We’ve all seen them—the clickbaity, too-good-to-be-true TV infomercials, and viral social videos claiming that their life hacks will work miracles. Maybe there are a few that actually live up to the hype, but most of the tips and products just result in disappointment and wasted cash.
Luckily, these life hacks are the real deal. When asked, “What seems like snake oil but is actually 100% legit?” the internet shared real advice that will actually make getting through your day easier.
These are the life hacks you need to know:
1. WD-40 cleans candle wax off carpet
“WD40 cleans candle wax off your living room carpet. If ever in doubt, consult an old housewife,” explained a helpful individual.
A different person shared another useful tip for removing candle wax from carpet, writing, “Place a paper bag over the wax and iron the paper bag. The heat from the iron melts the wax, and it will transfer to the paper bag.”
2. Aromatic cedar blocks remove unpleasant smells
Though charcoal might seem like an obvious answer for scent removal, aromatic cedar blocks worked like a dream for this individual.
“I had a weird-smelling basement. Someone said to get aromatic cedar blocks, sand them down, and leave them there. I thought, ‘No way this could work.’ But it did. The smell is totally eliminated.”
3. Holding your breath to get rid of hiccups works. You’re just doing it wrong
Wait, how did I not know this earlier? Apparently, we’ve all been doing this age-old hiccup solution incorrectly.
Explained one hiccup expert on the trick, “Most people just don’t know the proper way to do it or why it works.
“It’s got nothing to do with simply holding your breath. It’s got to do with using your lungs to hold down the diaphragm and stop it from spasming.
“You breathe in until you cannot fit literally anything else into your lungs. When your chest is as full as humanly possible, then you hold it, and within about 15 seconds, the hiccups are gone.”
4. Vinegar and newspaper will clean windows perfectly
Forget Windex. You can get crystal clear windows with a few inexpensive items you already have lying around your house.
“Vinegar and newspaper clean windows. I thought the ink would come off and make an even bigger mess. Almost turns the window invisible,” said the person who suggested this housekeeping hack.
Rumor has it that the same can be done with coffee filters.
5. Get rid of wasps by burning coffee
“Sitting on your deck or having a nice picnic when suddenly you’re being accosted by wasps? Get rid of them with this one easy solution: burn some coffee!
“Take a little saucer, pour a little pyramid of ground coffee in, and use a lighter to light the top. It will smolder slowly and give off a smoke that smells, well, like burnt coffee. It will also instantly get rid of any wasps that are bothering you. No idea why, but they absolutely hate the smell.”
6. Taking magnesium will work health wonders
“It really can cure some joint, nerve, muscle, heart, and breathing problems,” wrote one supporter of the supplement, but he wasn’t alone. Several people came out of the woodwork to share their personal success stories with it.
“(I) struggled to sleep for 3 years. I’d wake up around 5 times per night. Took a calcium magnesium supplement for a week and then slept through an entire night for the first time in years,” said one person.
Gushed another, “For years, I suffered from Charley horses (severe muscle spasms and cramps) in my feet. It was so excruciating that I’d be up all night sobbing in pain. Told my doctor that standard remedies were not working, and was told it was probably just genetic and I’d have to deal with it.
“I learned that magnesium supplements could prevent muscle cramping. Now I take a 500mg magnesium glycinate supplement and haven’t had a spasm like those in YEARS. Still get one here and there but nothing compared to what they used to be.”
7. Gel toe separators will save your feet
“I was suffering from plantar fasciitis for over six months. I tried new shoes, new insoles, pills, and physical therapy, but none of those things fixed it. A friend kept suggesting I try these gel toe separator things (nail technicians use) when painting toenails. I thought it was silly, but they were only $10. I wore it for two weeks straight and plantar fasciitis was gone. Those things are like magic.”
After hearing the success story above, someone jumped in to provide an explanation of why the solution worked, describing, “The toe spacers are stretching out your tendons in the feet, therefore reducing the tightness that causes plantar fasciitis. Another thing that should help is putting something like a tennis ball underneath your foot and rolling it around.”
8. Use a daylight lamp to boost your mood
“(I) bought a daylight lamp last winter because I get depressed when it’s dark outside for long periods of time. Got one for $43, and now I can’t live without it in the winter. Thought it was a sham initially.
“The light basically imitates the wavelengths of light emitted by the sun (bar the UVs) and inhibits the production of melatonin. Not only that, but it also boosts my mood and morale. You just have to be careful because it’s difficult to fall asleep for a couple of hours after using it.”
9. Have vertigo? Use the Epley Maneuver
“I worked at a physical therapy office that specialized in vertigo. Lots of patients needed more intensive therapy, but plenty did well after the Epley Maneuver. People who claim it’s snake oil just have a different issue and should seek out vertigo PT,” said someone who saw the results of the technique firsthand.
This article was written and syndicated by What the Fab.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
