| How to Clean Your Lightning Port Posted: 17 Apr 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you're experiencing intermittent issues while charging your iPhone or iPad, your Lightning port could be clogged with foreign debris. This wikiHow teaches you how to safely remove dust, lint, and other matter from your iPhone or iPad's charging port using common household items. - Power down your iPhone or iPad. To do this, press and hold the power button that's on either the top or side edge, and then drag the on-screen slider to the Off position.
- Shine a flashlight into the Lightning port. You'll usually be able to spot a blockage with the right lighting.
- Closely inspect the walls inside of the port. If there's a layer of gunky buildup around the edges, it could prevent the charging cable from making proper contact with the inside pins.
- Spray the port with quick bursts of compressed air. A can of compressed air is often enough to free looser particles (such as dust, pet fur, or lint) from the port. Use short, light bursts rather than one lengthy spray.
- Use your flashlight to re-inspect the port. If you no longer see debris, give the port 2 to 3 minutes to dry before attempting to charge your iPhone or iPad.
- Scrape the walls of the port with a toothpick. If the port is clogged with dust or lint clumps, a quick gentle swipe or two should free the trapped particles. If there's a layer of gunk or grime caked along the walls, gently scrape around the edges to dislodge it.
- The Lightning port is filled with many small electronic pins—too rough of a scrape could cause irreparable damage. Try wrapping the end of the toothpick with a small amount of cotton for extra padding.[1]
- If you've identified a build-up on the inner walls, you may need firmer tool than a toothpick. Try a plastic dental flosser.
- Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol for tougher jobs. If the substance in the port feels sticky and/or is hard to remove with a dry tool, dip a cotton swab in a small amount of rubbing alcohol, and then gently swab around the inner edges.[2] Circle the swab around the edges as many times as it takes to remove all residue.
- Allow the port to dry for 2 to 3 minutes before turning your iPhone or iPad back on.
- Attempt to charge the iPhone or iPad. If you were experiencing a charging issue related to a dirty port, you should be in good shape now. To prevent build-up from accumulating in your Lightning port in the future, avoid carrying your phone or tablet loose in a pocket or purse.
- If the phone or tablet isn't charging (or the charging process stops and starts randomly), try a different Lightning cable and/or power source.
- If cleaning the port and swapping cables doesn't solve the issue, contact Apple for repair. Visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232 to find Apple support phone number for your region.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Start a Concierge Business Posted: 17 Apr 2021 09:00 AM PDT Starting a concierge business is a great idea! People are busier than ever these days, and you can provide a much-needed service by helping them take care of things like errands and other tasks. Even better, you can run this business out of your home and you don't need anyone other than yourself. You can always grow your team after you find your niche and become successful. [Edit]Business Organization - Select which services you will offer. A personal concierge can offer a wide variety of services for their clients. Write down exactly what sort of concierge you want to be and what you will do. For example, maybe you are going to be a personal concierge that assists with errands and household tasks. You might include services like:[1]
- Grocery shopping
- Picking up/dropping off dry cleaning
- Purchasing and sending gifts
- Walking dogs
- Caring for plants
- Focus on a niche where you can excel. You might start by offering a wide array of services and discover that you are better at some than others. You might also find that you really love doing some things and really dislike some others. It's definitely okay to adjust your services as you grow your business. Find a niche where you can really do well and focus on expanding that area of your business.[2]
- For example, maybe you discover that you're getting a lot of great feedback about your gift buying services. Start developing that part of your business by adding more customizable options and doing more marketing in that area.
- Give your clients a high standard of service so they refer you to others. You want each client to feel like they are your most important. Try adding an extra touch, like leaving a personal note when you drop off their groceries or spending an extra few minutes playing with their dog. When your clients give you positive feedback, ask if they would mind leaving a positive review on social media or giving your name to a friend.[3]
- You can use these positive reviews in marketing and advertising your business.
- Get basic office equipment and reliable internet to run your business. Make sure that you have a cell phone that gets good reception so that your clients can easily reach you. You'll also need a laptop with a stable internet connection so that you can work on your website and keep your accounts up to date. You don't need much in the way of office furniture, especially if it's just you starting your own business. If you have other employees, you might consider renting office space.[4]
- You can print your promotional materials at a place like a FedEx or UPS store that offers professional printing so that you don't have to invest in your own equipment.
- Expect to work non-traditional hours. A good concierge should be available when clients need them. That means that you shouldn't plan to work a traditional 9-5 job. Depending on what types of services you offer, you might find yourself working early mornings, evenings, weekends, and even holidays.[5]
- It's also important to understand that most of your days will probably be different from each other. For example, you might have 7 clients on Mondays, but only 1 on Tuesdays. Use your downtime to work on things like billing and marketing.
