What's Left-Loosey/Righty-Tighty?

A Directional Dilemma for Some of Us

Last time, I mentioned the phrase: “lefty-loosie, righty-tighty.”  It’s the age-old mnemonic meant to help us remember which way to turn something when we’re trying to loosen or tighten it. Left to loosen, right to tighten. Simple, right?

Well… maybe not for everyone.

For most people, this handy little rhyme is all they need to change a light bulb, unscrew a jar lid, or attach a hose without incident. But for the directionally challenged among us, left and right aren’t always as intuitive as they’re made out to be—especially when you're upside-down, reaching behind a piece of furniture, or working with an object that isn't facing you directly.

So, What Exactly is “Lefty-Loosie, Righty-Tighty?”

At its core, the phrase refers to the standard threading direction used in most screws, bolts, faucets, bottle caps, and other twistable objects. When you want to tighten something, you turn it clockwise, which is usually to the right. When you want to loosen it, you turn it counterclockwise, or to the left.

It’s such a basic concept that it often gets taken for granted—until you find yourself turning a garden hose attachment for five straight minutes, wondering why it’s not coming off (and getting increasingly wet in the process).

Directional Disorientation is Real

Here’s where things get tricky: your perspective changes everything. For the most part, if you're facing the object straight on, the rule tends to work for most people. For those who have a real challenge identifying which side is left and which is right – there are the added steps of first using whatever method we have of identifying our left and right hands, then, applying the lefty-righty rule.

But, flip the angle of the thing being screwed, and for many, our thinking goes haywire. Even the directionally well oriented may have some issues.  Let’s say you're under the sink, behind the washing machine, or contorted under a car—and suddenly, your internal compass becomes fuddled. What’s left? What’s right? Which way is up? Why is this so hard?

Add to that, the fact that not all objects follow the rule. Some items—like gas fittings, propane tanks, certain plumbing connections, and for me, a common air freshener container —use reverse threads, meaning they tighten to the left and loosen to the right. (Yes, just when you thought you had it down, the universe throws in a twist—literally.)

Mental Gymnastics and “Air Rehearsals”

If, like me, you're directionally challenged, chances are you've developed coping mechanisms. Personally, I do a sort of mental pantomime before turning anything. I first do the left hand identification trick I talk about in my book: Center Brained; Why you can’t tell left from right, east from west or north from south, (found on page 105), then I mime the motion in the air like I’m prepping for a dance move, just to double-check which way I need to turn. It looks ridiculous—but it works more often than not.

Others will tap on the object first to "feel it out," or mutter “righty-tighty” like a mantra while slowly turning, pausing every few seconds to make sure things aren’t getting worse instead of better.

And of course, there are those moments where, after countless failed attempts, you realize that what you thought was the loosening direction was actually your tightening it even more. We've all been there. Some of us might not want to admit that we’ve done it, but I’ve done it as many times as I have not done it.

Why It Matters

This isn't just about fixing a leaky faucet or putting together IKEA furniture. For people who struggle with directional tasks, small moments like these can snowball into seasons of frustration or self-doubt. It can be tough feeling like everyone else “just knows” how to do these things, while you’re still debating whether to turn clockwise or counterclockwise.

But here’s the thing: you’re not alone. There are plenty of us who must think twice (or five times) before twisting a screwdriver. And that's okay.

A Gentle Tip for the Directionally Disoriented

If you’re ever in doubt, here’s a practical trick: imagine you’re looking straight at the head of the screw, bolt, or cap—not the side you're twisting from. Visualize turning it clockwise (the same direction the hands of a clock move). That’s tightening. Turn it counterclockwise, and you’re loosening.

And if your garden hose still won’t come off after 15 minutes? Maybe take a break. Breathe. Maybe even ask someone else to double-check—just in case you're unknowingly welding it tighter with every turn.

Final Thoughts

The world wasn’t exactly designed for the directionally challenged—but that doesn't mean we can't thrive in it. We just have to take a few extra turns (and maybe keep a towel nearby when working with garden hoses).

But it means a whole lot more than those things. It means we, the directionally challenged, must admit our inadequacies; it means the rest of the world must acknowledge our situation; and it means that both groups will have to forge effective and lasting strategies, to help us overcome our challenges.

Next time you hear “lefty-loosie, righty-tighty,” smile and remember: it’s not just a rhyme—it’s a gentle reminder that even simple things can badly twist up the best of us, sometimes, and the rest of us, most of the times. But that’s perfectly okay. Just chart it as our neurodiversity.