Tips-A2Z: The best tips for everything in life

All tips for user "thesource"

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : Patch a torn or punctured tent with duct tape.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : Fix the tips of broken shoelaces with duct tape.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : Use duct tape with a circular saw to make a clean edge when cutting wood.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : Mark the position of your car seat using small strips of duct tape, so that you can quickly return the seat to your preferred position after somebody else has adjusted your seat.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : For blisters on your feet, duct tape can provide some emergency protection. And if you ever find yourself without shoes, you can wrap it around your feet as emergency foot protection.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape : Duct tape burns easily, so you can use it to help start fires.

Tip: Main > Health > Medicine > Drugs : Pills can be broken in two, to make them easier to swallow, or to reduce the dosage, so long as they are scored (see image). If the pill is not scored then it is not meant to be broken, and breaking […]

Tip: Main > Technology > Computers > Networks > Networks & connections > Wired networks : Supply power over an ethernet cable using POE ("power over ethernet") technology. This is ideal for providing power to security cameras which may not be near a power source. This can be done with a […]

Tip: Main > Technology > Computers > Networks > Networks & connections > Wired networks : Run TWO ethernet signals over a single ethernet cable by using splitters (pictured). This can be preferable to running an extra cable, however this is only possible when you are not using Gigabit eth […]

Tip: Main > Household > Security : A cheap security alarm can be easily made with a 12 volt motion detector connected to a 12 volt siren. Turn this on when you are out of your house for any extended period of time, and if movement is […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Bushwalking : General tips:

A compass: Don't even think of going bushwalking without a compass. If you have GPS, then take that as well.

A map. Sounds obvious, but many people overlook it.

Express your sympathy to the family by saying how sorry you are for their loss.

If you are using a compact camera underwater, set it to use the "Cloudy day" white balance setting.

Use manual settings if you can. Choose a shutter speed setting like 1/60t […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Photography > Underwater photography : Light: There is normally much less light available underwater. In clear, shallow water, on a fine day, if you're looking at something close, then you shouldn't have much of a problem, but as you go de […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Photography > Underwater photography : Cheap camera housing: A cheap way into underwater photography is to puchase a camera housing. At their cheapest these are essentially waterproof plastic bags, with a polycarbonate window through which […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Photography > Digital photography : Reducing wind noise in full-size microphones:

A foam wind-reducer (open-cell foam) that fits over your microphone will be okay for indoors, but for outdoors you will need to invest in a furry c […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Photography > Digital photography : Camcorder tips:

Reduce wind noise: You can make a windscreen for the compact microphone of your camcorder with the the gauze-like padding of an adhesive bandage. Taped over the mic’s tiny port, […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Photography > Digital photography : How to use focus lock: Sometimes you don't want your camera to automatically focus on what is in the center of the screen. Firstly, aim your camera at the object you want to focus on, and let your ca […]

Tip: Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing : Late wrist release: The later you can keep your wrists from releasing on the downswing, the more clubhead speed you will generate. Top players keep their wrists cocked till the very last moment before […]

Tip: Main > Hobbies > Arts and crafts > Graphics > Video photography : General tips for taking videos:

Always test that the camera is working properly before taking any important shots that you don't want to miss or mess-up.

Use a tripod or monopod to keep the […]

Tip: Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing : Swinging an axe: It can help to visualize how one swings an axe, like when chopping firewood, to understand how one can effectively swing a golf club. One holds the axe high above one's head, and then […]

Tip: Main > Sport > Golf : Food and drink: Take plenty of food and drink with you, such as water, and bananas, when you are playing a round of golf, to give you energy. Sometimes you will need more food or drink than at other t […]

Tip: Main > Living > Food & drink > Food and cooking : Tape a note pad to the inside of one of your kitchen cabinet doors and create a running grocery list by jotting down items as you think of them or run out.

Tip: Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Glass : Cutting glass with scissors: It's possible to cut small pieces of glass with scissors, provided you hold the piece of glass underwater, so that the vibrations are dampened. […]

Tip: Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Glass : Glass cutting: Use a wheel-cutter to score the glass. New glass should break cleanly along your line, simply by bending it, as it follows the stress lines in the glass that you have created with the […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar : Removing labels: This can often be done by soaking the label in vinegar for a few minutes.

Tip: Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing : Loose shoulders: For extra distance, make sure that your shoulders are very loose on the backswing. Firstly, this will allow full extension of the clubhead, allowing for a longer swing arc, and theref […]

Tip: Main > Health > Diet & Nutrition : Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress — like exercise!

