| How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner Posted: 17 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT Cleaning your window air conditioner regularly is vital to keeping it in good working order. Remove and rinse the filter monthly during the cooling season. When it's not in use, store the unit indoors and cover it with a sheet of plastic or tarp. Before you install it at the start of warmer weather, disassemble it and give it a thorough seasonal cleaning. Comb its aluminum fins, blow the coils with compressed air, and vacuum and wipe down the interior tray. If your unit is especially dirty, deep clean it with a coil cleaner or oxygenated household cleaner. [Edit]Cleaning the Air Conditioner Daily - Look and smell for signs of mildew. If a mildew smell is noticeable when you first turn the A/C on, this method may help.
- Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. The 3% solution sold in stores will work.
- Do not use alcohol, as this is flammable and could start a fire.
- Do not use bleach, as those fumes are toxic and bleach could damage the unit.
- While safer than bleach or alcohol, hydrogen peroxide should still be clearly labelled and kept out of the reach of children.
- Turn the unit off. Spray the intake area and outflow area on the front of the unit.
- Avoid getting spray in eyes or inhaling it. Once it settles on surfaces, the fumes are no longer a concern.
- Rinse hands after spraying.
- Allow it to dry. Then turn the unit back on.
- Spraying when the unit is turned off for the night is ideal, as that allows plenty of time to dry before morning.
- Do a deeper clean if needed. If this method isn't sufficient, remove the filter, with the unit off, and spray further inside the unit.
- Place a drip tray underneath the unit to catch any drips, which might otherwise bleach carpet, fabric, or wood.
- A turkey basting tray is one possible option.
- Avoid turning the unit on and off often. Before the condensate evaporates, that's the ideal breeding period for microbes. While the unit is on, the temperature extremes and continuous flow of condensate washing old water outside (you may see it dripping) prevents the build-up of microbes.
[Edit]Cleaning the Filter Monthly - Remove the unit's front panel to access the filter. Turn the unit off and disconnect the power cord before removing the front panel. Your air conditioner's front panel is secured with screws or tabs. Remove the panel, locate the filter, and pull it out of its slot.[1]
- Depending on your model, you'll either pull the filter up or slide it down out of its slot. Check your manual for specific information about how to remove your front panel and filter.[2]
- Run water through the filter. Rinse the filter under running warm water. Use a vacuum hose attachment to clean the filter if it's caked with dirt or grime.[3]
- It's best to clean your filter at least once a month. Clean it more often if you live in a dusty environment or have pets.[4]
- Replace your air filter at least every 3 months.[5]
- Let the filter dry then put in back in place. Shake off excess water and pat the filter with a dry towel. Let it sit out until it's completely dry. When it's dry, put the filter back into its slot and replace the unit's front panel.[6]
- Never run an air conditioner with a wet filter or without a filter.
- Replace a worn filter. If your filter is worn or torn, you should replace it. If the filter is designed specifically for your unit, identify your model number and order a new one online or from your unit's manufacturer.[7]
- If your unit has a universal foam filter, you can purchase a cut-to-fit air conditioner filter online or at your local home improvement store.[8]
[Edit]Cleaning an Air Conditioner Seasonally - Remove the unit's casing. Make sure the unit is off and that power is disconnected. Remove the front panel and fins that attach the unit to the window. Remove all the screws that attach the exterior casing to the unit's interior. Carefully slide the casing away from the interior, and make sure you don't snag the casing on any of the parts inside.[9]
- The screws are small, so be sure to keep them in a safe place, like an envelope or small can.
- Comb the aluminum fins. Use a fin comb or soft bristle brush to comb away dust and debris from the aluminum fins. You can find inexpensive combs specially made for window unit fins online or at a home improvement store.[10]
- Wearing work gloves when you clean the fins will prevent you from getting cut.
- Blow the coils and fan with condensed air. Purchase a canister of condensed air online or at your home improvement store. Spray into the fins and around the coils at the front and back of the unit. Blow away dust around the fan and motor at the center of the unit.[11]
- You can also use a small brush to wipe away debris from the coils.[12]
- Vacuum and wipe down the tray. Use a shop vac or vacuum hose attachment to remove debris from the tray, or the base of the unit's interior. Spray it down with a household cleaner, scrub it, then wipe it with a damp cloth.[13]
- Hand dry the tray with a clean towel then let it air dry for a few hours before reassembling the unit.
