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Duration:10:03
Uploaded:2014-01-08
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A weekly show where knowledge junkies get their fix of trivia-tastic information. This week, John tests another 30 "life hacks" to see if they work as promised.

Mental Floss Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mf_video

Select Images and Footage provided by Shutterstock: www.shutterstock.com

Life Hack Links:
1. Snuggie: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2013-11/enhanced/webdr06/1/14/enhanced-buzz-486-1383330661-36.jpg
2. Deodorant and Shirt: https://twitter.com/omglifehacks/status/121356263773835265
3. Plastic Bottle Amplifier: http://macleanpatrick.tumblr.com/post/57873982905/the-guys-had-this-brilliant-idea-to-fit-an-iphone
4. Cheetos and Chopsticks: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2013-10/enhanced/webdr03/18/18/enhanced-buzz-25305-1382134929-33.jpg
5. Pants Hanger Chip Sealer: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/8/13/21/enhanced-buzz-10151-1376443079-15.jpg
6. Core Lettuce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ybO41ZJTnM
7. Applesauce Spoon: https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7770974208/h7E585B30/
8. Chocolate Chip Bag: http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/life-hacks-how-to-make-your-life-easier-39.jpg
9. Cake and Spaghetti: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/46232333648444196/
10. Eyelash Curler Bottle Opener: http://www.reddit.com/r/MakeupAddiction/comments/1mycjg/when_you_cant_find_a_bottle_opener_but_really/
11. Vodka and Sticker: http://myfixituplife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/vodka-tip.jpg
12. Ketchup Holder: http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ketchup-holder-cup-unroll-unfold-the-rim.jpg
13. Cup Lid Coaster: http://www.lifehacker.co.in/photo/22081364.cms
14. Water Plant: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr01/2013/8/22/16/enhanced-buzz-20094-1377204396-24.jpg
15. Candle Craft: https://twitter.com/LifeHacks/status/403359577783029760
16. DIY Paint: https://twitter.com/LifeHacks/status/398545087988129792
17. Staple Remover and Key Ring: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/8/13/21/enhanced-buzz-6729-1376442100-12.jpg
18. Paperclip and Grapes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9pMWLu7pxU
19. Chopstick and Grapes: http://www.refinedguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/11.-pit-cherries-with-a-chopstick-awesome-food-hacks.jpg
20. Tennis Ball Jar Opener: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr02/2013/8/22/17/enhanced-buzz-18941-1377205362-24.jpg
21. CD Spindle Bagel Holder: http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/life-hacks-how-to-make-your-life-easier-16.jpg
22. Sandwich Prep: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/8/13/20/enhanced-buzz-5628-1376441210-7.jpg
23. Scissor Pizza Cutter: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/46232333648425228/
24. Cocoa and Masking Tape: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/13/2e/5b/132e5bbc13538a36d94e3742fc9316bc.jpg
25. Popcorn Bag: http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Instagram-Life-Hacks-Popcorn-Bag-Into-Bowl.jpg?b95a06
26. Frozen Envelope: https://twitter.com/omglifehacks/status/117723789982310400
27. Soda Box: http://i.imgur.com/pFgbWNT.gif
28. Cereal and Colander: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr01/2013/8/22/16/enhanced-buzz-19249-1377204725-4.jpg
29. Cookbook on Pants Hanger: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/8/22/17/enhanced-buzz-25291-1377205708-5.jpg
30. Blister Pack and Can Opener: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/8/13/20/enhanced-buzz-8347-1376441600-5.jpg

----
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Hi, I'm John Green, welcome to my salon. This is mental_floss on YouTube...

1. ...and I'm wearing a bathrobe backwards because I've been told by the internet that it's an excellent substitute for a Snuggie. Survey says: Pass. Plus it's got this belt which makes you feel a little bit like a Jedi, at least Princess Leia.

And that the first life hack of many that I'm going to test for you today. 

*Cue theme music*

2. This is a black T-Shirt covered in deodorant, clearly it is not my size. The internet tells me that I can remove this deodorant with a dryer sheet. Let's see how that goes. Ehhh I mean, y'know marginal pass? I'll tell you what would work, a laundry machine. 

