Get Smarter

How to Clean Fuel Injectors

2010-12-09T15:12:00.000+01:00

There’s really only two ways to clean your car’s fuel injection system. Do it yourself or take it to a professional. Ok, ok, so I’m a wise-guy! No really, that is the choice, and dependent on the complexity of your car, truck, boat, RV, or whatever it is, on the “do it yourself” side, you really also only have two choices, a) dumping in a pre-made product into the fuel reservoir, or b) dis-assembly and the use of either an injection type cleaning solution, or real down-and-get-your-hands-dirty take the whole thing apart and clean the crap out of it (caution – for real men only).

If you are like me, you are probably the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” type of guy, especially considering the complexity of today’s internal combustion engines, and you probably also got a limited resoure of tools, time and sufficient space to become “Joe Mehanic” for an afternoon, or a day, or maybe even a week dependent upon how much you pay attention to what you are doing, how many parts you loose or get mixed up, and how far the chain of screwed up parts or broken bolts on the engine you encounter. I could give you many examples of that last situation but I am sure you have probably already “been there done that” too, and that’s why God created professional auto mechanics.

The simplest solution is to take your car to one of the local franchise auto parts stores, have them put it on the scanner and tell you exactly what’s going on with the air/fuel mixture, RPM, idle speed, etc, usually the resultant code printout will give you a decent enough game plan on how complex your fuel injection cleaning has to be, and usually I end up letting them sell me two bottles of the “dump in the tank” fuel injection cleaner, and I head out onto the highway (with radar detector in hand) and “open ‘er up” to let the magic juice do it’s thing.

I used to be real cool and opt for the take the fuel line off and insert the injection type cleaning solution, which usually took about 15 minutes to accomplish, but it seems that in this day and age, the parts stores are not selling these kits anymore, probably because the number of guys that blew themselves up made the corporate lawyers go berserk, so these type of systems are only available to professionals or online, and I preface them with a word of caution. DON’T DO IT. I don’t want to be responsible for you not having any eyebrows for four months, OK big guy?

The last, more complex option is for the real hardcore do it yourselfers. Get out the trusty repair manual or go to your favorite DIY (Do It Yourself) automotive website, take the injection manifold completely off the engine, put it on the workbench, soak it and scrub it with all kinda wierd shaped pipe cleaners and brushes and nasty smelling solvents, put it all back together, and be happy all that expensive gasoline is getting to where it is supposed to be getting and getting there nice and clean (and burning a bigger hole in your wallet right?).

Whichever is your method of choice, it is a very important milestone of regular vehicle maintenance, and if overlooked can lead to other more serious “out of spec” problems, so it should not be forgotten or put off too long.

Where to Find Old Stamps for Your Stamp Collection

2010-12-07T11:33:00.007+01:00

One of the best parts of stamp collecting, or any collecting, is the treasure hunt aspect. You get to play Indiana Jones in your own little way. The remote but real possibility of finding a rare and valuable treasure just adds to the excitement.

Dealers are always a good source for old stamps, especially if you are looking for something in particular. If you are going this route then the stamp show is your best bet. Here you will find many dealers in one place which will improve your odds of not only finding what you want but getting a good deal in the process. These also have the benefit of also including a display competition for collectors. This will give you the opportunity to see many examples of stamps you may never see on your own.

Another great way to find old stamps for your collection is searching lots. A lot can be an old collection or a shoebox full of stamps or anything similar. These can be purchased from dealers or other collectors. Many clubs will buy these and place them out for their members to search.

If you are feeling more adventurous garage sales, flea markets and even old attics can be fun searches. Don’t just limit yourself to looking for stamps here though. Look for old letters or postcards or anything else that may have been sent in the mail. Since these may not have been checked for their stamps you could find that rare treasure you’ve been looking for. Remember, the most valuable stamp in the world was once just a letter to someone’s sweetheart.

Good luck and happy hunting!

How to Clean an Old Coin

2010-12-05T10:49:00.000+01:00

You can find a number of ways that you can clean an old coin. Below will be some methods that you can use to clean some old coins that you have laying around or that you have found. Before cleaning a old coin that may be valuable you will want to contact a coin dealer as cleaning will cut the value of the coin sometimes by half.

The First Method for Cleaning an Old Coin is Vinegar

The first method is a pretty common method to use for cleaning some old coins. This method can be done with more than one coin at once and will allow multiple coins to be done by simply filling a soda bottle or apple juice container with the coins such as pennies that you want to clean up. Once you have placed all the pennies into the jug pour pure white vinegar past the mark where the pennies are and then shake the container and allow the pennies to sit over night or for at least 24 hours. Then pour the vinegar out and wipe the coins off with a towel that is not used for bathing or showering.

