Who does not use life hacks? These days probably every second person on the planet knows a couple of “tricks” to ease his daily tasks. T...
Who does not use life hacks? These days probably every second person on the planet knows a couple of “tricks” to ease his daily tasks. Type “life hacks” in the Google’s search line and you’ll discover many thousands of them: school life hacks, best life hacks for college students, the most effective life hacks while on camping, even the psychological life hacks! But what are the origins and the early days of these little tips simplifying our lives today? This article will tell you about the most awesome life hacks of the past!
Talking about the roots of the life hacks, back in the 20th century, the cigarette manufacturing factories used to embed the metal stiffening cards into the cardboard cigarette boxes to add solidity and make them last a little longer. One wonderful day, somebody got visited by the bright idea of printing tiny artworks and even famous people and athletes right on the stiffening cards. In the early 20th, “Gallaher’s Cigarettes” produced a special limited series of 100 “how to do it” cards that portrayed some truly useful and helpful tips for everyday situations. That’s exactly how the life hacks were born. Nowadays the whole 100 card collection is kept in the New York Public Library’s Collection and was recently digitized. Now let’s take a look at 10 best everyday life hacks by the “Gallaher’s Cigarettes”.
#1 How to eject a splinter out of hand
Fill a small glass can with a broad spout with hot liquid nearly up to its edge and push the affected spot of hand densely over the spout. The suction will stretch up the skin and the hot vapor will extract a splinter. 0% of blood, 0% of pain, 100% of result!
#2 How to fell a tree safely
Might come in handy if you’ve decided to clear up some space on your backyard. Define the spot you want the tree to fall onto, make the inward and downward incisions. When it is about half deep through, go ahead and make a cut on the opposite side a little higher, and ultimately take the tree down with the help of the ropes. No need to prophesy where it is going to fall.
#3 Keeping home plants watered while away
One of the good life hacks for the frequent travelers! Pour some water in a wide bucket and set it a bit elevated over the plants and place around as many plants as possible. Loosely bound a couple of woolen threads together, plunge them entirely in water and place one end in the bucket making it touch the bottom. Lay another end on the soil of the flower pot: a separate woolen thread is required for each pot. That’s it! And your plants will be watered until you return.
#4 How to light up a match in the wind
Slit the small shavings on the match in the direction of its striking end. When lighting up the match the curled stripes catch the spark first, the flame is stronger and has a longer burning time.
#5 How to make a seat to cross a stream
A №1 among the cool life hacks especially for the scouts! Tightly secure a solid rope to a tree letting another person cross the river and tie the other end to a tree on the opposite bank. Construct a seat, fasten it to a sliding block, and by means of a lighter rope fastened to the middle of the seat and held by the scouts at each end. No need to swim across the stream for the whole group!
#6 A home-made fire extinguisher
Melt two pounds of salt and half a pound of salmiac in two liters of water and pour the liquid into small glass cans about a liter in each. When a fire breaks out, toss a few cans into the flame and the serious outbursts will probably be prevented.
#7 Making a water filter
The most handy and effective filter can be made out of an ordinary clean zinc bucket, through the bottom of which a hole is drilled and a small pipe stretched. The water leaks out through the layers of usual sand and clean picked gravel stones, with which the bucket is filled, filtering to the bottom in the absolute clear state.
#8 How to keep eggs fresh
Group the eggs by easily putting them into a tin can a box filled with dry rice or salt and placing it in a breezy dry place it is possible to preserve them for a very long time. In addition, no air must be permitted to infiltrate the box.
#9 How to stop a dog attacking you
A long stick with a neckcloth or a hat fixed on its end may be put before a dog. The dog firmly attempts to knock away your defense before biting, thus giving you a good chance to scare it off with a leg kick.
#10 How to rescue a person struck by electric wire
In rescuing a person struck by electricity the most important is to not to attempt to take a wire out of his hand if he is still grasping it, unless your hands are protected by rubber gloves, a water-proof jacket or several layers of thick dry cloth. Stand on glass or dry wood trying to switch the current off and call for a doctor immediately. Thanks to our friends from meetwife.com for providing this article.
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