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Original poster

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

656 replies

Lolabear38 · 27/06/2023 23:55

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.

OP posts:
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WinterDeWinter · 23/07/2023 23:13

Roxy69 · 21/07/2023 23:44

I'm not sure if this is of use to anyone on a regular basis, but if you get kidnapped and flung into the boot of a car (which is hard to get out of) you can kick out the back lights, assuming your feet are free. This may alert someone to your predicament. I'm surprised the film industry don't use this more often. 😄

John Mulaney has an excellent stand up routine based on this

John Mulaney - Street Smarts

https://youtu.be/cdgfFMxgLfI

Roxy69 · 24/07/2023 23:15

I am very impressed you found this, I'm off to buy a money clip 😀

MoonWoman69 · 13/02/2024 10:59

Mommasgotabrandnewbag · 28/06/2023 21:50

I have no freckles. I think that makes me the original?

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Nope, I'm freckle free too! 🤣🤣🤣

MoonWoman69 · 13/02/2024 12:15

TommyNever · 28/06/2023 23:45

While I knew most babies are born bald, I didn't realise they have a little knob on their backs that you can turn to quickly grow hair.

Turn it clockwise and they sprout hair, anticlockwise and the hair retracts again.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Gold!

MoonWoman69 · 13/02/2024 12:34

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 29/06/2023 10:21

You're supposed to crumble stock cubes while they're still in their paper wrapping. Then you can just release the powder.

If it's OXO sometimes that works for me and sometimes it goes everywhere. You have to do it very carefully.

Place it on the worktop, flattest side uppermost (the side with no joins on, the plain side if you will!) then press gently down with the heel of your hand, works every time for me!

MoonWoman69 · 13/02/2024 13:16

Powdered graphite is far better for loosening stuck locks than WD40 will ever be! WD40 is a water displacer. I was advised years ago not to use it on locks, again I can't remember the reason either! I bought a large can of powdered graphite at a Sunday market, from one of the DIY stalls. But I think you can get it from places like Screwfix (the DIY store NOT to be confused with a dating site!!! 😁😁😁)

Babynameone · 13/02/2024 20:51

Street numbers on houses increase as you move away from the post office in the town 🤯 that was how they were originally allocated

BlackForestCake · 14/02/2024 22:50

My mum always called a corkscrew a screwdriver.

Lots of people call a corkscrew a bottle opener. That's not a bottle opener. A bottle opener is the thing you use to take the crown caps off beer bottles.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 15/02/2024 08:18

Babynameone · 13/02/2024 20:51

Street numbers on houses increase as you move away from the post office in the town 🤯 that was how they were originally allocated

I live equidistant between two post offices, that's only correct for one of them 😂

SirQuintusAureliusMaximus · 15/02/2024 08:42

I live equidistant between two post offices, that's only correct for one of them

If @Babynameone is right presumably it will apply to the first build post office in relation to the earliest build streets...

I was told recently that if you have a built in tumble dryer that it should plug straight into the wall and not via an extension lead because it is a huge fire risk. Apparently it is common for older properties to have a socket at 'waist height' (above the built-in surface/counter top) and for there to be an extension lead hanging down behind (passing through a hole in the counter) and the machine to plug into it. This is a major cause of fire because they overheat. I didn't know this but also don't know how commonly known it is. Worth knowing though.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/02/2024 08:51

wildfirewonder · 28/06/2023 18:20

'W' is the only letter of the alphabet which is pronounced using its actual letter. I do not understand this one at all Confused

I think the OP must have meant ‘isn’t’.

I pronounce it ‘double-you’ and I don’t hear any W sound in that.

SirQuintusAureliusMaximus · 15/02/2024 09:10

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · Today 08:51

wildfirewonder · 28/06/2023 18:20

'W' is the only letter of the alphabet which is pronounced using its actual letter. I do not understand this one at all
I think the OP must have meant ‘isn’t’.

