| How to Clean a Growler Posted: 19 Jul 2019 01:00 AM PDT Growlers are a type of jug used to store and transport beer. Most growlers are made from glass, ceramic, or stainless steel, which means they're a cinch to clean. In fact, all they need most of the time is a quick rinse with hot water. If it's been a while since you last cleaned your growler, fill it with hot water and a teaspoon of oxygen-based cleaner or powdered brewery wash and allow it to soak for a about an hour. EditRinsing out a Lightly-Used Growler - Run the water in your sink until it's as hot as it can get. Turn on the tap and let it begin warming up. As it does, go ahead and pour out any beer remaining in your growler. You want it to be completely empty before you begin rinsing it.[1]
- Hot water kills more bacteria than cool or room temperature water.[2]
- Fill your growler up with hot water and swish it around inside. Hold the growler under the faucet so that the stream flows directly into the mouth. Once it's about half full, put the cap on the jug or press your palm over the mouth and shake the water back and forth.[3]
- The gentle agitation of the water will help rinse stale beer residue off the walls of the jug.
- Pour the water out of the growler. Turn the growler upside down to drain the rinsing water. Give the jug a quick shake to make sure it's completely empty. Be sure to run some water over the outside of the jug as well.
- Hold your growler with both hands to avoid accidentally dropping it—a wet growler can get pretty slippery. It may help to loop a finger or two through the handle near the top.
- Repeat 1-2 more times as needed. If you can still see or smell traces of beer inside your growler, you may need to rinse it out a second or even third time. Continue filling, swishing, and draining until the water runs clear.[4]
- It shouldn't take more than 2-3 rinses to make a lightly-used growler as good as new.
- Allow the growler to air dry with the cap off. After making sure there's no lingering water inside, set the jug aside on a countertop or other flat, stable surface to dry. If you like, you can place your growler upside down in a dish drying rack. Just make sure the mouth isn't covered, as this can cause moisture to become trapped inside.[5]
- Place a towel or some folded paper towels beneath the growler to soak up any droplets of water run off the outside of the jug.
- It's important to leave the cap off of your growler as it dries to promote airflow. Any excess moisture that's allowed to remain inside the jug is likely to result in mold or bacterial growth.
EditSoaking a Stale Growler - Fill the growler with hot water. If you have an older growler that reeks of spoiled beer, your best option is to soak it. First, make sure there are no traces of beer left inside. Then, turn on the faucet and run a stream of hot water into the mouth of the empty jug. Fill it up to the top.[6]
- Leave of space near the mouth of the growler to add your cleaning product of choice.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oxygen-based cleaner or powdered brewery wash. Use a measuring spoon to portion out your cleaning agent to make sure you're not using any more than you need. Dump the cleaner into the mouth of the growler and let it begin dissolving. This should only take a few seconds in the hot water.[7]
- Oxygen-based cleaners use the power of oxygen to eliminate odors and lift heavy stains. They're completely safe to use it in your growler or other food and beverage containers.
- Powdered brewery wash is an alkali-based detergent commonly used by bartenders and distillers to sanitize brewing equipment. You can find it and similar products online, or at any store that carries home brewing supplies.[8]
- Let the growler soak for 1 hour. Place the cap on the jug and find a spot for it out on your countertop. As it sits, the solution will go to work breaking down bacteria and odor-causing residue on the interior walls. Afterwards, your growler will be fresh and clean and ready to be refilled.[9]
- There's no need to scrub or wipe your growler (the narrow mouth of the jug would make this tricky, anyway). Just sit back and let your cleaning product do all the heavy lifting!
- Consider setting a timer so you'll know when to come back and drain and rinse your growler.
- Empty the growler and rinse it with clean water. Remove the cap from the jug and pour its contents out into the sink. You may notice a slight discoloration in the water that comes out—this is a good thing, as it means the solution is doing its job. Once the growler is empty, swish it with hot water a few times to flush out the last of the cleaner.[10]
- The residue you rinse out of an especially dingy growler may be amber-brown, gray, or even black. Yuck!
