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.

The sell by date on a packet of crisps is always a Saturday!

This is what Merriam-Webster has to say about the "I" before "e". The first one at the top is the one I learned in the states back when I was in school (which was before fire was discovered but after the dinosaurs):

i before e except after c
or when sounded as 'a' as in neighbor and weigh

Exception to "I Before E" Rule
Nice try, but it's still full of exceptions. To make the above jingle accurate, it'd need to be something like:

I before e, except after c
Or when sounded as 'a' as in 'neighbor' and 'weigh'
Unless the 'c' is part of a 'sh' sound as in 'glacier'
Or it appears in comparatives and superlatives like 'fancier'
And also except when the vowels are sounded as 'e' as in 'seize'
Or 'i' as in 'height'
Or also in '-ing' inflections ending in '-e' as in 'cueing'
Or in compound words as in 'albeit'
Or occasionally in technical words with strong etymological links to their parent languages as in 'cuneiform'
Or in other numerous and random exceptions such as 'science', 'forfeit', and 'weird'.

And that doesn't even rhyme.

And plugholes/shower drains have to be unblocked. 🤭

Another DH one. I did it once, got all grumbly, then DH said who do you think has been doing it all these years? 😱

I didn’t know (and should’ve really as I was a teen when it happened) that when Czechoslovakia split in 1993 it became the Czech Republic (I knew that) but the other bit became SLOVAKIA! Now that I didn’t know.

Not to be confused with Slovenia. I list off countries if I'm wakeful at night and try to think where they are on the map and those two need a microsecond's concentration. As do Tunisia and Tanzania, whereas, oddly Mauritania and Mauritius stay in the own locations just fine.

Inspired by this thread I have unclogged the drainage hole in the fridge.

No, I knew Slovenia and Slovakia were different countries. I just didn’t realise that Slovakia had been part of Czechoslovakia.

It was all over the news when it happened, but maybe you weren't around then?

Lol I was 16 and working away from home (and partying ) I’m putting it down to that!!

If you pick up a dog by its hind legs, it releases its jaws. Useful in an emergency if a dog is attacking, probably wouldn’t try with a Rottweiler!

@AndTheSurveySays
This is honestly absolutely genius.
Why oh why have I retained the leaflet in every single packet of pills ever? (To be fair I think I have probably once or twice checked symptoms etc but that was many years ago).
I can only thank you deeply...

I only found out recently that there is a button to press to remove your toilet seat. Mine has concealed fittings and is built into a cupboard so I paid a plumber to fit me a new one. He showed me how to remove it. Fortunately he only charged me for the cost of a new one. I feel enlightened!!

You can fit more shoes in a shoe rack if you alternate toe-in, toe-out.

Where??

I’ve been wearing contact lenses for 40 years with no problems and have no idea which way up they go - think some one is having you on

On mine it’s at the back between the two fittings. Might not be on all seats.

Varifocal CLs are marked , as well as weighted.

Not all of them have a button. Some are bolted down to the pedestal.

On mine it’s at the back between the two fittings. Might not be on all seats.

FOUND IT! Thanks!

That makes sense but mine aren’t varifocals. What I do find amazing is that I am shortsighted but needed to wear reading glasses as I got older. I tried bi focal lenses but they just didn’t suit so my optician suggested I have a lens for long distance in one eye and one for close up in the other. I was very sceptical but it does work. I can see quite a long distance and read tiny text like this now

For years we had the cheap kind of toilet seat where you can't remove the seat except using a spanner or screwdriver, then we got the type that you press an oval button half way between the fixings and the seat and cover pull up to be removed for cleaning. The last one cost £27. It also has a slow/quiet close feature. It's worth repeating myself that not all seats are like this! By the way 13 stone DH was in the habit of sitting on the lowered cover to put his socks on after a shower until it cracked. Plumber supplies shop said the cover isn't meant to bear any weight, only the seat!

Of course! Why has it taken me till 2023 to find this out?!

Mine aren't varifocal but they do feel marginally more uncomfortable if they are in the wrong way round. I only realised this a few years ago.

Can this be fitted to an existing loo? Or is the pedestal part different?

They can be fitted

It's fitted to an absolutely standard toilet pedestal. The thing to ask for is a 'soft close quick-release toilet seat'. I don't have the box any more to tell you the make and model, but there are lots in plumbing suppliers and Screwfix etc.