Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
People Share 47 Old Wives’ Tales They Thought Were Nonsense Until They Tried Them As A Last Resort
While it's important to stay skeptical when taking advice from random strangers, some tips stick around for a reason. Or at least make for a good story.
We found a thread on Reddit where Brits have been sharing the old wives' tales they swear by. Some might have a grain of truth and others sound like pure superstition, but whether you're curious, desperate, or just up for a bit of fun, here are the ones that stood out the most.
Proceed with caution, but who knows? You might just find your next weirdly effective life hack.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
When I was around 21-22 -there were a lot of reasons to own a tuxedo... fancy 21st bdays, uni graduation balls etc.... one day I am staying at a mates place, have the tux in a suit bag for the big night. When I go to get my shirt out to iron it, there is an old, dried ink stain, like a pen leaked on it last time I had worn it.
I freaked out , white shirt, huge blue ink stain.... he says " no worries I'll call mum".... 2 mins later he comes back and says "spray it with hair spray and then rinse it... Will be all good".....
And holy s**t, it was! The hairspray just made the ink run away out of the shirt and it just rinsed off perfectly clean...this was 30 years ago and I am still freaked out about how well it worked.
Just a ray of f'ing sunshine 5 months ago
It's the alcohol in the products that take the ink stains out. I've used it many times (just isopropyl alcohol), and it works great.
George Costanza 5 months ago
This. It isn't specific to hairspray, it's just that hairspray has volatile alcohol in it.
Load More Replies...
Disco Cat 5 months ago
I've used it to get hair dye stains off my face and neck. Works very well
Load More Replies...
Rahb in Oz 5 months ago
You don’t wear a business shirt as formal wear; you wear a dress shirt. They don’t have pockets.
Joke Vermote 2 months ago
works with permanent marker on most surfaces too, kids been doodling on the cupboard doors? Hairspray is the solution
RELATED:
#2
Clove oil for toothache. Just dab a bit on with a cotton bud. Even chewing on a clove will help!
This one is so effective that dentists will recommend it, along with salt water as a basic disinfectant.
ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 5 months ago
Eugenol, which is a part of clove oil, has pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties.
lula mura 5 months ago (edited)
**Eugenol** (which is made with clove oil) is applied locally to numb the painful area (gums, teeth). The same substance extracted from cloves is combined with **zinc oxide** to create a paste called **ZOE (zinc oxide eugenol)**, which is used as a **temporary dressing** or a **filling material**.
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
It also works brilliantly to deter puppies from chewing furniture. The numbing effect is unpleasant for them, so they don't want to repeat the experience, and the smell is quite memorable and lingers for a long time so they keep away. Don't use it to excess or if they continue to chew because it can cause toxicity problems.
Artful Penguin 5 months ago
I can attest to this. I have been using clove oil for tooth aches for many years. It will numb everything it touches. I only use DoTerra as in the picture, but I think any high quality oil will do the trick.
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
It helped a family friends of mine when she had toothache while we were on holidays. Soothed the pain until she could get home to a dentist.
#3
Salt for bloodstains. Ideally when the stain is still wet, keep it damp and pile a s**t ton of salt on it. The salt draws liquid, and the blood particles with it. I’ve also had some success by rewetting dried blood too, although it’s not as effective.
Just to clarify, I got that from years of having periods, not … any other reasons.
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
Hydrogen peroxide completely removes wet blood and is very effective on dried blood as well. It acts as an oxidizing agent, breaking down the blood components through a chemical reaction.
Nichole Harris 5 months ago
I love this for the lighter fabrics but it will bleach darker ones!
Load More Replies...
JK 5 months ago
If it's a small stain, and your own blood, spit on it. Your own saliva will breakdown your own blood!
sweet emotion 5 months ago (edited)
I learned early in my quilting career that about 90% of pin-pr!ck drops of blood can be rubbed out of cotton fabrics with a drop of your own saliva. Grandma would have said like takes to like, my mom would have said your blood and your saliva have the same enzymes.
Peeka_Mimi 5 months ago
I used to soak my undies and pants in cold water and Tide. If came right out.
#4
If you break glass and it splinters everywhere, you can use a slice of bread to pick it up safely.
If you’re sweeping up or use a cleaning cloth, the little tiny splinters of glass will all end up caught in the broom or the fabric and you end up spreading them further. If you make a little cushion out of a fresh slice of bread, you can use it to collect all of the splinters and keep your fingers safe.
You can mix this low tech solution with a high-tech one. Use the torch on your phone at a very low angle to check you’ve got it all. If the phone is effectively on the floor, shining sideways, anything you need to pick up will show up easily.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 5 months ago
Awww... but it would be so crunchy...
Load More Replies...
Aileen Grist 5 months ago
To get a broken light bulb out of the fitting use a potato - cut the end off the potato and then push the rest into the broken end of the bulb and turn the bulb to remove it
Trillian 5 months ago
I will not use food to clean the floor. A vacuum cleaner will do the job just fine.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
A vacuum cleaner wouldn't get the finer bits of glass - use a piece of wet paper towel instead to "dab" up the last tiny shards.
Load More Replies...
Yan 5 months ago
I'd rather use wet paper towel. Slice of bread will be thrown away and some birds, dogs etc. can swallow it
Chonky Panda 5 months ago
Obviously you throw it away in the trash bin, not outside lmao
Load More Replies...
#5
If you've lost an earring, or other small piece of jewellery in the carpet, stretch some tights over the hose and hoover the area. Just make sure you don't split the tights, or you'll be fishing hoover dust to find it again! 🙀
(Yes, I learned that one the hard way, I make mistakes so you don't have to! 😹).
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
Good for sewing needles too. Also shining a torch over floor to pick up the glint.
