We All Make Mistakes
We're not talking rocket science or brain surgery here. We're talking regular everyday things that we've all been doing wrong our whole lives. From peeling a banana to using a can opener—there are better ways to do so many things we take for granted.
They say you should try and learn something new every day. Well, be prepared to learn way more than one thing today. Like....
Flushing The Toilet
No, you're right to push down the lever or the button to flush the toilet. That part is all good. Where many of us go wrong, is leaving the toilet seat up when we do it. Flushing the toilet creates what experts call "toilet plume", which basically expels toilet bacteria up to 10 inches into the air—and thus onto any surface around the toilet (countertops, faucets, and even your toothbrush). Just close the lid before flushing.
Using A Can Opener
Instead of placing the can opener beside the can and perpendicular to the ground, try placing it flat against the top of the can and parallel to the counter. It might seem awkward at first, but try it once and you'll never go back. Not only is it a smoother process, but when you're done, the top will remain attached to the opener and it will have a smooth, rather than sharp, edge.
Starting Your Car
Well, not exactly starting the car—but more what you do immediately after you start it. Unless it's freezing cold outside, most of us start the car and take off right away. However, what we should all be doing is letting the car warm up a little regardless of the temperature.
While this is more important for older vehicles with carburettors—giving newer fuel-injector automobiles 30-60 seconds of idle time before driving off doesn't hurt either.
Opening Plastic Packaging
There are few things as frustrating as trying to open those plastic blister packages. You'd think scissors would be the obvious answer—but as many of us have found out the hard way, this often leads to snapping the scissors and/or super sharp plastic edges that can cut your hand as you try to get to the item. So, what should you be using?
Well, guess what? A can opener is actually the perfect tool for the job.
Fastest Way to Open Plastic Packaging, Money Talks News
Pronouncing Louisville, Kentucky
No, we're pretty sure you've been saying the "Kentucky" part right—however, unless you're from Louisville, you've probably been pronouncing the city's name wrong all your life. To say it properly, stop saying "Lewis" or "Louie" and pretend the "i" in "ville" is a "u". Now, you got it: LOO-uh-vuhl.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil: Very useful, but highly frustrating. Well, not the foil itself, but more so the act of trying to unroll a portion and tear it off. What usually ends up happening is we pull the foil and out comes the entire roll. But not if you use those tabs on the side. What tabs, you ask?
The ones on either end of the box which, when pushed, lock the roll in place and make unrolling and tearing a very pleasant experience.
Oscarcwk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Washing Your Jeans
There's actually probably nothing wrong with how you wash your jeans—but more so, how often you do it.
As you probably know, the more you wash them, the more your jeans get worn out. But what you might not know is that jeans washed after 20 uses don't have a significantly higher bacterial load than jeans washed every two uses. Which means you don't have to wash them as much as you think.
Rozhnovskaya Tanya, Shutterstock
Holding A Hamburger
The pinkie fingers don't get the respect they deserve and are often neglected—their usefulness not being truly appreciated. Well, when it comes to eating a hamburger, they can be very useful. The proper way to eat/hold your burger is with the thumb and pinkies under the burger while the three middle fingers grip the top. This provides a good hold while not smushing the burger and also keeping the contents from sneaking out the back as you bite into it.
Eating A Hamburger
Now that you know how to hold it properly, you should start eating it properly also. And that means in a circle. You know how good that first bite of a burger is? Well, why would you not go around the edge and get that full-taste bite over and over again.
Lyubov Levitskaya, Shutterstock
Using Paper Towel
Whether using it to dry your hands or wipe up a spill on the counter, most of us are using paper towels all wrong. Instead of ripping off a big piece and going to town, we need to be folding said piece lengthwise. This, now doubled-up, will draw the water between the two layers instead of going right through.
Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya, Shutterstock
Peeling A Banana
I mentioned this one in the intro, so we should get to it right away. Rather than peeling a banana from the stem—which often doesn't work on the first shot and leads to smushing the top of the banana—try peeling it from the bottom. This method became popular with people claiming that this is the way monkeys do it. And while that claim has been questioned recently, the fact that it's a better way to peel a banana still stands regardless of the monkeys.
