# Your life-hacks (formerly known as tips & tricks) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267 "2024-07-15T12:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/121 "2024-08-27T12:49:03Z")
We got a ton of those. Not as easy to use as spring clips. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/122 "2024-08-27T14:16:47Z")
I use clothespins to hold chip bags, etc. closed. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/123 "2024-08-27T15:59:50Z")
I have found that binder clips work better than clothespins, they clamp harder ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/124 "2024-08-27T17:01:40Z")
Wait. What are y’all talking about? Reclosing a bag of chips? Who does that? Ya mean, you don’t go thru the whole bag in one sitting? /s ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/125 "2024-08-27T17:37:51Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > nothing beats Dr. Bronners. Works as a good shampoo and a fine body wash, and in a pinch can be used to do laundry or the dishes. And the label says you can brush your teeth with it, though if you do, don’t complain to me. Dilute! Dilute! OK! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/126 "2024-08-27T17:39:22Z")
I find that it’s good for hands, body wash, and laundry, but not good for my hair. I do travel with it, both for washing and in case i am sensitive to the provided soap or something. (It’s happened.) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/127 "2024-08-27T18:01:06Z")
I drink water throughout the day in a plastic water bottle. And I’ve found a cheap way to give it a little bit of flavor: add one or two ounces of Gatorade Zero to the bottle before filling it with water. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/128 "2024-08-27T18:05:15Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > I’ve found that bar soap travels better than liquid: no chance of leaks or burst bottles. You can get [small plastic clamshell containers](https://a.co/d/aVenVcs) I cut a bar of soap in half to take to scout camp. A half bar of soap lasts longer than a week or two, and dries up much better in the clamshell container than a full bar. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/129 "2024-08-27T18:53:43Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I have found that binder clips work better than clothespins, they clamp harder Actual Chip Clips are the ideal. Once found abundantly in the wild this natural resource was severely depleted by 80s hairstyles. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/130 "2024-08-27T21:51:24Z")
As spoken by someone who’s never encountered [gripsticks](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gripstic+bag+clips&hvadid=694105029568&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9015306&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=17036046970265841347--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17036046970265841347&hvtargid=kwd-655097386238&hydadcr=28081_14512713&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_6tmongfquk_e_p67). ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/131 "2024-08-27T22:04:49Z")
No need to wear gloves when chopping up habaneros or Thai chilies. Chop with your bigger knife, and in the other hand hold a small paring knife. Use the smaller knife to scrape the bits off the blade of the big knife and to manipulate the bits into a pile to continue chopping. When they’re chopped to your liking, scrape up the bits onto the bigger blade with the small knife and transfer them to your dish. Then rinse both blades under hot water, using each to scrape all the capsaicin off the other. I just used a Thai chili or two in a stir-fry and was happy that I never had to touch them when mincing. Those suckers were _hot_! ---
**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:** [August 27, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/132 "2024-08-27T22:15:15Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I just used a Thai chili or two in a stir-fry and was happy that I never had to touch them when mincing. I have a better method. Stay far, far away from them. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/133 "2024-08-27T22:18:11Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I just used a Thai chili or two in a stir-fry and was happy that I never had to touch them when mincing. Those suckers were _hot_! no need to cut/mince them … just make one longitudinal slice in each one and throw them into the stew … ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/134 "2024-08-28T00:23:59Z")
Buy and practice a bit with a welder–even a [really cheap](https://www.amazon.com/YESWELDER-FLUX-135-Gasless-Inverter-Welding/dp/B08CBBHFX5/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3OV7RN05BN6JO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aWv8C4MDBb_3-QtQZ4XTr4yGPgN_2-PC9ZJ5EiHHoMepKXoahDmW7glbTk-3otd5d7HmMHWWaTKWRFpK4OrJ_Da841Ad3ukGW3GT3Dn1IWNulET_YNelre6Xyu8GIc3kkT97_NMbrTM6PYyy-lt9CV3IjOFyjIP68Aic568BQuTW4zIF8qXhMDk1W2_UdteKTUmKIs2YQ2V-RNfnilOIUv2yWQceAj6vZpCaRGILlOo7e5cQYNwfQGaFn0am-XoK4szVFA_yRmB8TBDQhTOMDdVnR0-glxOrGM2SJR1DjAc.DAJpEZjUf-r2XdJ65DfhSH0fh_g0KvlJGxLmjsvQcUI&dib_tag=se&keywords=yes+welder&qid=1724804519&sprefix=yes+%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-5) welder. It’s fun and the repairs you can do are incredible. It is a bit of a rabbit hole I will admit. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/135 "2024-08-29T14:20:52Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I have found that binder clips work better than clothespins, they clamp harder Oh yea, I have a few binder clips laying around that I use too. I just have more clothespins! > [@snowthx](#): > > Reclosing a bag of chips? Who does that? I used to do that! I have made myself not do it anymore. That happened when I quit eating after supper. So now I only eat chips with a sandwich, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/136 "2024-08-30T15:04:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I was reading through this and kept on expecting the punchline to be that the nuts were threaded left-handed. You find those sometimes on wheels (on one side of the vehicle), because operation of the vehicle tends to stress them in ways that would rotate the nuts counterclockwise, which would loosen normal nuts. Common on military vehicles. I had an old Army generator trailer, single axle, that I turned into a fire suppression trailer. Right hand threads on e tire, left hand threads on the other. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/137 "2024-09-02T18:01:11Z")
I order wiper blade replacements (refills) from Amazon or [Walmart.com](http://Walmart.com). Typically you can get 2-3 pairs for under $10.00. They’re absurdly easy to slide into the slot where the old ones were, once you remove the wiper’s end cap. Instead of 20-40 bucks for one new set, you can buy 3 pairs of replacement rubber blades for around 10 bucks. Note: some blade frames have an enclosed slot that won’t accept the new inserts, you’ll need to figure out if your wipers are like that. [Here’s](https://www.piaa.com/store/c/72-Wiper-Refills.aspx) a link from the company that makes them, it shows what to look for. Since I drive a lot I tend to burn through windshield washer fluid. So last week I ordered the dissolving tablets to see how they worked. So far so good. I mixed a gallon in an empty washer fluid jug in the garage, and I can’t tell the difference between it and the original. I got enough to make 30 gallons from Amazon for about 8 bucks. I know these seem like trivial savings, but I can keep the spare inserts in the truck toolbox, and when a wiper starts leaving streaks it takes a couple of minutes to insert the new blade. Also keep the washer fluid tablets in the box. They are individually wrapped like Alka Seltzers, and when I run low I can just throw a couple into the reservoir and add water. It takes 15 minutes for them to dissolve. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/138 "2024-09-02T18:20:29Z")
Something I wish I had started ages ago, but at least it’s filling out. I have mine in Google sheets, so I have several tabs: current medicines, surgeries, diagnoses, issues, my personal pain scale, and drugs to avoid ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/139 "2024-09-02T20:47:57Z")
I think you’re missing part of that post, @Zyada … You have your what in Google Sheets? Medical history? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/140 "2024-09-02T20:53:30Z")
D’oh! Medical diary [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267.md?page=8)