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How to Use Potato Slicer

By John Lyons

A potato slicer is a versatile counter top machine that is used to make potato chips. It can also be used to cut slices of different thickness in sweet potatoes, plantain, carrots, zucchini, onion rings and much more. The unit gives you consistent results and it is also safe to use. You can also cut potatoes in different shapes depending with this machine.How to Use Potato Slicer

The unit features rotating disks with radial knives. It has a vertical shaft which the disc revolves around. It also has cylinders that are mounted on the disc where you feed the potatoes.

Additionally, it has a cutter that cuts your potatoes in different shapes and sizes.

There are so many benefits that you will get when you have a potato slicer for home or commercial use. Some of the benefits you will enjoy include the following:

  • A potato slicer is cost-effective and economical
  • You can use it to slice different shapes like straight or round
  • It does not waste food because the whole potato is used
  • Easy to operate and doesn’t consume a lot of time
  • It is made of sturdy materials like aluminum or stainless steel for durability

Using a potato slicer

Potato slicers are machines that anyone can use with ease. For the best results, it is important if you are conversant with the working of a potato slicer. Once you know how to use the machine, then you will have an easy time when slicing potatoes. You can either choose to use an electric potato slicer or a manual model.spiral potato slicer

A potato slicer has a funnel-shaped tube where you pour your potatoes. The potatoes then slide down the chute and they are aligned lengthwise. With the help of a revolving paddle or s disk, the potatoes pass through a stationary knife which cuts a slab the length and width of the potato.

It features a set of revolving knives that are made of high-quality stainless steel which not only retains a sharp cutting edge but also gives the unit an extended life. The moving part of the unit is well mounted on a shaft that rotates in a ball bearing. You just need to use some edible grease from time to time for lubrication.

How to Use a Mandoline Slicer (Video)

Final words

Having a potato slicer will help you slice potatoes fast and easy. You can use the machine in different places such as restaurants, home, schools, hospitals, sporting events and other places where you need to make French fries.

Apart from slicing potatoes, you can also use a potato slicer different application such as slicing tomatoes, mushrooms, figs, cucumbers, citrus fruits and much more.

If you were wondering how to use a potato slicer, I believe you got something helpful from the article. The machines are easy to use whether you choose a manual or an electric model.

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How to Wash a Faux Fur Blanket at Home

By John Lyons

When it comes to keeping warm during the cold months, faux fur blankets are useful. Faux fur blankets may be difficult to maintain depending on the material. Here, you will learn how to wash a faux fur blanket at home.

Moreover, it resembles animal fur, but it is composed of other synthetic fabrics that resemble animal fur. In addition to providing warmth, they also provide a stylish and elegant appearance. There are many times when it is regarded as a luxury product, thus becoming less special.how to wash a faux fur blanket at home

What Is Faux Fur Made Of?

Because counterfeit fur resembles animal fur, it is also referred to as fake fur. Synthetic materials are used that are acrylic, polyester, and modacrylic. Since faux fur is more pleasing to the eye than genuine fur, and is far less expensive, used as a material for blankets, clothes (such as faux fur coats), shoes, and other household items.

In addition to the usually used materials, there are also many different types of materials that can be used to provide comfort and softness besides the normally used materials. Wool, silk, rayon, and cotton are some of these materials. Cleaning and caring for faux fur blankets are very different, so it’s important to understand how each material should be washed in order to avoid destroying it.

How do you wash a faux fur blanket at home?

Before you learn how do you wash a faux fur blanket, you should learn more about caring for faux fur. You can also ask us for assistance in maintaining other faux-fur items.
In your home, you might find a variety of faux fur products, but the challenge is that they are so different in shape, size, and even the materials they are made of. Faux furs are difficult to maintain due to this.

In most cases, you can either wash it by hand or by machine. Dry cleaning is the only option for most faux fur items. For more information about how to care for faux fur, you should read the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

The following are some tips that can help you wash a faux fur blanket at home.

  • Cold water should be used when cleaning faux fur clothes.
  • According to the faux fur size, add cool water to the tub or sink.
  • Mix some mild detergent into the water and stir it with your hand.
  • In the water, soak the item for 15 minutes at least.
  • The soapy water should be drained, but the faux fur remains in the sink or tub.
  • Remove any traces of soap from the faux fur product using fresh water.
  • Put fabric conditioner in the tub and fill it up again.
  • Rinse the faux fur product in water once more, for ten minutes.
  • Rinse at least one more time. Ensure faux fur is dry with a towel that is clean and dry.
  • To dry it, place it in the sun.
  • After it has completely dried, brush it.

It is possible to follow this procedure for almost all faux fur products, except faux fur boots. There is also another way to wash a faux fur blanket at home.