[Edit]Finances and Insurance - Draft a basic business plan to help define your business. You can develop a thorough plan at some point, but to get started, write a short plan that is about 10 pages. This will help you get a concrete idea of what your business will look like. You'll be able to show it to others as you work to get the permits and insurance that you'll need to get going. Make sure your business plan includes:[6]
- Your business concept
- Market analysis
- Financial analysis
- Consult an expert about legal requirements for setting up a business. When you start a business, you need to determine if you should set it up as an LLC or an S corp. You also need to make sure that you get all of the local permits that are required. Sound confusing? It's not just you that feels that way, so don't worry. You're not expected to know these things, so take a deep breath and ask someone who is an expert. Ask an attorney, your accountant, or tax preparer for advice.[7]
- Share your business plan with them and ask them to help you navigate specific resources that you need for a concierge business. Your needs are probably different from someone opening up a cafe, for example.
- Check city hall's website for resources for starting a new business in your community. You'll find lots of resources there, too.
- Don't shrug off getting permits. If you don't have them, you could get in trouble for not properly setting up your business.
- Call your insurance agent to get coverage for your business. Even if you're the only employee and you're working from home, your personal insurance won't cover your business. Call or email your insurance carrier and ask about business coverage. They might need to see your business plan, so be prepared to send them what you have. Ask them to walk you through different coverage options and the rates for each.[8]
- Explain to the agent where your business will be located, how many employees will be working there, and answer any questions they have. This will help them understand your needs for your concierge business.
- Get quotes from a couple of other agents. It never hurts to shop around a little for great rates. You can usually get a quick quote by visiting a website or making a phone call.
- Open business banking and credit accounts. Even though it might seem easier, don't use your personal accounts to run your business. It will make things a lot easier at tax time and for general record-keeping if you keep things separate right from the start. Call or visit your bank and ask them to help you get set up with business accounts.[9]
- For a business credit card, ask for one with a low APR and perks like cashback.
- Charge hourly rates for customers who use your services occasionally. As a concierge, you may have customers who contact you a few times a week or maybe a couple of times a year. For these types of clients, it's probably a good idea to set up an hourly rate schedule. Determine your rates in advance and include them on your website. It's okay to have different rates for different services. When your figure out your rates, take into account the difficulty of the task, whether you need transportation or equipment, and the going rate in your area.[10]
- For example, you might charge $25 an hour for light housekeeping, but only $20 an hour for basic house sitting services that include bringing in mail and watering plants.
- Typically, concierge services range from $25 per hour to $125 depending on the service and the market.
- Offer monthly rates for regular clients. You may attract clients that want to take advantage of many of your services on a regular basis. In this case, you will both probably find it easier if they pay a flat monthly fee rather than billing them by the hour. You can determine a maximum number of hours that you will work and make that part of the agreement. Make it clear on your website what a monthly rate includes.[11]
- For example, you could advertise a "Premium Package" that includes weekly errands, light housekeeping, and other tasks for $1500.
- Adjust your pricing as necessary. Once you've started taking clients you might realize that you have set your prices too low and you're not making enough money. Or you might see the opposite and find out you've set prices too high and you're having a hard time attracting clients. Don't be afraid to adjust your prices as necessary. Starting a business is a learning curve.[12]
[Edit]Marketing and Advertising - Come up with a memorable name for your business. The name is going to be what people use to find your business, so try to come up with one that is catchy and descriptive. It should let people know what your business does and also be something that they will easily be able to recall.[13]
- Something like Paul's Personal Concierge Service lets customers know that they will receive personal attention and the alliteration might help them remember it.
- Run a quick Google search to make sure there is not already a business with the name you want to use.
- Build a basic website that is easy for customers to use. This might sound really tough, but don't worry. There are lots of tools available to help you if you've never set up a website before. You can use an online platform like Weebly or Wix that will help you build a website for free.[14]
- You can also hire a professional to build and maintain your website for you if this is something you really don't want to tackle.
- Use social media to attract customers. Social media is one of the best ways to advertise your new business because you can easily reach a wide audience and it's free. Set up accounts for your business on popular sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Make sure to include important information like how to contact you and what services you provide in your bio.[15]
- Keep your posts professional and positive. Try an Instagram post that is a photo of a dog with the caption, "Does your best friend need some extra company while you work? Call Paul's Personal Concierge Service! Available for pet care and all of your other personal assistant needs!"
- Ask everyone you know to spread the word about your new business. Word of mouth is another effective and free way to get new customers. Encourage family and friends to tell people about your new business. Let them know the important details, like the name, contact info, and services you provide.[16]
- Say something like, "Hey, it seems like the people you work with might be interested in a personal concierge. Would you mind hanging up one of my flyers in your break room?"
