| How to Use a Whitening Pen Posted: 04 Feb 2020 04:00 PM PST Despite what magazines and movies might lead you to believe, countless people deal with yellow teeth on a daily basis. While laser-whitening treatments and other professional procedures are expensive and inaccessible to many people, whitening pens offer an affordable option to those looking to brighten their teeth at home. After choosing the right product and cleaning your teeth ahead of time, you're ready to apply the whitening pen to the surface of your teeth. Keep using this tool for at least a week to see if you notice any changes! [Edit]Prepping Your Teeth - Select a whitening product that is convenient for you. Familiarize yourself with ingredients that are in different whitening pens. While almost all products include peroxide, note that other pens require you to use teeth trays to set the whitening agent in place. Try choosing a product that best fits into your routine.[1]
- Although they're known to work slower than whitening pens, whitening strips are also an affordable option.
- Brush your teeth to ensure that they're clean. Take 2 minutes to fully clean your teeth before applying any whitening product. Take extra care to brush the front surface of your teeth, as this is where the whitening pen will go. To develop a consistent routine, choose to use your whitening pen in the morning or evening so you can apply it right after you brush your teeth.[2]
- Floss your teeth to clean them more thoroughly. Make sure that your teeth are completely clean when you go to apply the whitening product. Use a strand of floss that's long enough to wrap around both index fingers several times, creating a straight length of floss that's at least long. Work your way between all of your teeth, prioritizing the gum line as you go.[3]
- If you don't want to use regular floss, try using plastic flossers instead.
[Edit]Applying the Product - Open your mouth with your lips stretched away from your teeth. Spread your lips apart into a toothy smile with both your upper and lower teeth visible, as well as your gum lines. Hold this position whenever you use the whitening pen, as you don't want your lips to move the product around.[4]
- Whenever you whiten your teeth, be sure to work in front of a mirror.
- Brush on the product in short, vertical strokes along the surface of each tooth. Remove or unscrew the cap from the whitening pen to access the brush portion. Don't worry about adding any product to the tip, as the bristle will already be coated in whitening formula. Apply the whitening product in short, vertical strokes, working from the top of the tooth to the bottom. Aim to paint over each tooth 3-5 times with the applicator.[5]
- Twist the pen if the tip doesn't seem to have any product on it.[6]
- Hold your mouth in place for 1 minute to set the product. Keep your lips pulled back and teeth visible for 1 minute after you finish applying the pen. Set a timer or count to 60 while you keep your mouth in this position. Try not to relax your mouth until you've waited for this amount of time.[7]
- As you wait, try to avoid swallowing the serum.
- Rinse out the whitening product with warm water. Spit out as much of the whitening agent as you can, then swish some warm water around your teeth to dislodge any excess product. Continue spitting until there's no longer any whitener on your teeth.[8]
- If you think you're able to spit out all of the product, don't worry about swishing or gargling.
- Keep applying the product daily for at least 1 week. Read the instructions on your specific whitening pen to figure out when you'll start seeing results. Continue using the pen once a day, directly after you brush and floss your teeth.[9] When you're not using the pen, keep it stored in a cool, dry place.[10]
- Some products might not show results right away. Be patient, and continue using the pen for several weeks before deciding if it works or not.[11]
[Edit]Warnings - If you have a history of dental issues (e.g., gum disease), don't use whitening pens.[12]
- Don't use whitening pens if your teeth hurt after you apply the product.[13]
[Edit]References |
| How to Maintain Hardwood Floors Posted: 04 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST Wood floors made out of hardwoods such as oak, walnut, hickory, maple, or cherry are both durable and beautiful. But, in order to keep them looking fresh, you need to maintain your hardwood floors. Fortunately, keeping them clean and taking care of them is easy to do and will increase their lifespan. However, every 3-5 years, you'll need to refinish your hardwood floors to keep them bright and polished. [Edit]Keeping Hardwood Floors Clean - Sweep the floors every day with a soft-bristled broom. Regularly sweeping your hardwood floors will reduce dirt and grit buildup, which can scratch the surface of the wood. Take a soft-bristled broom to your floors and sweep up any dust or dirt from the surface, particularly from high-traffic areas such as the entrance to a room or a hallway.[1]
- Only use a soft-bristled mop so you don't scratch the surface of the wood.