- Don't forget to give the outside of the growler a quick rinse, too, especially around the mouth.
- Air-dry the growler with the cap off. Place the jug on the countertop or in a dish drying rack to dry naturally. This may take anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on the surrounding conditions. Be sure to leave the mouth uncovered throughout the process to prevent moisture from hanging around inside and encouraging the growth of bacteria.[11]
- Not only will a germy growler throw off the taste of your favorite beers, it could also potentially make you ill.
- Towel drying isn't recommended, as it can leave bits of fiber behind on the walls of your growler. If you insist on drying your jug by hand, make sure you do it with a lint-free material, such as microfiber.
EditKeeping Your Growler Clean - Rinse out your growler as soon as you finish using it. Right after you polish off or pour out the last of your beer, give the jug a quick rinse with hot water. The longer it sits with droplets of leftover beer stagnating inside, the more likely it is to develop a sour smell and require more thorough cleaning.[12]
- The simplest way to maintain a growler is to get in the habit of washing it out immediately.
- Refrigerate your recently-used growler until you can clean it. If for some reason you're unable to sanitize your growler right away, put the cap on it and stick it in the fridge. The cool temperatures will help stave off the growth of mold and bacteria until you can give it some attention.[13]
- Remember, you should always refrigerate your growlers if there's still beer in them.
- Check to make sure your jug doesn't smell after you've cleaned it. Hold the mouth of the jug up to your nose and take a whiff. A well-sanitized jug will have no scent. If you detect the faint odor of vinegar, it means that there's still some residue remaining, and you'll need to rinse or soak it again.[14]
- If you've tried cleaning your growler multiple times and still can't get rid of the smell, it may be a lost cause. In this case, it's best to just throw away and acquire a new one.
- Store your empty growler with the cap off. This will allow air to circulate throughout the jug, ensuring that it dries completely and making it difficult for bacteria to set up inside. Situate your growler somewhere where dust or debris won't be able to find its way inside, such as inside the pantry or on top of a high shelf.[15]
- Just as moisture can cause germs to grow inside a sealed wet jug, the air in a dry jug can quickly become stagnant, producing an unpleasant musty smell.
- At most breweries and beer bars, you can have your beer put in a growler to take home with you when you buy a selection on tap. You can also buy growlers from online suppliers any store that sells home brewing equipment.
- Growlers made of amber glass will keep your favorite beers fresh longer than clear ones. The tinted glass helps block UV rays, which can quickly turn beer sour.
- Some beer merchants may sanitize your growler free of charge before refilling it. In that case, you won't have to worry about anything other than enjoying your beer!
EditThings You'll Need - Hot water
- Oxygen-based cleaner or powdered brewery wash
- Measuring spoon
- Clean, dry towel or paper towels
- Dish drying rack (optional)
EditReferences
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| How to Roller Skate Backwards Posted: 18 Jul 2019 05:00 PM PDT For many people, roller skating forwards is incredibly difficult. Learning how to skate takes practice, so you should make sure you wear protective gear in case you fall down. Before you attempt to skate backwards, you need to know the basics of roller skating. Once you are confident in your ability to skate forward and stop with ease, you can move on to learning how to skate backwards. By repeating the simple motion of bringing your toes together and then moving your heels apart, you will move backwards on your skates. EditSkating Backwards - Make a "V" shape with your feet. Your toes should be touching together, and your heels should be apart. The outer edges of your feet should create a rough 90 degree angle with your toes forming the corner.[1]
- If you find this uncomfortable, it helps to bend your knees a bit.
- Push your heels apart and bring them back together. The wider the gap that you create when you push your heels apart, the faster and longer you will move backwards. When your heels meet, recreate the "V" shape with your toes and repeat.[2]
- Alternatively, you can apply pressure to your right toes while lifting your left foot to glide backwards on one skate. Mirror this motion with the other foot when you start to run out of momentum.