- Ask other small business owners in your area for tips about getting started.
- Make sure you have reliable transportation for running errands.
[Edit]References |
| How to Repair a Damaged Hollow Core Door Posted: 17 Apr 2021 01:00 AM PDT Hollow core doors are much cheaper and more common than doors made of solid wood, but they are also a lot more fragile and prone to damage. While holes in your doors or unsightly scratches might seem difficult to repair, you can get them fixed up in no more than a day or two. Simply patch up holes or fill in the scratches before refinishing the surface and your door will look good as new in no time! [Edit]Patching a Hole or Crack - Cut away any loose or broken wood from around the hole or crack. Depending on how the door was damaged, there may be some loose splinters or fragments around the edges of the hole or crack. Rather than trying to repair these, use a utility knife to cut away any damaged wood until you're left with a clean hole free from rough edges.[1]
- Always cut away from yourself when working with a utility knife, especially when cutting through something sturdy like wood.
- You may need to make the hole or crack bigger before you can begin repairing it. It's much easier to repair a larger hole free from damaged wood than it is to repair a smaller one that's fragmented or broken.
- Pack the hole with paper towels. While the paper towels won't make the door stronger or repair it, they are an easy and affordable way to hold the insulation foam in place while it dries. Bunch up a few paper towels and stuff them around the bottom and sides of the hole or crack you want to repair.[2]
- Paper towels work as they are light enough to hold their own weight inside the door. If you don't have paper towels, use some tissue paper or something similarly light.
- Fill the hole with expanding foam insulation. Expanding insulation foam comes in a spray can with a long nozzle on the top. Point the nozzle into the hole or crack in your door and begin spraying. The foam will expand to fill the space inside the door, with any excess expanding outside the hole through the face of the door.[3]
- Expanding insulation foam should be available online or from your local hardware store. For a smaller space, a low-expansion type may be easier to handle.
- Leave the insulation foam to dry overnight. Once the insulation foam has filled in the hole or crack, it needs to dry all the way through before it can be cut or sanded down. Leave the foam to sit for 4 to 5 hours or ideally overnight so that it can dry completely.[4]
- Check the instructions on your own brand of insulation foam for more guidance on how long it will take to dry.
- Trim away the excess foam with a utility knife. Position a utility knife slightly above any protruding insulation foam so that it is flush with the face of the door. Run the knife down the face of the door to cut away any excess foam, trimming it until the foam sits no more than below the face of the door.[5]
- Apply a layer of auto-body filler for a strong repair. Mix together 2 parts of an auto-body filler and 1 part of a hardener catalyst and spread the mixture over the hole in your door. Use the edge of a putty knife to smear and press the mixture over the hole, filling in any gaps and making it roughly flush with the door.[6]
- Auto-body filler is a compound that will give you a very strong door, but it can be quite difficult to work with. It will normally come packaged with a hardener catalyst designed specifically to activate it. This product is available online or at your local hardware or auto store.
- Cover the hole with spackle for a quicker fix.[7] If you don't have auto-body filler, you can use spackle instead. Use a putty knife to scoop out some spackle and spread it over the hole in your door. Work in long, smooth strokes to smear the spackle over the door as smoothly and evenly as possible.[8]
- Spackle is readily available, affordable, and very easy to work with.
- Spackle is available online or from your local hardware store.
- Wait 1 hour for the surface to dry. Whether you repaired the door with spackle or an auto-body filler compound, it will take around 1 hour for your repair compound to dry completely. Leave the door to dry until it is hard to the touch.[9]
- Check the instructions on your spackle or auto-body filler compound for more information on how long it will take to dry.
- Sand down the surface of the door.[10] Use a sheet of coarse grit sandpaper, around 100- to 120-grit, to begin sanding down your repair compound. Sand off the spackle or auto-body filter until it is level with the surface of the door and it looks flat.[11]
- Sanding down the door will help you smooth out the repair job to make it less visible. However, it will rough up the surface around the hole or crack. To fix this and make the door look completely undamaged, paint or stain the door.[12]
[Edit]Repairing a Scratched Door - Use very fine grit sandpaper to remove loose splinters and paint. Use 320-grit sandpaper to sand down any areas where the paint is peeling and/or the wood is splintering. Clean up the scratched area so that you can patch it rather than piecing it back together.[13]
- If the wood is significantly splintered, wear heavy gloves while sanding to avoid injuring yourself.
