# That thing YOU think everyone should get. Everyone! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198 "2025-02-11T23:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/81 "2025-02-14T06:11:51Z")
For a tea that tastes sweet without sugar, I would go for either an orange spice or a raspberry flavor. Bigelow Raspberry Royale is a nice one. I’m a Lady Grey girl, when I’m not messing around and mixing up teas from the back of the cupboard so that we use them up. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/82 "2025-02-14T06:31:30Z")
Doesn’t matter to me. You go, girl. Tea. I’d start real simple. Tea is kinda bad without sugar or sweetener. It’s an acquired taste. I only do unsweetened. Bit of lemon. ---
**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 14, 2025, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/83 "2025-02-14T06:38:03Z")
Everyone should have, but very few deserve a BMW e30 and a Dachshund. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/84 "2025-02-14T07:45:35Z")
A Dachshund B-210? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/85 "2025-02-14T14:12:32Z")
Indeed, I’ve got two mug-warmers as well. Both in my bedroom—one holding down the fort on my nightstand (so I don’t have to venture more than an arm’s length from my pillow), and another a few feet away on my home-office desk, perfect for those mornings when my grandest ambition is moseying from bed to chair. I’m actually eyeing 5 more warmers… because if I’m living the good life with a perpetually toasty coffee or cappuccino, why shouldn’t my 5 cats enjoy their Little Friskies all warm and steamy? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/86 "2025-02-14T14:12:45Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > A good flashlight. The little lights on the back of a cellphone just don’t cut it. When the power goes out or you need to find something buried in the back of a closet or cupboard or you’re simply walking to the mailbox after dark you need a proper, dedicated flashlight. > > Back in my day if you wanted a good powerful flashlight then you ponied up some serious folding green for a D-cell MagLite. I bought one when I was a teenager to carry in my car. They were heavy and expensive and while they were good for what they were at the time – better than those shitty 6 volt monstrosities that farmers seemed to love --, today they’re laughably archaic. I came in here to say this. I’ve gone as far as giving out flashlights as gifts, because I think they’re great to have and too few people have thwm. Many years ago, when I was going on a river rafting trip I bought a miniMagLite, which was overall the best one at the time. It was rugged and waterproof, and it used easy-to-finf AA batteries instead of weirdo lithium batteries. And its high-pressure argon bulb was the best compromise between lifetime and brightness. Nowadays, I think the best choice is a hand-crank flashlight, because it won’t run out of power. A good one will have a port you can use for charging your phone – It’s far better to have a separated source of light that won’t run your phone battery down (too many people use the light on their phone, which gulps energy) AND to have something that will recharge your phone when its power is low and you’re not near an outlet. In fact, my favorite is a hand-crank flashlight with a supercapacitor instead of a rechargeable battery. It lasts longer. You can store it in your glove compartment and forget about it until you need it. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/87 "2025-02-14T14:21:27Z")
Everybody needs a bowl holder to use in the microwave. Makes it a lot easier to remove the bowl after you’ve heated your food. [Amazon.com : bowl holder for microwave](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bowl+holder+for+microwave&adgrpid=1342504261016795&hvadid=83906902984920&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=88333&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83906859256066%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=13962_13616919&mcid=551c59424792382a97c87cbf14c6aca5&msclkid=5abd9f4446b51123c6bdf8eb09715d19&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_5o31kc4a4g_e) ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/88 "2025-02-14T15:41:32Z")
Thank you all for tea recommendations. Thank you Beck for being gracious. Everybody ( at least me anyway) needs peace and quiet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/89 "2025-02-14T15:54:25Z")
A 6" Vernier caliper. I suspect that many people keep a ruler handy for measuring various objects, but a vernier caliper will easily measure in ways that a simple ruler can’t. Diameter of a bead? No problem. Depth of a hole? Sure…easy. Inside diameter of a hole? Simple. And it takes up only about the same space as a standard ruler. I keep a couple around the house, including one in the end table neat to my favorite couch. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/90 "2025-02-14T16:09:01Z")
