Wednesday, March 16, 2022

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How to Dry Your Clothes Quickly

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 05:00 PM PDT

Your clothes are wet, and you need them dry. Ultimately, the goal is to quickly remove the water from the fabric by any means possible: heat, spinning, airflow, or pressure. Try placing a fresh, dry towel into a standard tumble-dryer to speed up the water-absorption process. Try ironing or blow-drying each garment to steam out the water with heat. Before you dry: use a high-spin wash, then wring your clothing out to remove any excess water and speed the drying process.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Wringing Out Excess Water

  1. Use a high-spin wash. If you're using a washing machine, you can prime your clothes to dry more quickly. Use a high spin setting on your washing machine to remove as much water as possible from your clothes before you even take them from the wash. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the increased energy used to do this is negligible compared to the energy that it takes to run a standard tumble dryer.[1]
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 1 Version 6.jpg
  2. Wring your clothing out so that it will dry more quickly. Hold a garment firmly in both hands. Squeeze, twist, and knead the fabric to wrench out as much water as possible. Be careful not to pull too hard, or you might stretch the fabric. If you're inside, wring the water into a sink or tub; if you're outside, you can wring the water directly onto the ground.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 2 Version 5.jpg
    • Wring your clothing before drying, whether you intend to tumble-dry or hang-dry. The more excess water you can remove before starting a dry cycle, the more quickly a garment will dry.
  3. Twist the clothing into a towel to absorb the water. Put down a large, fluffy towel, then lay the wet garment on top. Roll up the towel tightly with the clothing inside. Twist the bundle: start at one end, rolling methodically, and work your way along until the entire towel is tightly twisted. This squeezes excess water out of your clothes and into the towel.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 3 Version 5.jpg
    • If this trick doesn't remove all of the water the first time around, consider using another dry towel to repeat the twist.
  4. Try salad spinning your clothes. Put your wet clothing into a salad spinner, if you own one. This device serves as a quick pre-dryer, or a low-energy version of a high-spin wash: it will fling the excess water from your clothes. You'll still need to let your clothing dry afterward, but the spinning should make the process substantially faster by ensuring that your garments aren't so waterlogged.[2]
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 4 Version 5.jpg

[Edit]Drying Without a Dryer

  1. Use a hairdryer. If you have access to a handheld blow-dryer, you can use it to quickly and intensively dry your clothing. First, wring out the wet garment and lay it on a clean, dry surface. Turn the hairdryer to a warm or high setting – it's more about the air flow than the heat. Hold the blow-dryer near the clothing, and dry it spot-by-spot with quick blasts of hot air. Work your way slowly around the entire surface of the garment, front and back, inside and out, until the whole thing is dry. You have to pay attention to not overheat you hair dryer in order to avoid its damage.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 5 Version 5.jpg
    • Rotate the garment frequently to dry any pockets, sleeves, and collars. Dry them from the inside and the outside to ensure that you do a thorough job.
    • Be careful not to point the blow-dryer at one spot for too long. If some garments or surfaces get too hot, they might catch fire.
  2. Use a clothesline or drying rack. Hang your clothing on a line, if possible, or use a drying rack. A line is usually fastest, but it is not always practical. Make sure to hang each item individually so that it has the space and ventilation to dry quickly. Rotate and flip garments periodically to ensure an even dry.[3]
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 6 Version 5.jpg
    • Try setting up your line or rack near a heat source. Hang your clothing a few feet away from a fireplace, radiator, boiler, or furnace. Be very careful when placing flammable materials near heat; if you let your clothes get too hot or cover up a heat source, you may risk fire. Do not drape your clothes over a heat source.
    • Try setting up your clothing to dry somewhere with a brisk airflow – anywhere air is moving. Hang your clothes by a window (or outside) if there's a breeze, or set up a fan to simulate the airflow inside the house.[4]
    • If you use a drying rack with individual bars, try hanging must-dry items over two bars rather than just one. The more surface area you expose to the airflow, the more quickly a garment will dry.
  3. Use an iron and a towel. Lay your wet garment on an ironing board, as if you are going to iron it, but lay a thin towel on top. Iron the towel firmly and thoroughly using a high heat. Make sure to turn the garment over so that you press both sides. The iron-and-towel combination channels some warmth into the fabric, and the towel will absorb some of the moisture.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 7 Version 5.jpg
    • Do not put a hot iron directly onto a wet piece of clothing. This may stretch and damage the fabric, rendering the garment unwearable. If you use an iron on wet clothing, always use a towel for protection.

