| How to Wash Outdoor Cushions Posted: 12 Oct 2019 01:00 AM PDT Outdoor cushions see the worst the weather has to offer, and can quickly get dirty, faded, and even moldy if you don't wash them often. If you are struggling to find a way to clean off the cushions, you can use a few common household products to clean them off, remove mildew, and even keep them nice and dry. [Edit]Putting Cushion Covers in the Washing Machine - Check the cushion's care tag. The manufacturer's care tag on the cushion may have restrictions on whether or not you should machine wash the cover or the cushion itself. Each cushion and cover is different, and some have sensitive coatings that protect the fabric from damage.
- The tag will often provide detailed care instructions for you to follow.
- If either the covers, cushions, or the whole pillows suggest hand-washing, skip to the section on hand-washing your cushions.
- Remove the cushion covers, if possible. If the care tag for the covers suggests machine washing, you'll need to take the covers off the cushions.[1]
- Shake out the covers before machine washing them to get rid of any debris or dirt trapped inside.
- Pre-treat the cushions by rubbing a stain remover on large stains. If the cushions are especially stained, using a stain remover before throwing them in the wash will help the washing machine break down the stain. Stain removers can be found in most home goods stores.[2]
- You don't need to rinse off the stain remover, as you will be washing the pillow immediately after removing the stains.
- Load the covers in the washing machine. If the care tag recommends machine-washing, simply place the covers in the washer. Be sure to follow any special instructions described on the care tag, like the machine specifications or the cycle to use.[3]
- You can throw the covers in with another load, or wash them on their own.
- Add detergent and set the machine on a cold, gentle cycle. Filling the cap to the lowest marking should be plenty for a small load of a few covers, unless they are large and bulky or especially dirty. Set the machine to gentle so that you don't damage the fabric or fade the design.[4]
- Cold water is almost always a good idea for sensitive fabrics.
- Air-dry the covers or dry them on the lowest heat setting. Cushion covers may be damaged by high heat, so towel drying and then hanging them up to dry is the best way to keep them safe. If this is impractical, set the dryer to the lowest heat cycle you can.
[Edit]Hand Washing Outdoor Cushions - Use a vacuum to get rid of dirt on the cushions themselves. Regardless of whether your cushions have covers, use the upholstery fixture on your vacuum to remove the loose dirt that your cushion is almost certainly covered in. This will quickly and thoroughly remove debris from the cushions.[5]
- If you don't have an upholstery attachment, you can simply run the vacuum over the cover as it rests on the ground. Turn the cover inside out if possible to vacuum the inside as well.
- Add of dishwashing solution to a bucket of water. Combine the dish soap and of warm water in a bucket, tub, or plastic bin. This will be the hand-washing solution for you to use as you clean the cushion and its cover.[6]
- Laundry detergent is too highly concentrated for use when washing fabrics by hand, but you may be able to find ready-made hand washing solutions at fabric or home goods stores.
- Scrub the suds onto the cushions with a sponge or soft brush. Use your hands to get dirt off and a soft-bristled brush, like the kind you would use to wash dishes, to rub the fabric until tough stains come off. The brush should be abrasive without feeling like it might tear the fabric.[7]
- If you use a sponge, rub vigorously on the cover so that it gets as clean as it would with a brush.
- Let the covers, and cushions if possible, soak in the solution for 15 minutes. If you have a large enough container, you can soak the entire cushions to help clean the insides. If you only have a bucket or other smaller container, just soak the covers in the solution.[8]
- You can weigh the covers down with a small, clean rock if they float to the top.
- Spray the cushions with a hose to rinse them off. To remove the suds, you'll need to use a garden hose to rinse the cushions down. Be thorough and try to completely soak the cushions all the way through.[9]
- Never use a power or pressure washer on fabric, as it can create tears.
- Dry the cushions with a towel before letting them air dry. Squeeze out the water and then wrap a towel around the cushion to get rid of most of the moisture. Then, let the cushions air dry, sitting vertically on a dry towel.[10]
- Lean the cushions against a wall or other sturdy backing to keep mildew from forming on the underside.
