| How to Clean a Fridge Water Dispenser Posted: 26 Aug 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you enjoy fresh, cold water dispensed straight from your fridge, you probably don't think much about where it's coming from. However, the dispenser itself has the potential to get dirty, building up an abundance of yeast, mold, and bacteria over time. Fortunately, there's a super easy way to clean out the dispenser itself and the tray underneath it. Keep reading to learn how you can give your fridge a deep clean using products you probably already have on-hand. - Mix together water and dish soap in a glass. Pour about 2 drops of a grease-fighting dish soap into a bowl or a glass, then mix it with a splash of water. It might not seem like a lot, but your water dispenser is tiny, so you don't need a ton of soap.[1]
- If you don't want to use dish soap, you can also mix equal parts warm water and white vinegar for a natural cleaner.
- Dip a straw brush into the mixture. Straw brushes are small, metal brushes with a brush on the very end. Grab one of these and splash it into your water and soap mixture to really suds it up.[2]
- You can find straw brushes at most home goods stores.
- If you don't have a straw brush, use a clean pipe cleaner instead.
- Push the brush into the dispenser. Bring the straw brush over to your water dispenser and aim it at the dispensing hole. Gently push it into the dispenser, then work it up and down for about 10 to 15 seconds.[3]
- You might see some grime on the straw brush, which is a good sign! If you take your straw brush out and it's dirty, rinse it off and then use your soap mixture to give it a good scrubbing.
- Let the water run until it turns clear. Turn your water dispenser on and let the soap run out into a glass. Keep running it for about 1 minute, or until the water turns clear, to flush out all the soap.[4]
- If the outside of your water dispenser is dirty, wipe it down with a soapy paper towel.
- Clean your dispenser once a month. A monthly cleaning keeps your dispenser in tip top shape, and it stops grimy buildup before it happens. Try to get on a schedule to clean your dispenser every 30 days or so.[5]
- Mix together equal parts of water and white vinegar. White vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that's tough on germs. In a small bowl, mix together a 1:1 ratio of warm water and white vinegar.[6]
- For example, if you use of water, add of white vinegar.
- Wipe down the tray with a paper towel. Dip the paper towel in your water-vinegar mixture until it's damp. Use the mixture to wipe down the tray and the sides of your water dispenser to remove mineral buildup and residue.[7]
- Vinegar has a strong smell, but it will disappear as it dries.
- Soak the tray in water and vinegar if you need to. If wiping it down isn't quite cutting it, remove the tray and fill up a large bowl with equal parts water and white vinegar. Let the tray soak for about 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water. Dry the tray with a towel before putting it back into the dispenser to reduce the chance of mold or mildew.[8]
- If there's any stuck-on grime that really won't come off your tray, use a new toothbrush to scrub any hard-to-reach areas.[9]
[Edit]Water Line - Turn off your fridge and shut off the water supply. Unplug your fridge to turn off the power. Pull the fridge away from the wall and find the valve on the bottom of the fridge that controls the water supply. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water so it doesn't leak out as you clean.[10]
- The valve is usually near the bottom of the fridge on the right hand side.
- Pour a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water down the water line. Pop the back of the fridge off to expose the wiring inside. Disconnect the water line, or the white tube, from the valve, but leave it connected to the water dispenser. Carefully pour a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar down the water line.[11]
- Wait for 10 minutes, then pour clean water into the water lines. The vinegar needs time to break down the lime deposits in the water line. After about 10 minutes, flush the system with a few cups of clean water.[12]
- Vinegar also helps break down mold and mildew without using harsh chemicals.
- Reconnect the water line and turn the fridge on. Screw the water line back onto the main valve to reconnect it to water. Plug your fridge back in and push it back into place before moving on.[13]
- If you need to replace the filter in your water dispenser, now's the time!
- Run the water dispenser for about 5 minutes. There might still be a little bit of vinegar left in the water line. Keep running the water dispenser until the water runs clear or you no longer smell any vinegar.[14]
- If you have an ice maker too, let the ice maker fill up with new ice, then discard that batch since it might be tainted with vinegar. After that, your ice should be clean and ready to use.
- Always consult your owner's manual before cleaning your water dispenser.[15]
[Edit]References |
| How to Be Safe on a Blind Date Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT Getting set up on a blind date is pretty exciting, and your potential new romance might leave you feeling giddy and delighted. However, meeting someone new always comes with a little bit of risk, even if they're a friend of a friend. Read through these tips to learn how you can stay safe to focus on having a great time with your blind date. [Edit]Look up your date online. - Google their name just to see what pops up. Try to get their last name before you meet up with them so you can do a more in-depth search. Look for their social media pages or any news articles that you can find about them to see if they're really who they say they are.[1]
- If you find them on social media and their pictures match up, that's a good sign. If you can't find anything about them or some sketchy stuff about them pops up, that's a red flag.
[Edit]Tell a friend where you're going. - Give them the address and the timeframe that you'll be there. Keep your phone handy so you can call a friend or send a text if you need to. Ask your friend to check up on you at the end of the night to make sure you've made it home safely.[2]
- You could even tell a few people where you're going just to be safe.
