| How to Store Tools in an Apartment Posted: 09 Mar 2021 04:00 PM PST Do you have stacks of tools taking up valuable space in your apartment? Not to worry—there are lots of clever ways you can organize, sort, and store your work tools without cluttering your living space. Here are a few tips and hacks to help you get started! [Edit]Pegboard - Pegboards make efficient use of limited closet space. Screw a pegboard panel or 2 onto the back and sides of your closet, if there's enough space. Then, stick curved J-hooks into the individual pegboard holes. Hang up all your favorite tools on these hooks—this way, it's super easy to find and grab whichever tool you need.[1]
[Edit]Toolbox - Large toolboxes come with plenty of drawers and compartments. Find an open space in your home where you can sort your tools into different piles. Place your most-used tools in a toolbox for easy access. Then, slip the toolbox into a nearby closet.[2]
- Some toolboxes come with small, plastic organizers that are great for sorting screws, washers, bolts, and other small items.
- Measure, cut out, and place a section of non-slip rug mat in your toolbox shelves to keep your tools from jostling and rolling around.[3]
[Edit]Under-Bed Storage - Under-the-bed storage bins keep your tools completely out of sight. While usually recommended for pillows and blankets, under-the-bed storage bins can be used for just about anything.[4] Fill the container with any tools that are taking up space in your home. Then, slide the basin under your bed until later!
- Label each basin so you don't forget what's inside.
[Edit]Adhesive Hooks - Adhesive hooks turn any vertical surface into storage space. Some people like to organize their bathroom hairstyling tools on adhesive hooks.[5] Test out this handy storage trick with your own tools! Find a section of open space in your home—this might be an empty wall, the inside of a cabinet or something else altogether. Follow the packaging instructions and arrange multiple hooks in rows or columns along your wall—this way, you'll make the most of your space. Then, hang a lightweight tool on the hook, like a wrench or a pair of scissors.
- Look for tools that have an opening drilled along the bottom—these will be easiest to hang up.
- Double-check the weight limits on the hook before hanging anything up. Some hooks can hold up to of weight, while others can't hold quite as much.
[Edit]Plastic Tub - See-through storage makes it easy to find what you're looking for. Sort your tools into different groupings—you might put hammers and screwdrivers together, or group the tools that you use most frequently. Transfer each pile into a differently labeled plastic bin. Then, slide and stack the bins into a closet for easy storage![6]
- If you have a lot of large tools, invest in larger plastic tubs.
[Edit]Luggage - Repurpose old bags into handy storage. Have any empty duffels or totes lying around? Place your heavier tools in these bags for quick, easy storage. Then, tuck the luggage into a closet for easy access.[7]
- For example, you might fit a circular saw into an old bowling ball duffel bag.
[Edit]Mason Jars - Mason jars fit snugly in a drawer when turned on their side. Find a drawer that you don't use very much. Place the bottom end of several mason jars along the back edge of this drawer. Then, arrange the jars so they're flush against one another. At this point, sort and organize your tools into each jar.[8]
- You don't need to glue the jars in place—just open the drawer gently when you grab your tools.
- This hack is officially recommended for kitchen tools but can work well for any type of thin, narrow tool, like a ruler or screwdriver.
[Edit]Door Rack - Over-the-door racks transform the back of your door into usable storage space. Hang up the rack over the top of any door in your apartment. If needed, secure the rack to your door with extra hardware, so it doesn't shift or fall. Hang up your tools on the hooks and/shelves of the rack, which gives you easy access whenever you need them.[9]
- You can find over-the-door racks online, or at most home goods stores.
[Edit]Belt Rack - Belt racks make it easy to organize small tools, like wrenches. Screw a belt rack onto a wall in your apartment. Then, hang up individual tools from each hook on your belt rack.[10]
- This is a great way to organize wrenches from largest to smallest.
[Edit]Corner Tool Rack - Corner tool racks offer versatile storage throughout your home. These racks are angled and designed to fit along the edge of 2 walls without taking up too much space. Look around your home for any open corner space where this type of rack might fit. Place your tools in this storage rack, and slide it into the open corner for quick, easy access.[11]
- This is a great way to store longer tools, like shovels, brooms, and hoes.
[Edit]Closet or Cupboard - Closets and cupboards help keep your tools out of sight. Take a look at what's in your closet right now—can you rearrange or move your belongings to make some extra space?[12] Similarly, see if you can dedicate a shelf or cupboard of kitchen space to some of your tools.
- For instance, you might store a pipe cutter, chisel, and hand drill in your kitchen cupboard, and keep your larger tools, like a jigsaw, drill, or sander, in your closet.
[Edit]DIY Organizer - Create a mini organizer with foam balls and a dowel. Drill a hole down the center of multiple foam balls with a drill bit. Then, mount a dowel onto a wooden bracket so it stays put. Slide and glue the pre-drilled foam balls onto the dowel—this creates an organizer "tree" of sorts for your tools. Once the glue dries and cures, stick small tools, like drill bits, screwdrivers, and Allen wrenches directly into the foam. Place this organizer on any open surface in your home, where you can easily grab what you need.[13]
- A construction adhesive works best with this project. Double-check the drying and curing time before sticking any objects in the foam balls.
- If you're willing to splurge a little bit, a tool bucket organizer is a compact, handy way to store lots of small tools in one place.[14]
[Edit]References |
| How to Choose Plants for a Garden Posted: 09 Mar 2021 08:00 AM PST Starting a garden can be an overwhelming project, especially if you're unfamiliar with the nearly endless variety of plants out there. Before you drop a single seed, take a look at the unique conditions of your planned garden space and do some research into the kind of plants that will have the best chance of survival there. You can then pick out a few specific species that suit your tastes and tailor your cultivation methods to make sure they grow big, beautiful, and abundant. [Edit]Picking Plants Suited to Your Climate - Plant hardy perennials in cold conditions. Gardeners in cool, temperate regions will have the best luck with resilient flowers and shrubs like sorrels, daylilies and ostrich fern. These plants are better equipped to survive low or drastically fluctuating temperatures than their warm-weather counterparts.[1]
- Plants that favor frigid conditions tend to be woody and have little colorful foliage.
- You can find more information on the different climate zones and where you fall within them online.[2]
- Grow heat-tolerant plants in tropical and subtropical climates. If you live someplace where it's warm and humid year round, stick to species that do well in steamier environments. Some good examples are amaranths, various species of ferns, and the ever-popular orchid, which can't seem to get enough heat and moisture.[3]
- The thick, waxy leaves of spider plants and aloe make them well-adapted to warmer zones. When chosen for container gardening, you can easily shuffle them around to where the air is muggiest.
- Bamboo also has no problem finding footing in hot spots and can be strategically planted to serve as an attractive and exotic privacy hedge. Just be careful to make sure it doesn't spread out of control.[4]
- Take the precipitation levels in your area into account. The amount of rainfall your plants take in can play a big part in how well they ultimately do. Gardens that see regular showers usually won't be in need of much extra watering. On the other hand, your plants may benefit from 2-3 good drinks a day if they spend a lot of time drying out under the hot sun.[5]
- All it takes is one good storm to drown out species like cotyledon and verbena, which don't like to get wet.[6]
- Run a quick search for the annual rainfall averages in your neck of the woods to get an idea of how frequently you'll need to water your plants.
- Plan for frost. Plug your postal code into an online frost date calculator to find out when the first and last frosts of the season are due where you live. With few exceptions, young plants respond poorly to plunging temperatures. Knowing when they're coming will allow you to plant new additions accordingly and take measures to protect the selections that are already below ground.[7]
- The National Centers for Environmental Information makes many excellent resources available to curious regional gardeners.[8]
[Edit]Choosing Plants Based on Garden Conditions - Work with the space you have available. The overall size of your garden will be one of the biggest limiting factors in what you're able to grow there. For instance, you may only need a few square feet to put in a small annual flower bed. Raising a large garden filled with fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, will require much more ground space.
- Consider converting one corner of your backyard into a growing site. That way, everything will be together in one place, which will make watering and pruning less of a chore.
- Don't let a lack of square footage discourage you. It's possible to keep a thriving garden almost anywhere, as long as you're willing to get creative.[9]
- Plant large and fast-growing specimens if you have lots of space. Prolific growers like creeping phlox and Roman chamomile can quickly overtake modest residential gardens, leaving no room for anything else. In roomier landscapes, however, they'll fill in empty areas quite nicely and be free to spread out to their full size.[10]
- Mid-sized trees, such as redbuds, magnolias, and Japanese maples, can be just the right size for establishing boundaries or providing natural privacy.
- Try container gardening if ground space is limited. Most small flowering plants will be right at home in a pot, box, or planter. Picking up a few containers of the appropriate size can spare you the headache of reorganizing your beds in an effort to make everything fit. You can even move your containers indoors if the weather gets inhospitable.[11]
- Make sure your containers are large enough to house the root structure of the species you're planting and have holes in the bottom for efficient drainage.
- Have fun coming up with clever container ideas. You might use an old washtub to plant a patch of petunias, or you could start a miniature herb garden in a wheelbarrow full of potting soil.[12]
- Select plants that are suited to the soil at your growing site. Is your soil overly dry and crumbly, or does it stay saturated from consistent rainfall? The answer will have an impact on which plants will be able to make it there. Keep in mind that it is possible to modify the soil conditions in your garden to a degree through the use of amendments and drainage materials.[13]
- Golden aster, sweet fern, and most succulents are examples of plants that thrive in dry soil.[14]
- Siberian iris, forget-me-nots, and hydrangea are thirstier than most plants, and as a result are better equipped to handle marshy soil types.[15]
- Observe the light levels in your garden. Make a note of roughly how many hours of direct sunlight your garden receives each day. 8 or more hours is considered full sun, while partial sun is about 4 or 5. Since plants can have such radically different light requirements, they might not all be equally suitable for your space.
- The light requirements for a given plant can typically be found on the pot or package.
- Position light-loving plants in areas with the most sun exposure. Hearty selections such as lavender, sedum, and echinacea will happily soak up all the rays they can get. The same goes for tomatoes, lemons, and other fruits and veggies that naturally spring up where there's ample light and heat.[16]
- Save the center of your garden for species that require higher doses of sunlight.
- Move your container plants around as needed throughout the day to increase the amount of time they spend in the sun.
- Keep sensitive plants in full or partial shade. Hostas, begonias, and other darkness dwellers will do best when situated in dim recesses, along the base of your home or fence, or beneath other large shade plants. There, they'll be able to take in enough light to grow, but not enough to rob them of precious moisture.[17]
- If your garden is partially shaded by trees or other structures, it could be the perfect place to plant impatiens or columbines, which are most comfortable with light that's somewhere in-between.
- Keep the soil around exposed shade plants damp to cool them off and prevent them from drying out.[18]
[Edit]Mixing Annuals, Perennials, and Edibles - Plant a selection of vibrant annual flowers. Annuals like geraniums, dahlias, petunias, and zinnias are beloved for their delicate shapes and stunning coloration. Most annuals have the same basic needs and are relatively low-maintenance, which can make it easier to grow an assortment of different species together in the same space.[19]
- Begonias, snapdragon, and marigold can all get by with minimal tending, making them a great choice for first-time growers and those who have limited time to spend in the garden.[20]
- Mix-and-match your annuals to lay down stretches of eye-catching color. Many of the more festive varieties come in multiple shades, including reds, pinks, yellows, purples, and blues, so your options are nearly endless.
- Put in perennial flowers and shrubs for continual beauty. Unlike annuals, which only last a single growing season, perennials are tough enough to return year after year, so long as they're properly cared for. They owe their longevity to more flexible water and nutrient requirements.[21]
- Once plants like heuchera, grandiflorum, and Peruvian lily are in the ground, they're not very demanding.[22]
- For many people, the fun of gardening lies in combining annual and perennial plants to create dazzling displays of shape, color, and texture.