[Edit]Removing Mold and Mildew - Soak the cushions in water and Borax for 15 minutes. You can either add of Borax to a hand-washing solution, or, if your cushions are especially covered in mold or mildew, you can create a separate Borax and water solution with and of water. Make the solution in a large container like a plastic bin or a tub so that you have room to soak the cushions.[11]
- You can add baking soda to help break up the mildew's stains as well.
- Use an ammonia and water mixture if Borax isn't available. One common household chemical that can get rid of mildew and mold is ammonia, which you can mix with water to clean your cushions. Adding of ammonia to of water in a large container creates a great solution for you to scrub mildew off cushions with a brush.[12]
- Be sure to use gloves when cleaning with ammonia.
- Mix of lemon juice and salt for a natural option. If you would rather stay away from household chemical solutions for health or safety reasons, a lemon salt mixture will do the job. Scrub the mixture into the fabric on spots with mildew and mold and watch it dissolve.[13]
- In this solution, citric acid from the lemon juice combines with salt to help break up the fungi, and the undissolved salt crystals act as an abrasive.
- Combine of bleach and of water. Scrubbing away mold and mildew with bleach will also sanitize the area and remove stains. While bleach alone can fade or discolor dark fabric, a mild bleach and water solution will most likely keep your colors safe.[14]
- If you are concerned about discoloration, you can add less bleach to the water.
- Never use a bleach solution if you used ammonia on the cushions, as this will create poisonous chemicals that are harmful to your health.
- Use gloves if you use bleach to clean your cushions.
- Dab hydrogen peroxide on newly clean spots to remove any smell. Mold and mildew can leave behind smells on your cushions that can be hard to remove. A few drops of hydrogen peroxide on each spot will break up the smell and help your outdoor cushions smell fresh and clean again.[15]
- Rinse the cushion with a hose and dry them. You'll need to rinse mildew and high-power stain removers off the pillows before using them again. The chemicals in cleaning products can be harmful to your skin, so rinsing off the cushions under a hose will keep you safe.[16]
- Be sure to towel and air dry the cushions afterward.
[Edit]Protecting Your Outdoor Cushions - Apply a coat of fabric sealer or protector. There are products available that will help waterproof or at least seal your cushions from water damage. Pick some up at a hardware or home and garden store, then spray it all over the cushion from around away.[17]
- This will help keep mold, mildew, and stains off your cushions and provide protection from sun damage or fading, too.
- Bring your cushions in when it rains or snows. During rainy or cold seasons, keep your cushions indoors or in a secure outdoor container to keep them dry and safe from freezing temperatures. Even during a brief summer storm, it is a good idea to put outdoor cushions in a safe, dry place.[18]
- Cushions under umbrellas are still vulnerable to rain. Bringing in the umbrella is a good idea, too, as it can also get rain damaged.
- Cover your cushions with a tarp. If you don't want to bring outdoor cushions in, or if it is a hassle to detach them from a piece of furniture, you can use a tarp to cover up the fabric during wet and cold seasons. Large and small plastic tarps can be purchased at most hardware stores.[19]
- This won't keep them completely dry, and you risk a bit of mildew, but it is much better than leaving them exposed to the elements year-round
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using a Washing Machine - Washing machine
- Laundry detergent
[Edit]Hand-Washing the Cushions - Vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment
- Soft-bristled brush
- Bucket or plastic bin
- Dish soap
- Warm water
- Garden hose
- Towels
[Edit]Getting Rid of Mildew and Mold - Borax
- Ammonia
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide
[Edit]Protecting the Cushions - Fabric sealer
- Outdoor container
- Tarp
[Edit]References |
| How to Use a Pasta Machine Posted: 11 Oct 2019 05:00 PM PDT Pasta is a classic Italian dish that is delicious and simple to make. Using a pasta maker is an easy way to make fresh noodles to enhance your pasta dish. By preparing your dough and making your noodles thin enough to cook, you can use your pasta maker like an expert and create beautiful dishes for your friends and family to enjoy. [Edit]Preparing Your Dough - Divide your dough into 4 even pieces. Your pieces should be roughly the size of a handful so that it will be able to fit in your machine. Your dough should be freshly-made and have rested in plastic wrap at room temperature for around 20 minutes. You'll only be working with one piece of dough at a time, so you can keep the remaining 3 wrapped in plastic so that they don't dry out.[1]
- The best tool for this is called a "bench scraper," which is a flat scraping tool. You can also use a large knife.
