Category: Organization

Last Updated: May 25, 2021 | Read Time: 5 min

One Minute Takeaway

• Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a great tool for companies
• Employees need to know how best to utilize the methodology
• We offer seven tips to make the most out of OKRs

If your organization has adopted the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) methodology, congratulations! It’s a tried and tested way to set and achieve goals. Now, here’s the bad news: no goal-setting methodology can succeed without buy-in and alignment from every level of your organization.

It all starts with executives, who set overall objectives. These might be annual, quarterly or even monthly—it depends on your company. What matters is that the objectives are clearly communicated to managers, who are then responsible for setting their own goals and aligning their teams. Only then can employees define their own individual objectives for which they’ll be held accountable.

OKRs Best Practices

Creating goals that inspire your people and produce results takes real skill. But it can be just as difficult for employees to find objectives that are measurable and align with the bigger picture of what your company is trying to achieve. If employees are new to OKRs, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve collected these tips:

1. Keep it Simple
   Focus on objectives you know you can achieve in the given timeframe. Many employees think they need to contribute to every department objective and end up spreading themselves too thin. Prioritize your objectives according to what the business needs most. Remember, there’s no magic number for how many objectives you should have—it depends how complex they are, as well as the time and resources available.
2. Be Specific
   When setting objectives, brainstorm different ways you can reach the end result. Draw out your action plan to be more specific on how to achieve your objective. For each key result, think about how performance can be evaluated. The more specific you are, the clearer expectations will be. Concise objectives mean you’ll know exactly what’s needed to complete your goals.
3. Cascade Your Objectives
   A common problem for employees setting objectives is struggling to see how their jobs contribute to overall organizational goals and success. How does a payroll clerk help their company reach 10,000 users? The solution is to cascade your objectives: from an organization level, to the department level and finally to an individual level.
4. Make it Measurable
   Key results need a unit of measurement. It doesn’t matter what: it could be to write 10 blogs per month or to reach $10,000 in revenue. What you’re trying to avoid is a situation where you’re not sure whether a goal has really been reached or not. Managers and employees can meet 1:1 to add metrics to quantifiable goals.
5. Don’t Worry About Stretch Goals
   Goals should be attainable yet challenging. Sometimes managers worry that easy goals will be de-motivating. But are stretch goals are a good idea? It all depends how realistic they are. If you use bonuses to motivate employees, they won’t be happy being set impossible challenges. Ambitious goals are great, but don’t set employees up for failure.
6. Break Key Results into Smaller Goals
   Create mini-goals within your key results. Knowing what you have to do to achieve your key results makes objectives more specific. These mini-goals act as milestones through your progress. When goals are too broad, it can be hard to maintain focus on achieving them—these steps along the way help you stay on track.
7. Celebrate and Recognize
   Reward and recognize yourself and others when a milestone has been reached. Positive reinforcement helps sustain best practice. Don’t wait until the very end of an objective to recognize effort—celebrate incremental progress too.Encourage all co-workers to share their OKRs publicly and create a support system within your team.

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Everybody is talking about OKRs, how Google used them to grow, how powerful they are to keep the organization aligned and focus on what matters.

An issue still prevents many companies from successfully implement OKRs and reap rewards like all the big successful companies (Google, Intel, Netflix…). The fact is, defining good OKRs is very difficult. Sometimes we write key results as objectives, tasks as key results.

We really don’t know what to put in each part. But, writing OKRs should not be as complicated as a Rubik’s cube. Here is the right guidance with tips and examples, which can help you to easily set efficient OKRs without mistakes.

What do you have to accomplish?

The answer to this question is the objective. It must be ambitious and qualitative but precise and attainable too.

Strive to never set an irrealistic and imprecise objective.

A bad objective is “Make a lot of money” whereas you can say “Grow revenue by 15%”.

How are you going to get that done?

The answer to this question is the key results. The key results need to be quantifiable and measurable by a specific metric.

Key results usually start with verbs like launch, create, develop, deliver, build, make, implement, define, release, test, prepare and plan. [1]

Most times, your key results are going to be a specific metric and a value to reach. For example:

• Get 50 new paying users
• Increase user retention from 40% to 75%
• Reduce churn rate by 2%

Easily achieve your team’s goals with aligned and transparent OKRs for FREE.

Examples of OKRs

Company OKRs

Objective: Increase company revenue by 10%

• Reduce churn rate to 5%
• Get 1 solution before the end of the first month to successfully onboard and discuss with clients
• Get 50 new customers by end of Q2

CEO OKRs

Objective: Improve our company reputation

• Launch two new products that will impact our brand in Q3
• Interview 20 customers and get feedback
• Increase customer retention to 90%

Marketing team OKRs

Objective: Improve prospects acquisition

1. Write 30 good articles to promote
2. Generate 75% of website traffic through organic search
3. Appear on the first page for each keyword
4. Exchange 10 links each month

Developer OKRs

Objective: Make the product ideal for the customer

1. Achieve Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 9
2. 25% pre-registrations come from existing customers
3. Get 1 referral for 3 clients (viral coefficient)

Design Team OKRs

Objective: Improve the quality of design

1. Acquire new skills and trend design software every month
2. Increase the integration experience by 20%

Human Resources team OKRs

Objective 1: Improve the Performance Management Process

1. Organize training sessions on the implementation of the OKR methodology allowing at least 80% of employees to better understand their goal-setting processes
2. Promote the continuous feedback initiative allowing 75% of employees to participate in a regular feedback exchange
3. Increase 90% of positive feedback with anonymous surveys

Objective 2: Make the office a very attractive place to work

1. Collect feedback from 10 employees on ideas for improvement
2. Organizer 3 monthly office events
3. Find 01 food and beverage supplier in the office.

These were some examples of good OKRs. Now go make your own.

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One of the major challenges while adopting any management framework is to figure out how to get started. Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), the agile goal setting framework is not an exception to this rule. We have already written a few articles around best practices in OKRs (listed at the end of this post), in this one we will provide a checklist. It can be used as a quick reference to write effective Objectives as well as Key Results.

Why should you care?

A common question that pops up in everyone’s mind – does it really matter how the OKRs are written? After all, isn’t OKRs a goal management approach just like any other goal setting methodology

The answer lies in the fact that OKRs are not just goals for individuals but they are connections between the strategy & execution. OKRs are nothing short of a communication channel for conveying strategy. And we all know how good strategies end up in a trash can because they weren’t executed properly. Writing good OKRs is a prerequisite to executing the strategy successfully.

In addition, putting in sufficient efforts for collaboratively writing the OKRs can reveal new & innovative ways goals can be achieved.

There are two major components of the OKR designing process. One focuses on how the objectives should be written & the other one concentrates on key results.

Writing an Objective

Objectives are the qualitative goals. They are usually broad in their outlook & inspiring in nature. First & foremost, the objective should help in achieving the company goals & should be aligned with the corporate strategy.

More importantly, finalising objectives can be a tough task. People who have experienced OKR setup process before, will know how tempting it is to set myriad objectives at every possible level. Use the five why analysis to figure out if the 3-5 objectives that are being chosen are really the critical ones.

In a nutshell, you are spot on if you can answer following questions affirmatively with respect to the objective.

• Is the objective broad in outlook?
• Is the objective inspiring?
• Does the objective help in achieving the company goals?
• Does the objective align with corporate strategy?
• Is the objective indispensable?
• Is the objective timeboxed?

Writing a Key Result

The way key results are defined, is the soul of the entire OKR philosophy. Key results are essentially measurable indicators of success of the parent objective. Key results, unequivocally tell you how much of the objective is achieved. Some literature calls them the sub-objectives or even at times they are (wrongly) called as KPIs.

If they cannot be objectively measured, they are not KRs. Numbers form an integral part of the key result. Do note that key results are results & not activities/tasks. Again, the key lies in limiting the number of KRs in the 3-5 range, against every objective.

Ask these questions to ensure you are writing effective OKRs:

• Does the Key Result adhere to SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, Time bound)
• Is the KR a result and not just another task/activity?
• Does the KR help in achieving the objective it belongs to?
• Is there a timeline identified for the KR?
• Does the KR belong to either a stretch or an operational goal category?
• Is the KR important enough to appear in the top 5 KRs for the objective?

Template & Examples

Although there is no one size fits all template that works for all possible use cases, there is a generally acceptable way of phrasing OKRs. You are now probably writing effective OKRs but do they fit the below ‘template’?

We plan to succeed in ______________________ , as measured by ___________, ____________ and ____________. We plan to achieve this by _________

1st blank is a placeholder for the objective & rest of the blanks (2-4) are going to hold related key results. The last blank adds a deadline to the entire OKR structure.

Let us look at a few examples for writing effective OKRs.

Increase in employee engagement

Key Results –

• Decrease attrition rate from 7% to 3%
• Increase eNPS from 78% to 90%
• At least 3 engagement activities are executed within each department.

Raise funds to fuel our growth in APAC

Key Results –

• 4 growth centres with maximum anticipated ROI are identified
• Pitch to at least 25 institutional investors
• A non-binding term sheet is finalised

One of the major challenges while adopting any management framework is to figure out how to get started. Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), the agile goal setting framework is not an exception to this rule. We have already written a few articles around best practices in OKRs (listed at the end of this post), in this one we will provide a checklist. It can be used as a quick reference to write effective Objectives as well as Key Results.

Why should you care?

A common question that pops up in everyone’s mind – does it really matter how the OKRs are written? After all, isn’t OKRs a goal management approach just like any other goal setting methodology

The answer lies in the fact that OKRs are not just goals for individuals but they are connections between the strategy & execution. OKRs are nothing short of a communication channel for conveying strategy. And we all know how good strategies end up in a trash can because they weren’t executed properly. Writing good OKRs is a prerequisite to executing the strategy successfully.

In addition, putting in sufficient efforts for collaboratively writing the OKRs can reveal new & innovative ways goals can be achieved.

There are two major components of the OKR designing process. One focuses on how the objectives should be written & the other one concentrates on key results.

Writing an Objective

Objectives are the qualitative goals. They are usually broad in their outlook & inspiring in nature. First & foremost, the objective should help in achieving the company goals & should be aligned with the corporate strategy.

More importantly, finalising objectives can be a tough task. People who have experienced OKR setup process before, will know how tempting it is to set myriad objectives at every possible level. Use the five why analysis to figure out if the 3-5 objectives that are being chosen are really the critical ones.

In a nutshell, you are spot on if you can answer following questions affirmatively with respect to the objective.

• Is the objective broad in outlook?
• Is the objective inspiring?
• Does the objective help in achieving the company goals?
• Does the objective align with corporate strategy?
• Is the objective indispensable?
• Is the objective timeboxed?

Writing a Key Result

The way key results are defined, is the soul of the entire OKR philosophy. Key results are essentially measurable indicators of success of the parent objective. Key results, unequivocally tell you how much of the objective is achieved. Some literature calls them the sub-objectives or even at times they are (wrongly) called as KPIs.

If they cannot be objectively measured, they are not KRs. Numbers form an integral part of the key result. Do note that key results are results & not activities/tasks. Again, the key lies in limiting the number of KRs in the 3-5 range, against every objective.

Ask these questions to ensure you are writing effective OKRs:

• Does the Key Result adhere to SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, Time bound)
• Is the KR a result and not just another task/activity?
• Does the KR help in achieving the objective it belongs to?
• Is there a timeline identified for the KR?
• Does the KR belong to either a stretch or an operational goal category?
• Is the KR important enough to appear in the top 5 KRs for the objective?

Template & Examples

Although there is no one size fits all template that works for all possible use cases, there is a generally acceptable way of phrasing OKRs. You are now probably writing effective OKRs but do they fit the below ‘template’?

We plan to succeed in ______________________ , as measured by ___________, ____________ and ____________. We plan to achieve this by _________

1st blank is a placeholder for the objective & rest of the blanks (2-4) are going to hold related key results. The last blank adds a deadline to the entire OKR structure.

Let us look at a few examples for writing effective OKRs.

Increase in employee engagement

Key Results –

• Decrease attrition rate from 7% to 3%
• Increase eNPS from 78% to 90%
• At least 3 engagement activities are executed within each department.

Raise funds to fuel our growth in APAC

Key Results –

• 4 growth centres with maximum anticipated ROI are identified
• Pitch to at least 25 institutional investors
• A non-binding term sheet is finalised

• Product
• Pricing
• Resources

• OKR e-book
• OKR examples
• One-on-One agenda templates
• One-on-One e-book

When you’re building a product-focused team and want your team to have a product mindset and empathize with your customers, engineering OKRs is a great way to achieve this goal.

In this article, you’ll find the relevant Engineering OKR examples.

Engineering teams context

When talking about the engineering team, we assume it’s a team that works on delivering the product and implementing the company vision.

Here are a few main categories that engineering teams might focus on:

1. Product.
2. Performance.
3. Education.
4. CSR/contributing to the community.

1 — Product

How can the engineering team contribute towards the product vision? How can we encourage developers to “wear the shoes” of the end-users? These are some of the questions that good engineering team OKRs can help you answer with.

Objective 1: Improve the quality of our product
Key Results:

1. Reduce the number of reported bugs from 2.1 to 1.0 (per account per month)
2. Increase the crash-free ratio from 96% to 99% for the new release
3. Reduce bugs-per-feature metric from 1.7 to 1.0
4. Increase the code coverage with test from 35% to 50%

2 — Performance

How can the engineering team improve its performance and delivery? How can we increase our output with the same people and resources?

Objective 2: Accelerate the development team speed
Key Results:

1. Increase the Sprint team velocity from 42 to 60
2. Reduce the avg number of bugs per feature from 1.7 to 1
3. Reduce average lead time by 30%
4. Set up the dual-track mode (for dev and design team to run in parallel

Objective 3: Increase the automation of the deployment
Key Results:

1. Set up automatic CI and CD with Travis
2. Set up Sentry on the new product
3. Run 30% of the test automatically on Travis
4. Set up the dual-track mode (for dev and design team to run in parallel)

Objective 4: Improve the quality of the development process
Key Results:

1. Set up static code checkers
2. Achieve 100% code-review for all Pull Requests
3. Research and implement single code-style for all the engineering teams
4. Set up automatic CI and CD with Jenkins

Objective 5: Refactor old reporting CRM module
Key Results:

1. Create the refactoring plan
2. Rewrite the module from AngularJS to React
3. Rewrite the API for the reporting routes
4. Reduce the response time for old APIs from 890 ms to 300 ms (on average)

3 — Education

How can we accelerate the engineering team learning and development? How can we implement the regular learning program and encourage the team members to participate in it proactively?

Objective 6: Continuously improve and grow as a team
Key Results:

1. Create a competency matrix for 3 engineering roles
2. Create A player profile for 4 positions
3. Write 3 articles sharing our recent performance testing and insights
4. Speak on the local JS meetu

Objective 7: Boost team members career development
Key Results:

1. Increase the promotion rate by 20% this year
2. Create a career roadmap for 5 most popular positions
3. Increase the 1-on-1s satisfaction for the “career development” question from 7.3 to 9.0

Objective 8: Launch internal Education Camp
Key Results:

1. Conduct 6 interview with tech leads to figure out the most critical educational needs
2. Create a roadmap for the educational events/activities
3. Conduct the first EduCamp for Engineering team on the Security topic
4. Achieve 9.0 satisfaction and effectiveness score of the first module

• Product
• Pricing
• Resources

• OKR e-book
• OKR examples
• One-on-One agenda templates
• One-on-One e-book

How does an effective Objective look like

There are different views on how to write effective Objectives. Here’s a checklist we believe is the most important and most common.

