27
votes
Accepted
How to peel an orange?
That question has been asked on cooking.stackexchange before, and the answer by Jolenealaska (and originally by blogger E is for Eat) quite qualifies as a life hack:
Basically, you cut off both ends ...
- 576
18
votes
What is the most efficient way to fold a map?
After some research, I have found another great way to fold a map, called the Miura fold.
The Miura fold comprises just two steps. In the first one, you fold the map in 5 parts, like a long accordion....
- 744
16
votes
Accepted
What is the most efficient way to fold a map?
I like to fold a map in half and then maybe in half again (in the same direction) until the general area I am interested in is available on the front and back side of that strip. Then I'll fold that ...
- 6,655
16
votes
How to peel an orange?
I really like the Tupperware Orange Peeler. It is used by dragging the hook end around the orange skin, which opens the peel up all the way to the flesh of the orange. Then it's a simple matter of ...
- 954
15
votes
How to shred papers/letters without using a shredder machine
Use a 5 gallon bucket half filled with water; add enough paper to absorb most of the water and let sit for 24 hours; attach a paint mixing drill attachment to your power drill and power stir the ...
- 151
14
votes
Wallet won't close because there's too much money in it
As a former taxi driver, I used to have to carry a day's cash intake on my person, at least long enough to take it to the bank and deposit most of it. I routinely found it more than I could close ...
- 9,790
12
votes
How to avoid background reflection Computer display
As long as you can't block the major light sources easily, then you need a Monitor filter (wikipedia), which has anti glare or anti reflex/reflective behaviour. These can be bought commercially for at ...
- 6,984
12
votes
Wallet won't close because there's too much money in it
If you were to put cash in your wallet like in the picture you've provided, the thickness of cash in the fold of the wallet makes it difficult to close. Alternatively you could invest in a money clip ...
- 785
11
votes
How to peel an orange?
I have found I can reliably peel the entire orange
without splitting any of the inner slices
without causing drips
quickly
I do this by starting at the tip where the stem was attached. If my thumb ...
- 211
11
votes
How to save the water wasted while waiting for the shower to heat up?
This solution only works if you have a separate bathtub in your bathroom.
I'm pretty sure that all the water for your bathroom (shower, sink, toilet tank, bathtub) comes from the water heater to your ...
- 11.6k
11
votes
How to pour out liquid from pan
Use a guide bar for pouring.
I learned how to do this kind of thing in a lab using a glass rod and a cylindrical container. A similar technique can be used for your household situation.
Find a spoon ...
- 14.1k
10
votes
How can I keep a USB mini 2.0 (or other) cable from tearing?
The connection between the wire and the connector is a very high-stress area, so the degree of flex the wire experiences at that point is substantial. Better-quality cables will typically include a ...
- 6,655
10
votes
How to keep my glasses clean from getting marks
Dust and the occasional grease mark are inevitable. You can train yourself never to put your fingers on your glasses (only touch the frame), that reduces the number of grease marks.
Instead of ...
- 6,284
9
votes
How not to lose too much warmth while leaving the door open
You could make a homemade doggie door.
Open the door enough for your dog.
Get corrugated cardboard (maybe from a leftover packing box) that is the same size and shape as the opening, but can also be ...
- 11.6k
7
votes
Finding a gold ring lost in the house
A gold ring is, in effect, a tuned circuit. Though a metal detector would find lumps of any type of metal, such as nails in the wall, a grid dip meter (GDM), used by electronics and radio amateurs, or ...
- 5,993
7
votes
Shared tools always getting lost
A place for everything and everything in its place.
You mentioned that you tried to use Tile (an audible signal device) to locate items; but, that its efficiency is limited due to the high noise ...
- 14.1k
7
votes
How to pour out liquid from pan
That's what ladles are for. Simply scoop the liquid into the cup with a ladle or big spoon.
Once you have transferred most of the liquid from the pot to the cup, pouring the rest will be much easier.
- 2,976
7
votes
Accepted
How to avoid doing dishes (after microwaving food)
The best way to avoid doing dishes is to not use dishes.
Dish hack: Eatable dishes. This is not original but inspired from advertising which suggests crackers, rusks, toasted bread, pita were "...
- 14.1k
6
votes
How to shred papers/letters without using a shredder machine
This is how I do it,
Tub – A lot of pages quickly:
Fill a plastic tub with water, soap, salt, and a little bit of sand or ice and bleach. Or if you do not have this just water and soap. Mix it around ...
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
How to avoid background reflection Computer display
Tell your employer they are likely breaking health and safety rules regarding screen glare and need to do something about it, ideally a blind on the window would be the best (as then you can also ...
- 1,268
6
votes
How to peel an orange?
One thing I have found to work is to just cut the orange in four 'quadrants' (use 'vertical cuts, not 'horizontal' ones). The pieces can then be peeled by hand from the corners.
Another method is to ...
- 596
6
votes
Shared tools always getting lost
In the bicycle shop where I work, each tool board has its own colour of tape wrapped around every tool - this helps people to know where to replace tools when they're done using them.
Another ...
- 161
6
votes
What can I do to automate shaking of a sauce bottle?
Your solution can be as simple as two muffin tins in an appropriate size.
As you fill each plastic sauce bottle, put it into the muffin tin.
When the muffin tin is full, put another tin upside down ...
- 14.1k
6
votes
How to pour out liquid from pan
My hack is to pour in two steps
First into a pan that can pour, and is large enough not to spill
Second into the target container
With the pan sizes I have available, this might need to be done ...
- 4,485
5
votes
How to avoid background reflection Computer display
You can knit a privacy sock. The one in the image is for a laptop, but I'm sure the design can be adapted. It's a sock that covers your head and your monitor, so no one can see your display but you. A ...
- 159
5
votes
How to avoid background reflection Computer display
This sounds bizarre, but can you tilt your monitor down a bit? It should then reflect more of the floor and your lap, and you wouldn't see the sunshine in it. (It may become difficult to read, though.)...
- 11.6k
5
votes
How to stop snow from sticking to the shovel
Snow sticks to the shovel because it melts on contact with the shovel blade. This can be most easily prevented by keeping the shovel outdoors, so it's cold before you start shoveling the snow. This ...
- 9,790
5
votes
Wallet won't close because there's too much money in it
This should not be a common situation, as you really should only have a little more than enough money in your wallet for what you are going to need for the day. In other words, most of that money ...
- 6,984
5
votes
What's a great way to store knives for me?
A knife block? - is there any reason why you don't want this option?
- 169
5
votes
How can reuse partial notebook to go waste
Tape the old pages together, or use a paperclip to hold the old pages together. If it's a spiral notebook, simply rip out the old pages.
- 51
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible