Coffee contains oils, and it’s these oils that can stain your pot, especially if you leave coffee sitting in the pot for extended periods. To prevent stains from forming, don’t leave coffee sitting in the pot for more than 30 minutes.  This is especially important if there's only a small amount of coffee left in the pot, because the burner can make the coffee evaporate faster, and this will leave baked-on stains in the bottom of the pot. To avoid having leftover coffee in the pot, make only enough coffee to serve each person one to two cups at a time. Trace amounts of coffee left in the bottom of the pot can dry and bake on, and this will leave those annoying and hard-to-clean stains in the bottom of the pot. As soon as the coffee pot is empty, rinse it out with hot water to remove leftover coffee traces. Rinse the inside and outside of the pot so that spilled drips don’t stain the exterior of the pot. When you pour a coffee, there are often a few dribbles that spill down the side of the spout and onto the outside and bottom of the coffee pot. Over time, these can cause stains if they aren't addressed immediately. To prevent stains on the outside and exterior bottom of the pot, use a damp cloth to wipe drips from the outside of the pot after you pour each cup. Cleaning the coffee pot every day with soap and water will help to prevent difficult stains that can build up over time. Each morning, after you've made your final cup of coffee for the day, clean the inside and outside of the pot with hot soapy water and a cloth or brush.  When the pot is clean, rinse it with clean water and towel dry it to prevent water and mineral stains.  If you don’t have time to clean the pot in the morning, just rinse it out and clean it when you get home from work or school in the afternoon or evening.

Summary: Don’t leave coffee in the pot for extended periods. Rinse the pot when you're finished with it. Wipe up drips immediately. Clean the pot daily.


Some hair dryers come with an attachable diffuser, but you may have to buy one separately. A diffuser is a must for curly hair because it dries curls evenly for a full, uniform look. A hair dryer without a diffuser only focuses on one section of hair at a time, which disrupts the curl pattern. A diffuser will also help to prevent frizz. You should not dry all of your hair at once. Instead, part it into 3 sections. You may need more or fewer sections depending on the thickness of your hair. Part your hair in the middle and make 2 buns on either side of your head. Leave the back section of your hair in a ponytail or down.  Dividing your hair into sections will make sure the heat is distributed evenly while you are drying it.  Make sure the sections are clean and neat. Use bobby pins, barrettes, pins, or ponytail holders to hold them in place. Don’t make any section larger than what your pin, barrette, or hair tie can easily hold. A high heat setting is more damaging than a lower setting, and it makes your hair harder to style. Use a low heat setting to start off with. You can switch to a medium heat once your hair begins to dry. Choose a top section of your hair, take it down, and apply the diffuser to the roots. Constantly move your hair dryer around, and work from root to end on each section of hair. The ends are the most easily damaged part of your hair, so allow them to air dry as long as possible. Keeping the hair dryer in one place for too long promotes damage. Once your hair is dry, bend over and flip your hair. Press the “cool” button, and blast your hair on that setting for a few minutes. Flipping it over and blowing it upside down will add some volume to your hair. You don’t need to do this if you are satisfied with the volume of your hair.

Summary: Choose a dryer with a diffuser. Divide your hair into 3 sections. Put your dryer on a low heat setting. Start drying at the roots. Use the cool setting.


A letter with sloppy grammar and punctuation reflects badly on the candidate as well as on you. Depending on the type of job or course of study to which the candidate has applied, a poorly proofread letter could backfire.  Your word-processing application probably has spelling and grammar checking functions, but you shouldn't rely solely on these. Print a draft of your letter and read over it carefully. Going through it backwards can help mistakes come to light that you might've missed simply reading the letter. You also can read your letter out loud. This can help you find grammatical errors, as well as awkward phrasing or sentence structures that are confusing or difficult to read. If you find yourself stumbling over something as you read aloud, consider revising it so it's easier to read. Your letter should close with a formal closing line such as "Sincerely," followed by space for your signature. You then should type your full name as you plan to sign it. You also may want to include contact information below your typed name, but this isn't necessary.  After you've proofread your letter and are certain it's error-free, print a copy on your letterhead or quality paper stock. Sign your letter using blue or black ink. Make a copy of the signed letter for your own records, as well as another for the candidate's personal records. If you're writing the letter in your official capacity as a supervisor of the candidate, you may also need a copy for the business's records. Find out from the candidate how the letter is supposed to be sent to the recipient, and follow those instructions. If you're sending the letter using email, you may want to send an additional paper copy through the mail as well.  Particularly if you're writing an academic reference letter, or a reference letter for a professional license, there may be additional requirements for the submission of the letter. In some cases you can simply give the letter to the candidate and they will pass it on to the recipient, but in others you must send it directly to the recipient and it cannot pass through the candidate's hands. Regardless, it typically looks better if you send your letter to the recipient directly, rather than through the candidate. This way the recipient knows the candidate has not altered the contents of the letter. Pay attention to the due date. You don't want your letter to arrive late or be disqualified. This could reflect badly on the candidate or cause them not to get the position for which they've applied.
Summary: Proofread your letter carefully. Sign your letter. Submit your letter.