A plush model toys can be your child’s best friend. Keeping it clean can prolong the life of the stuffed toy, preventing premature wear and keeping it from being a germ factory. Stuffed plush toys with mechanical or electronic components inside can be cleaned by using basic home cleaning products and care.

Instructions

1.Shake the stuffed animal (outside if possible) immediately after any spill happens. This mimics what animals do to get water off of them and prevent you from pushing the spill to the inner core of the plush animal. This method will also remove dust from the stuffed animal.

2.Use a soft-bristled brush to “preen” the stuffed animal. This will loosen the dirt and dust trapped between the fur fibers. As you preen, run the vacuum attachment behind the brush to pick up the dust that is being loosened before it can settle into the fur once again.

3.Mix a dime-sized amount of dishwasher or washing detergent in a bucket of warm water. Dip the towel in the bucket to get it wet, and then squeeze all excess water out. Wipe the stuffed animal with the towel, moving in the direction of the fur. This keeps it from knotting or becoming nappy. Rinse the towel as needed in the water, squeezing as out much of the water as possible each time. It is important to not allow the moisture to soak into the depths of the animal, cleaning only the surface. Allow the stuffed animal to air-dry.

Tips & Warnings

Use mild or hypo-allergenic detergents on the stuffed animal, but test the detergent on the fabric before applying it to the entire animal. Try a small spot under the paw or behind an ear where any discoloration will hardly be noticed.

When it comes to disinfecting baby toys, you want to eliminate all traces of germs, but without using any harsh cleansers that will harm your baby. Electronic toys can’t be boiled or placed in the washer, so you must take extra care with these items. Though you might think bleach is the best way to sanitize toys, bleach leaves behind dioxins, a chemical that can get in your baby’s system and stay there. Instead, use vinegar and water to sanitize your baby’s toys every month or so, and each time he gets over a sickness.

Instructions

1.Use a canned air duster, which can be found at Target, Best Buy, office supply stores, or most stores that sell computers, to spray around the buttons, keys, and speakers. This will dislodge any crumbs that are lodged in those areas so you can better sanitize the toy.

2.Pour a few drops of gentle antibacterial soap into a bucket or bowl. Fill the bucket with very warm water. Measure about one to two tablespoons of white vinegar into the bucket.

3.Dip a clean cloth into the soapy vinegar water, and move it around to mix the solution a little bit. Wring out the cloth until it is no longer dripping, and wipe the surface of the toys well. Rub the rag over the keys and buttons of the toy as well. Do this to all of the toys. The toys will smell slightly of vinegar for about one day, but the smell will dissipate after that. Allow the toys to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

Stow away one or two toys that the baby doesn’t use regularly. That way, when you are cleaning all of his other toys, you can give him the fresh toys to play with that will keep him occupied.

Fabric dress shoes are great because they can be dyed to match any outfit. They are especially popular for proms and weddings. Unfortunately, they are much harder to clean than leather shoes. If you’re careful, you can clean dress fabric shoes in the washing machine.

Instructions

1.lace each shoe inside its own pillowcase.

2.Put them in the washing machine, along with two to three towels, so the shoes don’t rattle around.

3.Add a color-safe laundry detergent.

4.Wash the shoes and towels on the delicate cycle at 30 degrees.

5.Remove from the machine and air dry.

Tips & Warnings

To prevent future stains, protect the shoes with a waterproofing spray. Waterproofing spray is available from most dry cleaners and shoe stores.

Shirred dress fabrics are the stretchy, elastic fabrics that many summer dresses are made out of. Designers use this fabric to make long dresses with flowing skirts, tight-fitting bodices and no sleeves. The light weight of the cloth and lack of sleeves these dresses makes them perfect for summer. Shirring your own stretchy dress fabric is as easy as sewing a straight line with a sewing machine.

Instructions

1.Pick the “top” of your fabric. Fold that edge down 1/4 inch all the way across, wrong side to wrong side.

2.Press the fold with the iron. Sew the fold in place 1/8 inch from the top of the fold.

3.Wind the elastic thread around the empty bobbin by hand. Do so without stretching the elastic at all.

4.Remove the bobbin with the matching thread from your sewing machine and put the bobbin with elastic thread in its place. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing and adding bobbins to your sewing machine.

5.Take the fabric and find the top, which should now have a sewn hem. Insert the fabric under the needle, with the pretty side of the fabric up. The needle should be within 1/2 inch of the hem.

