| How to Keep Roaches Away from Your Bed Posted: 15 Mar 2018 05:00 PM PDT Roaches are nasty little critters that no one wants running loose anywhere in their home–especially not in their bed. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to keep them out of your bed, and even out of your living space entirely. EditIn a Hurry? The best way to keep roaches out of your bed is to throw out any unnecessary clutter that you have in your bedroom, such cardboard boxes. Clean your entire home each week by vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting, and consistently wash the dishes and take out the trash. Use caulk to fill in any cracks, and replace any damaged vent screens in your bedroom to help block entry from outside. Switch out any bedding that brushes the ground, and wrap silicone tape around the bottom of your bed posts. To learn how to repel and kill roaches, read on! EditBlocking Entry to Your Room and Bed - Look for potential entry points to your bedroom. Take a few minutes to search your entire bedroom for places where roaches could potentially get in from outside. Take a close look at where the walls meet the floor and ceiling in your room, the corners, the air vents, and around the windows.
- Keep in mind that roaches can slip through cracks and holes that are as small as high.[1]
- Seal up the cracks with a caulking gun. Purchase a simple caulking gun from your local home improvement store. The gun should come with directions, so read them over carefully before attempting to use it. If you find any cracks that you think roaches could slip through in your bedroom, hold the nozzle of the caulking gun up to the crack and move it across the crack as you pull the trigger and fill the crack with caulk.[2]
- Allow the caulk to dry for as long as the product recommends.
- Check your vent screens and replace them if necessary. The only thing really blocking entry through air vents in your bedroom is vent screens. If you find that there are any holes in any of the vent screens in your bedroom, replace them as soon as possible.
- If you find a very small hole or just want a temporary fix, you can cover the hole with 1-2 layers of heavy duty tape, such as Duct Tape.
- Install weather strips on your doors. While your bedroom door probably just opens up to the rest of the inside of the home, roaches that get in through other doors of the home can make their way to your bedroom and even your bed. Install weather strips on all of the doors that open to the outside to keep roaches from slipping into your home through the spaces between the door and the door frame.[3]
- Get rid of any bedding that's dragging on the ground. If you struggle to keep the roaches from getting into your home and bedroom, you may still be able to keep them out of your bed. Tuck in your sheets and swap out oversized comforters for smaller ones that don't brush your bedroom floor. This should make it harder for roaches to climb up into your bed.[4]
- Roaches may be able to crawl up bed skirts as well. If you have one, take it off of your bed and put it away.
- Wrap silicone tape around the bottom of your bed posts. Purchase non-tacky rubber silicone tape at a hardware store or online. Wrap the tape around each of your bed posts from just underneath your box spring to where each post meets the floor. This should also help keep roaches from climbing into your bed if they happen to get inside your home.[5]
EditCreating an Inhospitable Environment - Throw out and put away clutter. Roaches are drawn to clutter, as it gives them somewhere to hide and live without being exposed or disturbed. Divide up the clutter in your bedroom into "throw away" and "keep" piles. Then, toss out the items in the "throw away" pile and put away the items in the "keep" pile.[6]
- Roaches are especially drawn to cardboard and newspaper, so get rid of any newspaper and/or switch out any cardboard boxes for plastic storage containers.
- Try to keep dirty laundry in your laundry basket and clean laundry folded in your dresser or hung up in your closet.
- Keep your room and home clean. Roaches thrive in dirty environments, so it's very important that you regularly clean your bedroom, and also the rest of your home. Sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, and wipe down surfaces with multipurpose cleaner and a rag once a week or so. Also, it's crucial that you stay on top of doing the dishes and taking out the trash. Roaches love food, so full kitchen sinks and trash cans may draw them into your home.[7]
- If possible, keep food out of your bedroom completely. If you must store some in your room, keep all of it in tightly sealed boxes or bags.
