Every family has its own traditions, routines, and little quirks that emerge out of their unique personalities and circumstances. A particular way of doing things can become second nature and feel totally normal when you’re just growing up and haven’t had the chance to see an alternative. But sooner or later, you go to your friend’s house and learn that tapas aren't a plate of leftovers from the meals you've had that week.
So, Reddit user Kaiablu decided to ask everyone on the platform to share their special household habits — the ones they thought were universal until they compared notes with the rest of the world. The responses ranged from charmingly practical to hilariously strange, proving that no two homes are exactly alike.
#1
I had a lot of siblings and my mom would bring us to the library after school for a few hours to do homework, read, play under their big oak tree outside. I even learned how to crochet at the library from a sweet older librarian. I would check out books on knitting and crocheting too. Anyway, I thought it was pretty normal. I asked my mom about it recently and she said that we only had 1 car and my dad worked within walking distance from the library, but didn't always get off work at the same time - so the library would give us a safe, air conditioned, clean, enriching place to wait until he was done. I think back and I remember we'd always pick Dad up on the way home from the library (or sometimes he'd show up there and surprise us). What a great set of parents we had.
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123points
#2
This may be common for some families but when I mentioned it to friends in highschool they were all surprised.
My grandmother sent each grand kid a card for every holiday and in the minor holidays she’d always have a $10 to $20 bill in it. I remember mentioning I’d gotten my Valentine’s Day money from my gram and my friends were all confused, I guess their grandparents only gifts on Christmas and birthdays.
Once we got older and she had great grandkids she started sending them cards for all the holidays. My cousin lived in my grams basement apartment and my grandmother still sent the card in the mail so her great grandson could be excited he got some mail.
My grandmother was the absolute best and I miss her every day ❤️.
My grandmother sent each grand kid a card for every holiday and in the minor holidays she’d always have a $10 to $20 bill in it. I remember mentioning I’d gotten my Valentine’s Day money from my gram and my friends were all confused, I guess their grandparents only gifts on Christmas and birthdays.
Once we got older and she had great grandkids she started sending them cards for all the holidays. My cousin lived in my grams basement apartment and my grandmother still sent the card in the mail so her great grandson could be excited he got some mail.
My grandmother was the absolute best and I miss her every day ❤️.
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88points
While these anecdotes are certainly interesting, if you want to take a more quantitative look at people's habits at home, there's a survey of 500 Americans that reveals quite a lot:
- Dishes in the sink: 44% of respondents said it's acceptable to leave dishes in the sink for "a few hours," although 30% thought they should be taken care of instantly, and 21% were willing to let it go for a day or two;
- Forks in the dishwasher: Simple, points up or points down? 60% of people said points up. Maybe to ensure that they get cleaned properly?
- Pants at home: The majority of people (59%) wear either sweatpants or yoga pants while hanging out at home. 16% of the more formal respondents wear jeans, and 5% prefer no pants at all.
#3
My older brother rigged up a pulley/counterweight system and lower handle to the sliding screen back door (so that the dog could open it and let herself out/in and it would automatically close behind her).
It was so well-done that I honestly thought he had bought an add-on/kit (like *made for that door*). But I later realized no one else had one at their house.
Turns out bro just made it out of s**t we already had in ~~Dad's shop~~ the *junk drawer*.
It was so well-done that I honestly thought he had bought an add-on/kit (like *made for that door*). But I later realized no one else had one at their house.
Turns out bro just made it out of s**t we already had in ~~Dad's shop~~ the *junk drawer*.
75points
#4
TL;DR: My parents took 40% of my paycheck as “home tax” while I lived with them, secretly invested it, and later gave it all back with profits to teach me how to save.
I don’t know if this counts as a “household hack,” but my parents charged me and my siblings a 40% “home tax” on every paycheck we earned while living at home.
I started gardening at 13 years old (through a summer municipal program), and they explained to me the cost of living, etc. They said this was just something they did to get by.
I moved out for three years and then moved back in to save up for my own place. The same rules still applied, but now the 40% was quite a significant amount.
When I made a bid for my apartment, my parents came to me with a piece of paper from the bank showing a pretty substantial amount of money, probably around two to three years’ worth of salary, and told me it was mine.
