch-resistant coatings on your lenses, you shouldn’t use hot water. It’ll wash away that coating.
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/197 "2005-04-05T17:13:09Z")
[Yet two](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3707510#post3707510) [more threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=176346&highlight=easier) like this one.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/198 "2005-04-05T17:38:35Z")
> [@carlotta](#):
>
> When forced to drag a protesting toddler who refuses to walk, it is better to grasp the upper arm than the hand. The child is thus held a little higher, therefore decreasing the amount of toddler that must drag on the ground, causing friction.
It’s a known fact that a toddler can quadruple it’s weight at will. This is excellent advice.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/199 "2005-04-05T17:39:47Z")
> [@x-ray vision](#):
>
> Sounds like you’re giving medical advice to me and you’re right, it may be very harmful. Putting oil on burns is **not** a good idea. It makes things worse. Please don’t anyone do this.
X-ray, are you a doctor?
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### Author:  [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/200 "2005-04-05T18:11:44Z")
Don’t use a knife to peel ginger. The peel can easily be scraped off with a spoon, with less waste.
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