| How to Replace a Toilet Fill Valve Posted: 09 Nov 2017 04:00 PM PST A faulty toilet fill valve can cause your toilet to run all the time or otherwise malfunction. However, the good news is that replacing your toilet fill valve is something any homeowner can do. It does not take a lot of experience with plumbing or a lot of time. However, you do need a few parts, a couple of tools, and a little bit of effort. EditRemoving the Existing Valve - Turn off the water supply. Before doing any repairs to your toilet you should turn off the water outside of the toilet. You should have a water valve directly below the toilet tank. It should be located between where the water pipe comes out of the wall and where it attaches to the bottom of the toilet tank.[1]
- In most cases, you will turn the water shutoff valve clockwise to turn it off. Be sure to continue turning it until it stops moving.
- Drain the toilet tank. Once the water is turned off, drain the tank before you can disconnect the toilet fill valve. To begin draining the tank, flush the toilet. This will remove most of the water from the tank. Once most of the water is gone, you will need to use a turkey baster or a wet-dry vacuum to get rid of the small amount of water sitting at the bottom of the tank.[2]
- If you don't have a turkey baster or wet-dry vacuum, you can let the remaining water drain as you disconnect the toilet fill valve. However, you will need to hold a bucket under the area as you disconnect it. Letting the water drain this way can lead to water going all over the place, so it's a good idea to put a towel on the floor to collect any water that sprays.
- Locate the toilet fill valve. The toilet fill valve is located inside the toilet tank, usually off to one side. In newer toilets, it is the entire plastic column that includes the float and the on-off lever for filling. In older toilets, the float is a separate piece but it will be connected to the top of the fill valve.[3]
- The fill valve also has a tube attached to it that connects to the overflow pipe.[4]
- Detach the toilet fill valve. Start by unclipping the fill hose from the overflow pipe. Then unscrew the nut that holds the toilet fill valve on the tank. The is located underneath the tank. Turn the nut counter clockwise with a pair of pliers or a wrench.[5]
- As you unscrew the nut, a bit of water may drip out of the tank. Keep a towel on hand or on the floor below the opening to catch any water that comes out.
EditInstalling a New Valve - Purchase a new toilet fill valve. Go to your local hardware store and purchase a new toilet fill valve. Most new toilet fill valves are universal, meaning they will fit in almost any toilet. However, if you are worried about fit, take your old toilet valve with you to the store and use it to assess whether a potential replacement will work.[6]
- Even if your old toilet fill valve had a separate float, a newer valve with the float integrated onto the shaft will work.
- Put the new toilet fill valve in place. Remove the new toilet fill valve from its packaging. Be sure to read the directions it comes with. The fill valve should come fully assembled, so you should be able to put it straight into the toilet.[7]
- Remember to also clip the new refill tube to the overflow tube.
- Make sure all washers are in place. It is important to pay attention to how any included washers and nuts should be attached to the valve. There should be washers on the inside and the outside of the tank where the fill valve goes through it.[8]
- Washers on the inside and outside of the tank ensure that there is a water-tight seal around this connection point.
- Tighten the fill valve nut carefully. When you have the toilet fill valve in place, the final part of its installation is to tighten a lock nut onto the threaded part of the valve. This is located on the underside of the tank. When doing this, it is important not to tighten the nut too hard. The nut should be tightened by hand to ensure that you don't tighten it too much.[9]
- Tightening the nut on the bottom of the fill valve with a wrench or pliers could crack the toilet tank or the valve.
- Reattach the water supply line and turn on the water. Once the replacement fill valve is in place, it's time to get the water flowing again. Attach the supply line to the bottom of the new fill valve. Make sure that there is a washer inside the end of the supply line and tighten it with a wrench until tight. Then turn on the water by turning the shutoff valve counter clockwise until it stops rotating.[10]
- If you see any leaks, immediately turn the water off at the shutoff valve.
- When you turn the water on, the tank should start filling right away.
- Adjust the float. Once the water is turned back on and your toilet tank has filled, then you can adjust the float on your new toilet fill valve. The float's location can be adjusted with a clip on its side, a set screw at the top of the float shaft, or by adjusting a screw at the top of fill valve where the float attaches.[11]
- Look at the directions of your new toilet fill valve for exact directions for float adjustment.
- When positioned correctly, the top of the float should be set at about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) below the top of the overflow pipe. The goal is that the float comes up and shuts off the water before the water gets high enough to flow over the top of the overflow pipe.
