# 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:** 7
### Author:  [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/121 "2005-04-02T09:05:28Z")
Ketchup works much better than store bought polish on copper. Just leave it on for a couple of seconds then rinse with warm water.
Plain yogurt makes a great face mask. It really helps if your skin is dry in the winter!
Pouring a bit of table salt in your dog’s bed will keep fleas away…Also, before vacuuming, put a couple of moth balls in the vacuum bag or canister and the fleas will be killed for up to one month.
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### Author:  [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/122 "2005-04-02T12:27:51Z")
The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will get the soap scum out of those infernal little grooves in the bottom of a molded plastic tub when nothing else will work.
To help a baby get to sleep, try smoothing his hair over his forehead and/or running your fingers over his eyebrows (works better for older babies; may tickle a tiny infant).
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/123 "2005-04-02T12:46:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> if you hate diet, but need to cut the carbs/calories- after about a fortnight to a month of a 100% switch to Diet- the sugar soda will then taste nasty and too 'syrupy", and the diet will taste “normal”. Hard to believe
Not only hard to believe, but hard to understand, too. What is “a month of 100%”?
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### Author:  [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/124 "2005-04-02T12:54:21Z")
“If you’re unsure about something, just rub the food on a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain!” —Dr. Nick Rivera, The Simpsons
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### Author:  [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/125 "2005-04-02T14:09:11Z")
Regular spice jars are too small for spices that you use lots of (or use frequently). I use jam and mustard jars for that purpose.
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/126 "2005-04-02T17:03:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Speaking of that- if you hate diet, but need to cut the carbs/calories- after about a fortnight to a month of a 100% switch to Diet- the sugar soda will then taste nasty and too 'syrupy", and the diet will taste “normal”. Hard to believe, but it really works.
I know what you mean. After a month in which 100% of the milk I drank was of the fat-free kind, normal or even semi-skimmed milk tasts just too fat, and leaves a slimy “coated” feeling in your throat.
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### Author:  [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/127 "2005-04-02T17:17:53Z")
> [@shijinn](#):
>
> if your bookmarks are messy, you’ll find that googling is faster than using your bookmarks.
> btw, what do you guys do with the bit of soap left that is too small to use as soap?
Put it in a soft soap dispenser and add water. Makes soft soap. My girl friend thinks this is icky.
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### Author:  [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/128 "2005-04-02T17:36:50Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#):
>
> Soak them in a diluted mixture of white vinegar and bleach. Then wash.
>
> To get blood stains out of a carpet, try 2 Tbsp ammonia and 1 Tbsp mild detergent in 1 cup water. If the blood has dried, first make a paste of cornstarch and cold water. Rub it in and let it harden. Then break it up with a hammer and vacuum. Follow with the ammonia/detergent mixture (soap may be substituted for detergent). This works even for large stains that have dried overnight.
>
> To remove blood from leather furniture, use hydrogen peroxide. Dry with a cotton ball – or for larger stains, a cotton cloth.
Who did you kill in your living room?
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/129 "2005-04-02T18:09:49Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#):
>
> Not only hard to believe, but hard to understand, too. What is “a month of 100%”?
Switch 100% to Diet sodas for a month.
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### Author:  [@Cockatiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cockatiel)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/130 "2005-04-02T18:52:06Z")
Another one I remembered is if you have a canker sore, swish with Listerine or any other mouthwash. It’ll burn like hell, but your sore will be numbed for a half hour or so.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/131 "2005-04-02T19:16:31Z")
If you’re like me, you might also find that you’re just drinking soda for the carbonation. I switched to club soda with a little bit of fruit juice added for taste - all the bubbles, very few calories and sugar. Regular strength soda of any kind is too sweet for me now (the diet sodas taste like chemicals - very unpleasant).
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### Author:  [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/132 "2005-04-02T19:24:51Z")
> [@Waenara](#):
>
> Also:
>
> Windows Key + E = opens Windows Explorer
> Also, at work I have added keyboard shortcuts for commonly used programs. In the Start Menu, Right-click on the program icon and select Properties, click in the Shortcut Key box, and type in your shortcut (I try to pick something that isn’t already assigned as a shortcut Windows). Some of the ones I have are:
>
> Ctrl + Alt + E = opens Excel
> Ctrl + Alt + W = opens Word
> Ctrl + Alt + O = opens Outlook
> you get the idea…
>
> Also, there’s a few files that I always have to have open during the workday, so in the Control Panel -\> Scheduled Tasks, I made it so those files automatically open when I log onto the computer in the morning.
I keyed in the shortcuts for Word and Outlook as you suggested. Perfecto! But when I Right-clicked on the Firefox icon in Start Menu, I got a 3-line menu:
```
**Browse the Internet**
Firefox Options
Remove from List
```
However, when I Right-clicked on the FF icon on the Desktop, Properties came up and I did the shortcut. But the browser doesn’t come up as fast as Word or Outlook. What might be the cure?
---
### Author:  [@Adking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adking)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/133 "2005-04-02T20:12:16Z")
If you’re playing acoustic guitar and you want to toughen up the fingertips on your fret hand, dip them in rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. I believe rubbing alcohol is commonly used to toughen skin to prevent bedsores. It works really well and will save you a lot of pain if you’re learning or starting again, or if you just don’t play much.