- Clean up debris in your yard. If you extend the inhospitable environment to the outside of your home as well, roaches will be much less likely to get into your home, bedroom, and ultimately, your bed. Roaches like to spend time underneath messy wood piles and dead leaves. Rake up any dead leaves and dispose of them, and organize and clean up any woodpiles you have in your yard, especially if they're kept close to your home.[8]
EditRepelling and Killing Roaches - Spray cypress and peppermint oils under and around your bed. These essential oils tend to naturally repel roaches. Mix 8 drops of cypress oil, 10 drops of peppermint oil, and of water in a spray bottle and then spray this mixture wherever you've seen roaches. When in doubt, spray underneath and around your bed.[9]
- Repel roaches with coffee grounds. Because coffee can be harmful to roaches, they tend to stay away from it. Sprinkle some coffee grounds into a few different open containers and set them under or near your bed to deter roaches.[10]
- Coffee grounds can effectively repel other insects as well, such as ants, due to the caffeine they contain.
- Use cigar clippings to ward off roaches. The nicotine in cigars acts as a repellent for roaches. If you or someone you know smokes cigars, collect the clippings, sprinkle them in a few containers without putting the lids on, and set them on the floor near your bed to help keep roaches away.[11]
- Crush up and spread around some bay leaves as an alternative. Bay leaves also act a natural roach repellent, as roaches hate the smell of them. Use a mortar and pestle or any other crushing tools to turn some bay leaves into a powder. Sprinkle the powder in a few lidless containers and place them around your bedroom and bed.[12]
- Make a homemade insecticide out of baking soda and sugar. While killing roaches won't solve the problem entirely, it will diminish the roach population in and around your home. If you'd like to kill them, mix together equal parts baking soda and sugar in a bowl. Then, simply sprinkle the mixture around your room. The sugar in the mixture will attract the roaches, while the baking soda, when consumed, will kill them.[13]
- Sweep or vacuum up the mixture after a few days and dispose of any dead roaches that you find.
- This mixture is safe to use with pets and children in the home.
- Use Boric acid for severe circumstances. Boric acid is one of the most effective products for killing roaches, ants, and other pests. Purchase some at your local supermarket or online if you have a severe roach issue in your home. Provide a light dusting of the boric acid on the floor of your bedroom. This way, when roaches walk through it, they'll get it on their bodies and later die when they groom themselves and ingest it.[14]
- Keep boric acid away from children and pets, as it is poisonous and can be very harmful if consumed.
- Don't forget to vacuum or sweep up the boric acid after a 1-2 days.
- Boric acid isn't effective when it's wet or sprinkled in excess.
- If you've tried to keep roaches out of your bed, bedroom, and home, but can't seem to get rid of them, call an exterminator.
EditThings You'll Need EditBlocking Entry to Your Room and Bed - Caulking gun
- Weather strips
- Silicone tape
EditCreating an Inhospitable Environment - Broom
- Mop
- Vacuum cleaner
- Duster
- Multipurpose cleaner
- Rag
- Sealable boxes/bags
- Rake
EditRepelling and Killing Roaches - Cypress oil
- Peppermint oil
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Coffee grounds
- Containers
- Cigar clippings
- Bay leaves
- Mortar and pestle
- Baking soda
- Sugar
- Bowl
- Boric acid
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Sit Through Opera Posted: 15 Mar 2018 09:00 AM PDT Whether you're attending your first opera or have attended one before, you may not know how to fully appreciate it. Opera is a musical art form that can evoke profound emotions through its characters, costuming, and music. Even if you've never considered yourself a music buff, you can have an enjoyable night at the opera. By the end of the performance, you may even become a budding opera connoisseur! EditGetting Ready - Read the opera's plot summary. Researching the opera's plot can help you understand what emotions and themes each song is trying to convey. If the opera you want to see is in a language you don't know, look for the plot online to help you understand the performance better.
- Listen to the opera music beforehand. While you're getting ready for the event, put on a few of the opera's songs to listen to as background music. Familiarizing yourself with the music will help you get accustomed to how opera sounds beforehand so you can focus more on enjoyment at the actual event.[1]
- Learn some opera terminology. Knowing key opera terms will help you understand more when reading through the show's brochure or listening to other opera-goers. An aria, for example, is a song where the characters say what they are feeling whereas a recitative is more like a musical line that gives context to the plot. Research these and other common terminology in the days before the opera.[2]
- Check how long the opera runs. Depending on how many acts an opera has and how long intermission is, its runtime can last anywhere from 2 hours to 4+ hours. Visit the theater or opera house's website for its overall length.[3]
- If you're new to opera, choose a shorter one if possible.
