What cheap tool/gadget do you use that greatly improves your daily life?

lietuva@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 215 points –

Just went down the aliexpress rabbit hole again. Theres really everythinf for some of really niche things that i wouldnt ever buy, but some things really do look appealing. I wonder what do you guys use daily thats worth lets say under $20

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It's so much wasted plastic though. I 3D printed a handle and with a little sandpaper to smooth the handle out, it's super easy to floss. Using this one currently: https://www.printables.com/model/267704-dental-floss-holder-with-tensioner/comments

Would be better with the 90 degree bend.

But also PLA will grow bacteria after putting it in your mouth even if you wash it.

I actually modified it in solidworks to have a nice curve, and open at the tips vs trying to thread the floss everytime.

Bacteria? You're brushing your teeth with a reused toothbrush. Besides, that's what immune systems are for.

Different plastics have different properties, like how much moisture they hold. You can clean polypropylene but you'll never clean off PLA

I used petg, better for the engineering stuff that I do.

Feel free to google whether you should be putting petg in your mouth and then giving it time to grow bacteria and then putting it back in your mouth again.

(you may be shocked by the answer)

I don't think anyone is shocked. PETG is probably the best solution here since it can be food grade and transparent to help with disinfection via UV. Would probably be a good idea to limit each one to a month of use or something but it's still better than the wasteful alternative.

Jesus, clickbait language in comments is worrying

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I understand your point, and still disagree.

If I could injection mold it out of polycarbonate, I would. I'd still rather use this than mindlessly buy 150 plastic prongs, only 5% of each disposed piece being actual floss.

Go for it, but maybe don't tell people it's a good idea without explaining any of the risk

There are also wooden floss picks out there, for those who don't have a printer but want to use less plastic.

I also thought that too and I've been looking for a reusable one now. I bought one but it's too much of a hassle and frankly takes more time to change floss than actually flossing (have to unwind, remove from track unwind again, pull floss, rewind, align with track, rewind again and trim)

There's always a tradeoff: security or convenience, environmental destruction or convenience, healthy life or convenience..

I don't mind at least trying to do something right. But I don't know other people's lives so most I'll do is ask them to consider or try something new.

Awesome! Thank you so much, I have floss picks that I hate as they're crappy and break or stretch out before I can do my whole mouth so I end up using two. Definitely printing this when I get home!

Glad you like it. Maybe snap the ends off as threading the floss through the holes is a pita haha.