Unexpected life hacks you stumbled across

[Janboree]

I’ve just discovered that my body mist cleans my spectacles brilliantly. As good as my opticians cleaning spray and a lot cheaper. Added bonus it makes my glasses smell nice too and I didn’t like the smell of the glasses spray. I only used it as it was to hand and my other spray had run out.
Have other mumsnetters stumbled across any life hacks unexpectedly?

I struggle with lids on squash bottles and smaller bottles of water or soft drinks - lay bottle down and use a knife to run around the lid - unscrews much more easily. The jar one - I use a spoon edge or blunt knife edge to pop the seal if I am struggling. I use none scratch dish clothes (silver) for cleaning bath and sinks - quickly gets rid of any grime and shines up taps.

I also carry a pocket pen knife only with tiny blades but scissors, screw driver and bottle opener etc - and this is always coming in useful you just have to remember to take it out for flights

You don't need a gadget for opening stiff jars. Just insert the thin tip of a dinner knife under the lip of the screw top and give it the tiniest turn to break the vacuum and the jar will unscrew easy peasy. Works every time.

I'm only annoyed that it took me 50 years to discover this, after years of running them under hot taps, finding strong men, wrapping elastic bands or teatowels around the top for better grip, all much harder work than the knife tip method. Just don't use a really sharp knife or you could end up in A&E.

Leg waxing strips can be cut to shape and used for eyebrows. I'm still working my way through a pack I bought in LIDL about 7 years ago!

A word of warning, however: don't do this casually in a poorly lit room 🫣
Lesson learned! 🤡

White vinegar is amazing for getting rid of smells. Used it to scrub the floor of the car (very effectively!) after my son was unexpectedly travelsick.

Did some hotel work many years ago and we used to wipe wine glasses with a linen napkin soaked in vinegar to make them gleam.

I use scrunched-up newspaper and elbow grease to clean my windows. They come up sparkling and no streaks!

Sometimes the old methods really are the best.

I was puzzled too!

Yes. A hack is to go riding.

If anyone knows how to get a toothpaste stain out of a pink sweatshirt I'd be very grateful (washing several times didn't help).

Or chop something off, depending what mood you’re in.

Yes. Or the edge of a table. And/or soak lid in hot water.

I always make one meal for the freezer, one for now. Roast later, I will make roast potatoes and mash for another meal in the week.

When I'm batch cooking at the weekend, I make a massive pan of caramelised onions at the same time. I freeze them for when I'm making curry.

I also cook carrots, onion and celery or just onions. I freeze them flat in ziplocked bags.

John Lewis has a mini chopper for £25. It is great for grating cheese and making crumble topping too. I have had it for over ten years and use it most weekends.

If you like to read in the bath,dunk your glasses in the bath water and dry them. Stops them steaming up.

But the thing I own opens jars, squash bottles, 2 litre coke bottles (even after my son in law has tightened the buggers up). I have arthritis in my hands, this works and I've had it for over 15 years. Apart from which I don't want to damage my dinner knives, they cost a lot

I have a beautiful Amber cross necklace and when it goes dull rubbing with a little olive oil makes it shiny again for a few weeks

I've just looked while doing a grocery delivery and the frozen soffrito in Sainsbury's is on a 3for2 so you can have three 1kg bags for £4. That's the same as fresh with less potential waste and not work.

Precisely

Or cough in a particularly revolting way

I make firelighters for the log burner with the wax from old candle jars, stand them on the top to melt the wax first. Get an old egg carton, and scrunch up newspaper, toilet roll tubes, any leftover paper/card or shredded bank statements etc. then pour over melted wax. RIP a section out and use as a firefighter. They are messy to look at but they work an absolute treat

Saw Nancy Birtwhistle demonstrate this exact tip, but rather than melt the wax in the jars she puts them in the freezer so they pop out of the glass jar without leaving any residue. She then puts the candle bits into an empty tin can and melts it all down together for pouring as you describe.

Glad to hear it works!

@Dontevenlookatmei picked it up from Kiri Pritchard McLean who mentioned it on the all Killa podcast. It always feel like a very wholesome activity to partake in

Urgh yes. Then there’s dodgy access to a computer and an unprincipled journalist. And even someone who can’t handle something.

How can one word have so many different meanings.

Thanks to everyone who posted hacks/tips so far, all very enlightening and many I will endeavour to use. My original hack/tip has been discredited it seems and I’m sorry to cause consternation to optometrists. However, I’m glad I started this thread as it’s an useful resource and has been very amusing as well.
I have to say regarding the use of the word hack and its various meanings, the same can be said for the word tip - taking the recycling to the tip, felt tip, tip of the iceberg, a betting tip, tip top - there are probably more. So you cannot discredit one word without the other. 🤭🤯

If you stab the jar lid with a sharp knife it releases the vacuum seal and it opens instantly

Wack an Iceberg lettuce hard down on its stalk and the hard middle part of the stalk comes out in one piece . A chef friend of mine showed me this . Also, crying and upset because you cut an onion...stick your head in the freezer with eyes open and breathe in deep the cold air ...result ...no more tears !

It’s a great thread, thanks for starting it.

My life hacks are all from the book Atomic Habits about how to embed new habits in your old routines...

I do my Kegal exercises whilst curling my eyelashes (one side quick squeezes, one side hold for 20)!

I hate putting whitening strips on my teeth and waiting 30 min so I put them on before the shower to distract myself, and by the time I've dried my hair and done my make-up, I can take them out.

Moisturise your bits at the same time you moisturise your body and face (!) Using the relevant products. Very important in the peri/meno and after menopause. Do face first obviously.