The Second Way To Clean An Old Coin Is Baking Soda

Here is another way to clean old coins, however this method should only be used when you are cleaning a small amount of coins as the method will take some time to clean a bunch of pennies at one time. You will need to have a box of baking soda and you will need to have the pennies placed into a cup allowing the pennies to be wet to allow the baking soda to stick to the pennies. Once the baking soda has sat on the pennies for a few minutes use a tooth brush to scrub the baking soda off from the penny. Once the baking soda has been scrubbed off rinse the coin and then allow the coin to dry. The coin should be clean.

The Third Way To Clean An Old Coin Is Ammonia

I wouldn’t recommend using this method if you have a problem with breathing problems such as asthma or have an intolerance to certain smells. You will need to have purchased some ammonia cleaning solution. Place a small amount of cleaning solution in a small jar and place the coins in the jar and allow to soak. Once the coins have soaked for several hours remove them from the cleaning solution and wipe down with a soft cloth. You may still need to use the baking soda method.

The Fourth Way To Clean An Old Coin Is Jewelry Cleaner

Another method that can be used is to purchase a jar of jewelry cleaner from your local jewelry store. Once you have purchased the jewelry cleaner such as Never Dull. Use the cotton and tear off a small portion of it and use it to wipe off the pennies or coins that need to be polished. Once you have used the padding and wiped the coins off you will need to use a soft cloth to wipe the pennies and coins off once you have done the polishing. You will need to make sure that you have wiped all the cleaner off.

These are just some ways that you can clean old coins and pennies. Most of the methods mentioned can be used to clean jewelry as well. These methods are fairly cheap and easy to do. The methods will not take a large amount of time to complete as well.

How to Go Fly Fishing

2010-12-04T14:34:00.000+01:00

So you’re thinking about taking a nice relaxing trip, maybe even do a little fly fishing and enjoy the outdoors. You might be wondering “How do you fly fish? Is it hard to learn?” The truth is fly fishing is great way to spend time outdoors and you can do it almost anywhere from oceans to creeks and lakes and most national parks and big campground offer classes to help you get started. If you already have your rod and reel and you have taken a few practice casts in your backyard with no one looking here are a few techniques you will want to try.

How to go fly fishing using Deep Swing and Retrieve

Stand up stream and cast your line downstream and let the line out until it reaches the desired depth, wait, then reel your fly in at different speeds until it attracts a fish. Deep swing and retrieve works the best when you are fishing in deep water.

How to go fly fishing using Weighted Nymphs

Cast your line upstream from where the fish are swimming and let the nymph drift down current naturally. Before trying this technique make sure your line in buoyant enough to keep the fly from snagging on the bottom.

How to go fly fishing using Dry Fly Swung

The dry fly swung techniques works well if you use a fly that’s light enough to just skim the surface. Start by casting slightly down stream, let your line out and let the current swing the fly until it’s downstream. Continue repeating the steps and walking down stream between each cast to make sure you have covered all the areas where fish maybe hiding.
The best way to learn how to go fly fishing is to head out and ask other fisherman what they are using, where they are casting, and of course why? You will find other are more than happy to share their knowledge and passion about fly fishing.

How to Open an Online Bank Account

2010-12-02T12:16:00.000+01:00

An online checking account can be opened with one of many different banks. It is a simple fact that some of these banks require a social security number. There are those that do not have that requirement. However it is decided open an online checking account, it will simplify banking needs and depending on the bank that was selected. The new account holder can have free access, free bill pay, free debit card transactions and no fee for overdrafts. The customer should ask detailed questions about these account features. Often times there is instant approval, and no credit check for opening an online checking account.

Online Checking Institution

An online checking account can be opened is a great way to begin to save money, or receive gifts that are given, as the fulfillment of opening and account online. If the bank, or other saving institution is able to provide you with a good saving rate, they will. A good saving rate is near 1.6 – 1.2 % interest per month. These online checking accounts are many time insured by the United States federal government, or FDIC. These online checking account also often provide rewards that amount to free travel discounts, or travel rewards. There is also free cash that is an great feature on the checking account. ATM machines often dispense you checking account dollars without a few.

Checking Account and Banks

An online checking account can be opened to receive many free rewards that are given to new customers. There are no account minimums. Money saving products are available to many types of checking accounts. The application is easy to complete, and often takes less than five minutes to entirely fill on a secure site. There are many great APR’s, or annual percentage rates that are available to online checking accountnew and existing customers. Some online checking accounts offer the ability to complete free bill pay. Bank customers often have the ability to do free online banking, and receive electronic statements. Some online checking account banks allow instant deposit directly into your account from your employer. These banks often also have the ability to keep your checking deposit records for years, for tax purposes.