I pronounce it ‘double-you’ and I don’t hear any W sound in that.

This makes no sense even if you say only letter that ISNT pronounced. H is pronounced aitch (yes it is!) and that has no H sound in it.

asdfgasdfg · 15/02/2024 09:11

Re tumble driers, there is a fun FB page of a guy who cleans out driers in America where they are very common. Some have lint all the way up the vent tube from the drier in the basement to the roof vent and the owners wonder why it's not working properly.

J0S · 15/02/2024 09:44

House numbers start at the centre of the town/ village and work outwards. Obviously most towns have the post office in the centre but not always.

Also post office buildings can be moved.

Sahara123 · 15/02/2024 10:02

@ClickingTock123
No freckles here , sorry !

IcedPlum · 15/02/2024 10:37

AndTheSurveySays · 28/06/2023 00:08

You know those information leaflets you get inside a packet of paracetamol? You can just throw them in the bin instead of keeping it in the box and having to fight to fit the file of medicine back in every time you have a headache.

They are online . So chuck em out .

IcedPlum · 15/02/2024 11:22

immergeradeaus · 29/06/2023 06:02

Those thin loops of ribbon on clothes are meant for hanging the garment up right when it’s on sale, and once you’ve bought it you’re meant to cut them off.

I thought they were to stop the garment falling of hangers ?

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 21:55

ClickingTock123 · 28/06/2023 20:31

RIGHT forearm

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I do, but only a wee one, got others that are bigger but they might be age spots...

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 22:15

BlueThursday · 28/06/2023 21:50

Depends on your religion

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I'm afraid I shout at people on Lingo who say Haitch! And I have bets with my husband when we hear their accents who is going to sin and say Haitch! I know, I'm very sad!

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 22:20

Nc4post99 · 28/06/2023 22:10

Well I definitely knew about wipes and never even thought to flush cat litter but I genuinely thought that was the beauty of a tampon that it’s pretty much cotton wool so could be flushed. You can’t flush cotton wool either can you?

someone is going to need to talk me through what as a society we do with our used tampons. My flow can be quite heavy, what do you do if you need to change at someone’s house?

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Carry nappy sacs aka poo bags with you to put them in, discretely wrapped in toilet paper. Then a tissue round the bag. And then hide in your handbag. Or make an excuse to go out into the garden and chuck it in the bin.

Shiveringinthecountry · 15/02/2024 22:40

ArtixLynx · 29/06/2023 09:59

Giraffes are mute

🦒 Mmmmmmm.....

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 23:07

caringcarer · 29/06/2023 00:00

Apparently it's tightly eighty and loosely lefty. I heard it on I'm a celebrity get me out of here last year. When I said 'oh how clever to help people know about which way to tighten nuts' DH said everyone must know that. Turned out my 16 year old DS knew it too and his older brother. Well no one ever told me that.

Tighty righty?

I remember it because you tighten clockwise which are both positive, and you loosen anti-clockwise which is a negative action.

Icecreamalaska · 15/02/2024 23:44

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 22:15

I'm afraid I shout at people on Lingo who say Haitch! And I have bets with my husband when we hear their accents who is going to sin and say Haitch! I know, I'm very sad!

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Very sad indeed!😁
I don't know if your username is relevant, but you might find it interesting that in Ireland the correct form is haitch. So children will be corrected in school if they say aitch.

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 23:52

DeanElderberry · 02/07/2023 09:27

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.

Good to hear someone else does daft things to get to sleep! I recite the Premier Football Teams in England and Scotland. When I could do them in (rough) geographical order I memorised them in alphabetical order. Going to learn the grounds now. Don't often get to the end before I'm asleep. Certainly keeps your mind of any worries!

ErinBell01 · 15/02/2024 23:56

AmberPig · 02/07/2023 09:57

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!

Problem is that it might wheel round and get you. Even better is to hook your hand over its collar and twist and lift, effectively choking it. The dog then stops biting.