# The "I'll be damned, it actually works" helpful tip thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425 "2010-11-30T16:59:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/41 "2010-12-01T12:38:46Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > In the States, I believe its called “Bag Balm”… And it works miracles. I’ve seen both Bag Balm and Udder Cream on the shelves at the drug store. Bag Balm IIRC comes in a tin, it almost looks like there would be tea in it. Udder Cream comes in a round container with cow markings on it. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/42 "2010-12-01T12:53:43Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Cat all staticky? Give him a couple rubs with a dryer sheet. (Works for your own hair, too.) ☹ Please don’t do this - dryer sheets are full of chemicals which your cat will lick off - bad. The vets at the vet school I work at suggested using a very small amount of olive oil (VERY small or your cat will get the trots.) FWIW I asked specifically about the dryer sheets. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/43 "2010-12-01T13:11:48Z")
[quote=“alice\_in\_wonderland, post:42, topic:562425”] > [@Kaio](#): > > Cat all staticky? Give him a couple rubs with a dryer sheet. (Works for your own hair, too.)[\quote] > > ☹ > > Please don’t do this - dryer sheets are full of chemicals which your cat will lick off - bad. > > The vets at the vet school I work at suggested using a very small amount of olive oil (VERY small or your cat will get the trots.) FWIW I asked specifically about the dryer sheets. But don’t give the cat a bath, then try and blow dry it, then decide its all flyaway and coat the poor thing in mayonnaise. The trots will be the least of kitty’s issues. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/44 "2010-12-01T13:21:49Z")
This is well known, but not maybe universally known, and it works great for me: if you get a sudden onset of heartburn, add a tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda to 6- to 8-oz (about 200 ml) of water. It’ll work faster than Alka-Seltzer, and much, much faster than Tums, Rolaids, etc. Virtually instant relief! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/45 "2010-12-01T13:59:06Z")
> [@figure9](#): > > If you have a Chevy product and the starter dies, you can sometimes get it to work by tapping on the starter with a hammer or rock. NOTE: Use common sense safety rules. Don’t get under a vehicle if it is not safe to do so, and don’t try to start the vehicle while someone is underneath it. Is that why their theme song is ‘Like a Rock’? Now I understand; they aren’t making the comparison, they’re using the imperative of the verb… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/46 "2010-12-01T14:34:41Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > This is well known, but not maybe universally known, and it works great for me: if you get a sudden onset of heartburn, add a tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda to 6- to 8-oz (about 200 ml) of water. It’ll work faster than Alka-Seltzer, and much, much faster than Tums, Rolaids, etc. Virtually instant relief! Plus, you get to burp carbonated burps for a half hour! (Seriously, I love that. Yes, I’m 12.) 😃 Barbasol shaving cream\* in the red can\*, is a wonder drug for sunburn. None of the other brands or colors works, but red can Barbasol is simply amazing. We keep it in the First Aid shack for careless campers. Bonus is that it’s very easy to apply with a light touch, unlike thick creams or ointments. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/47 "2010-12-01T14:39:46Z")
Coconut oil! I cannot say enough about the stuff! My husband has a client based in Hawai’i who touted its miracles to us a year or so ago. Always uses it as a moisturizer for both face and body, never has had to use anything else. She’s pushing 60 and doesn’t look anywhere near it (I know genes also play a role, but man, her skin is gorgeous!) I was skeptical, but willing to give it a shot. I bought a jar of virgin coconut oil and started using it after every shower and every time I washed my face. You need very little because it’s so concentrated. I just scrape a bit on my fingertip and smooth it on. I will never use anything else. After a year of continuous use, not only have my acne scars faded, but so have any superficial wrinkles. No rough spots on my elbows, knees, heels. My skin seems like it’s naturally glowing. I’ve been complimented many times. And it’s cheap! A jar of virgin coconut oil runs about $11. It lasts for over a year because you use so little of it every time. Extra virgin olive oil is a good substitute, btw 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/48 "2010-12-01T14:43:45Z")
When camping you really can wash your cooking dishes using ashes from the fire… water mixed with ashes plus residual oil in the pot forms soap (it’s the lye in the woodash), and you can then rinse them clean. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/49 "2010-12-01T15:48:22Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Diaper rash cream also prevents any shave rash along the bikini line. True. Worked for me this summer during vacation. I never leave home without the stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/50 "2010-12-01T17:52:06Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > For red wine stains: mix half hydrogen peroxide, half dish soap. Blot on the stain, let it work for a while, then wash. I thought I’d ruined my favorite skirt, but damn if this didn’t take the entire stain right off. Peroxide for blood stains. It works every time, even for old stains that have run through the wash. (Women: take note. You might be able to promote those period panties back into active use!) ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/51 "2010-12-01T17:55:36Z")
When I get a cramp in my leg in the middle of the night I take a couple of Tums or eat a little bit of toothpaste. The cramps usually clear right up. I think it’s the calcium and flouride balancing things out. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/52 "2010-12-01T18:13:40Z")
