It warms my sisterly heart to see my baby brother giving the tips he's given me my whole life to others, so that you too can save pennies and energy and time, etc., etc. every day. Go, Ben!
Thanks! I also need help lifting it. I got two friends at one point and we couldn't do it all together. Let me find the strongest person I know and we can then get you on FaceTime for guidance. Let's try! (And thanks to Charlie for keeping the family peace.)
Hi Jane’s bro, love this new column and can’t wait for more! Also, speaking of cold water: Am I the only one who just learned that if you have both Cold and Tap Cold settings on your clothes washer, the Cold setting actually uses a mix of cold and hot water to reach the “optimal” cold temperature? So you should choose Tap Cold to truly save energy (unless of course you want the optimal cold temp, whatever that even is)
You are the only one who knows that, speaking for myself! Wild! And this could be another topic for another column, but I'm wondering who else runs their dishwasher on that extra hot/sanitary setting thinking that will just make dishes the absolute cleanest? I'm sure it's a big waster.
I haven’t used that setting yet, ONLY because I’ve always assumed (possibly erroneously) that it takes hours to go through the cycle, and too often when I run my dishwasher I’m almost completely out of clean dishes and it’s almost dinner time and I don’t have hours to wait, lol. But I think that’s just a me issue. Would love a column about all these appliance settings and what they really mean/do, how long they run, are they total BS, etc.
That's a great idea and I think I have just the brother to do it.
It's funny that you said that about the timing because that's how I gauge what setting to wash my clothes on - I flip the dial past all of the different possible settings looking for the one that is the quickest. As long as it's not rinse only, it works out fine.
Haha yeah it's hard to imagine that some dirt or stench that is not going to come out in 35 minutes is going to come out in an hour and 45 minutes. Laundry logic.
I love when I find someone who is *even slightly* more obsessively prone to rabbit hole diving than I am! You know how there's a whole science around "Flow", and how when we are doing something (creatively or task-oriented) that we are so immersed in, we lose all track of time? That is me when it comes to sourcing/researching and I should probably be committed, but that's another story for another day. Thank you for saving me some time.
An easy, inexpensive gift for my dog-owning, eco-conscious friend? Done!
A beautiful, well-designed clothespin that I do not need, but looks like it belongs in the Cooper Hewitt? Say no more! I'll find something to use it for; or not, that's kind of (100%) beside the point!
I think we are going to have a beautiful love/hate relationship. One-sided, obviously.
Love this comment! We definitely think alike! BTW, a log time ago, I worked for the Cooper Hewitt, an love that place, so it made me happy that you mentioned it.
More stuff coming. I hope you'll like it as well : )
Love your tips! And I’m also passionate about the stainless steel clothespins. After years of chip clip scarcity in my kitchen, I ordered a big bag of those clothespins for $9 from Amazon. Huzzah! No more scrounging around in the junk drawer for a clip. Every time I close a bag now I feel so satisfied! 😊
Thanks. I hope you use them for bread bags too. I used try to save all those wire things you twist around the bag, but these clips are so much better and easier! Also, my son and I usually have at least 6 boxes of cereal in the cabinet, and to save space, I just put the boxes in the recycling and use only the bags--closing them like a bread bag
Just last week my wife was telling me that she likes to swap between heat and A/C when the windows are fogged up, and it seems like it worked much better. I tried it and it did seem faster.
And then here comes this email today explaining why it works!
Thanks! You can have both on at the same time, and it will still keep you warm. I usually just keep the AC on. Around here there's usually melted snow that I bring in with my boots, and I like to dry that out. But if that's not the case where you are, you can save a little by turning the ac off until you see the windows start to fog up.
I hadn't heard of it. You piqued my interest so I did some research and watched some YouTube reviews. My conclusion is it doesn't work well. I like Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, myself.
It warms my sisterly heart to see my baby brother giving the tips he's given me my whole life to others, so that you too can save pennies and energy and time, etc., etc. every day. Go, Ben!
Awee thanks sis!
Ben, do you know about Jane's sauna door? I'm not trying to cause some family drama (or am I?), but she needs some assistance with it.
No, But I'm not in New York. Maybe I can help via facetime?
Thanks! I also need help lifting it. I got two friends at one point and we couldn't do it all together. Let me find the strongest person I know and we can then get you on FaceTime for guidance. Let's try! (And thanks to Charlie for keeping the family peace.)
Yeah, Ben! My sauna door has been broken forever! Family first! (Thanks, Charlie - I owe you one.)
