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  3. What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

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  • tetris11@lemmy.mlT [email protected]

    Pretty easy to cut, but of course it'll never be perfect, and it's better to cut smaller than larger since it sticks to the window using water, and needs a complete seal, so any corners that overlap a frame will just slowly force the whole thing to peel off.

    Very easy to re-use, it sticks using water and requires a flat piece of card (e.g. an old credit card) to spread it out over the window

    K This user is from outside of this forum
    K This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #80

    Is that the static type then that are reused and just need water, with adhesive backed ones being single application only?

    tetris11@lemmy.mlT 1 Reply Last reply
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    • M [email protected]

      Electric screwdriver from Lidl (well, it was less than £20) - as a DIY novice/flat pack builder, it changed my life

      M This user is from outside of this forum
      M This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by
      #81

      Lidl's tools are surprisingly good.

      ::: spoiler And don't just take my word for it.

      :::

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • little8lost@lemmy.worldL [email protected]

        Chopsticks are also nice to mix fluids in a bottle because for some they are long enough
        I also started eating potato chips with them, can reach deeper in + clean hands

        J This user is from outside of this forum
        J This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #82

        eating chips with chopsticks also slows me down and some times prevent me from overeating chips

        S 1 Reply Last reply
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        • E [email protected]
          This post did not contain any content.
          H This user is from outside of this forum
          H This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #83

          $20 bread maker I found at at a thrift store. There's no telling how many hundreds of loaves of healthy, fresh baked wheat bread I've churned out of that thing over the past two years, especially now that we're grinding our own wheat too.

          vetoftheseas@discuss.onlineV J 2 Replies Last reply
          15
          • venus_ziegenfalle@feddit.orgV [email protected]

            Fyi this also works with a steel faucet or sink in a pinch

            A This user is from outside of this forum
            A This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by [email protected]
            #84

            Or the outside of a stainless mixing bowl. That’s what I use since there’s usually one drying next to the sink anyway. And it’s also useful as a bowl!

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • T [email protected]

              I knew I wouldn't regret starting to use user notes.Demonstration of user note reminding me that I share a fandom with this user

              nusm@piefed.zipN This user is from outside of this forum
              nusm@piefed.zipN This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote on last edited by
              #85

              User notes? What are these, and how would I go about using them?

              T 1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • little8lost@lemmy.worldL [email protected]

                Chopsticks are also nice to mix fluids in a bottle because for some they are long enough
                I also started eating potato chips with them, can reach deeper in + clean hands

                nusm@piefed.zipN This user is from outside of this forum
                nusm@piefed.zipN This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #86

                I’m gonna leave this right here…

                SNACTIV LITE Finger Chopsticks... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXG8ZTNG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

                B 1 Reply Last reply
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                • W [email protected]

                  I did this at my last House and it was fantastic.

                  Just need to remember that once it's dark outside the reflective side "switches" and everyone can see clearly into the house.

                  ssupii@sopuli.xyzS This user is from outside of this forum
                  ssupii@sopuli.xyzS This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #87

                  That's just how a normal window works

                  W 1 Reply Last reply
                  18
                  • E [email protected]
                    This post did not contain any content.
                    J This user is from outside of this forum
                    J This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #88

                    A screwdriver kit with multiple head tips, can repair almost anything as long as I am given some schematics

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • K [email protected]

                      Is that the static type then that are reused and just need water, with adhesive backed ones being single application only?

                      tetris11@lemmy.mlT This user is from outside of this forum
                      tetris11@lemmy.mlT This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                      #89

                      Huh, never heard of the adhesive type. I've used the static/water ones for ~4 years without any issues

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • Z [email protected]

                        Even though I don't regularly use it, I'm glad I have a p38 can opener on my keychain. Just in case I end up in a survival situation, it's good to have alongside a good keychain bottle opener. Obviously not as good as a leatherman, but for under $20, yeah, these two are worth it.

                        B This user is from outside of this forum
                        B This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #90

                        I used to always carry one but it ripped holes in sooo many of my pockets

                        Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • nusm@piefed.zipN [email protected]

                          User notes? What are these, and how would I go about using them?

                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #91

                          As for what they are, the green text in my screenshot.

                          How depends on how you access Lemmy. In my client, Connect, I expand a comment, tap the three dots to the right of it, and click "add user note."

                          zurchpet@lemmy.mlZ nusm@piefed.zipN 2 Replies Last reply
                          1
                          • ssupii@sopuli.xyzS [email protected]

                            That's just how a normal window works

                            W This user is from outside of this forum
                            W This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #92

                            Yes but the film has a one-way mirror effect and most people don't put 2 and 2 together and think the window is opaque when is not.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            20
                            • meekah@lemmy.worldM [email protected]

                              These are mostly a myth to my understanding.

                              There is some theory on how the chromium in stainless steel could help with breaking down and removing the smelly compounds from onions and garlic off your hands, but there aren't any studies proving this.

                              In my experience just properly washing your hands with water for 15-20s works just as well. I think the "soap" kinda works because it tricks people to not just rinse their hands.

                              T This user is from outside of this forum
                              T This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #93

                              It's true, I've never used one of these and was absolutely lying about their effectiveness.

                              therapygary@lemmy.blahaj.zoneT B meekah@lemmy.worldM 3 Replies Last reply
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                              • R [email protected]

                                Does this also work for jalapenos?

                                T This user is from outside of this forum
                                T This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #94

                                Not that I'm aware of.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R [email protected]

                                  Does this also work for jalapenos?

                                  H This user is from outside of this forum
                                  H This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #95

                                  No. The heat from peppers is an oil. Dry finger tips absorb the oil. So either gloves or rub a drop of neutral oil on your fingers before handling peppers.

                                  L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • edg@lemmy.worldE [email protected]

                                    A basket/bowl thing for keys, wallet, and whatever one carries around. No more hunting for them when walking out the door.

                                    R This user is from outside of this forum
                                    R This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #96

                                    My husband still doesn't use it, the hunt for his keys is getting old

                                    P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • T [email protected]

                                      One of these stainless steel bars of "soap". It's for getting onion and garlic smell off your hands. I was skeptical when my partner bought it, but it totally works. Rub on your hands under cold water and it's like you never even looked at the garlic.

                                      H This user is from outside of this forum
                                      H This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #97

                                      So any stainless steel will do that. No need for a special disk. I use a stainless steel cocktail shaker to peal garlic. Then when I rinse it clean it also removes the smell from my hands.

                                      Just drop the cloves into the shaker and shake hard for 30-45 seconds. Most of the garlic is now peeled and some just need a bit help. So much faster and easier.

                                      T 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • T [email protected]

                                        One of these stainless steel bars of "soap". It's for getting onion and garlic smell off your hands. I was skeptical when my partner bought it, but it totally works. Rub on your hands under cold water and it's like you never even looked at the garlic.

                                        confuser@lemmy.zipC This user is from outside of this forum
                                        confuser@lemmy.zipC This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #98

                                        "I too love to rub heavily metals into my skin"...idk if anyone has said this before lol

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • T [email protected]

                                          It's true, I've never used one of these and was absolutely lying about their effectiveness.

                                          therapygary@lemmy.blahaj.zoneT This user is from outside of this forum
                                          therapygary@lemmy.blahaj.zoneT This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                                          #99

                                          1000010282

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