Jay 5 months ago
Sorry I'm not understanding this. Stretch tights over the hose and hoover the area? What is it trying to say?
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago (edited)
Stretch a pair of tights or pantyhose over the end of your vacuum (using the hose/tube attachment, not the big floor one) and vacuum over the area. The vacuum will suck up the dust, but the tights/pantyhose will keep any larger objects (like earrings etc) from being sucked into the bin. Hope this helps clarify 😁
Load More Replies... #6
Local honey helps Hay-fever.
I have tried every medication under the sun (I sneeze well in to triple figures on a really bad day), and nothing helps manage the allergies like local honey. A spoonful in my cereal or porridge every morning is a game changer. Takes a while to build the immunity but give it a couple weeks - night and day difference.
B 5 months ago
It has to be Raw unfiltered honey, it still has pollen in it & helps you to build up a resistance
CatD 5 months ago
I did this when I was a kid because I read about it. I'm allergic to a lot of things, but not pollen.
Load More Replies... The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
To be clear: this is not "local" honey from your nearest grocer - that's not usually local enough and it's been processed much more than actual local honey - which can be purchased at your local farmers market or (at least near me) roadside stand. Otherwise the pollen will not be the same and it will do nothing to help.
Funhog 5 months ago
If you don't get results from honey from one local brand, try another brand. Locally-sold honey is not usually inspected to ensure that it is, in fact, local honey. I've seen brands marked as local that have honey that is made from flowers that do not even grow in the area. I've also heard of some that import 55-gal drums of honey to mix with their own local honey; as long as the jar being sold contains some local honey, they can label it as such.
amy lee 5 months ago
Local beekeepers will sell direct. Some will be at a local farmers market
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
I liked the taste of nettle tea, but turned out I was allergic to it!
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
Unless you are allergic to honey like me :) The things that cause my hay fever are often what bees collect pollen from and I get a reaction when I consume it. Also affects my gut because of the fructose.
Ambyr Lix 5 months ago
Adding to say that the best honey for this is locally sourced honey from your area (and that particular season). And if you go on vacay somewhere, get local honey from THAT area in that season. The composition of the honey will differ between regions based on what is nearby that they gather... The other tip is that honey doesn't spoil or expire, so if you get a local honey this fall, you can use it next fall, too.
Hannah 5 months ago
This is my next step! Never hay fever until an adult. I'll try most things once. I look as though I'm I'm constantly in bereavement
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
The only thing that has helped me is a steroid and antihistamine nasal spray. The brand name I can get where I live is Dymista. Originally, a doctor prescribed it, but it is now sold over the counter (costs quite a bit though).
Load More Replies... #7
If you want more birds in your garden... brush cat, dog, rabbits etc in garden and leave it hanging on a bush somewhere. Birds will use it for nests.
If you want to keep squirrels, rats etc out of your bird food, mix it with the hottest chilli flakes you can find. Hotter the better.
Also good more natural way of keeping rats away from anywhere. Bird seed with chilli flakes/seeds. Have rat problem around block I live in... not round my patio doors!
Science bit... Birds don't have the taste receptors to taste the chilli. The chilli passes straight through them, seeds complete with a little package of wet fertiliser. Mammals like squirrels and rats do have taste receptors. The feel temporary pain eating the chilli laced bird food and get a remimder when they poop a bit later.
Rats and squirrels are intelligent and will quickly associate pain with eating at location and will then stop eating there.
Gavin Johnson 5 months ago
As a warning here. If you’ve used a spot treatment for fleas on the back of the neck of your furry friends then don’t put the fur out for nesting material. Studies have connected bird mortality rates with chemicals that are being found in bird nests. https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2025/03/10/pet-flea-treatments-are-poisoning-wild-birds-study/
CaliPanda 5 months ago (edited)
An alternative to fur for bird nests, I tie small bundles of dryer lint to a few local branches. We have a lovely finch family this year! Love hearing their chirps.
Lil be lil 5 months ago
That sounds ok as long as you're not using chemical dryer sheets in the dryer! Not good for people either, the exhaust from dryers in the air is toxic!!!👿
Load More Replies... Judy Reynolds 5 months ago
I hope you are hanging the shed fur in the trees and bushes, not the animals!!
#8
Dunno if these are old wives tales but they are things that have personally worked for me AND others I have recommend them to.
Razor burn on your legs? Put on a pair of tights/ leggings/ long socks. Don’t know why it works but does. Saved me many times till I just stopped shaving and switch to hair removal cream.
Nappy cream (zinc based emollient like sudocrem) on/ around the nose when you have a cold that requires you to wipe your nose a lot. Helps to keep the area hydrated without getting irritated by the snot and frequent wiping.
Hot and sweaty? Can’t change/shower (work or whatever) baby wipe, then hand sanitizer, then fresh deodorant. You will feel and smell like you just showered. (Wipes off the sweat, kills off all the bacteria and dries out the area, renews your protection)
Also, if you’re larger set or part of the tig biddy gang, you can use that same nappy cream on your underboob to prevent sweat rash.
Nauseous? Salted crackers. Literally just a nibble on one or two just to put something in the stomach can help greatly. Good for morning sickness, hangovers, anxiety.
If there’s something you can’t wash - spray it with vodka or rubbing alcohol. Widely used for costumes in theatre that can’t be washed, but it’s also useful for those items that you want to freshen up after being in the wardrobe for a while.
Someone is sick in the house? Circulation is key. You need a “cross breeze”. My go to is opening a few windows and having a fan pointing from one to the other to draw fresh air in and push old air out. Best practice to be done while giving everything a good clean. Especially in bedrooms.
Use a bath mat as a kitchen rug - very absorbent if you’re like me and manage to splash a lot when washing up. But can also be shoved into the washing machine with no issues.