AYO Production Similar, Shutterstock
Eating Cheetos
Eating Cheetos is synonymous with one thing: the dreaded orange fingers (which often leads to the dreaded orange shirt sleeves, pant legs, and orange keys on the keyboard). Well, we have one word for you: Chopsticks! not only does eating your Cheetos with chopsticks eliminate the orange fingers, but it makes you feel kinda fancy also. Win-win, am I right?
Eating Cheetos With Chopsticks!, sayjivebao
Putting Gas In Your Car
You're doing it wrong if you aren't doing it often enough. And by "often enough" we mean that you shouldn't let it get down to almost empty before filling it up. The gas doesn't just fuel the car, it also helps lubricate the fuel pump. So, if at all possible, try to never let it drop below 1/4 full.
Watching A Movie In The Theater
If you're on your phone or talking during the movie, you're doing it wrong. Okay, so this is more pet peeve than anything else. But come on...stop talking and turn off your phone!
Lolostock - Apex Studios, Shutterstock
Brushing Your Teeth
The basic tooth brushing technique we all learnt as a kid remains true, with a few important caveats. Starting with the amount of toothpaste required: A little dab of toothpaste will do the trick—you definitely don't need that long squeeze of the stuff that covers the entire length of the brush like they do it in the commercials.
Also, stop brushing your teeth right after eating—doing so could damage the enamel of your teeth because the acid from the food hasn't been neutralized yet (this is even more true for heavy acidic things like citrus or juices).
Cracking Eggs
Raise your hand if you're a crack-your-egg-on-the-side-of-the-bowl kinda person. Most of us are, which means most of us get those little pieces of shell in the eggs that we spend the next five frustrating minutes trying to remove. Well, try tapping the egg on a flat surface instead (counter, cutting board, etc). No more shell pieces.
Pronouncing Budapest, Hungary
The city of Budapest was formed when the two Hungarian settlements, Buda and Pest (and Óbuda), were combined in 1873. As for the proper way to say it—the "Buda" part is just what you'd probably expect (with an "oo" sound), but the "pest" part is pronounced with a "sh" sound in the middle: Booda-Pesht.
Pouring Milk From A Carton
Stop pouring your milk with the spout closest to the cup. Instead, turn it upside down so that the spout side is further away from the glass and see how much smoother the milk comes out and how much less splashing results. And obviously, it doesn't have to be milk. It can be juice or broth or any liquid for that matter.
Cutting Cake
Knives are the cutting tools of the kitchen and so it only makes sense that when it comes to cutting a cake, we've always gone for the knife. The problem is that cake often sticks to the sides of the knife and by the second piece the cake starts to look a mess. So, go ahead and put the knife down and grab...the dental floss (unflavoured of course).
You can also use this technique to cut the cheese (sorry, we had to).
MIX! Tip - Cut your cake with dental floss or fishing line., byudining
Packing Your Suitcase
Stop folding your clothes in your suitcase and start rolling them. Rolled clothes take up less space—meaning you can pack more in a smaller suitcase (maybe even go carry-on only and leave checking bags in your past).
Packing Your Suitcase
Yes, rolling your clothes means you can pack more—but that doesn't mean you should. So, stop overpacking. We all come home from a vacation and realize we haven't worn at least a few of the items we packed. This happens every time and yet we still continue to stuff our suitcases with clothing we never wear.
The Starbucks Lid
Did you know that if you take the plastic lid off of your Starbucks cup and flip it over the base of the cup will fit in perfectly, thus turning the lid into a coaster.
And speaking of take away containers that turn into other things....
Review of Starbucks' coffee cup... lids (only the lid), Sarah Landstreet
Eating Chinese Takeout
Remove the wire handles and the classic Chinese food takeout box can be easily opened up and now you have a plate.
How To Turn Chinese Food Take Out Containers Into Plates, Mad Scientist
Making A PB & J Sandwich
This actually goes for any kind of spreading on bread (butter, mayo, etc). Put down the knife, walk over to the cutlery drawer and grab a spoon. Easier to scoop out of the jar, and spreading with the back of the spoon is a smoother experience as well.
Making A PB & J Sandwich
Along with the spoon, there are those who swear by mixing the peanut butter and jam together in a bowl before spreading the mix onto the bread. And you know what? We don't hate that.
