What other commonly known stuff should I know, but don’t?

[Lolabear38]

I found out maybe 6 months ago that you should clean out the filter in your tumble dryer on a regular basis, as it gets full of fluff and lint and is a fire hazard. I had no idea. I’m an educated woman, generally reasonably intelligent and practical, I just had no idea you were supposed to do this. I don’t know how. My friend mentioned it in relation to something and I immediately told my husband who looked at me like some kind of moron - turns out he’s been doing it for years!

I’ve been thinking about it recently and I’m starting to wonder what other commonly known stuff you’re supposed to be doing in day to day life that I’m just not. Any ideas? Can be household related or just general life stuff really. I’m starting to wonder what I might be missing out on/ putting us in danger of.

There must have been something wrong with your car then because that is literally the only purpose of the arrow.

Ah! I’ve learned something today!

Say what?

Really? I say double-you.

It does speed up defrosting as it dries the air.

@FindingNeverland28 we were taught incorrectly. In some areas it is pronounced haitch. It's a point of contention between the two populations of Ireland, and a sensitive issue. I no longer correct anyone on that one!

I believe it's also to do with Norman French- the first h in words that derive from French wasn't pronounced by 'posh' people.

My mother started with 'otel' and 'ospital when I was a kid. Fortunately she dropped it after a while.

Some posher speakers tend to treat a pronounced H starting some words as if it were not there, so they would say “an historic” and “an hotel”. I was brought up this way, and mostly don't do it, unless I forget. It earns me odd looks sometimes if people don't know about it.

Yes @LaBefana

Exactly why my mother chose to develop it as an affectation!

@pickledandpuzzled

I 'ope I hain't got no haffectations!

You both might be interested in the cow with calf method that some dairy farmers are now doing instead. It's less traumatic for the mum and calf.

When I was a kid my sister and I used to use my mum's steradent tablets to get felt tip off our hands. Found out by accident, we liked watching them fizz.

Is it true that women used to routinely have all their teeth extracted? My mum died relatively young so I never found out why she had all her teeth removed.

Not just women, men too. In the late 19th/early 20th century it was a not-uncommon coming of age or wedding present to have all your teeth out and a nice set of dentures.

Before decent toothpaste and NHS dental care, it was seen as inevitable that teeth would cause serious trouble and expense down the line. So best to get it over with all at once before you had the expense of running a household.

LaBefana I've had that dog-attacking advice stored in my memory for decades but had forgotten where I read it - Richard's Bicycle Book! Happy memories... it's a great book.

I was in school with a girl whose elderly neighbour paid for her to have all her teeth extracted as a 16th birthday present. He had expectations. That was in the mid 70s - and generally regarded as a weird and disturbing story. She was terribly self-conscious about her false teeth- a rather quiet and reticent person anyway, and that really didn't help. We were all very feminist.

I keep meaning to ask a few people from school I'm still in touch with whether they know what happened to her. Nothing could bring her teeth back, but it would be great if she'd managed to get away.

Hahaha OMG, I’m 60yrs old and thought I was quite knowledgeable. I’ve just got up and walked to the kitchen to look at my tin foil box and YES it’s true, made me chuckle. As my husband says “every day is a school day” you learn something every day

My mum probably had hers taken out in the late 60s, possibly early 70s. My dad has all his teeth, but was in the army so probably got dental. I vaguely remember something about pregnancy being thought to take a toll on your teeth, so best to have 'em out.

I didn’t know that tubes that are sealed in the opening have pointy bits in the lids to pierce it, was using pens/knives for years 🤣

Well, I never knew that! Off to tell my husband now.

It's the reason for the arrow, so either you weren't looking at it right or it was a mistake

Not all figs. Brown turkey figs self pollinate. I only know this because the wasps thing freaked me out so much I had to buy a fig plant of a diff variety

Yep! A big 'ol freckle too!

I was definitely looking at it right! I looked at it every time I filled up because I had to remember which car I was in and whether the arrow was right (because the arrow was right on our other car).

It may well have been an error in the way the car was built but the point still stands that it’s not true of all cars.

Must have been a mistake. In theory it should be right for all cats but I get your point

@Psiaspops

Not standard in cats, none of mine have had this.

@wutheringkites where do you fill up their pawtrol?