EditThings You'll Need - A wrench or pliers
- New toilet fill valve kit
- Bucket
- Towel
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Turn a Plastic Bottle Into a Phone Charging Station Posted: 09 Nov 2017 08:00 AM PST When you don't want your phone to be dangling loose, you'll need a special holder to keep it safe. Instead of running out and buying one, however, it is easy to make your own using an empty plastic bottle. Best of all, you can use these holders for other similar-sized items that need to be charged as well. EditCreating the Base - Find a bottle large enough to fit your phone. Try to find a bottle that is more oval in shape rather than round; the flattened back will help it rest better against the wall when you hang it. A 15-ounce (444-milliliter) shampoo or conditioner bottle will fit most phones.[1]
- Hold your phone against it to test the size––the edges should extend around the outside of the phone
- Remove the labels and clean the bottle, inside and out. Rinse the bottle out in hot water to remove any residue left inside. Peel off the label and remove any residue using white vinegar, oil, or a glue remover (ie: Goo Gone). Allow the bottle to dry upside down before proceeding.[2]
- Mark where you want the opening to start with a permanent marker. Hold your phone against the bottle, with the bottom edges lined up. Decide how far up the phone you want the front of the holder to go, then make a mark on the bottle using a permanent marker. For mot people, two-thirds of the way up the phone is perfect.[3]
- Extend the line towards the back, then curve it upwards. Draw a horizontal line across the front of the bottle first, right where the mark is. Extend the line around the sides of the bottle. When you reach the back, curve the line upwards towards the top of the bottle.[4]
- How high up you curve the back of the holder depends on how tall you want the charging station to be.
- Trace the back of the charger onto the back of the bottle. Place your phone's charger on the back of the bottle, with the prongs facing up. Make sure that it is about ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) below the top of the curved line. Trace around the charger using a permanent marker, then put the charger away.[5]
- Cut along the lines that you drew. Start with the base of the holder first, then cut out the charger hole. It would be easiest to do this with a craft blade or box cutter. Some people find it easier to use scissors on the base of the bottle, however.[6]
- Sand the cut edges with fine-grit sandpaper. This will get rid of any roughness. If you plan on decoupaging or painting your holder, it would be a good idea to buff the outside of the bottle with fine-grit sandpaper to give it some tooth. Be sure to rinse the bottle afterwards.[7]
- Wipe away any marker lines with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Simply dampen a cotton ball or pad with your desired product, then wipe it over the pen marks. Rubbing alcohol should work most of the time, but if you need something stronger, try nail polish remover or acetone.[8]
- Use your new charging station. Plug the charger into the wall, then slide the holder onto it through the hole, with the "pocket" part facing outward. Plug the cable into the charger, then into your phone. Slide your phone into the holder, and tuck any excess cable inside.
- Important: Make sure that the holder is touching the plastic part of the charger; don't let it slip behind the charger and touch the metal prongs.[9]
EditDecorating with Fabric - Choose a colorful fabric to match your decor. Make sure that you have enough fabric to wrap around the holder, plus an additional inch for overlapping. You can use solid-colored or patterned fabric. Cotton will work the best.
- Coat the outside of the holder with decoupage glue (ie: Mod Podge). Use a foam brush to apply the glue to the holder. To make things easier and less messy, it would be a good idea to apply it to just the front.[10]
- Wrap the cotton fabric tightly around the holder, overlapping it at the back. Press the fabric onto the front of the holder and smooth out any wrinkles. Apply more decoupage glue to the sides and back, and wrap the fabric tightly. Overlap the edge of the fabric at the back by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters).[11]
- Make sure that the fabric is centered. You will have a lot of excess fabric at the front. Don't worry about this; you will trim it away.
- Allow the fabric to dry. Set the holder upside down over something long and skinny, such as a bottle or candlestick as it dries. Even an empty paper towel holder will do.[12]
- Cut off the excess fabric and charger hole. Once it has dried, trim off the excess fabric around the top and bottom of the holder. Next, set the charger down, with the back against a cutting mat, and cut out the charger hole.[13]
- You can use scissors or a craft blade to cut off the excess fabric at the top and bottom of the holder.
- Use a craft knife to cut out the charger hole.
- Apply another coat of decoupage glue, making sure to coat the edges, and let it dry again. Brush on more decoupage glue using the same method as before. This time, make sure that you extend it past the edges of the holder, including the top, bottom, and charger hole.[14]
- This is your final coat, so be sure to use a finish that you like: matte, satin, or glossy.
- Cover the bottom of the holder, if desired. Trace the bottom of the holder onto the wrong side of your fabric with a pen. Cut the fabric out, then secure it to the base of the holder with decoupage glue. Let the holder dry upside down (just like before), then seal it with a final coat of decoupage glue.[15]
EditDecorating in Other Ways - Use colored, patterned contact paper if you can't find the fabric you like. Cut the contact paper to the length and circumference of the holder. Peel off the backing, then wrap it around the holder. Trim away the excess contact paper at the top, then cut away the charging hole.
- If you wish to cover the bottom, trace the base of the holder onto the contact paper, then cut the shape out. Peel away the backing, then stick it to the bottom of the holder.
- Coat the holder with spray paint for something quick and easy. Take the holder to a well-ventilated area. Spray it with 1 to 2 coats of spray paint, allowing each coat to dry for about 20 minutes. Seal it with a coat of clear, acrylic spray.[16]
- Paint the front first, then the back, then the bottom.
- Spruce up a boring design some stencils. Place a stencil over the front of the holder. Secure the stencil with tape, then apply acrylic paint using a foam brush. Peel the stencil away, then let the paint dry.[17]
- You can do this over a bare bottle, a painted bottle, or even a fabric-covered bottle.
- You can also paint the designs by hand if you are artistic, or use stamps and acrylic paint.