- You should make your dough right before you start using your pasta machine so that your noodles are fresh and taste the best.
- Flatten your dough into a rectangle shape to prepare it. You can spread out your dough piece into a rectangle shape that's about as wide as your pasta machine's opening. Use the heel of your palm to gently knead the dough into shape. Keep your dough about thick and don't spread it out too much. This step is to get your dough ready for the machine, not to make it thinner.[2]
- You should just use your hands for this step. A rolling pin will flatten out the dough too much.
- Dust your piece of dough with flour. You'll want to flour your dough every time you feed it through your machine. Flouring it also makes your dough easier to work with and less sticky. Don't be afraid to cover your hands in flour too so that you can grab the dough without sticking to it and tearing it.[3]
[Edit]Using Your Machine - Clamp your machine to your counter, table, or cutting board. Make sure your pasta machine is attached to a secure surface, and that you have enough room to turn the crank. Set the opening of the machine to the widest setting, usually called number 1 on most pasta machines.[4]
- Make sure to read the manual on your machine before you start using it, so you are aware of all safety regulations and precautions that you need to take, like setting up attachments and anchoring your machine properly.
- Feed the first piece of dough through the roller. Starting with one of the shorter sides of the rectangle that you made, slowly insert your dough into the pasta machine while turning the crank. Use your crank slowly and steadily, as you want your dough to be evenly spread. Try not to turn the crank too fast or force it to turn, because this can damage your machine. Be sure to catch the dough before it falls onto a hard surface so that it maintains its shape.[5]
- It may be helpful to have a friend turn the crank while you feed the dough through the machine, or vice versa.
- Fold your dough into thirds to make it shorter. Take each end of your dough and fold it toward the middle, creating a smaller rectangle out of it in a kind of envelope shape. Press lightly on the top of the dough to stick each layer together, but not so hard that it changes the shape of the dough.[6]
- Sprinkle flour on your dough each time it comes out of the machine. You'll want to keep your dough from sticking to the machine or your hands, so you need to dust it in flour each time it comes out of your pasta machine. You can dust both the dough and the surface around it with a light coating, just enough to keep it from tearing or sticking.[7]
- You can also keep your hands coated in flour to make sure the dough doesn't stick to you as you handle it.
- Put the dough into the machine about 5 more times. Keep folding your dough into thirds and flouring it each time before you put it into your pasta maker. This will make your dough thinner each time it goes through. Make sure to grab the dough with your hand each time it leaves the machine so it doesn't fall onto a hard surface.[8]
- You should keep your machine on the largest setting for the first five pass-throughs so that your machine doesn't clog with dough that is too thick.
- Turn your machine to a thinner setting for a thinner dough. Depending on how thin you want your noodles to be, you can turn your machine to a smaller setting as you put your dough through the machine each time. Check with the recipe that you are using to decide how thin you would like to make your dough.[9]
- Create the noodles with your pasta maker's attachment. You can use an attachment on your pasta machine to cut your dough into a noodle shape. This attachment will look different based on what type of pasta you are trying to make. Attach this to your machine based on the manual's instructions, and feed your dough into it, catching it with your hands before it hits a counter or table.[10]
- To make stuffed pasta, you should cut your dough by hand with a knife, and not with your machine. That way, you can have a decent sized pasta piece to place your filling in.
- Repeat these steps with each piece of dough that you have. After you've made noodles out of one piece of dough, you can repeat the process with the rest of your dough to use it all up. Once all your noodles are made, you'll want to cook them right away so that they don't dry up and become hard.[11]
- You can keep your noodles that are already made on a drying rack or a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Dusting your noodles with cornmeal will help keep them from sticking together.