[Edit]Tumble-Drying with Towels

  1. Dry a wet garment with a few clean, dry towels. The towels will absorb some of the moisture from the wet clothing, and the whole batch may dry more quickly as a result. You can use as little as one towel or as many as five; in general, the more towels you use, the more quickly your clothes will dry.[5] Bear in mind that this trick works best when you only need to quickly dry one or two pieces of clothing. The more wet garments you add to the dry cycle, the less effective the towels will be – and the longer your clothes will take to dry.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 8 Version 5.jpg
  2. Put your garment in the dryer along with the towels. Do not add any other clothing. At most, add two or three pieces of wet clothing, but nothing too heavy. Be aware that towels are often lint-heavy, so there is a chance that lint will build up on your garment.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 9 Version 5.jpg
    • If lint is a concern, you can use cotton T-shirts in place of the towels – although T-shirts will not be as absorptive as towels. Adding dryer sheets can reduce the chances of lint from the towels building up on your garment.[6]
  3. Clean out the lint trap. When lint builds up, it can prevent your dryer from moving air efficiently, making it work harder and use more energy to dry clothes. Depending on the design of your dryer, the lint trap will either be on the top of the dryer or located just inside the door. Locate the trap and pull out the screen. If it is covered in a layer of lint, it is already somewhat blocked. Pull the lint away, or scrape it from the screen using your fingernails.[7]
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 10 Version 5.jpg
    • Consider using a vacuum cleaner to quickly and efficiently remove the lint. You can do this to finish the job after pulling away the bulk of the lint. Don't worry too much about getting it absolutely clean – if the lint screen is mostly unobstructed, the dryer will run near top efficiency.[8]
    • When you have cleaned the lint trap to your satisfaction, simply slide the screen back into the trap. Make sure that it fits neatly. You are ready to dry.
  4. Dry the clothes. Load the wet garments and the dry towels, and make sure that the dryer isn't overfull. Turn the dryer on to the highest heat setting that is safe for the garment you're trying to dry – this will vary from machine to machine, but you should generally use a lower heat for delicates and other thin clothing. Set the dryer to run, then do whatever else you need to do to get ready.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 11 Version 5.jpg
  5. Wait fifteen minutes, or as long as you can. Open the dryer door and pick your garment(s) out from the towels. You should find your garment mostly dry. If not, put it back in and run the dry cycle for a few more moments. Be patient, depending on your dryer, it could be +/- five minutes.
    Dry Your Clothes Quickly Step 12 Version 5.jpg
    • Make sure to remove the dry towel (which may no longer be so dry) if the cycle takes 20 minutes or more. After this point, the now-damp towel may actually slow down the drying process.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Warnings

  • Do not put clothes in the microwave; they can catch fire.
  • Make sure the lint tray is empty. Since the load is mainly dry, there is a high risk of the lint catching on fire due to static electricity.
  • Doing this wastes a lot of electricity, so instead you should be prepared, and get your clothes dried early.
  • Use towels that you don't need immediately, depending on the dryer/garment the towels themselves may need a washing.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

  • A wet garment
  • Dry towels
  • A dryer
  • Clothes

[Edit]Related wikiHows

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

How to Change a Lock

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 09:00 AM PDT

Change is good—especially when it comes to your safety! Sometimes that includes changing the locks on your doors. It's a fairly simple task, and only takes a few minutes—but it will provide you with great peace of mind. This article will show you how to change keyed doorknobs and deadbolts. Information for a mortise-type; lock cylinders can be found in the related article listed below.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Door Lock Removal

