Clever ideas used around the house

[gt350mike]

I thought several of these would be pretty useful and worth passing on, especially if your significant other does most of the chores around the house. The dustpan trick looks simple enough for the wife but I'll let you know if I survive the demonstration....she doesn't like for me to critique her cooking or cleaning.

[Noah930]

Hmm. Very clever, Mike. You're a genius!

Wasn't there some other thread on ideas like this? (No, not the one with the guys floating the power strip on a flip-flop sandal in their pool; the one with the use of binder clips on the fridge wire tray to keep a stack of beers from rolling around.)

[Zeke]

How does the wooden spoon thing work?

I'm still trying to figure out the bottle deal.

I don't think the can opener trick is very efficient. Those small electric scissors do that job quickly, but so do some big ass Wiess shears.

[VINMAN]

The wooden spoon breaks up the surface tension of the bubbles.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, the wooden spoon thing is BS.

I put it to a real world test while boiling pasta. It will boil right over the edge without a problem with a wooden spoon there. The spoon made no difference at all. The only cure was a little salt and oil. No more boil over.

[mossguy]

I'm going to try the dustpan in the sink tip. I like that one.

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Hmm. Very clever, Mike. You're a genius!

Wasn't there some other thread on ideas like this? (No, not the one with the guys floating the power strip on a flip-flop sandal in their pool; the one with the use of binder clips on the fridge wire tray to keep a stack of beers from rolling around.)

Thanks but I'm just passing on the ideas from an email I received. Seems like there was something similar on OT. Yep, some of them are BS but if some of you are not allowed to play with scissors, the can-opener option is looking pretty good!

[aigel]

The only thing useful appears to be the sticky note.

A nail holder? For people who can't use a hammer and are worried about hitting their fingers?

Georg

[john70t]

Sticky note can be replaced by a damp rag. Also useful for lightly wiping across dried spackle.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I'm still trying to figure out the bottle deal.

The description says "...to create easy and cheap bags for storage," but you still need a bag to make it happen.

You pull the top of the bag up through the cut off bottle neck, fold it over the threads, then screw the cap on.

If it had said, "...to create easy and cheap airtight storage," that would've been more accurate.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Wasn't there some other thread on ideas like this? (No, not the one with the guys floating the power strip on a flip-flop sandal in their pool; the one with the use of binder clips on the fridge wire tray to keep a stack of beers from rolling around.)

You might be thinking of ThereIFixedIt.com ...some examples here:
There, I Fixed It - Bad DIY Pictures - Popular Mechanics

These shown by gt350mike are "for the wife" in a sarcastic way... I think most of the ones on TIFI.com are ridiculous solutions for men and the things they need/want to get done.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by heel n toe

the description says "...to create easy and cheap bags for storage," but you still need a bag to make it happen.

You pull the top of the bag up through the cut off bottle neck, fold it over the threads, then screw the cap on.

If it had said, "...to create the most difficult, time consuming and preposterous cheap airtight storage," that would've been more accurate.

FiFy

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, the wooden spoon thing is BS.

I put it to a real world test while boiling pasta. It will boil right over the edge without a problem with a wooden spoon there. The spoon made no difference at all. The only cure was a little salt and oil. No more boil over.

the true solution is to use a bigger pot.

[duncan1437]

clever ideas used around the house...use honey like glue

my eyeglasses have very tiny screws which hold the sidearms on, and they occasionally unscrew themselves and fall out...and its very hard to set them back in place. it happened at a friends house, and he suggested putting a drop of honey on the joint to hold the screw in place while i tried to screw it back in.

it worked perfectly then and several times since.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by duncan1437

it worked perfectly then and several times since.

If it worked so perfectly then, why have you had to keep on doing it several times since?

[gt350mike]

[QUOTE=These shown by gt350mike are "for the wife" in a sarcastic way... I think most of the ones on TIFI.com are ridiculous solutions for men and the things they need/want to get done.[/QUOTE]

A few of the ideas are goofy at best but I didn't want to tourn this into the "Mythbuster". The comment about the boss is true.....if I have a suggestion regarding cooking or cleaning, I've learned to keep it to myself.

[vash]

Ok. Here is one from my kitchen. Wine cork so I don't burn my fingers opening a hot lid. Saves me time from grabbing a dish towel.

[Baz]

Good tips - here's my input...

1) I blow down into the pot of boiling 'whatever' - the cool breath cools it off quickly and no more boil over. Of course then I cut back on the temp a bit too...

2) The baggie thing - I think they are using just a piece of saran and the bottle top - not a baggie. Saran is cheaper than baggies.

3) As for those packages......I use a chainsaw!


Something I also found is a rubber band around a tightened on lid helps to grip it when unscrewing....also a few light taps against something solid helps get it open.

[Baz]

1. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.



2. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.



3. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.



4. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.



5. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives . Then you'll be afraid to cough.



6. You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape . If it doesn't move and should, use the wd-40.. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.



7. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

[strupgolf]

Originally Posted by mossguy

I'm going to try the dustpan in the sink tip. I like that one.

I'll save a step, just put the bucket in the bathtub.