35 Life Hacks That Are So Simple Yet So Effective That More People Should Be Aware Of

Everyone loves a good life hack, right? Especially when you can finally make your life a little bit easier by simply using them. You may save some time, materials and more easily deal with things that constantly make you nervous. For example, I believe quite a few of us have struggled with the garlic smell on our hands after cooking a meal. Well, apparently touching stainless steel can remove it easily. Or did you know an easier way to remove gum from the carpet? Basically, you can put a bag filled with ice cubes on top of the gum and wait for approximately thirty minutes. Once the gum is solid, break it apart and extract it from the carpet.

Well, one Reddit user recently posed a question asking folks online to share a life hack that's so simple yet so effective that it shocks them that more people don't know about it. So scroll through them, upvote your favorites and share your easy life hacks below!

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35 Life Hacks That Are So Simple Yet So Effective That More People Should Be Aware Of From working technical support for longer than I dare think about, most angry customers just want to be heard. Let them have their rant, do active listening, and make notes about what they're saying. They will eventually run out of steam. Then, read back everything they talked about and go through it step by step. Works almost every time, and often they are very thankful by the end of the call.

zerbey , Alex Green Report

Final score:

213points

POST

ammara 11 months ago

Also holds true for upset patients or their family. As a health care worker in an overburdened health system,its not always possible to hear them out, but it works almost everytime I gave this strategy a go

74points

Astro 10 months ago

Same with working at an auto body shop. Listen and validate first!

2points

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Bec 11 months ago

I watched the Master class on negotiation and his advice was similar - listen and don't talk, don't offer anything too soon, repeat back - what I hear you saying is 'this' is really important to you

9points

El Cucuy 11 months ago

Pretty much holds true for anyone angry, customer or otherwise.

7points

Justme 10 months ago

And if you’re the angry one, it helps to start out by saying “I’m not angry with you but I am angry at this situation”

6points

MoMcB 10 months ago

I was taught to think of the client as a balloon. It tries to empty itself of the air inside, and when it is empty, it's your turn.

4points

Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

I like that. I pictured someone trying to catch a balloon flying wildly around the room until the air runs out. It's better to watch and wait until it's empty and then pick it up and start again.

5points

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Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

This is also the best way to diffuse angry customers in both retail and hospitality industries. People just want to feel like you care about their problems. You can't always fix the problem, but knowing that you listened and tried to help makes a big difference.

2points

Cheryl Lohr 10 months ago

People just want someone to listen to them.

2points

Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

I remember someone said that we have 2 ears and 1 mouth, because we are supposed to listen twice as much as we talk.

3points

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Lady Gypsy Rain 10 months ago

So so so true!!! I’m an easy person to get along with as long as you allow me to voice my concerns without interrupting me and actually hearing what I’m saying. I’m not a Karen type but I WILL ask for your supervisor if you are rude to me or try to lay the blame on me when it’s so obviously not the case. Ie, my package being delivered to the wrong house by FedEx for the umpteenth million time I’ve had it with you driver, no I will not go to my neighbor to demand the package you gifted them from my wallet. Fix it or I’m asking for your supervisor. And I’m not ugly on the phone, no cursing or even raising my voice. So don’t try to accuse me of that. I will demand they listen to your tapes. The results are in your court. Make it right.

1point

Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

From a customer perspective, I've had better luck when I shout and stomp around my house, then I make my calls calmly and I usually start the conversation with something like "I have a question, I'm hoping you can help me..." I find it helps to get my frustration out before I call and by asking for help, instead of making demands or accusations, the person will usually be willing to help and even if they can't, they will transfer me to the person who has the power to help me. Not only do customers want to be heard, people want to be respected on both sides of the exchange.

1point

Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

I was receptionist for an auto dealer and I remember one customer who called several times over a few days. My job was to transfer the calls to the appropriate sales or service person, which I did. The customer was clearly more angry each time he called so I asked if I might help him. He told me what his problem was and I got his name and number. I told him that I would find out what I could and call him before the end of the day. It turned out that no one in service was answering his calls and what started as a simple question had festered until he was almost crazy with frustration. I don't remember the details because it was years ago, but I called him back as promised. He thanked me several times and a few days later when he picked up his truck the service manager asked me what I did. I said, "nothing, I just listened to him."

1point

Linziaj 10 months ago

Doctors receptionists take note. Most are frustrated NOT abusive

1point

shawn mckinney 10 months ago

I've done this...I mean the ranting part. But then I apologize and say I know it's not the rep's fault and that I just needed to vent.

