What tip have you heard about and been incredulous when it actually works?

[hiredandsqueak]

I saw on Twitter that filling a ziplock bag with water and a few coins and hanging it in a doorway/placing it on the doorstep will keep flies out. It seemed such a bizarre suggestion that I thought I would try it and can confirm it works. I've also hung one near the bins and there hasn't been any flies around for a week.
Are there any other tips that I should know?

I knew the fly thing. They do it for horses.

My weird tip is smiling on the phone. When you smile your face shape changes and people can unconsciously detect the change in your voice

I read a tip on here once for dealing with tantrums, which was to repeat back to the child what they are saying, quietly, on their level. Eg if they are saying "I don't want to go home", reply "you don't want to go home"

This one works in many volatile situations. I've found it very useful at work ( NHS) where you have an angry patient or relative. Repeating what they've said, validates their feelings and defuses the situation.

Bicarb and lemon juice on carpet stains. Also works on clothes. Put the bicarb on first in a thick layer, really press it in. Wait a bit then pour lemon on and it will bubble and fizz, scrubbing brush over and out comes the stain. Lemon juice will also remove fresh blood stains. Ketchup on brass is brilliant. If you have a pet which pees somewhere like your sofa or carpet, (or a potty training toddler), baby powder whilst it's wet and it soaks it up and stops it stinking.
I very rarely use proper cleaners and bleach as I have extremely sensitive skin so these are my go tos.

A spot of dishwasher rinse aid in window cleaning water works vv well if using one of those eco cloth things

It was from Men's Heath:

1 scoop protein powder (I have an unflavoured pea protein one)
1 egg
25 ml coconut milk
Teaspoon of nut butter

Mix together with a blender then fry in a bit of coconut oil.

I made them savoury in that I seasoned with salt and pepper. The pea protein is quite challenging but I think this recipe suited it. Made them quite substantial. They felt really carby despite having barely any carbs!

I have a 3 year old toddler who never wants to get dressed as she never wants to put on any of the clothes I choose for her, and instead wants to put on something else (usually inappropriate for the weather like shorts in January). Insistence of putting on my choice of clothing was leading to full on tantrums and leaving the house was becoming a nightmare.
Advised to try the technique of picking out two suitable items (e.g, a choice of two jumpers in winter) and letting her pick her favourite to wear. It works! She happily picks one of the outfits to wear and it's far less stressful as she feels she is the one to have chosen her outfit, and I know she's wearing something suitable

Yes I do this, literally on everything....cups colours, snack options....eveeything. Saves so much time and stress!

MsJuniper yes just a simple affirmation really works and not just on toddlers 😂

I also found if a child was crying loudly and wouldn't stop just mouthing something or saying something in a whisper would be enough to make them tone down the level and listen to what you had said. Children hate to miss out on things but obv you'd need their eye contact. Also just sitting away from them and reading a story or playing with a toy and looking excited about whatever you're doing makes them often stop the crying or tantrum.

To get a plaster off without the ouch, soak a cotton ball in oil and dab the plaster. As it peals up continue to dab with the oil at the edge and it'll just slip off. Saved us a massive meltdown when ds had one which also covered part of his eyebrow. Completely painless and so easy.

If you have to do any public speaking, or you're being interviewed and you're worried that your voice will be wobbly, pitch your voice very slightly lower than normal. Immediately stops any nervous wobbling.

Don't go all Darth Vader obvs

[quote confusednortherner]@thenightsky bucket of hot water, add a squirt of washing up liquid and a capful of fabric conditioner then swish together. Wash windows with a cloth and squeegee off for sparkly windows. [/quote]
Or weak washing up liquid solution to clean them, then scrunched up newspaper to shine them.

Works like a dream for me.

I'm a convert to the talcum at the beach tip.

My tip is to descale a kettle, fill just to the 'minimum' marker with white vinegar and boil. If it is still scaly, boil again. Rinse thoroughly before using again.

If anyone has a way to get sunblock yellow stains out of white sheets and pillowcases, without using expensive stain removers, please share!

Blimey, I'm tempted to try the no-shampoo thing, wish I'd known about it at the start if lockdown so I could reduce the time seen in public while it's going through the seriously greasy stage.

I have a hiccup cure that works too, I've taught it to numerous people who now use it. Similar to other PPs, but I get a medium sized glass of water and simply down it in one - but DON'T try to hold your breath or anything, just relax and keep breathing normally but swallowing at the same time iyswim. Finish the whole glass. Works every time.

Pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth stops you sneezing, up useful when driving.

Just tried the 2p method. Can confirm it works!

@confusednortherner

Using washing up liquid and fabric conditioner to wash your windows. I've never been able to clean windows without leaving them in a state until I tried this. Complete game changer!

Together? How much of each per small bucket of water please?

@Pipandmum

Got this from MN just the other day: to stop chocolate chips or blueberries etc sinking to the bottom of your cake (or in my case banana bread) roll in flour first. Worked great!

So, if I roll in flour before I make the cake, my chocolate chips won't sink?! 😁

@lifestooshort123

Use a 2p piece to remove crusty lime scale from chrome taps. I was amazed!

Thank you so much for this tip. We live in a very hard water area and the 2p coin just flicked off even the hardest clumps of limescale from our taps in a few minutes. Amazing! Bottles and bottles of limescale removal haven’t touched it in the past.

@SidesteppinTheRona I've used some dowe Egberts jars for storage

My dh accidentally got wd40 on our painted walls when trying to fix a door.
There’s a big drip mark now about 10cm long- any ideas?

If you’re going to sneeze look directly at a light and it will stop you. This works. But I like the sensation of a sneeze so I don’t do it other than to test its truth!

Going to have to try the 2p in a bag trick, our house is full of flies

Putting a metal teaspoon in the top of a bottle of champagne (or other bubbly) stops it from losing it's fizz - sounds crazy but it really works! I wish I knew why.

Soak paintbrushes overnight in water with a dishwasher tablet. It gets rid of the dried on bits and leftover paint at the base of the brush.

Rub tomato ketchup into hair that's turned green after swimming and turns it back to normal.

We lived abroad for a few years and had a pool which the kids spent most of the day in and this tip which my mum found in a magazine actually worked on my dd's hair and turned it from green back to lovely blonde.

Veruccas and banana skin.

Another tip I read in a magazine and works is for veruccas. I tried everything to get rid of one dd had picked up and read that if you tape a piece of banana skin to it, cover with sock overnight and in the morning it's gone! Couldn't believe it but it worked.