but we have many of the issues addressed here. There were some good sounding products we can use. Thanks for posting, pants.

Please share your tip for opening jars. We both have weak hands and that is a dreaded chore!

It’s heating some water and soaking the jar in it. I soak my jars upside down to avoid heating more than an inch or two of water.

Metal does absorb heat faster than glass, but concentrating the application of heat/warmth more directly to the metal than the glass is more effective.

You can cool the jar in the fridge first. Then the differential in temperature gets bigger faster when the heat is applied.


If you have concerns about saving even small amounts of energy by conserving hot water, you can do things like pour the tea kettle excess water over the jar lid rather than down the sink.

Or use the water that is hot from washing up or washing face in the morning or getting ready for a shower.

Or put it upside down for a few seconds on a hot element or a few seconds longer on a warm element, as it is warming up or cooling down before or after cooking.

that is what I have almost always done. It breaks the vacuum. Sometimes I'll do the hot water on the lid thing (especially if whatever is in the jar is syrupy like molasses, or has a high sugar content like vanilla, particularly after it had been opened previously and sealed itself shut again). But tapping the jar with its lid on the edge of a counter will generally do it. I do have one of these in case none of the options work -



It is configured as adjustable to do the larger diameter lids down to many of the smaller ones.

For some of the smallest ones (mostly bottles with small lids like flavorings), my go-to is a nutcracker!

The fake rock for an extra key.

And I don't live alone.
I have 2 cats.

But if I lost a house key, my landlord has his shop right next door.
(He repairs and sells lawn mowers and snow blowers.)

I have several (1-, 2-, and 3-step styles of step stools).

I think what should be added to the list is a good grabber -



Some of the cheap ones are wonky but the RMS ones are decent and come in multiple sizes (plus they have a 2-pack of a short one and a longer one that I got). I have grabbers all around the house now.

And in addition to the toolkit, they should have gone further with recommending a cordless reversible drill that can be used with either drill bits or screw bits. Just the screw driver function alone (with a slow speed that can go forward or reverse) can save the wrist! E.g., something like this -



(of course I know sites like that have affiliate programs so they will suggest things that they will get a kickback on for the advertising/links)

At my house. Someone gave me one when I had an injury. In no time at all I could see they were helpful, injury or no injury, and I bought one for just about every room in the house. Getting items from high up spaces, picking up things off the floor… there is no limit to their usefulness.

I have amassed quite a collection now - a couple in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in each of my bedrooms. For things that might roll under the sofa or an easy chair, they are a godsend. Mouse in a mouse trap? Grabber! Something rolls under one of the car's front seats? Grabber!

Vermont...About 5' long, built of hard wood and nice metal work on the levers.

As for the tight jar lid I just use a 15th century samurai sword to dispatch the lid in one swelled f00p... or use the old tap the rim method...works for me!
m

What is nice to have on the "claw" is grippy material. Some of the wonky models are just some light metal that have suction cup thingys on the ends that fall off.

And you won't need the if you had a bottle with a cork!

I've seen it done with a Calvary saber in an old Errol Flynn/Douglas Fairbanks flick. Neat stuff
m

otherwise the narrow ones....? Forgeddabouddit (unless you just crack the top of the bottle off ).

21 was sold elsewhere. First 5 are useful. Use reusable grocery bags instead of handles for more plastic bags.

Lived alone (except for pets) since 1988.

Puzzles are great for these germ ridden times, challenge your brain and give you something fun to do by yourself. My husband and I work on them together sometimes but most of the time by ourselves so this can work either way.

The step stool, jar opener and tool box set also are very useful ideas. I will bookmark the article and read it in depth later for more
good suggestions.

EASY TO USE WITH COMFORTABLE HANDLE: The Swing-A-Way Can Opener features an extra-long crank handle for a better grip; helping take the strain and pain from your hands when in use.