3. This is a Coke bottle with a hole cut in it, very common you know and then I'm gonna stick this in here, the internet tells me it's gonna be an amazing amplifier. *Theme plays* *mumbling* Of all the things in human history that have successfully amplified sound this Coke bottle amplified it the least. Technically pass. 

4. But why am I even bothering with iPhones and plastic bottles? We all know that life hacks are all about foods, so let's get to some of those. Apparently the best way to eat Cheetos is with chopsticks. Because then you don't get orange stuff all over your hands. Also you look really cool. Meredith thank you for getting me these dummy chopsticks that anyone can use. You know what? Pass.

5. Now I can't finish eating these until after I've hosted this video so I'm going to seal the bag with a pants hanger that I'm going to use as a chip clip. ARRRRCHH. Pass. Although there are very sharp edges. 

6. If you're looking for a healthier snack, I am going to try and core this head of lettuce by slamming it on this cutting board. One, Two, argh ow, hmnnn, FAIL and I hurt myself.

7. Now if you ever find yourself with a cup of applesauce and no spoon, it is supposedly very simple to take the foil from the top and mold it into a mini spoon. Do some twisties, twisty twisty twisty. Turn this into a spoon. Yup there we go, nice little spoon. And then... Oh! Pass.

8. Ok, I also have a bag of chocolate chips because my grocery list is very strange. Would you believe that some people don't actually pour this whole thing into their cookie batter?! Lucky for them, you can just grab one of these water bottle tops that you always have sitting around and reseal the bag. You unscrew the top here, argh. Pass, although all things being equal I prefer the pants hanger. 

9. Next we have a life hack for people who do not eat an entire cake in one sitting. Mark, I thought you said that these came from the internet. If you don't want your frosting to stick to the Saran wrap, just use some uncooked spaghetti. Stick it in the cake, and then you cling wrap over it. So bad at cling wrap! Dang it! Ohhh this is a disaster. Let me just. Awhh wha- Fail. Just finish the cake. 

10. Man all these food life hacks are making me thirsty I'm going to open this bottle of beer, with an eyelash curler. OHHH YEAH. pass. 

11. All right, let's end the over-21 portion of the program. Meredith has clearly been cooking with this sticker still on the pot, I've been told that vodka can remove that sticker. All right...get it nice and vodka-y...and then remove the sticker. No. No, it's far-- FAIL.

12. Here's a life hack that actually changed my life. You know those ketchup holders from fast food restaurants? WHAAAT! They hold so much more ketchup than you know about! We're going to do an extremely scientific survey- one one-thousand two one-thousand three one-thousand four one-thousand five one-thousand; one one-thousand two one-thousand three one-thousand four one-thousand five one-thousand six one-thousand seven one-thousand eight one-thousand nine one-thousand- it goes on and on, it's much better! 

13. While I was out getting those ketchup packets, I also picked up a drink with a plastic lid so that I can test if the lid will really serve as a coaster. No, it doesn't, it is not the right shape at all. Fail. I mean, not that it matters, as a person who frequently drinks from Arby's cups I can tell you that we as a population are not terrible worried about our coffee tables.

14. And now I'm going to water the plants, which is not something that I usually do, but whatever, it's a life hack. If you don't have a watering can, I've been told that you can just poke holes in a bottle of water and- get a watering can. Fail.

15. Okay craft time, Meredith drew this on a piece of wax paper, and I should be able to transfer that image onto this plain white candle to turn it into a mental_floss work of art if I apply heat via this hairdryer. Okay. Going to spin this around....this is the moment of truth...Dang it! This is so disappointing! Fail.

16. All right, more crafts. I'm gonna combine a cup of salt, a cup of flour, a cup of water, and this food coloring to make my own paint! Cup of salt, cup of flour, cup of water, woah woah woah there, slow down cowboy, aaand a full thing of green food coloring. All right, this is the consistency of Play-Doh, not paint, so I'm gonna go ahead and give it a fail, but I'm also gonna try and eat it. Not bad. Little salty. Meredith, will you do a little research and find out if this is how they made Nickelodeon slime? 