1. Inspirational. Objectives should inspire the team, should motivate them to contribute and create an understanding that it indeed matters. Powerful Objectives are like small mission statements.
2. Attainable. Even though Objectives should be bold, they should also be realistic and possible to achieve within the timeframe.
3. Significant & Meaningful. Objectives should not be small operational tasks or to-do items. They should matter.
4. Controllable. The team or organization should be able to influence everything that’s needed to achieve the Objective directly.
5. Short. Not more than 7-10 words. The fewer — the better. Short Objectives make them easy to remember.
6. No buzzwords or jargon. Objectives should be easy to read and understand by anyone, including the newcomers. Avoid any abbreviations and buzzwords.
7. Without numbers. Numbers, percentages, KPIs are for the Key Results. Let Objectives set the direction first before specifying the metric.

Questions you can use to guide the team towards writing the right Objectives:

• What do you want to achieve?
• How can you help the company implement the strategic goal/the vision/the mission?
• What are the most critical challenges/blockers you need to solve right now?
• How would the organization look/What would be different when we achieve the Objective?
• If you were the client, what would you wish our organization have done?
• What does our organization need to do so that you’d be proud of it?

How do effective Key Results look like

Objectives are about what you want to achieve. The Key Results measure how far you’re from achieving the Objective. It’s a metric that shows the progress towards your goal.

The best formula for the Key Result is: Increase [Decrease] metric A from X to Y.

Here how the effective Key Results should look like:

1. Qualitative. Key Results should contain a number. If there’s no number, most likely it’s a bad Key Result.
2. Outcome-focused. Key Result should not measure the output (number of emails, number of articles, etc.), but the outcome (revenue, increased referrals, client/team satisfaction, etc.).
3. Controllable. As with Objectives, you need to have to be able to make an impact on the Key Results you set.
4. Aligned. Make sure your Key Results align with each other. For example, growing the client base 2x and profit 2x in the same period is probably unrealistic.
5. Holistic. Together, Key Results should describe the progress towards your Objective. View your Key Results from different standpoints. When you achieved all your Key Results – you’ve completed your Objective. There should be no other interpretation.
6. Moonshot. Key Results should motivate the team to achieve more they previously have done. It’s ok to miss them for a bit.
7. Assigned to the owner. Someone should own each Key Result. When everyone is responsible, then no-one is. Make sure the person understands and accepts the ownership of the Key Result.
8. Updated regularly. It’s essential to update the Key Results along the way, not only at the end of the period — the best way to do it – during the weekly/bi-weekly OKR check-ins.
9. SMART. Overall, Key Results should target to be SMART goals.

Questions you can use to guide the team towards writing the right Key Results:

• What metric will signify that we’ve achieved our goal?
• What other metrics should we make sure to track when achieving this goal? Which do we need to make sure not to worsen? (for example, when increasing the number of leads, make sure that the cost per lead does not skyrocket).
• What change in our/customer behavior will bring us to achieving the Objective? Do we have the data to measure it? If not – what do we need to measure from now one?

If you’re approaching the end of on OKR cycle, it may be time to refresh on how to grade them. Grading OKRs is an opportunity to reflect on accomplishments and what might be done differently the next time around. Low scores force a reassessment, while high scores provide empirical proof of delivery.

If you’re using OKR software like BetterWorks or Lattice, OKR scores will be system generated for you. If you’re not, you’ll have to do some math. But, no matter how you calculate your score, it’s good to understand the meaning behind the numbers and where they come from.

The Andy Grove method of grading OKRs is a simple “yes” or “no” approach. To see it in action, let’s use a soccer analogy. Imagine you’re a recruiter for a team. Your OKR might look something like this for the quarter:

Here’s how you would come up with your score:

• Attend 25 games to scout out potential recruits? No
• Approach 30 players throughout these games? Yes
• Contact the agents of 10 potential recruits? Yes

This is the basic “yes/no” of OKRs.

There is also a more advanced way to score each key result on a scale. “0” equates to failure and “1.0” means the objective was completely achieved. Within these metrics, each individual key result is graded and averaged to score the objective.

The scale goes like this:

• 0.7 to 1.0 = green. (We delivered.)
• 0.4 to 0.6 = yellow. (We made progress, but fell short of completion.)
• 0.0 to 0.3 = red. (We failed to make real progress.)

To visualize it, let’s use the same soccer recruiter OKR—but with a little bit more information:

• You could only get to 20 games so that’s 0.8, an admirable score.
• You approached 30 players, so that’s a perfect 1.0.
• You were only able to get ahold of 6 agents for 0.6, a borderline green.

Altogether, the average is 80%—or a raw score of 0.8, a passing grade.

However, OKRs go beyond this and require self-assessment, too.

In analyzing OKR performance, objective data should be looked at subjectively, also, because, for any goal, there may be extenuating circumstances.

Let’s say you are again a soccer recruiter but that you were only able to get ahold of one agent—but that agent represented the star center midfielder that everyone else was after. Your raw score for that KR would be 0.1 but you might give yourself a 0.9 because you were able to get her signed, too. As John Doerr writes in Measure What Matters, “The point of objectives and key results, after all, is to get everyone working on the right things.”

One final thing worth noting is that you want to see variation in your key results. As stated earlier, 70% is a good score. If everything is 100% or 30%, that kind of homogeneity is suspicious. It may mean that you need to set stretch goals or completely rethink your OKRs.

The answer is in the numbers.

Have you graded your OKRs recently? We’d love to hear what they were and how they went so please let us know. And, if you’re looking for more OKR information, you can find other FAQs, Resources, and Stories right here on WhatMatters.com.

If you’re interested in starting our OKRs 101 course, click here.

Sam Prince (samprince.com) is a journalist, storyteller, and the digital strategist of WhatMatters.com.

What are some paid OKR tools to help with goal setting?

We are often asked how to write objectives, and it’s completely understandable. When I joined Jell a couple of months ago I wondered the same thing.

But it turns out, writing objectives and key results isn’t difficult.

Here’s a video to help:

For getting started with OKRs, you have to know what your end goals are. What do you want/need to accomplish in order to move forward?

For an engineering team, it might be creating a mobile app for a product. For a marketing team, it probably means getting more traffic, conversions, or higher average sale.

For example let’s assume you want to increase Daily Active Users for your company’s product from 300 per day to 9000 over the course of 6 months, or 2 quarters.

Aside note: Generally, a founder or investor has come up with this goal, but everyone should know how to write objectives because all employees should have them.

Break the goal up into objectives and key results over the course of 2 quarters. For the first quarter, you want to get to 4500 users, which means greatly increasing usage over the next 3 months.

Objective: Increase daily active users

How to Write Objectives: Suggestions from Experts

It’s important to note that not all objectives will have a numerical value, objectives can be more general. Though, all key results will include a number, as Marissa Mayer suggests.

John Doerr, who implemented OKRs at Google, actually uses a formula to write objectives and key results. He uses this statement:

So we can actually write our objective as:

I will increase daily active users as measured by 4500 people using the app every business day.

Since most objectives have multiple key results, we can extend this sentence by adding other measurements. These additions must pertain to the objective already listed.

For example, these:

• I will increase daily active users as measured by getting 10,000 website installs each month.
• I will increase daily active users as measured by increasing website traffic to 20,000 visits per month.

Let’s look at another example.

An Example for Human Resources

You work in HR and have 500 employees. In past positions you’ve found that improving employee sentiment has directly impacted turnover rates and employee referrals.

Over the next year, you’ve been given the task of rolling out employee NPS surveys and establishing it at an acceptable market average of 38.

Your objective and key results:

You will implement NPS as measured by

• getting 400 employees to answer the first survey
• working with 23 managers to relay the importance of the employee survey and
• hosting 1 employee event displaying overlooked benefits for the company.

**As you can see, writing objectives and key results comes down to breaking up your goal into actionable steps with clear numerical goals.**

Another important aspect you should know about how to write objectives is each employee will have multiple objectives.

In HR this could mean another objective of:

Objective: Help employees take advantage of benefits

• Key Result: Get 20% more employees to sign up for 401K contributions
• Key Result: Send 2 monthly emails outlining popular benefits that should be taken advantage of, such as discounts or memberships
• Key Result: Host quarterly benefits workshop where you educate and assist employees in signing up or using benefits

Another way to think of John Doerr’s formula is:

I want to ____(objective)____. I can do this by ____(key results)____.

Write OKRs By Breaking Goals Into Quarterly Objectives

It’s common for a lot of companies to have yearly goals, even monthly goals, so one adjustment you may need to make with the OKR approach is using quarterly goals to keep you on track throughout the year. This isn’t difficult.

Let’s pick up your goal for an NPS of 38 by the end of the year. In the first quarter, your objective is to get a baseline score. We will assume your company gets at least a 20 for the first survey. That means to hit your year-end goal of 38 you need to make up 18 points.

So in quarter two, your objective might be to hit 26, then 32 in the third quarter, and 38 in the last.

But keep in mind that you might also want to set stretch goals in each objective or key result so that you have room for missing your goal. This is common with OKRs, as many companies follow the thinking that OKRs will be hit 70-80% of the time.

Use A Tool To Set OKRs

It might be difficult to write OKRs when you can’t visualize a system to do it. But you can use a tool to help you set and monitor OKRs overtime.

This will give you the mental reminders and dedicated place to look at your goals, edit them (if needed), plan for the future, and see where you stand in respect to your quarterly objectives. Additionally, we offer a free OKR template here.

Wrap Up: Things to Keep in Mind About How to Write Objectives & Key Results

• Use John Doerr’s formula: I will ___ as measured by ___.
• Remember that all key results should include a number.
• Everyone on your team should know how to write OKRs.
• Each team member will have multiple Objectives, and multiple Key Results (up to 4) per Objective.
• Write OKRs by breaking up year long goals.
• Overestimate your OKRs.
• Use a tool to set and monitor OKRs.

Now, you have the tools and knowledge you need to write objectives and key results.

Get started by using Jell to keep track of your OKRs, your goals are waiting.

I’m Mary, the author. I’m a content writer and marketer for Jell.

Unite your team with daily standups, make progress visible, and reach goals faster—all in minutes a day.

Doing your own home hair color for the first time can be intimidating, to say the least. Have I chosen the right color? What if I make a mistake and wind up with green hair? What if I end up with overprocessed, dry damaged hair?

The fact is that you can achieve excellent results and save a lot of money by coloring your hair at home as long as you know a few basics about how to select the right color and apply it correctly. Here are seven of the most common questions and my advice on hair coloring at home.

How do I know whether I should color my hair at home or go to a salon?

Most people can successfully color their hair at home but there are exceptions. You should get a professional color job if your hair is in poor condition – coloring dry damaged hair at home can result in uneven color. Also, if your hair has different shades and you want one even tone, a hairdresser can apply different formulas to the different areas. Finally, it’s best to leave it to the experts if you want to make a drastic change to your hair color, say dark brown to platinum blonde, or you want special color effects or highlights.

Are drugstore hair colors just as good as salon hair color products?

In general, salon hair colors contain higher-quality ingredients than the drugstore brands. Salons also offer a wider variety of colors and tones. But home coloring kits are getting better all the time and can deliver good results if used properly. I will recommend using a professional home hair coloring system such as Madison Reed with gentle ingredients that provide optimum result.

How do I pick a color that will look natural on me?

When choosing a hair color, your skin tone and natural hair color are the two most important factors. Whether you’re going lighter or darker, stay within two or three shades of your natural hair color.Here is a guideline for selecting a compatible hair color for your skin tone:

• Dark/olive skin: Stay with darker hair colors.
• Yellow skin: Dark, rich colors like deep auburn.
• Pale skin: Almost any color.
• Pink skin: Neutral tones like sandy or beige blonde or chocolate brown are best. Avoid reds or golden tones.

If you know what clothing colors suit you, you can also use that to help in choosing hair color:

If you look good in warm shades like red, orange, golden yellow, cinnamon brown, olive green, and rust, then warm hair tones like golden blonde, golden brown, strawberry blonde, and auburn will suit you best.

Cool color favorites like bluish red, fuschia, black, royal blue, and pine green indicate that cool hair tones are best for you: platinum, ash blonde, ash brown, burgundy, and jet black.

If you look good in true red, purple, charcoal grey, periwinkle, and teal, then neutral tones like sandy or beige blonde, chocolate brown or mahogany will suit you.

Here you can try this virtual guide to see how different colors looks on you

How do I get ready to color my hair the first time?

It’s a good idea to gather a few materials together before starting: an old T-shirt, a few old towels and a washcloth that you don’t mind getting stained, some hair clips for sectioning your hair, a timer, and a hand mirror to see the back of your head. Here some more tips for safe home hair coloring.

If I color my hair at home and hate it, what can I do?

There are some home hair color products you can use to repair the damage, but it isn’t easy. The problem is that if you used a home hair color kit to obtain a lighter color, your hair has been bleached and colored in a single process. So the color needs to be added back in a process called “filling” before using the final color formula. Whatever you do, don’t simply buy a box of your original color and try to cover over a bad dye job. it won’t work. Fixing hair color gone wrong is a multi-stage process so a trip to the salon may be in order.

I already have permed hair. Can I color it without damaging it?

If your hair has been permed or relaxed, color has to be applied carefully or it can weaken the structure of your hair. Salons have colors specially formulated for treated hair. But if you insist on home hair coloring, choose a shade darker than you want since processed hair may come out lighter than expected. Then do a strand test to make sure your hair can handle the chemical stress.

I love my new color. now how do I keep it looking good?

You’ll probably want to recolor every four to six weeks. Make a record of the hair color product and shade you used, and how long you left it on the ends and the regrowth.

Use shampoos and conditioners formulated for color-treated hair to prevent fading. Stay out of the sun and chlorinated pools. Hair that has been previously been bleached is prone to such effects and should be rinsed as soon as possible. Don’t use heavy conditioners and oil treatments after coloring. they can lift the color.

Now go out and enjoy your new look and all the money you saved by doing it yourself!

Dyeing your hair with chalk is so much fun, because you can literally dye your hair in the whole rainbow spectre, and wash it out the same evening. The chalk dye usually lasts for about 1 day in your hair, after which you can wash it out with an ease. It works on both dark and light hair, achieving a fun new look for a short time. Here’s our guide how to dye your hair with chalk.

Is dyeing your hair with chalk safe?

Yes it is, it does not damage your hair. It’s a fun, temporary way to change your hair colour for a day, or just try something new by giving yourself a makeover.

How to dye your hair with chalk

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Colourful chalk
• Cups and water
• Preferably a spray bottle of water
• A brush

Prepare a few small cups of water, for you to dip your chalks into. Using only one cup won’t cut it, because mixing the colours might not be a good idea.

Take a strand of your hair and twist it around, this helps the chalk to release the colour and pigment more easier.

Spray the hair with the water, or if you don’t have a spray bottle – just wet your hair with your hands.

Apply the chalk to the hair, starting from the top and moving down towards the ends of the hair.

Let the hair dry.

Be sure to use a bristle brush to brush out any extra chalk powder, so your hair wouldn’t look odd after the dye job

Dyeing blonde hair with chalk

If you have blonde hair, doesn’t matter if its natural blonde or dyed blonde, DO NOT wet the hair nor the chalk before dyeing. We do not reccoment doing this, because adding water to a pure pigment creates an actual dye which will stay in your hair for a longer duration of time.
If you like the idea of keeping the colour for a longer time until it fades out with washes – go for it!