CatD 5 months ago
Peppermints work too. My nursing teacher used to give them out before exams.
Load More Replies... The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago (edited)
When I was pregnant, I had awful morning sickness. My OB suggested putting a small plate of crackers next to my bed and eating a few AS SOON as I woke up - before I even raised my head. It worked like a charm! Keep in mind this is only for the "motion sickness" etc type nausea. It won't help for nausea associated with hangovers or food poisoning - that's your body literally trying to expel toxins from your body (amongst other things).
geraldrboyle@aol.com 5 months ago
Best shave is Hair Conditioner on wet skin. Shaving cream on top of conditioner is optional, but even better. HC on its own always gives a graze/cut free shave.
Rali Meyer 5 months ago
yes, especially in winter... I get the advise, like during Covid (at schools): All windows open.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 5 months ago
I learned from some preschoolers I taught that teething gel is good for mouth ulcers.
Lil be lil 5 months ago
Spray your clothes with Vodka or rubbing alcohol??? Would be flammable???
George Costanza 5 months ago
Some of these are definitely just old wives' tales. Saltines have never cured my hangover nausea. Not once. And sure ventilation might just maybe keep other people in the house from getting sick. But more than likely it's going to go through the house no matter what. And winter doesn't exactly allow for just opening all the windows just to prevent people from getting a virus.
#9
Got bursitis in my already arthritic knee, really swollen and painful. Friend suggested rubbing castor oil into it which I’d never heard of but I was desperate enough to give it a try. Within 24 hours it was far less swollen and after 36 hours I was in the least pain for months. Been doing it twice a day for a couple of weeks now, I’m back at the gym, I’m a complete convert.
Also had great success with rubbing Vicks on the soles of my feet at bedtime to help subdue a cough.
Subaru645 5 months ago
Diagnosed with bone spurs on my shoulders, rubbed regularly with castor oil for the last 6 months and I agree it works. I have full movement of my shoulders, no pain.
Jessica Rabbit 5 months ago
I have a calcium spur on my heel and pain in both shoulders, I am going to try this!
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
I will have to try that next time I get bursitis pain. Cortisone injection did nothing.
lula mura 5 months ago
Only externally! Castor oil is known as a strong laxative, when taken internally, it should be used in very small doses (1 teaspoon or less), only occasionally, and usually under medical supervision. It is not recommended for daily or long-term use, nor as an internal anti-inflammatory supplement. Its effectiveness for internal inflammation via oral use is not well-supported, and it is mainly used for cleansing the intestines.
Load More Replies...
#10
Witch Hazel on a cyst.
I was in my teens, battling a golf ball on my face; determined quitting school and moving country was my only option to survive. Out come the dear matriarchs of the family with a bottle of which hazel and I was right as rain (well still 14, but we can't have everything) by the end of the weekend. No operations. No pain. Absolutely brilliant.
Tabitha 5 months ago
Witch hazel is not only good for bruises, it’s also a good astringent for your face too. Plus, since all witch hazel is alike, except for the more expensive brands simply adding scent and quintupling (or more) the price, if you go for the bottom shelf generic brand, it is cheap cheap cheap. Forget all those expensive astringents and “clarifiers”. Just use good old fashioned witch hazel and you’ll be just fine.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
I think that's what the OP meant by "cyst" = pimples on your face. Not bruises, although if it works on bruises too that is great!
Load More Replies... Judy Reynolds 5 months ago
Now you tell me!! I had a dog with a cyst that size on her back. The vet said it would have cost $800 then to remove it. She lived nearly her whole life before it burst. I had to put her down for other reasons.
Little Bit 5 months ago
Witch Hazel is my go-to treatment for all sorts of things; cuts, insect bites, sunburn, spots, rashes.
George Costanza 5 months ago
I can't fathom medically how witch hazel would get rid of an actual cyst, especially a skin cyst. A skin cyst is lined by epidermal-type epithelium filled with keratin debris that will not just disappear as a result of any topical treatment. Maybe you had an inflamed or ruptured cyst and the witch hazel knocked down the inflammation and swelling. But there's no way it made the actual inclusion cyst disappear.
E. Rex Sean 5 months ago
i’m assuming the op is referring to cystic acne when she says cyst.
Load More Replies... #11
You can tell if an egg has gone bad by putting it in a saucepan or jug full of water and seeing if it floats. If it sinks or stands upright on its end it’s fine as long as it’s touching the bottom. If it floats and doesn’t touch the bottom it’s gone bad. The older the egg, the more upright it will go until it floats completely.
Something to do with gases being produced that make the egg more buoyant as it ages I think.
Ace 5 months ago (edited)
No, that will not tell you if it's bad or not. It is an indication of freshness, true, but there's no reason to assume than an older egg will be 'bad'. In general (especially in countries where eggs are not 'sanitised' before packing) an egg will last for months before going off. Edit: worth mentioning also that in the US and a few other places the eggs are washed before packing, which removes a natural coating from the shell and therefore allows air transfer much more quickly, which is why they need to be refrigerated and even then will tend to have a shorter shelf life.
Cherry M 5 months ago (edited)
Exactly! But it’s always good to crack the eggs to a small bowl one by one and transfer them to the „final destination”, instead of doing it directly. I do it even with freshly bought ones. If one is bad, you don’t waste all your other ingredients.
Load More Replies...
Jihana 5 months ago
It's not because of produced gasses but because the egg simply dries out over time, and the volume is replaced by air.
LizzieBoredom 5 months ago
This is what happened to my brain. I call it Eggheimers.
Load More Replies... Rali Meyer 5 months ago
I do the same with grade 3 (4.8) bolts. I throw them in water. If they float, they are good to use on my race car
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
You throw steel bolts in the water to see if they float???
Load More Replies... K_Tx 5 months ago
I was just trying to remember this to check some eggs we have in the fridge. Perfect timing!
