| How to Use a Ceramic Cooktop Posted: 07 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT A ceramic, or glass cooktop, allows you to cook food on a completely flat surface. This type of cooking area is pretty straightforward to use, and is easy to clean and maintain. If you keep a few important precautions in mind, you'll be able to keep your appliance in tip-top condition for years to come! [Edit]Selecting the Best Cookware - Choose pots and pans that fit the size of the cooking area. Measure across each of your cooking zones, or burners, to see how wide they are. Keep in mind that ceramic cooktops heat up beneath the surface, and focus heat within these circular areas. Then, measure the bottom of the pots and pans that you use the most. Ideally, aim to use cookware that fits evenly in the cooking zones so the heat can spread consistently.[1]
- For instance, if 1 of your cooking zones is wide, you'd want to use a pan that's about wide.
- Pick out stainless steel cookware for your cooktop. Check the labeling on your pots and pans to see what they're made of. Try to use cookware made with stainless steel, as opposed to stoneware, cast iron, ceramic, or glass. Stainless steel heats up very consistently, which makes it a great candidate for your pots and pans. Other metals, like cast iron, tend to scratch and scuff the ceramic surface.[2]
- If you don't have stainless steel cookware on hand, heavy-weight aluminum is also a great solution.
- Opt for cookware that's more flat than rounded. Flip over your pots and pans and see how curved they are along the bottom. Since ceramic stove tops are completely flat, curved cookware may not heat up as evenly as flatter pots and pans.[3]
- Ideally, the bottom of the pan of pot should be snug against the entire cooking zone.
- Select wood or metal cooking tools instead of plastic ones. Pick out utensils that aren't as likely to melt on a hot cooking surface. If you have a lot of plastic spatulas, it may be worthwhile to invest in a few wooden or metal spoons, which will last longer.[4]
- For instance, use a wooden spoon instead of a plastic spatula when working with a ceramic cooktop.
- Clean any food gunk off the bottom of your pans before using them. Wash your dishes thoroughly after they've sat on the cooktop for awhile. It can be easy for old crumbs and gunk to build up on the bottom of your cookware, which can leave scuffs and scratches on your cooktop. Before using them, double-check that the bottom of your pots and pans are as smooth as possible, which will save you time in the long run.[5]
[Edit]Operating the Cooktop - Turn the designated knobs to get your cooktop heated up. Look around your cooktop for specific knobs that control the temperature of your cooking zones. Keep in mind that these knobs may be behind the cooktop, or alongside of it. For specific guidance, consult your user manual for in-depth instructions.[6]
- Lift up your pots and pans instead of sliding them along the cooktop. Avoid the temptation to slide your cookware to another cooking zone, even if you're in a rush. Keep in mind that ceramic can scratch easily, especially if you're sliding your pots and pans across. Instead, make a conscious effort to lift and lower your dishes when you move them around.[7]
- Check the light indicator to see if the cooktop is hot. Keep an eye out for an LED light indicator somewhere on your cooktop. Generally, this light will be illuminated when the cooktop is warm or hot to the touch. Whenever you see this light, do your best not to touch the cooktop, or else you may burn yourself.[8]
- Read through your ceramic cooktop's user manual for specific instructions and safety precautions.
[Edit]Cleaning Your Cooktop - Wait for the cooktop to cool down completely before cleaning it. Check your cooktop's user manual to see how to turn your appliance on and off. Most cooktops have some kind of indicator to let you know when the stovetop is still hot, which can prevent you from burning yourself. If you apply cleaner while the stovetop is still hot, you may do long-term damage to the ceramic surface.[9]
- Hold your hand above the stovetop to see if it feels warm or not.
- Ideally, try to clean off your cooktop whenever it looks messy. For instance, you don't need to clean off the cooktop if you're simply boiling a kettle of water.