How to Learn Sign Language

2010-11-29T12:11:00.001+01:00

Imagine for a moment, if you can, living in a world without laughter. Then imagine a world with no music. Finally, imagine a world with no sound. What if you were unable to speak? How would you find a way to tell your lover or child that you love them. Communicating over the telephone could be remedied by the use of a specialized TTY relay service or by using a text messaging service. Online instant messaging services could also help, but only two choices remaining for face to face communication: note writing, which is time consuming, or the use of sign language. Sign language is a series of hand gestures that represent whole words or letters of the alphabet. Learning sign language is important and useful in a variety of settings and occupations, and there are various ways to learn sign language.

1. Learn in a Classroom. Many colleges and community centers offer courses in American sign language. These classes typically teach the entire alphabet as well as common word signs and phrases.

2. Learn from Video. Thanks to video sites such as Youtube and the affordable cost of CDs and DVDs. These can range from short tutorials on single letters or signs, to full blown courses.

3. Learn by Reading a Book. This method is no longer as common due to video production, but before the mid 1990s, many books on the American sign language had been published. These books usually featured illustrations and text to teach the appropriate hand movements.

4. Learn Online. There are many websites that teach sign language for free, utilizing audio and video instruction as well as written instruction. They may provide even provide testing materials.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice! Try to find an organization or individual already learned willing to help you practice.

How to Heal Lower Back Pain

2010-11-27T11:55:00.000+01:00

You’ve done it again–hurt your lower back. Admit it, you are not 25 any more. Let a few ground balls go through your legs once in awhile in softball. Don’t worry, you can blame your errors on your eyesight. That’s another problem for the more mature blokes.

Rest, Ice & Heat

Lower back pain is no joke. Your injury can stem from physical activities, repetitive tasks on a job or even sitting too long, a problem an athletic guy or gal like you might not admit. Lower back injuries run the gamut. The most common injury is a back strain. You can also sustain more structural problems such as bulging or herniated discs. Tendinitis and arthritis are also common problems in the lumbar or sacral vertebrae of your lower back. All lower back problems can be alleviated through various treatments. First and foremost, you need to stop all physical activity for awhile and rest your back. If you have severe pain, use a back brace when you need to be mobile, or if you sit in front of a computer at work. During the first 48 to 72 hours, use ice on your back. Ice will help reduce any inflammation or swelling. It narrows the blood vessels and temporarily restricts the flow of blood. This is important during the early stages of a lower back problem because of possible broken blood vessels, which can increase swelling and pain. When the swelling has subsided, a heating pad will help promote blood flow to your lower back. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients such as vitamin C that are necessary for healing.

Medication

No treatment would seem right without a little medication. An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen should do the trick. These medications can also help heal your lower back pain. They are Cox-2 inhibitors, which limit the effects of Cox-2 enzymes on prostaglandins (chemicals). The interaction of the enzymes and chemicals are the body’s natural response to injuries.

Massage

Massage is another effective treatment for healing lower back strain or structural problems. Massage also increases the flow of blood to the lower back. Have your significant other spend five or ten minutes several times a day massaging your back. It may just do more than relieve your ailing back. Finally, stretching and strength-building exercises can help cure lower back problems.

Exercise

Exercise is the best way to increase blood flow to the muscles and bones in the lower back. However, you should not start exercising until you have your inflammation and pain under control. Stretching will increase flexibility and mobility in your muscles. Muscles do tighten with age. It is also important to build strength in your lower back and adjacent muscles, which will add stability to your spine and lower back. This will help alleviate pain in your lower back.

These lower back remedies should be used in the order outlined above. There is no set time frame curing lower back pain, but you can enhance your recover the more proactive you are in your treatments.

How to Heal Cold Sores

2010-11-25T11:48:00.000+01:00

If there is one thing that everyone can agree on, it would probably be the fact that everyone hates getting a cold sore. Let’s face it they are uncomfortable and they don’t go with any of our outfits or fit into any of our daily plans at all. The trouble with cold sores is getting them healed up, so here are a few tips.

There are many over the counter and prescription medications that one could take. Abreva is one, Orajel, Zovirax, Denavir, Valtrex, Famvir and Vyroxin are some others. There are many other ways to help heal your cold sores, one of these is Lysine. Lysine is very inexpensive and you can usually find it in the vitamin section. Take four 500mg Lysine at the first sign of a cold sore. Take one each morning and one each evening. If you catch it early enough it will go away completely. If you don’t catch it early enough it will still reduce the amount of time and the severity of the outbreak. Also recommended during the time of an outbreak is to get a new toothbrush.