- Look behind you over your shoulder. The only way to see where you are going is to glance over your shoulder regularly. This can be very disorienting, so be careful and take it slowly when you are first learning how to skate backwards.
- Do not lean back when you look to see where you are going. This is how most people fall down.[3]
- Increase the length of your strokes to pick up speed. The wider you can spread your ankles apart, the more momentum you will generate. The faster that you can repeat the process of putting your toes together and then pushing your ankles apart, the faster you will move.[4]
- Practice before you skate on the rink. If you want to get good at skating backwards, practice by going slowly at first and stepping slowly. If you fall, don't panic; it happens to everybody and eventually you will get better.
- Skating backward takes lots of practice. Do not increase your speed or the width of your spread until you are comfortable and confident.
- Switch between skating backwards and forwards. Transfer your weight to your right foot. At the same time lift up on your left foot and use it to swing your body 180 degrees. Then turn your right foot to face forward and use it to push off.[5]
- Once you start to turn, make sure your core and hips stay aligned. Don't twist around at the waist.
EditLearning the Fundamentals of Skating - Wear protective gear on your head, knees, and arms. If you are just learning how to skate, you should wear plenty of protective gear because you will probably fall down sometimes. If you are an experienced skater, you should still consider wearing some gear because accident can even happen to professionals.[6]
- The most important piece of protective gear is a solid helmet. You can injure your head from taking a slight fall. Make sure the helmet is comfortable and has a snug fit on your head.
- You can also get knee pads and wrist guards for some added protection. These are especially useful if you are skating on rougher surfaces like cement or asphalt.
- Lace up your skates. Start with the bottom and work your way up the skate. The laces should go underneath the first eye-holes and they should criss-cross over each other as you run the laces up the skate. You will also rotate pulling the laces under and over the eye holes.[7]
- Pull the laces as tight as you can after you run them through each eye-hole.
- Learn how to skate forward. You should be practiced at roller skating before you start trying to skate backwards. Push off with one foot and glide until you lose momentum. Then, push off with the other foot.[8]
- Develop your forward glide and a posture that works for you. Once you have these down, you can start practicing more difficult maneuvers like backward skating.
- You should be fairly confident in your ability to skate forward before trying to skate backward. Two important skills you should know before skating backwards are finding your balance and being able to increase your speed without losing control.
- Use your front brake to stop skating. Roller skates have brakes on the front of the shoe. They are the round, hard-plastic or rubber knobs near the end of the toe. Move one skate in front of the other and lift it slightly. Then press that toe down against the surface you are skating on.[9]
- Push down quickly with a good amount of force to avoid losing your balance.
EditReferences
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| How to Measure a Dog for Clothes Posted: 18 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT Dog clothes are cute, and they can also be super functional. From sweaters, coats, and hoods that keep your pup warm in cool weather to harnesses to keep them safe on walks, it's important to get your dog's measurements right. Clothes that are too tight could cut off blood circulation, and clothes that are too loose could fall off or get tangled in their legs. All you need to get your dog's measurements is a soft tape measure and a pen and paper to write down the numbers. From there, you can buy, make, or order new clothes for your canine friend. EditGetting Your Dog's Measurements - Determine the top-line measurement for coats, sweaters, and shirts. The top-line is the length of your dog, measured from the base of their neck to where their tail starts. Take a soft tape measure and place one end at the base of your dog's neck and measure to the base of their tail. Use this measurement to figure out what size of clothing you should buy for them, or use it to make one-of-a-kind clothing yourself. Check out the following measurements to get an idea of what size sweater or coat your dog might need:[1]
- = XXS
- = XS
- = S
- = M
- = L
- = XL
- Get the measurement of the under-chest area to properly fit a sweater. Measure from the top of the dog's chest (the base of its throat in the front), bring the tape measure between its front legs and stop measuring at the end of the dog's rib cage. Really long dogs, (like dachshunds, basset hounds, and corgis) might need special sweaters with an extra-elongated under-chest area; otherwise, the sweater will end in the middle of their ribs and won't keep them very warm.[2]
- This measurement works for picking the right size of T-shirts, too.
