INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Leave a little extra room on the fiberglass gives you a little wiggle room and helps ensure the hole is fully covered. These mesh patches provide an area to place epoxy across the hole of the plastic. Fiberglass patches can be purchased at hardware stores or online. Use a stirring stick to mix the even parts of the epoxy in a bucket or large mixing bowl. A two-part epoxy has a resin and an activator that need to be mixed together to cure. Once it is mixed, it should be very thick and tacky.  Wear disposable gloves when working with epoxy, since it may cause skin irritation. Lay cardboard or another disposable liner underneath the plastic, in case it drips through the mesh. Cover the entire area surrounding the hole with a layer of epoxy. Make sure the layers are even so that it dries evenly. It should be thick enough that the fiberglass can stick to it, but not overly thick. There should be enough epoxy so that the entire fiberglass patch sticks to the plastic. Use your hands to push the fiberglass the hole is in the middle of the patch. The excess fiberglass on each side ensures there is enough to cover the hole and will add a smooth transition between the plastic and epoxy. Fiberglass patches are flexible and should conform to the shape of the plastic you are mending. This time as you apply the epoxy, spread it over the part of the mesh that covers the hole. Use just enough epoxy to hide the mesh underneath, but not so much that it is clumpy. You want it to be as close to flush with the plastic as you can. Let the epoxy set on one side of the plastic before transporting the plastic or moving on. As it dries, it will harden and form a solid layer. It takes at least 24 hours for the epoxy to initially cure, though it may take longer in humid climates. Once one side of epoxy and fiberglass has set, apply epoxy to the other side of the plastic and adhere the fiberglass to it. Paint another layer of the epoxy over the fiberglass and let it cure for another 24 hours. This entire process can be done once more with more fiberglass pieces if you need to add more integrity to the plastic. Once both sides of the epoxy are set and dry, you can use sandpaper to smooth any dry epoxy, so it is level with the plastic. Wear a face mask as you sand the epoxy down so you don’t breath any dust particles. Epoxy can be painted afterward to match the color of the plastic.

SUMMARY: Cut two fiberglass patches 6 inches (15 cm) larger than the hole. Mix even amounts of each part of the epoxy in a bucket. Spread a thin layer of epoxy on one side of the hole with a putty knife. Press one of the fiberglass patches onto the epoxy, so that the hole is in the center. Paint another layer of the epoxy over the fiberglass. Let the epoxy dry for 24 hours. Repeat the process on the other side of the hole. Sand the epoxy until it is smooth.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: While oven cleaner can be effective in getting rid of scorch marks, it should be used as a last resort because it is extremely caustic and may discolor the pan. You should never use it on a pan with a non-stick or other protective coating, though, because it will strip off the coating and ruin the pan. Because oven cleaner has the potential to damage cookware, you should only use it if you’ve tried other methods of cleaning your scorched pan and they’ve failed. If you’re planning to toss the pan anyway, it’s a worth a try to use the oven cleaner. Oven cleaner contains caustic chemicals that give off very strong fumes, so it’s important to take safety precautions before you use it. Cover your hands with a pair of rubber gloves to keep your skin safe from the chemicals. You should also make sure that your kitchen is well-ventilated before spraying the oven cleaner, so open a window or two if possible.  If you’re especially sensitive to fumes, you may want to wear a dust mask over your nose and mouth when you’re using the oven cleaner. Be sure to read all of the safety warnings on the oven cleaner’s packaging so you’re aware of any other safety precautions that you should take. Once you’re prepared to work with the oven cleaner, spray it over the scorched areas of the pan. Because the cleaner is so caustic, you don’t want to use any more than is necessary so cover the bottom of the pan with a light layer. You can use a brush to ensure that it’s spread over the entire pan. While spray oven cleaners formulas are usually the most common, you can also find cream and foam formulas that may work better when you’re cleaning a scorched pan. In order for the oven cleaner to fully penetrate the scorched areas and loosen the film and debris, you need to let it sit on the pan for at least a half hour. Because of the fumes, it’s best to place the pan outside while the cleaner on it. Cover the pan with a lid, and set it on a table or ledge outside your home. If you don’t have any area outside that you can set the pan, open a window and set it on the window ledge. After the cleaner has sat on the pan for approximately a half hour, use a scrub brush or sponge to scour the pan. The scorched film and debris should lift right off. Once you’ve cleaned the pan completely, make sure to rinse it extremely well to ensure that there’s no residue from the oven cleaner left on the surface. If you’re concerned about oven cleaner residue being left behind on the pan, wipe it down with a dry towel after you’ve rinsed it initially to see if anything comes off on the towel. You should definitely rinse it again if you notice any film, though you may want to rinse it again even if the pan is clean to be safe.

SUMMARY: Make sure your pan isn’t non-stick. Put on gloves and open a window. Apply oven cleaner to bottom of the pan. Cover and set outside. Scrub the pan clean and rinse well.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most razors come with an added moisture or lubricating strip. These strips tend to be loaded with chemicals and other ingredients—yes, razors have ingredients! However, you can find razors that are more natural. Look for a razor that does not have the moisture strip. An alternative would be to purchase razors that have it and then peel or otherwise remove the strip yourself. Common store brands for shaving creams and gels are also full of chemicals and toxic products. Look for a more natural brand, or make it yourself.  Brands such as Dr. Bronner's, Garden of Eve, and Kiss My Face are known for making more natural shaving products. For homemade shaving cream, you can simply use coconut oil or another carrier oil, like sweet almond oil or sesame oil. You can also look into homemade mixtures. There are some body parts that men and women commonly shave:  Women commonly shave their legs, underarms, and bikini areas. Some women also shave their arms. Men commonly shave their beards, mustaches, and chests. There are some reports that people should not shave certain areas, like their arms, because the hair will grow back faster and thicker. However, scientists have proven this to be untrue. In a thin layer, spread your shaving product over the body part you are shaving. Be sure you have enough to protect your skin from nicks and cuts, especially since your razor does not have a moisture strip. Pull your razor up the body part that you are shaving in one long motion. Continue to do this repeatedly until you have shaved the entire area.  Frequently rinse the excess shaving product and shaved hair from your razor so that you get a clean, smooth shave all around. Take your time and go slowly. You are more likely to get a shaving nick or cut whenever you rush and forget to take care on areas like your ankles and knees. When you are done shaving the entire body part or area that you want shaved, rinse it and then check for any spots you missed while shaving. Dab a little bit of shaving cream or gel on that spot and touch it up carefully with the razor. After you shave, run your razor under hot water. Meanwhile, brush both sides of the razor blade with a toothbrush to get off all of the shaving cream or gel and hair. This helps to keep your blade clean and sharper longer.

SUMMARY:
Purchase an appropriate razor. Buy a natural shaving cream or gel. Wet the area that you would like to shave. Apply the shaving cream or gel to the area to be shaved. Shave the area carefully. Rinse your skin and check for missed spots. Clean your razor.