- Draw attention with ornamental plants. As their name suggests, ornamental species are grown primarily for decorative purposes. They're most often characterized by features like colorful blooms, unusual textures, and lush, cascading foliage, and may also bear fruit or have a pleasant aroma. One or two out-of-the-ordinary offerings could spice up an otherwise plain garden in a big way.[23]
- Bring in a weeping willow or cluster of chrysanthemums to add a touch of natural elegance to your garden.
- Grasses and groundcover plants are useful for filling in negative space and offsetting more common flowers and shrubs.[24]
- Raise fresh fruits and vegetables. Rather than simply being nice to look at, edible crops provide healthy, nutritious food. A few plants can produce enough to keep you fed and cut down on the cost of going to grocery store. [25]
- Tomatoes, beans, melons, squash, peppers, and berries are among the most popular crops for home gardening.[26]
- If you're interested in growing both flowering plants and crops, you can reserve leftover plots for single batches of fruits or veggies after putting in your main display plants.
[Edit]Experimenting with Various Growing Options - Grow your plants from seeds. Head down to your local gardening center, greenhouse, or plant nursery and browse their selection of ready-to-sow seed packets. You can often find starter kits for a wide range of species, including both flowering plants and edible crops. Be sure to follow the instructions provided on the package closely to ensure that your plants are successful.[27]
- Sunflowers, poppies, and daisies are common seed starters, along with vegetables like carrots, cucumber, radish, and cabbage.[28]
- Raising your plants from seed can be a very rewarding experience, and is often a sign of a skilled gardener.
- Transplant young container plants for easy cultivation. Some plants are easier to care for after they've already been started. After deciding what kind of seedling or sapling you want to grow, making room for it in your garden is as easy as digging a hole, dropping the root structure inside, and making sure its water and nutrient needs are met.[29]
- Temperamental species like roses, boronia, and most small trees fall under this category.
- Hardening off potted plants can help them gradually acclimate to their new growing conditions. You can accomplish this by leaving them outside for an additional hour every day for 1-2 weeks, making your waterings more frequent in the meantime.[30]
- Keep your favorite plants going by taking cuttings. Clip the uppermost stems from flowers like roses, hydrangeas, and geraniums and place them in fresh, well-drained soil. Once they take root, dig them up and replant them alongside their parent plants. With careful attention, they'll begin to flourish on their own.[31]
- Keep newly-planted cuttings covered with clear plastic bags to increase the humidity around them and help them grow faster.[32]
- Propagating plants from cuttings is a cost-effective way to multiply their numbers or give them a second chance without having to start over from scratch.
- Use helpful gardening structures to maximize your space. If you lack the room needed to cultivate adjoining plots, one practical solution is to construct raised beds that consolidate more growing room into less square footage. You may also be able to find a place for box planters and other elevated containers on walls, window ledges, or fence posts.[33]
- Stakes and trellises will allow vertical growers like tomatoes, beans, and creeping vine to move upwards rather than outwards.
- A lattice draped with wisteria or honeysuckle can pull double duty as both a space-saving measure and a means of presentation.[34]
- Do your homework to find out which types of plants are best suited for the unique climate and soil conditions in your area.
- Take good care of your soil. You'll be able to grow more plants in a small, healthy patch of dirt than you could in a large one with none of the right properties.
- Keep a notebook to record which plants are doing well and which ones aren't. That way, you'll have the option of trading out the failures for a more agreeable species come the next growing season.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Polish Silver Rings Posted: 09 Mar 2021 12:00 AM PST Silver tarnishes as it's exposed to air and light. Fortunately, restoring your silver to its original gleam can be done fairly easily. Whether you use a combination of baking soda and vinegar, salt and lemon juice, beer, aluminum foil and baking soda, silver polish, or toothpaste to get the job done, you'll have your silver looking brand new in no time! Plus, each method is effective for rings with diamonds, gems, or other precious stones in them. [Edit]Cleaning Rings with Baking Soda and Vinegar - Mix of vinegar and 2 tbsp (28.3 g) of baking soda. Pour the 2 ingredients in a small plastic container. Then, stir the mixture 4-5 times with a spoon. You will start to see a bubbling reaction.[1]
- You can use a metal or glass container if you'd like.