Dyeing dark hair with chalk

Trying to tone any darker tone into a colourful tone can prove itself to be a bit of a challenge. In order to achieve the colour and depth you want, you must use water on both your hair and the chalk. By doubling the colour pigments, you’ll get the dye to show up much easier and it won’t stain your hair.

Dyeing red hair with chalk

If your hair tone isn’t quite dark nor light, but something in between like red, green or turquoise blue, then the amount of water you need to use is relatively little.

So there you go, have fun trying out your new look!

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Did you know that hair chalking is a thing? I’m not making a euphemism here. Scrubbing pastels into your hair to color it as an alternative to permanent, semi-permanent or even temporary hair dye is a trend. Guides for how to chalk your hair are everywhere on Pinterest. Streaks of pink. Ombre blue tips. Teal faux-hawk tops. And celebs from Paris Hilton to Nicki Minaj have made a specific palette popular: cotton candy hair. But we’re not going there.

When done in the right context (like, say, for a music festival) and in moderation (such as tasteful streaks), hair chalking can be totally chic.

So. Rub hair with chalk. Rock out in style. Wash it out. Back to normal, right? That just seemed too good to be true. There had to be a catch.

And, having now tested this trend, I can say that there are several. On a scale of one to five, one being totally doable and five being not-so-much, I give this project a three. Prepare yourself for a hot mess. No matter how long you “seal” the color, it stains your clothes, your ears and your pillow if you leave it in overnight. I made the mistake of not wearing gloves the first time I tried this. There are still pink fingerprints all over my apartment.

If you have dark hair like me, it really doesn’t work. If you wet your hair and stick with a neon pink, you can get something to show up. But I didn’t have any luck with blues or teal. If you have recommendations for dark hair, leave them in the comments below.

Blondes have the opposite problem. Dark colors can take up to seven washes to completely come out. Not cool if you need to look professional on Monday. Also not cool if you get a blonde in your Human Resources department to help you with a blog post on hair chalking and tell her it washes out in a day. And then it doesn’t. And then you have a meeting with her on Thursday and she has blue hair. (Sorry, Ashley!)

For me, it’s not worth it. I love the look, but, if you want to color your hair, just dye it. Or try those colored hair sprays. These options won’t give you neon dandruff.

Still want to try this despite my glowing recommendation? Check out the how-to below. And if you have better luck, comment with your tips and tricks.

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Subsequently, one may also ask, can you put chalk in your hair?

Oil-based chalk will stain your hair. Sidewalk chalk or chalkboard chalk won’t stick to your hair. No matter what color your hair, apply the chalk to dry hair first. Chalk can flake off while it’s in your hair, so it’s a good idea not to wear light-colored clothes.

One may also ask, how do you chalk your hair like a pro? 7 Essential Tips for Hair Chalking like a Pro

1. To Wet or Not to Wet Your Hair. (Your reaction) If you’re blonde or have blonde tips, DON’T wet your hair before chalking.
2. Soft Pastels Only. (Your reaction)
3. Watch out for the Mess. (Your reaction)
4. Color It up. (Your reaction)
5. Do the Twist. (Your reaction)
6. Don’t Force It. (Your reaction)
7. Seal It in. (Your reaction)

Besides, how long does hair chalk last?

It can last up to 6 weeks depending on how often you wash your hair. You can see how long pink hair dye lasts here. For a fun look for that lasts for 1-2 days try hair chalk.

How do you dye your hair with sidewalk chalk?

For dark hair:

1. Place chalk into the container.
2. Add small amounts of water to chalk to dampen (not soak).
3. Let the chalk set for a few minutes until it starts to deteriorate slightly.
4. Use the scissors or knife to scrape off the loosened chalk.
5. Using your fingers, make the chalk into a paste.

Hair dye or hair coloring is not a new word for anyone. Everyone knows about hair dyeing. It is the process through which we can easily change the color of our hair, either it is natural or fashionable. Hair dyeing is very common now a days. Women love to dye their hairs with different colors. There are so many hair colors are available in markets. Those colors give a permanent look. In this situation, it is very tough for women to change their hair color. But in this post you will find a new technique of HAIR CHALK . The hair chalk is the new and easy way of hair coloring. This is a temporary method. So, you can easily change it according to your needs. Let’s check out the steps of how to chalk dye your hair below, and yes you can find a short video about how to use hair chalk.

How To Chalk Dye Your Hair

1. The Pre-Dyeing Stage:

• First of all, purchase some chalks. You will need at least two to three sticks of each color that you select for coloring. Make sure, you purchase soft pastel chalks because oil-pastels chalks are difficult to remove and sidewalk chalk is dusty and won’t give your hair a bright and vibrant look.

• Now, wrap an old towel or you can also wear old tee-shirt. You will need to clip the towel together to keep it in a place.

• Now take a pillbox and soak chalk in a spoon of water for releasing the color.This is most important for dark black hair. It will give you a more vibrant colors.

2. Applying The Color :

• Now tie up the top portion of hair by hair clip. This way you can easily dye the lower section of your hair. Now Wet a hair section with spray that you want to dye.

• Now take a chalk that you pre-soaked at the top of hair to be colored. Starting rub the chalk from downward to upward and repeat.
• You can also color different colors in different layers for fashionable look. But make sure that work on a section. This way, you can keep away far the one from the one you are working on. Otherwise the color will transfer and you will get a ugly look.

3. After Coloring:

• Once you have completed the coloring then let the hair dry. You can also use blow dry. Make sure the hair are completely dry, otherwise the chalk will leave the color on clothes.

• At the end, run the hand into your hands and make a style according to your need.

Video Tutorial: How To Use Hair Chalk

Well, this was a new hair dyeing technique for those women, who want temporary hair color. So, Let’s try it now and give your hair a perfect glamorous look.

Video Source: Daily Motion

A fun and easy way add some color to your hair!!

You’ll be using soft pastels. Not hard pastels, not oil pastels! And you’d want to get one with the bright reds, blues and greens!! This box only cost 5 SGD

Make sure you’re in a place that’s easy to clean up cause there’s gonna be a lot of pastel dust falling everywhere! And you might also want to protect your clothes!

Warning! It gets messy!! Wear gloves if you don’t want your hands to get dirty!!

Now it’s time to pick a color you like!!

Twist a small lock of hair which you wanna color. And apply the pastel is a downward motion.

If you don’t wet your hair the color won’t stick that easily. So I recommend wetting your hair if you just want a solid color.

So I did the right side of my hair real quick without wetting it much for I wanted a soft blue look.

So yeah! Here’s another example of how it’ll turn out if you don’t put a very thick solid color on!

I wanted a really strong streak at the top. So I wet the lock that I wanted to color really well. And I came out nicely

If you have ever wondered how to chalk your hair, this is the post for you. Chalking your hair is an easy way to add some special effects. Wild but not permanent, expensive or difficult. Results last around 3 shampoos. Chalk your hair for a party, for halloween, or just for fun! Scroll down for complete instructions.

Here is what you’ll need to chalk your hair:

• Artist’s Pastels or colored sidewalk chalk suitable for hair chalking. NOT oil based pastel crayons. You only want to use the chalk based ones.
• A flat iron
• Hair ties or clips to hold back hair
• A rat-tail style comb for separating hair into sections
• A cup or bowl of water
• Old towels to wipe up any drips and to wipe your hands

The technique is simple. Separate a section of hair and paint it with the chalk. It’s easiest to do this if you wet the chalk by dipping in the water. Use your fingertips to dampen the hair as well. It’s a little messy so you will want to wear old clothes and have towels ready to clean off. Protect your surfaces. This is a good activity to do outdoors on on tile!

Best to work light to dark if you are doing multiple colors on one strand.

After you have achieved the coloring you want, use a flat iron to set in the color. Don’t overdo it. You don’t want to burn your hair! We used a “wet to dry” iron and stopped before the hair was totally dry. This worked great.

The hard part was deciding when to stop. You can do one color or keep going for a rainbow effect. Chalk “dye” will typically wash out in one to four washes.

Looking for a slightly longer lasting but still temporary way to dye your hair, without harsh chemicals? Check out this Kool Aid hair dye tutorial .

Published February 19, 2021

Reviewed January 2021

belchonock/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

You can’t tell if a food is safely cooked by sight, smell or even taste. A food thermometer is the only way to ensure food is cooked to the proper internal temperature and harmful bacteria are eliminated.

A food thermometer is needed for more than just meat and poultry. A safe minimum internal temperature must be reached to avoid food poisoning in all cooked foods. A food thermometer also is needed after food is cooked to ensure the temperature doesn’t fall into the danger zone.

The temperature “danger zone” for perishable foods is between 40° and 140° Fahrenheit. Perishable foods are no longer safe to eat if they have been in this danger zone for more than two hours (one hour in 90° Fahrenheit or above). This is especially important for buffet and potluck-style gatherings where it’s easy to lose track of time and food may sit out for a longer period of time.

Choosing a Food Thermometer

There are a wide variety of food thermometers available. Pick the type best for you and remember to use it every time you cook:

• Dial oven-safe thermometers can remain in place as the food cooks. Insert two to two and a half inches deep into the thickest part of the food. Temperature readings are ready in one to two minutes. Use this type of thermometer for roasts, casseroles and soups. They are not good for thin foods.
• Instant-read thermometers aren’t meant to be left in the food while it cooks. Instead, use it to check food towards the end of cooking. Place the stem about two to two and a half inches deep in the thickest part of the food. This thermometer reads the temperature instantly, typically in 10 to 20 seconds. Used in roasts, casseroles and soups, and inserted sideways in thin dishes.
• Thermometer-fork combination thermometers are convenient for grilling and read the temperature of foods in two to 10 seconds. Place at least a fourth of an inch deep in the thickest part of the food, with the sensor in the fork fully inserted.
• Pop-up thermometers and disposable temperature indicators are meant for one-time use. These thermometers are often designed for specific temperature ranges, for example, the safe cooking temperature for hamburgers or turkey. These also read the temperature of foods quickly, in five to 10 seconds, when the material pops up or changes color. For best practice, also check the temperature of large items, like whole turkeys, with a conventional thermometer.

How to Use a Food Thermometer

Before using a food thermometer, read the manufacturer’s instructions. Read about how far to insert the thermometer in a food to get an accurate reading. Follow these simple steps to ensure you are correctly using a food thermometer:

• Step 1: Test it. Use either ice water or boiling water to confirm your food thermometer is accurate.
• Step 2: Calibrate it. Read the instructions about how to adjust the thermometer, as needed, to ensure you get an accurate reading.
• Step 3: Place it properly. Placement is very important to get an accurate reading. Place the food thermometer in the thickest part of the food, making sure not to touch bone, fat or gristle.
• Step 4: Don’t rush it. Wait the recommended amount of time for your type of thermometer. For meat products including raw beef, pork, lamb, veal steaks, chops and roasts, use the food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.
• Step 5: Take care of it. Clean your food thermometer with clean, soapy water after each use. This prevents cross-contamination and the spread of harmful bacteria.

Correct Food Thermometer Placement

Begin checking the temperature toward the end of cooking, but before the food is expected to be “done.”

Food	Thermometer Placement
Beef, Pork or Lamb Roasts	Insert in center of the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Hamburgers, Steaks or Chops	Insert in the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Whole Poultry	Insert in thickest part of thigh, avoiding bone.
Whole Turkey	Insert in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest area, avoiding bone.
Poultry Parts	Insert in the thickest area, avoiding bone.
Ground Meat and Poultry	Insert in the thickest area of meatloaf or patty; with thin patties, insert sideways reaching the very center with the stem.
Egg Dishes and Casseroles	Insert in center or thickest area of the dish.
Fish	Insert in the thickest part of fish when fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Game Animals	Insert in center of the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Game Birds	Insert in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

Using a food thermometer is only half the equation. Be sure to cook foods to the safe internal temperature. For fish, that’s 145° Fahrenheit or until the flesh turns opaque. Steaks, roasts and chops (whether they’re beef, veal, pork or lamb) should reach at least 145° Fahrenheit and rest for three minutes before serving. Any mixture using ground beef or pork, like hamburgers, should reach at least 160° Fahrenheit, as should any egg dishes. Poultry products, whether whole or ground, should be heated to at least 165° Fahrenheit. Make sure leftovers and casseroles reach 165° Fahrenheit, too.

A food thermometer finds out if a food has been properly cooked. Meat thermometers measure the internal temperature of cooked meat. In this article, you will get complete information about the different kinds of food thermometers along with special tips on how to buy and use one.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD THERMOMETERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

If you are not sure about which thermometer you need, here is a list of the most common food thermometers. You can find these thermometers online simply , browse through all the items listed under the different categories and choose the one you need.

1. Digital Meat Thermometers

These thermometers are normally inserted around inch into the meat. They are reasonably priced and have a quick response time. However, they cannot be left inside the meat while cooking. A digital meat thermometer is a reliable tool that tells you if the meat has been cooked properly. If you want to know the temperature of some food instantly, then this kind of thermometer is the best pick.

2. Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

These thermometers give you the accurate temperature of the food in the form of a Bluetooth link that you can access from your smart device. Once your food is properly cooked and ready, the thermometer sends a notification to your phone. While using a Bluetooth meat thermometer, remember to insert it after placing the food on the grill. Another thing, make sure, your phone is in the Bluetooth range in order to get the notification, once the food is ready.

3. Wireless Meat Thermometer

These kinds of food thermometers are excellent as they give the most accurate temperatures. Such a thermometer will help you cook the meat thoroughly and evenly. These thermometers let you track the temperature of foods from a distance. So, there is no need to monitor the grill during the entire cooking time.

4. Instant-read Meat Thermometer

These thermometers give temperature readings very quickly. Such a thermometer is a must-have tool if you want to ensure food safety. However, these thermometers cannot be left in the food. These are also great in case you need to check the temperature of liquids. You can also use it for checking the interior temperature when you are roasting chicken or any meat.

5. Meat Thermometer with Probe

Probe thermometers are another variant of food thermometer. These are equipped with a probe that you need to insert into the meat while putting it into the oven. These are generally connected to an outside unit through a heat-resistant wire. You can check the temperature whenever you want just by looking at the unit. These thermometers display temperatures and emit sounds whenever your food is ready.

WHAT IS A SUITABLE MEAT THERMOMETER?

Before moving on to the most appropriate food thermometer, it is important to know about the things that you should consider before buying a meat thermometer. These are the things to consider:

1. ACCURACY: If a thermometer is unable to give accurate temperatures, then there is no use in having one. Several foods need exact cooking temperatures. If your thermometer is inaccurate, you may end up cooking foods hotter or colder than the required temperatures.
2. SPEED: When you are handling sensitive foods, a thermometer with low speed can spoil them. Generally, electronic thermometers are the fastest. Different things such as the thickness of the probe, quality of circuitry, placement of the food inside, and the distance between the probe to the circuitry affect the speed.
3. RANGE: The range of a thermometer finds out if you can measure food temperatures that go beyond the extreme temperatures. If you are looking for a meat thermometer that can read beyond the average range, then you should go for thermometers that are designed to accurately measure more extreme ranges.
4. RECORDING: Food thermometers with advanced recording features are essential while roasting meats or smoking meats. Thermometers with recording abilities help you monitor the temperature of the food throughout the cooking process. In case of any problem, such thermometers notify the users so that they can solve it before the food gets ruined.
5. RESOLUTION: This is related to the display of a thermometer. Most thermometers can read either to one-tenth or to one-hundredth of a degree. Sometimes, manufacturers use more complicated displays for thermometers having less precision. Thermometers having limited displays show brief information.
6. REPRODUCIBILITY: It implies the ability of a thermometer to display the same results every time. This is important since it is connected with the accuracy of a thermometer. If you observe that your thermometer is not reproducing accurate results every time, it is generally due to minute alterations in the probe. In the case of mechanical thermometers, re-calibration can fix this problem.

