35 Lifechanging Ways to Use Everyday Objects

[Esprise Me]

Not sure whether this is the right place for this thread; please move if necessary.

Another curious household hints piece, this one from Buzzfeed. Some of the tips appear legit, others are questionable. Thoughts?

35 Lifechanging Ways to Use Everyday Objects

23. Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to make cut flowers last longer.

I don't know about the vodka, but I can say with relative certainty that cut flowers absolutely thrive in sugar water. I did an experiment with a bunch of snapdragons in plain water and different solutions for the seventh grade science fair, and Sprite beat everything else by a mile--including both the leading brands of cut flower preservative.

30. Use mustard to suck the pain out of a burn.



But also, don't put your hand on a boiling kettle.

That one's almost worth reposting even if it isn't true!

[Don Enrico]

Originally Posted by Esprise Me

I don't know about the vodka, ...

The alcohol helps to keep bacteria in the water down, thereby preventing the flower stems from rotting.

33. Use a blow-dryer on a mirror to clear the steam after a hot shower.

How is that new, let alone "lifechanging"? Who doesn't do that (provided there is a blow-dryer at hand at all)?

[Floater]

A better link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/35-lif...eryday-objects

[Floater]

34. Throw baking soda on a burgeoning grease fire.

Or better: Put a lid on.

[Jaime Vargas]

16. Use a spoon to open a sealed-tight jar.

Who does not do that?

[chillas]

Originally Posted by Jaime Vargas

Who does not do that?

Most people, I suspect. I've known very few people who know this one.

[Beejtronic]

I whack it with a butter knife. Effective and satisfying.

[Jaime Vargas]

Originally Posted by chillas

Most people, I suspect. I've known very few people who know this one.

Now that you mentioned it, I didn't do it until someone showed it to me, but I assumed I was an idiot for not knowing. After all, once you notice it, it makes a lot of sense. To the point that I reach for the spoon if the jar is not open in 2 seconds.

[Alarm]

I use an elastic to help me open jars, the thick ones. It increases the grip on the lid.

[Pinecone]

I use my jar opener.

Before I got the opener, I'd run hot water over the lid for a few seconds.

ETA: similar to this

[mags]

I use my husband to open jars. It's often not even a hand strength issue as much as a skin strength issue, the skin on my knuckles will get pulled tight and I feel like the knuckle bone is going to erupt through my skin. I will definitely be trying the spoon trick in the future.

[Simply Madeline]

#15 - the sock bun - I do this with almost-dry hair to curl it.

[Jaime Vargas]

Originally Posted by mags

I will definitely be trying the spoon trick in the future.

It's easy. You put the tip of the spoon under one of the "teeth" in the jar lid and pull until you hear a small pop. Then you can open it; usually it's not friction but air pressure differences between the inside and the outside that's preventing you opening it, so once outside air gets in (or outside air out) you're good to go.

[Skeptic]

Apply VapoRub on things you don't want chewed up or peed on by your cat or dog — they're turned off by the taste and smell.

This works on possums too. The little blighters are terrible for raiding fruit trees, but if you wipe it around the base of the tree they won't climb up.

[Lainie]

Re: #2, "use saline solution to refresh dried-out mascara," mascara should be discarded three months after it's opened. If you do that, and close it tightly after every use, it probably won't dry out.

ETA: I had heard that any kind of tea could be used to soothe sunburn, that the tannic acid was the effective ingredient for that use.

[UEL]

I learned a couple of things there. I'm going to apply some tonight.

Some, I suspect, are far from life changing.

[Gayle]

Alka Seltzer is far too expensive. Dollar Store denture tablets will do the trick. I use them to clean all my hard to reach stuff with bristles or ridges: can opener, tongs, coffee maker basket, hairbrush, toothbrush, etc. Oh, if you have a glass with a lid and straw that you drink from at work, I strongly recommend cleaning that straw this way. You might be surprised at the change in the taste of the water.

[GenYus234]

Use a blow-dryer on a mirror to clear the steam after a hot shower.

Better yet, rub soap on it and it won't steam up in the first place.

It is also good for leaving hidden messages to the next showerer. (Hopefully the "I love you" and not "you will die" variety.)

[Mickey Blue]

Most of these are new to me, I did the spoon/jar trick with a butter knife but it uses the same concept (and about the same risk of injury).

[Chloe]

Originally Posted by GenYus234

It is also good for leaving hidden messages to the next showerer. (Hopefully the "I love you" and not "you will die" variety.)

Worst possible message wafting into being as you shower:"I peed in the bottled water in the mini bar."