Handy Hints

This article will be about hints for different things.  The hints will range from computer tips as well as other handy hints.

To make the text on a webpage bigger/smaller
Have you looked at a page on the Internet and noticed that the text was too small?  There are times when I would go to a page and the words would be small.  There’s a handy hint that can fix that problem.  If you have a mouse with a wheel, this should work.  Hold down the Control (CTRL) button and roll the wheel back (as if rolling it towards you).  That should make the text larger.

To make the text smaller, hold the Control button and roll the wheel forward (as if rolling it from you).  I’m not sure if this will work if you don’t have a mouse with a wheel.  This tip works with the wheel.

Cleaning the keyboard
Have you ever noticed the dirt that might be at the bottom of your keyboard?  There are ways to take the dirt out of your keyboard.  Turn the keyboard over and hit the back of the keyboard with your hand.  This should get a lot of the dirt out of your keyboard.

You could also use toothpicks and Q-tips to clean between the keys of the keyboard.  They are small enough to get in between the keys.

Save money on black ink
Black cartridges are just as expensive as color ones.  Some of the Hewlett-Packard cartridges are almost $35 now (at Staples).  It doesn’t even make a difference to recycle them because you’re only saving tax.  Here’s a handy hint that can keep you from having to keep replacing your black cartridges.  You can change the font color to gray instead of using black font.  You won’t be using as much ink as you would if you were using black ink.  I’ve switched to gray ink and I don’t have to buy as many cartridges as I did before.  This helps because I have to buy color and black cartridges for my printers.

Keep your room cooler
Did you know that keeping your shades down will keep your room cooler?  When it’s hot and sunny, you should put your shades down.  It keeps the heat from the sun from coming into your room.  It also eliminates glare on the television.

Keep mosquitoes away
Try putting a fabric softener sheet in your pocket the next time you know you’ll be outside for a long period of time.  This may seem silly, but it’s worth it to keep the mosquitoes away.

Picking up hard to see glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little pieces of glass.  The fibers catch even the ones you can’t see.  This handy hint will be helpful if you have little kids at home or if you or someone in your home walks around without any shoes on their feet.