If you are looking for an efficient meat thermometer, then ThermoPro TP16 Digital Meat Thermometer is the good choice to buy. It is an expert thermometer that easily measures the interior temperature. It comes with a timer that can be set for cooking dishes requiring exactly 10 minutes.

Published February 19, 2021

Reviewed January 2021

belchonock/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

You can’t tell if a food is safely cooked by sight, smell or even taste. A food thermometer is the only way to ensure food is cooked to the proper internal temperature and harmful bacteria are eliminated.

A food thermometer is needed for more than just meat and poultry. A safe minimum internal temperature must be reached to avoid food poisoning in all cooked foods. A food thermometer also is needed after food is cooked to ensure the temperature doesn’t fall into the danger zone.

The temperature “danger zone” for perishable foods is between 40° and 140° Fahrenheit. Perishable foods are no longer safe to eat if they have been in this danger zone for more than two hours (one hour in 90° Fahrenheit or above). This is especially important for buffet and potluck-style gatherings where it’s easy to lose track of time and food may sit out for a longer period of time.

Choosing a Food Thermometer

There are a wide variety of food thermometers available. Pick the type best for you and remember to use it every time you cook:

• Dial oven-safe thermometers can remain in place as the food cooks. Insert two to two and a half inches deep into the thickest part of the food. Temperature readings are ready in one to two minutes. Use this type of thermometer for roasts, casseroles and soups. They are not good for thin foods.
• Instant-read thermometers aren’t meant to be left in the food while it cooks. Instead, use it to check food towards the end of cooking. Place the stem about two to two and a half inches deep in the thickest part of the food. This thermometer reads the temperature instantly, typically in 10 to 20 seconds. Used in roasts, casseroles and soups, and inserted sideways in thin dishes.
• Thermometer-fork combination thermometers are convenient for grilling and read the temperature of foods in two to 10 seconds. Place at least a fourth of an inch deep in the thickest part of the food, with the sensor in the fork fully inserted.
• Pop-up thermometers and disposable temperature indicators are meant for one-time use. These thermometers are often designed for specific temperature ranges, for example, the safe cooking temperature for hamburgers or turkey. These also read the temperature of foods quickly, in five to 10 seconds, when the material pops up or changes color. For best practice, also check the temperature of large items, like whole turkeys, with a conventional thermometer.

How to Use a Food Thermometer

Before using a food thermometer, read the manufacturer’s instructions. Read about how far to insert the thermometer in a food to get an accurate reading. Follow these simple steps to ensure you are correctly using a food thermometer:

• Step 1: Test it. Use either ice water or boiling water to confirm your food thermometer is accurate.
• Step 2: Calibrate it. Read the instructions about how to adjust the thermometer, as needed, to ensure you get an accurate reading.
• Step 3: Place it properly. Placement is very important to get an accurate reading. Place the food thermometer in the thickest part of the food, making sure not to touch bone, fat or gristle.
• Step 4: Don’t rush it. Wait the recommended amount of time for your type of thermometer. For meat products including raw beef, pork, lamb, veal steaks, chops and roasts, use the food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.
• Step 5: Take care of it. Clean your food thermometer with clean, soapy water after each use. This prevents cross-contamination and the spread of harmful bacteria.

Correct Food Thermometer Placement

Begin checking the temperature toward the end of cooking, but before the food is expected to be “done.”

Food	Thermometer Placement
Beef, Pork or Lamb Roasts	Insert in center of the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Hamburgers, Steaks or Chops	Insert in the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Whole Poultry	Insert in thickest part of thigh, avoiding bone.
Whole Turkey	Insert in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest area, avoiding bone.
Poultry Parts	Insert in the thickest area, avoiding bone.
Ground Meat and Poultry	Insert in the thickest area of meatloaf or patty; with thin patties, insert sideways reaching the very center with the stem.
Egg Dishes and Casseroles	Insert in center or thickest area of the dish.
Fish	Insert in the thickest part of fish when fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Game Animals	Insert in center of the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle.
Game Birds	Insert in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

Using a food thermometer is only half the equation. Be sure to cook foods to the safe internal temperature. For fish, that’s 145° Fahrenheit or until the flesh turns opaque. Steaks, roasts and chops (whether they’re beef, veal, pork or lamb) should reach at least 145° Fahrenheit and rest for three minutes before serving. Any mixture using ground beef or pork, like hamburgers, should reach at least 160° Fahrenheit, as should any egg dishes. Poultry products, whether whole or ground, should be heated to at least 165° Fahrenheit. Make sure leftovers and casseroles reach 165° Fahrenheit, too.

Eating undercooked meat may pose health risks and overcooked takes the joy out of eating, so it’s surprising that instinct often trumps a reliable meat thermometer. It takes seconds to use, but can potentially save you from food poisoning by ensuring that food is cooked enough to kill disease-causing salmonella, E. coli, and other bugs.

Most meat thermometers we tested were accurate within 2 to 4°F of the reference thermometer and none was more than 5° off. Digital thermometers generally performed better, were more accurate, consistent, and convenient to use than analog. Analog thermometers were often more difficult to read, had the longest response times, and have few features. Go digital.

Find the Best Meat Thermometer for Your Inner Chef

Thermometers by Type—Grill It, Gauge It

Instant-Read Digital Meat Thermometers
Instructions weren’t needed for most we tested since all you do is turn them on. They usually had the fastest response times, are better for thin cuts of meat, and easier to use for checking the temperature at several spots. Use toward the end of estimated cooking time to check final temperature. Most have handy features such as auto shutoff and temperature hold, which lets you see the displayed temperature longer. A fork is a less common type with a thermocouple or thermistor embedded in one of the tines of the fork. The meat temperature is indicated on a digital readout or by indicator light on the handle. Like any instant-read thermometer the fork is not designed to remain in the meat during cooking.

Leave-In Digital Meat Thermometers
The probe remains in the meat while cooking, monitoring the temperature without you’re having to open the oven door, and can also be used as an instant read. A long cord connects the probe to a base unit with a digital screen. This unit can be placed on the counter and some can be attached to the oven door by a magnet. These pack the most features, including timers, audible alerts, and programmable temperatures. Some are wireless, allowing you to keep an eye on the temperature while you’re more than 100 feet away, using a smartphone or the wireless device that’s part of the unit.

Instant-Read Analog (Dial) Meat Thermometers
Insert the probe into the meat, note temperature, remove probe. An instant-read analog is not designed to remain in the meat while it cooks so use it toward the end of cooking time to check final temperature. Analog thermometers are often more difficult to read, had the longest response times, and have few features.

Leave-In Analog (Dial) Meat Thermometers
This type is oven-safe and can remain in the meat while it cooks but can also be used as an instant-read.

Thermometer Features Get It Done Right

Audible Alarm/Alert
Indicates the meat has reached the preset temperature.

Auto Shutoff
Turns the thermometer off when not in use to save battery life.

Preset Meat Temperature
Allows you to preset the temperature and is usually based on USDA-recommended temperatures.

Programmable Temperature
Lets you set the target temperature and monitor the meat, whether you’re cooking on high heat and fast, or lower heat and slow cook.

Temperature Hold
Displays the reading for 5 minutes or longer.

Timer
Allows you to set how long you want to cook the meat.

Thermometer advice for consumers.

Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria.

Place the thermometer in the middle of the thickest part of the food, away from bone, fat or gristle. Then you are measuring the temperature of the part of the food that will be slowest to cook. With irregularly shaped food, such as a whole chicken or a beef roast, check the temperature in several places. Clean your thermometer with soap and water between each use.

Please read the instructions that come with your thermometer to learn how it is best used.

Thermometers & Food Safety: USDA
The only way to know food has been cooked to a safe internal temperature is to use a food thermometer. Fortunately, thermometers are high-tech and easy to use.

Kitchen Thermometers: USDA
Learn all you ever wanted to know about different types of food thermometers and their use. A Spanish translation of this technical publication, Termómetros de Cocina, is now available.

Thermy: Use A Food Thermometer: USDA
People all over the country are taking Thermy’s™ advice. They’re using a food thermometer to check the temperature of everyday foods — like hamburgers, pork chops, and chicken breasts.

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Eating undercooked meat may pose health risks and overcooked takes the joy out of eating, so it’s surprising that instinct often trumps a reliable meat thermometer. It takes seconds to use, but can potentially save you from food poisoning by ensuring that food is cooked enough to kill disease-causing salmonella, E. coli, and other bugs.

Most meat thermometers we tested were accurate within 2 to 4°F of the reference thermometer and none was more than 5° off. Digital thermometers generally performed better, were more accurate, consistent, and convenient to use than analog. Analog thermometers were often more difficult to read, had the longest response times, and have few features. Go digital.

Find the Best Meat Thermometer for Your Inner Chef

Thermometers by Type—Grill It, Gauge It

Instant-Read Digital Meat Thermometers
Instructions weren’t needed for most we tested since all you do is turn them on. They usually had the fastest response times, are better for thin cuts of meat, and easier to use for checking the temperature at several spots. Use toward the end of estimated cooking time to check final temperature. Most have handy features such as auto shutoff and temperature hold, which lets you see the displayed temperature longer. A fork is a less common type with a thermocouple or thermistor embedded in one of the tines of the fork. The meat temperature is indicated on a digital readout or by indicator light on the handle. Like any instant-read thermometer the fork is not designed to remain in the meat during cooking.

Leave-In Digital Meat Thermometers
The probe remains in the meat while cooking, monitoring the temperature without you’re having to open the oven door, and can also be used as an instant read. A long cord connects the probe to a base unit with a digital screen. This unit can be placed on the counter and some can be attached to the oven door by a magnet. These pack the most features, including timers, audible alerts, and programmable temperatures. Some are wireless, allowing you to keep an eye on the temperature while you’re more than 100 feet away, using a smartphone or the wireless device that’s part of the unit.

Instant-Read Analog (Dial) Meat Thermometers
Insert the probe into the meat, note temperature, remove probe. An instant-read analog is not designed to remain in the meat while it cooks so use it toward the end of cooking time to check final temperature. Analog thermometers are often more difficult to read, had the longest response times, and have few features.

Leave-In Analog (Dial) Meat Thermometers
This type is oven-safe and can remain in the meat while it cooks but can also be used as an instant-read.

Thermometer Features Get It Done Right

Audible Alarm/Alert
Indicates the meat has reached the preset temperature.

Auto Shutoff
Turns the thermometer off when not in use to save battery life.

Preset Meat Temperature
Allows you to preset the temperature and is usually based on USDA-recommended temperatures.

Programmable Temperature
Lets you set the target temperature and monitor the meat, whether you’re cooking on high heat and fast, or lower heat and slow cook.

Temperature Hold
Displays the reading for 5 minutes or longer.

Timer
Allows you to set how long you want to cook the meat.

Plus, three of our go-to options that you can shop right now.

Temperature checks are now a national pastime: We’ve never spent so much time tracking our family’s baselines. If you happen to be in the market for a new thermometer—a likely occurrence considering said overuse, especially if yours dates back a few years pre-pandemic and gets a little glitchy—pick a digital one (mercury models can shatter, releasing their toxic contents) based on your needs. Then follow the directions carefully, says Jake Deutsch, MD, founder of Cure Urgent Care, in New York City: Accuracy hinges on proper use. Ahead, Dr. Dutch and another medical expert share their tips for safe, precise readings—plus their thermometer recommendations for every type of household.

For No-Frills Types

An under-the-tongue stick is arguably the least expensive model on the market, but it will take up to a minute to work (which means it’s best for teens and adults who can stay in one place for a bit). Be sure to wash it in between uses—and avoid drinking or eating for five minutes before popping it in your mouth, says Dr. Deutsch.

Shop Now: Vicks ComfortFlex Digital Thermometer, $10, amazon.com.

For Full Houses

Have a big brood that you need to monitor regularly? The aforementioned option likely isn’t the most practical, considering the time and wash cycle required—nor is it the most hygienic. To safely scan several people in a row, opt for a no-touch infrared type, like this one by iHealth, advises Neha Vyas, MD, a family-medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

Shop Now: iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer, $30, amazon.com.

For the Squirmy

In-ear options are far less invasive than oral, and get a more reliable read on a moving target (or a super-fast toddler) than no-touch gadgets do. This option’s silent mode lets you gauge a sleeping kid’s temp without waking her from her slumber.

How to Choose and Use a Food Thermometer

Our recent article about why thermometers are important for food safety may have gotten you thinking about getting one or using the one you have more often. If so, here’s some advice on how to select and use one.

If you’re in the market for a new food thermometer, there are a lot of options out there from the $6 dial thermometer to the $99 digital thermometer that sends alerts to your smartphone from the grill.

Any food safety educator you ask will probably tell you about a particular instrument that’s their personal favorite, but in general, they recommend that consumers pick a digital one because it’s tip-sensitive.

From there, the choice to spend $20 or $90 probably depends on how much you cook.

“It’s a tool just like a frying pan,” says Benjamin Chapman, associate professor of food safety at North Carolina State University. “The more you cook, the more investment you put into your tools.”

An inexpensive thermometer makes sense for someone who doesn’t cook a lot of raw meat and poultry.

The different prices for digital thermometers typically have to do with their durability, their speed, and special features such as a smartphone connection or being fully dishwasher-safe.

“You’ll generally pay more for a faster response time,” says Tom Woodbury, chef and national account manager for Thermoworks.

He advises people to be careful with thermometers labeled “Instant Read.”

“Some thermometer manufacturers use that term to describe the frequency with which the display is updated, but not necessarily the speed that the thermometer display reflects an accurate temperature,” Woodbury notes.

As for dial thermometers, or bi-metallic stems, they’re “not great tools,” Chapman says. “They’re fine in a jam, but they do have to be calibrated.”

Over time, the expansion and contraction of the probe’s metal housing can cause the mechanical works inside to shift and then show an incorrect temperature.

To calibrate a thermometer, you place it into either ice water or boiling water and adjust the dial accordingly.

Woodbury recommends that people check the accuracy of their dial thermometers at least one a month, prior to a big cooking event such as Thanksgiving, and if it’s been dropped or possibly damaged in some way.

Chapman says you can also calibrate digital thermometers and that he checks his once or twice a year — typically around Thanksgiving.

“Everyone who’s cooking or eating food should probably have a thermometer,” he says, “but how often you use it is definitely going to dictate how much you would want to invest in it.”

Once you’ve got a thermometer that works for you, you’ll want to use it to find the “cool spot” of whatever you’re cooking. If it’s meat or poultry, try to get the thermometer’s sensor into the thickest part of the muscle, away from bone. This is where it takes the heat the longest to penetrate.

Woodbury says that most digital thermometers have a sensor an eighth of an inch away from the tip, but in dial types, they can stretch up to an inch away.