- Vacuum weekly with a floor nozzle to pick up dust and dirt. Use a floor-brush attachment to suck up dirt and debris from the surface of the hardwood floor without damaging it. Reach into the corners or crevices to pick up any dust or dirt that your sweeping missed.[2]
- Avoid using a vacuum with brush rolls or one designed for carpets as they can scratch and damage your hardwood floors.
- Dust the floor with a disposable dusting cloth for a quick clean. Disposable dusting mops have a mild electrostatic charge that allows them to pick up more dust, hair, and dirt from your wood floors than sweeping and vacuuming. Run the cloth over the surface of your floors to dust them and be sure to reach into the nooks and crannies where dust likes to hide.[3]
- You can also use a dry mop with a microfiber head to pick up dust and grime.
- Disposable dusting cloths are quick and easy to use, and you can throw them away when you're finished.
- Look for disposable dusting cloths at department stores or online. Popular brands include Swiffer and Bona.
- Mop the floors monthly with a wood floor mop and cleaner. For a deeper cleaning, use a wood floor mop with microfiber pads or strings and wood floor cleaner, which won't strip or strain your hardwood. Dilute the wood floor cleaner in water in a bucket according to the instructions on the label. Dip the wood floor mop into the solution, wring out the excess water, and run the mop over the hardwood following the direction of the grain in the wood. Allow the floor to air dry fully before you walk over it.[4]
- Work in sections so you don't miss any spots and start at a far corner so you don't box yourself into a room or hallway.
- Be sure to thoroughly wring out the mop so you don't leave excess water on the surface of your hardwood floors, which could discolor or damage them.
- You can find wood floor mops and wood floor cleaner at home improvement stores, department stores, and online.
- Wipe up spills and messes immediately with a damp cloth. Keep sticky residue from forming by wiping up any messes from your floor as soon as possible. Soak a clean cloth in warm water and wring it out well to remove the excess. Rub the mess up using gentle, circular motions to avoid damaging the wood.[5]
- For stubborn messes, spray a little bit of wood-floor cleaner onto it and use a damp cloth to wipe it off. You can find wood-floor cleaner at home improvement stores, department stores, and online.
- Don't allow moisture to sit on top of your wood floor or it could damage it.
[Edit]Preventing Wear and Tear - Don't wear shoes on your hardwood floors. Shoes can scuff hardwood and cause wear and tear over time. Be extra careful about wearing cleats or shoes with heels on your hardwood floors since they can potentially damage them.[6]
- Oils from your bare feet can actually degrade hardwood over time. Your safest bet is to only wear socks when walking on your floors.
- Attach felt pads to your furniture legs and edges to avoid scratches. Place felt furniture pads on all of the furniture on top of your hardwood floors so they don't scratch the surface. Add felt pads to any areas that contact the floor such as the edges or corners of sofas.[7]
- You can find felt pads at department stores and online.
- Trim the nails of any pets walking over the floors. Cat and dog claws can scratch the surface of hardwood floors and damage them over time. If you have pets that walk over your hardwood floors, keep their nails trimmed.[8]
- Dogs can sometimes collect dirt and gravel between their paws that can scratch your hardwood floors as well, so be sure to check them before you let them back into the house.
- Generally, most dogs need to have their nails trimmed every 1-2 months, depending how fast they grow. Trim your cat's nails every 2 weeks.
- Use protective window covers to reduce direct sunlight. The UV radiation in sunlight can damage hardwood floors, causing them to warp and fade over time. Install protective window coverings such as blinds and curtains, or keep the shades drawn over areas of the floor that receive direct exposure to keep them from being exposed.[9]
- You can also place a rug over the floor to cover it from direct exposure to sunlight.
- Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. Hardwood floors will slowly degrade as they age, but you can keep their appearance looking uniform and even by moving around the furniture and rugs in the room. Every 6 months or so, rearrange the items on top of the floor to redirect foot traffic and allow other areas of the floor to age and match the rest of the floor.[10]
- Use the opportunity to clean your hardwood floors whenever you rearrange your furniture so dirt and grit don't damage the surface.
- Refinish your hardwood floors every 3-5 years. Refinishing your hardwood floors with a new coat will restore their shine that fades after natural wear and tear. It will also add a protective layer to keep them from getting scratched or faded. Depending on how much use your floors receive, you'll need to refinish them every 3 years or so.[11]
- Rooms with hardwood floors that receive little traffic, such as guest bedrooms or dining rooms, may need to be refinished every 5 or 6 years, depending on how dull they appear.
[Edit]References |
| How to Determine Who Has Right of Way Posted: 04 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Respecting others' rights of way on the road is essential, but the rules can get tricky. General guidelines, such as stopping at a red light or stop sign and yielding to pedestrians, are fairly straightforward. However, you're bound to encounter unique situations at intersections and while driving on unfamiliar or hazardous roads. To prevent accidents or injuries, exercise due diligence and learn how to handle special circumstances ahead of time. [Edit]Following General Rules - Come to a complete halt at a stop sign or red light. At a stop sign, come to complete halt for about 2 seconds or until vehicles that arrived before you clear the intersection. If you're stopped at a red light, proceed when the light has turned green. If the intersection has a white stripe in your lane, stop before this line.[1]
- If you have a stop sign, but the street you're crossing does not have a stop sign, wait until all traffic has cleared before crossing the intersection.[2]
- Before you proceed, be sure all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians have cleared your path, even if it's your turn to go.
- Treat a blinking red light as a stop sign. A blinking yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution.
- Turn right at a red light if it's permitted and no vehicles are approaching. If you see a sign that says, "No right turn on red," then you must wait for the light to turn green again. Otherwise, you may turn right at a red light after yielding to oncoming traffic.[3]
- Double check your local traffic laws. In some locations, right turns on red are never permitted. Note that, in the UK, left hand turns at a red light (the equivalent to right turns in the US) are not permitted.[4]
- Stop for pedestrians who've begun crossing the road. Once a pedestrian has begun crossing the road, they have the right of way. You should also stop for pedestrians waiting to cross at crosswalks that aren't controlled by a traffic light.[5]
- In most areas, a pedestrian shouldn't cross an intersection controlled by a traffic light until they have a green light or a walk sign. However, you still need to stop for a crossing pedestrian if you have a green light and they're crossing illegally.[6]
- Pass through a yield sign only if there are no approaching vehicles. Slow down as you approach a yield sign (or, in the UK, a give way sign). Come to a complete stop if there are any approaching vehicles, and allow them to pass. If there are no approaching vehicles, you can proceed without stopping.[7]
- As a rule of thumb, stop at a yield sign if entering the road would cause an approaching motorist to brake.
- Yield to oncoming traffic if you're entering a main road. Wait for approaching motorists to pass before entering the road from a driveway, parking lot, or parking space along the side of the road. If you're turning onto a main road from a side road, the motorists traveling on the busier road have the right of way.[8]
- Treat bicycles as motor vehicles. Yield to bicyclists in all situations where you would yield to a car. For example, wait for an oncoming bicycle to pass before turning left.[9]
- While you should treat bicyclists as motor vehicles, use caution when driving around them. Give bicyclists as much room as possible, and slow down when you pass one.
[Edit]Yielding Right of Way at Intersections - Yield to drivers who arrive before you at an intersection. If the intersection has a stop sign, come to a complete stop and yield to any vehicles that arrived before you. If there's no stop sign, slow down and be prepared to stop for any vehicles that reach the intersection first.[10]
- Stop at an intersection if the light is inoperative. If the light is completely inoperative, treat it as a 4-way stop. If the light isn't functioning properly and you have a blinking red light, treat it as a stop sign. For a blinking yellow light, proceed slowly and with caution.[11]
- Remember to always come to a complete stop at a stop sign or blinking red light.