How to Clean the Outside of a Cast Iron Skillet

By John Lyons

Cast iron skillets are a timeless kitchen utensil but they will only stand the test of time if they are treated properly. You actually want a thin black carbon layer on your pan. This is called ‘seasoning’ and its purpose is to protect the cast iron from rusting. It is best to avoid soap or scouring when cleaning cast iron cookware, it’s actually better to clean them with a sheet of kitchen paper and oil.

Read More: Cast Iron Skillet For Camping

However, sometimes the build-up might become too much that you want to clean your cast iron skillet and, if this is the case, you need to do this properly.

If you’re cleaning the outside of the skillet, the chances are you will remove the seasoning from the inside too. It is important, therefore, that you re-season your skillet after you’ve finished cleaning it.

Cleaning a cast iron skillet is a job that not a lot of people enjoy! You can, however, make it much more enjoyable (and easy!) by using a few tried and tested techniques that will get the job done well without taking up too much time.clean a cast iron skillet

Easy Ways to Cleaning a Cast Iron Skillet Outside

There are many different ways to clean the outside of a skillet. For this method, you till need:

  • A sink
  • A scrubber
  • Cooking oil
  • A chemical cleaner

Different Scrubber Types

It’s up to you which scrubber to use best, you might want to try a few different things to see what works best. You could use a wire grill brush, a steel wool pad, or even a wooden spoon!

Cleaning method:

Step 1: Boil some water.

Step 2: Place your skillet upside down in the sink. If it won’t fit entirely face down, it’s OK to do it at an angle.

Step 3: With care, pour the boiling water onto the skillet, over the outside.

Step 4: Be careful not to scald your hands during this – scrub off buildup or food with a scrubber like your wire grill brush or steel wool.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is no more build-up.

Step 6: If the above steps aren’t getting rid of all of the build-up, try pouring salt over the pan. This will create extra abrasion that will help your scrubber to break through the build-up. You can add cooking oil into the salt. Adding grease will help to break down grease on the skillet.

Step 7: after the build-up is removed, you should wash your skillet in warm soapy water

Step 8: Dry your skillet completely

Step 9: Re-season your skillet with corn oil. Alternatively, you could use melted lard.

Best Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cleaner

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Different Chemical Cleaners

There are many different chemical cleaners that will help you clean the outside of a cast-iron skillet for outdoor if the above method doesn’t work as well as you’d like. Brands like Bar Keepers Friend, Ajax and Comet are great. Also, don’t underestimate the usefulness of household items like bicarbonate of soda, and vinegar.

Other Tips and Ideas

It’s important not to leave a cast-iron skillet wet. Always ensure you dry it completely before you put it away. This is because cast iron will rust if it is not dry.

Some people swear by over cleaner to clean a cast-iron skillet and, while this does work, oven cleaner is strong stuff so extra care needs to be taken. If you’re going to use oven cleaner, you should place the skillet inside a zip lock bag with the oven cleaner in and leave for a few hours. After a few hours, take it out of the bag and scrub the outside with a scrubber pad. Obviously, you need to completely clean off the oven cleaner and re-season the skillet before you use it again.

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How to Clean the Outside of a Cast Iron Skillet

The re-seasoning Process

As previously mentioned, the seasoning of a cast-iron skillet is a really important step because it prevents rust and maintains the pan’s non-stick qualities.

This is something you should do even if you’ve only cleaned the outside of the skillet because the whole of the skillet is vulnerable to rust.

Steps to take to re-season your skillet:

  • Rub the skillet’s entire surface (both outside and inside) with a paper towel that is soaked in oil.
  • Put the skillet into a cool oven. Turn on the heat to 250° Fahrenheit and leave for one hour.
  • Repeat Step 1 and put the skillet back into the oven for a further hour.
  • Remove the skillet from the oven and use a dry paper towel to soak up any excess residue after cooling.
  • Make sure you keep the cast iron skillet in a dry place to avoid rusting. You could even store it with a paper towel inside to soak up excess moisture.

Best Way to Control Mosquitoes in Yard

By John Lyons

A bite from mosquito can kill your summer and confine you to the bed for weeks.

So how you’re gonna deal with it?

Besides, you can’t even sit peacefully in your own yard for the mosquito’s annoying humming sound and itchy bites!

Guess what?

Today, I am going to share the best way to control mosquitoes in yard and these terrific ideas will also help prevent mosquito birth.

Scroll down!Best Way to Control Mosquitoes

10 Best Way to Control Mosquitoes in Yard

Not only for having a peaceful ambience or neat yard, but you’ll also need to minimize mosquito reproduction to safeguard yourself and your family from viruses and horrifying diseases.