If you take a reading and find out the meat you’re cooking is at less than the minimum temperature, be sure to wash the thermometer before you take another reading. If the food is contaminated, washing the probe helps to keep from reintroducing any pathogens to the meat.

Chapman adds that it’s a good idea to take the temperature at multiple spots of your food item since the heat could be unevenly distributed, especially when cooking ground meat products and microwaving.

And thermometers aren’t just for omnivores. People who are immunocompromised — those going through chemotherapy, for example — and need all their food to be thoroughly cooked can use a food thermometer to ensure that their fruits and vegetables are safe to eat.

How to Clean Baseball Gloves & Store Them: Baseball Glove Care Guide

Baseball and softball gloves are an important part of being a great player. It isn’t enough to just buy a glove, wear it on the field, and hope it gets the job done. You need to break your glove in, take care of it, condition it, and help maintain it so it extends beyond just a single season. And it isn’t just about the cosmetics of a new glove – properly caring for your fielding glove will ensure you realize if it’s in danger of breaking down when you need it the most.

In this baseball and softball glove care guide, we’ll discuss

Why Cleaning Your Glove is Important

Proper softball and baseball glove care is essential to ensuring your glove lasts longer than just one season. Keep in mind that most gloves are made of tough and durable organic leather, but they’re vulnerable to deterioration if not properly maintained. Going through an entire season not caring for your glove will turn your investment into one that’s guaranteed not to last long. And let’s face it, once you spend the time it takes to break in your glove, the last thing you want to do is have to start the whole process over again.

How to Clean Your Baseball or Softball Glove

If you don’t know any better, you may think cleaning a baseball or softball glove is as simple as wiping off the excess dirt that builds up, but if you want to learn how to clean a baseball glove or softball glove the right way, there are some tools that you can use to help.

Glove cleaning tools include:

• Brush
• Cotton rag or terry cloth
• Leather safe cleaner (it’s important to note that you definitely want to avoid using cleaner that’s made for saddles or shoes, as these leave a slick surface that may gunk up on the exterior or interior of your glove)
• Glove conditioner (only those approved for use on baseball and softball gloves)

The process to clean a glove is simple and can be completed as follows:

1. Remove excess dirt and debris from your fielding glove by gently using a brush or piece of cloth:
2. Using leather safe cleaner and a soft cloth, wipe off any dirt that still remains. Keep in mind, a little goes a long way.
3. Use the conditioner to moisturize the glove. You want to apply the conditioner lightly and work it into the glove. Make sure not to use too much, as it could build up over time. This will weigh the glove down and will actually become a home for dirt and debris to gather as well. While conditioning, be sure to get between the fingers and on the inside as much as possible. This will help prevent the leather from deteriorating.

How to Clean the Inside of a Baseball Glove

Cleaning the inside if your baseball or softball glove isn’t all that different from the outside. One key difference though is to make sure you check for and prevent mold growth. Simply buff any mold growth away. After, rub the glove oil you’ve selected over the inside area of the glove.

How to Properly Store Your Glove

One of the greatest mistakes a player can make is not knowing how to store a baseball glove properly. Sometimes players just toss their glove in a closet or in the garage, or they leave it in their bat bag for long periods of time. Taking care of your glove the proper way, both during the season and during the off season, will ensure it’s ready to go when the next spring rolls around. Follow these ultimate baseball glove storage tips to keep your glove in the best condition:

• During the off-season: In the winter months, store your glove in a cool, dry place, or even at room temperature. You should never leave it in your equipment bag, near a heater, or outside for extended periods of time.
• Keep your glove dry: If your glove gets wet during game play or due to any other circumstances, use a clean, absorbent rag to dry it off and then let it dry naturally. The leather may become a little stiff, but this can be remedied with conditioner after it has dried.
• Clean and condition: Use approved conditioners – don’t spit in the glove. This will only contribute to it drying out.
• Store with a ball: You should keep a ball rolled in the glove during the off months to keep the pocket shaped.

It’s worth noting that keeping a glove in the bed of a truck or trunk of a car and exposing it to extreme sun and heat can contribute to the breaking down of the leather and laces quickly. If you notice a lace has begun to rip or crack, you will want to re-lace the glove before using it in a game again or else you risk it breaking, possibly leading to injury. If you do need to re-lace your glove, check out our how to repair your glove guide.

How to Dry a Baseball Glove

Every baseball player has suffered through a dreaded rain delay at some point. But what happens to your leather glove after sitting in the rain? If not properly dried off, it can cause damage to your glove.

Here are the steps to properly dry a baseball or softball glove:

1. With a clean, dry towel pat the glove all around to soak up as much moisture as possible.
2. Cover the glove with a conditioner approved by your glove’s manufacturer.
3. Allow the glove to sit out in an open, dry location inside. Keep away from sunlight or hear, and allow the conditioner to pull the moisture out of the glove.
4. Place a ball in the pocket of the glove and wrap it once complete. If the glove is still stiff, recondition again before placing the ball in the pocket.

Baseball Glove Cleaner

There are a variety of products that can help you clean your glove. Whether you need glove oil, glove conditioner, a glove wrap, a glove mallet, or a complete glove care kit, we’ve got you covered.

There you have it! Your glove should feel brand new. If you want a bona fide new glove, come check our huge selection of baseball and softball gloves and read some of our other guides. Be sure to share this guide with your friends!

To get the best out of your game, you will require a decent baseball glove. It is quite hard to find baseball gloves which correctly suit. When you find a suitable glove, you may want to use it for several seasons. If so, then you will need to take proper maintenance of the glove frequently to keep it clean and useable.

How to clean a baseball glove? Baseball gloves are made from leather , and you may wonder which will be the perfect way to clean it. Below, we will discuss several methods of cleaning a baseball glove.

Using a Cleaning Agent to Clean the Baseball Glove

Start with scrubbing the glove with a stiff-bristled cloth or hand brush and clean any visible dirt and dust away from the glove. Try to perform this operation every time you use the glove.

Now you will need to remove the laces from the glass. It will allow you to get access to the dirt and debris which are in between the fingers of the gloves or under the area of the laces. It might be hard to remove the lace from some gloves. In such situations, you may skip this step. Never try to cut your laces, you might not be able to fix them again.

Now apply a leather cleaning solution in the glove. You will find in the shops which sell baseball related products . Take some drops of the solution on a clean cloth and then rub it on the glove gently. You can also rub the cloth in a circular motion. Wait for a few hours after applying the cleaning agent. To be assured about how much time you will need to wait, check the manuals of the glove. It should also be mentioned in the cleaning solution. Make sure that you are not over-using the substance as it can damage the glove.

Conditioning the Baseball Glove

Conditioning the glove helps it to clean and soften. You will find the glove conditioner in the shops which sale baseball related products. Using the baseball glove is almost the same as using the cleaning solution. Take some drop of the conditioner on a clean cloth and then start wiping the glove surface in a circular motion. For more specific information, check the user manual that comes with the glove conditioner.

Along with applying the conditioner on the body, make sure that you also applied it on the fingers, and interior of the glove. Once you apply the conditioner, wait for 24 hours. After applying the conditioner, the gloves will be restored and appear much flexible and easier to use.

Make sure that you are not overusing the conditioner, as it can attract dirt and debris. Moreover, don’t condition the glove frequently. Conditioning the glove twice per season is more than enough.

How to store the glove

Storing the glove properly is also essential before you store it. Scrub the golf gently with water and soap by taking the solution in a cloth. Make sure that the glove is not absorbing too much water while doing this. After that, let the gloves dry and put it in a cool place. Make sure that the temperature is stable. Never store the glove near the heater or kitchen. Excessive heat can make the glove dry out and make it stiff and unusable. Make sure that the storing place is also dry and free from water. Keeping the gloves wet will also make it stiff and less plaint. If the gloves get wet somehow, wipe off the water, and dry it naturally. If the gloves become thick, you can use a conditioner to soften it.

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[…] drill is practiced to develop quick hands and glove work. The coach stands to maintain a short distance from the fielder, and the coach has a number of […]

If you really want to take care of your favorite game buddy, you need to pay attention to it at least once a year. Always clean your glove, oil it to improve its performance, and make sure it’s in the right position. In the case of cleaning a baseball glove, most people don’t remove the inside dirt of it.

The reason is these types of dirt are not visible like the outside. But you need to clean inside dirt because it can feel uncomfortable and it’s not something that you can ignore if you care about your hand skin. So here is this article, we are going to show you how to clean the inside of a baseball glove.

1. 1 How To Clean The Inside Of A Baseball Glove
   1. 1.1 What You’ll Need?
   2. 1.2 Use Leather Cleaner To Remove The Dirt From Outside
   3. 1.3 Clean The Inside By A Soft Cloth
   4. 1.4 Let It Dry For A Week
   5. 1.5 Check The Inner Glove
   6. 1.6 Use Glove Conditioner To Make It Game Ready
2. 2 Final Thoughts

How To Clean The Inside Of A Baseball Glove

The problem is it’s not easy as cleaning outside of a glove. Because you have to follow a lot of restrictions to do the same process while cleaning inside. So, how to clean it in the easiest and safest way? Keep reading to know the answer.

What You’ll Need?

These things you’ll need to do that easy cleaning process. These pieces of equipment aren’t rare that you need to buy them from a local shop instantly. Most of the time you can find these things in your home. So what you’ll need:

1. Lexol leather cleaner
2. Mild soap
3. A bowl
4. Warm water
5. Soft and clean cloth
6. Glove conditioner

Now take a sit and start cleaning your favorite baseball glove.

Use Leather Cleaner To Remove The Dirt From Outside

At first, take a cloth and put some Lexol leather cleaner in it to clean the outside of the glove. Though this article is just about cleaning the inside, we think you also need to clean the outside too.

Put some leather cleaner in a soft damped cloth and rub it on the glove.

Make sure you are covering the entire glove while cleaning. Then clean the Lexol with a soft clean cloth and make sure no leather cleaner left on it.

After cleaning, leave it in a clean dry space for 10/20 minutes and let the cleaner do its own work.

Clean The Inside By A Soft Cloth

Take a bowl with some warm water and put some mild soap on it. The water should not too hot. Now take a clean cloth and dampen it with the soap-water.

Clean the inner leather of the glove gently. Make sure you are not using the flood of water inside your glove. Because the inside leather shell is more sensitive than the outside.

Now with another soft dry cloth wipe away all the water inside from the glove. Absorb all the moisture from the glove otherwise, it will be hard to dry.

Let It Dry For A Week

If you are at this moment that means you cleaned the inside of your glove successfully. Now it’s time to make it dry. Choose a dry cool place and leave your glove for at least one week.

When we are talking about drying the inside leather shell, keep in mind that it’s harder than soaking outside. The temperature that helps you to dry the glove has to pass three or four levels of leather to do its work.

No matter how much time it takes, I don’t recommend drying your glove directly under the sun. Also, I am demotivating you to do dry the glove by microwave. (I tried once, and the result was horrible!) But you can use a fan.

Check The Inner Glove

After a week, check the inner gloves moisturize. How does it feel? Do you think there is some water left inside of the glove? If yes, then dry it for more couple of days. If not, then congratulations, your glove is ready to roar.

Use Glove Conditioner To Make It Game Ready

You have successfully cleaned the inside leather of your glove. Now you need to make it game ready to play the next match. You’ll need some good conditioner for that task.

I recommend using the Wilson Pro Stock Leather Conditioner. The reason is it’s leather-friendly, trusted by millions and I personally got benefited by using it on my glove.

Condition your glove by rubbing it on the outside of the glove. It will prevent your glove from being damaged by the soapy water that you used for cleaning.

Final Thoughts

No matter you are a professional or a beginner who started playing baseball recently, you should always clean your glove once a year. It prevents your glove from being damaged.

Baseball is a summertime sport. You need to wear a baseball glove for a long time with your sweaty hands under the sun. I don’t think that I need to tell you how much germs can be created by the sweat that the glove absorbed from your hand.

That’s why you need to clean your glove regularly. I tried to teach you about the cleaning process. I don’t know how much I succeed, but I hope you enjoyed it.

This article originally appeared on BaseballMonkey.com

Baseball and softball gloves are an important part of being a great player. It isn’t enough to just buy a glove, wear it on the field and hope it does its job. You need to break your glove in, take care of it, condition it and maintain it so it extends beyond just a single season. It isn’t just about the cosmetics of a new glove—properly caring for your fielding glove will ensure you realize if it’s in danger of breaking down when you need it the most.

Why You Need to Clean Your Glove

Proper baseball glove care is essential to ensuring your glove lasts longer than just one season. Keep in mind that gloves are made of tough and durable organic leather, but they’re vulnerable to deterioration if not properly maintained.

Going through an entire season not caring for your glove will turn your investment into one that’s guaranteed not to last long. And let’s face it, once you spend the time it takes to break in your glove, the last thing you want to do is have to start the whole process over again.

How to Clean Your Baseball Glove

If you don’t know any better, you may think cleaning a baseball glove is as simple as wiping off the excess dirt that builds up, but if you want to learn how to clean a baseball glove the right way, there are some tools that you can use to help. Those tools include:

• Brush
• Cotton rag or terry cloth
• Leather-safe cleaner (it’s important to avoid using cleaner that’s made for saddles or shoes, as these leave a slick surface that may gunk up on the exterior or interior of your glove)
• Glove conditioner (only those approved for use on baseball and softball gloves)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Water

The process to clean a glove is simple and can be completed as follows:

1. Remove excess dirt and debris from your fielding glove using a brush or piece of cloth.
2. Using leather safe cleaner and a soft cloth, wipe off any dirt that still remains.
3. Use the conditioner to moisturize the glove. You want to apply the conditioner lightly and work it into the glove. Make sure not to use too much, as it could build up over time. This will weigh the glove down and will actually become a home for dirt and debris to gather as well. While conditioning, be sure to get between the fingers as much as possible. This will help prevent the leather from deteriorating.

How to Properly Store Your Glove

One of the greatest mistakes a player can make is not knowing how to store a baseball glove properly. Sometimes players just toss their glove in a closet or in the garage, or maybe they leave it in their bat bag for long periods of time.

Taking care to store your glove the proper way, both during the season and during the off season, will ensure it’s ready to go when the next spring rolls around. Follow these ultimate baseball glove storage tips to keep your glove in the best condition:

• During the off-season: In the winter months, store your glove in a cool, dry place, or even at room temperature. You should never leave it in your equipment bag, near a heater, or outside for extended periods of time.
• Keep your glove dry: If your glove gets wet during game play or due to any other circumstances, use a clean absorbent rag to dry it off and then let it dry naturally. The leather will become a little stiff, but this can be remedied with conditioner after it has dried.
• Clean and condition: Use approved conditioners—don’t spit in the glove. This will only contribute to it drying out.
• Store with a ball: You should keep a ball rolled in the glove during the off months to keep the pocket shaped.

It’s worth noting that keeping a glove in the bed of a truck or trunk of a car and exposing it to extreme sun and heat can contribute to the breaking down of the leather and laces quickly. If you notice a lace has begun to rip or crack, you will want to re-lace the glove before using it in a game again or else risk it breaking, possibly leading to injury. If you do need to re-lace your glove, check out our guide on how to repair your glove.

Find baseball camps and clinics near you.

About the Author

Baseball Monkey

Baseball Monkey is a leading retailer of baseball and softball equipment for all ages and experience levels. Our expert team worked together to build a resource hub of information designed to help players navigate through the many questions that come with gearing up for the baseball season.

