Never have stale crisps again… nine invaluable things I’ve learned from TikTok

The average TikTok user spends almost

one hour each day

on the app. However, the screen time of American users is about to be rapidly reduced, as the app is set to be banned in the USA.

Related:

Chinese rival app Xiaohongshu is overwhelmed by ‘TikTok refugees’ in US

On Friday the US Supreme Court

rejected an appeal against a law

that would see the social media platform banned over national security concerns. TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance had challenged the law, arguing that it violates free speech protections for more than 170 million users in the US. However, in an unanimous vote the ruling was upheld meaning the app must now find an approved buyer for an American version by Sunday or be blocked.The outgoing US President Joe Biden has said he will not be enforcing the ban, instead leaving it up to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. While there are rumours the ban could still be stopped, a mass American exodus has already begun with users

flocking to the Chinese alternative

video sharing app, Red Note.

Many

users have been

posting “farewell TikTok” videos

.

The app first launched in the US in 2016. Some are sarcastic, mocking national security concerns with users saying goodbye to “their personal Chinese spy.” Others are more heartfelt, with video montages of tweens turning 18 and newborn puppies growing into now grey-haired dogs. “I grew up on this app,” read scores of comments.

But it’s t

The “Things I learned on TikTok that changed my life” videos

that

are the most captivating.

While social media is regularly criticised for spreading fake news and harming mental health, these videos show that, at least for some, there is a more positive side.

One

video by

Brigette Muller

has racked up

more than 1 million views. Her takeaways include using a yoga mat under her

couch

cushion to stop it sliding off, and spraying vodka on vintage clothing to

banish musty smells.

Thousands of users have chimed in in the comment section with learnings ranging from recognising neurodivergent characteristics to how to make a jammy egg. Some describe TikTok as the parent or grandmother they never had.

So, in honour of TikTok’s final hours (in the US at least), here are nine of my own favourite lessons.

1. Always roll limes and lemons before squeezing them to maximise the amount of juice released.

I’ve also ditched my glass lemon squeezer for a fork.

2. Envious of those homes on

Architectural Digest

that always seem to have sofas scattered in plump, rather than limp, cushions? The secret is to

buy a cushion insert that is two inches bigger than the cover

.

3. To stop a chopping board from sliding around,

pop a damp tea towel underneath

. And somehow

putting a damp piece of kitchen roll next to an onion

while

chopping stops your eyes from streaming.

4. You are

tying your dressing gown incorrectly

. Remove the tie and re-thread it through the loops so it is hanging down at the front. Then

instead of tying it around the back,

pull the two ends together at the front and voilà! It will never fall open unexpectedly again.

5. A former US prisoner taught me

how to keep a bag of crisps fresh

without using an elastic band or clip. T

ake the bag and fold down the two corners to make a triangle at the top. Next, roll down the opposite side so it’s completely curled and creates two “pockets” on the other side. Flip those over to keep in place

and never have stale crips again

.

6. Instead of

leaving my makeup products scattered by the bathroom sink and

dumping my bag by the front door when I get in, I now follow the mantra:

“Don’t put it down, put it away.”

I

f you put something back where it belongs straight after using it,

you won’t have to tidy it up later.

7. Using

a turntable – AKA a Lazy Susan

– to store spices has meant the end of rooting around in the back of a cupboard

for that one specific seasoning I could never seem to find

.

8. It’s easier to grate cheese by turning a box shaped

grater on its side

.

The same goes for a can opener.

Place it on top of a can

, instead of using from the side. It stops those sharp and jagged edges.

9. A hairdryer will help remove stubborn

sticky labels from glass and plastic

. It will also get address labels off cardboard boxes.

Extremely useful for reusing them after eBay and Vinted purchases.