In The Home Archives - Helpful Colin

Towels Do Not Slip Off Twin Towel Rails

Introduction

In 2003, when I rebuilt my kitchen, I converted my single towel rail to Twin Towel Rails. They are in a convenient place under the front edge of a worktop. One which is too shallow (front to back) to have any cupboards under it. It has a double panel radiator under it instead.

A single rail was always a nuisance because towels would slip off it regularly. This was due to lack of friction with the rail when they had a weight imbalance due to overhanging one side more than the other.

Not Enough Gift Wrap For That Gift? Wrap It Diagonally.

Introduction

You start off with a nice roll of Gift Wrap, when you wrap those gifts for that festive occasion, and afterwards you have a small rectangle of unused paper left over.

Eventually another small gift needs wrapping so you look through the small left-over pieces of Gift Wrap only to find several are nearly large enough but you haven’t enough to cover your gift.

Well perhaps you’ve failed to use the best paper orientation on your package. This article suggests how you might make the paper cover, a box at least, by wrapping in an unusual way.

A Fireplace Alcove Coloured Lighting Scheme

Introduction

Here I will describe how I created a Fireplace Alcove Coloured Lighting Scheme using multi-coloured LED lighting.

This article isn’t about lighting a small niche in the wall of a large Ingle Nook fireplace or anything like that. It’s about converting a modern domestic fireplace into an alcove where ornaments or a plant could be placed.

In the daytime daylight is sufficient to illuminate these items but at night a little artificial light, white or coloured, is required.

How I Repaired A Dualit Milk Frother Model DMF2

Introduction

My wife pressed the start button on the Dualit Milk Frother (Model DMF2) one day in the summer of 2017 and it no longer worked. This persisted so we had to heat the milk in the microwave oven for a week or two until we got a new frother.

Of course, me being me, I dismantled the faulty Dualit Milk Frother to see if there was an obvious problem. There wasn’t anything burnt out or blackened. Just a lot of wiring in a very confined space. It was constructed with a flat straight circuit board fitted into a curved space. No-one had used flexible circuit boards here.

The long term solution was to replace the whole Dualit Milk Frother. Since they are still on the market that’s what I chose to do. The faulty one had been a replacement for our Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother already mentioned in this blog. We now had to replace the replacement.

Unblocking A Blocked Toilet

Introduction

I had to help an elderly neighbour the other day when they reported a blocked toilet to me. I’ve unblocked the occasional blocked toilet over the years. I can assure you I don’t like making a mess or getting dirty in the process.

Another thing I’ve done with toilets is remove the water from the built in trap. I’ve done it so I can disconnect them without spilling the trap water when they are moved.

Both of these things can be done using similar methods with the same tool.

What Is A Retractable Clothes Washing Line?

Introduction

Consider the benefits of having a retractable clothes washing line:

Coiling it up in a box keeps it clean.
If you have a nice vista you won’t want it permanently scared with one or more lines cutting across it.

Condensation Free Bathroom Mirror

Introduction

This post describes how to make a condensation free bathroom mirror using an automatic mirror heater. See the one I made in 2007 here. Look carefully and you will notice the condensation around the edge but not in the central heated area.

Without a heater it would be impossible to use the mirror without first wiping it with a towel. Cold mirrors usually mist over again after wiping.

With an active mirror heater it’s possible to get straight out of a bath or shower and use the mirror immediately.

Making An Insulated Loft Trapdoor

Introduction

I recently had a ground floor extension built which required access to the loft space in the pitched roof to provide and service pipes and cables. So I asked the builder to create an insulated loft trapdoor. I made it clear that it should not just be a sheet of MDF or plywood. It must have thermal insulation fixed to it to prevent it forming a cold spot in the ceiling. I also required it to be out of sight if possible. By that I meant he must avoid putting it in the main reception room of the extension.

By widening the gap between two ceiling joists he made an opening 485mm wide. Enough to accommodate a telescopic ladder I bought to climb into the loft.

The builder built the opening and finished it with architrave around it and clapping strips on all sides to form a lip that supports the insulated loft trapdoor. I offered to make the insulated loft trapdoor myself since it wasn’t part of the original estimate. That allowed the builder to get on with work that was part of the original estimate.

Replacing A Toilet Fill Valve

Introduction

I have already written about making a Toilet Silent Fill Valve Repair, but whether a toilet fill valve is silent or not it can’t always be repaired. So I have written this article about replacing a toilet fill valve to help those who need to get a new one.

“This operation can involve spilling CLEAN water. So be warned and be prepared.” — HC

I have also written another article about How A Toilet Silent Fill Valve Works which is appropriate to a specific type of fill valve.

Preventing Office-chair Castors Damaging Carpets

Introduction

When I first had a Microsoft Windows personal computer I put it on a computer desk in the lounge and bought a typical office chair with five castors. Over the next few years wheeling that chair around the desk area with my weight on it seriously damaged the carpet in that location. So I had to find a way to prevent office-chair castors damaging carpets. See this discussion on the subject.