Crystalwitch60 5 months ago
You can actually tell if an eggs off by touching the end to your lips if it’s warm it’s off it’s it’s cold it’s ok , (farm born n bred 60 yr old ) it never fails
Load More Replies... Andrew Keir 5 months ago
But - mass is constant (can't escape from shell) - volume is constant (shell) - so how can the density (buoyancy) change ?
Noltha 5 months ago
Mass is not constant - water evaporates through the shell.
Load More Replies... #12
My Nanna would get a bar of soap, cover it in cloth and use it as a pin cushion. She said the needles would glide through the fabric better because of the pointy end being stuck in the bar of soap. No one sews much anymore but that one worked.
She also swore by apple cider vinegar for keeping you healthy. All her family had arthritis except her. She'd have a teaspoon in a glass of water every morning and said it prevented her from getting arthritis. Not sure about that one but I doubt it did any harm. .
Rali Meyer 5 months ago
I knew this man, drinking a bottle of whisky until 95. I prefer that to vinegar
keyboardtek 5 months ago
I tried the apple cider vinegar thing. Just gave me bad acid indigestion.
Crystalwitch60 5 months ago
The soap really works , I’ve used it myself grew up with my grandparents from 8 mths old n my gran used to do this , I’m now 60 n when I do have to sew I still use this method the cider apple vinegar mind lol is just a myth, my gran was a Martin of a hospital here in uk , n was a nurse in ww2 think I,ll believe what she told me over wiki 😂
geezeronthehill 5 months ago
Tailors and seamstresses rubbed beeswax on their needles, and also on their threads, to facilitate sewing.
nuberiffic 5 months ago
Vinegar is metabolised by the guy and broken down. It has no medicinal effect
Auntriarch 5 months ago
My nan used to rub the needle in her hair, I guess that put a little oil on the metal, stopped it rusting
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Whoever came up with this cider vinegar thing is a marketing genius.
#13
Vinegar is amazing. Water stains on a glass bottle? Vinegar and some water and it's gone. Drain blocked? Vinegar and baking soda and it's gone. Got rust? Vinegar. Smeary mirror? Vinegar and water. Rubbish bin smells? Vinegar and water. Sticky labels stuck on something? Vinegar and water.
Victor Botha 5 months ago
Vinegar and baking soda is a myth. Vinegar is acidic snd baking soda is alkaline so it will fizz, but basically it's just one item canceling the other one hence the chemical reaction.
B 5 months ago
Vinegar , salt ,dish soap & water in a spray bottle will k**l weeds & is safe for pets
Bonnie Blue Bird 5 months ago
Vinegar is also great for cleaning and sanitizing without the harsh smells you get with store bought cleaners.
Nina 5 months ago
Yes, vinegar really helps get rid of all kinds of things. Don't need much, diluted with water will do the trick.
Stacy Carroll 5 months ago
The fizzing action is what helps clear the drain.
Load More Replies... The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
I can't stand my things smelling like vinegar though. I just use rubbing alcohol for all of the things listed and it works well without the foul smell left behind. Cut up lemons and salt in the garbage disposal (just remove any leftover rind when you're done).
ROSESARERED 2 months ago
VInegar and dishwashing detergent is the best shower/bath cleaner ever. 2 litres of white vinegar, a couple of hood squirts iof dw liquid. I put it in a pressure sprayer, spray, leve it for 10 minutes and then I scrub with a cobweb broom...gets into all the corners...bad back a shoulders
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
I was sceptical about vinegar and newspaper for cleaning glass but was frustrated with cleaning products I tried. Turns out it works well and is so much cheaper!
Little Bit 5 months ago
I use white vinegar for cleaning windows and getting rid of mould. It is quite effective for mite infestations too.
ROSESARERED 5 months ago
Mould, use vinegar. Fabric softener, 2 cups of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. General cleaner, white vinegar with a good squirt of dishwashing liquid, great fir bathrooms. Do not use vinegar on marble if you are lucky enought yo have some, it will damage it.
#14
A fairly well known one but ginger for nausea. Warm saltwater gargle for a sore throat. .
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
I always use Betadine gargle for sore throats. Before I get negative comments like last time, Betadine make a specific throat gargle product where I live, I'm not using the external Betadine product internally.
#15
I got a veruca, I lived with it for a month or so and mentioned it to my grandma as you do, anyway she said to tape a square of banana skin to it each night. I thought it was bollocks but I did it anyway and it actually worked really well, was gone with after 2 weeks!
K_Tx 5 months ago
Vertical = wart. I've heard of people using duct tqpe in the same way to make them go away.
Ace 5 months ago (edited)
Verruca. AKA plantar wart. Apparently the word is less used in the US, so many Americans didn't realise what it meant when they encountered Veruca Salt in the Wílly Wonker movie(s) and actually used it to name their children.
Load More Replies...
#16
Mosquito Bites. I get absolutely eaten alive and the only thing that's ever worked for me is extra strength deet. But if I do get bitten, a spoon in a mug of hot water, wait until it gets hot then apply for as long as you can stand to the bite. I don't know why it works, I guess the heat draws the venom out or maybe it just tricks the brain but I've tried everything else and a hot spoon is the only relief.
Andrew Burke 5 months ago
The heat probably breaks down the proteins in the mosquito saliva which are responsible for the allergic reaction. You can actually get heat pens for exactly this reason.
Captain Kakapo 5 months ago
you can have a device doing just that - heating small pad for couple of seconds to treat insect bites. Yes, it is more expensive than a spoon, but it creates stable temperature enough to destroy the poison and not tu burn. Also it is pocket siaze, you can carry it around and not thinking how will you warm spoon on a street
Beth H 5 months ago
The nerves that control pain sensation are the same for temperature so you can’t itch and feel heat/cold at the same exact moment.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
I remember this from my tattoos! I looked like a total loon slapping myself nonstop, but at least my tattoos didn't scar 🤷🏽♀️
Load More Replies...
