| How to Melt a Chocolate Bar Posted: 26 Sep 2019 05:00 PM PDT Whether you're making frosting, rolling truffles, or mixing up ganache, melting a chocolate bar is a vital first step. Break your chocolate bar into even pieces and then decide if you want to melt it gently in a pan, in the microwave, or with a hair dryer. As long as you use low heat, you won't burn the chocolate and it will be smooth for your recipe! [Edit]Melting the Bar on the Stove - Break the chocolate into pieces. If you're working with a thin bar of chocolate, you can use your fingers to snap the chocolate into even pieces. This is especially easy if the bar has been divided into blocks or squares. If the bar of chocolate is too thick to break with your fingers, place the chocolate on a cutting board and chop it with a knife.[1]
- Try to cut the chocolate into pieces that are about thick.
- Put the chocolate in a bowl and pour of water into a skillet. Transfer your chocolate pieces into a heat-proof bowl, such as a stainless-steel or tempered glass bowl. Then, place a wide skillet on the stove and pour tap water into it.[2]
- Use a bowl that's small enough to fit into the skillet.
- Place the bowl into the skillet and turn the burner to medium. Set the heat-proof bowl of chocolate directly down into the skillet. Then, turn on the burner so it gently begins to warm the water and bowl of chocolate.[3]
- Keep oven mitts nearby so you can quickly lift the hot bowl out of the skillet.
- Turn off the burner when the water simmers and remove the chocolate once it melts. Heat the water until it begins to bubble gently. You should see the chocolate near the sides of the bowl start to melt. Then, turn off the burner and use oven mitts to carefully remove the bowl from the skillet.[4]
- Set the bowl of chocolate on a heat-proof surface or trivet.
- Stir the chocolate until it's smooth. The heat of the bowl will help the chocolate continue to melt. To encourage it to melt evenly, stir the chocolate with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.[5]
- You can use your melted chocolate bar while it's still warm or wait for it to cool before following your recipe.
[Edit]Microwaving the Chocolate Bar - Break the bar into pieces or chop it with a knife. Unwrap your bar of chocolate and snap it into even pieces. If the bar is too thick to break with your hands, put it on a dry cutting board and carefully chop the chocolate.[6]
- You can chop the chocolate as finely as you like. Ensure that the pieces are smaller than so they melt easily.
- Put the chocolate into a bowl and place it in the microwave. Keep the microwave-safe bowl uncovered so moisture isn't trapped, which could cause the chocolate to seize and become grainy.[7]
- Ensure that your microwave is clean. If it's dirty, the microwave won't heat the chocolate effectively and it could take a long time to melt your chocolate.
- Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Program your microwave to heat the chocolate for just 30 seconds. You don't want to heat it for a longer increment because the chocolate can quickly burn.[8]
- If your microwave usually heats food very quickly, you may want to program it to 50% power.
- Remove the bowl and stir the chocolate. Remember to wear oven mitts to remove the hot bowl. If you're melting a small chocolate bar, it should be almost completely melted. The heat of the chocolate in the bowl will continue to melt any little lumps that are left.[9]
- Keep in mind that the melted chocolate shouldn't be hot or you'll risk burning it. Instead, it should be warm to the touch.
[Edit]Using a Hair Dryer to Melt the Chocolate - Chop the bar or break it into pieces. If the bar of chocolate is too thick to snap into pieces with your hands, put it on a cutting board. Chop the chocolate into pieces that are less than in size.[10]
- Ensure that your hands, cutting board, and knife are completely dry. If water gets into the chocolate, it will seize and become grainy when you melt it.
- Put the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Try to use a wide bowl so the chocolate melts evenly and quickly. If the bowl is too small, the heat from the top won't be able to reach the chocolate at the bottom.
- The bowl should also be dry so the chocolate doesn't seize.
- Turn a hair dryer to "low" and point it at the chocolate until it melts. Get out a clean hair dryer and turn it to the lowest setting. Hold it about from the chocolate so the heat begins to melt the pieces.[11]
- Stir the chocolate occasionally to help it melt evenly.