[Edit]References |
| How to Study Engineering Posted: 11 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT Being an engineering student is challenging, but the payoff is worth it. With your engineering degree, you can find a fulfilling career in a field that excites you. While in school, it's important to hone your skills in math and physics; these fields are necessary no matter what type of engineer you want to be. You should also pick an engineering specialty and choose a course schedule that aligns with your goals. Since engineering programs are rigorous, it's important to attend each class and also devote plenty of time to studying outside the classroom. Once you work on your study skills, you'll be able to ace your tests and projects. Finally, take the time to develop your professional network. That can help you get the job that you want. [Edit]Honing Your Skills and Choosing a Course of Study - Focus on excelling in math and physics courses. Nearly all engineering programs will require several semesters of math courses. Work with your advisor to set up a 4-year plan to complete all of your requirements. You can expect to take several courses in calculus and engineering-focused math. You will also need several semesters of physics.[1]
- Math and physics both rely heavily on learning and using formulas. Work to memorize the most commonly used ones, and understand how to apply them.
- If you are struggling with the concepts, ask your professor for help. You can also visit the tutoring center at your school.
- If you hate math, engineering is probably not the right career for you.
- Develop problem-solving skills to enhance critical thinking abilities. A career in engineering will be based on solving problems, whether that means figuring out how to design a safer bridge or figuring out safety procedures for dealing with chemicals. The sooner you begin thinking like a problem-solver, the more successful you'll be. Learn to figure out answers for yourself and avoid relying on others to tell you what to do.[2]
- For example, maybe you're stumped by your calculus homework. Spend some time working it out for yourself. You could try using a different way of applying an equation, perhaps.
- This doesn't mean that it's not okay to ask for help. It is! But stretch yourself by trying to find the answer yourself first.
- Choose the field of engineering that interests you. There are several different types of engineers. Spend some time thinking about what kind of job you want and then choose your specialty based on that. You can ask your academic advisor to go over the different options with you. Some of the most common fields include:[3]
- Civil engineering. This career involves planning and completing infrastructure projects, such as highways and bridges.
- Electrical engineering. The focus in this field is inventing and improving the electrical functions of machines like cell phones and cameras.
- Mechanical engineering. These engineers invent, make, and improve items like seat belts, refrigerators, and elevators.
- Chemical engineering. People in this field work on safely using chemicals and finding new ways to use them.
- Software engineering. Software engineers apply math and the principles of computer science to improve and create things like games and computer operating systems.
- Take a variety of engineering classes for supplemental knowledge. Obviously, you'll spend a lot of time taking classes in your concentration. But make sure to save some time in your schedule to take other engineering classes, too. In engineering, it's not just the subject matter that is important. It's also useful to learn how other engineers approach problems.[4]
- For example, if you are studying mechanical engineering, it might be helpful to include some classes in civil engineering. These fields overlap sometimes regarding the components of buildings.
- Take courses outside of engineering to broaden your skill set. Like most careers, engineering requires a wide variety of skills. Seek out classes that will enhance your work as an engineer.[5]
- Try taking a visual design class to learn how to better display your ideas visually. A writing class can help you convey your thoughts and ideas in a compelling manner.
[Edit]Getting the Most Out of Each Class - Attend every class and sit near the front. Engineering courses are challenging and often cover a lot of material in each class session. In order to succeed, it's important to be present in class (both physically and mentally). Show up on time and be ready to pay attention and concentrate.[6]
- Sit where you can see the materials presented and where you can easily hear the professor.
- Ask questions during class if you don't understand the concepts.
- If you have to miss class, borrow the notes from a classmate.
- Get a good night's sleep before the lecture. Being well-rested makes it easier to concentrate.
- Do the reading before class to feel prepared. Read the entire chapter or section before the relevant lecture. This will help you understand what the professor is talking about. It's also a good way to identify potential questions that you would like to ask during class.[7]
- Make sure to take notes as you read. You can jot down helpful examples and make note of anything you don't understand.
