Brighten Your Day

Wait, I've Been Doing WHAT?! People Share Their Funniest Life Mistakes

December 24, 2024

Have you ever had a moment where you discovered you’ve been doing something completely wrong for years and suddenly felt like your whole life was a lie? You’re not alone!

People are sharing their funniest and most shocking realizations about everyday tasks they’ve been doing wrong their entire lives, and the results are both hilarious and oddly comforting.

Here's the top responses on the post:

#1 Using a Dishwasher

I just found out I’ve been using my dishwasher wrong for 7 years, and honestly, I’m questioning my life choices. So, picture this: I’m at a friend’s house last night, casually sipping on a lukewarm cider when I see them load their dishwasher. And then it hits me.

THEY PUT THE SOAP IN THE LITTLE COMPARTMENT.

For SEVEN years, I’ve been just chucking the soap tablet straight into the bottom of the dishwasher, like some feral raccoon who accidentally found modern appliances. “Why isn’t my dishwasher working well?” I’d think, as I scraped dried pasta off plates.

Anyway, now my dishes are sparkling, my confidence is shaken, and I’m pretty sure my dishwasher has been side-eyeing me this whole time.

#2 Mattress Protector

I got an old stained mattress removed by the company I bought it from after buying a big fancy new one from them after just a few pandemic years, and as they took it out to the truck they unzipped and removed the full mattress-top protector that had been on the top the whole time leaving a gleaming fresh untouched mattress underneath and I just turned around and went inside and shut the door because now I had a huge heavy new bed to make with a mattress I didn't need on it...

#3 Dishwasher Plastic Thing

I overheard a conversation at work, someone was talking about how their sister found a strange plastic thing inside their dishwasher and just threw it away. For years afterward she didn't understand why her dishwasher was working so poorly. The thing she threw away was the spinny arm thing that sprays the water.

So remember: no matter how dumb you feel, there is always someone dumber.

#4 Fabric Softener

I dated a guy (a science teacher!) who thought all you needed to wash clothes was the fabric softener. I like to think I helped him suddenly seem much cleaner.

#5 Dishwasher Pods

Roughly 4 years ago, my wife was living with her brother to help cover rent after his ex-gf moved out. One day, she asked if she should get more of the same brand of dish packs. He says, "Not sure. They clean well, but THEY'RE SO HARD TO PEEL OPEN."

He was peeling open the pack and sprinkling the contents into the dishwasher for months

#6 Lint Rollers

I used to think a lint roller was a one time use thing. I had no idea you could pull off the tape for a fresh roll underneath.

#7 Sun Tans

I knew a girl that thought you got tan from the heat of the sun and not the suns rays. So one day during our cold winter I see her in a bikini by the fireplace. Tells me she’s trying to keep her tan up.

#8 Fuel Pumps

I have a mate that spent 5+ years holding the trigger on the gas pump the entire time he was pumping. When I showed him the lock and explained that it will shut off when the car is full, his facial expression was priceless. Like a man who just found an entire world inside his own house.

#9 Microwave Ovens

My friend's girlfriend used to pre-heat the microwave like you would an oven.

#10 Aluminum Foil

I have a confession. I was at my sister's house a while back and while we're talking she's getting ready to put some biscuits in the oven so she grabs a brand new box of aluminum foil out of the pantry and pushes her thumb into both sides of the aluminum foil box. I ask her why she poked holes in the box and she looks at me weird then tells me it's so the aluminum roll stays in place when you're grabbing a sheet. I have been fighting with my aluminum foil for all of my adult life and never knew that there were tabs on the side that you punch in to lock the roll in place.