Cleaning Your Kitchen Knives
Don't put your large kitchen knives in the dishwasher—as the heat and chemicals can lead to a dulling of the blade. Those knives you gotta wash by hand.
Using Netflix
Do you share your Netflix account with other people in your household? If so, have you created separate profiles? If the answer is no, then you are most definitely using Netflix wrong. The streamer uses what you watch as the main tool for when it comes to recommending other shows and movies to you. Which means, if you have other people watching stuff on the same profile as you, then your recommendation engine isn't going to be as useful. Separate profiles are a must.
Cooking Spaghetti
The hardest part of cooking spaghetti is figuring out how much to put in the pot of boiling water. Well, did you know that you had help in front of you the whole time? That large hole in the middle of the spaghetti spoon—that's actually a pasta gauge equal to about one serving of pasta.
Pronouncing Spokane, Washington
Yes, I know that one of the first things we all learned in grade school English was that an "e" at the end of a word indicated a long vowel sound on the preceding syllable. Which is why so many of us have been calling it spoh-CAINE for all these years—when in actuality, the city's name is pronounced, spoh-KAN.
How to Say Spokane, Washington | Plus 3 other places you should know how to pronounce, Haydn Halsted
Consuming Stuff From A Can
Since the stuff inside a can is all sealed up, most of us never think about washing the can container itself. But think about it. Where has that soda can or can of beans been? Exactly...who knows? Now, doesn't it make sense to clean it off and wipe it down before opening it up and allowing for whatever is on the can to fall into it? Especially if it's a soda can and going directly onto your mouth.
And speaking of soda cans...
Using A Straw
If you're using a straw, you're already a step ahead when it comes to avoiding any bacteria sitting on the can itself. However, if you're just opening up the can and sticking in the straw, then you're doing it wrong. After you open the can, simply twist the tab around so that it is directly over the opening. Now slide the straw through the tab and into the can—thus securing the straw better and avoiding all the bobbing around.
Eating Pizza
Again, this one is more of a huge pet peeve—but we're just going to say it: If you're eating your pizza with a knife and fork, you're doing it wrong.
Eating Spaghetti
As long as you aren't cutting your pasta, then you're doing fine. You can twirl it on your fork, use a spoon to help the twirl...but don't cut it.
Using Netflix
Yes, we have another one for you. If you're just using the search bar to look up names and titles, you're doing it wrong. The Netflix search bar is so much more powerful than that. You can type in different genres as well as terms like "Academy Award-Winning" to help you find your next binge.
Putting Your Eggs In The Fridge
This one is very counterintuitive in that many refrigerators have those built-in egg holders on the inside of the doors. So, obviously that's where the eggs should go, right? Wrong. The doors are the warmest places in the fridge, and when it comes to things like eggs and dairy—warm isn't what you want. The coolest location is the bottom shelf in the back (so, that's where your eggs and dairy should be).
Drinking Wine
We aren't talking to all the wine nerds and sommeliers here, since you folks are probably very aware of this. But for the rest of us...How do you hold your wine glass? Do you hold the bulb part? Then you're doing it wrong. Holding it that way can actually heat up the wine and modify the flavor. There's a stem on the glass for a reason.
Drinking Beer
What's good for wine drinkers is also good for beer lovers. Don't wrap your hand around the base of the bottle. Grab it by the neck and avoid warming up the beer faster than need be. Unless you like warm beer of course.
Your Ceiling Fan
If you're only using the ceiling fan to keep cool in the summer—yes, you're using it properly. But not to its full potential. Set it to spin in the reverse direction and in the winter time it can actually help redistribute warm air throughout the room.
Note: Clockwise for warm air, counterclockwise for cool air.
Storing Ice Cream
Just put it in the freezer, right? Well, not exactly. Yes, that will keep it frozen—but usually way too frozen and hard. However, if you put the ice cream container in a freezer-safe plastic bag, it will stay frozen but not be rock-hard when you go to scoop it.
How to Keep Ice Cream Soft in the Freezer, Tesco
Pronouncing Nevada
They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But if you're going to mispronounce Nevada, you want to do it elsewhere than in the biggest city in the state. You see that "a" in the middle? Well, you want to pronounce it with a short "a" sound—making it "nuh-VAD-uh", not "nuh-VAHD-uh".
