Why didn’t anyone tell me that…?

[Nick Armstrong]

Recently, I’ve discovered a few trivial but helpful things which I’m surprised no one told me decades ago, basic things which make life that bit easier…

One of them is that on upper-body garments, the little label about washing etc. is always towards the bottom of the LEFT-hand vertical seam, be it a t-shirt, polo shirt, vest, sweater or whatever. Knowing this makes it easier not to faff around making sure you’re putting it on the right way round, especially in low lighting conditions - quite a lot of my garments have the label at the nape of the neck printed onto the fabric which is much more difficult to see than the bright white label on the left seam.

The other instances have slipped my mind for the moment - they’ll occur to me again at some point.

Meanwhile, I wonder if anyone else has examples of tiny things that would have been a useful part of one’s education rather than stumbled across later in life. Maybe I’m just slow on the uptake

[french frank]

One of them is that on upper-body garments, the little label about washing etc. is always towards the bottom of the LEFT-hand vertical seam, be it a t-shirt, polo shirt, vest, sweater or whatever. Knowing this makes it easier not to faff around making sure you’re putting it on the right way round, especially in low lighting conditions - quite a lot of my garments have the label at the nape of the neck printed onto the fabric which is much more difficult to see than the bright white label on the left seam.

Well, you didn't ask. I noticed that earlier this year. Not that the washing instructions matter. Everything is bunged into the hour-long wash, except now I've discovered the 15-minute wash does quite as well.

[RichardB]

I wonder if anyone else has examples of tiny things that would have been a useful part of one’s education rather than stumbled across later in life.

There's the little arrow next to the petrol pump symbol on the dashboard that points to the side the filler cap is on, for those of us who can never remember.

[Nick Armstrong]

There's the little arrow next to the petrol pump symbol on the dashboard that points to the side the filler cap is on, for those of us who can never remember.

[hmvman]

Recently, I’ve discovered a few trivial but helpful things which I’m surprised no one told me decades ago, basic things which make life that bit easier…

One of them is that on upper-body garments, the little label about washing etc. is always towards the bottom of the LEFT-hand vertical seam, be it a t-shirt, polo shirt, vest, sweater or whatever. Knowing this makes it easier not to faff around making sure you’re putting it on the right way round, especially in low lighting conditions - quite a lot of my garments have the label at the nape of the neck printed onto the fabric which is much more difficult to see than the bright white label on the left seam.

I did learn that one a while ago but last Christmas I was given a lovely jumper made in New Zealand and its wash label is on the right which leads to much confusion and merriment.....

[Nick Armstrong]

I did learn that one a while ago but last Christmas I was given a lovely jumper made in New Zealand and its wash label is on the right which leads to much confusion and merriment.....

Must be the Southern Hemisphere, like water down the plughole…

[Bryn]

Must be the Southern Hemisphere, like water down the plughole…

One of my favourite urban myths, that one.

[Petrushka]

Recently, I’ve discovered a few trivial but helpful things which I’m surprised no one told me decades ago, basic things which make life that bit easier…

One of them is that on upper-body garments, the little label about washing etc. is always towards the bottom of the LEFT-hand vertical seam, be it a t-shirt, polo shirt, vest, sweater or whatever. Knowing this makes it easier not to faff around making sure you’re putting it on the right way round, especially in low lighting conditions - quite a lot of my garments have the label at the nape of the neck printed onto the fabric which is much more difficult to see than the bright white label on the left seam.

My mother told me that one over 60 years ago!

[Serial_Apologist]

I have only just recently discovered how much quicker it is to dress by having left most of the shirt buttons done up when taking the garment off the previous night - including cuff buttons, which I am now finding increasingly difficult to do up once the shirt is on. You just have to be careful in removing and slipping on said shirt so as not to pull at the buttons, obviously, leaving enough top buttons undone to allow a head as big as mine through!

Now for those who change shirts every day this won't apply!

[smittims]

If you have to get out of your car quickly on a dark night in a strange place and the fence at the side of the road is wood, it is (relatively) safe to climb over it. If it is metal it means there is a drop (maybe into the Manchester Ship Canal) on the other side. It can be useful to know this.

[Bryn]

I have only just recently discovered how much quicker it is to dress by having left most of the shirt buttons done up when taking the garment off the previous night - including cuff buttons, which I am now finding increasingly difficult to do up once the shirt is on. You just have to be careful in removing and slipping on said shirt so as not to pull at the buttons, obviously, leaving enough top buttons undone to allow a head as big as mine through!

Now for those who change shirts every day this won't apply!

And how about those with a close identification with historical clothing practice who stay warm by keeping their shirt on when they head up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire? Just to be clear, I don't like wearing anything but the duvet in bed.

[french frank]

And how about those with a close identification with historical clothing practice who stay warm by keeping their shirt on when they head up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire? Just to be clear, I don't like wearing anything but the duvet in bed.

Wrap yourself up in newspapers.

[HighlandDougie]

'Financial Times' for preference - most definitely not the 'Daily Mail' or 'Daily Express'. Then a string vest and big pants - you'll be super-toasty in no time!

[french frank]

'Financial Times' for preference - most definitely not the 'Daily Mail' or 'Daily Express'. Then a string vest and big pants - you'll be super-toasty in no time!

Funnily enough I did hear about it in Scotland when I was a volunteer 'helping' the needy who were living in their own homes - often dire tenement flats. When I say 'helping' I recall pasting newspaper on a ceiling for some reason before decorating - presumably to cover over something nasty.

[Nick Armstrong]

'Financial Times' for preference

Shades of…