- Some longer operas include a dinner break for patrons to stretch their legs and mingle before watching the last acts. Even if your opera does not have a dinner break, it should include at least 1 intermission.
- Dress for the occasion. Wearing the appropriate clothes can help you fit in with the crowd if you feel out of place among opera-goers. Although many venues don't require a dress code, people tend to dress formally for evening shows and more casually for matinees. Ask the specific theater about their dressing norms a few days in advance, as every venue is different.
- Have a light dinner or snack before the opera. Because operas tend to be longer than the average musical, eating something beforehand can keep you in a good mood and focused on the play. Most theaters do not allow guests to bring food or drink into the venue, so eating beforehand is always the safest option.[4]
- Drinking something with caffeine, like tea or soda, can help you stay alert if you tend to doze off during musical productions.
- Some theaters allow patrons to eat hard candy, cough drops, or gum during the performance. Ask ahead if you think something to chew on might help you pay attention.
- Plan to come at least a half hour early. Entering the venue at least 30 minutes before the show starts will give you time to explore the theater, find your seats, and get comfortable. Remember to take a quick bathroom break and turn your phone on silent before the production starts to avoid disturbing those around you.[5]
- If you arrive late, you will be permitted inside the venue, but may have to wait for the next act to enter the doors to get to your seat, as the light flooding into the dark theater will be a distraction.
EditUnderstanding the Plot - Read the opera's synopsis in the brochure. The synopsis can give you the overall gist of what the production's about and help you differentiate between the main characters. It may also have a brief outline of the acts and major arias. Refer to the synopsis throughout the evening if you feel lost or forget which character is which.[6]
- If you can, bring someone with you who has seen the opera before so you can ask them questions during the intermission.
- Pay attention to the translation if you feel confused. Many operas have translations for guests to follow along with either in a brochure or on a back-screen behind the stage. Read these subtitles if you want to know what a character is singing about and follow closely along with the music.
- Don't spend the whole time staring at the subtitles screen. If you're not paying attention to the stage, you may miss out on the opera's beauty.[7]
- Focus more on the music than the dialogue. While reading the subtitles and paying attention to the plot is important, the meaning of an opera is best transferred through the music itself. During major arias, take a break from reading the translations and try to immerse yourself in the singers and the orchestra.[8]
- If you are fluent in another language, like Italian or Russian, seeing an opera in that language may help you understand the plot and its emotional intensity at the same time.
- Bring or rent a pair of opera glasses to see more detail. Opera glasses, or theater binoculars, can help you see costumes and theatrical expressions clearly. Most opera venues allow patrons to rent a pair of opera glasses if you don't want to put the money into a pair.[9]
EditAppreciating and Enjoying Opera - Relate the opera to something that you enjoy. If you're having a hard time connecting to the opera, try comparing it to something you do understand. If you love fashion, for example, study the intricate costumes. Or if you're a Broadway fan, think about the similarities and differences of opera and musicals. Focusing on the elements you do understand can keep you from getting bored.[10]
- Take a break during the intermission. Sometimes, sitting still for too long during an opera can make people feel restless. Don't stay in your seat during the intermission. Use it as an opportunity to stretch your legs, talk to your neighbor, or get a quick snack outside. Pay attention to how long the intermission lasts so you can get back to your seat by the next act.[11]
- Let yourself run with the emotional intensity of opera. Opera is known for expressing powerful feelings through the dialogue and song. Immerse yourself in the emotional experience: laugh at the comedic parts, gasp during surprises, and cry when the characters face tragedy. Putting yourself in the characters' perspectives can make opera a fun and cathartic experience.
- Operas are made to stand on their own as a form of expression without necessarily knowing the language. Don't worry too much about understanding the characters or the plot. You can still appreciate the music abstractly.