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### Author:  [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/134 "2005-04-02T20:49:57Z")
> [@Antiochus](#):
>
> I keyed in the shortcuts for Word and Outlook as you suggested. Perfecto! But when I Right-clicked on the Firefox icon in Start Menu, I got a 3-line menu:
>
> ```
> **Browse the Internet**
> Firefox Options
> Remove from List
>
> ```
>
> However, when I Right-clicked on the FF icon on the Desktop, Properties came up and I did the shortcut. But the browser doesn’t come up as fast as Word or Outlook. What might be the cure?
I’m not sure what you’d have to do. At home I use Netscape 7.2, and at work I use IE, and it works fine with both of them. I don’t have Firefox. Perhaps someone else here can help?
Also, a few more keyboard shortcuts:
Someone mentioned earlier that Windows key + M will minimize all applications.
Windows key + D will minimize everything (including windows that normally don’t have a minimize option), and take you to your desktop.
Windows key + F will bring up the dialog box to Find files/folders. (Whereas Ctrl + F brings up the Find box withing applications such as Word)
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/135 "2005-04-02T23:03:03Z")
> [@Cockatiel](#):
>
> Another one I remembered is if you have a canker sore, swish with Listerine or any other mouthwash. It’ll burn like hell, but your sore will be numbed for a half hour or so.
Canker sores can be cured (it takes a couple of days) by Acidolphlus- either Probiotic supplements, or by Live-culture Yogurt.
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### Author:  [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/136 "2005-04-02T23:37:07Z")
for canker sores nothing beats yogurt. Well Kefir, but that stuff tastes nasty, so stick with yogurt. Seriously. Just eat a couple spoonfulls before bed and(making sure it contacts the sore) you’ll see results by morning. (Either seriously reduced swelling or it will have gone away).
Plain yogurt is also supposed to be good for the teeth too somehow [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4367723.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4367723.stm).
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### Author:  [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/137 "2005-04-03T07:32:18Z")
NOTE: the following is most likely a very, very bad idea, and you should probably not do it.
Whenever I have a sore throat, I gargle with straight vinegar. Should you decide to do this, make sure you have something soft handy to squeeze the hell out of, because you’re going to need it during the 10-15 seconds immediately after doing this. It feels like, well, like pouring a strong acid on a raw sore spot. After those first few seconds, though, your throat will be completely numb, and will stay that way for at least a couple hours – far longer than Chloraseptic or any other contact anaesthetic I’ve found.
Don’t know about curative powers (and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably counterproductive for this purpose), but if you need something that will allow you to speak or eat pain-free, this will do the trick.
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### Author:  [@StillWL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StillWL)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2005, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/138 "2005-04-03T10:06:06Z")
Medical “exam gloves” (the latex jobs the GYN’s call “pinkie cheaters”) are great for keeping crude off your hands in the first place - keep boxes of them in the car trunk (you can even change a tire withour dirtying your hands), junk drawer (ever wish you hadn’t gotten superglue on your hands?) shop, - and, in you re-fill ink carts, these prevent technicolor skin.
Snap-blade knives (the type used to trim wallcovering) are marvelous - keep about 6 aroud the house - blister packs are no longer an aggravation, trimming paper around ANYTHING is a breeze… I even impressed the boss by extracting a cake from its box by cutting the sides of the box off, and lifting them clear of the cake - leaving the cake on the box bottom, ready to serve.
And to be discreet - animal breeders can get certain (“for veteranary use only”) drugs, which if packaged and sold for human consumption, would require 'script. I used to breed cats. I don’t get colds. You figure out the relationship.
Along the same lines, as the FAA requires supplemental oxygen above certain altitutes, pilot supply stores sell Ox2 gear OTC, no questions. Getting the same stuff from a medical supply store requires 'script. Go fig (p.s. - it is my understanding that medical Ox, Pilot Ox, and welder’s Ox all comes from the same tank - don’t know if that’s true).
Oh - the big box store sell 1 doz. ballpoint pens for less tan a buck. Splurge - have dozens of them lying around - no more hunting, Same for writing pads, stapers, tape dispensers - have a set for every room.
Sorry if this is a double post - the hamsters didn’t recoginize me at first
---
### Author:  [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/139 "2005-04-03T14:23:06Z")
In an art class I took a classmate of mine from Armenia sharpened her pencils with her exacto-knife instead of a pencil sharpener. So I adopted it and it’s a lot better. The lead lasts longer so you’re not always going to the pencil sharpener.
Of course you could just use mechanical pencils, but it’s also great on colored pencils.
---
### Author:  [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-random-minorly-useful-tips-and-tricks/296863/140 "2005-04-03T15:51:32Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#):
>
> NOTE: the following is most likely a very, very bad idea, and you should probably not do it.
>
> Whenever I have a sore throat, I gargle with straight vinegar. Should you decide to do this, make sure you have something soft handy to squeeze the hell out of, because you’re going to need it during the 10-15 seconds immediately after doing this. It feels like, well, like pouring a strong acid on a raw sore spot. After those first few seconds, though, your throat will be completely numb, and will stay that way for at least a couple hours – far longer than Chloraseptic or any other contact anaesthetic I’ve found.
>
> Don’t know about curative powers (and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably counterproductive for this purpose), but if you need something that will allow you to speak or eat pain-free, this will do the trick.
Chloraseptic, or any kind of throat numbing stuff, is BAD for you. The problem is, when it numbs the throat, you use your voice more, even when you shouldn’t (the pain normally cues you to stop.) This can be very damaging to your voice.
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