- Wrap some wide ribbon around the holder for a bold deign. Cut a piece of 2 to 3-inch (5.08 to 7.62-centimeter) wide ribbon long enough to wrap around the holder, plus and additional inch (.54 centimeters). Coat each end of the ribbon with glue or double-sided tape, then wrap the ribbon around the middle of the holder. Overlap the ends by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) in the back.[18]
- You can combine this with a bare holder or a painted holder.
- Decorate the bottle with stickers for something simple. Paint the holder first, or leave it bare. Next, decorate the holder as you like with stickers or self-adhesive rhinestones. You can also use patterned washi tape if you prefer a geometric design.
- Don't do all of the decorations all at once. Choose one or two ideas, then run with them!
- You can leave your holder blank, if you prefer.
- Opaque bottles will look nicer than clear ones, especially if you choose to leave them bare.
- If the holder is too long for the outlet, it will bump against the floor. Shorten the top and bring the charger hole lower.
- Do not leave the phone holder unattended if you are hanging it over a charger. If the plastic touches the prongs, it can melt.
EditThings You'll Need - Empty shampoo, lotion, or conditioner bottle
- Scissors, box cutter, or craft blade
- Permanent marker
- Fine-grit Sandpaper
- Fabric, paint, embellishment, etc (optional)
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Clean a Silk Tie Posted: 09 Nov 2017 12:00 AM PST Nothing is as frustrating as finishing dinner and realizing that you've spilled some food on your silk tie! Silk in particular can be a tricky fabric to clean, and while a trip to the dry cleaner can usually sort out the problem, you can actually clean the tie yourself with the right strategy. Whether you're cleaning up a food, wine, or oil stain or simply taking care of day-to-day dirt, using the right cleaning techniques will have your tie looking as good as new. EditRemoving Simple Stains - Scrape off spilled food or sauce and blot the stain. Use a spoon or butter knife to lift food off your tie. Then, dip a cloth napkin into water or club soda and blot at the leftover stain.[1]
- Paper napkins might disintegrate when you blot, but you can use them if you don't have a cloth napkin on hand.
- For a stain from a liquid-based sauce, such as soy sauce, simply skip right to blotting with the cloth napkin.
- Apply a silk stain remover. Follow the application instructions on the bottle to ensure you get your tie as clean as possible. Once you've cleaned off the stain, dry the area with a hair dryer on a low heat setting to prevent a water ring from forming.[2]
- You can also take the tie straight to the dry cleaner after scraping off the food. Tell them what kind of food caused the stain so they can determine the best way to remove it.
- Use rubbing alcohol if you don't have stain remover. First, test the rubbing alcohol by applying a bit to the back of the tie, making sure it won't affect the color. Then, dab a very small amount onto a rag or cotton ball and blot the stain.[3]
- Dry light-colored liquid stains with a hair dryer. Simply drying the liquid before it sets in might be enough to prevent a stain. If not, use a stain remover specialized for silk fabrics, or take your tie to the dry cleaners.[4]
- You can also use a hand dryer if you're out and about.
EditGetting Rid of Stubborn Stains - Blot out oil or grease and soak it up with cornstarch or talcum powder. Use a paper or cloth napkin to carefully pat out all the grease or oil that you can. Try not to rub at the stain, as that will make the stain soak in even more. Then, lay the tie flat and put a large pile of cornstarch or talcum on the stain. Let it sit for a full 24 hours to allow the starch to absorb the stain, then brush it off.[5]
- Put table salt on a red wine stain. Use a large pile of salt and let it sit for an hour, letting it soak up the wine. If the stain still looks dark, leave it on for another hour or two longer. Brush the salt off, then treat any leftover stains with a silk-specific stain remover.[6]
- Blot at dark-colored liquids with mild soap. If you've spilled soda, coffee, beer, or another brown-colored liquid on your tie, wet a napkin with a bit of water or club soda and a small amount of mild soap, such as hand soap or dish soap. Dry with a hair dryer or bathroom hand dryer, then treat the spot with stain remover if any color remains.[7]
EditKeeping Your Silk Tie Clean - Spray on a fabric protector. Carefully read the instructions and make sure it's safe to use on silk.[8] You can spray it on before a meal or right when you buy your tie for maximum protection. A good fabric protector will prevent spills from sinking in and staining your silk tie, so the most you'll have to do is blot the food or liquid from the surface. [9]
- Hand wash a tie with silk detergent for regular cleaning. Use cool water and follow the instructions on the detergent bottle. Wash gently and quickly, aiming to finish washing in about five minutes so your silk isn't submerged for too long. Lay your tie flat to dry.[10]
- Only wash your tie when it seems dirty. For example, you might see slight discoloration on the fabric from dirt, or the tie might smell a bit. You shouldn't wash your tie everyday, as that could ruin the fabric.
- Tuck your tie away during dinner. You can prevent your silk tie from being stained in the first place by removing it from the line of fire completely! Try slipping the tip of your tie between two of your shirt buttons during dinner, or tucking a napkin into your collar. They may not be the most elegant-looking solutions, but they're certainly better-looking than a stained tie.[11]
EditSources and Citations
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