Make sure the unit is off and that power is disconnected. Remove the front panel and fins that attach the unit to the window. Remove all the screws that attach the exterior casing to the unit’s interior. Carefully slide the casing away from the interior, and make sure you don’t snag the casing on any of the parts inside. The screws are small, so be sure to keep them in a safe place, like an envelope or small can. Use a fin comb or soft bristle brush to comb away dust and debris from the aluminum fins. You can find inexpensive combs specially made for window unit fins online or at a home improvement store. Wearing work gloves when you clean the fins will prevent you from getting cut. Purchase a canister of condensed air online or at your home improvement store. Spray into the fins and around the coils at the front and back of the unit. Blow away dust around the fan and motor at the center of the unit. Use a shop vac or vacuum hose attachment to remove debris from the tray, or the base of the unit’s interior. Spray it down with a household cleaner, scrub it, then wipe it with a damp cloth. Hand dry the tray with a clean towel then let it air dry for a few hours before reassembling the unit. When it's not in use, you should store your window unit indoors. Remove it from the window and keep it in your attic or basement. Cover it with a plastic sheet or tarp to keep dust and debris from accumulating. If you can't remove the air conditioner from the window, cover the exterior portion of the unit with a tarp or cover designed for air conditioners.
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One-sentence summary -- Remove the unit’s casing. Comb the aluminum fins. Blow the coils and fan with condensed air. Vacuum and wipe down the tray. Store your air conditioner inside during cooler weather.


This is the largest professional organization for technical writers. It maintains a large job bank and career center. Joining this group is a great way to learn about job openings and trends in the technical writing field.  Read the "Intercom" and "Technical Communication Journal" to get a background on what is currently being published in the technical writing field. The "STC Notebook" is a public blog maintained by the STC. Subscribe to its RSS feed for updates. You will need samples of professional technical writing to create a portfolio. The following are ways you can volunteer your time in order to produce these samples:  Contact your local STC chapter. Ask if they have volunteer projects available to help you gain experience. Many times, you'll be able to find people who are happy to help a new writer gain the experience they need. Call local businesses and ask them if they need help creating an instructional manual or technical document. Most businesses will jump at the chance to have someone with a writing education do a manual for free. Make sure to specify the hours you are willing to work, your time line and what you can produce. Work on an open source project. A quick internet search for open source projects will connect you to these projects all over the world. In addition, every summer Google hosts a "Summer of Code" project that pairs students with mentors to contribute to its many open source projects.Volunteer and track your hours spent improving their instructional or technical text. Draw from your own learning experience to write something original. If you've recently done an open source project, for example, make a brochure explaining how to create open source material, as if you were writing for a client. If you're interested in writing particular kinds of technical material, start writing for yourself. An employer is more likely to see your potential from your work than from anything else you could offer. Alternatively, rework an existing piece of technical writing that you think you could make better. Take a badly designed brochure, and rework it so that it's more effective. Document both "before" and "after" for your portfolio. A freelance writer is someone who works as an independent contractor to a business or other professional organization. It's possible to make a living as a freelance writer, but many people do freelance writing to supplement their income while working other jobs, or when they are students. Freelance writing is a good way to gain professional work experience as a technical writer.  Online sites such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Squidoo serve to match freelance writers with potential employers for a percentage of the writer's fee.Others, such as Craiglist, are free to public use. Freelance writing will allow you to try out a number of different styles of writing to find the areas that most interest you. Developing an online profile as a freelance writer can help you be more attractive to a prospective employer. Make sure your samples are impeccable. Proofread your work carefully to ensure high quality throughout. You should include attractive, well designed digital and physical samples of your work in your portfolio.  Include 10 to 15 diverse examples of technical writing experience. For example, include video tutorials, journal articles, quick user guides, help files, an excerpt from a business manual and anything else that touts your experience. Write a brief introduction explaining the work you've done, its purpose and any tools you used. Post your digital portfolio on a website. There are many sites that offer free hosting. Make sure your portfolio is well-designed and easily accessible. Include any relevant educational experience at the end of your portfolio. Although this will be in your resume, it is important to highlight any honors, essay publications and high marks you received while training as a technical writer. Format it to highlight your experience, including volunteer work, and education. Remember that a well-designed resume is built on strong visual imagery as well as well-chosen words.  You should change your resume for every job application. Highlight the skills that apply to the job posting and industry, rather than producing a general resume for every job. Look at sample resumes written by other technical writers for ideas on how to structure your own resume.
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One-sentence summary -- Join the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Volunteer to do technical writing jobs. Become a freelance writer. Create a portfolio. Design your resume.


Wait 5 to 15 minutes to allow stain to penetrate the veneer, and then wipe off excess stain with a clean cloth, again following the grain of the wood.
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One-sentence summary --
Apply oil stain with a cloth or soft bristle brush, following the grain of the wood. Apply second coat of stain, if needed, once the 1st coat has set up, usually 4 to 6 hours. Allow to dry for 8 hours before applying a sealer if desired.