| How to Clean a Microwave Posted: 18 Apr 2021 05:00 PM PDT You probably don't give a lot of thought to your microwave until it's time to clean it. If your machine is dusty, the inside is splattered with food, or you notice your food isn't heating as quickly, then it's time to clean! Scrub the inside of your microwave with your favorite cleaning product, such as lemon, baking soda, or vinegar, and polish the outside. Your machine will be more efficient and look like new. [Edit]Loosening Grime with a Steaming Solution - Create a steaming solution with water and citrus or vinegar. Pour of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, you can add 2 to 3 citrus slices or of vinegar to the water. If your microwave is really dirty, consider adding both the citrus and the vinegar.[1]
- You can use any type of vinegar, such as plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Try adding slices of lemon, orange, or lime.
- Add 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda to the solution if your microwave smells. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, so stir it into the water before you microwave the solution. The baking soda will absorb the smells as the water heats.[2]
- Put a wooden skewer into the bowl. If you're going to heat the water in a perfectly smooth bowl, the microwave can superheat the liquid and cause the bowl to burst. To prevent the liquid from superheating, add a wooden skewer or wooden spoon to the bowl.[3]
- Avoid putting a metal skewer or spoon into the bowl since it can overheat and scorch your microwave.
- Microwave the solution on "high" for 5 minutes. Place the bowl with the skewer on the microwave's turntable and close the door. Microwave the solution for 5 minutes so the water begins to boil and create steam.[4]
- Wait 5 minutes to open the microwave so the steam can loosen grime. If you open the microwave immediately, the steam will escape and your cleaning solution will be incredibly hot. Instead, wait 5 minutes before you open the door.[5]
[Edit]Scrubbing the Inside of the Microwave - Remove the solution and turntable before washing it with soapy water. Take out the bowl of solution and lift the turntable off of its track. Remove the turntable and wash both sides of it with soapy water. Put the clean turntable on the counter while you clean the inside of the microwave.[6]
- If the bowl is still hot after 5 minutes, wear oven mitts to remove it.
- If the turntable is really greasy or has burnt-on stains, you could soak it in a sink full of soapy water while you clean the inside of the microwave.
- Scrub the bottom, sides, top, and door of the interior with a sponge or cloth. Since food often splatters in every direction, you'll need to spend some time wiping down every interior surface. Dip a sponge or cloth into the cleaning solution you made earlier and use it to wipe away all of the grease and food remnants.[7]
- Wipe the inside of the microwave with a dry cloth. Once you've scrubbed the inside of the machine, take a dry cloth or paper towel and wipe each wall inside the microwave. You should also wipe the top and bottom of the machine until the entire interior is dry.[8]
- Put the turntable back into the microwave. Place the clean turntable in the bottom of the machine so it rests on its tracks. If it's not on the tracks, the turntable will appear tilted or it may not rotate properly when the machine is on.
[Edit]Removing Stubborn Stains - Rub away grease stains using a baking soda paste. Mix together enough baking soda and water to make a spreadable paste. Then, rub the paste with a cloth over the greasy areas before you wipe it away with a wet cloth.[9]
- If there's a lot of grease, consider spraying the inside with a grease-cutting product.
- Wipe away yellow stains with nail polish remover. If you have an older microwave, it's probably got yellow stains from years of use but these are easy to remove with a little nail polish. Dip a cotton ball in acetone nail polish remover and rub the yellow stains until they lift.[10]
- To remove the harsh acetone smell, wipe the microwave down with a damp cloth.
- Scrub scorch marks with a sponge soaked with vinegar and baking soda. All it takes is burning 1 bag of popcorn and your microwave will be left with scorch marks. Fortunately, you can usually scrub these away by soaking a sponge in vinegar and sprinkling an even layer of baking soda over it. Rub the rougher side of the sponge over the marks until they're removed.[11]
- You can also try lifting the stains by rubbing a cotton ball soaked in acetone over them.
[Edit]Polishing the Outside - Dip a cloth into soapy water and wring it out. Fill a bowl or the sink with warm soapy water and drop a dishcloth into it. Swish the cloth around so it absorbs the soapy water. Then, wring most of the soapy water out of the cloth.[12]
- You can use liquid dishwashing soap to make the soapy water.
- Use the cloth to wipe the top, sides, and display panel. Take everything off of the top of your microwave so you can easily clean the top with the soapy cloth. Then, rub it over the sides of the machine. You'll probably have to spend a little extra time on the display panel since this can become sticky with a lot of use.[13]
- You'll also need to wipe around the handle, which can be grimy.