6.Sew a line in the fabric, parallel to the hem at the top of the fabric. When you reach the far end of the fabric, stop, and start a new row parallel to the first, but closer to the “bottom” of the fabric by half the width of the sewing machine foot. Continue doing this until the shirred part is as deep as you require.

Tips & Warnings

1.At the beginnings of the rows of shirring, start a few stitches and then reverse stitch over them by about five. At the ends, reverse five stitches and then finish the end. This will keep the ends of the shirring from coming undone.

2.Use a contrasting thread for a different look on the garment.

3.Read your manufacturer’s instructions for the sewing machine before you use it. Make use of any finger guards or safety features that the machine provides.

4.Don’t sew the shirring with the “ugly” side up, as you will have the white elastic showing instead of the thread you have chosen.

A stem caster is part of a swivel wheel system that is attached to the legs of furniture or shelving. Often, the stem on older furniture will break off from the wheel or loosen, causing the swivel wheel to malfunction. If this is the case, the caster wheel can be replaced so a new wheel can be attached.

Instructions

1.Turn your furniture over so you can inspect each wheel. See which need to be replaced. It’s a good idea to replace all 4 casters so your chair or shelf will roll properly.

2.Slip the old wheels out of the caster and discard. If the wheels are threaded, unscrew and then remove.

3.Use a screwdriver to pry the old caster out of the leg. Grab the end with pliers and pull the caster out.

4.Check the hole in your chair or shelf leg to see if any debris has been left behind by the old caster. This is important for making sure the new caster fits properly.

5.Purchase wheel casters at your local home supply or hardware store. They come in a variety of sizes.

6.Insert the new caster into the old hole. If you can’t find an exact fit, either drill the hole bigger or insert a dowel rod drilled to the size of the new caster. Use a rubber mallet to hammer the dowel into place before drilling the new hole.

7.Attach the new wheels to the stem casters by inserting them into the hole or threading them, depending on their design.

Tips & Warnings

1.For antique furniture, try to salvage the old wheel casters to keep the piece in its original state. You will probably need to tighten the existing casters by using tiny wood shims and some wood glue to make the hole tighter.

2.For cracked furniture legs that have casters, use wood glue to glue the 2 pieces back together and insert a dowel into the existing hole. Clamp together and let dry. When dry, drill a hole into the dowel and reinsert the old caster.

Walking stick bugs (from the Phasmida family) are very aptly named, because they look like sticks with legs and antennae, but even those will look as if they are twigs attached to a small branch. According to National Geographic, there are more than 3,000 species of walking stick bugs all over the word. Depending on what the trees are like in their native habitat, they will look like a twig or branch from that tree.

    Size

        Walking sticks vary considerably in size according to their species. They average only a couple of inches in length, but the largest species, Phoebaetictus Kirby, can reach an impressive 21 inches in length. That species lives in Borneo. In contrast, North America is home to the smallest species of walking stick, the Timema cristinea, which barely grows to a half inch or 11.6 millimeters long.

    Diet

        All walking sticks are herbivores. One of the reasons that they look like sticks is so they can graze on the leaves of their preferred trees in peace. Because they are able to break down hard-to-digest leaves, both their bodies and their droppings are important food sources for other animals. According to the San Diego Zoo, other insects prefer eating the droppings, while birds, bats, reptiles, spiders and small mammals enjoy a walking stick adult as a meal.

    Self-Protection

        Walking sticks’ body structure and coloration resemble real twigs or branches so strongly that often birds or other predators do not notice them at all. If this camouflage fails for whatever reason, some species of walking sticks have other means to protect themselves. Eurycantha horrida expels a very foul-smelling fluid. National Geographic reports that some species play dead, while others have grown small spines on their legs that inflict a painful blow. Some species are also able to fly.

    Reproduction

        Walking sticks are egg-laying insects. A female averages a few hundred eggs in her lifetime (which is up to three years in captivity). Although some species still use male-female mating to create fertilized eggs, many species are parthenogentic with female-only populations. These females are born with already fertilized eggs. Some species use both sexual and parthenogenic means to make fertile eggs.

    Warning

        Although there are walking sticks available in the pet trade, there may be local laws in your area that make owning a walking stick as a pet illegal. Also, National Geographic notes that it is unknown if harvesting walking sticks from the wild is causing an adverse effect on wild populations. John Locke of the University of Alberta warns that walking stick pets that escape into the wild can cause havoc in local environments.

If you’re having difficulty with your balance or if you plan to hike on grounds that are rough or uneven, you may want to try using a walking stick. A walking stick can help you to push off when going up or down a hill. It can be a good companion if you’re at a high risk for a fall or if you plan to be on snow, ice, gravel or other surfaces where you may fall more easily. If you have difficulty bending, your walking stick can help push objects in your path out of the way. Walking sticks are also good to take stress of your back, knees, hips and ankles.