- Stir the chocolate until it's smooth. You can stop heating the chocolate when you see only a few small lumps of the bar. The chocolate will finish melting as you stir it for another 20 to 30 seconds.[12]
- Use the warm melted chocolate in your recipe or let it cool to room temperature before continuing.
- If you're short on time and don't want to chop a chocolate bar, use chocolate chips instead!
- If you'd like to melt the chocolate bar with butter, milk, or a liqueur, add for every 2 ounces (60 g) of chocolate.[13]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Melting the Bar on the Stove - Skillet
- Heat-proof bowl
- Spoon
- Oven mitts
- Knife and cutting board, optional
[Edit]Microwaving the Chocolate Bar - Microwave-safe bowl
- Oven mitts
- Microwave
- Spoon
- Knife and cutting board, optional
[Edit]Using a Hair Dryer to Melt the Chocolate - Heat-proof bowl
- Hair dryer
- Spoon
- Knife and cutting board, optional
[Edit]References |
| How to Kill Fleas With Dawn Dishsoap Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT Fleas are pests that can multiply quickly if they're not treated properly. However, since the price tag for store-bought flea treatments is a bit high, you can use Dawn dish soap to get rid of them. The best way to do this is to give your pet a bath with the dish soap. Alternatively, if you have a pet who hates baths, you can also use a spray bottle and dish soap to kill fleas cheaply and easily. [Edit]Giving Your Pet a Bath - Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water around . This temperature will be warm enough to keep your pet comfortable without shocking it. Fill the bathtub so that the water only comes up to around your pet's stomach.[1]
- For example, if the bottom of your pet's belly is about off the ground, then you should fill the tub with about of water.
- If you're washing a smaller animal, such as a ferret, fill a large bucket with lukewarm water instead of a bathtub.
- Soak your pet in the bath so that all of its fur is wet. Avoid getting any water in your pet's eyes or ears, since it may irritate them. Make sure all of the fur is completely soaked through before proceeding.[2]
- This is especially important for pets with thick fur, since it will take more water for them to get completely soaked.
- Apply the soap to your pet's fur until it's completely lathered. The amount of soap you use will depend on how large your pet is, as well as how badly it's infested with fleas. Start with a small quantity of dish soap (e.g., around ) and add additional dish soap as needed. Start applying the soap at the neck and work your way down towards the tail.[3]
- Avoid getting any of the soap in your pet's eyes or ears.
- Be gentle while scrubbing, but make sure you scrub deeply enough to get to the skin where the fleas will hide. If the pet cries, you're scrubbing too roughly.
- If your pet's coat is particularly thick, try using a pet brush to get the soap deep down into its fur.
- Wait 5 minutes, then rinse all of the soap off of your pet's fur. Allow about 5 minutes for the dish soap to completely kill the fleas before you begin rinsing. Use a cup of water or a handheld shower head to wash the soap off. Start from the top of your pet's body and work your way down towards the tail.[4]
- For best results, use a flea comb to brush your pet's fur as you rinse off the soap to make sure you're removing as many fleas as possible.
- You may need to spray a lot of water in a single area in order to completely rinse off all of the dish soap.
- Be very cautious when washing around the eyes. If contact with the eyes occurs, rinse them with cool water and dry them with a towel.
- Empty the bathtub and dry off your pet with a towel when you're done. Once you stop seeing live fleas in your pet's fur, drain the water out of the tub. Gently rub your pet with a towel until it's completely dry.[5]
- You can also use a hair dryer on low heat to dry your pet, although it's much safer to simply use a towel.
- To be extra safe, run a flea comb over your pet's fur once they're completely dry to check for any fleas you may have missed during the bath.
- A cat will likely be very tense from this experience and will probably run away from you immediately. Be careful as you dry it off to avoid getting scratched.
- Repeat this process if you still see fleas on your pet. Some fleas may have escaped your initial washing or simply survived exposure to the dish soap. Keep in mind that fleas will run to the head and face to hide. This means you will probably have to add a tiny drop of detergent to your pet's head on your second washing.[6]
- You may need to wash your pet 1 or 2 extra times, depending on the severity of their flea infestation.