Little Bit 5 months ago
I don't know how true this is but I read somewhere that if you eat loads of garlic, it keeps mosquitoes away.
ROSESARERED 5 months ago
I use deoderamt or hairspray. It seals the bite hole, which is why it itches. Takes a few minutes to work, but it works
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
Scab from what? The bite or the spoon? Put antibiotic ointment on the bite scab right away.
Load More Replies... #17
When you’re doing plaster work or dusty work, clean up the dust using damp sawdust. Saves clogging up a vacuum and doesn’t let the dust up into the air. Top tip from my dad who learned it from the old lady who used to clean his dad’s bike shop in the 1950s. Best DIY tip I’ve ever learned.
Tabitha 5 months ago (edited)
And cat litter. The clumping kind makes cleaning it off easier.
Load More Replies... The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
Many times when doing projects that involve drywall, there may be wood involved and sawdust left over (I'm guessing?). Plus many people have it on hand to use for small animal bedding. Non clumping kitty litter works well too.
Load More Replies... #18
To stop a mirror steaming up, get a bit of soap on a cloth or towel, rub it on the mirror to cover it. Then buff it up so you can see in it again. Voila!
SydneyGirl 5 months ago
Learned this trick during Covid when my reading glasses fogged up while wearing a mask. A tiny smear of dishwashing liquid on the lenses and no more fogging.
#19
Rubbing dock leaves on a sting nettle sting. They also appear to grow near each other.
Ace 5 months ago
Sadly just a myth. Yes, I used to do this as a kid too, and it seemed to work, but it's been shown to have ni effect other than the rubbing action itself stimulating more blood flow around the affected area.
CrazyCoffeeLady 2 months ago
No its not. You have to pulp up the doc leaf to get the juices out. I'm 52 and it definitely works. Although I've been stung so many times now that I think I'm almost immune.
Load More Replies...
Atom Bohr 5 months ago
They used to. I haven't seen dock leaves for years, but plenty of nettles. I don't know if it's true, but my grandmother swore that drinking nettle tea made her immune to their stings. She certainly had no issue grabbing and pulling out handfuls of nettles, and the tea is quite pleasant, but I also don't react much to them (provided I don't touch the area in the first few seconds of discomfort) and I haven't drank the tea since I was a child
Anyone-for-tea? 5 months ago
Really? Where in the world are you? There’s loads near me where I live in the UK, luckily they’re still growing next to the nettles.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 5 months ago
My mum tried this and it didn't work, but it could be a different variety of dock, or maybe she didn't do it soon enough? I just use dock in place of spinach sometimes because it tastes good (mostly yellow dock and you have to get young leaves, before they get too bitter).
#20
I used to have warts on my fingers by the fingernails. Was told to dab them with sap from a dandelion and cover the, with plasters. Was gone within a fortnight.
Seán Hannan 5 months ago
I did this as a small kid with a wart on my finger. It definitely worked for me. It was also the last time I had a wart.
Lil be lil 5 months ago
Can't find dandelions in the US, they have been obliterated from lawns!
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
That makes me sad :( they are so useful for bees and they taste good too. I made a great dandelion jelly last year. Far too much use of pesticides used in the world just to get rid of things for appearance sake.
Load More Replies...
#21
If you have a cold with a cough. Tablespoon of honey right before you go to bed. Honey is a natural anti inflammatory with so much other health benefits. It's why most cough medicines have honey in them as an ingredient.
Niamh_ie 5 months ago
A hot toddy/whiskey also works. Hot water, whiskey, honey, lemon and cloves.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
I do this, just without the whiskey and it's fantastic for coughs and sore throat! I muddle a slice or 2 of lemon with honey and a pinch of clove then pour the hot water over.
Load More Replies... 
Wysteria_Rose 5 months ago
Helps with coughing if you don't have a cough drop or anything on hand. It coats your throat, helps get rid of that irritating itch that won't go away.
#22
If you have an abscess in your mouth, and you can’t get to a dentist for what ever reason, pop a teabag on it and leave it for a good hour. It’s uncomfortable and slightly disgusting but the teabag will suck the infection out. Well it will calm it down massively, I will add this isn’t a full cure. Mental.
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Gargle and swish with a nice strong salt solution for mouth and throat infections. Use as much salt as you can dissolve in warm water. Take care not to swallow the salt though.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
Black or green tea in my experience helps. I'm not sure if it's the caffeine, the tannins or what, but both have stellar antiinflammatory properties. Also works to depuff your eyes in the morning! I put my used tea bag in the fridge and put them on my eyes for a couple minutes in the morning.
Load More Replies...
Judy Reynolds 5 months ago
Yes, but till you have taken the first couple of doses of the antibiotics.
Load More Replies... #23
If you spill oil cover it with salt and sweep it up. Not sure if it’s an old wives tale or a hospitality hack I learned. We had tubs of salt just for oil spills and it’s just so much easier than any thing else.
keyboardtek 5 months ago
Kitty litter absorbs oil. Also if there is no paint recycling center where you live, dispose of old paint by putting kitty litter into the can and leaving the lid off until it dries. Then you can put it with your other landfill trash.
Niamh_ie 5 months ago
Instant coffee also works as the coffee will hide the smell.
Load More Replies... ROSESARERED 5 months ago
Break an egg, for easy clean up, put salt in it, leave it for a few minutes.
#24
If you drop an egg on the floor sprinkle salt on it &it turns the yolk/white into a paste which is easier to scoop up with kitchen roll or a cloth.
