With each generation, I feel like a few things are gained and a few things are lost. I know that my parents and grandparents have a lot of tricks for things that I wouldn’t have even thought about. Some of the tips are a bit easier, while others are not. So, here are six of my favorite old fashioned tips and tricks to make life a little easier sometimes!
Use a bottle of hot water to remove splinters
Directions: Fill a wide-mouthed bottle with hot water nearly to the brim and press affected part of hand tightly against mouth of the bottle. The suction will pull down the flesh and steam will soon draw out the splinter.
Measure with Coins, Money and paper
Directions: If you need to measure something small but don’t have a ruler, use what you have instead! It might not be exact, but it’ll be good enough for most rough estimates. For example, a dollar bill is about 6 inches long and about 2.5 inches wide. Quarters are nearly 1 inch wide. An average piece of paper is about 8 inches wide and 11 inches long.
Light a match in the wind by cutting it
Directions: Cut thin shavings from the shaft of the match, towards the striking end as shown. When lit, the curled strips will catch fire at once and the flame will be stronger. It will also burn out faster, so be careful of burnt fingers!
Disinfect with Water
Directions: You can disinfect any sponges or anything made of cloth by placing it it boiling water for several minutes, and then letting it dry. People have been using this method for centuries and it’s a great way to keep your sponges from getting gross! Just make sure to let it dry completely before using.
Find South with your watch and the sun
Directions: You must have an analog watch for this to work! Lay your watch flat on your palm and point the hour hand directly at the sun. Then, place a blade of grass or toothpick crosswise between the hour hand and the figure 12. The point of the toothpick nearest to 12 should point due South.
Clean burnt saucepans with Coke
Directions: Coca-cola soda can eat through just about anything and has a range of uses in cleaning. Remove burnt-on food from your saucepans by soaking it overnight. You can also remove rust from metals by soaking them in Coca-cola and clean your toilet pretty effectively.
Do you know of any other old fashioned hacks? Share them with me in the comments!!
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