Since a cold sore is a virus you could possibly be exposing yourself to it every time you brush your teeth. Boosting your immune system is also a good way to help prevent them, since they are triggered by stress. Try taking some vitamin C about three times a day. Also use a sunscreen on your lips, because exposure to sunlight can also be a factor in triggering cold sores. Zinc has also been proven to reduce the duration of cold sores. Applied topically, it can help speed the healing. Lemon balm has also been known to reduce the symptoms and speed up the healing process. If you like yogurt, then eat it also, it is high in Lysine, but make sure to get some that is gelatin-free.

How to Buy a Foreclosed Home

2010-11-23T09:12:00.000+01:00

In real estate there are multiple ways to buy a house or property. You can buy a house or property that is sold on the market in a conventional transaction. Buyers can also buy real estate by first renting it and then agreeing to buy it once the rental term is up. People can buy real estate such as fixer uppers, commercial properties and duplexes, and four plexes.

One of the most common ways to buy real estate nowadays due to the housing bubble burst and recent recession is a foreclosed home. A foreclosed home is a house that has been seized by the lender due to the buyer/owner’s inability to pay the mortgage. In this situation the buyer has not made a payment for the mortgage for three months and is now 90 days past due on the mortgage. As a result the lender takes the homeowner to court and by law is allowed to seize the home. This can be devastating to the original occupant, and burdening for the lender but it can also be beneficial for the parties involved.

A popular way to buy a home in foreclosure is to buy it before the lender officially seizes the property. Prospective buyers can get a listing from the county recorder’s office of homes on the verge of foreclosure and contact the distressed owner. They buyer usually approaches the owner and negotiates with him/her. The two parties work out a deal where the buyer can give the owner a lump sum and enable the distressed owner to pay off the mortgage and start over again without going through the process of losing the home and getting significant blemishes on their credit. A buyer can also rent it, pay the mortgage on time and pay any past due mortgage payments and enable the owner to get an income while he/she gets another property and eventually sells it within a few years. This process and way is a bit tricky and challenging though.

Another way to buy a foreclosed home is to contact a real estate agent who is experienced with foreclosures and have them assist you in locating foreclosed homes. You can also look at newspapers and magazines under the real estate section for foreclosed properties. Once you find a property to your liking you contact the lender and request to purchase the property. In this case you usually get the property inspected to make sure it is in livable condition. The next thing you do is request the agent to give you comparables of foreclosed properties in the area to make sure that the asking price is reasonable and a legitimate bargain. You must also check to see if there are any liens or past due/back taxes on the home. The rest of this process is very similar to a conventional home purchase. You first submit your credit report and get prequalified. Then you fill out and submit a mortgage application to get reviewed. After this you then get approved and give the lender the down payment, pay the closing costs, get the property in escrow and then move in.

A third way to purchase a foreclosed home is to network with real estate agents and investors at investing events. In this situation you would talk to investors and agents who know about foreclosures in the area and they then show you the information about the foreclosed home and engage in the process mentioned above.

You can also buy a foreclosed home through a foreclosure auction. When you go to an auction, the county clerks tell you about a home for sale and then you bid on the property. The winning bidder gets the property and he/she needs to pay the bin amount up front and right then and there at the auction.

There are a good four ways to buy a foreclosed home and these ways can be very beneficial to the seller, buyer and lender.

How to Get Your Bachelor’s Degree Online

2010-11-21T20:05:00.000+01:00

Going to school can be difficult, especially when holding down a full-time job. Sometimes it’s just not possible to work a campus schedule around a work schedule. However, that doesn’t mean you need to give up on schooling altogether. Online degrees pose the flexibility that allows full-time employment as well as the learning needed to succeed in a job field, but there are a few things to keep in mind when pursuing a degree online:

1) Finding the Right College

There are a slew of online colleges and finding the right one can be as daunting as finding any college. The important thing is to try to narrow it down. First look for the colleges that offer the degree you’re looking for. If you’re not sure on your degree, find one that offers a large variety of degrees so you can experiment before making your final decision. The most important thing is making sure that the college is accredited because otherwise you’ll have a difficult time finding jobs with that degree. All accredited colleges should be able to prove their accreditation when asked without any difficulty.

2) College Costs

As surprising as it may be, earning a bachelor’s degree online is not necessarily cost-effective. Many online schools can still cost $10,000 to $20,000 a year, which is more than a lot of state colleges, but less than private colleges. The good news is that most online colleges do have some sort of funding and scholarships available and you can apply for government aid through the FAFSA and earn more support that way.