- If you tend to tear up when you feel strong emotions, you may want to bring some tissues just in case.[12]
- Wait until others clap before applauding. Unlike musical theater, opera patrons often clap during the production. But there is still some structure as to whether the audience should clap—after a particularly moving aria or act is most acceptable. If you're not sure whether to clap, watch the audience and try to follow their lead.[13]
- If you want to compliment a particular singer, shout bravo (male), brava (female), or bravi (gender neutral/plural).[14]
- Do not film, photograph, or record the production in any way unless you have explicit permission to do so.[15]
- Even if you disliked the opera, don't insult the production while you're at the venue. Respect the singers, musicians, and stagehands who worked hard to put the opera together.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations __
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| How to Plan a St. Patrick's Day Party Posted: 15 Mar 2018 01:00 AM PDT St. Patrick's Day is a popular Irish holiday celebrated not only in Ireland, but in many places around the world. To plan the perfect St. Patrick's Day party, start by drafting a list of guests you'd like to invite. Next, make a list of the foods you might want to include at the party. Finally, come up with a few activities and decorations you want at the party. EditMaking Invitations - Make an invitation list. Before you can plan the finer details of your St. Patrick's Day part, you'll need to decide who you want to invite. You might want to invite friends, family, neighbors, and/or coworkers.[1]
- Plan on inviting about 20% more people than you can accommodate, since many people might not be able to attend.
- Create your invitations. Your St. Patrick's Day invitation should include some sort of appropriate graphic. For instance, you might choose an invitation bearing a four-leaf clover or a leprechaun (a mythical creature associated with the holiday).[2]
- You could buy invitations or make them at home if you have appropriate software and a color printer.
- Place the invites into green envelopes and add some green confetti inside for a fun surprise when they're opened.
- Send the invites out at least two weeks prior to the party.
- If your party is more spontaneous, just send out email invitations to everyone, and try to include a green graphic in the email body like a shamrock or leprechaun design.
- Include relevant information. Let your guests know where the party will be held, what time they should arrive, and what sort of activities will be at the party. Encourage party guests to wear green and to RSVP.[3]
EditDecorating the Party Space - Set the table with an Irish-themed color palette. Cover the table with a green tablecloth. Serve food on white dishes, and use orange napkins. This palette of three colors corresponds to those used in the flag of Ireland.[4] Before guests arrive, set the table with the number of places that corresponds to the number of people you expect to attend.[5]
- Roll the napkins from corner to corner and tie them with a golden cord.
- Provide green drinking straws, too.
- Scatter some green sequins over the table to give it a finishing touch.
- Hang some streamers and balloons. Balloons and streamers are crucial elements of any well-decorated party. Plan on filling a number of orange and green balloons just prior to your party beginning and let them float about the party space. Hang streamers from one wall to another, or just drape them from one end of the wall to the other.[6]
- Alternately, you could arrange streamers of many different colors in an arc on a large central wall to create a rainbow design.[7]
- Use green streamers everywhere. They're easy and effective.
- Make a centerpiece of gold chocolate coins. Place some chocolate coins in little pots. You might be able to get plastic or cardboard imitation pots at your local novelty store. Place these "pots o' gold" at regular intervals along the length of your dining tables.[8]
- Alternately, you could use foliage to make a centerpiece featuring shamrocks, calla lilies, or white flowers in small vases or pots.
- Place a stone at the entrance. In traditional Irish lore, the Blarney Stone is a magical rock that people can kiss to gain exceptional oratory skill. You could evoke this legendary rock by placing a small (baseball-sized) stone on a small pedestal or table at the entrance to the party. Encourage party guests to kiss it.[9]
- Use an orange ribbon bow or lengths for splashes of contrasting color.
- Decorate the party space with appropriate plants. The Bells of Ireland and calla lilies are two plants native to Ireland. The Bells are said to bring good luck and the lilies represent beauty. Place them in pots and situate them throughout the party space.[10]
- Cut out some paper shamrocks. Using green paper or poster board and a shamrock-shaped template, you can produce easily produce a series of paper shamrocks. Hang them around the room, or wait until your guests arrive and invite them to write their name or a holiday message on the shamrock, and permit them to hang the shamrock somewhere around the party space.[11]
- You can easily obtain a shamrock-shaped template online. Just print it out, cut around the shape, and use it to trace shamrocks onto your green construction paper or poster board.