- If you notice more fleas within a couple of days after bathing, simply repeat the process every couple of days, then use a flea medication to finish them off. You can either give your pet a flea collar or apply a topical flea solution like Frontline Plus to your furry friend.
- To make sure your home is completely rid of fleas, vacuum your flooring and upholstery frequently (at least once a day) to kill any fleas and flea eggs that survived your pet's bath.
[Edit]Using a Spray Bottle - Fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water around . This temperature will help keep your pet from being shocked or scalded by the water. If you don't have a thermometer, aim to use water that is around room temperature to keep your pet as comfortable as possible.[7]
- This method is particularly useful for cats, rabbits, or any other animals that generally don't like being given baths.
- If you don't have a spray bottle, you can also simply mix warm water with some dish soap and use a flea comb dipped in this mixture to keep your pet's fleas. However, this won't be as effective as using a spray bottle to apply the mix.
- Hold your pet down and use the spray bottle to get its fur wet. You can either wrap your pet in a towel to immobilize it or gently hold it down by its neck. Be very gentle when holding your pet down; remember that this might be very stressful for them![8]
- Make sure your pet's fur is completely soaked through before moving on to the next step.
- Be sure to avoid getting water in your pet's eyes or ears, since this will irritate them.
- Rub the dish soap into your pet's fur until it's completely lathered. Use around of dish soap to begin with and add more as needed. Start applying the soap at the neck and work your way down towards the tail. Make sure to rub the soap deep enough into the fur so that it reaches your pet's skin.[9]
- Fleas typically live and lay their eggs close to an animal's skin, so it's important that you make sure the dish soap reaches all the way down to your pet's skin to kill all of the fleas.
- If your pet has really thick fur, you may need to apply a bit more dish soap to make sure you're reaching down to the skin.
- Wait 5 minutes, then use the spray bottle to wash the soap off your pet. Start from the top of your pet's body and work your way down toward the tail. For best results, use a flea comb to brush your furry friend's hair as you rinse off the soap to make sure you're removing as many fleas as possible.[10]
- Note that you may need to spray a lot of water on a single area in order to get all the soap off.
- Dry off your pet with a towel and carefully release it from your grasp. Your pet may be especially tense after this process, especially if it's a cat. It may even run away from you after you release it. Be careful as you release your pet to avoid being scratched or otherwise injured.[11]
- Don't take this behavior personally; your furry friend will be back to normal soon, especially when the food gets put out!
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Clean a Cashmere Sweater Posted: 26 Sep 2019 01:00 AM PDT Even though most cashmere sweaters have a "dry-clean only" tag, there's no need to go to the dry cleaners. You can wash your cashmere sweater at home and still have it stay soft and beautiful. In fact, washing your sweater at home will make it softer than when it's cleaned with harsh dry cleaning chemicals. Clean your cashmere sweater by hand or in the washing machine and then let it air dry. [Edit]Washing by Hand - Fill a bucket or sink with lukewarm water. Hot water might harm your sweater, and cold water won't clean as well, so stick with lukewarm water for this. Make sure the water is deep enough for you to fully submerge the sweater.
- Mix a small amount of mild detergent into the water. There's no need to be terribly scientific with how much detergent you use! Go with a small splash--far less than you would use to wash a whole load of clothes. Swirl your hand around in the water to make sure the detergent is well stirred in.[1]
- You can buy a specific product called cashmere shampoo, or you can simply use a mild detergent like Woolite, baby shampoo, or dish soap.
- Be sparing with the detergent, because you don't want soapy residue on your sweater.
- Turn your sweater inside out and soak it in the solution for 5 minutes. Make sure every part of the sweater is completely under the water. Swish it around gently before you leave it to soak so that the soapy water gets into every part.[2]
- If this is the first time you are washing the sweater, a bit of color may come off in the water, but it's not a big deal.[3]
- Rinse the sweater in cold water. Pour out all the soapy water from your bucket, rinse it out, and fill it again with clean water. Submerge the sweater in the clean water and swish it around.[4]
- You may have to do several rinses until all the soap is out of your sweater.
