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Household Hints
This category contains questions relating to all the odd or unusual problems that occur during everyday life. These are primarily how-to's or fix it issues pertaining to household tasks.
1,297 Questions
What’s the easiest way to cut energy costs?
There are dozens of ways to cut energy costs on a daily basis, but here are five of the most basic:
- Cook with something smaller than your oven. Whenever possible, use a microwave, air fryer, or other small appliance to cook. It’s usually quicker, and the heat is focused more on what’s being cooked, thus saving energy.
- Replace your HVAC filters regularly, and use your vents wisely. These filters often become clogged with dirt, dust, and debris. How often you need to change your filters will depend on how much you run your heater and air conditioner, the amount of debris circulating through the rooms, and the type of filter you use, but in all cases, you should check on them every four to six weeks. Additionally, making sure your vents are closed in rooms you do not use and open and clean in rooms you do use will distribute temperature much more economically.
- Turn off lights and, since many electronic devices draw power even when they’re turned off, unplug appliances. These probably go without saying, but they can make a big impact on your energy bill.
- Replacing your incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient alternatives reduces their electricity output by 25-80 percent.
- Weatherize and insulate your home to save on heating and cooling expenses.
What size should a rectangular dining table be to seat 6 people?
It depends on where it is going to be place but a 3.5ft by 5.5ft table fits six comfortably.
What should you do if you are locked in a closet?
If you are locked in a closet, try to remain calm and assess if there is a way to unlock the door or windows from the inside. If not, use your phone to call for help or attract attention by banging on the door or yelling. It is important to stay calm and avoid panicking in such situations.
How do you get makeup out of a carpet?
Depends on the makeup. It would be a good idea to google "makeup carpet removal how to" as there are many comprehensive guides online to removing different types of stains from a carpet.
What factors do you need to consider when choosing a Bath Mat?
There are various tips that you can observe when making choice of the mats such as:
The number of mats: You should first make the decision on the number of mats you will require for your bathroom. You can consider placing one Lifewit Large Non Slip Absorbtion Shower Rug in front of your sink and a second for outside the bathroom. It would be necessary to make measurements of the spaces you will be placing the mats. This is to buy well fitting mats for your bathroom.
Scaling: It is also necessary to consider the size and layout of the room when deciding on the number of mats to buy. Lifewit Anti-slip Bath Mat Series meets your different needs.
Color: When considering the color of bathroom mats, it's necessary to ensure that the choice of color will match with other bathroom items and flooring. A simple mat can easily merge the bath space and also tie all the other bathroom elements together.
Pattern: The pattern of the mat should be put into consideration such that it can match best with other patterns of items in the bathroom.
Shape: When it comes to choice in the shape of bathroom mats, small bathrooms will match best with round mats of mats having fringe trims. Larger bathrooms can match well with rectangular or square mats.
Safety: A bathroom is a wet room, and it is, therefore, necessary to avoid mats that are slippery. Bath mats made of fabric only materials are most prone to slippery. You should consider Lifewit Large Non Slip Absorbtion Shower Rug and Lifewit Microfiber Soft Bathroom Mat that are not slippery especially on the tiled floors. It's also advisable to consider mats that absorb dampness such that floors may not end up having molds.
With above tips in mind, making a choice on bath mats sets will have been made easier.
Where can I find sheets that don't get loose?
Loose sheets are a pain I know. I have drawstring sheets and that's it, no more loose sheets.
Try searching for drawstringsheet
The thing is I was a finatic about loose sheets and used safety pins to hold them on. I tried all the suspenders and clips and it was just a nightmare and searching the net always ended up with the same answers. I found drawstring sheets abou six months ago and I am now spreading the word. I wast to see these sheets in stores.
What are two different ways whereby people can compost?
Indoors through worm-composting and outside with compost bins or heaps are two ways in which people can compost. Vermicomposting involves counter-placed containers whose decomposers change small-sized household recyclables and kitchen scraps into dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter while self-containing bins and structured piles achieve the same results with carbon- and nitrogen-rich yard wastes (as well as the above-mentioned compostables from indoors).
