10 unusual yet fascinating things known to a select few people but hidden from the masses

Knowledge is bizarrely authentic!

Everyone has a unique childhood and authentic experiences that stem from diverse methods of parenting, living, beliefs and so on. What may be a phrase to live by for some people may not even be remotely known to another. Similarly, general knowledge differs from person to person due to their learning resources and perhaps even their nature. It could be that one person knows how to change a tire at the back of their hand while others have no idea how to even check it. These differences unfold a wide scope for learning and bonding by sharing knowledge. u/Fairy-of-Bone asked people to highlight one aspect that is common knowledge for them but is something others may not know. With over 7k comments, readers did not disappoint. Here are 10 unusual yet common things people have knowledge of.

1. Be cautious with bleach 

Ammonia and bleach make poison gas. Don't combine the two and pay attention to the active ingredients in cleaning products. Glass cleaner is often ammonia-based, while "bathroom cleaners" usually contain bleach, for example. u/paleo2002. Vinegar + bleach = poison gas as well. Just don't mix things with bleach. u/occupansanddababy. Don't mix anything with bleach!! Except water. General good rule. u/holmgangCore. Given that this is a thing, it's crazy to me how hard it is to find the active ingredients in cleaning products. u/recidivx

2. Give way 

You let people out before entering. u/Maybeyanny. This always bothered me in elevators. Now that I have a kid in a stroller, it pisses me off. I can't get out with the stroller unless you aren't there. The amount of people who huff and puff about having to move because they practically lept inside is astounding. You can't wait 5 seconds for me to leave? u/alaskan_sushi_hunter. It also pisses me off, whether I have my kids or not. It's just human decency, but the amount of people who seem perturbed that they can't immediately enter because I have to get my baby boat out is shocking. u/Dixie_820

3. Coldwater for cut bleeds

You wash out blood with cold water. u/Complikatee. If water is available or the fabric is sensitive and you need to stop the blood from staining, spit on it. Your spit will break up the blood. It's an old seamstress trick from when people had to hand sew all the time. I've read a lot of corset manuals from way back, for instance, and this is literally the advice in all of them. "Spit on it and keep going." u/MercuryMadHatter

4. Being nice helps

95% of getting what you want is in how you ask. Don't be a d*ck/Karen, and you will likely get whatever you need. u/PitBullFan. Being nice and patient will give you a bigger chance of getting a refund or a new of whatever is broken than being angry and blaming the random worker. u/ellaablair. Still remember the one time my (evening) flight got cancelled. The desk agent not only rescheduled my flight with an upgrade, but she got a hotel reservation for me at the airline discount because I was apparently the only person who didn't blow up at her. u/MbMinx

5. Always allot extra time 

Everything takes longer than you expect it to. If you think a task should take you an hour, allot yourself 90 minutes. It saves you a lot of stress and keeps you from chronically running late like most people seem to do. u/brainsewage. I'm a COO for a small arch firm and I add 15% to any deadline my project managers give me. If they tell me that they think it will take 20 hours, I estimate/schedule the job for 25. u/Cessily

6. Deal prudently with law

Police are allowed to lie to you, manipulate you and twist your words during interrogations. Most people assume there's some kind of rule in place, but once you waive your right to an attorney and agree to talk they can basically do whatever they want short of a threat. Innocent or not, always, always lawyer up immediately. u/Lordfuton92. The first rule of talking with the police. Don't talk to the police. That should be common knowledge. u/Leidl. It amazes me to no end that there are so many Americans who don’t know that they have a right to say nothing when a cop asks them questions. u/DarkScytheCuriositie

7. All about drinking beer

If you want to drink beer all night long, drink a glass of water between each beer. You will be the last one standing. u/scrimage. I always called the bathroom at the bar for the beer return. "We do not get to keep our beer, we merely borrow it for a time." u/Still_Assumption6325. Ironically, this is what keeps you from blacking out or having a hangover the next day. You will pee more than everyone else, but that is because you will have something to pee. Everyone else will quickly get dehydrated, get sick and have a headache in the morning, while you will likely be much better than everyone else, if not completely fine. u/FirstEvolutionist

8. Know when to be honest

Tell nurses and EMTs everything. Even if it's illegal. They don't care what drugs you've done, they care about not killing you with anesthetics. They need to know if you're incoherent because you're high/drunk or if you're brain damaged. They need to know if you took something and how much so they don't kill you with a weird medication and they need to know if you're gonna end up in withdrawal during your stay so they can treat you appropriately. u/Pretend-Champion4826

9. Plan ahead and prepare

Planning for expected things. Baby's gonna spit up. Often misses the burp cloth. Maybe tucking a spare t-shirt for Mom in the bag might be a good idea. You would think I'd cured cancer or something. u/LadyAlexTheDeviant. My dad had no knowledge of babies when my brother and I were born. When my brother first spit up, my dad assumed he'd messed up feeding him somehow and called a pediatrician to get advice on what he was doing wrong. Not only did this dude not have a spare shirt on hand, but he straight up brought my brother to a second pediatrician for a second opinion. u//Brisket_Connoisseur

10.  Fresh milk vs shelf-life milk

There is fresh milk and long shelf-life milk (don't know if it's a thing in the US). Fresh milk is good for 3 weeks and needs to be refrigerated at all times, whereas, long shelf life milk is good for 6 months and does not need to be refrigerated unless opened. We went grocery shopping once and she bought 6 fresh milks. A few weeks later, she told me they all went bad and spoiled. I asked a few more questions and after she revealed that she put them in the pantry. It dawned on me that she had no idea and so I told her about how there are different kinds of milk. u/blckrainbow