- It's important to clean the drain pan after you clean the coil, because the tray is connected to your drain line. It can easily clog, causing leaks and water damage.[14]
- Store your air conditioner inside during cooler weather. When it's not in use, you should store your window unit indoors. Remove it from the window and keep it in your attic or basement. Cover it with a plastic sheet or tarp to keep dust and debris from accumulating.[15]
- If you can't remove the air conditioner from the window, cover the exterior portion of the unit with a tarp or cover designed for air conditioners.
[Edit]Giving Your Unit a Deep Clean - Take the unit outside and remove its case. Place the unit on a table outside within reach of a hose. Take off the front panel and side fins that attach to the window. Remove the screws that attach the casing to the unit, store them in a safe place, and carefully slide off the casing.[16]
- Choose a warm, sunny day to deep clean your air conditioner outside.
- Spray the casing and interior with cleaning solution. Use an air conditioner coil cleaner or an oxygenated household cleaner. You can also mix warm water with a few drops of dish detergent. Spray the front panel, case, and window fins with the cleaner.[17] Then spray the interior coils, fan, aluminum fins, and interior base.[18]
- Let the parts soak for about 10 minutes.
- Scrub the unit and case and spray again if necessary. Use a soft bristle brush to gently scrub all the parts you sprayed with cleaning solution. If you encounter stubborn grime, such as around the fan blades, spray the areas again and let them soak for another few minutes. Then give them another scrub with your soft bristled brush.[19]
- Use a hose to rinse the case, coils, and tray. Set your hose on low pressure, as high pressure could damage the coils or aluminum fins. Spray down the exterior panel, casing, and window fins. Then hose down the coils, fan, and aluminum fins. Tilt the unit to spray and drain the interior base.[20]
- Avoid getting the control panel wet when you hose down the unit.
- Let your unit dry before reassembling it. Leave your unit outside to dry in the sun for a few hours. You can towel dry as much excess water as possible to make the process go faster. Wait until the unit is completely dry before you reassemble it.[21]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Prune Tomatoes Posted: 17 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT When growing tomatoes, the ultimate goal is to help the plant yield as much ripe fruit as possible. If you're growing indeterminate or "vining" varieties (Big Boy, Beef Master, most heirlooms), pruning your plants to remove unwanted shoots and leaves ensures that all the nutrients are going to the tomatoes. If you're growing a determinate variety (Biltmore, Heinz, Patio), too much pruning is counterproductive. [Edit]Deciding When to Prune Tomatoes - Determine which variety you're growing. Before you make any cuts, figure out whether you're growing an indeterminate or determinate variety of tomato plant. Indeterminate varieties grow like vines, and they must be trained upright on poles and pruned in order to grow correctly. Determinate varieties contain themselves before they grow into a bush, and they naturally direct their energy toward fruiting without needing as much intervention. Here are the common varieties of each:
- Indeterminate: Big Boy, Beef Master, Black Prince, German Queen, most cherry tomato varieties and most heirloom varieties.
- Determinate:Ace 55, Amelia, Better Bush, Biltmore, Heatmaster, Heinz Classic, Mountain Pride and Patio.
- Check the plant for signs of yellowing. One way to know when it is time to start pruning is to wait for the stems and leaves below the first set of flowers to turn yellow. When you notice this color change, you can start pruning.
- Check for suckers. Look for the tiny new branches sprouting in the spot where a branch meets the stem on an indeterminate plant. These are called "suckers" and they're what you want to remove. Suckers left to grow will take energy from the rest of the plant and cause the plant to bear more fruits, but can cause the tomatoes to be smaller. This isn't always a bad thing, but strategically removing suckers will help your plant bear large fruit all season long.
- Look for flowers. It is a good idea to start pruning your tomato plants early, as soon as there are flowers on the plants. At this point, the plants should be between 12 and 18 inches.[1]
[Edit]Using Proper Pruning Techniques - Remove all suckers and their leaves below the first flower cluster. Do this no matter what kind of tomato plant you have. This keeps the plant strong by helping it grow a sturdy central stem. [2] This should ensure that the majority of the nutrients are sent to the fruits, instead of being wasted on the unwanted growing tips.
- To remove a sucker, grab a growing tip by the base between the thumb and forefinger and bend it back and forth until it snaps cleanly. This should ideally be done when the shoot is young and supple. The small wound will heal quickly. This is called "simple pruning".