- Take the girth (chest) measurement to make sure straps will fit correctly. Use a soft tape measure to determine how big around your dog's chest is. Measure just behind the dog's front legs and up around the dog's ribcage. This is especially important if you're special-ordering a piece of clothing or if you're making clothes for your dog.[3]
- Measure the width of your dog's neck to fit collars and scarves. Take your soft tape measure and put it around your dog's neck, taking care to not pull it too tight. Measure from the top of the dog's chest, completely around its neck. Leave it loose enough so that you can easily fit 2 fingers underneath of it.[4]
- It's important for the collar (or scarf, bandana, or bowtie) to not be too tight, otherwise it could hurt the dog's windpipe or even cut off their airflow.
- Fit your dog for a hood by measuring around its head and down its neck. Place the soft tape measure in front of the dog's ears, bring it down around the jaws, and bring the tape measure around until it meets the end behind the ears. If the hood is going to be attached to a sweater or coat, also measure from the midpoint of the ears to the base of the neck to ensure that length of material will be big enough.[5]
EditPicking Different Types of Clothes - Get a coat for your dog to wear in inclement weather. Protect your pup from rain, snow, and cold weather by outfitting them with a coat. Small dogs that don't have much body fat or thick fur will especially benefit from a coat in colder weather. Bigger dogs will love them if you're still taking long walks after the weather gets cool.[6]
- You could even get a raincoat to help keep your dog dry and warm and a separate winter coat for snowy, cold winter days.
- Keep your dog comfy at home with a sweater during cooler months. If you notice your dog has been extra cuddly in the fall and winter months, that may be because they need a little extra warmth! Get them a sweater to wear when the temperatures drop.[7]
- Sweaters aren't the best for dogs to wear outdoors if there is rain or snow, as the precipitation could absorb into the material and make them really cold.
- Avoid buying or making a sweater made of wool. The fabric is just as itchy to dogs as it is to humans.
- Pair your dog's outfits with hats and hoods to keep their face warm. Rain hats and warm hoods are great ways to keep your pup's face from getting too cold or wet when it's raining, snowing, or getting cooler outdoors. Use hats that are made specifically for dogs, make your own, or make alterations to a small hat you already have (make sure there are holes for your dog's ears to poke out).[8]
- Put a cute T-shirt on your pup to make them look stylish. T-shirts don't provide much in the way of functionality—they don't keep your dog very warm or protect them from bad weather—but they are super cute! Pick the right size based off of your dog's top-line measurement and get ready for the compliments to start rolling in![9]
- If the shirt is too tight on your dog it could cause them to overheat. If you're in doubt about the sizing, pick the next size up.
- Select the right-sized harness to keep your dog safe on walks. There are a lot of different types of harnesses out there, from mobility harnesses to help you lift your dog if it needs it, to lightweight harnesses which are great for training purposes, to front-clip harnesses for dogs that tend to pull on their lead. Ask someone at a pet store to help you make a decision, or do some research to make sure you're picking the best harness for your pup.[10]
- Don't forget, if you have a puppy you will need to upgrade their harness from time to time until they are full grown.
- Add bowties, bandanas, and fun collars to your dog's wardrobe. Once you know the measurement for your dog's neck, you can pick out tons of great accessories for your pooch to wear. Always check to make sure you can fit 2 fingers underneath the collar so that your dog can breathe easily.[11]
- If your dog goes outside on its own, make sure it is always wearing a collar with an I.D. tag attached.
- Avoid pieces of clothing that have buttons or zippers—your pet might try to chew them off and swallow them!
- To help keep your pet calm while you're measuring them, try giving them a treat or some peanut butter to distract them.
EditThings You'll Need - Pencil or pen
- Paper
- Soft tape measure
EditReferences
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