Turn-Of-The-Century Cigarette Boxes Came Complete With Clever Life Hacks That Still Work Today

These days, cigarettes aren't the types of things we usually associate with improving one's life.

However, back in the day, one cigarette company decided to put a card in every pack that featured a tip or trick for everyday life.

Of course, the irony is that the most useful tip would be to stop smoking, but that wouldn't be very good advertising, would it?

In fact, these types of cigarette cards were not even originally meant for marketing purposes, according to Historic UK.

The cards were originally blank and placed into every cigarette box to make them more stiff and sturdy.

Along the way, someone had the idea to decorate the cards, giving birth to the hobby of collecting them.

They were prized possessions during the days when most people couldn't even read, let alone own beautiful art.

The cards often came in sets with themes like racehorses, weapons, film actresses, and in this case, tips for everyday life.

Thumbnail: Flickr / Sludge G 

How To Extract A Splinter

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Getting a splinter out is always a pain. Why not try this method?

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

For this hack, all you need is hot water, a glass, and a splinter!

How To Make A Fire Extinguisher

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Hopefully you'll never need to make a fire extinguisher from scratch, but just in case….

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

You can experiment in your kitchen with this one.

How To Kill A Tree Stump

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

If you ever find yourself in need of killing a tree stump….

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

This seems a little labor intensive, but good to know!

How To Cool Wine Without Ice

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

I always run out of ice and will probably need to try this soon.

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Now I don't have to worry about forgetting to put a bottle of wine in the fridge!

How To Boil A Cracked Egg

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

This is a great tip if you need to make hard-boiled eggs but don't have a pristine batch to pick from.

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

This hack doesn't let any food go to waste.

How To Clean Real Lace

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Here's how to make your antiques sparkle.

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

You might need to stop at your local apothecary for this one….

How To Fit A Large Candle

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Use all types of candles for this one!

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

This might make setting the mood a little easier.

How To Separate Glass Tumblers

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Now here is a Victorian life problem I can still relate to.

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The New York Public Library / George Arents Collection

Be sure to SHARE these life hacks with anyone who could use them!