- As for stems and leaves, not the suckers, growing below the first flower cluster: If you live in a warmer zone such as Zone 9, you should leave them on until they turn yellow. They are important for helping to shade the ground until the plant matures. On the other hand, if your plant is in a humid environment (such as a greenhouse), remove everything below the first flower cluster to improve ventilation. Humidity can make it easier for sicknesses to flourish, and it also causes the wounds that are created while pruning to dry up more slowly making the plant longer vulnerable. By improving ventilation, you're helping to protect the plant.
- Leave the thicker shoots. Thicker suckers should not be snapped off, since this could damage the whole plant. If it's thicker than a pencil, use the "Missouri pruning" method and pinch out just the tip of the sucker, leaving one or two leaves behind for photosynthesis and to protect developing fruit from sun scald. The drawback is that suckers will develop from the stem that you leave behind, which will require additional pruning. This technique is better when you're dealing with large suckers; if the wound becomes diseased, it will be further away from the main stem. This method also leaves a few inches on the sucker to reduce the shock to the plant.
- Prune suckers all summer long to keep the plant healthy. They grow quickly, so you may need to prune once or twice a week.[3]
- Pinch off all but four or five fruit bearing trusses for indeterminate varieties. These are the branches that grow from the main stem above the first flower cluster. Four or five will produce large, healthy fruit, but any more than that and the fruit will be small and scant. Choose four or five sturdy trusses to keep, then pinch out any additional side shoots, leaving the plant's top shoot intact, known as the terminal shoot.
- Make sure the vine-like plants are tied to supports after flowering occurs. Otherwise, the vine will grow along the ground and won't produce healthy tomatoes.
- Determinate plants already have a predetermined number of stems that will naturally grow, so there's no need to do any pruning above the flower cluster. If you prune above the flower cluster, you'll be removing fruit-bearing branches without helping the plant.
- Remove yellow leaves. Yellow leaves are leaves that use up more sugar than they produce. As the plant begins to mature, the lower leaves will naturally begin to yellow and wilt. This is perfectly normal, so pull these from the plant when they appear. It will keep the plant fresh and help ward off disease.
- Top the plant. To get the best out of the last growth of the season, it is necessary to "top" the plant. About a month before the first expected frost, or when the plant hits the roof of your greenhouse, remove the plant's terminal shoot. At this point in the season, the tomatoes currently growing will have a limited time to reach maturity, so all nutrients must be directed straight to the fruit.
- Determinate or "bush" varieties do not need pruning (or staking, for that matter). They are bred to grow to a compact height, produce one "wave" of fruit during a two weeks period and then die. Indeterminate varieties, also called "vining" tomatoes, grow as tall as people and produce and grow all season long. Common determinate varieties are Rutgers, Roma, Celebrity (called a semi-determinate by some) and Marglobe. Common indeterminate varieties are Big Boy, Beef Master, most "cherry" types, Early Girl and most heirloom varieties. [4]
[Edit]Warnings - If you smoke, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling tomato plants. Tobacco smokers can easily infect tomato plants with "Mosaic Virus."
- To avoid infecting your tomato plants, always prefer fingers over blades for removing shoots (the resulting wound can be easily infected). However, for older, tougher shoots, you may have to resort to using a blade; if so, sterilize your cutting implement thoroughly for each use.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Growing tomatoes
- Clean hands
- Sterilised cutting implement if using (hands preferred)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Teach Meditation Posted: 17 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT Meditation can bring a sense of calm even after your practice ends, so it's a great way to help manage your stress levels. If you're passionate about meditation, you may want to share your practice with others by teaching it. To become a teacher, you'll need to build your own personal meditation practice and to expand your knowledge about meditation. You may not need a certification to teach meditation, but you might attract more students if you earn one. [Edit]Training to Teach Meditation - Meditate every day to develop a practice. Before you teach meditation, it's important to hone your skills through a daily practice. Decide how long you can spend meditating daily, then establish a regular meditation time. This will help you build a solid foundation for your teaching goals.[1]
- For instance, you might meditate for 30 minutes every morning right after you wake up.
- You might like using a free app like Insight Timer, Headspace, or Calm to help you develop a daily practice.
- Attend workshops, classes, and retreats to expand your skills. You can learn meditation on your own, but studying under a teacher or mentor will deepen your knowledge. Look for workshops, classes, and retreats at meditation centers, yoga studios, Buddhist communities, new age shops, or online. Sign up for different types of educational opportunities so you can learn new skills, practice meditation, and figure out what resonates most with you.[2]
- If you have questions about meditation, bring them with you so you can ask your teacher. Take advantage of their knowledge!