Thus, prevention is better than cure. And to help you through this I have dropped 10 crucial steps you should adapt to gain a mosquito-free yard this summer.

Check them out!

1. Cast a Sharp Eye on Your Yard

The very first thing you gotta do is to look around your yard carefully. Now you’re wondering why? Well, there’s a 200% possibility that your yard has one or multiple places where the mosquitoes are staying, and the worst possibility is that they are breeding.

Rest, you can imagine. Therefore, take a good look around your yard for anything that can hold water. Because water is the only resource where the mosquitoes lay eggs.

Even if the place is slightly damp for a couple of days, the mosquitoes will just sense it somehow and start laying eggs there.

Anyways, look into plant tubs, flowerpots, ornamental fountains, gutters, garden, rain barrel, and yard debris as well.

Now, try to remove them from your yard. If it’s not possible then keep them clean and dry. You can also use pyrethrins in your yard. Though it’s harmful to your skin, you better wear protection essentials before spraying them.

2. Keep Your Pets Water Container Dry

With the pets water containers, you are less likely to dry them out after using or changing the water persistently.

Because your dog might get thirsty over and over. Here you need to have patience and try your best to keep the container dry after drinking water or changing the water continuously so that it doesn’t become stagnant water.

3. Throw Away Unnecessary stuff and Junks

Sometimes, you store old furniture, tires, broken pieces of accessories and other junks in your yard. But little do you know that these are pretty much welcoming for mosquito breeding.

Mostly the tires. They are ridiculously helpful towards mosquito raise.

Because it not only retains water but also provide a warm, homely environment to the mosquitoes.

Hence, it’s the right time you should throw them away or toss them up on a regular basis to brush away dust and mosquito larvae. Also, you should keep the tires into a place where there’s no way to hold water or you can poke a hole on it so that it won’t hold water but drain out.

4. Mow Your Yard

To control the mosquito habitat, you need to weed out the soil of your yard. Moreover, mowing your yard helps to reduce the mosquito habitat.Best Way to Control Mosquitoes in Yard

5. Manage Ample Time to Look into the Gutters

Throughout winter, the gutters aren’t prone to filter out the debris so that it becomes damp, dirty and absolutely mosquito friendly.

Therefore, call a gutter cleaner from your locality and get it clean right now.

6. Sprinkle Some Larvicides

You can use larvacides such as mosquito dunks or altosid. These will gradually stop the larvae from being able to grow into adult mosquitoes.

Focus Areas: Sheds, garages and under the junks.

7. Apply Insecticides in Your Yard

Here, you have to opt for a specific product which is labelled for mosquito control in a residential yard. For example, there are Demand CS, Talstar P, Malathion, etc which effectively helps to kill mosquitoes and larvae as well.

8. Keep your Pool Chlorinated

Still, water attracts mosquito habitats.

Therefore, you need to chlorinate your pool regularly because it creates an unwelcoming environment for mosquitoes and if you can maintain the filter of your pool then there’s no way for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

Moreover, you can also drop a larvicide or dunk into the pool water. Such as Bacillus thuringiensis. It adequately kills mosquitoes without harming other habitats.

9. Embrace Natural Mosquito Repellents

Basil, lemon balm, catnip, rosemary and citronella grass are one of the most effective mosquito repellent plants you’ll ever find.

Try to plant any of them in your yard. If you prefer a natural and organic way to cope up with mosquito breeding, then here’s the deal.

10. Hang a Bug Zapper and Trap In your Yard

Bug zappers attract and kill mosquitoes through a combination of heat and carbon dioxide,and traps lured mosquitoes by imitating the human scent.

Stay Safe!

Before anything, try to save yourself from mosquito bites in the first place. Apply Odomos or any of the mosquito repellent lotions to safeguard yourself.

Apart from this, I hope these 10 steps will help you to control mosquitoes in the yard. However, feel free to share any of your go-to remedy for curing mosquito breeding in the comments section.

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Bench Grinder Safety Tips & Tricks

By John Lyons

Though little known, the bench grinder plays a vital role in the typical workshop. That is why you desperately want to know all about it. Of utmost importance is the dangers which the device may pose and how to prevent them. Read on to find out about the tiny details of this wonderful piece of equipment.

A.) What is a bench grinder good for?

A bench grinder is a workshop machine that is meant to grind and sharpen other tools. Many modern grinders can shape, clean, polish, or buff metals as well. This machine handles and impacts just about every other tool that comes its way. Bench Grinder Safety Tips

B.) What is a tongue guard on a bench grinder?

The tongue guards are safety mechanisms on the bench grinders. They play the role of shielding the grinding wheel pieces from flying out unnecessarily. This way, they enhance your own safety and minimize the possibilities of dirtying your workshop.