- Allow the vehicle on the right to pass if you arrived at the same time. When 2 vehicles arrive at a 4 way stop or intersection with no traffic signs at the same time, the driver to the right has priority. If possible, make eye contact with the other driver or flash your lights to signal that you're letting them pass.[12]
- In countries where motorists drive on the right side of the road, the driver on the right has priority at intersections.
- The driver on the right also has priority at intersections in Australia and Singapore, even though motorists drive on the left side of the road in these countries.[13]
- There is no left or right priority in the UK. Instead, yield to drivers stopped at a dotted white line if you're stopped at a solid white line.[14]
- Stop for oncoming traffic before making a left turn. Whether you're turning left to enter a street, driveway, or parking lot, always yield to oncoming vehicles. Don't cross the oncoming lane to make your turn until approaching vehicles have passed.[15]
- If you're at a traffic light and have a green turn arrow, oncoming traffic has a red light and you may turn left. Just make sure oncoming vehicles have actually stopped and check for pedestrians crossing the street.
- If motorists drive on the left side of the road in your nation, yield to oncoming traffic before turning right.[16]
- Stop at a T-intersection if you're turning onto the through road. A T-intersection is formed by a through road and a road that comes to a dead end. Drivers traveling on the through road have the right of way. If you're turning onto the through road, wait until all approaching cars have passed before proceeding.[17]
- Stop for oncoming traffic when turning onto a through road even if there is no stop sign.
- Yield before entering a roundabout. Cars that are already traveling through the roundabout have the right of way. Enter the roundabout when you can do so without causing an approaching vehicle to brake.[18]
[Edit]Determining Right of Way While Driving - Yield the right of way to oncoming traffic on highway ramps. When you enter a highway and the on-ramp merges with a travel lane, yield to any vehicles that are already on the highway.[19]
- When you merge from an on-ramp to a highway travel lane, don't come to a stop when you yield. Slow down enough so the vehicle in the travel lane can pass, then merge behind them.
- Pull over to the side of the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass. When an emergency vehicle has its sirens and lights on, slow down and move over to the right side of the road. Stop if it's safe to do so, or reduce your speed if you're on a freeway. If you're on a 4-lane highway, try to leave at least 1 open lane between your vehicle and an emergency vehicle.[20]
- If an emergency vehicle is stopped on a 4-lane highway, move over at least 1 lane (to the left or right, depending on which side of the road they're located) before you pass by them.
- Pull over to the left side of the road if motorists drive on the left in your country.[21]
- Yield to a motorist driving uphill on a narrow mountain road. If you're driving downhill, pull over to the side of the road and let a vehicle traveling uphill pass. If there's not enough room, back up until there's space on the side of the road to pull over.[22]
- If you're traveling on a narrow bridge or a narrow road on level ground, look for signs that indicate which direction has the right of way.[23]
[Edit]Stopping for Pedestrians - Give pedestrians the right of way at crosswalks. For crosswalks that aren't located at intersections controlled by a traffic light or sign, stop for pedestrians that are crossing or about to cross the road.[24]
- In many locations, a crosswalk is considered a natural continuation of a sidewalk. If you can draw an imaginary line across an intersection to connect 2 sidewalks, treat that line as a crosswalk, even if the road isn't marked.
- Stop for crossing pedestrians even if you have the legal right of way. Even if a pedestrian begins crossing the road and you have a green light, let them pass. You might not technically violate a traffic law if you hit them, but you could still be held liable in a civil suit.[25]
- Do not pass a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. If a car stops ahead of you to let pedestrians cross, you must also come to a complete stop. Don't try to pass the car and drive through the crosswalk.[26]
- Proceed with caution instead of automatically taking your legal right of way. Never assume that another motorist will yield to you when you have the legal right of way.[27]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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