- Brush any obvious crumbs off the stovetop. Grab a sharp scraper and hold it at a 45-degree angle along the edge of your ceramic cooktop. Drag the scraper across the surface of the stovetop, applying a consistent, moderate amount of pressure as you go. At this point, take a clean paper towel or rag and wipe any obvious messes off the stovetop. This will make the cooktop easier to clean, and will help you focus on more stubborn stains.[10]
- Don't use a dull or damaged scraper for this, or you may end up scratching the cooktop.
- Wipe down the cooktop with a specialized cleaner and a paper towel. Spritz the surface of your ceramic cooktop with a cleaning product designed for ceramic surfaces. Rub the cleaner into the stovetop with a rag or paper towel to clean off the entire surface.[11] Don't apply too much pressure as you clean, or else you may cause the ceramic surface to fracture.[12]
- With cleaners, a little can go a long way! Start with a few drops, and add more cleaner if you need it.
- You can find specialty cleaner online, or at certain stores that sell cleaning supplies.
- Spritz over the cooktop with water and wipe it off. Fill an empty spray bottle with water and coat the ceramic surface in a light mist. Take a clean paper towel or rag and go over the cooktop one more time to wipe away any excess cleaner.[13]
- Lukewarm water is fine for this.
- Soak up spills as soon as they happen—if they get stuck to the ceramic surface, you may end up damaging the glass if you try to clean it off later.[14]
[Edit]Warnings - Only use cleaners that are specifically designed for ceramic or glass cooktops. Despite the name, traditional glass cleaners aren't a good cleaning solution for your cooktop, since they tend to have some harsh chemicals in them.[15]
- Avoid using abrasive cleaning pads on your cooktop.[16]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cleaning Your Cooktop - Scraper blade
- Paper towel
- Cloth
- Ceramic glass cleaner
- Water
- Spray bottle
[Edit]References |
| How to Do Knee Ups Posted: 07 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT You might think of knee-ups or knee raises as a leg exercise, but they're also a great workout for your hips, abs, and core! Sitting or standing knee-ups are simple exercises that you can do at home without any special equipment. For a more challenging exercise that will also work your upper body, try doing hanging knee-ups on a pull-up bar or gymnastics rings. [Edit]Standing Knee Ups - Stand upright with your knees hip-width apart. Get into a comfortable standing position with your back straight and tall and your shoulders squared. Plant your feet so they're slightly apart, and keep your knees lined up under your hips.[1]
- If you have trouble balancing, you can do this exercise while standing next to a chair or counter and rest your hand on it for support.[2]
- Brace your core muscles. Gently tense the muscles in your abdomen, sides, and lower back. Engaging these muscles will help you build strength in your core.[3]
- To find your core muscles, imagine creating a firm band or belt of muscle around your lower body. You can also try pulling your belly button in towards your spine.
- This exercise also helps strengthen your hips.[4]
- Raise one knee until your thigh is level with the floor. Breathe in deeply, then breathe out as you slowly raise one of your knees. Lift your leg until the back of your thigh is parallel with the floor.[5]
- Keep your back straight and tall as you lift your leg.[6]
- Hold for 1-2 seconds before returning to the start position. Pause for a second or 2 with your knee raised. Then, slowly and smoothly put your foot back on the floor while breathing out.[7]
- Switch to the other leg and repeat. After raising and lowering one knee, repeat the same process on the other side. Or, you can do several raises on one side, then switch to the other.[8]
- Do 1-2 sets of 10-15 reps, either alternating knees or doing one side and then the other as separate sets.
- To make the exercise more challenging, you can try doing more reps or adding small weights to your ankles.
[Edit]Hanging Knee Ups - Grab a pull-up bar or gymnastics rings with an overhand grip. Hanging knee ups are also known as hanging knee raises. Stand under a bar or a set of gymnastics rings with your back straight and tall. Reach straight up with your palms facing forwards and grab the bar or rings from behind.[9]
- Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart.
- In your starting position, your arms should be completely straight and your feet should be slightly off the floor.