[Edit]Meet in a crowded, well-lit place. - A coffee shop or a restaurant are good choices. A bar, a park, or a shopping center also work. Don't invite your date over to your home, and don't go to their home, either. The more people you're around, the better.[3]
- If you want to feel more comfortable on your date, pick a place you're familiar with. That way, if you need to leave quickly, you'll know exactly where to go.
- Meeting up in the afternoon is usually safer than meeting up in the evening time. Try to get together when it's still light out for extra safety.
[Edit]Arrange your own transportation. - Don't rely on your date to pick you up or drop you off. Either take your own car or download a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft on your phone. Public transportation is fine, but make sure you check the schedule before you leave—some busses and trains stop running after a certain point.[4]
- Never give your address to a blind date to come and pick you up. If they end up being not so nice, they now know where you live.
[Edit]Carry pepper spray with you just in case. - It's a good defense weapon to have on your person. Slide it into your pocket or your purse and keep it with you throughout the night. If you ever feel threatened, just showing it to a potential attacker is usually enough to get them to back off.[5]
- Always practice using your pepper spray somewhere safe before you go out on a date. Read your user manual to learn how to point, aim, and shoot your pepper spray so it hits the target.
[Edit]Go out with friends for your first date. - Suggest a group date so you feel more comfortable. If your blind date is a friend of a friend, ask your mutual acquaintance to organize a fun double date. You can all meet up at a restaurant or get coffee together so you can meet your blind date around other people.[6]
- This is also a great way to get to know someone in a more casual setting. It takes the pressure off of both of you so you can focus on having a good time.
[Edit]Keep your food and drink within eyesight. - Never leave your date alone with anything of yours. Unfortunately, there are certain drugs that people use to spike food and drinks that are virtually tasteless. Try to finish up your food and drink before you head off to the bathroom if you can.[7]
- Similarly, never take an open drink from your date unless you saw the bartender pour it.
[Edit]Go easy on alcohol. - Try not to drink so much that you get drunk. You'll want to keep your wits about you on a first date with someone new. It's fine to have a few glasses of wine to calm your nerves, but stay away from the hard stuff for now.[8]
- If your date pressures you to drink more than you want to, that's a red flag. Firmly tell them no and then leave the date ASAP.
[Edit]Don't give out your personal information. - Get to know your date, but don't divulge too much. Don't tell your date your home address or the exact place that you work until you know them a bit better. It's extremely suspicious if your date pressures you for your phone number, asks for financial assistance, or wants to know your credit card number or social security number.[9]
[Edit]Trust your gut. - If something feels weird, don't ignore it. When we get "gut feelings," it's actually our subconscious minds picking up on something we aren't aware of. If you show up to the date and you get a bad feeling, don't be afraid to make an excuse and leave.[10]
- You could have a friend call you and pretend to have an emergency, or you could simply tell your date that something urgent came up and you have to go.
- If you feel like your life is in danger, call emergency services right away.
- If you want to leave a date but you feel unsafe doing so, ask a worker nearby to help you leave out the back.
[Edit]References |
| How to Play Double Solitaire Posted: 26 Aug 2021 01:00 AM PDT Solitaire is one of the most popular card games of all-time. The majority of people play solitaire by themselves, but you don't have to play alone. You can play double solitaire with 1 other person in a turn-based play style. Simultaneous solitaire is a type of double solitaire that lets you play with as many people as you like. [Edit]Setting up the Game Area - Buy 2 decks of cards. Double solitaire revolves around the 2 players building 4 piles of all the cards. This means 2 piles of all the hearts cards, 2 piles of all the clubs cards, 2 piles of all the spades cards, and 2 piles of all the diamond cards.
- You can buy decks of cards at your local supermarket, online, or in your local games store.
- Make sure each player has their own deck.
- Open the decks and remove the joker cards. Each deck of cards comes with 2 joker cards, 1 black and white and the other 1 in color. Joker cards are included in the deck because they are required for some card games.
- If you lose a card, you can use 1 of the jokers as a replacement card. Write the number and suit of the card you lost on the joker.
- Shuffle both decks before starting the game. Most decks are sold with the cards in order. If you and your friend play without shuffling the decks, the game will be pretty straightforward. You don't have to be a master of cards to shuffle the decks. Spread the cards out on a table face down and mix them up. Once you've mixed them well, reorganize the cards into a pile.[1]
- Shuffle each deck separately. You don't want 1 person having 2 duplicates of the same card.
- Set up the tableau with each deck. With the deck facing down, pull 1 card from the top and lay it down facing up. Moving from left to right, place 6 cards facing down. Next, place a card facing up on the second pile, and 5 cards facing down on the following 5 rows. Place a card facing up on the third pile, and 4 cards facing down on the next 4 rows.[2]
- Continue placing the cards down in the same manner. For example, place a card facing up on the fourth pile and 3 cards facing down on the next 3 rows.