I gave up on the scrub daddiea a long time ago. The function of them is just ass-backwards. For hard to remove food/dirt/etc the conventional wisdom is to use increasingly warmer to even hot water and a more rigid or courser scrubber. The scrub daddy manages to do the OPPOSITE! When cold it is nice and rigid. Apply cold water and it is nice and rigid. Use in warm to hot water and the thing becomes a soft useless mush. An yes! Finally a tool that performs completely inverse to what the job needs! ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/91 "2025-02-14T16:47:29Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > I suspect that many people keep a ruler handy for measuring various objects, but a vernier caliper will easily measure in ways that a simple ruler can’t. Diameter of a bead? No problem. Depth of a hole? Sure…easy. Inside diameter of a hole? Simple. And it takes up only about the same space as a standard ruler. I keep a couple around the house, including one in the end table neat to my favorite couch. I have them anywhere I hangout, on my desk, nightstand, shop. Seldom a day goes by that I don’t use it. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/92 "2025-02-14T17:17:28Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > The jar opener doesn’t work on metal tops. The one time I did that, it cut right through the metal. For those containers (cheap wine) keep a pair of rubber gloves around. A friend gave me some pieces cut from a rubber (I think) sheet which are great grippers for opening things. I mostly use them for juice bottles (V-8, Juicy Juice, etc) because sometimes I swear the caps are welded on. The supposed slits aren’t always cut all the way through. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/93 "2025-02-14T17:28:17Z")
I ordered a huge packet of parchment liners for my particular air fryer from Amazon. They seem to last forever! They have lots of little holes punched in them for air circulation, so they won’t keep the basket pristine, but they save a lot of work in cleaning. Sticky or crumb-covered food can be lifted right out without sticking to the basket. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/94 "2025-02-14T17:56:20Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > The jar opener doesn’t work on metal tops. The one time I did that, it cut right through the metal. For those containers (cheap wine) keep a pair of rubber gloves around. The Oxo jar opener I cited works fine on metal tops. Almost all the tops I use it for are metal. If the top is really stubborn, the metal grips might scratch or even slightly dent it, but over many years of use it’s never cut into a metal top. ETA: If I understand you correctly, it cut into the metal screwtop of a wine bottle. Those things are made of very thin, flimsy metal so it’s entirely possible it may have cut into that. I’ve never used it for that purpose. I did once or twice have a screwtop wine where the cap wasn’t properly perforated at the junction to the base where it’s supposed to break off. I used a pair of adjustable pliers on that. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/95 "2025-02-14T17:59:40Z")
About a decade ago I added toe-nail clippers to the stocking stuffers. They were a hit. They’re the kind of thing that you don’t replace because you’re sure you’ll find them soon. They should be right . . . ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/96 "2025-02-14T18:56:37Z")
Re calipers: For Christmas, I gave a couple to my nieces, both of whom have engineering degrees. They are Mitutoyo (high quality) traditional manual calipers. Then I spent about 10 minutes explaining to them how to read a traditional Vernier. They had no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/97 "2025-02-14T19:07:28Z")
If you boil water, like, ever, you need an electric kettle. This is a suggestions I’m sure doesn’t even occur to our British and Commonwealth Dopers, because, yeah, that’s just how you boil water, right? Everyone’s already got one? But every one of my fellow Americans that I’ve given an electric kettle to, after getting really used to them during extended stays in Commonwealth countries, has found it life-changing. Sooo much faster and more energy-efficient than shoving a teakettle onto a stove burner, and a much better boil than you get in the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/98 "2025-02-14T19:31:04Z")
Love an electric kettle. I’ve had one my whole adult life. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/99 "2025-02-14T19:35:22Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Another good thing to buy is a case of melamine sponges. I used to use these until I learned they shed a gazillion pieces of microplastics down the drain every time you use them. No more of them for me as I think microplastics in the environment are a bad thing although I’m not sure how bad yet. I do like the idea of the jar opener thingie others have mentioned. I think I’ll get one of those ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198/100 "2025-02-14T19:42:42Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > traditional manual calipers IMHO, the needle gauge and LCD calipers can just FTFO. Nothing beats a traditional vernier scale caliper. I mean, when I first looked at it, it took me about 20 seconds to grasp the concept. It is so damn elegant, and the batteries last forever. (It helps that I also have a classic bamboo Post slide rule as well as a multiscale metal one and know how to use them.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-thing-you-think-everyone-should-get-everyone/1014198.md?page=6)