- Wipe a clean damp cloth over the microwave to rinse off the soap. Run a new cloth under hot or warm tap water and wring it out. Use the wet cloth to wipe off the entire microwave.[14]
- Removing the soap will prevent it from drying on the machine and leaving a residue.
- Use commercial disinfectant if your microwave is very dirty. Simple soapy water should be enough to clean the exterior of your microwave, but you can use disinfectant cleanser if the machine is really dirty. Instead of spraying deep-cleaning products directly on the outside of the microwave, you should spray them onto a cloth and then wipe it over the exterior.[15]
- If you spray the exterior of the machine, it could get into the microwave's venting system and damage it.
- Rub a dry cloth over the microwave to remove moisture. Take a lint-free cloth and wipe it over the top and sides of the microwave. Keep wiping until your machine is completely dry.[16]
- If a lot of crumbs have accumulated in the bottom of the microwave, brush them away before you start to scrub the inside of the machine.
- Try to clean the inside of your microwave frequently so tough stains don't build up.
- Leave the microwave door open for a few minutes after you clean it in order to let it air dry.
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid using abrasive cleaners, such as ammonia or bleach, and don't use oven cleaners or steel wool on your microwave.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Loosening Grime with a Steaming Solution - Citrus or vinegar
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Sponge or cloth
- Wooden skewer or spoon
[Edit]Scrubbing the Inside of the Microwave [Edit]Removing Stubborn Stains - Baking soda
- Cloths or sponges
- Citrus
- Acetone nail polish remover
[Edit]Polishing the Outside - Bowl
- Cloths
- Dishwashing soap
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Accept Past Mistakes Posted: 18 Apr 2021 09:00 AM PDT If you're a human being, you're going to make mistakes—there's just no way around it. However, letting go of those mistakes can be tough, especially if you're dealing with feelings of guilt or regret. It may take a little time, but you can learn to accept your mistakes and forgive yourself for what's happened in the past. [Edit]Talk it through with someone. - Holding in your thoughts and feelings can make your anxiety worse. Reach out to a trusted friend or family member to get their opinion and advice on what happened. You might just find out that the mistake wasn't as big of a deal as you thought it was.[1]
- Even if your loved one doesn't have any advice for you, just letting it all out can be helpful.
[Edit]Own up to your mistakes. - Don't try to blame your mistakes on others or downplay them. Instead, admit to yourself that you messed up, even if you had good intentions. Everyone makes mistakes now and then, so it's okay to realize that you did, too.[2]
- Try telling yourself something like: "Everyone makes mistakes, and I made a mistake last year by turning down that job opportunity. It was my own fault, not anyone else's."
[Edit]Empathize with anyone you've hurt. - If you hurt someone with your mistake, try to feel what they feel. It can be easy to excuse your actions if you don't empathize with the person you hurt. They might feel angry, embarrassed, sad, or a little bit of all three emotions at once.[3]
- For example, if the mistake you made was talking badly about a friend behind their back, your friend might feel angry and embarrassed.
- Or, if you got into a fight with your parents at a family reunion, they might be feeling sad or worried about you.
[Edit]Make amends with those you've wronged. - Forgiving yourself is much easier when others have forgiven you, too. If you hurt someone with your actions, reach out to them and ask how you can make up for it. There might not always be a clear answer, but reaching out to the person can't hurt.[4]
- In some cases, it's obvious what you can do to make up for a mistake. For example, if you dropped someone's expensive knick knack and it broke, offer to pay for it.
- Other times, there might not be anything you can do to make up for it. If you hurt someone deeply with your actions, they might not be able to forgive you—and that's okay.
[Edit]Plan what you could do better next time. - Help yourself avoid the mistake in the future. Sit down and actually write out a list of things you can do to make sure the mistake never happens again. Of course, you can't tell the future, but you can turn your mistake into something positive.[5]
- For example, if you missed a deadline at work, you could work on your time management and set reminders for yourself on your phone and computer.
- If you forgot a loved one's birthday, you could write it on your calendar and plan to buy them a gift 2 weeks in advance.
[Edit]Look for the life lesson. - You might be able to accept your mistakes if they were worthwhile. Instead of ruminating over what you could have done better, stop and think about what you can learn. You cannot change the past, but you can use it to guide yourself towards better decisions in the future.[6]
- For example, if you learn that you get frustrated when your mom tries to talk to you immediately after arriving home, then be grateful for learning that you need some time to decompress after you get home.
