No matter how much you think you know, life just has its ways of throwing surprises at you. These can be big things, like a career change all the way down to little things, like learning that most packets of batteries can be folded into a little box. Seriously.
Content creator Sidney Raz shared some useful tips and tricks that most folks under 30 probably wished they knew earlier. We reached out to him via email to learn more about and we’ll update the article when he gets back to us. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and add your own thoughts and ideas to the comments below.
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#1 You Shouldn't Remove Air Fresheners Completely From The Package
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#2 Cooking Oil Around The Rim Of A Pot Stops It From Boiling Over
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#3 Lightly Tapping Is The Best Way To Prep A Hard Boiled Egg
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You might be surprised by how many deceptively simple tricks most of us only stumble upon after enduring a minor household misadventure or two. For instance, that everyday rubber band you’ve got stashed in a drawer can turn you into a jar-opening ninja, wrap it snugly around any stubborn lid, and the extra grip instantly makes twisting off pickles, pasta sauce, or jam as effortless as snapping your fingers.
Behind the wheel, yellowed, dim headlights that once left you squinting through foggy halos can be restored to their showroom glow by simply applying a dab of white toothpaste on a soft cloth, buffing in gentle circles, then rinsing away the residue. It’s astonishing how a few strokes of something you probably already have under the bathroom sink can save you a small fortune on professional headlight kits.
#4 Painter's Tape Is The Best Way To Hang Things On The Wall With No Mistakes
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#5 This Plunger Is Not For Toilets
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#6 Towels Stay On Better If They're Rolled, Not Tucked
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At your workspace, where rogue charging cables love to dive behind desks and vanish forever, the cure is so low-tech it almost feels like cheating: clip a binder clip to the edge, thread the cable through its metal arms, and enjoy the luxury of no-fuss, tangle-free power at your fingertips. In drafty hallways or rooms where doors slam with unholy force, an old, mismatched sock filled with rice or beans and tied off at the ankle doubles as a stealthy doorstop and buffer, muffling noise while keeping out chilly breezes.
#7 These Amazon Bags Are Reversible For Returns
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#8 Box Graters Should Be Laid Down When Shredding
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#9 Soap On A Windowsill Stops Spiders From Coming In
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Meanwhile, when your sink protests against drainage with a slow, reluctant drip, skip the toxic store-bought solutions: half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar fizzes through grime and soap scum, and a final pour of boiling water sends the clog back where it belongs.
#10 Blenders Can Be Cleaned By Blending Soap And Water
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#11 There's An Easy Way To Share High-Quality Images And Videos From Apple To Android Phones
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#12 The Entire Roll Of Trash Bags Is Supposed To Go Into The Trash Can
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Hands too small to conquer soda-can tabs? Rescue your fingernails (and your patience) by attaching a paperclip or a small carabiner (if you’re the type to carry one of those) to the tab, suddenly, popping open a fizzy drink becomes smooth sailing, and you never lose the tab again. On hot afternoons when you crave a perfectly chilled glass of white wine but dread the watery aftermath of melting ice, reach instead for frozen grapes: they not only keep your drink icy cold without dilution, but double as a refreshing snack once you’ve savored your sip.
#13 A Wisk Can Be Used To Pick Up Hot Eggs
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#14 Tiny Medicine Packets Can Be Used To Open The Other Ones
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#15 I've Never Had Long Nails, But The Silver Tab Can Be Pushed Up
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In the realm of keyboards, where dust, crumbs, and mystery debris accumulate like unwelcome souvenirs, a simple sticky note folded so that only its adhesive edge peeks out will glide between keys to scoop filth away faster than a dedicated electronics cleaner.
#16 The Instant Pot Lid Can Sit Comfortably In The Handle
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#17 This Battery Packaging Can Lock Shut In The Back
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#18 Bowls And Plates Are Supposed To Go On The Outside Edge Of The Microwave Tray
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And those relentlessly odorous sneakers that assault your senses every time you kick off your shoes? A poultice of dry coffee grounds tucked into an old sock or breathable pouch and left in each shoe overnight harnesses coffee’s natural deodorizing magic, leaving your footwear smelling subtly of roasted beans by morning.
#19 How To Hold Chopsticks!
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#20 You're Supposed To Use The Lollipop To Open The Lollipop
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#21 Broccoli Should Be Chopped After It's Boiled
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When you’re deep in an epic IKEA assembly saga, hunting for tiny screws across a crowded floor can feel like searching for needles in a floral rug. A swift application of painter’s tape across each screw head keeps all your little components corralled on the work surface, sparing you that exasperating scramble for “Part Q.”
#22 Aluminum Foil Can Sharpen Scissors
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#23 Every Fitted Sheet Has A Tag On The Bottom Left Corner
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#24 These Coffee Filters Are Supposed To Be Folded
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By now you might be wondering how you ever managed without these hidden gems of everyday ingenuity. Yet there are more where those came from: did you know that a hairdryer on low heat can lift stubborn price tags or adhesive residue off glass and plastic? Or that a clean, empty tissue box makes a surprisingly chic dispenser for plastic grocery bags? Next time your remote control slips behind the couch cushions, slide a wire clothes hanger, or a simple ruler, under the gaps to fish it out in seconds.
#25 Flour Can Be Picked Up With A Whisk
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#26 The Coffee Lid Flap Should Be Pushed Down For Drinking And Protection
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#27 Your Car Battery Tells You On The Battery How Long It Lasts!
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Even sewing enthusiasts will be amazed that a pencil eraser can serve as a quick buffer to wipe away stray threads or lint from fabric. These little revelations are equal parts amusing and absurdly practical, turning your domestic domain into a smoother, smarter playground. Think of this as your backstage pass to everyday brilliance, share these well-kept secrets with friends (and perhaps earn serious brownie points) before they, like most of us, learn them all too late.
#28 Phones Can Scan Laundry Tags
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#29 You Can Roll A Hard Boiled Egg To Slice It
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#30 Mmugs Are Supposed To Go In A Dishwasher At An Angle
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#31 There's A Magic Tool That Fixes Broken Holiday Lights
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#32 You Can Open A Tin Of Cinnamon Rolls With A Can Opener
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#33 You're Not Supposed To Squeeze Plastic Bottles In The Middle Lock
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#34 You Can Still Use The Wrapping Paper If You Cut It Too Short?
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#35 Salt Can Remove Super Glue
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#36 The Butter Packaging Is The Best Way To Keep Its Ends Fresh
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#37 The Child Safety Caps Can Be Easily Removed For Adult Convenience
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#38 The Best Way To Open These Cans Is By Rotating The Pull
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#39 Dress Shirts Can Be Unbutton Quickly By Pulling It From The Bottom
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#40 Folding A Curtain Is The Best Way To Feed It Through The Poll
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#41 Sun Visors In Cars Extend
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#42 Dried Out Markers Can Be Rehydrated
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#43 Pull By The Tab, Pull By The Tab And Open
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#44 You Don't Need To Shake The Seasoning Shaker
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#45 You Can Use Cold Water To Get These Yellow Cleaning Gloves Off
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#46 There's A Way To Make Any Belt Fit
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#47 Tape Measures Have Their Length On Them
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#48 Iphones Have A Symbolfor Degrees On Their Keyboard
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