How to Pronounce Nevada, SpeechModification
Making Number Two
Everyone laughs at the Squatty Potty, but there's a reason it's one of the most successful Shark Tank products of all time...It works. Sitting on the toilet isn't the ideal way to do your number twos—and having your bent legs raised does actually provide a better and healthier number two experience. You don't need the Squatty Potty, most any stool of a certain height will do—but until you get either, you're pooping wrong.
Elya, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Making Grilled Cheese
Instead of spreading butter on the outside of the bread prior to putting it in the pan, what you should be doing is spreading on Mayonnaise instead. Mayo has a higher smoke point and will provide a nicer golden, rather than burnt, tastiness.
How To Make: Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich | in a pan, Casual Cooking
Reheating In The Microwave
This one is simple. If you reheat stuff in the microwave using plastic containers—you're doing it wrong. Depending on the plastic, the microwave process can leach chemicals right into the food. Transfer the food to a proper bowl or plate and then nuke it up. And yes, some plastics indicate they are microwave safe. But honestly, why take the chance?
Using Netflix
Back again. This time we want to make sure you have the best Netflix plan for you. If you don't mind a few commercials, then switching to the cheaper ad-tier might be worth it for you. Don't want ads but don't have the highest-end television with 4K and such? Then make sure you're paying for the cheaper HD tier and not the mega-pricey 4K super plan.
Pronouncing Phuket, Thailand
After we all stop giggling, we can discuss how to properly pronounce this Thai city's name. As much as you may wish it was pronounced with the "Ph" making an "F" sound—that just isn't the case. Rather, it's said as though with a silent "h"—so, poo-ket or poo-get. Okay, so that might get a little immature giggling out of us also.
Phuket pronunciation, ThinkPhuket
Loading The Dishwasher
Most of us don't give much thought to how we fill the dishwasher (besides trying to cram in as much as we can). But according to the University of Birmingham, there's a right way and a wrong way to do it based on the variable spray force at different locations in the washer. So, dishes with remnants of carb-heavy foods go near the center, while plates with protein pieces go on the bottom edges.
Dipping Your Oreos
Whether one should be dipping their Oreos at all is a whole other question. But if you're one of those Oreos-in-milk type people, you should also be a use-a-fork type person. Yes, a fork. Rather than getting your dirty fingers in your milk, stick a fork into the cream and be all classy about it.
MIX! Tip - Use a fork to dip an Oreo cookie., byudining
Storing Herbs
Turns out, what's good for one fresh herb isn't necessarily good for another—and this goes for how to store them as well. So, oregano, rosemary, thyme (and other hardy herbs), those are best stored in a jar with stems in water. But when it comes to more tender herbs like cilantro, parsley—those you'll want to store in the fridge (in either a paper bag or wrapped in paper in plastic).
Checking Into Your Flight
If you aren't doing the pre check-in 24 hours before your flight, then you're doing it wrong. Especially if you are only traveling with carry-on luggage which will let you walk into the airport and head off right to security (past all those suckers standing in that long line waiting to check in with an agent).
Pronouncing Des Moines, Iowa
Just get rid of both "S"s and you're all set. This city in Iowa is pronounced de-moin.
How to Pronounce Des Moines, Iowa, SpeechModification
Shaving Your Head
The best way to get the closest shave right down to your scalp is probably using a standard razor like you would use on your face. However, for many guys out there, razor burn and irritated skin are part of the deal when using said razor. Well, they don't have to be if you shave your head in the shower.
The warm water not only lubricates the skin a little, but it also, along with the steam, softens the skin and the hair and makes for a much smoother, less irritating shave.
Saving For The Future
Actually, the thing you're doing wrong here is if you aren't saving for the future. Depending on how old you are, it might either seem too late or too early to start, but it isn't—and the value it can provide you later in life is truly spectacular if done right.
Stopping Your Car
Obviously, if there's someone or something in front of your car, you will want to slam on the brakes. However, in one's normal, everyday driving, you will want to ease into your stops as much as possible. Hard braking is not good at all for the brake pads and rotors and will lead to needing repairs sooner than they should otherwise.
Washing Your Face
Stop washing your face in your hot showers. Doing so can dry out your skin. Instead, do it in the sink and use cold or lukewarm water.