MonkeySports, Inc. has been serving athletes around the world since 1999. We offer expert customer service and product knowledge that comes from employing players who are passionate about the game, the gear and the customer. MonkeySports, Inc. has six established brick-and-mortar stores and six websites. Our online stores operate under the banners hockeymonkey.com, goaliemonkey.com, lacrossemonkey.com, baseballmonkey.com, monkeyteamsports.com and monkeyapparel.com.

Baseball Monkey is a leading retailer of baseball and softball equipment for all ages and experience levels. Our expert team worked together to build a resource hub of information designed to help players navigate through the many questions that come with gearing up for the baseball season.

By: Stephanie Dube Dwilson

Published: 16 November, 2018

Mold and mildew are fungi that develop in areas that are damp and in areas of low airflow. They spread through spores and are difficult to eliminate. Cleaning and conditioning are the best ways to remove mold and mildew from a baseball glove. After you clean the glove, store it properly to prevent mold and mildew from returning.

Dyana Rzentkowski/Demand Media

Clean off the mold. The University of Missouri Extension Service recommends a mixture of 1 cup rubbing alcohol and 1 cup water to remove mold and mildew. Dip a clean cloth into the diluted alcohol, squeeze the excess moisture from the cloth and wipe the entire glove, not just the areas where you see mold.

Dyana Rzentkowski/Demand Media

Dry the glove in front of a current of air. Set the glove in front of a fan or over an air register. You can dry the glove outside if the sun is out and it is breezy, but if it is overcast or the air is calm, dry the glove inside.

Dyana Rzentkowski/Demand Media

Wash with sudsy water if mold remains. Stubborn cases of mold and mildew may require a second treatment. Use a mild dishwashing solution to mix up some sudsy water and repeat the process, cleaning the entire glove, not just the areas where mold is present.

Dyana Rzentkowski/Demand Media

Use a leather conditioner made specifically for baseball gloves after it is completely dry. Start at the palm area and work the conditioner out toward the fingers, rubbing it in gently with your fingers.

When applying conditioner, several thin coats are better than one thick coat.

Store your baseball glove in a clean cloth bag, placed in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent mold from reappearing.

Warnings

Avoid using conditioners recommended for saddlery, shoes or other types of leather. These conditioners may contain ingredients that over-soften the leather or make it slick.

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Athletes often become attached to their sports equipment. As pieces of equipment like baseball gloves are used over time, they become broken in, conforming to the contours of the wearer’s hand and becoming more comfortable to use. It can be heartbreaking to see a favorite glove become molded or covered with mildew during the off-season, especially if you have used the glove for a number of seasons. Provided that the glove’s seams and surface are still intact, it is possible to remove mold from a glove and make the leather less likely to get moldy in the future.

Step 1

Remove the lacing from the glove. Depending on the condition of the lacing, you may need to cut it off if you can’t remove it without damage.

Step 2

Dry-brush the glove using a leather cleaning brush or other brush with stiff nylon bristles. This will remove mold from the leather and will also get dust, dirt and other buildup out of the creases of the leather so that the buildup doesn’t interfere with cleaning and preservation treatments.

Step 3

Wipe the glove with a mixture of equal parts vinegar or lemon juice and water. This will clean the glove, while the acidity of the vinegar or lemon juice kills any remaining mold or mildew spores that are on the glove surface. Clean all of the glove surface, including the crevices that have developed over seasons of wear.

Step 4

Place the glove in a warm, dry location to let it air-dry. Allow the glove surface to dry completely before proceeding with treating its surface. If you used lemon juice during the cleaning process, wipe the glove a second time using only water and allow it to dry again.

Step 5

Apply a leather treatment to the glove to soften the material while preventing further molding. Use leather wax, leather polish, specialty leather treatments designed for athletic equipment or other products such as petroleum jelly.

Step 6

Allow the glove to air dry again, buffing it with a rag if necessary once the treatment is fully dry. Relace the glove, using new lacing if necessary.

By: Patrick Hutchison

Published: 05 December, 2018

When they come out of the factory, leather baseball gloves are stiff and difficult to use. You can soften your glove and help develop a good pocket for the ball with a wide variety of oils, conditioners and softeners. These substances penetrate the surface of the leather and make it more supple.

Glove Conditioners

Glove conditioners are specialty products made by many major glove and sporting goods manufacturers. Glove conditioners are different from regular oils because they contain additional ingredients that not only soften the leather, but clean it and protect it from absorbing moisture and dirt. Leather conditioners are the most expensive substance you can use to break in your glove, but they often work the best. Some leather conditioners are designed for use with specific types of leather, including top-, full- and premium-grain cowhide.

Lanolin Oil

Lanolin oil comes from sheep and is found in many glove conditioners and glove oil products. Lanolin oil is good for leather because it softens, protects and preserves, allowing your glove to stay supple over time. Lanolin is the main ingredient in most glove conditioners, but you can use pure lanolin oil over glove conditioners if you want to avoid applying additional cleaning chemicals when breaking in your glove. You can purchase lanolin oil at most hardware stores and some sporting goods stores.

Shaving Cream

Shaving cream is an alternative to more traditional oils and conditioners. Shaving cream softens and moisturizes your skin to make shaving more efficient and comfortable. Shaving cream works on leather gloves the same way it works on skin, by softening and moisturizing. Avoid shaving gels and creams that contain added perfumes or use alcohols that may dry out or damage the glove. Use a standard fragrance-free foam shaving cream.

Vaseline

Vaseline is another substance you can use to break in your glove. Vaseline contains various mineral oils and moisturizers that are effective leather softeners. In addition, Vaseline is useful for sealing and protecting your glove from drying out in hot environments and from exposure to dirt and dust. When applying Vaseline, use it sparingly and work it into the surface of the glove completely before adding more. Too much can make your glove sticky.

Application

No matter what substance you choose to break in your glove, follow the proper application techniques to maximize your glove’s performance. Apply a small amount of the substance of your choice to a clean rag. Start in the palm of the glove and begin rubbing in the oil in small circular motions. Apply more of the substance as needed and work your way to the outer edges of the glove. Once the glove is coated, wipe off the excess with a clean rag, place a ball in the glove pocket and wrap a rubber band around the glove. Store the glove in a cool, dry place.

Depending on where in the world you live, there’s a chance you haven’t seen your baseball glove in a few months — do you remember where you left it? It could be sitting at the bottom of your equipment bag, out in the garage, or next to your cleats down in the basement. Wherever it is, you may not have touched it since your last game — whenever that was. Soon, though, you’ll be playing again. If you’re in a warm weather region, practice will be starting soon; if you’re in a cooler climate, indoor workouts and/or weekend camps begin in January (if not already). Once you find your glove, you may discover it to be stiff, dried out, and not quite “game ready.” If so, you may want to treat it with a conditioner to get it into game shape. But what to use?

Start off by cleaning dust and dirt from your glove by shaking it and wiping it with a damp cloth — ideally, one made from microfiber . If you have some particularly difficult spots of dirt or marking you’d like to remove, you can try a dab of rubbing alcohol on the cloth; if there’s mold or mildew, soak a rag with vinegar and use it to wipe it away (for really tough grime or mold, try using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser ). Now leave the glove to dry completely before applying the re-conditioner.

Once dry, get another clean, damp cloth (again, microfiber is best), and LIGHTLY apply your cleaning and conditioning agent to the entire glove, inside and out, and let the glove rest next to your bed, where it will remind you that baseball season is coming. But wait — what about that cleaning and conditioning agent? Which one you choose is up to you, but I’ll go over a few options.

For over a hundred years, ballplayers have applied saddle soap to their mitts to keep them ship-shape. It makes sense — saddle soap is made for, well, leather horse saddles (as well as leather boots), and baseball gloves are made of leather, so, there you go. Boot lovers, horse people, cowboys, and others who live with leather swear that Fiebing’s Paste Saddle Soap
is the best you can buy (click the link or the image to buy from Amazon); Meltonian and Kiwi are also popular. Whichever you choose, it’s going to be a paste, so you’ll want to make sure your rag is damp — add more water to the rag as necessary and work it into the soap until you get a nice lather that can be applied to the glove.

Mink oil is another traditional substance used for centuries to keep leather preserved and pliable. As the name suggests, it’s made from mink fat, and it is very good for replacing the natural oils lost by leather, as well as for making leather water-repellant. However, I don’t recommend it for baseball gloves, because it will make the glove heavy and too greasy to the touch, and it may rot the stitching. Mink oil is best used for leather work boots, horse saddles, motorcycle saddle bags, and other heavy-duty items.

Along similar lines to mink oil, neatsfoot oil is another application that’s been used by baseball players for over a century, but isn’t necessarily the best thing to put on your glove. I’m not going to get into where it is derived from, as you may not want to know. Short story, it is another animal fat, and as such, it’s going to make your glove attract dirt, too heavy, darker in color, possibly too soft, and smell absolutely awful. My recommendation is to avoid it.

NOTE: I think there is some neatsfoot and/or mink oil in some saddle soap formulas. However, neither is the primary ingredient, and I wouldn’t use either oil in its pure form on a baseball glove.

The modern leather conditioner, and my favorite, is made by a company called Lexol. I extolled its virtues in a previous post titled How to Break In Your Baseball Glove. I’m not sure what ingredients are in Lexol, but it works well — as long as you apply a very light coating. Lexol and saddle soap are my two top recommendations for keeping your glove clean, pliable, protected, and light. Buy it at Amazon: Lexol Leather Conditioner

What have you used to preserve and maintain your baseball glove? Let us know in the comments section.

How to keep from holding yourself back.

When is the last time you really had fun—the last time you just let yourself go and had a good time? When did you last forget about all your daily responsibilities and live in the moment? If it’s been too long, one of these assumptions about fun may be holding you back.

Read on to discover how to get over them and get yourself back out there:

1. You’re worried what other people will think. You don’t want to look silly in front of other people. You’re afraid they’ll judge you. Guess what? Other people don’t think about you nearly as much as you think they do. Besides, you’re not a mind reader: You can’t know what is going on in other people’s minds. And if they are judging you for being silly and having a good time, then they’re people you don’t need to know anyway. To quote Dr. Seuss: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

2. You think you need to spend money. It’s true: Some of the best things in life are free. You don’t need to go on a pricey vacation or buy a lot of stuff to have fun. Many times it’s just being in the moment with the people you care about. And that costs nothing. Check newspaper listings or local websites for ideas of fun low-cost activities in your community.

3. You think you don’t have the time. There is always time to have fun. I don’t care who you are or how little time you think you have—you can make the time. Also, fun is found in the little moments; you don’t need to carve out your whole day. Block out a half-hour to do something you enjoy, just for the fun of it.

4. You think you need to plan it. If you’re a Type A planner, keep in mind that the most fun can be found in spontaneous unplanned moments. Let things happen naturally. Let yourself experience spur-of-the-moment trips and last-minute get-togethers. Be in the present moment.

5. You mistake solemnity for seriousness. As Jim Morrison wrote, “No one gets out of here alive.” You’ve got one life, and it’s short. Enjoy it. It is possible to take something seriously and still inject some fun and humor into it. For example, if you’ve ever flown Southwest Airlines, you’ve seen how the company takes something serious, like safety instructions, and turns it into something fun. By doing this, not only will people enjoy themselves more, they’re also more likely to pay attention. So whoop it up at your next staff meeting.

6. You think conditions have to be perfect. Many fun moments occur when things go unexpectedly awry. Allow yourself to be imperfect and enjoy the imperfections of life. Humans are imperfect creatures, after all, and you’re one of them. Telling yourself, “I’ll have fun when…” is counterproductive and, frankly, a bummer. Have fun now: There’s no time like the present.

7. You think it has to be big and spectacular. News flash: Every day will not have 4th of July fireworks, parades, and parties. You can find fun in small moments. If you think real fun only happens at big events, you’re depriving yourself of some good times. Fun is what you make it. It doesn’t need to be spectacular, by any means. Sometimes it’s found in 5- and 10-minute increments.

8. You’re bored. There’s a symptom of depression called anhedonia, in which you no longer find interest or fun in things that previously got you excited. Also in ADHD it can be difficult to keep up novel tasks to excite the brain. On the other hand, if you’re just plain bored, that is a choice. You make the changes and opportunities in your life. Get out there and have fun.

Last Updated: April 16, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Tara Bradford. Tara Bradford is a Brand Strategist, Life and Mindset Coach, and the Founder of The Bradford Institute, a life and leadership coaching company in New York City. She is also a guest lecturer at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business in the MS Media Management program. With over five years of experience, Tara specializes in personal branding, executive presence, and thought leadership. Tara brings her background in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biochemistry, and Social and Behavioral Sciences into her coaching practice. She received a BS in Nursing from the University of Arizona and studied Biochemistry at the University of New England. She is certified in high-performance coaching, neurolinguistics, hypnotherapy, success coaching, and emotional freedom and TIME techniques. Her podcast titled Handle Everything is dedicated to sharing this message.

There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 564,945 times.

If you want to have fun, you have to get into the right mindset and embrace every opportunity for a good time. If you’re relaxed and not afraid to be a little silly, then you can have fun almost anywhere, whether you’re at a party or in the middle of a work day. If you want to know how to have more fun on your own or with others, just get started with Step 1 below and you’ll be on your way. However, if you want more specific advice, you can also check out the sections listed above!

I used to be terrified of being boring. Networking events made me wonder if my small talk sucked. Coffee meetings were similarly nerve-wracking. And when I talked during team meetings, a single yawning co-worker could make me forget my point.

But then, I started paying attention to how the most interesting people around me held others’ attention. I realized that just like you could learn to be a better leader or more effective negotiator, you could learn to be more engaging.

And that’s awesome news for your career. When you’re interesting, everyone you meet—from your boss to your future business partner—wants to be around you. Not only will you make more connections, but those relationships will be easier to maintain and strengthen.

To reap these benefits, check out the six ways to become a more interesting person. (Bonus: You’ll never fear small talk again.)

1. Pursue Interesting Topics That Have Nothing to Do With Your Career

Last week, I spent roughly 10 minutes explaining to a product manager why I’d shown up to a two-hour session about a profession I’d never tried and probably never would.

“I’m just curious about package design,” I told him.

The truth is, I regularly go to meetups and talks on topics that are completely unrelated to my ambitions. 90% of the time I end up learning a bunch of cool new things—giving me some great conversation fodder.

For instance, at that packaging panel, I learned manufacturers spray a coffee aroma onto the lids of their instant coffee jars so you get a whiff of java when you open one. I also discovered bubble wrap’s original purpose was textured wallpaper.

Fun facts aren’t the only thing you’ll take away—you’ll learn how to talk to virtually anyone and expose yourself to new ideas.

So, hop on Meetup.com or Eventbrite and start looking for events you’d normally never attend. Or, if going to an event isn’t feasible, make an effort to read articles or nonfiction books that you wouldn’t normally be drawn to.

2. Have a “Yes” Month

If you want to become more interesting immediately, borrow Daily Muse Editor-in-Chief Adrian Granzella Larssen’s trick. Larssen makes a point of saying yes to every invitation she gets, no matter how random, unappealing, or exhausting it sounds.

The great part about doing this? You literally can’t lose. When you end up at the inevitable dud, you’ll walk away with a story. When your experience takes a turn you were never expecting, you’ll walk away with an even better story. And when everything goes as planned, you’ll have a cool anecdote about, say, the Q-tip millionaire you met while playing Frisbee or the cave expedition you went on.