- Identify the age group and experience level you want to teach. When you first start teaching, you'll likely teach beginners or children. You may need additional training if you want to teach at a master level. Consider who you want to teach before you start a certification program.[3]
- You may be able to teach students or children without any training if you've been meditating for a while.
- Master the style of mediation you plan to teach. There are a lot of different types of meditation, some of which require more training than others. If you have a preferred style for your personal practice, choose that for your teaching path. Otherwise, compare each type and decide which works best for you. Here are the most common types of meditation:[4]
- Breath awareness is a basic form of meditation where you just focus on your breath.
- Guided meditation is when an instructor leads the group through a meditation, which sometimes involves visualization.
- Mantra meditation involves repeating a word to help maintain your focus.
- Mindfulness meditation involves being present and aware in the present moment.
- Earn a certification through a training program to boost your credibility. There's no official certification for teaching meditation, but many training programs offer their own certification. Research programs in your area or look for a program online. Check out the program's mission, classes offered, teaching staff, and student reviews. Then, review the Better Business Bureau rating for the organization and see if there are any news articles about it. Choose a well-respected program with a mission that reflects your core values.[5]
- You may be able to find training locally through a meditation center, Buddhist community, or yoga studio.
- There is no accreditation agency for meditation classes, but you can use student reviews and reputation to help you pick a program.
- Lead informal groups in meditation to get real world experience. You've probably heard that practice makes perfect, so look for opportunities to practice your teaching skills. Invite friends, relatives, and people you met at meditation classes to attend sessions hosted by you. Treat each session like a real meditation class.[6]
- For instance, you might set up a recurring meditation group for every Wednesday evening or Saturday morning. Invite people to your weekly event and lead the group like a class.
- If you're having trouble finding people to come to your meditation events, consider posting the invite online. You might even start a group on Meetup.com.
[Edit]Arranging a Meditation Space - Dedicate a space for your meditation classes. If you have space in your home, turn one of your rooms into a meditation classroom. You might also rent a space to teach your classes. Use this space primarily for meditation so it has a peaceful ambiance.[7]
- For instance, you might convert an extra bedroom or your garage into a meditation studio. If you're renting a space, choose a location that is quiet and easy to find.
- Choose wall decorations and props that are calming. You want your students to feel relaxed and comfortable when they enter your meditation space. Depending on the type of meditation you plan to teach, you may also want to encourage feelings of zen or connectedness. Paint the room colors that are calming, like pale grey or light blue. Then, add wall art, statues, or other objects that evoke the look you want.[8]
- For instance, you might paint the room a light tan color. Then, you could hang photos of lush greenery around the space. In the front of the room, you may set up a table with a Buddha statue, incense, and fresh flowers.
- Place cushions on the floor for seating so you'll be comfortable. Meditation studios typically use floor cushions for seating. Decide if you want small cushions or larger floor poufs. Then, arrange the cushions in rows facing toward the front of the room where you'll be teaching.[9]
- You might ask students to bring their own meditation cushions if you don't want to get your own.
- Adjust the lighting up or down so it's comforting to your students. Check with your students to find out what type of lighting they prefer in advance, if possible. Use low-lighting if your students are comfortable with it. This will reduce outside stimuli so they can focus on their meditation. You might choose to light some candles, if you desire.[10]
- If you can't turn out the lights or your students prefer a well-lit room, you can still teach them meditation.
- Light incense to set the mood if you like. You don't need to use incense for meditation and may prefer to avoid it. However, lighting incense can help put you and your students in the mindset for meditation. Consider incorporating incense into your teaching practice. Choose scents you find relaxing.[11]
- Nag champa is a traditional scent, but you might try other scents, as well.
- Set up a place to film your sessions if you want to post them online. Look through your camera lens to see how much space is visible on camera. Then, place your meditation cushion in the middle of the area so you'll be in the center of the camera shot. Arrange any items you want to use to create ambiance around your meditation area.[12]
- For instance, you might lay a rug in front of your cushion and then place a Buddha statue, candles, and incense on the rug.
- Alternatively, you might put large potted plants on either side of your meditation cushion and a line of tea light candles in front of it.
[Edit]Leading Students through Meditation - Teach breath awareness as the foundation for meditation. Breath awareness means focusing on your breath as you clear your mind. Tell your students to pay attention to their inhale and exhale. Explain that they should redirect their thoughts back to their breath if their mind wanders.[13]
- You might say, "Focus on your breath. Breathe in, breathe out. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath."
- As an alternative, you might have students concentrate on a symbol, like a flame, waves, or rain. This can help them stay with their breath.