Unclogging Your Sink
If you've ever tried to unclog a sink with a toilet plunger, then you already know it's the wrong way to do it. Toilet and sink piping is different and while the flange plunger works wonders on the toilet, a sink requires a cup plunger.
Patricia Perez R, Shutterstock
Making Your Morning Coffee
If you use a pod machine then this one isn't for you. But if you actually brew your own coffee via anything from an AeroPress to a French Press, you are doing it wrong if you buy your coffee beans pre-ground. The moment beans are ground they start losing their strength and flavor. So, buy your coffee beans whole, invest in a grinder, and grind just what you are going to use each time. Totally worth it!
Pronouncing New Orleans
Does this rhyme? I ate beans in New Orleans. If you said yes, then you're pronouncing New Orleans wrong. The proper pronunciation: nu-OR-linz.
New Orleans Pronunciation | How to Pronounce New Orleans, Accent Savvy
Brushing Your Hair
Brush all the way down from scalp to tips (don't just focus on the ends and the tangles/knots). Doing the full hair brush spreads the scalp oils throughout your hair and gives it a nice shine (and removes grease build-up).
Using Baking Trays
If you're putting the food directly on the tray, you're doing it wrong. While it will roast/bake the food—it will also often stain and dirty the tray (and it isn't always easy to clean). Allow us to suggest parchment paper.
Getting Rid Of Hot Oil
Stop pouring that hot oil down the sink. It isn't good for the pipes and can clog them up fast. Just put it in a container and put it in the fridge. Let it harden and then toss it in the garbage (or even better, the compost).
Getting Rid Of Batteries
Not only is it wrong to throw used batteries in the trash—it's very dangerous. It can cause fires and the chemicals in the batteries can pollute the environment and water. Most cities and towns have places you can bring your used batteries where they will be properly taken care of.
Cutting Your Cooked Meat
Cut it in strips, pieces—that doesn't matter. The important part about cutting your cooked meat is that you let it rest for a moment when it comes off the heat. Cutting into it right away will just lose so many of those yummy juices and the meat will also dry up on you. Have some patience and give it a few minutes.
Stirring The Sugar In Your Coffee
Drop in a sugar cube or two and stir...in a linear motion (rather than in circles). This linear technique reduces splashing and will actually help dissolve the sugar faster than the way we've all been doing it forever, the circles.
Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya, Shutterstock
Shifting Gears
We get it: You're in a rush and it's easier to shift from reverse to drive (or vice-versa) while rolling. But, doing so would be the wrong way to do it—and will lead to real problems and expensive fixes. Come to a complete stop before shifting gears.
Fixing A Frozen Car Door That Won't Close
Anyone who's lived in a cold climate has probably had this happen to them at one time or another. You open the door no problem, but when you go to close it, it doesn't click in. The quick fix we've all tried is to grab some hot water and splash it into the frozen latching mechanism.
The good news is that it usually works. The bad news is that now you have water in there that will freeze and cause more problems later on. Try using a blow dryer and some proper lubricant instead.
Pronouncing Tijuana, Mexico
While it might be fun to add an "ah" sound in the middle and say "tee-ah-juan-ah". It's wrong. The correct pronunciation of this Mexican city is, as it looks, "tee-juan-ah".
Riding A Bike
It might be something one never forgets how to do, but that could also mean never forgetting how to do it wrong. And in this case, we're talking about adhering to street signs and the like. Just because you're on a bike doesn't mean you don't have to stop at stop signs and red lights, etc.
Shopping At Farmers Markets
Bring Tupperware. That way you can fill them up with the berries and veggies instead of carrying around bags with open containers and the fruit getting smashed.
Making A Choice
When it comes down to two things and you can't make up your mind... Flip a coin. You'll notice that you'll often either be happy or disappointed by the result—thus revealing your true feelings about the choice.
Chrome Tabs
We all love tabs. You probably have a couple (if not 50) open right now. But what happens when you hit that "x" and close a tab by accident? Well, "Control/Command + Shift + T" will bring it right back.
You may also like:
You’re Saying It Wrong: Commonly Mispronounced American Cities
20 Common Mistakes People Make At All-Inclusive Resorts
How To Pack Like A Pro: Travel Anywhere With Just A Carry-On