Your work area hence remains tidy and well-kept always. Chances of inflicting any injuries and other associated issues are hence relegated to considerable lows. You also find it easier to restore your premise to its perfect original form courtesy of these.

C.) What PPE is required when using a grinder?

For a start, the term PPE stands for personal protective equipment. These are simply gears which you put on to shield you from any harms and dangers in your workshop. They do so by creating a barrier between your body and the harsh external environment.

To use a grinder well, you require a number of this equipment. Examples are:

  • Safety glasses or goggles to safeguard your eyes.
  • Gloves to shield your hand from any cuts or other issues.
  • Aprons for the sake of your whole body and clothing.
  • Boots to keep your feet shielded for all debris.
  • Gas or face mask for protecting your respiratory faculties.

D.) Are eye shields required on bench grinders?

YES, they are! It is not uncommon to sustain some eye injuries in the course of working your metals. To be able to enjoy safety operations, you will definitely have to bring in some eye shields. These create a barrier which keeps all debris out.

The shields are also transparent enough to allow you to clearly see your work. This way, they ward off any possible ambiguities which may usually arise when taking measurements or operating the various parts of the tools.

E.) Are face shields required for grinding?

By all means, YES! The process of grinding materials is ordinarily prone to all kinds of debris. If and when this debris find themselves on your face, they might compromise it. The only way to avoid this is to put on a suitable face shield.

Needless to say, the shield has to be comprehensive. It has to cover all the vital front organs like the nose and the eyes fully. It is only in this manner that you will be able to guarantee the best outcomes.Bench Grinder Safety

F.) What are the safety rules when using a bench grinder?

While using a grinder, you have to adhere to some safety rules. These include the following:

  • Fasten the bench grinders and the pedestal securely to prevent the same from fidgeting unnecessarily
  • See to it that all the guards are perfectly in place. Secure them tightly before proceeding to use the grinder.
  • Adjust the tool rests to around 3 mm (1/8 in.) within the range of the wheels. Never do so while operating the machine. While at it, fix the work rest heights at horizontal elevations to the machine spindle.
  • Maintain some 6 mm (1/4 in.) of your wheel exposure. Use a movable or tongue guard to do this.
  • Ensure that the wheels contain some blotters on either side.
  • Be certain that the wheel fits properly onto your spindle when mounted. In case it is lost, attempt another wheel.
  • Tighten the nuts prior to turning the grinder on.
  • Finally, before you plug the grinder in, spin the wheel manually to see to it that it indeed spins freely.

G.) Who makes the best bench grinder?

A number of companies are engaged in the manufacture of the bench grinder. However, some stand out as the better ones. We have sampled five of them and are subsequently going to review them here:

1. Metabo

This is a German-based machine manufacturer. Its range of products has been noted to be rich in quality. Further, they are good for both professional and home use. This company came to be in the 1920s.

Generally speaking, you have this company’s range of products for your consideration if you are an independent worker. That is because they are strong enough for professional use yet simple enough to comprehend.

Top Picks Metabo Bench Grinder

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2. DEWALT

DEWALT is an American manufacturer of power tools. In most cases, its range of tools is mostly used for construction, woodworking, and manufacturing roles. Several factors make their tools stand out.

They are light in weight, are very agile, and perform numerous kinds of applications at a time. You can never miss out on them at all if you claim to be a serious workman.

Best Dewalt Bench Grinder

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3. Powertec

Powertec pioneered the innovation and strength of the equipment. Headquartered in southern California, this manufacturer has a large footprint. This stems mainly from the reliable nature of its goods.

By all accounts, its tools are simple, easy to use, and great for everyday home use. You need not really be an expert to be able to employ them.

Best Metabo Bench Grinder

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4. JET

JET is mostly for starters who have hardly attempted to use bench grinders before. The tools are lighter, comparatively easier to make use of and pretty efficient.

Also, you really need not have that much expertise to comprehend them. Only some mild knowledge of matters workmanship will do.

Best Jet Bench Grinder

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5. Abb Motors and Mechanical

Lastly comes the Abb Motors and Mechanical. Formerly called Baldor Electric Company, this brand is only for those industrial scale applications. That is due to the tough and strong nature of the products it produces.

If you own a workshop, you have no better companion than this one. This is where the tools shall come in and make your experience all the more worthwhile.

H.) Can you use a bench grinder on wood?

YES, you can! As stated earlier, this tool can sharpen, buff, polish, or shape any object, wood included!

Conclusion

We are now confident that you have what it takes to use the grinder well. As noted at the beginning, this device is prone to all kinds of safety issues. To be on the safe side, you want to take extra caution. Find an expert to walk with you in your early stages. Best of luck in your subsequent use of the device.