Tip: Main > Health > Diet & Nutrition : Quality over quantity: Better quality food leaves you feeling more satisfied, and so you will eat less. Adding spices or chilis to your food can give it a boost that can leave you feeling more satisfi […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach : Countertop stains in your kitchen, or on linoleum or vinyl floors, can sometimes be removed using bleach. Soak a couple of paper towels in bleach and put them over the stains. After that, soak a coupl […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach : Warning: Don't mix bleach with ammonia, or it will create chlorine gas, which is highly poisonous, and can kill you. Things like glass-cleaning solution often contain ammonia.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia : Warnings:

Never mix with bleach, or you will create highly poisonous chlorine gas, which can kill you.

Best not to use ammonia as a floor cleaner, except when you want to remove wax, as amm […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia : Make your own "soapy ammonia" solution:

Purchase a bottle of ammonia.

Use rubber gloves and goggles - ammonia can burn skin and eyes. And be sure to make your mixture in a well-ventilated ar […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia : Best used for removing grease and wax.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia : Oven cleaner: A dish full of ammonia overnight in an oven will loosen baked on food.

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia : Freshen carpets: For non-woollen carpets only, you can often revive a carpet by using an ammonia solution on it. Start off by mixing the half cup of ammonia with the two cups of water in a mixing bowl […]

Tip: Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach : Whitening sheets and clothing:

Use the right amount. You need about a cup for a normal load, 1-1/4 cups for a heavy load.

Don't pour bleach right onto clothes. Dilute it: 3 cups water t […]

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : General tips:

Always test for colorfastness before using any stain removers - pick a small area in a hidden corner to make sure the cleaning product won't affect the carpet color.

Door mats in f […]

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : Remove the shampoo from your carpet or it will attract dirt. Use a solution of one cup of vinegar to 2 1/2 gallons (US) (or about 5 1/2 litres) of hot water, and go over your carpet with your shampoo […]

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : Carpet shampooing:

Hot water: Some people argue that using only hot water, with only a minimal amount, or no carpet shampoo, does a good enough job, and gets around all the problems of shampoos.

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : Steam cleaning:

Be very careful with steam cleaning, as the intense heat can damage carpet. The twist in a cut pile carpet is heat set and using excessively high heat (steam) can release the twist […]

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : To raise depressions left in a carpet by heavy furniture, try steaming. You can hold a steam iron close enough for the steam to reach the carpet, but don't let the iron touch the fibers, especially if […]

Tip: Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets : Before shampooing: Remove as much furniture from the room as possible, and place foil or plastic film under the legs and bases of the remaining furniture to prevent stains.

Tip: Main > Learning > Study : Taking examinations:

Look over the whole exam first, so that you can predict how long it will take you to complete each part.

Read the questions carefully so that you don't answer a question tha […]

Tip: Main > Entertainment > Television > Big-screen televisions : LCD vs DLP: (Liquid crystal display vs Digital light processing). DLP has faster image refresh rates. DLPs are lighter, but take up more space, for the same screen size. DLPs are cheaper in the short […]

Tip: Main > Entertainment > Television > Big-screen televisions : Viewing distance: If you sit too far away from your high-resolution screen you won't be getting the benefit of the high resolution — because beyond a certain distance the human eye can't resolve […]

Tip: Main > Learning : Vocabulary:

Read, read, read. This is the best way to increase your vocabulary. Most words are learned from the context they appear in, so try to figure out the meaning of new words from their con […]

Tip: Main > Living > Money > Credit & store cards : You know you have too much credit card debt when . . .

Your debt is not decreasing and you cannot make any savings.

You make minimum payments on your credit cards.

You have more than two or t […]

Tip: Main > Technology > Computers : Power savings for your computer: Active: 130 - 280 watts Idling: 90 - 180 watts Sleep mode (S1): 60-100 watts Sleep mode (S3): 10 watts Hibernate: 9 watts Off: 9 watts Unplugged: 0 watts You […]

Tip: Main > Technology > Computers : Your important files should be backed-up to an offsite location. Your most important files can be backed up using Gmail web space. You can do this by sending a message to your Gmail address and attach […]

Tip: Main > Household > Power-saving > Appliances : In hot climates, use ceiling fans instead of an air conditioner. Or if you have to use air conditioning, have it in just in the room where you spend most of your time, instead of a central air conditi […]

Tip: Main > Household > Power-saving > Appliances : Know the cost of running your appliances: The cost of running an appliance can be calculated using the following formula: Cost = (watts/1000) x hours x cost per kilowatt-hour. The cost per kilowatt- […]

Tip: Main > Household > Power-saving > Appliances : Split System Airconditioners with Inverters: Although an installed pair of these units will set you back quite a deal of money, they have many advantages. Used with roof insulation, you can run them o […]

Tip: Main > Household > Power-saving > Appliances : CRT monitors and televisions use less power if you turn down the brightness.

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