Nichole Harris 5 months ago
A single egg shell would actually be good for doggie.... It's an excellent source of calcium and I think phosphate
Load More Replies... Rali Meyer 5 months ago
or call in your Labrador. Hold, he will grab the egg before it hits the ground!
#25
Use a tealight candle to wax wooden drawer runners.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago (edited)
Soap or any type of wax works too. Don't do WD-40 unless you're trying to clean the drawer runners - WD-40 is not intended to be used as a lubricant, it's a solvent.
#26
A glass of milk for heartburn. Castor oil packs for any lumps/bumps. Clove oil on toothache. Rub a paracetemol on a hot stained iron to remove burn marks and residue from the iron. Ginger for nausea/sickness/upset tummy. Lemon and honey with ginger and a pinch of cayenne for colds.
Tabitha 5 months ago
Paracetamol in the UK = Tylenol in the US. Milk is what you should drink instead of water if you’ve eaten a really hot pepper, as it coats your throat and eases the heat off.
Gabby Ghoul 5 months ago
Capsaicin, the hot part of a hot pepper, is not water soluble so water won't relieve the burning. It is fat soluble, though, so eating something that contains fat will help. Skim milk won't work but whole milk and bread will.
Load More Replies...
Lady Eowyn 5 months ago
Milk works great for heartburn, and soothing the mouth/throat when you eat something hot.
#27
From my granny. If you have very bad dry skin, use oats to help soothe it. Take raw oats, the rough sort. Seal them in a cloth or something that can strain. Tie that cloth to the tap and let the bath water filter through the oats. Soak in the turgid oat water. Pat dry.
The cloth is to stop you blocking the drain, sitting on soggy oats and having to clean up afterwards. Pro tip: She used tights as a strainer. Works a treat, no other additives, and cheap.
From my mother, hot water as a cure for indigestion from overeating. Take a cup of hot water, as hot as you can make it. Sip it as soon as you can drink it without completely burning your mouth off. Keep sipping while it is hot. Our normal reaction is to put the cup down until it is cool. Don't do that. Keep sipping while hot. Then walk about a bit, if you can. Give it 10 minutes and you should be fixed.
Tabitha 5 months ago
Drinking hot water—-you can add some lemon for flavor if you like—-stimulates the process of peristalsis, which helps muscle contractions in the digestive tract that aid digestion by moving the contents of the digestive tract along, so you can eventually “evacuate” them. I learned about this as a child from my grandmother, back in the sixties.
Lady Eowyn 5 months ago
Aveeno is a commercial product which uses oats to soothe skin problems, it works really well.
Anna Drever 5 months ago
For indigestion or nausea my mother recommends the ‘kīll or cure’ method of baking soda in water (I use maybe half a teaspoon to a whole one of baking soda in a small amount of water, maybe a third of a cup). Drink quickly then follow with plain water to get rid of the awful taste. You’ll either upchuck and feel better or you’ll belch and feel better, hence the ‘kïll or cure’ name. Usually works.
#28
Conkers for getting rid of spiders. I won't tell the wife this, but I think she was right as since she saw about this and put conkers round the house we've barely seen any when we used to have loads.
Only problem now is the bloody flies! I'd much rather a harmless spider chilling in the corner keeping them under control!
Tabitha 5 months ago (edited)
Corkers = chestnuts? I just use a mixture of peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle. Spiders don’t like peppermint. Bonus: the room smells like peppermint candy and my sinuses clear out immediately and stay clear.
Debby Keir 5 months ago
Conkers are horse chestnuts - NOT the same as chestnuts as they are poisonous to humans.
Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven 5 months ago
If you get rid of spiders, you'll end up dealing with all the bugs the spiders would have eaten.
Little Bit 5 months ago
It didnt work for me. I put conkers all over my lounge in a bid to prevent spiders. One evening I saw a huge spider perched on top of one of the conkers.
#29
Magnesium salts to draw out a splinter. Make a really strong solution and soak finger whilst watching telly. Works like a charm.
Rali Meyer 5 months ago
well, this big one I can grab with an adjustable crescent wrench. Perhaps for the invisible ones?
Squirrelly Panda 5 months ago
Sometimes a bit of tape on the splinter site works. When you remove the tape the spliter comes with it.
Spittnimage 5 months ago
Not that kinda splinter, one deep-seated into the skin that you can't get to without digging a hole in your skin.
Debby Keir 5 months ago
You can buy magnesium sulphate paste ( which works just like a poultice) to draw out the splinter. It costs only pennies - but stir the pot it comes in with wood/plastic, not metal.
#30
Years ago, I found a charm in an old folk law book to cure hiccups. I've found that most of the time, it works. As I'm pretty sure it's the action and not the little "spell" that goes with it, take 7 sips of water.
Graham Chapman (He/He) 5 months ago
My trick is to take sips of breath and hold it, so sip, hold, sip hold, sip, hold until you can't get enough air in, then slowly release the air out through pursed lips- works every time!
Tabitha 5 months ago
Same, except I exhale after holding my breath for 20 seconds. Basically, concentrating on regulating my breathing and counting to 20 relaxes me and the hiccups stop. Not always immediately, I have hiccupped while holding my breath before the count reaches 20, so I just start over until it works.
Load More Replies... Ace 5 months ago
I still use a method I learned when I was a child 0 drinking water out of the wrong side of a glass. Bending over the glass, carefully bringing to mouth and sipping it, you'll only be able to sip very small amounts per mouthful and the body position helps control the diaphragm. Works for me every time.
