24 Old-School Life Hacks From the 1950s That Still Work Today

Life hacks are what is trending nowadays. We all want better and simpler ways of doing things. But some of the solutions you get out there are mysterious. And some answers are inconsistent with current innovations.

Certain hacks have been around for years, and their relevance still holds. Humans pass knowledge of doing simple and tricky chores using various means. Today, we depend on the internet a lot.

Here is a list of 24 old-school life hacks from the 1950s that still work today. Our source is the New York Public Library, which has 100 digital “How To Do It” cards found in old Gallaher cigarette boxes, 100 years old. Who knew the wisdom of the past could have that much relevance today?

How to Extract a Splinter

It can be troublesome to remove a splinter stuck in your palm or the sole of your foot. If you don’t have tweezers handy, it can make life miserable. The card method works sometimes, but the hack is uncomfortable and unpredictable.

So next time you get a terrible splinter stuck in your skin, try this oldie hack. Use a wide-mouthed bottle and half-fill it with hot water. Cover the bottle’s mouth with the splinter area firmly and let it sit for some time.

Slicing New Bread

A fresh loaf of bread can be cumbersome when making thin slices. You often end up with uneven slices and a heap of crumbs. Fear no more. This old knife trick guarantees better results by giving your fresh bread slices a professional look.

The following old hack readily solves the problem. Dip the bread knife into hot water and wait till thoroughly hot. Wipe it quickly, and you can comfortably cut your bread into thin slices.

Separating Stuck Glass Tumblers

Separating two stuck glass tumblers is tricky and risky. You may end up with broken glasses, which can cause a cut. This hack is both simple and effective when separating the glasses.

Put cold water in the upper glass and place the bottom glass in warm water. After a few minutes, the tumblers will separate easily with minimal force and no breakages.

Reviving Cut Flowers

Grooming homes with cut flowers is an old ritual. Our grandmothers didn’t have the luxury of modern equipment to ensure the freshness of cut flowers. Don’t worry if your choice blooms fade. There is no need to discard them in despair.

To refresh your flowers, dip them in hot water and let them remain until cool. By then, the blooms will have a fresh look. Then, cut off the ends of the stems and place your bouquet in the vase using the standard way.

Homemade Fire Extinguisher

Fire is vital in our lives for cooking and warmth. However, uncontrolled fire is a disaster. Today, we use commercial extinguishers to combat fire. Old-school methods of fighting fire are way crazier than ours. You can make homemade fire extinguishers using fundamental things.

Make a mixture of salt and sal-ammoniac in water. Put your cocktail in a glass bottle. You now have a ready-to-use extinguisher. When combating fire, throw the bottles into the fire; the solution will choke combustion when they break.

Packing Flowers

Transporting cut flowers long distances without the right equipment can make them fade. Apart from fading, there is a possibility of physical damage from handling. You can prevent your blossoms from fading with grandmother’s way.

Insert the end of the stems into slits or small holes cut in a raw potato. Also, support your lowers with paper or cotton wool. The idea keeps the blooms fresh for up to a week or more.

Lighting a Matchstick in the Wind

Outdoors are fan-like camping, but it comes with challenges due to climatic conditions. Lighting a matchstick in a windy situation is frustrating. You can strike several matches before lighting the fire.

The same old hack works and overcomes the problem today. Cut some thin shavings towards the end of the stick near the striking head. When you strike your match, the shavings make the matchstick light, fast, and easy with a steady flame.

A Water Fountain for Poultry

Although there are many hygienic and posh poultry watering cans today, this old-school hack is superb. It’s cost-effective to maintain and cheap for small-scale feeding. It ensures a steady fresh water supply for the chicks using locally available items.

You can make the chick water fountain using a pint liquor bottle, an earthenware pan, and wood for support. Fill the bottle with water, and hold it upside down, fastened on wood over the pan. Leave about half an inch above the pan’s bottom. As the chicks take up their drink, the level on the pan remains steady.

Cleaning Oil Paintings

Most of the people today associate potatoes with fries. However, the older generation seems to have more uses for potatoes. Many currently have minimal use of a potato when raw. It’s one of the best ingredients for cleaning an oil painting.

To clean your oil painting, first dust it completely. Then, using a cut raw potato, gently rub the painting surface. Wipe away the lather with a soft cloth. Constantly cut the dirty part of your potato for a continuous clean lather application on the picture.

Picking Broken Glasses

This one is quite useful. Do you find that cleaning broken glasses removes the big pieces only? The remaining small pieces can easily prick the skin. This hack works, and you can use it when you clean broken glasses.

You can pick up broken glass in this quick and clean way. A damp cloth is most effective. It takes up even the most minor splinters, clearing everything. Ensure you use an old piece of fabric that is ready to discard with the glass.

Preventing a Paintbrush Handle From Paint Drip

Painting work can be messy, especially if you are new. Even with gloves, a wet and sticky brush handle is annoying. You can re-modify the brush as an amateur painter to prevent the mess.

A piece of non-absorbent card or tin does the trick. Make a hole in your card in which you will force the handle through above the brush area. The card prevents the paint from dripping down the brush handle when operating.

