Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Vacuum your carpet or rug. Examine your carpet or rug for dull patches. Mix ¼ cup each of salt, white vinegar, and Borax in a bowl to form a paste. Spread the stain removal mixture over any stains you find. Allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 hours. Remove the mixture using a cloth and warm water. Dry your carpet or rug thoroughly.

Answer: Run a vacuum cleaner over your carpet several times, making sure you don't leave anything behind. Work slowly rather than sweeping the floor in fast strokes. For smaller rugs, you can use a rug beater or even a wooden spoon to knock the dust and debris out. Sometimes color fades unevenly and you may be able to bring your carpet or rug back to life by identifying and cleaning grimy patches. The paste should be the consistency of moderately thick oatmeal. Use a spoon or even a butter knife to spread the mixture. Be sure to cover the entire stain. This ensures the chemicals have time to break apart the stains. Let the mixture dry naturally. Use a gentle scrubbing motion in all directions until you've completely removed the mixture. Drying time for carpets generally take 5 to 24 hours, depending on how thick the carpet is and what method you use to dry it. To speed up the process, use a fan to dry larger rooms or turn on the heat in your house. Allowing a carpet to dry naturally takes longer. Once your carpet dries, you'll see any stains you've overlooked.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use a paper template. Trace a mask you already have. Design your own mask. Trace the design. Cut out the shape of your mask.

Answer: If you’re looking to make the mask of a specific superhero, you’ll probably want to use a template to make sure you get all of the details right. You can find a lot of superhero mask templates online, particularly websites like Pinterest. A Google Image search will also turn up templates you can use. When you’re choosing a template, keep in mind your own skills. Avoid selecting anything too intricate if you’ve never made this type of mask before. If you’ve already got a mask that you’ve used before but it’s a little beat up, you can use it to trace the same design onto new material. This is also a good option if you’re making a group costume and everyone needs the same mask. If you’re good at drawing, you can design your own mask. You can draw the mask of a super hero that everyone knows, or you can draw an original design. This gives you more freedom in how the mask will look. Whether you’re using a template or a freehand design, trace it on to the material you’ve chosen for your mask. You can use a pen or a marker to trace the design. A marker is probably best because it will be easier to see when you’re cutting out the design. Once you’ve traced your design on your fabric, you’ll need to cut it out. If you’re working with little kids, an adult should do this part. Use a larger pair of scissors, especially if you’re using a thicker material like craft foam.  Don’t worry if you don’t cut exactly on the lines you’ve drawn. When you paint or decorate the mask, these lines will get covered up anyway. Fold the mask in half to make sure that the eye holes you’ve cut out (and any other holes, depending on the design) are even. Folding it over and then cutting off excess material makes your mask nice and symmetrical.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Check for damage. Clean a granite headstone. Remove growth. Clean a marble gravestone. Use snails. Consult an expert.

Answer: When you arrive at the gravestone, take a few minutes to assess the stone. Look for any obvious signs of damage. Check the front, sides, and top of the gravestone.  Cracks are an obvious sign of damage. Flaking is also an indication that the stone is damaged. If you see signs of damage, clean very cautiously. Damage indicates that the stone is weakened. Avoid putting pressure on the weakened areas. It is better to leave some dirt than to put additional stress on the stone. Once you have checked out the stone, you are ready to start actually cleaning. Follow the directions on your cleanser. Mix it with the proper ratio of water.  Dampen your sponges in your bucket of water. Once they are wet, gently begin wiping down the surface of the stone. After you have removed the first layer of dirt or grime, you can use your brushes. Wet your brushes, then use them to gently scrub each part of the stone. It is best to start at the bottom of the stone and work your way up. This will help you to avoid leaving streaks. Sometimes you will discover growth on the gravestone. Since it is exposed to nature's elements, this is completely normal. Lichen is especially common.  Lichen are living organisms that are similar to a fungi. They come in many different colors, such as grey, green and yellow. You can remove the lichen with an ammonia mixture. Combine one part ammonia with four parts water. Using a clean sponge, gently scrub the affected area with the ammonia mixture. After you are done, rinse with clean, plain water. It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with. Different types will require different cleaning methods. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite.  Pre-wet the stone with clean water. If there is growth, remove using a wooden scraper. Apply non-ionic cleanser. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone. Repeat this process approximately every 18 months. Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. Limestone is another popular choice for headstones. Clean limestone using the same method as the one used to clean marble. When it comes to cleaning gravestones, natural methods might sometimes be best. Some people have effectively used snails to clean their stones. This method is the most environmentally friendly.  Snails consume many of the materials that grow on gravestones. For example, they will eat lichens, mold, and fungus. Create a small tent over the gravestone. Use polyethylene to cover the stone, and use pieces of wood to keep it on the ground. You can likely find several snails on surrounding graves. Collect them and place them in the enclosure that you have made. Make sure to poke several small holes for ventilation. Check back on your snails after a few hours. If they were hungry, the stone will be pretty clean. If you have any concerns about the state of the gravestone, it is a good idea to talk to an expert. For example, an expert will be able to tell you the approximate age of your stone. He will also be able to definitively identify the material.  Contact the cemetery to ask if they can recommend someone you can speak to. Conservationists typically know a lot about gravestones. You can also reach out to a local museum. The staff can likely recommend an expert. Make sure to ask about the proper cleaning method and frequency for your particular stone.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Avoid backhanded compliments. Don’t mistake a cat call for a compliment. Avoid demeaning comments.

Answer:
This might be the worst type of “compliment” there is. A backhanded compliment is one that sounds really nice at first, but then the real meaning of the statement hits. It’s a passive-aggressive way to really hurt a person’s feelings. It’s possible to deliver a backhanded compliment without even knowing you’re doing it.  For example, you might say something like, “Wow, I really like your hair today. What’s different?” By saying this, you’re implying that you don’t like the person’s hair very much on other days. Or you might say, “You’re amazing at baseball, for a girl.” Attaching a qualifier to the end of your compliment turns it into an insult. Yelling a “compliment” at someone walking down the street is actually highly insulting. The point of a compliment is to make someone feel good, and yelling about someone’s physical features is likely to do just the opposite. Even if some people say they like being cat called, not everyone does — not by a long shot. If you really want to make someone feel good, even a stranger, don’t yell something in passing. The same rules apply to giving compliments to a stranger and giving compliments to someone you know: you need to find something sincere to say and deliver your compliment respectfully. You probably already know what these are, and you’d probably never say them to someone. Even if you have a huge crush on someone and you want to ask her out — actually, especially if you want to ask someone out — don’t try to compliment someone on a sexual body part. It’s just rude, and in certain settings this type of comment can be construed as sexual harassment. Keep your compliments polite!