1point

Diana Wilcox 10 months ago

I wish I had that ability. Unfortunately, whenever someone brings that energy to an interaction, my anxiety takes the wheel. And we're not paid well enough to be therapists in customer service jobs.

1point

Stargazer Lily 10 months ago

Good management will not expect you to tolerate abuse. You should be supported if you calmly state that you will not be able to help (the customer) if they continue to speak to you disrespectfully. This will stop most people because they don't realize how inconsiderate they are behaving. People who continue after they have been asked to stop should be directed up the chain of command if that's your company's policy. Otherwise, tell them you're going to hang up and do it. That keeps you in control and you aren't paid enough to be abused by a customer "who's always right."

2points

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Jane Hower 10 months ago

PERFECT!!!

0points

Ixanga Cancun 10 months ago

Amazon chat does this a lot. Then after they've repeated everything to you and not suggested a solution, they pass you on to another agent and you have to go through it again. Should you get impatient, you get the message "x has left the chat" and the process begins again.

0points

April Pickett 10 months ago

The technical support people (if you can get one) do hear a lot of yelling and loud voices. Part of it is the item the customer is calling about, but I think (from experience) it is probably at least 40% the computerized response you have to go through first. I try very hard not to get frustrated, but after answering the same question from 4 different levels of the process and then having to answer again to an actual human, it's hard to be pleasant.

0points

Spec Tater 10 months ago

Good advice. Too bad all tech supports aren’t like this. Looking at you Miss Clearly-Our-System-Says-You-Have-Internet!😡

0points

Kelly Hartle 10 months ago

I was the staff attorney for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. By the time they got me on the phone they were already screaming.

0points

UncleJon_TheMadScientist 10 months ago

When I was a service manager in the auto repair business when I would have a ranting and loud customer I'd grab a clipboard and blank workorder and ask them to follow me (to the shop or outside in the back lot) because I need to get some info on a car for a tech, but I tell them to keep telling me what their issue is.. as I write notes (NOT about the '"car" I'm looking at but notes on the rant coming from the customer) I listen intently to what is being said and let the steam blow itself out. Then pause for a bit writing more notes ( and formulating a plan) then engage in a calm discussion... That worked most times because I wouldn't respond with anything but a nod or uh huh and an occasional what else.. .. For the very few who didn't calm down by that time someone had already called the police...

0points

Alice Landers 10 months ago

So true Customer (caller) is not mad at you listen acknowledge (I owned IT business back 'break/fix' era) Great story customer was mad insisted sending tech to his house(offered options and advice called 3 days later) My tech called after appointment laughing He had put batteries in backwards mouse ! He looked at my tech reached into his pocket and handed him a $100 bill (back then onsite minimum $75hr)_....said if im that 'f*in stupid you deserve every penny "

0points

Silre (she/her) 10 months ago

You know, I don't care. I'm not there for you to yell at. Be nice or don't call.

0points

Daddy’s Girl 10 months ago

Very sound advice for anyone in the service industry

0points

Hobby Hopper 10 months ago

This person really gets it. Don't we all just want to be heard?

0points

BrownTabby 10 months ago

For me, I’m typically not even yelling and am willing to be somewhat flexible. I just expect businesses to act in good faith and I don’t exist in a perpetual state of apology for holding that expectation, and to unscrupulous businesses that’s the same thing as being a Karen.

0points

David 10 months ago

Agree. This was my experience working IT support.

0points

Ricardo Ferreira 10 months ago

Even when I'm angry with the company, it's with the company, not the guy/girl on the other side of the line (exceptions occur, unfortunately).

0points

Janet Howe 10 months ago

True, true. We all want to be heard. I've actually found myself apologizing to those people on the phone, because I've raised my voice to them in anger. I find the worst of the worse have been those who manage my retirement funds. (this retirement shall remain nameless, for obvious reasons) I get a different answer every time I call. Never get the same person twice. And can't seem to talk to anyone in person, in the local office. They aren't very interested because I don't have millions in my acct. However, the person or persons, in any organization, who have found solutions for me, instead of just passing the buck, I've thanked and praised highly. We want someone to listen and give us our options, without a line of BS.

0points

Sarah Laurent 10 months ago

FACTS ! I have been working for an ISP hotline, and, when it was MY turn to call any customer care if I was angry because of a problem that shouldn't happen, I always started by a : "I apologize, it's not directed at you as a person, but I need to vent first. You can even put your phone down for a moment, and we will get back to it when my rant will be over and I'll be calm" Do you know what ? It worked, the call agent was 99% of the time laughing at it, and... we were both laughing eventually and my problem was always solved :)

-1point

35 Life Hacks That Are So Simple Yet So Effective That More People Should Be Aware Of

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