Detecting Gas Leaks

The first indication of a gas leak is the smell. Unfortunately, detecting the leak along the system isn’t easy. Due to diffusion, the scent will be everywhere unless there is a hissing sound.

Never try to locate leaking gas with a light, as it is danger-prone. This golden old method is risk-free and thoroughly reliable. Start by making a thick soap solution. Smear the solution on the surface of the pipe. The leaking point is where the bubbles start rising.

Making a Substitute Bodkin

Inserting a tape or a string through the hem of a cloth can be challenging without a tool. If you don’t have a bodkin at hand, you can improvise. You can use an ordinary safety pin for the task.

Attach one end of the string to the pin and thread the string through the hem of the cloth in the usual way. You can also improvise with another object that can wade through the hem.

Making a Bottle or Can Stand

This one works even for bigger containers. For example, if you knock over an ink bottle, the result is messy and annoying. You can easily overcome the accident by making an ink bottle stand. The idea is also practical when painting to avoid knocking over paint cans.

To make the stand, use a square stiff card with a larger area than the bottle base. Make three incisions in the card’s middle equal to the can diameter. Two will form an X, and the other cut through the middle. Lift the flaps of the cuts on one side to make the top. Force your bottle from underneath until the base touches the level ground.

Simple Gate Latch

On farms, it isn’t always possible to install automatic gates. A gate latch holds it in a secure position. Sometimes, leaving a gate unlatched can be costly. Your farm animals may tramp on the crop areas due to unsecured gates.

A latch of ordinary shape allows a gate to swing open and to hold it in a closing position. However, a semi-circular latch on a gate post does more. The latch swings in position on its own to secure the gate. Trust the oldies for their inventiveness. There is no need for power.

Making a Simple Outdoor Padlock Cover

Padlocks on outside doors are susceptible to environmental factors. Prevent a stuck padlock and rust by making a simple DIY padlock cover. You will require a small block of wood, an eye screw, nails, and a piece of leather.

Nail the small block of wood together with the leather strap. The strap should cover down below the padlock. Screw the eye below the padlock and make a slit on your leather to fit the eye. To secure your leather in position, use a peg.

Adjusting a Door

Does your door rattle during windy weather? The noise is annoying. If you want to stop the noise, here is a simple DIY hack from the 50’s.

You can glue two pieces of cork in the space between the door and the frame. Use pieces that are slightly thicker than the door space. Keep the door closed to set the glue. The elasticity of the corks solves the problem.

Killing a Tree Stump

Some tree stumps dry up and decay over time. There are some you can uproot. While others remain stubborn and later sprout with a vigorous undergrowth.

To prevent this, drill some holes on the top side. Peel a patch of bark and drill more holes from the side. Make a mixture of solignum and salt enough to fill your holes. The soaks through the system, killing the stump.

Pulling out Long Nails

With today’s many DIY ideas, you may find yourself constructing. Pulling out long nails is difficult, but with this idea, whether using a pincer or a claw hammer.

Place a small block of wood beneath your tool. The block increases your fulcrum, thus reducing the force applied. Removing a nail while the tool is directly on the surface reduces the pulling distance.

Preserving Paint Brushes

Many people are victims of using paint brushes for a single job. A paintbrush is a tool you can use for different jobs over a long period. So, after you finish painting, taking care of your brush is essential.

Scrap and clear the paint from the brush on the side of your paint can. Squeeze the brush between a cloth in your hand until dry. After this, keep your brush in a jar of water, just covering the hairs.

Securing Loose Heads on a Hammer and an Axe

Surviving and living in the country requires knowledge and the use of tools. An axe is vital for chopping wood, and a hammer is essential for repairs.

Wedge the handle as tightly as possible to fasten a loose head on a hammer. Drill two holes and fit in two large screws. To secure an axe head, drill a hole in the handle below the head. Make a wire loop through the hole and over the top. Tighten the wire, and staple the wire on the handle end on the top to secure it.

Making a Wood Polish

Previously, before the internet and upscale shopping malls, getting some products like polish was hard. We use polish when cleaning different surfaces. Do you know you can devise a homemade polish using common materials used at home?

Make a mixture of vinegar and mineral oil.  Put it in a corked spray bottle. Add a few drops of lavender when making the polish to improve the fragrance.

Purifying Muddy-Colored Water

Does your cistern water look muddy? You can give it a springwater look in many ways. Today, you can prevent misfortune by installing a purifying system before storage. Purifiers are new, and the old way still works with dirty water.

Stir in powdered alum in mud-colored water. Then, after leaving it for a few hours, it will become clear. Half an ounce or a tablespoonful of alum powder can produce 16 to 20 gallons of water.

Fuming Oak

Oak makes truly beautiful, high-status, and pricey furniture. The wood color depth varies. Are you looking for a way to increase the color depth of your oak timber? This ancient hack will work for your oak timbers and wood-only furniture.

Suspend your timber or furniture in an airtight wooden or tin container. Place a saucer of liquid ammonia on the floor of the container. For an even fume, ensure the ammonia fumes access the timber on all sides.