Mark Twain once said: “It is better to give than receive—especially advice!” I am following his advice today. Last week’s blog was entitled “Practical Advice: Part 1.”  Today I offer a sequel creatively entitled “Practical Advice: Part 2.” I make no claims of originality, only of practicality. Here we go again:

• Use your phone to take a picture of your children or grandchildren before you go out for quick distribution if one becomes lost.
• Use sunscreen liberally, and make sure your children do the same.
• Run hot water in the kitchen sink before turning on the dish washer.
• Place a wet paper towel in a “George Foreman” type grill after unplugging it. The steam makes cleanup MUCH easier.
• “Burp” Tupperware for a better seal.
• Citrus peels freshen up a garbage disposal with a clean fragrance.
• Clothes pins make great “chip clips” along with sealing cereal, flour, and more.
• Preheat a mug with hot water to keep coffee warm longer.
• Baking soda and vinegar will dissolve most plumbing clogs. Follow with boiling water.
• Tear dryer sheets into halves for separate dryer loads.
• Fitted sheets can be folded by tucking the elastic corners under one another; but why waste time folding sheets?!?
• Put pillows in a freezer for twenty-four hours to kill microscopic mites and other critters. (And, yes, your pillow has them).
• Rubbing your hands on stainless steel (a sink works) will remove an onion’s odor.
• Clean the lint trap in a dryer often. Built up lint is a real fire hazard. Boy scouts stuff it in toilet paper tubes and use it for fire starter. It works!
• Kitty litter soaks up oil spills in garages.
• Replace fire detector batteries when Daylight Saving Time begins and ends.
• When winding up an electrical cord, plug the two ends together before looping the doubled line.
• Wear earplugs while cutting the grass and operating noisy machinery.
• Leaves of three, let them be.
• Rub a stubborn key with pencil lead. The graphite serves as a dry lubricant.
• NEVER mix bleach and ammonia. The resulting fumes are toxic. The mixture was used during World War I trench warfare as poison gas.
• If something is in your eye, fill a bowl with water and immerse your face. Oftentimes the irritant will float out.
• Never mess with electricity, natural gas, strange dogs, or snakes.
• Don’t take a shower during a thunder storm. Lighting and water don’t mix.
• Replace a toothbrush after recovering from a cold or the flu.
• When it comes to perfume and cologne, less is more. A little is more than plenty.
• If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s probably too good to be true.
• Computer passwords should contain both numbers, letters, and symbols. Remember there are only 10 numbers but 26 letters in the English language.
• Use an address book to keep up with passwords and PINs.
• Dry a razor thoroughly after use—it will stay sharp longer.
• Salt on a restaurant coaster prevents the bottom of a glass from sticking.
• In public restrooms, use elbows or feet rather than hands for opening doors and flushing commodes.
• Carry hand sanitizer in your car or purse.
• Washing hands should take about the same amount of time as singing “Happy Birthday to You.”
• Walk a minimum of 7,000 steps a day. If in doubt, wear a pedometer.
• Drink more water and less soft drinks. Some colas contain more sugar than a candy bar.
• Learn to touch type—regardless of age. Keyboards provide a portal into the electronic world. However, never forget that virtual reality is a poor excuse for reality.
• Listen to other people’s advice, but make up your own mind.