  1. Determine which brand of lock you have. This is usually printed on the latch, but can also be found on the key — useful if the plate has been painted over, or is a leftover from an old doorknob set. You won't need an exact replacement of your old lock, but knowing the brand, style, setback, and features of the old lock will help ensure that your new lock looks, fits, and works as advertised.[1]
    Change a Lock Step 1 Version 6.jpg
    • Replacing your lock with another of the same brand and basic style will help ensure that no modifications will have to be made to the door itself.
  2. Measure the size of your doorknob. Often, front and back door locksets will be larger than interior locksets. Knowing in advance which size you need will save you headaches later.
    Change a Lock Step 2 Version 5.jpg
    • Draw a tape measure from the latch edge of the door to the center of the doorknob or deadbolt lockset. Most contemporary locksets are either 2-3/8 inch (6cm) or 2-3/4 inch (6.5cm) diameter.
    • The bolt or latch in many new locksets are adjustable for both, but make sure before leaving your hardware store to keep from having to backtrack.
    • Older locksets may vary in size, but are generally smaller, requiring more extensive carpentry (and greater woodworking skills). If that's what you have, try checking vintage renovation stores for a "new" lockset.
  3. Remove the interior knob, if possible. Release the springs holding the knob in place. The doorknob should come off easily, leaving you only with a decorative cover. If the springs on the knob cannot be accessed before removing the decorative cover, remove the interior cover first before removing the knob.[2]
    Change a Lock Step 3 Version 5.jpg
  4. Remove the interior decorative cover. The screws for the cover may or may not be visible once you remove the knob. If they are, simply remove them and set them aside. If they are not visible, look along the edge for a hole, where they sometimes hide an allen bolt. If there are no holes or hidden screws, the plate is simply snapped in place — use a thin flathead screwdriver to gently pry off the cover, exposing the locking mechanism.[3]
    Change a Lock Step 4 Version 5.jpg
  5. Disassemble the lock sections by unscrewing the two interior screws. Remove the screws that secure the interior lock section to the exterior half. These are found on the inside half of the knob. Once both screws are removed, simply pull each half of the knob straight away from the door.
    Change a Lock Step 5 Version 5.jpg
    • Don't let the door close or you will either have to re-insert the half of the knob with the "blade" on it or use a screwdriver or butter knife to unlatch it.
  6. Remove the latch assembly (doorknob). Remove the two screws from the latch assembly on the side of the door. Remove the strike plate on the door jamb as well.[4]
    Change a Lock Step 6 Version 4.jpg
    • If your new lock is the same brand and model as the old one you may be able to keep your existing latch plate and strike plate. Hold the new plates up to the old and compare — if they're the same, it is better to leave the old ones in place if possible. Removing and replacing screws tends to weaken their hold in the door.
    • If you can't get the new screws to bite, you may have to shove a small splinter of wood (or two) into the screw hole and snap them off flush with the edge of the door (toothpicks work well for this).
    • Another alternative is to purchase longer screws, but make sure that the screw heads are identical to the ones provided by the manufacturer or they may not seat properly and cause problems.

[Edit]Door Lock Installation

  1. Install the latch. Chisel out any uneven recesses in the latch so that your new latch will fit perfectly. Place the new latch into the recess. If the new latch rests snugly into its recess, don't worry about adding the screws until the remaining parts of the lockset have been installed.[5]
    Change a Lock Step 7 Version 4.jpg
    • If the new latch has trouble staying put in its recess, fit the screws into the latch and then tighten down.
  2. Install your new lockset, making sure that the keyed section is on the outside. Slide the outside parts of the lockset into the hole, through the latch assembly. Holding them roughly parallel to the floor, insert the inside set, sliding it onto blade of the outside part of the lockset. Insert the mounting screws, and tighten them down.[6]
    Change a Lock Step 8 Version 4.jpg
    • Make sure that the strike plate lines up with the new lock. If it doesn't, it's advisable to replace the strike plate.
  3. Test the latch operation and the locking mechanism with the key. Test this with the door open. If something is amiss, you don't want to be locked out!
    Change a Lock Step 9 Version 4.jpg
  4. Tighten any remaining screws and check for accessibility. Your new doorknob should be fairly springy, opening and closing with ease.
    Change a Lock Step 10 Version 4.jpg