- Apply a generous coat of wood filler to the scratched area. Squeeze or spread a small dollop of wood filler over each scratch on your door. Use your finger or a putty knife to spread the filler around and press it into the scratches. Try to achieve a smooth finish that is even and level with the rest of the door.[14]
- Wood filler is available online or from your local hardware store. It will either come premixed in a tube or in 2 separate parts that need to be combined before using it. Follow the instructions on your wood filler for the best results.
- Leave the filler to dry for 15 to 20 minutes. The filler needs to set up and fully adhere to the wood in order for it to repair the door. Once you have pressed filler into all of the scratches, leave it for 15 to 20 minutes to dry fully, until it is completely solid to the touch.[15]
- Check the instructions on your wood filler for more information on expected drying times.
- Sand down the wood filler with 320-grit sandpaper. Once the filler has dried, use very fine grit sandpaper to sand down previously scratched area. Work in smooth, deliberate strokes to remove any excess wood filler and flatten the surface of the door.[16]
- Painting over the sanded area will make any irregular bumps more obvious. Run your hand over the area you patched with wood filler to catch any areas that need more sanding and smoothing.
- Clean the area with a damp paper towel or sponge. Sanding the wood and paint around the scratched area can produce a significant amount of dust and debris that can ruin the look of the repaired door. Dampen a clean cloth or a paper towel and lightly wipe down the area to clean up any dust left behind.
[Edit]Refinishing a Hollow Core Door - Sand down the area you repaired and wipe away the dust. To make sure the paint or wood stain sticks evenly to the area you are painting or staining, use 220-grit sandpaper to sand down the repaired area. Use a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth to wipe away any dust or debris.[17]
- Dust will prevent the paint from sticking to the door properly, leaving an uneven surface. Clean away any dust before refinishing the door.
- Remove any hardware or hinges from the door. It's best to paint or stain the entire door to achieve an even finish, rather than only painting or staining the area you repaired. Use a screwdriver to remove the hardware from the door. You might need to remove the doorknob, hinges, or a strike plate near the base of the door.[18]
- If you want to remove the door from its hinges entirely, press a nail against the base of each hinge pin and use a hammer to pop out the pins. This will let you refinish the door elsewhere and make the job easier.
- Check the screws in each fitting or fixture to choose the right screwdriver to use. You should always remove and reattach fixtures to a hollow core door with a screwdriver, as an electric drill can easily damage the door.
- Alternatively, you could use painter's tape to tape off areas you don't want to paint over.
- Find paint or wood stain that matches the color of your door. Choosing the right color of paint or wood stain will make sure that the repaired door matches the rest of the doors in your home. Ask an employee at your local hardware store for some paint or wood stain samples or ask for help in choosing the right paint to match the color of your door.[19]
- While taking a picture of your door to help match the color might seem like a good idea, it won't always lead to a direct match. The lighting in your home, the type of camera used, and the way the picture is printed or displayed will all change the color.
- If you can, bring in a sample of the door to help match it — such as a piece of the door you cut away when first repairing it.
- Apply an even coat of paint or wood stain to the entire door. Use a broad, all-purpose paintbrush or a paint roller to apply a single coat of paint or wood stain to the door. Paint or stain any grooves or panels first, then paint long, even strokes over the rest of the door to avoid leaving visible lines.[20]
- If you're worried about making a mess, lay down a drop cloth or some old newspaper underneath the door before you begin painting.
- Leave the door to dry for 3 to 4 hours. Once you've applied the first coat, allow the door to dry for 3 to 4 hours. Even slight contact with the door can damage the finished look, so make sure everyone who might come in contact with it knows that it is still wet.[21]
- Check the instructions on your chosen paint or stain for more information on the expected time it takes for it to dry.
- Apply a second coat of paint or wood stain and let it dry. Each coat that you apply to the door will darken the color slightly and improve the look overall. Once the first coat has dried, apply a second coat to help obscure any imperfections visible from the first coat. Leave it to dry fully until the door is no longer damp or tacky to the touch.[22]
- Many interior paints and stains will take several days to cure completely. Be careful with your repaired door for 1 week after painting it to avoid damaging your coat of paint.
- You can apply as many coats of paint or stain as you want, but 2 or 3 coats will normally be plenty to make your door look fantastic.
- If the hole in your door is fairly large, it may be more effective to just replace the entire door.[23]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Patching a Hole or Crack - Utility knife
- Paper towels
- Expanding insulation foam
- Auto-body filler or spackle
- Putty knife
- 120-grit sandpaper
- 320-grit sandpaper
[Edit]Repairing a Scratched Door - 320-grit sandpaper
- Wood filler
- Putty knife
- Damp cloth or paper towels
[Edit]Repainting a Hollow Core Door - 220-grit sandpaper
- Paint or wood stain
- Broad, all-purpose paintbrush or paint roller
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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