Basic hacks
FIXING A LIGHT BULB
Most of the light bulbs we use today have either twist lock bases or screw bases. Take a good look inside the holder: if it has spirals, then you need a screw base bulb, and if it has two square pits on the holder wall, then you need a twist lock based bulb. The screw based ones are to be held with one hand initially, then have to be rotated like a bottle cap until it is fixed.The more common twist-lock bulb has to be held into the holder, pushed and given a semi-circle twist until the two small extensions at the bulb base are placed inside the square pits on the holder. Most importantly, switch the main electricity line off before touching the holder.
Fixing water taps
Water taps are like screw base bulbs. Keep twisting it along the ribs until it locks. However, you most probably will find that the alignment of the tap is not vertical, as it should be, after you sweated over screwing the tap tight. Unfortunately, you will have to figure out where the screw will end by trial and error. Lastly, cover the junction by rolling white thread-tape over it to avoid soon-to-appear leaks.
Sewing a shirt button
Do not buy a button with a different design than the other buttons on your shirt, unless you like dressing eccentric. Usually, shirt buttons have either two or four holes. The ones with two holes are easier. Hold the string-installed needle underneath the shirt with the button held in place. Bring out the needle through one of the holes (punching a hole in the shirt), change the direction of the needle and then push it down through the other hole (through the fabric again). Repeat this until you think that the button is firm. Make sure that the thread between the holes is always pulled taut. With four holes, check the other buttons to see whether the stitches are cross-patterned or parallel. Again, bring out the needle from underneath, and push it through the diagonally opposite hole, for cross patterns, and to an adjacent hole, for parallel stitches.
For the next part, bring out the needle through a hole adjacent to the one through which you took the needle underneath, and push it out through the diagonally opposite one for cross stitch. For parallel, do the opposite, i.e. bring out the needle through the hole diagonally opposite to the last one. In all cases, repeat the whole procedure at least three times for rigidity.
Mounting a hook or screw
Using a hammer and nail requires no electricity and little knowledge, but it can be very hazardous and results in short-lasting quality. Instead, drilling machines can be used to drill a hole in the wall for a firm and long-lasting hook. You will need a drill machine, royal plugs, and hooks/screws. For those who never operated a drill machine, it might be scary, but it is not difficult. The sound does seem threatening, but once you hit the wall you will feel in control.
Hold it as horizontally as possible, and make contact with the wall. Now, this is most important: you are trying to pass through a concrete wall, so you are going to feel that high resistance on your chest, and to counter this, tilt your self towards the machine and shift your weight onto the machine.
When it seems that the drill bit (the screw-like thing that drills) inside the wall is just longer than the length of a royal plug, take your finger off from the trigger, and take out the drill bit, which is going to be extremely hot at this point.
Now, hammer a royal plug (the white narrow plugs with external spikes) in to the hole, and then twist in a hook or screw, as needed.
By Nawshin Tabassum Binte Alim
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