[Edit]Deadbolt Removal

  1. Disassemble the deadbolt lock by unscrewing the two exterior screws. This will allow you to have access to the interior of the deadbolt lock.
    Change a Lock Step 11 Version 3.jpg
  2. Use an Allen wrench to remove the interior screws from the deadbolt. A couple of quick turns using your Allen wrench (or hex key — they're the same thing) should be able to loosen the deadbolt mechanism from the inside. Remove the inside cylinder and outside cylinder.
    Change a Lock Step 12 Version 3.jpg
    • If your deadbolt lock has decorative caps over the screws, use a punch and hammer to knock the caps off center and then grab them with pliers. Then use the Allen wrench to unscrew the mountings.
  3. If you cannot remove the screws using an Allen wrench, you may want to try to drill into the deadbolt to remove it. This is not the best option, and it requires a strong drill bit, but it will help remove a deadbolt.
    Change a Lock Step 13 Version 3.jpg
    • From the outside, drill into the cylinder in the middle of the deadbolt lock where the tumblers are found. Remove the tumblers.[7]
    • Alternately, drill on both sides of the deadbolt, halfway between the top and bottom. Drill through on both sides until the exterior covering comes out.
    • Insert a screwdriver into the latch and turn the knob lock.
  4. Undo the Phillips head screws on the side of the door to remove the deadbolt. Take the old deadbolt out and clean up any remaining debris or dust from the deadbolt recess.
    Change a Lock Step 14 Version 3.jpg

[Edit]Deadbolt Installation

  1. Orient and load in the new deadbolt lock into the side of the door. Make sure the top of the deadbolt is facing up. After lining it up, load in the deadbolt and fasten to the side of the door with two Phillips screws. Be careful not to over-tighten.
    Change a Lock Step 15 Version 3.jpg
    • Once you've installed the deadbolt on the side of the door, use a screwdriver to test the functionality of the deadbolt.
  2. Line up the tongues of both the interior and the exterior cylinders into the deadbolt controller. The tongues of both cylinders are flat on one side and curved on the other. Fit both tongues into the cylinder so that the flat sides are touching each other. For ease of installation, fit one cylinder in first, and then the other; fitting in both at the same time can be difficult.[8]
    Change a Lock Step 16 Version 3.jpg
  3. Screw in the screws on the interior of the door. Screw in both screws and fasten tightly, but not so tight that the deadbolt is off-center.[9]
    Change a Lock Step 17 Version 3.jpg
  4. Check that the deadbolt performs its job as advertised. Fit your key into the deadbolt and turn. Look for a nice fluid turn. Check that the deadbolt is centered.[10]
    Change a Lock Step 18 Version 3.jpg


[Edit]Tips

  • Use graphite lubricant in your locks—you may not need to replace locks so frequently. Use the graphite lubricant inside the lock and also where you insert the key. An easy way to apply graphite is to draw on your key with a pencil.[11]
  • Starter kits to re-key locks can be purchased for $10 to $20 and are usually comprise a simple tool to open the locks and a few spare cylinders to enable you to change keys.
  • You can also switch between a passage lock (no locking function at all), a privacy lock (a push button lock that only works from the inside and unlocks itself when the inside knob is turned), and a keyed entry knob.
  • You can switch your deadbolt from having a thumb latch inside to have keyed latches on both sides. Although the thumb latch may seem more convenient, you may want double keys if you have a large window on your door.
  • Learn to re-key a lock. Re-keying locks prevents you from throwing away a lot of good locks that can still be fixed. Re-keying locks gives you the option of using one key for all the exterior doors. Some lock manufacturers offer matching locksets, making this process much easier than doing it yourself.

[Edit]Warnings

  • Also, this key should be an original, not a duplicate. How many times have you had to jiggle a poorly duplicated key to work the lock? Now imagine trying to do that in a room full of smoke and flame. Keep a separate key for each door this applies to, even if they are keyed alike.
  • If you have a deadbolt that is keyed on the inside as well as the outside, then you must keep a key within easy reach in case of emergency. It should be easy to find in the event of a fire and you should make sure that everyone in your household knows where it is. You may want to tape it to a fire extinguisher or an emergency flashlight. Do not remove this key from your home under any circumstance.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

[Edit]References




[Edit]Quick Summary

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 01:00 AM PDT

Steel-cut oats are whole grain oat groats that have been chopped into a few pieces, rather than rolled. They require a much longer cooking time than rolled or quick oats, but their chewy texture and rich, nutty flavor makes them well worth the extra wait. Steel-cut oats can be made on the stovetop or baked in the oven and enriched with spices, fruit and maple syrup. Read on for instructions on how to make basic stovetop steel-cut oatmeal, baked steel-cut oatmeal, and overnight steel-cut oatmeal.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Basic Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  • 1 cup steel-cut oats
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

(optional)

  • Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or ground cloves
  • Maple syrup or brown sugar
  • Fruit such as berries, chopped apples, or chopped bananas

[Edit]Baked Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  • 1 cup steel-cut oats
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 1/2 cups milk

(optional)

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 apples, cored, peeled and diced
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar

[Edit]Overnight Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  • 1 cup steel-cut oats
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

(optional)

  • 2 apples, skinned, cored, and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Basic Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  1. Boil the water. Pour the three cups of water into a small pot, and bring to a boil. You may also boil the water in the microwave if desired.