- Or, maybe you overslept and missed work because you're overwhelmed with responsibilities. You can be grateful to learn that you need to cut back on what you do during the week to improve your mental health.
[Edit]Separate yourself from the mistakes. - Mistakes don't define who you are. Everyone makes mistakes and engages in poor behavior, but it doesn't make you a bad person. Try to see yourself as a separate entity from the mistakes you've made instead of assigning yourself a role as the bad guy.[7]
- For example, you could say, "I really messed up at my job one time, but I've also done some really great work there. My boss says I'm a hard worker, so I should believe her."
[Edit]Challenge your negative thoughts. - We often think badly about ourselves without even realizing it. Try to catch yourself every time you think a negative thought and question if it's really true. Tell yourself that past mistakes don't define who you are, and that you can make better decisions in the future.[8]
- For example, you might find yourself thinking, "I'm just going to mess up again." Try telling yourself, "I can't see the future, so I don't know if that's true. All I can do is try to work harder and be better."
- Or, you might think, "Nobody likes me because of what I did in the past." Try asking yourself, "Is that true? Didn't my friends just ask me to hang out last week? And they've known me forever."
[Edit]Treat yourself how you'd treat a friend. - Think about what you'd do if a loved one made the same mistakes. What would you say? How would you feel? Chances are, you would not think a friend or family member is a bad person because of a single lapse in judgment. Try to grant yourself the same kindness.[9]
- We're usually much easier on others than we are on ourselves. Although it can be tough, try to stop holding yourself to a higher standard than you would others.
[Edit]Embrace your strengths. - You have a lot of positive qualities, too. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and jot down 5 things that you like about yourself. If you can't think of anything, ask a friend or family member to help you come up with a short list.[10]
- This might sound like a silly exercise, but it's a really good way to remind yourself that you aren't only made up of mistakes. Although it might not feel like it, you've definitely done good things in your past, too.
- For example, you could write: "I'm kind to my friends, I'm creative, I manage my time well, I'm very personable, and I'd do anything for my family."
[Edit]Talk to a mental health professional. - Navigating this acceptance on your own can be tough. If you often find yourself ruminating on things you did in the past and you feel like you can't get over them, a mental health professional may be able to help. They can talk to you about ways to combat negative thoughts and forgive yourself so you can move on.[11]
- If you have insurance, you can probably get them to cover your visits.
- If you're a student, check out the mental health services on campus. You might be able to see someone for a reduced cost (or even for free).
- Accepting your mistakes might not happen overnight. Keep plugging away to make chunks of progress over time.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Skate Wax Posted: 18 Apr 2021 01:00 AM PDT Many skaters rely on quality skate wax to easily pull off grinds and other tricks. Ordering from a skate shop gets costly, but you can make your own wax at home for a fraction of the price. Make a basic wax by melting candles or crayons in the oven, or do it on a stove to keep a closer eye on the quality. As you get used to the process, try using raw paraffin and beeswax for even better bars. Bust tricks instead of your wallet with your own style of skate wax. [Edit]Melting Wax in an Oven - Preheat an oven to about . Let the oven warm up for at least 5 minutes while you prepare the wax. Wax has a low melting point, so keep the temperature low to avoid burning it. If your oven doesn't have a lot of low-heat options, use the lowest setting available.
- Different types of wax melt at different temperatures, but you never need a lot of heat. At most, set the oven no higher than .
- Cut candles or crayons into small pieces. Try using some leftover tea lights or a pack of crayons you no longer need. Slice them up to roughly the same size. Also, pull out any wrappers or wicks as you come upon them.[1]
- The exact size you cut the wax to isn't that important, but keep in mind that smaller chunks are easier to work with and melt faster.
- The best candles to use for your skate wax are ones made out of paraffin, although any type of waxy, oily product tends to work.[2]
- You should also try to use a wax that's more solid as opposed to one that's crumbly.[3]
- Place the cut wax into an oven-safe bowl. Cake baking bowls are the perfect size if you have them. Make sure the bowl is big enough to hold all of the melted wax. If you're making a lot of skate wax all at once, put some of the wax in a second container to prevent it from spilling.[4]
- If you're uncertain about using a bowl, flip it over to check it for an oven-safe label first.
- You could also melt wax in a microwave. Some metal containers are not safe for use in the microwave, so look for a safety warning on the container to avoid a scorched mess.
