Lifehacks

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Ultimate Geek

#1426244 11-Nov-2015 14:05

Most tape measures have a number and two arrows stamped on the side of it... like < 50mm > or < 4" > etc.
This is the width of the tape measure casing itself. Handy when you're measure from inside corner to inside corner where you would normally try and bend the tape to get the length (Eg: the inside length of a window frame). Instead of bending the tape, just rest the body of the tape measure flush against the surface you are measuring, and include the number written on the body in your measurement.

Behodar

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#1426247 11-Nov-2015 14:08

That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

geoffwnz

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#1426257 11-Nov-2015 14:32

Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

Some do, yep.

There's a few variations on this also.
The side of the picture of the pump icon that the hose is on can indicate the fuel flap side. And in some cases the side of the dash display it's on.
Easiest way is to pop the fuel flap remote release before you pick a lane and check the mirrors to see which side it's on.

MotorDrive Rallying

jaymz

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#1426340 11-Nov-2015 16:13

One lifehack that I worked out is to do with cleaning stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

While you can purchase special cleaners from supermarkets, i found using plain old window cleaner works just as well.

Simply spray directly onto the dirty surface and wipe clean with a paper towel. All the grease spatters and other marks wipe away with very little elbow grease!

richms

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#1426342 11-Nov-2015 16:20

jaymz: One lifehack that I worked out is to do with cleaning stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

While you can purchase special cleaners from supermarkets, i found using plain old window cleaner works just as well.

Simply spray directly onto the dirty surface and wipe clean with a paper towel. All the grease spatters and other marks wipe away with very little elbow grease!

Just dont get it on any coated surfaces, the ammonia will ruin them.

Richard rich.ms

networkn

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#1426344 11-Nov-2015 16:23

Simply spray directly onto the dirty surface and wipe clean with a paper towel. All the grease spatters and other marks wipe away with very little elbow grease!

My lifehack adjustment, which is general advice not just this situation, is spray onto paper towel (or cloth) and rub on. Liquid can unintentionally end up many places it shouldn't by spraying directly onto surfaces.

The added benefit of said adjustment is that you can test a small section without risking your entire surface.

mdooher

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#1426351 11-Nov-2015 16:32

Test a 9V battery by placing the terminals on your tongue.
With a little experience you can easily tell how charged or not it is.

Actually I was really surprised that some people were unaware of this one.

PS Try touching your two front teeth with it... I've only done that once

Matthew

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mdooher

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#1426360 11-Nov-2015 16:37

Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

or if you run completely out of petrol and you are truly desperate. Pour in a litre or so of water. The water will sink to the bottom of the tank and bring the fuel level up to the outlet pipe.

Yes you will need to get the tank drained, and no don't do this with a diesel, if you get water into the rest of the fuel system you might go broke.

Personally I would ring the AA and save this hack for the zombie apocalypse.

Matthew

networkn

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#1426363 11-Nov-2015 16:38

mdooher:
Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

or if you run completely out of petrol and you are truly desperate. Poor in a litre or so of water. The water will sink to the bottom of the tank and bring the fuel level up to the outlet pipe.

Yes you will need to get the tank drained, and no don't do this with a diesel, if you get water into the rest of the fuel system you might go broke.

Personally I would ring the AA and save this hack for the zombie apocalypse.

To be fair in a ZA there will be plenty of other cars you would simply drive instead.

mdooher

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#1426365 11-Nov-2015 16:40

networkn:
mdooher:
Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

or if you run completely out of petrol and you are truly desperate. Poor in a litre or so of water. The water will sink to the bottom of the tank and bring the fuel level up to the outlet pipe.

Yes you will need to get the tank drained, and no don't do this with a diesel, if you get water into the rest of the fuel system you might go broke.

Personally I would ring the AA and save this hack for the zombie apocalypse.

To be fair in a ZA there will be plenty of other cars you would simply drive instead.

true, and the fresh water may be needed more

Matthew

Geektastic

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#1426385 11-Nov-2015 17:05

networkn:
Geektastic: Leaking radiator in the car? Crack an egg in it. The egg white will plug it for a while - may get you home.

Because so many people carry eggs in the car on the off chance of a radiator problem???

Might work if you were on the way back from grocery shopping.

It's an old one from overland expedition times - usually they had eggs on board as food.

Geektastic

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#1426386 11-Nov-2015 17:09

Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

When I was at Uni, a friend had his number plate on a Dymo printer strip (the old ones that clicked the letters onto plastic tape) stuck on the dash near the speedo.

I asked him why, since I assumed he knew his own licence plate number. He did it just in case the Rozzers pulled him over one night on his way home from the pub. In the olden days, one of their standard 'is he drunk' questions was "what is your licence number sir' so it was to ensure he got it right!

Jeeves

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Ultimate Geek

#1426718 12-Nov-2015 08:41

mdooher:
Behodar: That reminds me of a tip for when you're in an unfamiliar car and need fuel. Most cars have a little arrow next to the "fuel" icon, pointing to which side the tank is on.

or if you run completely out of petrol and you are truly desperate. Pour in a litre or so of water. The water will sink to the bottom of the tank and bring the fuel level up to the outlet pipe.

Yes you will need to get the tank drained, and no don't do this with a diesel, if you get water into the rest of the fuel system you might go broke.

Personally I would ring the AA and save this hack for the zombie apocalypse.

This is terrible, terrible advice.

surfisup1000

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#1426740 12-Nov-2015 09:23

My favourite of the week, not sure I'll get around to it. This guys enthusiasm is way over normal baseline.

SepticSceptic

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#1426767 12-Nov-2015 10:00

andrew027:
freitasm: Nope, not a myth: "Scientists prove you can bounce a battery to test..."

Wow, thanks for that. So it does work, but only for alkaline batteries. Still, who'd'a thunk it?

Yes, it does work - didn't believe it myself, but flat alkalines give multiple little bounces then fall over. Good ones bounce with a more thunky sound, and generally stay upright. Drop from a couple of inches, flat side down.

Also double checked with multimeter, on amps. Good generic AA's are about 3-4A short circuit current, flat-ish ones are 1A or less, though the readings depend on the multimeter. I have seen 50% variation between multimeters on the same new batteries.

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