Mother Lunatic 5 months ago
I've found hyperventilating works, and if that doesn't, drink a pint of water with your thumbs in your ears, using the remaining fingers to lift the glass. That's more because of the concentration doing that, you forget about the hiccups lol
Niamh_ie 5 months ago
Or a straw as it saves risking breaking the glass (not that I've ever done it but it did get rid of the hiccups 🤣🤣)
Load More Replies... nuberiffic 5 months ago
It's about resetting your breathing. You need to do somethingbthat either takes concentration to help you relax, or something that makes you take a breath involuntarily
#31
Consuming local unfiltered (raw) honey really helps minor hayfever.
Sadly soon as whatever particular pollen I’m EXTRA allergic to appeared, it ruined me, but up until then it was great.
#32
Cold tea for eye inflammation. Bathe your eye in an eyebath twice a day. I believe that the tannin in the tea is the active ingredient?
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Make sure to use boiled water, and make up a fresh solution every time. There are some eye infections you can get from tap water that can permanently damage your corneas in a matter of hours.
#33
The sun also works for turmeric stains.
That's why the British have a problem with them but Indians don't.
You also need the clothes to be damp.
#34
Lavander oil on burns. Got a minor burn from say oil splatter or catching the side of a pan, put a couple drops of lavender on it.
Honestly not sure if placebo, but now I have a bottle of lavender in my kitchen always. Just take care it doesn't go in the food...
Debby Keir 5 months ago
Tea tree oil is antibacterial - not much use for fresh burns.
Load More Replies... 
Bartlet for world domination 5 months ago
This is the only thing that works (for me) but I don't think it's available outside the Netherlands: https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/boegem-balsem-80-ml/9200000005138995/ AND NEVER PUT ANYTHING ON AN OPEN BURN!
Jude Corrigan 5 months ago (edited)
If for any reason the burn needs to be covered. For example, it may get dirt in it or dirty fingers near it. Loosely wrap in cling film. It won't cling to the burn but will protect it until you can get proper medical help.
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Nope. The only thing you should ever put on a burn is water. Up-to-date medical advice is to use tepid water and run it for at least ten minutes. The reason not to use cold water is that what you're trying to achieve is to reduce the production of heat-shock chemicals by the damaged cells. Freezing cold temperatures mean that now the cells are not only heat-damaged but are producing cold-shock chemicals as well, doing even more damage. Don't put oils, fats, or soaps on a burn.
#35
Garlic and honey for a cold, garlic is generally magic antibiotic and helps ‘clean’ blood.
Nichole Harris 5 months ago
Combined with ginger and lemon it's even better ( yes it tastes weird but it's medicine not lunch)
#36
When i was young and had hiccups, my nan told me to take a big deep breath then fill my mouth up with water, hold my breath for as long as i can and then swallow the water.
I don't care if someone says "that doesnt work" or anything because for my entire life since then it has never failed me, rarely i might have to do it twice but it just works.
I don't know scientifically if it helps reset your diaphragm or what, but it just works for me.
Rali Meyer 5 months ago
I get people to name 5 celebs with bald heads. Telly Savalas, Yul Bynner, ...- em, em, em. Gone
Regina Holt 5 months ago
It's not that hiccups happen often, it's just that when they do, they are sooooo annoying.
Load More Replies...
#37
Raw onion on the bottom of your feet to cure colds. Just put a sock over them and go to sleep.
I had an event coming up but didn't want to cancel with a cold, My mom's old neighbour told me to do this and I thought she was crazy, but I was desperate.
It felt weird and I threw my socks away, but my cold had gone, no symptoms at all the next day.
Witchcraft 😂.
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 5 months ago
It's almost like getting a good night of sleep helps you feel better.
Load More Replies... #38
I once had a swollen, infected toe.. Did the lactating mother trick of finding a cabbage leaf (darker green the better) and wrapped it up. Drew the heat out and reduced swelling. even a dark green lettuce leaf worked.
OneHappyPuppy 5 months ago
It's not just about the cold, it's about the ingredients in the cabbage leaf. I've tried both (cabbage leaves and damp cloth) and can say that for some reason the cabbage was more effective
Load More Replies... #39
My Nan used to chop an onion in half and put it on the windowsill inside, she said it like a natural dehumidifier 🧐.
Atom Bohr 5 months ago
There are plenty of 'natural' dehumidifiers that don't smell - and I say that as someone who lives onions
Ace 5 months ago
Maybe effective as an insect deterrent, but I cannot see how it could remove humidity from the air.
Tabitha 5 months ago
People deterrent too, if it makes the room/house smell like raw onion.
Load More Replies... George Costanza 5 months ago
Exactly how much dehumidifying is one half of one onion really going to do in a room/house? My guess would be...none.
🇺🇦 🇵🇸 TribbleThinking 5 months ago (edited)
This is just plain silly. The onion is going to dry out and fractionally humidify the air, not dehumidify it.
Nichole Harris 5 months ago
I live in the southern part of the USA.... IDK if that'd work here
ROSESARERED 5 months ago
My mum used to cut a lemon in half after a friend who smoked had been visiting. The fruit would be black the next morning, and the smell gone
#40
I had a sty appear out of no where after becoming unwell.
My old dear told me to rub gold directly onto the sty daily, I did this for weeks and nothing was happening and I felt like abit of a t**t for doing it in all honesty, when I finally stopped doing it after seeing no results the sty literally disappeared. Extremely quickly. Like gone in a few days..
Lynchamigsakta 5 months ago
But styes usually go away by themselves, and faster if you don't touch and rub stuff on it. I've never had one that lasted several weeks so this just sounds like making it worse
Chonky Panda 5 months ago
I followed the source link and apparently to someone on Reddit some eye creams contain gold??
Ace 5 months ago
Gold is virtually inert, i.e. it will not react with any body chemicals. So even if they do it's not going to actually do anything.
Load More Replies...