The idea of accepting every request might sound exhausting — especially if you’re an introvert, like Larssen. She copes by giving herself a firm time limit (usually one to two months). After your “yes” period is up, you can go back to being more selective with your time.

3. Try an Experiment

It’s nearly impossible to resist articles like, “I Gave Up Social Media for a Month and Here’s What Happened,” or “The Three Weeks I Spent Eating Only Hot Dogs.”

These are compelling because, well, people doing out-of-the-ordinary things always are. Giving yourself a challenge is therefore guaranteed to make you more interesting.

And there’s no reason your experiment has to be unpleasant. Emily O’ Mara, a software consultant at Oracle, ate 101 cheeseburgers in her mission to find the most delicious. Writer Kevin Roose, meanwhile, documented his attempts to create the perfect morning wake-up.

However, if you want to be more interesting and more productive, consider a more traditional challenge. Ideas include temporarily renouncing caffeine or alcohol, turning off your phone after work, or eating lunch away from your desk every day for a week.

From the process to the results, you’ll have plenty to talk about. (Just don’t proselytize — telling people they must stop drinking coffee is the opposite of interesting.)

4. Listen to Podcasts

Lastly, I’ve noticed my conversations with fascinating people are always filled with “I heard on this podcast …” or “According to this episode of [podcast] . ”

It makes sense: Podcasts are chock-full of surprising stories, details, and facts, so listening to them gives you an awesome source of topics.

Plus, they’re the perfect alternative (or complement) to books. You can’t read while you walk your dog or run errands, but you can easily stream an episode of say, Planet Money.

I recommend listening to a healthy mix of topics you’re interested in and topics you’re unfamiliar with. For instance, roughly 50% of my subscriptions focus on tech, business, design, and social psychology: in other words, my core interests. The other 50% is completely random, ranging from food and film to Disneyworld and architecture.

Striking this balance gives me a fountain of information on almost every topic—meaning it’s far easier to talk to people with different interests.

(Need some suggestions? Check out 51 awesome podcasts you’ll want to download right now.)

5. Learn New Facts

Interesting people tend to know trivia for every occasion. Maybe you order a charcuterie board, and they announce there’s a bank in Italy with a vault just for Parmesan cheese. Or you spot a wild deer, and they tell you about the British crew that kept a live reindeer on their boat for six weeks during World War Two.

These facts are interesting—so you automatically think of the people providing them as interesting, too.

As a bonus, a relevant but surprising piece of information never fails to spark a fun conversation.

I’ve built up a mental repository of trivia by subscribing to Now I Know, a daily email newsletter for strange-but-true facts. You can also buy a trivia calendar. Or follow writer A.J. Jacob’s lead, and read the encyclopedia. It might sound tedious, but you’d be surprised at how much entertainment is packed between A-ak and Zyzzyva.

6. Listen More

It might sound counterintuitive, but the most compelling people spend a lot of time not speaking.

Listening to others makes you more interesting for a couple reasons. First, you pick up a ton of interesting information—which you can then use down the road with different people. For example, a couple months ago I met a woman who’d grown up in a remote Alaskan fishing village. She told me tons of cool tidbits; as result, when I met a CEO who’d just gotten back from Anchorage, I had a long mental list of potential questions and conversation starters.

In addition, talking only 30 to 40% of the time guarantees that you won’t accidentally ramble. It can be tricky to tell when the other person is going from “engaged” to “bored but politely pretending otherwise.” If you naturally stop before this point, they’ll find you far more compelling.

And the final reason? As Dale Carnegie pointed out in How to Win Friends and Influence People, everyone’s favorite subject is themselves. Ironically, putting the conversational focus on them will you seem more interesting.

As you can tell, being interesting isn’t effortless—it actually takes a lot of hard work. But once you start captivating everyone you meet, that hard work will definitely pay off.

According to President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, less than 5 percent of adults actually participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day. We may start the year with positive fitness goals, which we eagerly follow up by heading to the gym and nibbling on celery sticks. However, we can often find our well-intentioned plans unraveling after just a few weeks. The problem is, for many of us, exercise can be boring and repetitive. But it doesn’t have to be.

There are lots of ways to make exercise fun, whether you have five minutes or five hours to spare. To help, here are some of our top suggestions to put the fun back into your exercise routine:

1. Exercise with a friend.

If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning for a pre-work gym session, or come up with every excuse possible to avoid exercise after work, find a gym buddy. By going with a friend, you can have more motivation and can even have a laugh in the process.

2. Join a class.

Break away from the gym and try something new. Join a class in your local area, such as yoga, pilates, aqua aerobics, dancing, spinning, kickboxing, or Zumba. Not only could you have fun, but you will make new friends in the process.

3. Exercise without realizing it.

Did you know that just one hour of shopping can help you lose 175 calories? Or 191 calories for an hour of housework? Whilst we’re not suggesting you skip the gym and head to the mall, there are lots of activities you can do that won’t feel like exercise. Get outside and do some gardening, tidy out your shed, blitz your housework, and enjoy a calorie busting spring clean.

4. Reward yourself.

Give yourself something in return for the time spent pounding the pavements or lifting weights. Put $1 in a jar for every workout you do. Every month you could use this money to treat yourself to a meal out or save up for a new piece of clothing.

5. Download some apps.

Browse the thousands of fitness apps available to help you stay on track. Not only can you monitor your workouts, what you eat and how much you drink, you can also get tips, advice and most importantly, reminders. Some fun apps to take a look at include Runkeeper, MyFitnessPal, Water Your Body, Headspace and Calorie Counter.

6. Pump up the volume.

Instead of exercising in silence, load your music player with upbeat songs that will help get you moving. There are lots of CDs available to buy, especially for this purpose, or have fun creating your own playlist, full of all your favorite tracks.

7. Watch your favorite TV show.

Instead of heading back from work and flopping onto the sofa to watch your favorite TV show, head to the gym and catch up from a treadmill or cycle machine. This way, you can enjoy watching your program but get fit at the same time.

8. Play games.

Who says exercise has to be lifting weights or running on a treadmill? Consider fun alternatives such as Wii Sport and Wii Fit games. These are a great way to have fun and exercise, either alone or with friends. One minute you could be playing golf or fishing, the next, snowboarding or competing at Wimbledon.

9. Try exercise videos.

Feel uncomfortable exercising with lots of other people around? Why not try exercising at home? There is a wide choice of fun exercise videos to choose from, to help you stay motivated.

10. Get outside.

If a gym isn’t for you, get outside and take in some vitamin D. Find somewhere new to go for a walk, enjoy a long cycle ride, take a frisbee to the beach, or find a swimming pool near you.

11. Sign up to an event.

Targets can easily be broken when you don’t have any end goal. So get online and look up some local events nearby. There may be charity fun runs, sponsored walks, or something more adventurous. Not only can you get fit, you can have fun in the process and may meet other people you can train with.

12. Revisit your childhood.

Remember when you were younger and played with a skipping rope for hours or jumped around on a pogo stick or space hopper? Well, who says this is just for children? Get a trampoline, see how many times you can skip without stopping, or test out your Hula hoop skills.

13. Book a fitness break.

Why not take your exercise plan to the next level with a fit and healthy holiday? Look out for top surfing spots, hotels with luxury gyms and areas with beautiful walks.

You pull up to your regular parking space at work. What’s the first thought that crosses your mind as you shut the car door behind you and make your way to the office? Is the stress already starting to build? Is there a little lump of dread growing in your stomach? Do you get a little rush of happiness at the thought of the fun you’re about to have?

That last scenario is unfortunately not the norm at most companies, and it’s probably hurting employee performance.

Why Creating a Fun Environment is Beneficial for Businesses

Too often business owners and managers think that all work and no play is the best way to maximize productivity. It’s a good thing that researchers don’t automatically prescribe to this notion.

Studies over the last two decades have revealed when workplaces make fun a factor it creates happier employees that feel more satisfied. And happy employees are all around better at their jobs. Workplace fun has been linked to:

• Enhanced motivation
• Increased productivity
• Reduced stress
• Higher job satisfaction
• Improved task performance

Having fun is one way of effectively managing and improving employees’ emotions. It’s also proven to improve teamwork, build trusting relationships and increase employee retention.

There are a lot of equipment and machines in an office but employees are not among them. As humans, we are social creatures that need a little fun to cope with the daily stressors that we face. At the end of the day it’s all about ONE Thing– the company culture that you want to create, and more importantly, that people want to work in.

Easy Ways to Create a Fun Workplace

If the management team has been a stick in the mud about having fun at work it’s time to turn things around. The five ideas below are a good jumping off point for creating a culture that incorporates fun.

Super Casual Friday

Take casual Friday beyond getting to wear jeans to work. Incorporate an added sweetener like a company provided, in-office lunch break or a beverage hour at 4pm. Not only is this creating a more relaxing environment, but it also encourages interaction between colleagues, which is proven to boost happiness.

Friendly Competitions . . . With Prizes!

It’s amazing how a little friendly competition lightens the mood. Coming up with weekly or monthly challenges that employees can participate in is a fun motivator. Sweeten the pot with an award for the winner(s), and people will really enjoy coming to work.

Create Your Own Fun-Loving Social Network

There are a few providers that give you the tools to set up your own internal social networks. They are meant to help employees collaborate on projects, but they can also provide a fun outlet. Yammer is one such service that could be used to set up a social network where employees can post funny things they find online. Anytime an employee needs a little comedic relief they can hop on to see the latest posts. Just make sure to set parameters and stress that any offensive material is unacceptable.

Take Time to Celebrate Wins

Create milestones that the whole company can celebrate together. Better yet, start an initiative to set aside a small percentage of the profits for employee parties and events. Employees will work harder knowing that they’ll be rewarded for their efforts and acknowledged for their contributions. Not sure what type of celebration appeals to your employees? Go a step further toward improving motivation by letting them choose the events.

Celebrate Fun at Work Day

Instead of working on Fun at Work Day make it a time for everyone to come in and have fun. Plan out a whole day of team building games, movies and pet projects. Have lunch catered and keep snacks on hand – well-fed people are happy people. Some managers may look at this as wasting a day of work, but in the end the boost in productivity levels will more than make up for it.

If it’s your BIG goal to make your office thrive with an engaging culture where people love to come to work, then we’re here to help. Sign up for our ONE Thing Community and enter into a support network of people just like you, and transform the areas of your life that matter most!

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In our week-long series, “Spring Into Summer,” we are looking at how parents can give their kids a safe and fun summer.

With days getting warmer and COVID-19 cases decreasing across the country, Americans are looking for ways to get back to normal life — for parents, that means navigating getting their kids back to normalcy after over a year of pandemic-forced restrictions.

“For each family, it’s going to be a family-by-family , case-by-case decision,” Dr. Tara Narula said Tuesday on “CBS This Morning.”

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, host of the “Happiness” podcast, said this summer would force parents to get “more creative and adaptable.”

“We want to design our summer so that we make sure we really do figure out what we want,” she said. “We may not be able to do the things that we would typically do. You know, the days are long, but the summer is short. And we really want to make sure that we fill the time with the things that are going to give us the essence of summer.”

Know the risks

Americans over age 12 are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine . Dr. Narula is encouraging parents with younger children to be aware of their family’s “level of risk tolerance or aversion” before planning activities.

“What are the particular health issues of your children? Are they children that may be at higher risk for complications from COVID? And what are your goals as a family?” she said.

However, that should not stop them from having summer fun.

“This is the bright spot of this summer — with parents being vaccinated, we know that our kids are way more protected than they were last summer because most of their transmission to kids have come from household contacts,” Narula said. “So the risk to our kids is much lower.”

Outdoor activities

Small, outdoor playdates are encouraged for children who are not vaccinated, as well as avoiding crowds and indoor dining. CDC data has shown that the rate of COVID-19 transmission is much lower outdoors than inside.

Hiking, camping, outdoor sports without close contact are also options for parents hoping to socialize their kids while keeping risks low.

“Camp is a great option,” Narula said. “Camp was on last summer, and it worked very well with the majority of camps. So call up your camps and find out what protocols they’re taking.”

CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver says amusement parks are a great outdoor option — to test it out, she went to New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure park, where COVID-19 safety protocols include needing to make a reservation, face mask requirements and temperature checks at the front gate.

Each Six Flags location also has varying cleaning protocols. In New Jersey, high-traffic rides are sanitized every 15 minutes.

Most of Six Flags’ restaurants also offer outdoor seating, but tables cannot be shared with another group. Families can minimize contact by ordering food on a specialized app.

Travel safely

“You want to think about travel , mostly on road trips — think Wally World. Road travel is going to be the safest,” Narula suggested.

Listen to your kids

“So many of us haven’t really focused on our own stresses and struggles as parents and we haven’t actually taken the time to ask our kids what is going on in your mind,” Narula said. “For so many of us who’ve had kids, we’ve heard them and we’ve watched them talk about being anxious , depressed, lonely, isolated, stressed.”

The best way to find out what your kids want to do this summer, she suggested, is to ask them.

“We should be talking to them and asking them, how do they want their summer to be, what is important to them? Listening to them and acknowledging how they feel,” she said, adding that it was also important to ask them if they are “nervous about re-engaging with kids in camp or even next year in school .”

With so many upheavals over the past year, Rubin says parents should be aware of not only how their kids are feeling, but encouraging everyone to be aware of others as well.

“As we’re navigating being in different circumstances with people who might have different practices, different systems — we need to just think about having good manners,” she said. “And trying to make people feel as comfortable and as confident as they can with whatever the conditions are.”

Narula said an emphasis on social activities would help kids re-engage, and as a doctor offered a “prescription pad” for the coming season.

“Play and fun — I think those need to be the two words for this year’s summer.”

These prompts will help bring your text chain back to life.

“What’s for lunch?” “What’s everyone watching?” If that’s the peak of your group chat these days, it’s time to get your bestie text chain out of its conversational rut.

Having a posse of pals pre-gathered in digital space is a luxury. When used effectively, group chats can be intellectually stimulating and connective spaces where friends can feel close, and even the longest-distance of bonds can strengthen. When neglected, a group chat can become a negative or uninspiring place you avoiding checking into. If your group chat has become so superficial or stale that you’re fantasizing about ex-ing out forever, it’s time to zhuzh things up with prompts to make your group chat more interesting.

According to clinical therapist and millennial life coach Caroline Given, L.C.S.W., it only takes one person to refresh the energy of the chat. By stepping up as the resurrection tribute and stirring the pot with a few loaded or dynamic questions, you can breathe new life into an old chat. Here are eight ways to spice things up and make your group chat a place you actually want to hang out in.

Peak & Pit

If the tone of your group chat is too negative, or too surface-level, asking friends what the peak and pit of their day/week/month was is great for a number of reasons, Given says. “I think it encourages us to find authentic, non-generic answers and it also encourages us to be vulnerable, which is always more interesting.” The question acknowledges the messy reality of life that we might not get from curated social media feeds or polite non-response responses. “I also love that it indirectly challenges people who may have overly optimistic or pessimistic world views to see things from another perspective,” she says.

Rabbit Holes

We all get caught in digital rabbit holes — MomTok, a Reddit thread about time travel, a YouTube tea playlist — and while you might not want to brag about your latest time suck, there’s nothing more relatable. Given says a great way to reframe your attitude about your latest rabbit hole is to think about what you learned from it that was surprising, or relevant to something else in your life. “This is a good prompt if you want to have an intellectually stimulating conversation with friends but might want to avoid anything too personal,” Given says. Ask your friends “anyone fall into any surprising web-holes lately?” and see what the group comes up with.