- Take good notes so that they are useful to you later. Write down any formulas that your instructor indicates are important to know. But take care to write down more than just the math. Your notes should also include information about how to apply the math and the logic behind it.[8]
- Don't worry about trying to scribble down every single word the professor says. Instead, focus on concepts they emphasize, repeat, or spend a lot of time talking about.
- Ask your instructor if they post PowerPoints online. If they do, you can annotate them with your own notes.
- Keep a separate notebook of important information for easy access. There are some key concepts and formulas that you will use in multiple classes. Copy these in your regular notes, but also write them down in a separate notebook. That way, you can easily find all of your most important information.[9]
- Develop a relationship with your professor so they can help you. Many students feel intimidated by their professors. But try not to be! They are actually there to help you. Take time at the beginning of the semester to introduce yourself to the professor. That way, they will know who you are if email them with a question.[10]
- Take advantage of office hours. Professors set this time aside to meet with students, so make it a point to stop by and get help when you need it.
[Edit]Doing Well on Tests and Projects - Form a study group at the beginning of the semester. Ask some other students in your program or in your classes if they want to join your study group. Study groups are beneficial for all students, but they're especially helpful for engineering students. Some of the benefits of working in groups include:[11]
- Learning new ways to approach the material
- Exposure to creative problem solving
- Experience working with a team, which most engineers do
- Having a more enjoyable time studying
- Teach the material to someone else to master it. This is considered one of the best ways to retain information. Being able to teach something means that you really understand the material. Practice teaching someone else how to use a formula, for example. Go over the material until your "student" has a good understanding. By that point, you'll likely be very confident with your own understanding.[12]
- This is a great activity to try in your study group.
- Copy your notes to review the material. Writing things down helps you retain the information. Every 2-3 weeks, copy the notes that you have taken while reading and attending lectures. Each copy should be a little shorter. As you become more familiar with the material, you won't feel like you have to write down every single detail.[13]
- Each time you copy your notes, write a 1-2 page summary of the information. You can use that to review for tests.
- Give yourself plenty of time to study for tests and prepare projects. Don't try to cram the night before an exam. You'll end up feeling stressed and exhausted. Instead, make it a habit to review the material each week. You can then add some extra hours to study each day during the week prior to the exam.[14]
- Similarly, don't wait until the night before a project is due to start working on it. As soon as your professor gives you an assignment, figure out how you are going to approach the topic.
- Add material to your presentation over time, and refine it as necessary. All you'll have to do the week before it's due is to give it a polish!
- Read each test question carefully and check your work. When you're taking a test, make sure to take time to look at the entire question. This can prevent simple mistakes. Neatly show your work for each problem. Not only will you get partial credit, but your instructor will be able to give you better feedback if they can see where you went wrong.[15]
- Start with the easy questions first. That can help you feel more confident about the rest of the exam.
[Edit]Building Your Network - Seek out internships to gain experience. Start looking for summer internships early in your academic career. Internships indicate that you are motivated and a hard worker, traits that will make you attractive to potential employers. Internships can also help you figure out what kind of career you would like to have.[16]
- Talk to the career center at your school, or your advisor or program director for advice on finding an internship.
- Develop a group of mentors that can advise you. Corporations have boards of directors that provide advice and direction. You're not a corporation, but you can also gather a group of people that can do the same for you. Forge relationships with your professors and mentors and ask them for advice.[17]
- You can also learn a lot by talking to more advanced students.
- If you have a family friend that works in engineering, ask if you can pick their brain.
- Attend extracurricular events to stay current in the field and meet people. Engineering is a field that changes regularly. It's important to stay up to date on trends and new developments. Make it a point to attend any lectures that relate to your field that are sponsored by your college or community. You can also meet new contacts to add to your network at such events.[18]
- You can also join a networking group on campus. That will allow you to meet other engineering students and alumni in your field of study.
- Make sure to get enough rest and eat a healthy diet. If you don't take care of your physical health, it will be hard to find the energy to study.
- Save time for socializing. Doing something fun will keep you from feeling like you're drowning in coursework.
[Edit]References |
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