If you get a cramp in your calf, point your toe back up toward your face. That kills them every time. ---
**Author:** ![FallFast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FallFast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallFast)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/53 "2010-12-01T22:17:10Z")
I have a stainless steel thermos type coffee pot. The inside turned very dark from the coffee stains. I found that you put in a couple tablespoons of dishwasher powder and fill it with hot water, stir, and let sit for a couple of hours. Afterwards with just a quick swipe of a dish rag it is perfectly clean. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/54 "2010-12-01T22:25:54Z")
> [@FallFast](#): > > I have a stainless steel thermos type coffee pot. The inside turned very dark from the coffee stains. I found that you put in a couple tablespoons of dishwasher powder and fill it with hot water, stir, and let sit for a couple of hours. Afterward with just a quick swipe of a dish rag it is perfectly clean. Here’s how I’ve always cleaned mine (the stainless steel thermal kind as well as the standard carafes): I’ve read that coffee “gunk” builds up inside the coffee maker (this is easy to believe if you look at the inside of any mug you use frequently for coffee!) so it’s good to clean your coffee maker with a cup of white vinegar with the balance of the quantity in water; run the vinegar/water solution like you’re making a pot of coffee. Afterward, run two or three batches of _just_ water (or your next pot of coffee will taste like vinegar). IME, the hot water and vinegar in the carafe, along with a gentle swipe from a sponge, is plenty sufficient for keeping the carafe clean. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/55 "2010-12-01T22:28:49Z")
\*\*Bibliophile \*\*has mentioned the ol’ tablespoon of sugar for hiccoughs trick; here’s another one that works 98 percent of the time for me: drink a glass of water while holding your hands firmly over your ears (it’s easier with an assistant, but I’ve accomplished it myself). ---
**Author:** ![FallFast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FallFast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallFast)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/56 "2010-12-01T22:33:04Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Here’s how I’ve always cleaned mine (the stainless steel thermal kind as well as the standard carafes): I’ve read that coffee “gunk” builds up inside the coffee maker (this is easy to believe if you look at the inside of any mug you use frequently for coffee!) so it’s good to clean your coffee maker with a cup of white vinegar with the balance of the quantity in water; run the vinegar/water solution like you’re making a pot of coffee. Afterward, run two or three batches of _just_ water (or your next pot of coffee will taste like vinegar). IME, the hot water and vinegar in the carafe, along with a gentle swipe from a sponge, is plenty sufficient for keeping the carafe clean. I’ve done the vinegar thing also and sure the carafe is clean but still stained from the coffee. The dishwasher powder removes the stains and looks brand new. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/57 "2010-12-01T22:44:30Z")
> [@Ghostwheel](#): > > In a similar vein, cast-iron skillets that need cleaning from cooked on stuff is pretty simple. Re-heat the pan until good and hot. If there is residual oil/grease still in the pan, you are good to go for the next step, otherwise just add a bit of your cheapest oil on hand. Toss in a large pinch of Kosher salt, scrub with a paper towel folded over several times handled with tongs and even the most stubborn stuff comes off easily. > > Thanks Alton Brown! We have a lot of BBQs out in the bush at public BBQs. This is how you clean them before you use them, of course I use newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/58 "2010-12-01T23:38:50Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > We have a lot of BBQs out in the bush at public BBQs. This is how you clean them before you use them, of course I use newspaper. I have an easier method. I just don’t clean the grates. Next time I heat up the grill, all the old gunk is ash. Sometimes I just start the fire or turn on the gas for only this purpose, and let them season with oil as they cool down. Here’s an _awesome_ charcoal trick I learned just a couple of months ago (I’m in Mexico, and can’t find a simple chimney starter anywhere): Make a paper tulip with a sheet of paper towel. Bury the “stem” in the charcoal so that the tulip flower is in the middle of you pile. Fill the tulip with vegetable oil. Light the tulip, and walk away. Like Alton says: walk away. Just… walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/59 "2010-12-02T00:33:11Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > \*\*Bibliophile \*\*has mentioned the ol’ tablespoon of sugar for hiccoughs trick; here’s another one that works 98 percent of the time for me: drink a glass of water while holding your hands firmly over your ears (it’s easier with an assistant, but I’ve accomplished it myself). Our family remedy is to take at least ten gulps of water at a steady pace, without stopping to breathe. It ALWAYS works. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425/60 "2010-12-02T01:17:31Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I have an easier method. I just don’t clean the grates. Next time I heat up the grill, all the old gunk is ash. Sometimes I just start the fire or turn on the gas for only this purpose, and let them season with oil as they cool down. > > Here’s an _awesome_ charcoal trick I learned just a couple of months ago (I’m in Mexico, and can’t find a simple chimney starter anywhere): Make a paper tulip with a sheet of paper towel. Bury the “stem” in the charcoal so that the tulip flower is in the middle of you pile. Fill the tulip with vegetable oil. Light the tulip, and walk away. Like Alton says: walk away. Just… walk away. Yeah I don’t clean the grates, it is the flat area I am talking about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ill-be-damned-it-actually-works-helpful-tip-thread/562425.md?page=4)