Instructions

    Get the Right Size

        1.Get the right size for the activity you are doing. Your walking stick should be at least half your height for walking on flat surfaces.

        2.Buy a stick that is at least shoulder height if you plan to walk on hilly surfaces. It is also helpful to find a walking stick with a handle in case you lose your grip and drop the stick.

        3.Make sure the end of your walking stick should have a rubber tip if you will be on tile, ice or other slippery surfaces. A wider and rougher tip should be used in an outdoor setting such as woods or sandy areas.

    Using Your Walking Stick as a Cane

        1.Buy a cane that has a flat top, just like a cane would have. You’ll use your walking stick the same way you would use your cane.

        2.Hold the walking stick on the opposite side of the leg that is affected or injured. As you walk, swing the walking stick and the affected side at the same time. Your opposite foot and the walking stick should hit the floor together.

        3.Swing the unaffected leg through. By using the walking stick on the side that is opposite to the injury, you can take weight off the affected leg.

    Hiking With Your Walking Stick

        1.Buy a strong and sturdy stick that can support your weight. Walking sticks that are used specifically for hiking through woods, streams and soil should be thicker then a walking stick made for regular flat surfaces.

        2.When walking flat, change hands periodically. The walking stick and the opposite leg should hit the ground at the same time. Then push off the stick as you move forward.

        3.If you’re going uphill, place the walking stick a little out in front of you so you can pull and help yourself climb.

        4.Use the same function when walking downhill. By having the stick out in front, you can slow your descent and prevent yourself from sliding down.

        5.While hiking, use your walking stick to poke the ground in front of you to check for holes, loose rocks or to test how deep a stream is.

    Practice Using Your Walking Stick

        1.Experiment. You want the width to be just right so your hand easily fits around it without too much overlapping of the fingers.

        2.Ensure the stick feels like an extension of yourself. It may be awkward at first, but with practice your stick should feel natural to use.

        3.If using a walking stick while you’re injured, talk to your doctor or physical therapist about its proper use to avoid further complications.

Tips & Warnings

1.Try walking close to home at first to make sure the walking stick will work for you. It’s not recommended to go on a long hike with a walking stick you have never used.

2.Check with your doctor or physical therapist before switching from a cane to walking stick to make sure you’re not doing more harm than good.

As people age, hormonal changes and the effects of the sun alter the look of their skin, which sags and develops wrinkles. Dermal (facial) fillers correct these problems with nonsurgical procedures. Dermal fillers, made of bovine collagen, our own fat or synthetic materials, are injected into the face, filling the problem area to minimize the signs of aging. As with any medical procedure, there are pros and cons to dermal fillers.

Youthful Appearance

    Dermal fillers fill in areas of your face that sink in with age, and they eliminate wrinkles and scars. Dermal fillers can make lips fuller and give your face a more youthful appearance. But the results are temporary. In some cases additional treatments (at additional cost) will be necessary to correct unsatisfactory results. Most last anywhere from six months to two years, but you will have to continue having procedures to maintain the results.

Synthetic Fillers

    Synthetic dermal fillers contain synthetic polyactic acid (PLA). According to Plastic Surgery.com, polyactic acid fillers may require more than one visit spread out over a few weeks, but the effects last six to 12 months.

    Synthetic fillers may also use calcium hydroxyapatite, which typically lasts one to two years. But when injected too close to the surface of the skin, it may cause white spots at the injection site and has a tendency to clump or appear lumpy when injected into your lips. Synthetic fillers are typically used to fill or correct moderate to severe wrinkles or folds in your skin.

Natural Fillers

    Some dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, are made from natural substances found in your body that help retain moisture and maintain skin volume. Hyaluronic acid is not derived from other animal sources, which eliminates the risk of rejection or allergic reaction. But these fillers take time to show results, so the effects aren’t always as immediate as synthetic fillers. If something goes wrong, you’ll have to live with the results or have your physician try to correct it. These effects could get worse while you wait for the filler to be incorporated into your body.

Allergic Reaction

    According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, bovine collagen (botox) is derived from cattle. Some people are allergic to this type of filler, so skin testing is necessary. More often, filling agents called autologous fat, such as human collagen, which is made from fat harvested from your body, are used instead. These fillers eliminate the possibility of allergic reaction, but some fat cells fail to survive being transplanted.