- This exercise is similar to a vertical knee raise, or "Captain's Chair." To do a vertical knee raise, instead of reaching up to grab a bar, you'd start by resting your forearms on a pair of parallel bars, as if they were the armrests on a chair.
- Pull your knees up toward your chest. Brace your core and tighten your abs. Try to use those muscles to lift your legs. Raise your knees up as far as you can, and try to touch your chest with the tops of your thighs.[10]
- Keep your body as still as you can, and try to keep the motion of your legs slow and smooth. Don't let your body swing from side to side or twist around.
- If you have trouble lifting your legs high enough to touch your chest, aim to raise your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor.[11]
- Lower your legs in a slow, controlled motion. Once you reach the top of the knee-up, slowly and carefully return to your starting position. Don't let your legs suddenly drop, and try not to do any fast or jerky movements.[12]
- Slow, controlled movements will make the exercise more effective.
- Aim for 3 sets of 10 reps. This is an exercise that takes a lot of strength, so don't worry if you can't do a ton of reps right away. 3 sets of 10 reps is a good general goal to aim for when you're doing any strength-building exercise.[13] If you can't manage that, start with a smaller number, like 2 sets of 5 reps.
- This is a great exercise for your lower abs, but you'll also build strength in your hips, arms, shoulders, and upper back.[14]
[Edit]Sitting Knee Ups - Sit on the edge of a chair or bench. Find a chair or workout bench and sit tall, with your back straight. Put your feet flat on the floor in front of you.[15]
- If you're sitting on a chair with a back, sit far enough forward so that you can tilt your body back in the chair.
- Lean back so you're partially reclining and grab the sides of the chair. Slowly tilt back on your buttocks until your body is leaning at a 45° angle. Hold onto the sides of the chair to keep you from falling backwards.[16]
- If you're on a bench, you can also stabilize yourself by reaching back and resting your hands on the bench behind you.[17]
- Lift both knees toward your chest. Brace your abdominal muscles and slowly pull your knees up toward your chest. Keep your back straight and only move your lower body (legs and hips).[18]
- Keep your core engaged as you raise your legs. Don't allow your upper body to rock back as your legs come up.
- Lower your legs slowly back to the starting position. Once you've pulled your legs up as far as they can comfortably go, lower them back toward the floor in a slow, controlled motion. Ideally, they shouldn't quite touch the ground before you start lifting them back up again.[19]
- Your abs will get a better workout if you don't let your feet touch the floor between lifts. However, it's okay to touch the floor if you find it too difficult to keep your feet up.
- Repeat this exercise 10-15 times. Keep raising and lowering your knees several more times—aim for about 10-15. If you like, you can rest for a few minutes, then do another set. With practice, you will eventually be able to complete more repetitions.[20]
- This exercise is great for toning your abs, especially if you keep them engaged and tight throughout the whole workout.[21] It will also help strengthen your lower back, hips, and glutes.
- Exercises that involve raising your knees while supporting yourself with your upper body, such as hanging knee-ups or the similar "Captain's Chair" maneuver, are great for building the rectus abdominis, or 6-pack muscles. They're also good for working your hip flexors.[22]
- Knee ups help strengthen the muscles in your core that control spinal flexion, or the movements of your torso that help you do basic things like sitting up from a lying position or bending over to pick something up. Strengthening these muscles can help stabilize your spine and reduce lower back pain.[23]
[Edit]Warnings - If you have any injuries to your knees or back, talk to your doctor before trying these exercises. It's a good idea to get medical advice before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have any serious health concerns.
[Edit]References |
| How to Keep Dust from Collecting Under Your Bed Posted: 07 Sep 2020 01:00 AM PDT Dust is an unfortunate part of life, and finding dust bunnies under the bed can be seriously gross. Fortunately, you don't have to let dust rule your life. By taking a few precautions and cleaning your bedroom once a week, you can deter dust from accumulating under the bed and make your cleaning ritual that much easier. [Edit]Dust-Proofing Your Bedroom - Keep your floor clear of clutter. Stuffed animals, clothes, rugs, and other soft objects can collect dust and transfer it to the floor under your bed. Try to keep your floor clear as much as you can to remove the threat of dust and keep your floor clean.[1]
- Try putting a laundry hamper in your room to collect your dirty clothes throughout the week.