P1 No-Name 5 months ago
I was told it had to be a wedding ring. Who knows with Old Wive's Tales - but I always ring a wedding ring over my eyelids if they are irritated
#41
One I heard was planting a cooked sausage in the garden a week before a wedding will ensure good weather. So we tried it, thinking nothing of it. The days before our wedding were wet and autumnal, as were the days afterwards. The day itself, a beautiful October day with gorgeous weather.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
Surely you don't pay any attention to Fox News ?
Load More Replies... #42
"Rain before seven,fine by eleven." I actually live by this one.
Another one that I've heard that could be translated as accurate is
"Oak before the Ash, and you're in for a splash,
Ash before the Oak, and you're in for a soak. "
Because either way, it's going to rain.
Little Bit 5 months ago
Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning. It's fairly reliable. If you're by the sea and notice white tops on the waves, if usually indicates stormy weather.
ROSESARERED 5 months ago
Red morning, shepherds warning, red night shepherds delight. Sunrise and sunset.
Jude Corrigan 5 months ago (edited)
It means when the leaves first appear on the trees. So if the oak leaves appear first, than it will be a drier summer, 'splash'. But if the ask appear first then it will be a wetter summer, 'soak'.
Load More Replies... 
#43
A spoonful of vinegar to stop the hiccups.
It actually worked for me.
#44
Sell a wart. I had a few warts on my fingers for months as a teenager. My mums best friend bought each wart for a silver coin. She told me to bury the coins in my back garden and within a week they had gone.
The Dusty Rhino 5 months ago
My godmother had horrible warts when she was a child. Her Dr. "bought" them from her for his collection. The warts went away, and never came back.
Debby Keir 5 months ago
Totally agree - it works really well with children as they 'believe' it will work (and they get a coin/money) It's called 'the power of the mind'. You don't even have to bury the money.
geraldrboyle@aol.com 5 months ago
A Rowan Tree planted beside your garden path, (small houses and small gardens in Scotland) iis thought to keep witches away from your door.
#45
When you have a sore throat eat spicy food.. makes the pain go away.
#46
Pink Himalayan Sea salt for migraines …
More specifically, electrolytes.
Tabitha 5 months ago (edited)
I use menthol for headaches. It relaxes the muscles and clears my sinuses, which are both the main reasons for headaches for me. If you’re hungover, drink non-caffeinated beverages, as alcohol is a diuretic, and the hangover headache is from dehydration. Throwing up may help clear your stomach, but it also dehydrates you, so drinking water, juice, Gatorade, or any other drink that doesn’t contain caffeine (also a diuretic) will ease your headache and make the morning after a heavy partying night go a lot less painfully for you. Of course, since the best way to not get hungover is to not drink mass quantities of alcohol, so moderation and knowing your limit, then switching to a drink without alcohol or caffeine that’s been spruced up to look like it’s and alcoholic mixed drink would be even better (to keep your friends from trying to force more booze on you when you don’t want it—-and people who party and drink a lot tend to try to do this if you aren’t matching them drink for drink, because misery loves company, and if it can’t find any it tries to create some by making everyone else miserable too).
#47
Raw egg white for nappy (diaper) rash! My son, when he was an infant, had bad nappy rash and was in so much pain. My older colleague told me that her Mum recommended egg white to her when her kids were babies (they are in their forties now). I tried it at night and it was so much better than using any of the barrier creams. His nappy area was so less inflamed in the morning.
Atom Bohr 5 months ago
Please don't do this: egg whites can promote the growth of bacteria. On already damaged skin in a vulnerable infant this has the potential to become serious. I'm sure lots of babies are fine, but statistics won't matter to you if your child is the unlucky one
Chonky Panda 5 months ago
Agree, I'm sure there are some baby friendly cream out there to treat this
Load More Replies... Lene 5 months ago
Often you just need to clean the diaper area with cold water and let it dry completely before you put the new diaper on. Works very well. Of course not when it's so red and painful that it's swollen or about to bleed. But when the skin is "only" red and very uncomfortable, just clean it and air it and it goes away quickly.
What do you think ?
Papa 5 months ago
I have one I learned when I was a boy. If you get dust in your eye, spit, as forcefully as you can. That doesn't work 100% of the time, but it does more often than you'd think.
Little Bit 5 months ago
If you get a bit of grit or dust in your eye, if you rub your other eye it goes away. It's always worked for me.
Load More Replies...
wowbagger 5 months ago
Once when I was at my grandma's house, I woke up with terrible nausea, but I didn't get sick. She had me drink strong cinnamon tea to help me throw up, because she figured I'd feel better if I could just get rid of whatever was bothering my stomach. It did the trick! Sadly, I was at the hospital a few hours later, having my appendix removed, because that was the actual cause of the nausea. Anyway, I can recommend cinnamon tea as an emetic.
Papa 5 months ago
I have one I learned when I was a boy. If you get dust in your eye, spit, as forcefully as you can. That doesn't work 100% of the time, but it does more often than you'd think.
Little Bit 5 months ago
If you get a bit of grit or dust in your eye, if you rub your other eye it goes away. It's always worked for me.
Load More Replies... wowbagger 5 months ago
Once when I was at my grandma's house, I woke up with terrible nausea, but I didn't get sick. She had me drink strong cinnamon tea to help me throw up, because she figured I'd feel better if I could just get rid of whatever was bothering my stomach. It did the trick! Sadly, I was at the hospital a few hours later, having my appendix removed, because that was the actual cause of the nausea. Anyway, I can recommend cinnamon tea as an emetic.
You May Like “I Can’t Believe Other People Don’t Do This”: 43 People Share Their Best Life Hacks “I Just Use My Leaf Blower”: 50 Easy Cleaning Hacks That Might Save You Loads Of Time 75 Spooky Superstitions From Around The World And The Stories Behind Some Of Them
Jonas Žvilius
Jonas Žvilius
Žydrūnė Trukanavičiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
