Cell Phone Batteries & More
9 tricks to Improve Your Life*
1 Charge Your Phone Faster
Technology To boost your battery more quickly, turn on airplane mode. That pauses your phone’s “background noise” (such as random notifications and GPS roaming), which tends to drain the battery. The extra juice won’t be much, but when you’re in a hurry, every little bit helps.
2 Save a Tooth That Has Been Knocked Out
health If a permanent tooth is accidentally knocked out of your mouth, don’t panic. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface), gently rinse off any debris, and stick it back in your mouth if you can. If not, put it in a cup of milk (not water!), and get to a dentist as soon as possible so it can be reimplanted.
3 Stop Fido’s Chewing
pets Got a dog that won’t stop chewing on its tail, paw, or fur? Paint the spot with myrrh oil, available at drugstores. The horrible taste will discourage the chewing.
4 Use a Makeshift Humidifier in Your Hotel Room
Travel The air in hotel rooms can be very dry. If your room has a kitchen area, fill a teakettle with water and heat it on the stove. Let the steam escape into the room until almost all the water has evaporated. This can help relieve coughs, stuffy noses, and other symptoms of colds and allergies.
5 Cut Down on Added Sugar
cooking “The average adult in the United States consumes almost three times more added sugar than is recommended,” states Erin Palinski-wade, RD, author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet. “When preparing a baked goods recipe, swap out the sugar for pureed prunes. This cuts out the added sugar while increasing both the fiber and nutrient content of the recipe.”
6 Save on a Sam’s Club Membership
shopping If you have a friend with a Sam’s Club membership, ask whether you can become an add-on cardholder on his or her account. That way, you get all the perks at a discounted price of $40 a year, down from $100 annually for a Sam’s Plus membership and $45 for a regular membership.
7 Stay Awake After That Big Thanksgiving Dinner
food Forget what you’ve heard about how the tryptophan in turkey makes you sleepy on Thanksgiving. In fact, the protein in turkey (as well as in chicken and steak) signals the brain to produce dopamine, the “motivation molecule” that gives you energy. So what really makes you sluggish after a big meal? The massive portions you just gobbled down.
8 Detox Your Dryer Sheet
cleaning Manufacturers of fabric-softening dryer sheets aren’t required to identify their fragrance ingredients as of yet, and there are at least 3,000 they could use—some of which are safe and some of which are not. Even unscented sheets might contain toxic chemicals, but a fragrance-free version can reduce your chance of exposure. If you really want to add a scent to your clothes, put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a tennis ball and throw that in the dryer.
9 Defrost Your Windshield—fast
auto Because rubbing alcohol doesn’t freeze until it reaches -127°F, it makes a great defrosting solution. Make a mixture that’s one third water and two thirds rubbing alcohol, and put it in a spray bottle. A few spritzes on an icy windshield will help you see clearly in no time. You can also use it on your car’s door handles if they are frozen shut.