Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 15 Impossible-to-Kill Outdoor Plants

      15 Impossible-to-Kill Outdoor Plants

      15 pretty plants that will thrive in even the least plant-friendly spaces Read More
    • A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding the Bystander Effect

      A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding the Bystander Effect

      5 Steps to Intervene Safely and Effectively Read More
    • A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      There are three common ways you can measure your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Read More
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    22 High-Protein Meal Ideas with Recipes

    These easy-to-make recipes pack plenty of protein.
    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain

    Made with products you probably have on hand
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See All Life

    Great Shows on Netflix to Watch This April

    24 new-to-you shows waiting to be discovered and devoured
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Adulting
    • Get It Done
    • Waste Less, Live Better
  • Health

    Health

    See All Health

    What to Do if You're Struggling to Feel Joy.

    How to recognize and deal with Anhedonia
    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
  • Money

    Money

    See All Money
    11 Small Ways You Can Help Stimulate the Economy

    11 Small Ways You Can Help Stimulate the Economy

    Your dollars may be worth more than you realize.
    • Money Confidential Podcast
    • Saving Money
    • Money Planning
    • Money Made Simple
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See All Style and Beauty
    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    7 Tulip Arrangements That Are Absolutely Stunning

    7 Tulip Arrangements That Are Absolutely Stunning

    Spring is peak season for tulips. Take a cue from these beautiful arrangements and create your own at home.
    • All Holidays
    • Easter
    • Gifts
    • Mother’s Day
    • Passover
    • Entertaining
    • Father’s Day
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Come Together
    • Hanukkah
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Real Simple
  2. Life
  3. Life Strategies
  4. Banishing Life’s Little Annoyances

Banishing Life’s Little Annoyances

By Ashley Tate
Updated August 29, 2014
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Illustration of a "charley horse"
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi
How to get rid of unwanted things like coffee breath, weeds, and a charley horse.
Start Slideshow

1 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

A Charley Horse 

Illustration of a "charley horse"
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

When a cramp hits, usually resulting from dehydration, don’t fight your instincts. Stretch the affected area and massage in a circular motion, using mild to moderate pressure. Squeezing the area will also work if massaging is too painful.

Scars

“Massage a new scar for five minutes, twice a day,” says Julius Few, associate professor of plastic surgery at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois. “Applying pressure forces the body to make scar tissue that is flatter and lighter in color.” Start the treatment two to three weeks after the injury has healed and scabbing is gone. Stop rubbing after a year; no more improvement can be made to a scar after that.

1 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lingering Scent of Perfume

Illustration of a woman inside a perfume bottle
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

One too many sample spritzes and now you’re emanating a heady mixture of vanilla, patchouli, and rose. “Perfume molecules that are bound to skin oil and protein can take several days to evaporate,” says Luca Turin, a biophysicist and the author of The Secret of Scent ($14, amazon.com). To speed the process, scrub skin with soap, hot water, and a loofah, he says. Wiping with a cotton pad and alcohol also works, says Nilson Fernandes, an eight-year veteran of the fragrance counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco.


Tan Lines

If you have only a few hours (or less!), use a sponge to apply liquid bronzer (the same shade you use on your face) to the light areas, then dust with powder. If you have a few days, exfoliate the darker areas and apply self-tanner to the light spots. Blend with your hands to achieve an even tone.


2 of 8

3 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bad Scrabble Letters

Illustration of a woman with a handful of Scrabble letters
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

“If you can play only one tile and are left with three others with high point values, it’s best to exchange the rest,” says Joe Edley, a three-time national Scrabble champion. You’ll lose a turn, but chances are the letters you draw will be easier to work with. Also, Edley advises, “never hang on to a Q, but save an X or a Z, because you can often use them for 30-point words.” If you are stuck with a rack of all vowels or all consonants, look for a play that will use three or four of them. (Two examples: audio and crumb.) Not fitting? Then change your tiles.

A Hand Stamp

Images from a fun night out should be stamped into your memory, not onto the back of your hand. Nail-polish remover with acetone, or baby wipes for those with sensitive skin, will remove a dark stamp.

3 of 8

Advertisement

4 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wasps at a Picnic

Illustration of a wasp invading a picnic
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

Yellow jackets and some other types of wasps are attracted to sweet scents, so your perfume or the watermelon drippings on your blanket are liable to prompt an invasion. Resist the urge to swat them away. Instead, use lids, plastic wrap, and napkins to cover all the food and drinks, even those you’re using, recommends Lynn Braband, a yellow-jacket trapping expert with New York’s Integrated Pest Management Program. Robbed of their food source, the insects should buzz off. At your next picnic, stick with a dark blanket and dishware. “Wasps are attracted to reds, yellows, and whites,” says Braband. So leave that checkered tablecloth at home.

