13 popular 'life hacks' that are actually bogus

ketchup pancake batter

Life hacks give us cheap, elegant ways to stay organized and productive.

For instance, who knew a bowl could double as a makeshift iPhone speaker? Or that binder clips could preserve the life of our toothpaste?

But some life hacks are more trouble than they're worth and won't actually save you time or energy.

Here are the hacks you should probably avoid.

1. Toasters don't make good grilled cheese.

The life hack: Making a grilled cheese sandwich by turning a toaster on its side and putting two slices of bread inside with a slice of cheese atop each.

Why it's bogus: Aside from the fire hazard you're creating, the method is just ineffective. Buttered bread will grease the inside of your toaster, and the final product won't have the same texture. Plus, the bread might pop out and get melty cheese all over the place.

2. Toilet-paper rolls don't work as phone speakers.

The life hack: Fitting your phone inside a set of connected toilet-paper tubes serves as a kind of makeshift amp.

Why it's bogus: The sound isn't made any louder by the tubes; if anything, it gets muffled by all that excess cardboard. Go with a bowl instead — it shoots the sound waves up and out instead of trapping them inside an overly complicated rig.

3. Wooden spoons don't stop pots of water from boiling over.

The life hack: Placing a wooden spoon across a boiling pot of water to prevent the water from spilling over.

Why it's bogus: You may have some success with a simmering pot, but the real enemy here is the rapid, rolling boil. Expect the water to engulf your feeble spoon.

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