Are these 20 'life hacks' the real deal? We put them to the test

As both the costs of everyday staples and demands on our attention increase, people often seek simple tips and tricks to optimize their day-to-day lives. These so-called "life hacks" typically range from "easy" dieting plans to seemingly bizarre innovations that allegedly alleviate a common problem. Since these tips can range from the practical to the improbable, Snopes has helped our readers separate those that are actually useful from others that simply usurp your attention for engagement and clicks. There have been some surprising truths — like holding a car's key fob to your head increasing the range from which it can lock or unlock a car. More often than not, though, the life hacks we've looked into were far-fetched, fabricated or just common myths. For example, burning sage doesn't actually kill airbone bacteria, but claims that it did circulated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We dug into Snopes' archives to highlight 20 alleged life hacks that we put to the test. Sources "Definition of LIFE HACK." Merriam-Webster, 2017.Durbin, Dee-Ann, et al. "Higher Prices Are Rewriting Grocery Lists and Family Menus In 2026." AP News, 25 July 2026, https://apnews.com/article/grocery-shopping-prices-food-affordability-8468c1d6532ca762bbcfa17e3c7707d1. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026. By Joey Esposito Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds. Article Tags