They had never spent any of the money I paid them; instead, they invested my “home tax” into funds that had done quite well.
They basically taught me how to save by “taxing” me. They did the same for each of my siblings, but made the older ones swear not to tell the younger ones because they believed it would ruin the learning opportunity.
I don’t know if this counts as a “household hack,” but my parents charged me and my siblings a 40% “home tax” on every paycheck we earned while living at home.
I started gardening at 13 years old (through a summer municipal program), and they explained to me the cost of living, etc. They said this was just something they did to get by.
I moved out for three years and then moved back in to save up for my own place. The same rules still applied, but now the 40% was quite a significant amount.
When I made a bid for my apartment, my parents came to me with a piece of paper from the bank showing a pretty substantial amount of money, probably around two to three years’ worth of salary, and told me it was mine.
They had never spent any of the money I paid them; instead, they invested my “home tax” into funds that had done quite well.
They basically taught me how to save by “taxing” me. They did the same for each of my siblings, but made the older ones swear not to tell the younger ones because they believed it would ruin the learning opportunity.
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68points
#5
We'd have "tapas" night every Friday.
The tapas were all the leftovers that had accumalated during the week. .
The tapas were all the leftovers that had accumalated during the week. .
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63points
Finally, when it comes to the most personal:
- Washing hair: 42% of people said they wash daily, 33% aim to shampoo every other day, and the other 25% wash even less frequently.
- Q-tips: If you wondered how many use them, 79% said that they swab their ears regularly. (However! Healthcare professionals recommend against it! Better to use soap and water instead.)
- Lying to the doctor (or dentist): 39% of people admitted to misrepresenting their flossing habits on their trips to the dentist. Eating habits (25%) and exercise (27%) are the next biggest lies, and 17% also bend the truth about their sleeping. Lies about alcohol consumption (12%), sexual activity (10%), and drug abuse (9%) were lower but still noteworthy.
#6
Growing up lower income we would place a 5 gallon bucket in the shower to catch the water until it began to warm up then you take your shower over the bucket. You shut the water off while you soap up and then turn it back on to rinse. We then use the water from the bucket to pour in the toilet instead of flushing the toilet. When friends come over they'd ask, what's up with the bucket and I'm like doesn't everyone use a bucket ?
Also Ziploc bags are not single use, you clean and reuse them just like plastic dishes. Plastic grocery bags are reused as trash can liners, why do they even sell trash can liners ? (per dad).
Also Ziploc bags are not single use, you clean and reuse them just like plastic dishes. Plastic grocery bags are reused as trash can liners, why do they even sell trash can liners ? (per dad).
54points
#7
My dad would mute the ads and that was our chance to ask him things.
53points
#8
Whenever I have something I NEED to take with me to work or wherever I’m planning to go, I put it in a plastic grocery bag and hang it from the doorknob so I will have to physically touch it to leave the house. It’s still possible to forget, but I forget less often this way than simply setting it on the counter.
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53points
#9
I have a 4inch semi-rigid dryer hose tube that I tied to the banister going to my basement. At the bottom of the stairs is a garbage can with a plastic bag for recyclable cans/bottles.
Instead of having to go downstairs everytime I have an empty can/bottle, I just send them down the chute.
here's a video of it
Instead of having to go downstairs everytime I have an empty can/bottle, I just send them down the chute.
here's a video of it
52points
#10
In the winter, my dad would tie plastic sandwich bags over our feet before we put our boots on. This kept our feet dry when we inevitably got snow jammed down our boots while playing.
I recounted this to my husband once, and he was very confused. Apparently, it was just a thing my dad did. It was smart, though! We never had freezing wet feet. I plan to do the same with my kid.
I recounted this to my husband once, and he was very confused. Apparently, it was just a thing my dad did. It was smart, though! We never had freezing wet feet. I plan to do the same with my kid.
51points
#11
My mom wrote the date on the lids of things she opened (tomato sauce, etc) so she would know when it had to get tossed. I do it, too.
50points
#12
We use a cutter knife and cut a lotion or sunscreen plastic bottle in half to get every bit out. It’s expensive & there’s a lot left in there🙋🏻♀️😉.
