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 see Hydrophane now list leather darkening oil, I suppose they have changed the formula.

You can also mould boots to your feet by wearing them round the house, when you are not yet going for uncomfortable long walks. I think it might work better with warmth and moisture, so perhaps sweaty feet would help. Leather shoes go soft and will change shape when wet (so you have to pack them to dry in shape). Some people like to pee on their boots to soften them, but I have not tried that.

My hubby said pee on them,the army used to do that on new boots but I don't think I want to be that extreme. Thanks for the tips. Im wearing them round the house and have some leather softener for boots coming today. Some one said put the softener inside the boots as well so I will try that too🥾

@PigletJohn is correct ( as usual 🙂) I use both of them products on my Cat work boots , I use the Neetsfoot 1st usually two coats then the following day use the Hubbards grease.

It's is best to have everything warm so wear your boots for a bit and put the oil & grease somewhere warm like the airing cupboard, a low heat radiator, in the sun .
DO NOT do as others I know did and try heating them in the microwave or on the hob !

Be aware that both products will darken the leather.

I also use the Carr D&M on my leather jacket , belts and bag.

Anything you oil must be absolutely bone dry 1st or you will lock the moisture in and it will rot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carr-Day-Martin-Neatsfoot-Compound/dp/B0013KUC18

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huberds-HSG-Shoe-Grease-7-5/dp/B000MLBCWM

I have used extra virgin olive oil on boots for years to great effect. I put a bit on my hands and smother the boot or shoe.
I have hand made Italian boots for 30 years that are still admired.
I have also used a good rich body cream on a magnificent Italian leather suite, again 35 years old and still perfect.
I also used Aldi avocado rich body cream, slathered it on the suite and it brought it up perfectly.
Moisture is moisture.
No need for expensive leather creams.
If its good for your body, it will be fine on leather IMO

Thanks all for the tips.

In a house move my expensive black drawstring Longchamp bag from the 94 got mislaid. I found it a few years later but the damp has got to it and made the outsides of the leather stick together Any tips to bring it back to its former glory.

Use padlocks on the handles of the scissors you don't want others to use.

Yesterday, my husband thought he saw a cockroach in the kitchen. He sprayed everything down and cleaned everywhere. Today, I'm putting the cockroach in the bathroom.... (a tip from X)

Love it @Tryonemoretime 😂

Whoa!!!!! Excellent!

Put the racks in a plastic box with very hot water and bio soap powder( the cheaper the better) leave overnight and the clean.

Does this mean how to worry less?!
If so, I suppose the biggest thing for me has been an acceptance that ‘worry’ in evolutionary terms is quite useful, if it can prompt you to take action that will avoid a disaster - for example, if you are lying in bed worrying that you may have left the hob on, then it might force you to go downstairs and check, and turn it off, thereby averting a house fire. However, most of the worries that we have are not in this category, and I realised recently that if I can’t actually do anything, or change anything, then there is no point worrying (until whatever is going to happen, happens, and then you deal with it then). So sometimes worrying might encourage you to make plans to deal with a possible bad outcome - which is also useful, in evolutionary terms, as you are then prepared if the worst does happen.

But if you really think about things, and there are no actions that you can take now, that will change the eventual outcome, then worrying is pointless, and I’m you may as well save the emotional energy for when you need it.

i always used to worry about everything, but I am now on a far more even keel about things. I think it’s art of it comes from being older (and have lived through so many situations, and seen so many outcomes, and realised the worry was pointless). And part of it is being in HRT (anxiety can really ramp up in perimenopause!), and making sure you are not B12 deficient (can also cause anxiety), and that you get plenty of sleep. And try to squeeze as much joy into your day as possible - whether it is looking forward to the quiet cup of coffee in your favourite armchair on a quiet Summer morning, or watching the birds in your garden, or meeting up with a supportive friend for a coffee and a walk. These things always help to get a better perspective. Also, thinking, if a friend told me she was worrying about x,y,z, what advice would i give her - then take it yourself!

To help myself get rid of worries I write them down. For some reason, once they are in black and white (it has to be handwritten, not typed on a screen) it feels as though they are out of my head and I don't have to dwell on them any more.

I also try to write down things that make me happy, to counteract the Book Of Misery. It can be quite educational to read back over things that worried you several months ago that you are now no longer concerned by, as it makes you realise that, however desperately worried you were back then, the world didn't end and you are still here.

There is evidence that writing for 15 minutes every day for four days, sustained, about a traumatic event, can reduce anxiety and improve immunity for a considerable time afterwards:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20170601-can-writing-about-pain-make-you-heal-faster

Scheduled 'worry time' can also be effective:

schedule about 15 to 30 minutes of worry time in the evening, with a designated place to do it.

https://www.verywellmind.com/worry-time-the-benefits-of-scheduling-time-to-stress-5267979

This is such an interesting article! Thanks for sharing

Discovered that turning up the brightness to full on a Zoom call has a better anti-ageing effect than using the 'blur' feature.....

A wipe over with lighter fluid completely removes any sticky residue.

Really! Definitely going to try this!

(ETA: oops forgot to quote, but that was re the Zoom/brightness thing)

However if you put your shoes in a switched off warm oven to help them take the grease better, do warn your wife so she doesn’t go into the kitchen and turn the oven up to high to preheat.
Not only will the leather burn but the soles will melt onto the oven shelf.

Tomato ketchup is the best shampoo for getting fox shit off your dog if the little sod has rolled in it. 😩

Just done this one and sort of forgot it was a "hack" or perhaps it just isnt and everyone does it!

When having boiled eggs I use the back of the egg spoon to spread the butter on the bread/toast to save messing up another knife.

This sounds like the voice of experience 😀.

Surely this only works on your own device and doesn't make you look any younger at the other end?