College Living

Bottled Water Heater

2010-11-20T00:04:00.000-08:00

Ever been cold? Sure you have, but sometimes blankets and jackets just don't cut it. That is why I present to you a cheap spin on a classic: The Bottled Water Heater!

Heating pads are not a new idea; however, they retail for $15-$25. What is new is the price. How does FREE sound? Well I think it sounds like pretty good deal!

Just take a used water bottle, fill it with water, microwave it ~3 min, and BAM!
Instant handy heater to-go!

Put it in your jacket, in your pocket, in your bed, where ever you're cold!
Best of all, it's FREE!

I recommend that weaker bottles such as Nestle water bottles NOT be used because the caps tend to leak. Instead, use a more robust bottle such as Power-aid.

Paperclip Zipper Pull

2010-07-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ever had the tab on your zipper break off? It's a pain to try zipping that zipper ever again! Well, what if you could restore your zipper to its former zipping glory for free? Now you can, and here's how.

1. thread a paperclip through the zipperhead's loop where the previous zipper-pull was

If the paperclip tends to slip out, you can clamp the loop shut using some pliers.

Another desireable alternative to the ubiquitous paperclip is the durable key ring.

Enjoy zipping your zipper with your zippy new zipper-pull!

Binder Clip Cable Holder

2010-06-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Do you have a desk that has wires running everywhere? Tired of reaching behind your desk every time you need a cable? Well then here's a very simple project that can be done in minutes!

Materials: medium binder clip

1. clip on a medium binder clip to the back of a desk or other desirable clippable surface

2. flip up the clip's top arm so it's 90 degrees to the desk surface

3. slip your desired cable end into the base of the lifted clip arm, then slide it to rounded arm end

4. set the clip arm back down and enjoy!

The opening should be just right to keep any loose cables such as USB and Ethernet.
If the cable end is too small to stay in the hole, wrapping a rubberband around the head works.
If dealing with a larger desk, a larger clip may be required.

That's the desk cable holder.

Tips and Tricks for College

2010-05-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

This blog is all about tips and tricks I've learned in college. I will continue to add as I learn more through experience.