Cast a Shadow To Find A Lost Item.

by Michael Davis

in Household, Other Stuff

Flashlight

TR McCormick of Dillingham, Alaska shared this useful tip:

If you lose anything on a floor and cannot find it. Use a flashlight down on the floor sideways. This causes the object to leave a shadow and you’ll find it right away.

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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

Justin Block May 18, 2009 at 10:49 pm

This is great, a gentleman suggested this one way back on your Something Down The Drain? Retrieve it Without a Wrench post!! More than a year ago. Great minds think alike and all that.

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Nancy Hood May 19, 2009 at 1:27 am

one of those ‘aha’ moments when I read this tip ~ and left me wondering ‘why didn’t I think of this?!’

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LL May 19, 2009 at 4:14 am

Using a flashlight also can help to locate items in a crowded storage area as well. Simply illuminating the area helps to make the item stand out.

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Ross S May 19, 2009 at 6:25 am

Flash light also work GREAT to find lost contact lenses. The lenses glow. Thanks for all the great tips.

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Dean May 19, 2009 at 7:57 am

Have used this idea before in finding lost items on the floor with a flashlight.

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Adam May 19, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Yea, its rely good

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NRS May 20, 2009 at 10:56 am

thank you

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paul May 21, 2009 at 4:12 pm

it works good and another way it to lay your head on the floor and look across it. the item stands right out too.

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Skipease People Search May 22, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Thanks. I just found myself. =)

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rosie May 28, 2009 at 4:18 pm

We have been doing this for years – oh lord too many killer dust bunnies. Actually started this in the evening to find dog hairs we missed when vacuuming during the day.
Rose

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Plac1038 May 31, 2009 at 4:00 pm

The same applies to find studs on a wall. The flashlight will indicate the screws or nails.

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Benjamin Lee June 1, 2009 at 9:21 pm

I prayed and God answers whenever I lost something and can’t find it. :)

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Tim June 2, 2009 at 4:54 pm

Discovered this hack after dropping a glass on our kitchen floor, sweeping up what I thought were all the pieces, and then a day later stepping on a glass sliver. After sweeping, darkening the overhead light and then placing the flashlight on the floor not only has small items like dust bunnies and screws cast shadows, you can easily see the sparkle of shards of glass.

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bobd441 June 7, 2009 at 7:47 am

Hi Michael,

As a jerk (…errr, jack) of many trades and master of none, I have been using this tip since I was a kid, around 60 years ago (I’m gonna be 65 in a week).

Another thought is to use a flashlight the way they portray in the CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) shows, with the room lights off or dimmed. This isolates the flashlight beam and centers your concentration to that spot.

Also, I really enjoy your good humor.

Final note: I found you by a friend sending your vac/drain video link, which I will pass forward to others. GOOD ONE!

Thanks. I will now continue perusing your site.

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Amy June 16, 2009 at 7:42 pm

What do I knock the dog out with when she starts going crazy chasing the light?… LOL!

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