  2. Add the steel-cut oats to the pot, along with a pinch of salt, and bring back to a boil. Stir the oats with a wooden spoon.

  3. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Start checking for doneness at about the 20-minute mark.[1] For chewier oats, cook less. For more done oats, cook more.

    • Do not stir the oats as they simmer. Allow them to rest in place as the water cooks them.
    • Turn the heat lower if the oats seem to be drying out too quickly.
  4. Add the milk to the oats. Stir the mixture well using a wooden spoon. Let the oatmeal simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes.

  5. Remove the oatmeal from heat. Spoon into bowls for serving. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, maple syrup, or fruit.

[Edit]Baked Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  1. Preheat oven to .
    Cook Steel Cut Oats Step 6 Version 2.jpg
  2. Boil the water. Pour the water into a small pot, and bring to a boil. You may also boil the water in the microwave.

    • Remember that a little bit of water will get lost through evaporation as you boil it. If you want 2 cups of boiling water for your oats, think about bringing about 2 1/4 cups of water to a boil.
  3. In the meantime, set a medium pot on the stove over medium heat. Place the butter in the pan and let it melt.

  4. Add the steel-cut oats to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to toss the oats with the butter. Toast the oats, stirring occasionally, for about three minutes, or until brown.[2]

  5. Pour the boiling water into the pot with the oats. Stir the water into the oats with a wooden spoon.

  6. Stir in the cinnamon, apples, salt, and milk.

  7. Scoop the mixture into a greased glass or metal baking dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven.

  8. Bake the oatmeal for 50 minutes to one hour. Check on it after 30 minutes to make sure it isn't burning. The oatmeal is ready when the top has browned.
    Cook Steel Cut Oats Step 13 Version 2.jpg
  9. Serve with cream, fresh apples, or the toppings of your choice.
    Cook Steel Cut Oats Step 14 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Overnight Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  1. Grease your slow-cooker with a little bit of vegetable oil cooking spray. If you don't grease your pan first, you'll have a mighty tough time extracting the oats from the slow-cooker in the morning.

  2. Place the steel-cut oats, salt, milk, and water in a crock pot or slow-cooker. Optional: Place the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and/or nuts in the crock pot or slow-cooker along with the oats, salt, milk, and water.[3]

  3. Mix all the ingredients together until incorporated.

  4. Put the lid on the slow cooker and turn the setting to low. Let the oatmeal cook overnight.

  5. In the morning, remove the container from the slow cooker and stir the oatmeal. Spoon into bowls and stir in the toppings of your choice. In order to avoid overcooking the oats, try these tips and tricks before you cook your first batch of overnight oats:
    Cook Steel Cut Oats Step 19 Version 2.jpg
    • Try the same recipe in your crock pot or slow-cooker during the day, not overnight. Keep an eye on the oats and begin checking for doneness after 5 hours. This way, you'll learn how long it takes to cook oats using your hardware. If you have a slow-cooker with a clear top, you can eyeball the oats. If you have to open the pot in order to check for doneness, know that this will add approximately 30 minutes to your cooking time.
    • Plug your crock pot or slow-cooker into an on/off light timer if you don't have a programmable slow-cooker. Set the on/off timer to the time it usually takes you to cook your overnight oats, and you have a life-hacked programmable slow-cooker.


[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

  • Make sure any time you cook steel-cut oats that you use a pot that's much bigger than the contents, or you are likely to have boil-over problems.
  • Make a double or triple batch and store it in the refrigerator in a tightly-sealed container, for microwaving individual servings on weekdays.
  • Try adding dried fruit while cooking. Increase the water, since the fruit will absorb quite a bit.

[Edit]Warnings

  • Some recipes suggest soaking the oatmeal all night. This may not be safe, because of bacteriological concerns.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

  • Ingredients listed above
  • Big pot with a lid
  • A spoon
  • Glass or metal baking dish
  • Slow cooker
  • Heat-safe glass container

[Edit]Related wikiHows

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

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