# Stupid household tips **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340 "2002-11-23T12:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/41 "2002-11-26T14:55:21Z")
Draft coming in under the door? No problem! Get a tube of silicone and a caulk gun and seal that gap right up! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/42 "2002-11-26T14:57:51Z")
Dust the household furniture with your dirty underwear or socks before tossing them into the laundry basket. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/43 "2002-11-26T15:43:17Z")
Put your clothes or other cloth things, linens, etc, in a big plastic bag. Turn on your hoover & stick the nozzle in the bag & suck out the air. use a rubber band to seal. You’d be surprised how much that bag shrinks. ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/44 "2002-11-26T15:56:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*Put your clothes or other cloth things, linens, etc, in a big plastic bag. Turn on your hoover & stick the nozzle in the bag & suck out the air. use a rubber band to seal. You’d be surprised how much that bag shrinks. \*\* Handy, Handy. My poor deluded doper. You thought that was a joke, didn’t you? I can order plastic storage bags from a company here in Germany that come equipped with a valve and coupling so that you can store your sweaters over the summer without taking up too much space in your closet. You just put your stuff in the bags and zip 'em up. Then you connect your vacuum cleaner hose to the coupling, turn on the vac, suck out the air, then close the valve, disconnect the hose, and you’ve got a nice **handy** little package that is easy to store and also keeps the moths from eating your wool stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/45 "2002-11-26T17:32:11Z")
Looks like it’s gonna rain, and you’ll have to call off your weekend barbecue. Or do you? Why don’t you try bringing that charcoal grill indoors, and be sure to make sure all the doors and windows are closed good and tight so it doesn’t get too chilly. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/46 "2002-11-26T17:35:52Z")
To be really sure that you kill those pesky hornets, use the spray designed to knock out the nest as a blowtorch - grab a lighter and ignite as you’re spraying. (Caveat: hornets can, in fact, fly when on fire. Consider covering yourself completely with opaque garbage bags so that they can’t see you or get in. Poking eyeholes is not recommended.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/47 "2002-11-26T20:16:59Z")
Detergent is detergent. If you run out of dishwasher detergent, use the regular stuff. You’ll also clean your kitchen counters and floors at the same time. Combining bleach with vinegar will also boost its performance. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/48 "2002-11-26T20:21:44Z")
Mort Furd: it’s also a good way to get dust and skin particles and stuff out of pillows. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/49 "2002-11-26T20:35:03Z")
Save time and cut out the middleman by throwing food directly into the toilet. Giving birth to children can be painful and expensive. See if you can have a neighbor give birth to yours. If you cannot find a condom, a tube sock will work in a pinch. While away on vacation, discourage burglars by leaving your children at home to flip the lights on and off. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/50 "2002-11-26T20:37:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pravnik \* > \*\*Save time and cut out the middleman by throwing food directly into the toilet. > > Giving birth to children can be painful and expensive. See if you can have a neighbor give birth to yours. > > If you cannot find a condom, a tube sock will work in a pinch. > > While away on vacation, discourage burglars by leaving your children at home to flip the lights on and off. \*\* 😃 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/51 "2002-11-27T17:51:56Z")
And of course, just in time for the holidays: on those cold winter mornings, go ahead and clear up your icy windshield with a bucket of HOT water. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/52 "2002-11-27T20:37:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*Detergent is detergent. \*\* Actually, that statement is quite true. Technically you can use washing-up liquid to also wash your hair! I **do** use d/w liquid in solution to clean my floors, and when I’m feeling like being extremely frugal (_read_: stingy), I put a little bit into a spray bottle, fill the rest with water, and voila’…there you have a bench cleaner as well. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/53 "2002-11-28T02:07:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by katiekilldare \* > \*\*Remember that detergent for your clothes and detergent for the dishwasher are interchangeable. Wouldn’t you like to feel confident enough to eat off your jeans? > > \*\* Hell, my aunt and uncle do this! She didn’t feel like buying dish soap, so when I was at their house once, I had to wash the dishes with laundry detergent. YUCK!!! > [@](#): > > No need to wash those sheets on a weekly basis, just turn them over and voila! a clean side to sleep on. I hear that the British Royal family does this. No cites, sorry. It was a long time ago. ☹ Okay: Toilet clogged? No problem-just use the litter box! Kitty will come and clean it up. Don’t get mad the next time neighborhood vandals TP your property-simply recycle and you wont’ need to buy more TP for a month! Save time in the mornings by blow drying your hair in the shower!!! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/54 "2002-11-28T07:10:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > Don’t get mad the next time neighborhood vandals TP your property-simply recycle and you wont’ need to buy more TP for a month! And at the end of that month you can use the same TP to TP them back! ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/55 "2002-11-28T07:45:24Z")
When moving house, be sure to label boxes containing fragile items explicitly so that the movers know which ones should be dropped. When eating cheese curls, excess cheesy residue can be used for fingerpainting. (Good for decorating on a budget.) (If your color scheme involves orange.) Out of toothpaste? Household cleanser will make your teeth gleaming white! A heavy hand with the starch will keep your linen outfit looking fresh all day! In a pinch, Cheerios can be used as a replacement for kitty litter. However, do not try this if you have a dog. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/56 "2002-11-28T12:38:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*Actually, that statement is quite true. Technically you can use washing-up liquid to also wash your hair! I **do** use d/w liquid in solution to clean my floors, and when I’m feeling like being extremely frugal (_read_: stingy), I put a little bit into a spray bottle, fill the rest with water, and voila’…there you have a bench cleaner as well. ;j \*\* Please excuse me for being an Ignorant American ™… I’ve grasped by now that “washing up” in some countries refers specifically to washing dishes, and thus “washing up liquid” would be dish soap. The bench thing is confusing me, though. Do you have a lot of benches? Is cleaning benches a common thing to do? Usually when I think of benches I think of bus stops and parks… or the occassional person who has one in their yard… but typically these are cleaned by rain and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/57 "2002-11-28T12:45:11Z")
Aren’t benches car seats or something? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/58 "2002-11-28T13:37:25Z")
Since the thermostat only goes up to 90 degrees, and the oven goes up to 500, use your oven to heat the house more efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![Typo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Typo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/59 "2002-11-28T15:06:37Z")
**Annie** , I had to laugh when I saw your post - we DO use our oven to help warm up the house! We don’t have central heating and it gets COLD sometimes with the dinky little electric wall heaters. The oven works quite nicely, actually. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340/60 "2002-11-28T15:27:10Z")
ladies, if you’ve miss placed your diaphragm, the hollowed out skin of half a lemon works just as well! solves your contraceptive problems, and leaves you lemony fresh! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-household-tips/138340.md?page=4)