50points
#13
Folding empty disposable plastic grocery bags in a particular way. Did so automatically when at a friend's house for the first time before handing one to her and she was floored. Demanded I teach her, and we then spent 10 minutes folding all her saved plastic bags. I was glad to be able to pass on a (semi?)useful skill for reducing the space they took up.
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49points
#15
This is kind of a dated one. We had a record player with a lid that was fully detached (not on hinges). To solve the problem of then having to set this big lid down somewhere while playing records, my parents rigged up a brass pulley hanging from the ceiling, with a counterweight on the cord and a little bent tube that provided just enough friction so that you could lift the lid and would remain hanging wherever you left it. It’s rather ingenious in a Wallace and Gromit kind of way, but I thought this was just standard record player installation. I only found out differently when we studied simple machines in third grade and I had a homework assignment to draw simple machines I found around the house. I drew this thing for “pulley” and completely baffled my teacher!
Edit: Here's a picture I drew of it. Edit to the edit: this is a new drawing, not my decades-old homework, which is long gone. .
Edit: Here's a picture I drew of it. Edit to the edit: this is a new drawing, not my decades-old homework, which is long gone. .
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45points
#16
Corn on the cob butter.
Growing up, we had a separate butter dish (usually just a small plate) that we used to butter corn by playing the cob directly on the stick of butter and spin it slowly. This is the best way to get complete and even butter coverage. I thought this was a normal thing until my husband was gobsmacked the first he saw us do it. He has since accepted the genius of our approach and we have taught our kids too (though we have had to tell not to do it at their friends’ houses).
Growing up, we had a separate butter dish (usually just a small plate) that we used to butter corn by playing the cob directly on the stick of butter and spin it slowly. This is the best way to get complete and even butter coverage. I thought this was a normal thing until my husband was gobsmacked the first he saw us do it. He has since accepted the genius of our approach and we have taught our kids too (though we have had to tell not to do it at their friends’ houses).
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44points
#17
Not sure if it counts as a hack but washing out soap/shampoo bottles.
Turns out most people just toss them when they start spurting rather than dispensing soap, we would add a little water and shake it up to get a bit more out.
Turns out most people just toss them when they start spurting rather than dispensing soap, we would add a little water and shake it up to get a bit more out.
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44points
#18
Poop Journal. Growing up, there was a spiral notebook on top of the toilet lid called The Poop Journal. If you went in the bathroom for any reason you could write in the journal, then put the notebook back for the next person to read. No telling what you'd find written in there or from whom. Everyone in the family, friends coming over to play, even our parents, wrote in it. It might be a joke, a silly comment, even asking what's for dinner?
As kids, it was funny. But now, 30 years and 8 notebooks later, they're hysterical.
.
As kids, it was funny. But now, 30 years and 8 notebooks later, they're hysterical.
.
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44points
#19
My grandfather had a workshop in his garage that was like a Rube-Goldberg machine that was actually useful. Need a shop-vac? There was a rope you could pull and the shop vac would drop out of the A-frame roof on a pulley. There were cabinet doors that opened from the top rather than to the left or right with pop-out rods that had all the different tapes he had stacked on them or a pop out wire frame trash bag holder that you folded the top of the bag over and had just the right tension to keep it in place and open until you wanted to change it out and it just lifted off when you pushed on the spring load for the wire to release the tension. There was also a huge overhead bell shaped industrial gas burning heater that he took from his company when it shut down that just tucked into the space between the rafters that could heat the whole garage to T-shirt temperature even in sub-zero weather. The guy had everything rigged up to be able to have what he wanted in front of him with the slightest effort. When I was little I thought every mechanic/engineer built their workshops this way, but he was just a mechanical genius that had an idea to make everything easier. Everyone joked that when we eventually had to sell the house that the dad moving in would cry tears of joy when he discovered the workshop.
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41points
#20
Use a turkey baster to remove grease from a pan when cooking ground beef. My mom did it growing up so I thought it was normal. My wife thought it was witchcraft the first time she saw me do it. She immediately called her mom and sister to tell them to do it.
40points