Helpful Hints & Household Wisdom from the 1996 Farmers’ Almanac

Before YouTube hacks, TikTok tips, and 47-step “life optimization” threads… There were little nuggets of wisdom tucked into the back pages of almanacs, community cookbooks, and church newsletters. The kind of advice your grandma clipped out and taped inside a cabinet door.

This collection of “Helpful Hints” came straight from that era (Farmers’ Almanac 1996) — when solutions were simple, ingredients were already in your kitchen, and nobody was trying to sell you a subscription box to fix your problems. From cooling your mouth after a rogue jalapeño to keeping crystal glasses chip-free, these tips are equal parts practical, clever, and charmingly low-tech.

Some are surprisingly useful. Some are delightfully random. All of them are a reminder that everyday life used to run on shared wisdom, not search algorithms.

Here are a few classic household hints that still hold up today.

Helpful Hints

What’s the best way to cool your tongue after eating a hot pepper? 🌶️
Drink a cup of milk. The main protein in milk acts like a detergent, washing away the capsaicin — the substance in hot peppers that causes the “fire.”

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Looking for a hand cleaner strong enough for the mechanic in the house? 🔧
Try sugar. No matter what kind of soap you use, sprinkle a little sugar into your palms. It helps scrub away grease and grime. Keep some sugar in a shaker near the sink for easy access.

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Estimating food portion sizes is easy when you use your hands ✋
• One cup of cereal, spaghetti, or vegetables = about the size of your closed fist
• Three ounces of meat, fish, or poultry = about the size of your palm (no fingers or thumb)
• One ounce of cheese 🧀 = about the size of your thumb
• One teaspoon of peanut butter, butter, mayo, or sugar = about the size of your thumb’s top joint

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Fishy hands? 🐟
Rub your hands with a piece of lemon dipped in salt. Then rinse with water.

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Sick of unpopped kernels? 🍿
Try storing your popcorn in the freezer before using it.

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Tired of watering your hanging plant and having water pour out? 🪴
Put a few ice cubes on top of the soil (not against the plant). When the ice melts, the water will be absorbed slowly by the roots.

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For a cool yet unique drink
Add a few drops of vanilla to your iced coffee ☕.

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Need to skim excess fat from homemade soup or gravy? 🍲
Wrap two ice cubes in cheesecloth and skim them along the surface. The fat will cling to the cloth.

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Caring for your crystal ✨
Let crystal air-dry after washing. Spread a towel on the counter, place glasses upright, and store them upright on their bases to help prevent chipped rims.

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Moving? 📦
Place a paper napkin between each dish when packing. Dishes stay protected, and the napkins are handy later.

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Yard sale & flea market bargains 💰
• Buy inexpensive serving spoons for potlucks — if one disappears, no big loss
• Use pretty, affordable plates to give cakes as gifts — practical and charming 🎁

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Safe Shoveling Tip

When shoveling snow, dirt, or whatever, make sure you do NOT hold your breath and strain when you lift a shovelful. This causes the blood flow to your heart to slow down. When breath is released, blood pressure suddenly rebounds and becomes significantly elevated. This can create a dangerous heart overload. The correct way to shovel is to breathe out as you lift the shovel and toss the dirt, snow or other shoveling material off to the side.