EditSelecting Foods and Beverages - Provide green foods and snacks. There are many ways to serve green foods and snacks. You might provide key lime pie, sliced kiwi, green-frosted cookies, pistachio muffins, avocado ice cream, lime gelatin, or guacamole and nacho chips. Invite your guests to make suggestions prior to the party so that you will provide something for everyone.[12]
- Bake some Lucky Charms treats. Lucky Charms is an Irish-themed cereal that features small marshmallows shaped like horseshoes, clovers, and stars. If you can obtain some of this cereal, you could make a tasty snack for your party guests. To get started, place two tablespoons of butter with seven ounces (198 grams) of marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl.[13]
- Microwave the butter and marshmallows for two minutes.
- Remove the bowl and add four cups (100 grams) of the Lucky Charms cereal.
- Spoon the mixture into a cake pan and smooth it over with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Wait for the mixture to cool slightly, then cut it into small square pieces. Serve to your guests as a snack.
- Provide a green smoothie station. You could set up a smoothie station where guests could make their own green smoothies. You might include frozen banana slices, ice cubes, kale, spinach, and milk. Encourage your guests to add their ingredients into the blender, affix the lid, then blend the contents for about 30 seconds.[14]
- Offer a mug of green ale. If your party is for guests of drinking age, you could serve beer at your party. Try to buy some green beer for the holiday, or make your own green beer.[15]
- Other green alcohol options include the mixing a bit of crème de menthe with whisky or vodka to give your booze a minty flavor.
- Prepare a "pot o' gold." There are many main courses you could make with a golden tint to them. Baked macaroni and cheese, cheesy cauliflower, Yukon gold potato and mushroom gratin, or golden colcannon pie, for instance, are all delicious options.
- Pair your "pot o' gold" with a green veggie like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans, or peas.
EditPlanning Activities - Play the ladder lingo game. In this simple mind teaser game, the party guests must sit in a circle. Each person must think of a St. Patrick's Day-themed word within five seconds, then the person next to them must think of one that begins with the last letter of the word the person before them offered.[16]
- For instance, if the first person said "clover," the next person might say "rainbow."
- The game keeps going until no one can think of another appropriately themed word within the time limit.
- Play pin the shamrock on the leprechaun. Draw an image of a leprechaun holding a pot of gold onto a poster board. Cut out several small shamrocks from construction paper. Place a piece of inverted tape on the back of each shamrock. Blindfold party guests and invite them to try to attach the paper shamrock to the leprechaun's pot of gold.[17]
- Award players who attach the shamrock accurately with a small party favor like a chocolate coin.
- Obtain t-shirt decorating materials. Another simple holiday activity involves painting white or green t-shirts with t-shirt markers or paints. These materials are readily available at most arts and crafts stores. Encourage partygoers to paint a shamrock, leprechaun, or similar St. Patrick Day-themed image on their shirt.[18]
- Choose your musical playlist. Find some Irish music you can play during the party. Look in the Celtic music section of your favorite music store (online or in-store), and stock up on some Irish favorites. Play this music in the background during the party.[19]
- Popular Irish artists include The Pogues and Enya.
- If someone can play instruments, enlist them to play some tunes.
EditSample Flyer and Invitation - Give your house a once-over cleaning before the guests arrive. Make space in your closet for coats.
- Remove any personal medications or items that you don't want guests seeing from your medicine cabinet.[20]
- If you have a large number of guests and expect your party might get loud or spill over into the yard, let your neighbors know in advance.[21]
- Young kids might enjoy creating leprechauns, coloring in St. Patrick's Day-themed coloring books, sticking shamrock stickers onto paper, and so on.
- Put together a party favors bag. If your party is for children, you might want to offer a parting gift. You could include a small book containing trivia about Ireland, golden chocolate coins, or school supplies (pencils, erasers, bookmarks, and so on) that are green or decorated with shamrocks.[22]
- As with any festive occasion, drink in moderation and get a sober driver to take home anyone who has had too much.[23]
EditThings You'll Need - Party venue
- Irish food
- Beer, preferably an Irish and/or green beer
- Party decorations
- Tablecloth, napkins, cutlery, plates, etc.
- Irish music and music player; instruments (optional)
- Craft gear and computer software/printer for making invitations
- Green clothes/costumes
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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