    A high level of reabsorption is typical, so the physician performing the procedure would normally overfill the area he is treating. This will leave your face looking slightly abnormal for a while, although it is usually temporary.

Pain

    Bleeding, bruising, and beading of the outermost layer of your skin are common side effects with dermal fillers but should go away relatively fast. You can expect pain during the injection process, and discoloration at the injection site for at least 36 hours after the procedure. Itching at the injection site is common, and you shouldn’t wear makeup for a short time after the procedure. You must avoid strenuous exercise, sun exposure and alcohol consumption for a short period, as these may prolong redness and itching.

Cost

    According to Plastic Surgery Portal, the typical dermal filler procedure can cost between $400 and $1,500. The cost is less than plastic surgery, but if you need to go in for touch-ups, this can get expensive.

Recovery

    Dermal fillers are injected using a nonsurgical treatment that requires only topical numbing to the injection site. According to View Laser Skin Rejuvenation, dermal filling procedures typically take 15 to 30 minutes, and although you may experience some pain or discomfort during the injection, the recovery time is usually minimal.

Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to provide volume and smooth out wrinkles. In the lip area they are often used to provide larger and more voluptuous lips. Dermal lip fillers are done by medical professionals in the field of plastic surgery and are not recommended to be done by yourself or by an untrained individual. This could possibly cause problems with the injections such as hematomas, blood pooling and negative cosmetic outcomes.

Instructions

1.Make an appointment with a trained medical professional who specializes in dermal filler. Choices include synthetic materials such as human-based collagen or fat transfers. According to the Consumer Guide for Plastic Surgery, as of November 2010 prices vary between approximately $350 per session for collagen up to $4,500 per sessions for a fat transfer.

2.Speak with the medical professional about the number of sessions that you will need to have for the amount of fullness that you desire. Overfilling the lips is common at first because up to 40 percent of the collagen or fat disperses. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, after multiple sessions more collagen or fat remains in the lip area.

3.Attend the appointment and have the dermal lip filler injected into your lips. Procedures usually last approximately one hour. Recovery time varies but will likely take place after a few days. Your lips may be sore and puffy after the procedure.

Self-stick vinyl tiles are a great, inexpensive option for kitchen, bathroom, and entryway flooring. High quality vinyl tiles can mimic the look of ceramic or stone tiles, but are typically much cheaper and are easier and faster to install. If you want to update the look of your home and stay under budget, visit your local home improvement store to see your options in peel-and-stick vinyl tile flooring.

Instructions

    Prepare the Underlayment

        1.Remove the old flooring, if necessary. Self-stick vinyl tiles can be laid over dry concrete, undamaged vinyl and linoleum, or plywood.

        2.Lay a plywood underlayment over the existing damaged floor, if necessary.

        3.Fill and sand any nail holes, cracks or low spots in the floor.

        4.Remove any bumps in the floor with a chisel and/or sandpaper.

        5.Fill low spots in the floor or textured vinyl using a commercial leveler.

        6.Clean the floor to remove all dirt and grease.

        7.Remove any glossy surface or adhesive with the appropriate commercial product.

    Lay the New Floor

        1.Store the new self adhesive vinyl tiles inside your home 24 to 48 hours prior to installation. This ensures that the adhesive is acclimated to the proper temperature.

        2.Find the center of the room by measuring the center of each wall and snapping a chalk line between the opposing walls.

        3.Lay a row of tiles to each wall from the center chalk line cross without removing the paper from the back of the tiles.

        4.Adjust the center starting point of the tiles so that there is not less than a half tile where the rows meet each of the four walls. Re-snap chalk line to mark the new starting point.

        5.Remove the paper backing from the first self-stick vinyl tile in the center starting point and firmly press the tile in place.

        6.Continue laying whole tiles in rows from the center of the room to the walls. Be careful to lay the tile edges as close to the last tile as possible.

        7.Cut tiles with the utility knife to fit at the end of the row if necessary. Use cardboard to make patterns when fitting tiles around difficult shapes.

        8.Use a tile roller or rolling pin to firmly press the tile to the underlayment, especially the edges.

Tips & Warnings

1.Any bumps, dips, or holes in the underlayment will eventually transfer to the new vinyl tile floor.

2.A good underlayment is clean, non-glossy and smooth.

3.You can lay tiles diagonally for a different look. Snap chalk lines from the corners of the room to find your starting point.

4.Save damaged tiles to cut for edge pieces.

5.If you decide to remove the old flooring, be careful of asbestos. If you suspect your flooring might contain asbestos, have it tested or leave it intact.