17. How do you open a key ring without breaking a nail? Apparently, by prying it open with a staple remover. It works in the sense that it does pry open the key ring, but not in the sense that it, like, helps you get the key out, so, fail. 

18. And while you're using office supplies to do things completely unrelated to office work, try getting rid of grape seeds with a paperclip. I mean I'm just gonna predict fail. This is like performing surgery with the world's least sharp knife. I mean I can technically remove the grape seeds- actually, you know what, this isn't half bad. Pass.

19. If you don't wanna waste a paperclip, there's another option. I have the Cheeto chopstick from earlier, and also the, uh, Coke with the hole in it, world's worst amplifier, and now I'm going to remove grape seeds comme ça. Fail.

20. Oh hi there giraffe. Ever come across a tough jar to open and happen to have a cut-open tennis ball on hand? Of course you have! I'm going to try to open this jar with the tennis ball. Meredith, by the way, would like me to point out that cutting this tennis ball in half was the hardest single thing she has ever done in her life, and she is a saint and a scholar. But was it for nothing, Meredith, or is it in fact a life hack? That is not a hard jar to open. I guess...pass? I'm not really the right guy for this life hack though because of my rippling guns.

21. Can you store a bagel in an old CD spindle? What? Yes! That is a game changer. Pass.

22. While we're on the topic of carbohydrates, everyone hates that disgusting bite of, like, straight up bread that happens when you're biting into a sandwich. But rather than throw cheese and meat around the sandwich willy-nilly, I have been told that there is a way to fill your entire bread with cheese. You cut two pieces of circular cheese in half and then you go what are you serious yes it's going- it did it worked PASS! I just upped my grilled cheese game big time.

23. But if you're more of a pizza person, and let's face it, if you love freedom, you are, but you don't have a pizza cutter, you can always just use your kitchen scissors. I don't understand why the internet thinks this is a life hack when I started doing it when I was four, but anyway, pass.

24. And why use a knife to even out measurements of things like cocoa when you could just use a contraption made of masking tape? Pass!

25. I have here a pre-popped bag of popcorn, and as we all know the worst part of eating microwave popcorn from the bag is when your hand rubs up against the fake butter stuff and you feel the shame when you realize what you're actually eating. The internet has solved this problem, you just put the bag on its side, you cut a hole outta the top- mm, delicious popcorn, no weird butter feeling. Pass.

26. Now we're moving to the kitchen for some life hacks. So before we started shooting, Mark put this envelope in the freezer and apparently I can now open it with this letter opener, okay, kind of, and now I can go in and explore the- mhg mhg - mmm, mmm--- it's pretty frozen. The idea is that you can reseal it and no one will ever know that you opened the envelope, which is just fail.

27. I don't know if this is really a life hack, but if you open both sides of a 12 pack of soda, you can just- and then all your soda's in the fridge already. So I guess that's a soft pass.

28. If you're down to the end of your Cheerios here but you don't wanna get all those gross little crumb things in it, you can just sift the Cheerios, and you're left with pure cereal. Pass!

29. We've already seen how useful pants hangers can be, but did you know that they can also improve your cookbooking? Put the clip right here, hang the hanger up right here, aaaand I'm cookin and I'm lookin! Pass.

Thanks for watching mental floss here on YouTube, which is made with the help of all of these nice people. Every week we endeavour to answer one of your mind-blowing questions. This week's question comes from Liz Campbell.

30. Hi Liz, I hope you don't mind if I try to open this blister pack with a can opener while I answer your question. The question is, where does it say that Humpty Dumpty is an egg? This, by the way, is a fail. Everyone knows that you can't open a blister pack ever no matter what.

But right, to your question Liz, it doesn't say that Humpty Dumpty is an egg. The origin of the nursery rhyme is unclear, but many believe it began as a riddle, with the answer being an egg. That's why Humpty Dumpty is often pictured as an egg.

Thanks for watching. Don't trust everything you see on the internet, but do use your pants hangers to clip your chips, and as we say in my hometown, Don't Forget to Be Awesome.