I bought a lift-top coffee table from a big box store almost a decade ago. It’s entirely particle board and has seen better days cosmetically, but it’s probably my single favorite piece of furniture. It’s immensely practical for meals, using a laptop, or just bringing your remote/drink/whatever closer to your hand when laying down on the couch. I instinctively try to lift other people’s coffee tables when I visit, and am mildly annoyed when it doesn’t work…

  • wjrii ( wjrii@kbin.social ) 
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    3 years ago

    Several years ago I was in a dollar store and bought a reel of twist-tie wire with a little integrated cutter. It has come in handy so many times, and I’m still only about 2/3 through it.

    Dropped the bread’s twist tie somewhere? I’m not looking around for that piece of garbage. I have new, BETTER garbage.

    Cheap lightweight picture frame came with the type of hardware that benefits from hanging wire? Done.

    Need to tie off a takeout bag that’s now full of trash? I got this.

    Kiddo made a Christmas ornament out of construction paper? No retrieving the ornament box from the attic for me.

    • Astronomik ( Astronomik@kbin.social ) OP
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      3 years ago

      Tangentially related: I also hate the twist ties or little bits of plastic that they use on bread bags, so instead I use a set of bag sealing clips from Ikea. It was a set of 30 for just a few bucks and they’re such an improvement.

        • wjrii ( wjrii@kbin.social ) 
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          3 years ago

          I see you’ve met my wife!

          I find that mostly works fine, but is a little precarious in a busy kitchen, and I also like to compress a softer bread just a little bit when I tie it up. Probably placebo, but it feels like I’m helping it stay fresh longer.

          • I mean how long does a loaf of sliced bread actually last? 20 slices, give or take? two people making lunch sandwiches, that’s five days per loaf. there’s usually enough oil and preservatives to last a couple of weeks. (if you’re wanting to bake your own sandwich bread, I highly recommend adding a some olive oil to the dough. it helps it last longer and helps produce a tighter crumb.)

            I only really had a problem with sliced bread going stale when I lived alone.