Why is water important for compost?
Encouragement to organisms in charge of decomposition during the composting process and support for appropriate soil aeration, moisture and nutrient levels are reasons why water is important for compost. The term compost refers to the dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter which is the end-product of Mother Nature-moderated or human-intervened breakdowns of carbon- and nitrogen-rich recyclables. In that sense, it requires regular water infiltration and percolation just like any growing medium whereas in the term's mistaken use -- instead of composting, the process -- water is necessary for macro- and micro-organisms to break matter down into soluble nutrients, especially nitrogen.
Can you put bees wax on teak oil treated mahogany?
Yes, but the oil must be dry to the touch. Teak oil is no better than boiled linseed oil although it will give some colour.
Is more slope on a plumbing waste line better?
I'm not a pro, but if it's just a few degrees more than 2%, (standard slope required) you're probably fine. More would be better than not enough. It depends on the situation. If it's straight up-and-down, you may have problems.
Which side up should a box spring mattress face?
A box spring mattress should typically be placed flat side down, with the fabric-covered side facing up. This helps to provide a stable foundation for the mattress on top and prevent any sagging or shifting.
How are rust stains removed from the toilet bowel?
use CLR or anything with oxi clean, kaboom works pretty well.
How do you get ink out of fabric that needs hand wash no bleach?
Try rubbing alcohol or hairspray. Test a small hidden area, first, to make sure the fabric will not bleed the color or dyes.
How do you replace a Honeywell Type L8148A Aquastat?
From Honeywell:
Turn off all power and remove the old control. Refer to
the cover insert of the old control to identify and tag each
external lead as it is disconnected. If old well is
unsuitable for new installation, remove it and proceed
with instructions for new installation. If old well is suitable,
use it and a 124904 immersion well adapter (ordered
separately from form 68-0040, Wells and Fittings for
Temperature Controllers) for the installation. (If the well
clamp fits directly over the flange of the existing well
spud, adapter use is not necessary.) The adapter has a
flange at the wide end that fits into the well clamp and is
slotted lengthwise to accommodate both the capillary
tube and the short length of tube extending from the bulb.
1. Loosen but do not remove the well clamp screw on
the side of the control case.
2. Pull out the capillary until the bulb bottoms in the
well. Place adapter (if used) around the capillary
tube so it fits into the slot. See Fig. 2. Center the
loop of excess capillary tubing in front of the
immersion well so it cannot touch any electrical
parts.
NOTE: Some models have a tubing length adjustable to
3 in. (76 mm). For these models, extra tubing
inside the case can be pulled out, if needed.
3. Make sure the wide end of the adapter fits into the
hole in the case. Position immersion well clamp
snugly over the flange on the adapter and tighten
the clamp screw.
4. Insert sensing bulb into well as shown in Fig. 2.
(Distribute the heat-conductive compound in the
tube prior to bulb insertion.)
5. Securely tighten setscrew (if present on old well)
against adapter.
BRACKET POSITION FOR
VERTICAL MOUNTING
BRACKET POSITION FOR
HORIZONTAL MOUNTING
M8890
How moist should materials be in the compost pile?
The consistency of a cloth that is submerged and then wrung out is how moist materials should be in the compost pile. The feel, look and smell will be similar to that of soil that never is allowed to dry out and that is moist enough to leave a sprinkling of speckles when a hand or probe grazes or is inserted in soil.
Will aphids survive in your carpet or on window sills?
They have to have a food source so they will most likely move elsewhere and may even grow wings unless they already have them.
What type of fireplace has less mess?
It would be the fireplace less used. Gas log fireplaces don't produce ash or sut, and there is no killing of trees.
Should utility shelf brackets be hung with the long end pointing down or pointing out?
it doesn't matter. the long end down means you can have a shallow shelf with greater load capacity. the short end means a larger shelf with less load capacity. please use the appropriate anchors when fastening to drywall.
How do you remove lots of dried sylicone calk from hands?
Use Whitlam's Glue Wash hand cleaner. It removes all glue products from skin. Available at good plumbing stores.