[Edit]Washing in a Laundry Machine - Button up the sweater and turn it inside out. If your sweater has any kind of zippers, buttons, or fastenings, you'll want to make sure they are all closed. Turning your sweater inside out helps protect the delicate surface, so that any wear and tear from washing will be mostly on the inside.[5]
- It's safer to wash your sweater by hand, but still possible to wash it in the machine.
- Put the sweater in a mesh laundry bag. Don't just dump your cashmere into the washing machine. Instead, but it in a mesh laundry bag, which will protect it from rubbing up against the sides of your machine. The less friction against your sweater, the better.[6]
- If you don't have a mesh laundry bag, you can put your sweater in a clean, white pillow case.[7]
- Add mild detergent like Woolite, baby shampoo or dish soap to the machine. Don't use your normal laundry detergent on the cashmere, because it will be too harsh. Wash the cashmere in a load by itself, use less detergent than you normally would for a full load of laundry.
- Some people recommend a special cashmere shampoo, but you don't have to spend your money on a cashmere-specific detergent when other substitutes work just as well.
- Wash the sweater using a gentle cycle and cold water. View the specific instructions for your washing machine if you are not sure how to change the settings. Usually, there is a simple nob or switch that controls the temperature of the water, and another where you can select a gentle cycle.[8]
- If your washing machine has a wool setting, you can use that as well.
[Edit]Drying Your Sweater - Fold up your sweater in a ball to get water out. Press it very gently, but don't wring out your sweater. Any kind of added friction on your sweater will lead to pilling.[9]
- Your sweater will still be very damp after this initial squeeze.
- Roll your sweater in a towel to remove excess water. Lay the sweater flat on a towel and roll up both the sweater and the towel together into a sausage shape. Then press down on the towel with the palms of your hands so that the towel absorbs the water from your sweater.[10]
- Unroll the towel and take your sweater out.
- Put the sweater through a salad spinner if you're in a rush to dry it. Wet cashmere can take days to dry, so if you're in a rush, put your cashmere sweater in a clean salad spinner, and let the water spin out. This is a much gentler version of tumble drying in the drying machine, so it won't hurt your sweater.[11]
- If you're not in a rush to have a dry sweater, or you don't have a salad spinner, you can skip this step.
- Lay your sweater out flat to finish drying. If you have a flat drying rack, cover it with an absorbent towel and then lay your sweater down. If you don't have a drying rack, you can simply put a towel on the ground and lay out the sweater on the towel. Move the sweater around on the towel until it is in the shape you would want to wear it in. When your sweater dries, it will stay in that shape.[12]
- Drying could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on how humid it is where you live.
- Dry the sweater in the dryer on low for a short time as a last resort. If you absolutely have to wear your cashmere sweater immediately, you can dry it briefly in the dryer, but it's much better to let the cashmere air dry. If you are going to dry it in the dryer, use the lowest heat setting, and check the sweater every 5 minutes to make sure it doesn't shrink.[13]
- Some people think you should never put your cashmere in the dryer, so use caution.[14]
[Edit]Dealing with Stains, Pillings, and Lumps - Pre-treat stains with a small amount of baby shampoo. Dab some baby shampoo onto the area with the stain before you wash the whole sweater. Don't use hand soap or laundry detergent, because they might set the stain. Don't rub the stain, because rubbing will damage the fabric. Rinse the whole sweater and let it dry flat.[15]
- Repeat this process if the stain remains.
- Remove pilling with a cashmere comb or sweater stone. Pilling occurs when the fine hairs in the cashmere rub together and form tiny balls. This process is totally natural, but if the pilling is bothering you, use a cashmere comb or sweater stone to remove loose hairs from your sweater.[16]
- Don't use a razor or scissors to cut off pillings, because it will damage the fabric.
- Store your sweater folded to avoid lumps. If you hang up your cashmere sweater, the hanger create dimples in the shoulders and make the sweater droop in a funny shape. Instead, fold the cashmere and store it on a shelf or in a drawer.[17]
- If your sweater is lumpy, soak it in water and then let it dry flat.
- Don't use fabric softener or bleach on your cashmere.
- Wash your sweater before storing it away for a long time.
[Edit]References |
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