- Put shoes away in your closet. Shoes track dust, dirt, and other allergens into the room that can accumulate under your bed. Take your shoes off before you go into your bedroom and put them away in your closet or mudroom as soon as you get home.[2]
- Taking your shoes off before you come inside will also help avoid tracking dirt or mud into the rest of your house.
- Attach a bed skirt to your bed to deter dust. Bed skirts are long sheets that fit around the lower part of your bed frame and touch the top of the floor. They provide a barrier to discourage dust from collecting underneath the bed, making it easier for you to clean up the dust that does accumulate. Put one of these on your bed to keep the dust out as it collects in your room.[3]
- Make sure you wash your bed skirt every week along with your other bedding.
- Install an air filter on your furnace and air conditioning unit. Air filters can help collect dust before it reaches your room, making it easier to keep out from underneath your bed. Put a certified allergy and asthma friendly filter on your furnace and air conditioner to collect dust before it can circulate around your home.[4]
- Avoid filters that use heat or electrostatic, as those can make dust worse.
- You can also buy a free-standing air filter to place in the room without hooking it up to a furnace or air conditioner.
- Air out your room as often as possible. Whenever you can, open up the doors and windows in your bedrooms to let the air circulate. This will discourage dust from accumulating under your bed, and it can freshen up your home as well![5]
- Consider putting bug screens on your windows if you're going to be keeping them open for a long time.
- Use a fan to circulate the air. Set up a box or standing fan in your room and keep it on low to move the air around in your room. This can also help keep your room cool in the summer months and leave your room smelling fresh.[6]
- If you have a ceiling fan, you can turn that on instead.
[Edit]Cleaning and Dusting the Room - Dust the room with a wet rag once a week. Run a rag under warm water and wring out the excess. Dust any flat surfaces in your room with the wet rag to get rid of the dust before it has the chance to migrate under your bed. If you have allergies, wear a dust mask as you clean to avoid irritating your sinuses.[7]
- A wet rag will pick up the dust much better than a dry one.
- If you have hardwood floors, put the wet rag on the ground and push it under the bed with a broom handle.
- Wash your bedding once a week. Your sheets, pillowcases, and comforters all collect a lot of dust throughout the week and can transfer it under your bed. Try to wash your bedding at least once a week in water that's , or at least change your sheets and pillowcases every week.[8]
- If your pet sleeps in their own bed in your room, wash their bedding once a week as well.
- Vacuum your carpet or rugs once a week. If you have rugs or carpet in your room, run a vacuum over them at least once a week. Make sure your vacuum has a high-quality dust filter on it so it can collect and trap all of the dust particles from your room.[9]
- Carpets and rugs are huge dust collectors. If you have the option, try to leave your floor bare so dust can't stick to it.
- If you have any plush furniture in your bedroom, you can also use your vacuum on that once a week.
- Clean your curtains or blinds once a week. If you have curtains in your room, take them down and wash them in water that's at least . If you have blinds, use a damp cloth to wipe them down once a week and get rid of the dust.[10]
- If you have the option, consider putting in roller shades to deter dust.
- Wash your rugs with hot water once a week. Throw your rugs in a hot water wash cycle that's at least . This will kill the dust mites in the rug, leaving it dust and allergen-free.[11]
- To keep your room even more dust-free, try not using rugs at all so dust can't accumulate.
- Removing the clutter from your room is the best way to keep dust out from under your bed.
[Edit]Warnings - If you have a dust mite allergy, wear a dust-filtering mask when you vacuum or dust your room.[12]
[Edit]References |
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