- Pour about of cooking oil in with the wax. Vegetable oils like canola oil work well in skate wax. The oil makes your skate wax smooth and easy to scrub on your board. You don't need much of it, but make sure you have room for it in the container.[5]
- Less is more when using the oil. If you add too much, you end up with a soft and brittle wax.
- Melt the wax for about 10 minutes in the oven. The wax likely will begin melting right away, so keep an eye on it. When it melts, take the container right away to prevent it from overheating. Consider giving the wax a brief stir to ensure the oil mixes evenly with it.[6]
- Put the bowl in the refrigerator to cool overnight. The wax gets pretty hot in the oven, so consider setting the bowl aside for 5 minutes to let it cool a little. Then, leave it uncovered in your refrigerator. Wait for the wax to feel cool and completely solid to the touch.[7]
- If you take the wax out too early, it can fall apart. You won't be able to use it, so the extra wait is worth it.
- Pry the hardened wax out of the container with a knife. Once your wax chills, it's ready to be used on your skateboard. Flip the bowl over and try to pop the wax out with your fingers. Sometimes the solidified bar is a little stubborn, so wedge it out with a knife as needed.
- Another way to remove the wax is by cutting into it with a sharp knife. You could also heat the container a little, such as in the microwave, to melt the edges of the wax.
[Edit]Mixing Wax on a Stove - Choose some small candles to use for the skate wax. Paraffin tea lights are a great choice for making your own skate wax. You can also cut up crayons and other types of candles. Get about 2 or 3 candles, usually enough to make a single bar of skate wax.[8]
- Get additional candles or crayons if you plan on making more bars. Keep in mind that making lots of skate wax on a stove is tough, so you may need to make one bar at a time.
- Crayons and colored candles are useful for coloring your wax bars. You can mix them in with basic white candles. Mixing and matching is okay.
- Cut wax pieces into a metal container. Cut them up roughly with a small knife, removing any wicks or wrappers as you reach them. As you work, drop the wax into an empty container, such as an aluminum soup can or soda can. You could also use a heat-resistant bowl safe for use on a stove.[9]
- To cut the candles into pieces that melt quickly, try scraping the wax with a knife. Hold the candle in one hand and drag the knife across it. Move the blade away from your body so you don't cut yourself instead.
- If you're using a soda can, cut it in half. Poke holes in the center first so you have a place to fit a pair of scissors. Then, use the scissors to remove the top half of the can.
- Fill a saucepan with about of water. Choose a cooking pan that is big enough to hold the metal container you're using. After you add the water, move the container to test your setup. The container needs to stay standing in the pan so the wax doesn't spill out.[10]
- The water temperature doesn't matter, but warmer water boils a little faster if you're looking to melt the wax as quickly as possible.
- Melt the wax over medium heat after placing the container on the pan. Watch for the wax to begin melting within a few minutes after the water heats up. To get it to melt faster, find something to stir it with. Try using a plastic stirrer like a spatula or chopstick you can easily clean off or throw away when you're done.[11]
- Stir carefully! Make sure the wax doesn't splash into the water. Anything in the water is unusable and might even burn when the water begins to boil.
- Add about of butter to the wax. As soon as the wax melts, scoop out a small pat of butter with a knife or a measuring spoon. You need about 2 teaspoons for a single bar of skate wax. The butter softens up the finished wax so it's easier to rub on your board. Stir it around in the wax until it finishes melting.[12]
- Some people use alternatives in their skate wax. Soap is a decent replacement, even products like deodorant work.
- Use butter as sparingly as possible. Too much butter makes the skate wax way too soft to use on your board.
- Stir about of cooking oil into the mixture. The final ingredient you need is whatever cooking oil you have on hand. Vegetable oils like canola oil are perfect for skate wax and you probably have some in your home. Pour the oil into the wax mixture, stir it around for a minute, and let it heat through for 2 or 3 minutes.[13]
- This part can get a little dangerous. The water in the pan is probably boiling ferociously at this point. Watch out for oil spatter and consider covering your hands to avoid burns.
- Adjust the amount of oil used as needed to change the skate wax's consistency. Normally, using less oil is better so the finished bar isn't too soft.
- Pour the wax into refrigerator-safe containers or molds. Steel yourself for the trickiest part where you have to handle hot wax. Get your containers set up before you take the can off the stove. When you're ready, pick it up with potholders, then gradually fill the containers one at a time.[14]
- Some examples of containers to use include rubber ice cube molds, aluminium cupcake wrappers, heat-resistant bowls, and even empty deodorant or glue stick containers.
- Keep the wax away from any drains in your home. If the wax goes down the drain, you might end up with a big plumbing emergency.
