The fascinating life hacks and household tips that people in Manchester used before Google

Really, where did we turn to for advice before Google? For most of human history, you couldn't type a problem into a search engine and get a list of answers.

In the days before the internet, household tips weren't as easy to come by and were often passed down through the generations. And that's where Manchester Evening News readers came in.

A fascinating M.E.N publication from the 1950s, in which readers offer all manner of handy hints, has recently been unearthed. While helping a relative with a clear-out at her house, Lynette Cawthral said she found the "rather marvellous" 36-page booklet that's full of handy hints and life hacks.

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The booklet contains a myriad of long-forgotten pearls of wisdom that could come in handy around the house. All the tips were submitted by readers, and offer an insight into how people tackled problems around the home in austere post-war Manchester.

Maybe you want to know how to break in a new pair of shoes, whiten your teeth, or remove blood stains...our readers had the solution to all these problems many years ago. While some of the handy hints might seem a bit daft or outdated, others have the whiff of genius about them.

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Below we've listed some of the more relevant (or bizarre) hints and tips that might help you out today. But if you've discovered any life hacks of your own, or maybe there are some handy hints have passed down through your family, let us know in the comments.

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