- At the end, pile 7 should have 1 card facing up and 6 cards facing down.
- Set up 2 separate tableaus for you and your friend.
- Place the leftover cards to the side in a stock pile. The stock pile is located above the tableau. You must now draw the rest of the cards from this stock pile and complete the piles.[3]
- Each player should have a separate stock pile.
[Edit]Playing Double Solitaire - Flip a coin or use the stock pile to decide who plays first. If you have a coin with you, pick a side and flip the coin. Whoever chose the correct side of the coin plays first. If you want to use the stock pile, you and your friend need to take the top card from the stock pile. Whoever has the higher card plays first.[4]
- If you and your friend use the top card from the stock piles, place the card back to the bottom of the deck.
- Use the stock pile to make a move. If you're playing first, remove the top card from your stock pile. Look at your tableau and decide what you want to do. To play a card, you must play a red card under a black card or vice versa.[5]
- For example, if 1 of the piles has a 7 of hearts on it and you pull a 6 of spades from your stock pile, you can place your 6 of spades below the 7 of hearts.
- You must place the cards sequentially. A 6 must be placed after a 7, a 3 after a 4, a jack after a queen.
- If you can't play a card from the stock pile, you can return it to the bottom of your stock pile.
- You cannot place a red suited card under a red suited card or vice versa.
- Make a move using the cards already on the tableau. You can also use the piles on the tableau to move. For example, if pile 6 has a 5 of clubs facing up and pile 3 has a 6 of diamonds facing up, move the 5 of clubs below the 6 of diamonds. After you've done that, flip the last card in pile 6 face up.[6]
- In fact, most of the game will be played using the piles on the tableau.
- Change turns when you or your friend cannot make a move. When it's your turn, you can make as many moves as you'd like in a row. You lose your turn when you can no longer make a play with the top card on your stock pile or any of the cards on the tableau.[7]
- When your friend can't make a move, it's your turn to go again.
- Move any aces to their own area. Unlike the other cards, aces don't need to be placed below the other cards in the tableau. If you have an ace, move it off to the side. When the 2 of a suit appears, you can place it on the ace of the same suit once you have found the ace.[8]
- Keep playing until a player completes 4 piles of cards. The winner is the first person to have completed the 4 foundation piles. Some solitaire games cannot be finished, and if this happens to you and your friend, the winner is the person who has played the most cards.[9]
- A completed pile is when you have a pile of 13 cards from ace to king all in the same suit.
[Edit]Playing Simultaneous Solitaire - Get a separate deck for each player. Simultaneous solitaire is a type of double solitaire that allows for as many players as possible. Make sure that each deck is different and distinguishable from the others to avoid confusion.[10]
- Remove the 2 jokers from each deck.
- Shuffle each deck before play begins. It's important to make sure that every player properly shuffles their deck. If not, 1 player could have a massive advantage over the others. To shuffle, you can spread all the cards from a deck out on a table faced down. Mix them up with your hands and assemble them back into a pile when you're finished.[11]
- Don't mix more than 1 deck at a time in a single area. If you're spreading the cards out, it's very easy for them to get mixed together.
- Start the game with a whistle or clap. Simultaneous solitaire is played by everyone at once and revolves around speed. To ensure that the game is as fair as possible, use a whistle or a clap to announce the start of play. Players must place lower numbered black cards beneath higher numbered red cards and vice versa.[12]
- Make a move using the cards in your stock pile. With your stock pile facing down, flip the top card on the deck. Look at the card and look at the tableau and assess your options. You must place the cards in alternating colors in descending numerical order. You can only place cards in descending numerical order on top of each other. You cannot place a black 8 above a red 7. However, if you have a red 7 in your stock pile and a black 8 on the tableau, you can place the red 7 below the black 8.[13]
- For example, a jack of diamonds or hearts can only be placed below a queen of spades or clubs.
- You can send cards that you can't place from the stock pile to the discard pile.
- Use the cards on the tableau to make a move. You can take cards from the piles in the tableau and place them beneath other piles. If pile 1 has a 10 of clubs and pile 5 has a jack of hearts, place the 10 of clubs below the jack of hearts in pile 5. Flip the last card in pile 1 upwards after you've moved the 10.[14]
- As the game goes on, you'll be using the tableau more and more.
- You will also need to move the cards on the tableau so you can access the face down cards in the piles.
- Place all aces off to 1 side when you find them. It's customary in solitaire to place all the aces in their own section of the playing area. To finish a pile, you need to place all of the 12 cards of each suit on top of their ace.[15]
- For example, you have an ace of spades off to the side and you find the 2 of spades. Place the 2 on top of the ace. Do the same when you find the 3 of spades and so on.
- End the game when the first person has 4 completed foundation piles. The winner is the first person to complete all 4 piles. If nobody is able to finish the game, the winner is the person with the most piles completed.[16]
- A completed pile consists of 13 cards from ace to king in the same suit.
- You can keep playing after the winner finishes to find out who comes second, third, fourth, and so on.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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