3) Time Management

While earning an online degree may, at first, sound like a miracle solution to being able to work to afford everything, don’t forget that it’s still school and it still requires a good deal of time invested in it. A lot of online classes have at least one seminar every week that you attend like a “class”. Plus, there is still homework, projects, essays, and studying that need to be done. What’s more, you won’t have as much daily contact with teachers and classmates to remind you of due dates, so it’s important that you be able to manage your time in order to get everything turned in when it’s due.

How to Clean Your Reading Glasses

2010-11-19T15:04:00.000+01:00

Even if you bought your reading glasses from a store instead of an optometrist’s office, they still need special care. Any glass or plastic lens can scratch and pit, making it hard to see through them. Most scratching and pitting is caused by improper cleaning.

The easiest way to keep your glasses clean and minimize the risk of scratching and pitting is to buy a system. Optometrists sell containers of cleaning fluid along with soft, lint free cloths, or cloths already saturated with cleaning liquid. These are quite expensive, but they’re very safe for your glasses, prescription or otherwise.

Since the main ingredient of this cleaning liquid is alcohol, if you want to save money, you can buy rubbing alcohol from the health care section of your grocery or drugstore. Alcohol dries quickly and doesn’t streak, but if you don’t wipe it quickly, you won’t get smears or splashes off the glasses.

Dish washing liquid diluted with water will clean lenses and frames of oil and dirt. The most thorough cleaning is done by making up a small bowl of a drop dish washing liquid and warm water. Dip your glasses into the mixture and rub with your wet fingers. Rinse well and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Alternately, you can wet the glasses, put a drop of dish washing liquid on each lens and rub with your wet fingers. Rinse and dry.

There’s third mixture that’s more convenient and works well in a spray bottle. Mix one quarter cup of plain ammonia, one teaspoon of dish washing liquid and a cup of water. Stir this together and spray it on your glasses, rinse and dry.

Always clean the frames when you clean the lenses. Oil from your face and fingers is acidic and will degrade plastic frames over time.

Don’t use tissue of any kind to either clean or dry because they contain small fibers that can damage glass or plastic lenses.

How to Clean Wine Stains

2010-11-17T14:52:00.000+01:00

Some stains are a huge nuisance to remove especially if not treated immediately. Red wine stains definitely fall into that category. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make sure your garments or furniture aren’t ruined forever!
First check to see if the garment is dry clean only. If it is there’s not a lot you can do about as treating it can cause irreversible damage to some fabrics. Instead, try to immediately get it to get it to a cleaners immediately. Either way, you can blot the stain with paper towels to remove as much wine as possible.

If your garment is not dry clean only you have a few options. But before you pre-treat your fabric make sure to lay a towel or washcloth between the front and back of the garment to make sure the stain doesn’t soak through, staining the back of your clothes. You could make a solution using a teaspoon of laundry or dish detergent and one cup of hydrogen peroxide in bowl, soak a sponge in it, squeeze about half the mixture out and then gently dab on to the stain.

Or you could mix one third a cup of a white household vinegar with two thirds cup water and gently dab on. Or to really fight fire with fire, you could even try pouring white wine over the stain (this works even on table cloths and carpets!) as white wine has been proven to get red wine out of fabrics.

After you’ve treated the stain with one of the above methods then wash it. If the garment is machine washable, wash it in cold water and let air dry. If it’s hand wash only, wash it in the sink with cold water and a mild detergent.
With proper pretreatment and delicate care, red wine stains hardly cause a problem!

How to Fix a Scratched CD

2010-11-15T14:45:00.000+01:00

You love listening to your favorite song–just not the same part over and over–that is, if it plays at all. Even the smallest scratch can make a CD unplayable. Whether it skips a segment or an entire song, it is disruptive to the music-listening experience. Instead of throwing your disc away, try repairing the scratch. Here are three unique ways to fix a scratched CD.

If you don’t have a CD repair kit, or you want to save some money, a CD-repair cream is in your bathroom drawer. Toothpaste works wonders on a scratched CD. Take a small amount and rub it into the scratch. The CD won’t look better–in fact, it will look worse, but it will play much better.

Another cleaner hiding in your house is vaseline. Apply this to a clean cloth and rub in a circular motion on the disc. Wipe the disc from the center to the outside. You may have to repeat the process several times.

Bananas are not only a good source of potassium, they’re also good for fixing scratches. Cut the banana in half. You can eat the other half unless you have a box of scratched disc. Rub the banana onto the CD and use the peel to polish it. Remove the excess banana with a towel. Spray on some glass cleaner and wipe again.

These three methods will save your disc and money, unless you have to make a grocery run for bananas. Now you can enjoy your disc again.