- Chill the wax in the refrigerator overnight. Keep your potholders at the ready as you carefully move the containers to your refrigerator. Clear out space for them first before picking them up. After fitting them in the refrigerator, check back in the morning to see your finished skate wax.
- Make sure the wax solidifies completely before you pry it out of the molds. Leave it alone for as long as a day to ensure it comes out at the right consistency.
[Edit]Using Paraffin Wax Bars - Choose pure paraffin and beeswax to make better skate wax. Most homemade bars of skate wax are made with repurposed candles or crayons. A paraffin and beeswax mixture is closer in quality to what you find at skate shops. You need a single bar of 100% paraffin wax as well as a bar of beeswax. If you're planning on making a lot of skate wax at once, get more.[15]
- You can buy good paraffin and beeswax online, but also check hardware stores and craft supply stores in your area. These places may also carry the coloring wax you can use to customize your bars.
- Add the paraffin and beeswax to a metal pot. Get a big, metal cooking pot to fit on your stove or an electric burner. You could also try melting the ingredients together in the oven or microwave, but it's easier to do on the stove. Then, drop both bars of paraffin and beeswax into the pot. You don't have to cut them up, although breaking them up makes them melt faster.[16]
- For the perfect skate wax, try making your mixture 60% paraffin to 40% beeswax. If you purchased bars of both ingredients, using the whole bars is fine.
- The beeswax softens the finished bar of skate wax, so don't add more beeswax than paraffin. The paraffin is the main component that gives skate wax its shape.
- Melt the ingredients together over medium heat. Wait for the pot to heat up. Once the wax begins to turn into a liquid, stir it around using a wooden spoon. Keep stirring the paraffin and beeswax until they are melted and well-mixed.[17]
- Add candle dye if you wish to color your skate wax. For the highest quality skate wax possible, purchase 100% natural wax dyes. The dyes look like small pellets of wax. They look and act the same way as the paraffin you used. Toss them into the pot and stir them around as they melt.[18]
- The color of the mixture changes as soon as the dye melts. To avoid darkening your skate wax more than you want, add the dye in small amounts, waiting for each batch to melt before adding more.
- There is no set amount for how much dye you need. It all depends on how you wish to customize your skate wax. You could even leave out the dye if you don't mind the brownish color from the beeswax.
- Pour the wax into container or molds to shape into finished bars. Set up your containers on a table close to the pot. The wax is very hot, so put on gloves or potholders. If you're making a big batch of wax, consider scooping the wax out with a measuring cup to easily pour it into the molds. Then, fill each container completely as much as possible.[19]
- Cupcake wrappers are great for creating small puck-shaped bars of skate wax, but you can use many other types of containers. For instance, ice cube molds work well, but so do heat-resistant containers and even metal cans.
- Leave the wax in the refrigerator overnight until it solidifies. Chill the wax until it forms a solid bar you can easily remove from its container. The exact length of time this takes depends on the size of the bar you plan on making, among other factors. Larger bars of skate wax can take up to a day to set, so give the wax some extra time in the refrigerator if you need to.
- Be careful when moving the hot wax to the refrigerator. Cover your hands and move slowly. If you have a lot of wax to move, let the molds cool down a little bit first, or leave them out until the wax solidifies.
- Anything with paraffin in it can be used to create custom skate wax. This includes products like petroleum jelly and store-bought lubricants.
- Use different molds to alter the shape and size of your skate wax bars. The amount you pour into a mold also determines how the finished product looks.
- If you want to color your skate wax, melt colored candles, crayons, or candle dye. Food dye doesn't go well with wax, so don't bother with it.
[Edit]Warnings - Making skate wax involves a lot of heat and melting and boiling things, so burns are possible if you're not careful. Cover up with long-sleeved clothing and latex gloves or potholders to reduce the chances of accidents.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Melting Wax in an Oven - Oven
- Oven-safe container
- Spare candles or crayons
- Paring knife
- Measuring cup
- Cooking oil
- Oven mitts
- Refrigerator
[Edit]Mixing Wax on a Stove - Stove
- Saucepan
- Metal can
- Paring knife
- Measuring cup
- Water
- Butter
- Cooking oil
- Potholders
- Molds
- Refrigerator
- Spare candles or crayons
[Edit]Using Paraffin Wax Bars - Metal cooking pot
- 100% paraffin
- Beeswax
- Wax dye
- Molds
- Refrigerator
- Potholders
[Edit]References |
No comments:
Post a Comment