More. Please.
More coming! If you have any ideas or questions, LMK : )
Hi Jane’s bro, love this new column and can’t wait for more! Also, speaking of cold water: Am I the only one who just learned that if you have both Cold and Tap Cold settings on your clothes washer, the Cold setting actually uses a mix of cold and hot water to reach the “optimal” cold temperature? So you should choose Tap Cold to truly save energy (unless of course you want the optimal cold temp, whatever that even is)
You are the only one who knows that, speaking for myself! Wild! And this could be another topic for another column, but I'm wondering who else runs their dishwasher on that extra hot/sanitary setting thinking that will just make dishes the absolute cleanest? I'm sure it's a big waster.
I haven’t used that setting yet, ONLY because I’ve always assumed (possibly erroneously) that it takes hours to go through the cycle, and too often when I run my dishwasher I’m almost completely out of clean dishes and it’s almost dinner time and I don’t have hours to wait, lol. But I think that’s just a me issue. Would love a column about all these appliance settings and what they really mean/do, how long they run, are they total BS, etc.
That's a great idea and I think I have just the brother to do it.
It's funny that you said that about the timing because that's how I gauge what setting to wash my clothes on - I flip the dial past all of the different possible settings looking for the one that is the quickest. As long as it's not rinse only, it works out fine.
Same. It’s always the Quick clothes washing cycle for me, even for my gross running clothes
Haha yeah it's hard to imagine that some dirt or stench that is not going to come out in 35 minutes is going to come out in an hour and 45 minutes. Laundry logic.
Yay, Ben!
I love when I find someone who is *even slightly* more obsessively prone to rabbit hole diving than I am! You know how there's a whole science around "Flow", and how when we are doing something (creatively or task-oriented) that we are so immersed in, we lose all track of time? That is me when it comes to sourcing/researching and I should probably be committed, but that's another story for another day. Thank you for saving me some time.
An easy, inexpensive gift for my dog-owning, eco-conscious friend? Done!
A beautiful, well-designed clothespin that I do not need, but looks like it belongs in the Cooper Hewitt? Say no more! I'll find something to use it for; or not, that's kind of (100%) beside the point!
I think we are going to have a beautiful love/hate relationship. One-sided, obviously.
Love this comment! We definitely think alike! BTW, a log time ago, I worked for the Cooper Hewitt, an love that place, so it made me happy that you mentioned it.
More stuff coming. I hope you'll like it as well : )
Of course you did (work at the Cooper Hewitt)! That’s so funny! See? Kindred spirits 💫
Comment of my day, Leslie Ward! You are making me teary eyed over your kinship with Ben. Thank you!
Aww, I love that! I am very glad you’re back on the scene, and I think I’ve found my people 💕
Me too and thank you!
Love these tips! Especially about using cold water.
thanks!
Great 👍 Thank you 🙏
Love your tips! And I’m also passionate about the stainless steel clothespins. After years of chip clip scarcity in my kitchen, I ordered a big bag of those clothespins for $9 from Amazon. Huzzah! No more scrounging around in the junk drawer for a clip. Every time I close a bag now I feel so satisfied! 😊
Thanks. I hope you use them for bread bags too. I used try to save all those wire things you twist around the bag, but these clips are so much better and easier! Also, my son and I usually have at least 6 boxes of cereal in the cabinet, and to save space, I just put the boxes in the recycling and use only the bags--closing them like a bread bag
Absolutely! My toddler likes to steal them for any number of purposes too.
Just last week my wife was telling me that she likes to swap between heat and A/C when the windows are fogged up, and it seems like it worked much better. I tried it and it did seem faster.
And then here comes this email today explaining why it works!
Thanks! You can have both on at the same time, and it will still keep you warm. I usually just keep the AC on. Around here there's usually melted snow that I bring in with my boots, and I like to dry that out. But if that's not the case where you are, you can save a little by turning the ac off until you see the windows start to fog up.
Clearly, you two are psychically connected, which makes me so so happy! And I got to be the conduit, so lucky me!
Hey Ben, Have you tried the Nano Sparkle clean cloth to polish off scratches on your car? Let me know.
I hadn't heard of it. You piqued my interest so I did some research and watched some YouTube reviews. My conclusion is it doesn't work well. I like Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, myself.
I'm sure other people want to know this also. Thanks for asking it!
This is great, I need all the help I can get. What is the best glass cleaner?
Helpful tips!