- Incorporate a word or phrase if you're doing mantra meditation. A mantra can help students stay focused on their breath and may help them relax. Pick a word or phrase that's meaningful to you or your tradition. Instruct students to either say the mantra to themself or out loud.[14]
- You could say, "On your exhale, say 'Om.'"
- If your practice is more modern, you might choose a mantra like "breathe" or "peace with every breath."
- Instruct students to focus on their senses if you're teaching mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness means being present in the moment. Ask your students to focus on what they can perceive with their senses of touch, sound, and smell. This will help them feel grounded in the moment, which is the goal of mindfulness meditation.[15]
- You might say, "Notice how your feet feel pressed together," "Smell the incense as it floats through the air," or "Pay attention to how your breath feels as it flows through your lungs."
- Your students likely won't see anything during the meditation since their eyes will be closed. If they have their eyes open, you may incorporate the sense of sight. Similarly, your students likely won't taste anything during their meditation.
- Tell students not to fight their feelings during mindful meditation. Often, meditation allows people to feel deeply rooted emotions that they may not even realize were there. Teach your students that this is normal, and the best way to handle it is to just be with the emotion. Explain that acknowledging the feeling and accepting it may help them process it. Eventually, the feeling will resolve or dull on its own.[16]
- Fighting your emotions usually makes them harder to overcome. By letting their emotions be, your students may be able to process them.
- You might say, "Don't fight your emotions. Just be with them."
- Lead your students in a guided meditation for a structured practice. Write your guided meditation before your class or use a script provided by another meditation teacher, with permission. Practice the meditation on your own before you use it in class. During your class, give verbal instructions on what students should do during the meditation. You might choose to play background music, as well.[17]
- You might say something like, "Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now, picture all of your worries turning to bubbles and floating away."
- If you might use words your students don't know, define the words before you start the guided meditation.[18]
- You may want to record your meditation so you can provide it to students or post it online.
- Record a meditation series to post online if you want to host digital classes. Use videos of your practice to attract new students or to substitute for in-person classes. Film your meditation classes or personal meditation sessions. Then, post the videos online where you advertise your services. Here are some places you might post:[19]
- Post your videos on your website.
- Start a YouTube channel and post recordings of your meditation sessions.
- Use Facebook Live to share your meditation sessions.
- Try posting your meditations on an app, like Insight Timer.
[Edit]Advertising Your Classes - Create a web presence for your meditation business. If people can't find you, it'll be hard for you to attract students. Set up a website and social media pages for your meditation services. Include information on how students can contact you, your pricing, and promotion photos. If you have any videos, include them on your pages so it's easy for students to find them.[20]
- You can use a service like Hootsuite or Postling to post on all of your social media accounts at once, if you like. You can even schedule posts in advance.
- Make business cards to hand out to potential clients. Design your own business cards, visit a local printer, or order your cards online. Include your name, contact information, and a photo or design that represents your business. Leave your business cards at places like coffee shops, yoga studios, and new age shops. Additionally, hand out your cards to people you meet.[21]
- Consider having your cards designed by a local artist so they're unique and eye-catching.
- You can buy business cards online from a site like Vistaprint or Moo.
- Ask friends and relatives to spread the word. Tell everyone you know that you've started teaching meditation classes. Offer to show them your skills in exchange for them telling others. Encourage them to post online, talk to their friends, and give your business card to people they think might be interested.[22]
- You could say, "I've just finished a training class to teach meditation, and I'm trying to recruit students. Would you be interested in a free session? All I ask is that you tell others if you like it."
- Post advertisements on social media. Through your business social media pages, buy ads to promote your services. When you set up your ad, choose your target demographic and the locations where you want your ad to appear. This way only prospective students will see your ad.[23]
- For instance, you might target your ad toward people who live in your area if you teach classes in person. On the other hand, you might set your ad to appear worldwide if you teach online.
- Hang flyers in new age stores, schools, and coffee shops. Create a flyer that has an eye-catching photo that will get attention. Include your name, information about your teaching practices, and how students can contact you. Consider putting tabs with your information on them at the bottom so students can pull them off.
- For instance, you might use a large photo of a lotus leaf or of you meditating.
- Ask the owner or manager of the location before you hang up your flyer. Typically, you're allowed to post flyers on bulletin boards in coffee shops, libraries, schools, and some shops.
- Meditation, particularly loving-kindness meditation, can inspire positive thoughts.[24]
[Edit]Related wikiHows Teach Kids Relaxation Meditation [Edit]References |
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