A Third Wheel

Be blunt, says Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Say, “We’d love to spend more time with you, but our plans aren’t going to work with three tonight.” If the person doesn’t catch on? Say, “We promised each other one-on-one time.” That should guarantee a twosome.

4 of 8

5 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Coffee Breath

Illustration of a man with coffee breath
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

The good news? Unlike onion and garlic odors, which enter your lungs and bloodstream, coffee breath can usually be curtailed by simply brushing your teeth and tongue, which are where odor-causing bacteria grow. A breath mint will mask the smell but only briefly. Can’t do either of the above? Fill your mug with water and give your mouth a swish.

Stomach Growls

If you suspect you should eat, you’re correct. “Your stomach is constantly churning, and it churns more when you’re hungry, producing a rumbling sound,” explains Joel Levine, M.D., former chair of the American College of Physicians Board of Regents. “But don’t chew gum. Swallowing air only exacerbates the sound.”

Water in Your Ear

Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, mixes equal parts rubbing alcohol (to dry) and white vinegar (to disinfect) in an eyedropper. Then she puts a few drops in the ear canal, waits 30 seconds, and drains it.

5 of 8

6 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Weeds

Illustration of a woman pulling weeds
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

You yanked them all out just last week, and new ones have already popped up. “Be sure to pull existing weeds out at the roots, instead of breaking them off at the soil’s surface,” says Eric Darden, horticulture manager for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, in Orlando, Florida. “And always remove them before they flower. Otherwise the flowers will release seeds and you’ll end up with even more weeds.” Once the bed is cleared, put down a two- to three-inch layer of any type of mulch. “Mulch blocks sunlight, so any remaining weed seeds can’t germinate,” says Darden. It also keeps soil moist, so your flowers will thrive.


Spinach in Teeth

Get creative, say Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin, former writer-producers of Seinfeld. Fake a cough and turn away, or pretend to drop something under the table so you can scrape your teeth. No toothpick? Try an earring post, or use a piece of thread as dental floss.


6 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

A Tree on Your Property 

Illustration of a neighboring tree
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

George Washington clearly did not consult an arborist before he chopped down that cherry tree. “The general rule is that if a tree requires use of a ladder or a chain saw to remove it, you need to hire a professional,” says Sharon Lilly, director of educational goods and services for the International Society of Arboriculture, in Champaign, Illinois. And don’t just hire your lawn guy. “Oftentimes trees must be dismantled limb by limb, which is highly skilled work,” says Lilly. “You don’t want a branch hitting your neighbor’s new convertible.” Find a certified arborist in your area at isa-arbor.org.

Pinched Skin From Kneesocks

Need crease-free legs for a night out? Massage them with lotion to restore circulation, says Heather O’Reilly, a member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. A cold compress or a mild hydrocortisone cream can help reduce redness.

7 of 8

8 of 8

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cat-Urine Odor

Illustration of cats spraying
Credit: Tatsuro Kiuchi

Apply absorbent litter to the wet spot. Vacuum up the litter and scrub the area with a mixture of ¾ cup bleach in 1 gallon water. (Spot-test rugs first in an inconspicuous place.) The bleach oxidizes smelly sulfur compounds. Follow with a paste of baking soda and water; let it dry, then vacuum.


Athlete’s Foot

To treat the infection, whose symptoms include itching and peeling, keep your feet dry (moisture allows fungus to proliferate) and apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Sprinkling on foot powder will help reduce perspiration.


8 of 8

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Ashley Tate

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 8 A Charley Horse 
    2 of 8 Lingering Scent of Perfume
    3 of 8 Bad Scrabble Letters
    4 of 8 Wasps at a Picnic
    5 of 8 Coffee Breath
    6 of 8 Weeds
    7 of 8 A Tree on Your Property 
    8 of 8 Cat-Urine Odor

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Shop | Real Simple Logo

    • Robot Vacuums
    • Shoe Storage
    • Drawer Organizers
    • Travel Organizers
    • Steam Cleaners
    • Coffee Makers
    • Pressure Cookers
    • Face Masks
    • Makeup Brush Cleaner
    • Dry Shampoo
    • Shop More

    Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

    Real Simple Logo

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Help
    • Media Kit
    • Content Licensing
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithAll products and services featured are selected by our editors. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.realsimple.com

    View image

    Banishing Life’s Little Annoyances
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.