- Submerge your rings in the solution for 2-3 hours. Ensure the rings are completely submerged the entire time. Otherwise, you'll have an uneven clean. Check the rings every 30 minutes to see that they're completely soaked in the solution. Take them out of the mixture after 2 hours to keep tabs on their progress.[2]
- If the rings don't look clean after 2 hours, stick them back in the solution and wait 1 more hour.
- Scrub the rings with a toothbrush. Remove the rings from the baking soda and vinegar solution after a few hours. Use a toothbrush to scrub and polish the rings, paying special attention to particularly tarnished areas.[3]
- Rinse the rings under cold water to remove residue. Turn on your faucet and let the water get cold. Then, place the ring under the water stream and rinse it for 15-20 seconds to remove the vinegar and baking soda residue.[4]
- Dry the rings with a soft, clean cloth. Use a new, lint-free piece of cloth to remove any remaining residue and buff the rings. Make sure to flip the cloth over and use both sides to clean the rings. Otherwise, some of the residue could rub back onto the rings and you'll have to start over.[5]
- Do not use a paper towel to clean the rings, as this could scratch the silver.
[Edit]Soaking Your Rings in Beer - Pour a fresh beer into a glass or bowl. Use a regular, unopened beer to clean light tarnish off of your rings. Open the beer and transfer it into a glass or bowl.[6]
- You only need enough beer to cover your rings, so you may not need to use the entire can or bottle.
- Soak your rings for 10-15 minutes. Place your rings into the glass or bowl, then set a timer for 10-15 minutes. Allow your rings to soak so that the beer has time to remove the tarnish.[7]
- Leaving your rings in the beer for longer than 15 minutes won't harm them, but it's not necessary.
- Rinse your rings with warm water. Hold the rings under a stream of running water to rinse off the beer. Make sure you rinse the rings thoroughly to remove all of the beer.[8]
- Be careful not to drop the rings. It may be a good idea to close the drain in the sink just in case.
- Dry your rings using a soft cloth. First, soak up any excess water. Then, use the cloth to lightly buff the rings to remove any remaining tarnish. Your rings should look shiny and clean![9]
[Edit]Using Lemon Juice and Salt - Add of warm water to a bowl. Use a measuring cup to pour the correct amount of water into a bowl. Use warm water so that the salt will more easily dissolve.[10]
- Don't use hot water because you don't want to accidentally burn yourself.
- Stir 1 tbsp (17 g) of salt and of lemon juice into the water. Measure out the correct amount of salt and lemon juice. Add them to your warm water, then stir the ingredients together with a spoon until the salt dissolves.[11]
- It should only take a couple of minutes to mix the ingredients.
- Add .5 cups (34 grams) of dry milk to the mixture. Measure out the dry milk, then slowly pour it into the bowl. Stir the mixture with a spoon until the dry milk completely dissolves in the water. Once the water is an opaque, milky white, your solution is ready to use.[12]
- You can try doing this method without the milk. If you don't want to use dry milk, triple the amount of salt and lemon juice you use. Add 3 tbsp (51 g) of salt and of lemon juice.
- Place your rings in the solution and soak for 6-8 hours. Slowly drop your rings into your homemade cleaning solution. Then, leave them to sit for at least 6-8 hours. This gives the solution time to work.[13]
- You can leave them to soak overnight for an easy option. Otherwise, set a timer so you can check on them in 6-8 hours.
- Remove your rings and rinse them in warm water. Use a fork or slotted spoon to retrieve your rings from the cleaning solution. Then, hold your rings under warm running water. Rinse your rings until all of the cleaning solution is removed.[14]
- Be careful that you don't accidentally drop your rings in the sink. It's best to close the drain just in case.
- Dry your rings with a soft cloth. Pat your rings dry to remove any excess moisture. Then, use your cloth to buff the rings, which should remove any remaining tarnish. Your rings should look shiny and tarnish-free![15]
[Edit]Polishing Rings with Aluminum Foil - Place aluminum foil along the bottom and sides of a bowl. You can use a plastic, glass, or metal bowl or dish for this process. Rip off a sheet of aluminum foil and use it to cover the entire inside of the bowl.[16]
- To ensure the aluminum foil fits securely, wrap it around the edges of the bowl and press down firmly to lock it in place.
- Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Use enough water to fill the dish that's covered in aluminum foil. Place the pot on the stove and turn the burner to high. Keep the pot on the stove until the water comes to a roaring boil.[17]
- The aluminum foil dish doesn't need to be that big to fit a couple of rings, so you won't need a lot of water. As a result, it should come to a boil within a few minutes.
- Add 1 tbsp (14.3 g) of baking soda per of water. If you're working with an container, you'll only need of water and therefore only of baking soda. Pour the baking soda into the water and stir the mixture for about 5 minutes.[18]
- The solution will froth and bubble a little bit.
- Put the rings in the dish so that they're touching the aluminum foil. Set the rings at the bottom of the dish. Depending on how many rings you're trying to clean, some of the rings might touch up against the side of the dish. This is why it's important to have the sides of the dish covered in aluminum foil as well. Let the rings sit on top of the aluminum foil for 5 minutes.[19]
- In order for the chemical reaction to occur, the rings need to be touching the aluminum foil at all times.
- Pour the solution into the dish to soak the rings. Remove the mixture from the stove and slowly pour it into the dish. Wear oven mitts and pour carefully. Let the rings sit in the solution for 10 minutes.[20]
- Depending on the level of tarnish, the job might be done in 2 minutes. Check your rings every few minutes to see how much of the tarnish has worn off. Once the rings look shiny and polished, you can remove them from the solution with tongs.
- Allow the rings to dry on a towel for 15 minutes. Take the rings out of the solution and put them on a kitchen towel. You can finish drying the rings off by wiping them with a clean, white cloth.[21]
- This process works for anything that's made of silver.
[Edit]Using Silver Polish to Clean Your Rings - Put a small amount of polish on a clean cloth. You get can silver polish at your local hardware store or buy a bottle online. Squeeze out a dab of polish and rub it into the cloth. You can dampen the cloth if you'd like.[22]
- You can get a bottle of silver polish for under $10.
- Rub the polish in an up-and-down motion. Don't rub the polish in a circular motion. If you do this, you'll highlight the scratches in the rings. Place your fingers in the cloth and gently rub the polish over each part of your rings. The polish will eliminate the tarnish and make your silver rings shine.[23]
- Rinse the rings and dry them with a cloth. Run the faucet for 2 minutes so that the water becomes warm. Once the water heats up, place the rings underneath the faucet to remove any excess polish. Then, buff the rings with a new, dry cloth to get the shine you're looking for.[24]
- Clean the rings with an unused cloth to avoid putting the tarnish or polish back on the rings.
[Edit]Utilizing Non-Gel Toothpaste to Clean Your Rings - Apply toothpaste to your silver rings. Put a dollop of toothpaste directly on the silver. Apply the same amount of toothpaste you would use to brush your teeth. It doesn't matter where on the ring you put the toothpaste because you'll be spreading it evenly with your toothbrush.[25]
- Wet a toothbrush lightly and brush the rings, then wipe off the toothpaste. Add a few drops of water to your toothbrush and vigorously scrub the toothpaste into the rings. Get in all the tough to reach spots, such as any engravings. The toothpaste will eliminate the tarnish and make your silver look good as new.[26]
- Use a new, clean, soft-bristled toothbrush for this job.
- Wipe off any excess toothpaste with a dry cloth.
- Rinse the remaining toothpaste off with cold water and dry your rings. Turn on your faucet and place each ring under the running water for about 30 seconds. Be sure to remove all the toothpaste and tarnish residue[27]
- Pat the rings dry with a cloth when you're done.
- You can prevent tarnishing by keeping your silver rings in an anti-tarnish bag. Put a piece of chalk in the bag to soak up any moisture that gets inside.[28]
- Wearing your rings often will also help prevent tarnishing because the friction will rub off the tarnish.[29]
[Edit]References |
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