PowerPoint Party

Bring the TikTok trend over to the group chat. Ask your friends, “What niche subject matter could you give a speech on this week?” Given says these kinds of conversations can be surprisingly hilarious, and learning about what interests your friends helps you to understand them in new ways. Whether you’ve become fluent in lightweight overalls due to a recent online shopping adventure, or learned all about a new strain of lettuce after a chat with a farmer at the market, your recent discovery might be more appealing to your friends than you realize.

Personality Quizzes

Find a personality assessment or funny quiz and share the link with your crew. Given says that discussing the results can be an interesting source of entertainment, and also an opportunity to learn more about your friends in depth. “Even love language tests that are geared toward romantic partnerships are interesting to do with friends,” Given suggests.

Ask questions, even if you’re not that curious. Best pizza place in the neighborhood? Best app for productivity? A breathable shoe for summer? Given says asking your friends for recommendations is a great way to inspire responses and spark up a lively conversation that turns into a great resource for everyone. “I love asking people for recommendations on things and delving into why they recommend something and the experiences/stories they’ve had with those recommendation,” she says.

Life Hacks

Ask your friends if they’ve come across any techy shortcuts or random life hacks recently — like how to customize your iOS home screen, or how to stop nausea. This kind of conversation has a valuable utility, which can lead to lots of other conversations — which is key. “People bond with you more when they feel like they’re letting you in on a tip,” Given adds.

Heady Questions

“Sometimes introspective or philosophical questions, like ‘If you were a breakfast food what would you be and why?’ can lead to stimulating conversations,” Given says. Prompts like this “keep your lines of communication open and fun because it tells the group that they don’t have to be formal about stopping and starting conversations.” This takes the pressure off breaking the ice, especially if the line’s gone dead for a few days.

Games

Given says that playing conversation games in the group chat is another great way to get everyone participating, without relying on one person to be playing MC. Card games like “We’re Not Really Strangers” are “centered around digging deeper with people conversationally,” Given says, and can challenge the group to talk about things that they might otherwise never have thought to discuss.

Mention the word “prostate” around a group of men, and most of them will automatically think of embarrassing cancer-screening prostate exams performed by a doctor. But the prostate can be so much more fun that that! The prostate is home to a ton of nerve endings, can be a lot of fun to play with, and can create extremely powerful orgasms.

Before we go any further, let me address one common myth about prostate play: it’s not just for gay men. Unfortunately, a lot of heterosexual men feel embarrassed exploring anything butt-related. That taboo has been decreasing over the last few years, but it’s still frustratingly prevalent. Let me be clear: Experimenting with and enjoying any sort of anal stimulation doesn’t say anything about your sexual orientation. All that it means is that you have functioning nerve endings in your body, and you enjoy sensations that feel pleasurable.

If you’re game for having a new experience, here’s everything you need to know about the prostate and how to pleasure it.

What is the p rostate, a nyway?

The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system. It aids in producing and releasing ejaculatory fluid. During arousal, the prostate swells up with fluid, which it eventually expels when a man ejaculates. The prostate is located right below the bladder, and wraps around the urethra. It’s about 1 inch in diameter. The prostate is often referred to as the male G-spot, and in fact, the two structures are homologous. Prostate stimulation can feel very pleasurable, and a lot of men say that orgasms from prostate stimulation are much more intense.

How to f ind the p rostate

You can’t touch the prostate directly, but you can stimulate it through the walls of the rectum. It’s located about 2-4 inches inside the body, on the side of the rectum that’s closest to your abdomen. To find your prostate, you use the same motion you use to find the female G-spot; when you’re lying on your back, insert a finger into your rectum, palm-side up, and make a “come here” motion with your finger. If this position isn’t comfortable, you can try sitting up and bending over. You should be able to feel a walnut-sized gland through the wall of the rectum.

If you’re nervous about exploring your rectum, you can also stimulate the prostate through the perineum (the strip of skin between the testicles and the anus). If you use a good amount of pressure (typically using your knuckle to knead the area is easiest), you should be able to feel pleasurable sensations. It won’t be as intense as exploring internally, since you’ll be stimulating it through more tissue, but it can still feel quite good.

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Start e xploring y our p rostate

I recommend exploring your prostate on your own first. If you feel at all squeamish, you can always explore in the shower for easy clean-up. Or you can use an anal douche beforehand, to remove any traces of fecal matter from your rectum. Another option is to use a condom or glove on your finger. But honestly, most people get way more freaked out about the cleanliness issue with anal play than is necessary. As long as you wash your hands afterwards, and don’t move your fingers from an anus to a vagina, you’ll be fine.

Since the anus doesn’t self-lubricate, you’ll need to use lube. I highly recommend a silicone-based lubricant, since they tend to last for a long time and create a nice slick feeling. You can even look for silicone-based lubricants that are especially made for anal play. It’s also a good idea to trim and file your nails beforehand, and ensure you don’t have any hangnails. There’s nothing like a hangnail poking your rectum to ruin the joys of prostate play.

Prostate play typically feels a lot better if you’re already turned on, so start by spending a few minutes on your usual masturbation routine. Once you’re feeling relaxed and excited, take one finger and very slowly insert it into your rectum. Focus on breathing deeply and relaxing your butt muscles. Gently ease your finger in a few inches, until you can feel the prostate through the wall of the rectum. Try exerting some gentle pressure on the prostate, and gradually increase that pressure until you find something that feels good for you.

When you first start stimulating the prostate, you might feel like you need to pee. That’s normal, since the prostate is so close to the urethra and bladder. Sometimes the brain interprets pressure on the prostate as pressure on the bladder. You can ease up on the stimulation, but the feeling of needing to pee should subside with time.

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Once you’ve found your prostate, try a few different types of strokes, like side to side, up and down, or kneading. You can also see if you like prostate play on its own, or combined with other kinds of stimulation. A lot of men like combining prostate stimulation with penile stimulation. You can also try simply applying pressure to the prostate, or combining pressure with an in-and-out motion.

Teaching y our p artner w hat y ou l ike

Once you’re comfortable exploring your prostate on your own, you can get a partner involved too. The same basic set-up guidelines apply, like keeping nails trimmed and using lube. It’s usually easiest to lie on your back, and have your partner sit between your legs or to the side of your hips. If you’re feeling nervous, you can try having your partner exert pressure against your perineum first. Then you can try having your partner explore internally next. Make sure to communicate with your partner about taking it slowly and finding the level of pressure that feels best for you.

As soon as your partner has mastered the basics, you can also try doing a fun tag-team with your partner, where they finger your prostate and you jack yourself off. Or they can finger your prostate while also giving you a handjob or blowjob at the same time.

Taking it to the n ext l evel

If you’re enjoying prostate play, you can take it one step further by incorporating toys. There’s one golden rule for any toy that goes in your butt: make sure it has a flared base! This means that the base of the toy is wider than the part that you’re inserting into your butt. Your anal sphincters are quite strong, and can pull in toys that don’t have this safety feature. Both LELO and Aneros have great lines of prostate toys.

You can also use prostate stimulation to explore having orgasms independently from ejaculation. I wrote a separate article about this technique here . This can be an awful lot of fun, and a great reward for exploring your prostate.

In our week-long series, “Spring Into Summer,” we are looking at how parents can give their kids a safe and fun summer.

With days getting warmer and COVID-19 cases decreasing across the country, Americans are looking for ways to get back to normal life — for parents, that means navigating getting their kids back to normalcy after over a year of pandemic-forced restrictions.

“For each family, it’s going to be a family-by-family , case-by-case decision,” Dr. Tara Narula said Tuesday on “CBS This Morning.”

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, host of the “Happiness” podcast, said this summer would force parents to get “more creative and adaptable.”

“We want to design our summer so that we make sure we really do figure out what we want,” she said. “We may not be able to do the things that we would typically do. You know, the days are long, but the summer is short. And we really want to make sure that we fill the time with the things that are going to give us the essence of summer.”

Know the risks

Americans over age 12 are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine . Dr. Narula is encouraging parents with younger children to be aware of their family’s “level of risk tolerance or aversion” before planning activities.

“What are the particular health issues of your children? Are they children that may be at higher risk for complications from COVID? And what are your goals as a family?” she said.

However, that should not stop them from having summer fun.

“This is the bright spot of this summer — with parents being vaccinated, we know that our kids are way more protected than they were last summer because most of their transmission to kids have come from household contacts,” Narula said. “So the risk to our kids is much lower.”

Outdoor activities

Small, outdoor playdates are encouraged for children who are not vaccinated, as well as avoiding crowds and indoor dining. CDC data has shown that the rate of COVID-19 transmission is much lower outdoors than inside.

Hiking, camping, outdoor sports without close contact are also options for parents hoping to socialize their kids while keeping risks low.

“Camp is a great option,” Narula said. “Camp was on last summer, and it worked very well with the majority of camps. So call up your camps and find out what protocols they’re taking.”

CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver says amusement parks are a great outdoor option — to test it out, she went to New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure park, where COVID-19 safety protocols include needing to make a reservation, face mask requirements and temperature checks at the front gate.

Each Six Flags location also has varying cleaning protocols. In New Jersey, high-traffic rides are sanitized every 15 minutes.

Most of Six Flags’ restaurants also offer outdoor seating, but tables cannot be shared with another group. Families can minimize contact by ordering food on a specialized app.

Travel safely

“You want to think about travel , mostly on road trips — think Wally World. Road travel is going to be the safest,” Narula suggested.

Listen to your kids

“So many of us haven’t really focused on our own stresses and struggles as parents and we haven’t actually taken the time to ask our kids what is going on in your mind,” Narula said. “For so many of us who’ve had kids, we’ve heard them and we’ve watched them talk about being anxious , depressed, lonely, isolated, stressed.”

The best way to find out what your kids want to do this summer, she suggested, is to ask them.

“We should be talking to them and asking them, how do they want their summer to be, what is important to them? Listening to them and acknowledging how they feel,” she said, adding that it was also important to ask them if they are “nervous about re-engaging with kids in camp or even next year in school .”

With so many upheavals over the past year, Rubin says parents should be aware of not only how their kids are feeling, but encouraging everyone to be aware of others as well.

“As we’re navigating being in different circumstances with people who might have different practices, different systems — we need to just think about having good manners,” she said. “And trying to make people feel as comfortable and as confident as they can with whatever the conditions are.”

Narula said an emphasis on social activities would help kids re-engage, and as a doctor offered a “prescription pad” for the coming season.

“Play and fun — I think those need to be the two words for this year’s summer.”

Train Your Dog to Hunt

Train a Dog for Rabbit Hunting

Heal a Hunting Dog’s Foot Pads

Train a Squirrel Dog

Live with a Dog with a High Prey Drive

Care for Your Gun Dog

Do Short Training Sessions with Your Hunting Dog

Keep it Short and Reset

When teaching your dog a new behavior, practice sessions are important. You can’t build muscle doing one repetition of an exercise, right? You need multiple reps to build and sculpt muscles, and this holds true when teaching a new behavior. Practice does make perfect!

Before beginning a dog training practice session, it’s important to follow a few tips to ensure success.

Let’s Get Busy

I gather my clicker and small, yet super yummy treats and head for our training area, which is usually my living room. For a training area, choose an area with non-skid flooring with plenty of space so your dog can move around freely. Personally, I inform my dog a training session is about to start. I say “let’s get busy,” which means “it’s time to punch in for a training session.”

Is reaching for treats and/or the presence of the clicker a cue? Probably. Is walking to our training a cue too? Maybe. But I like to settle in our training area and give the green light by saying “let’s get busy.” It’s basically like saying “we’re up for business.”

Count Out Five Treats

Count out five treats and practice until they are gone. This is the easiest way to keep training sessions short. I’m as guilty as the next person. I used to time practice sessions for one minute. Oh, when we were on a roll, I would turn off the timer and keep going. My dog suffered the burn out from it too! He would miss a cue or offer “sit” because he was confused.

It’s hard concentrating for five full minutes. Most people tackle a problem for one or two minutes, take a tiny break to refill their coffee cups, take a deep breath or ask a fellow dog owner a question. So give your dog a break, count out five treats and practice until they gone. 🙂

Resetting

Resetting is the easiest way to move a dog during practice sessions. Many times, clients practice “sit” using five treats so how can you ask a sitting dog to “sit” again, right? Allow me to introduce you to resetting. It will make your dog’s life so much easier! Instead of pulling your dog out of a behavior, click and toss her a treat about three feet away. When tossing the treat, she must get up, find and eat it. Now you can ask her to “sit” again. Voila!

Tossing treats on the floor will not teach your dog to “vacuum” for food. This happens during controlled training sessions. If you’re worried about feeding your dog from the ground, place a paper plate about two feet away and toss treats into the plate. 🙂

VIDEO: Dog Training Tip: How to Reset Your Dog

All Done

Once all five treats are gone, say “all done,” which means your dog can take a break, and have a quick game of tug or lots of petting. Now, move away from your training area and catch up on emails or find another short task to complete. Most likely, your dog will take a deep breath, grab a few licks of water and lay down for a bit. After five minutes or so, it’s time for another practice session so “let’s get busy!”

Usually, I complete two or three training sessions per day and mostly in between my dog’s scheduled meals, as everyone needs a snack. 🙂

When to Move On

When you’re willing to bet $5 on your dog for performing the behavior, move onto the next step.

For most people, life is incredibly busy, and the time you have to spare for your beloved dog is limited. You want to spend that time playing with him, not training basic obedience. But without proper training, your dog isn’t happy, and his inevitable bad behavior means you aren’t either. So how do you squeeze that essential training into your busy lifestyle? Here are five quick tips to help you take advantage of every opportunity to make training easy and fun.

1. Keep your training sessions short.

Although training classes are often one hour long, that’s not the goal for at-home sessions. For most dogs, short bursts of training are far more suitable. And if you think you must schedule hour-long intervals, you will never find the time. Five minutes per session is more than enough. Anything longer, and you risk having your dog become bored or frustrated. If you keep things fun and stop before your dog loses interest, it will help build enthusiasm for future training sessions.

2. Spread training throughout the day.

Short training sessions are far easier to fit in during the day. Every time you interact with your dog, you have an opportunity to train, even if it’s as simple as practicing “sit” before you let him outside to go to the bathroom. Before you know it, a few minutes here and there will add up to far more time than that hoped-for hour-long session.

To help make training part of your daily routine, keep rewards close at hand. Wear a treat bag around your waist, put a few pieces of kibble in your pocket, place treat containers in strategic places around your home, or put a tug toy by the sofa, so you are ready whenever you get the chance to train.

3. Take advantage of mealtimes.

A bowl of food is a huge reward. Why waste it by simply placing it on the floor? Mealtimes are a perfect way to schedule daily training sessions. At the very least, have your dog perform a desired behavior before you give him his bowl. Better still, divide the food up and get as many repetitions as you can. This is easiest with pieces of kibble, but even canned food or raw food can be doled out one spoonful at a time for each correct response.

4. Use rewards other than food.

Anything your dog is willing to work for is a reward, from going for a walk to getting a cuddle. So, if your dog thinks something is great, you can use it in your training. That means you don’t always have to have a treat in your hand. And that opens up a lot of training opportunities.

Anytime your dog wants something, consider taking a moment to train. Rather than handing over the good stuff for nothing, work on a few behaviors first. Tossing his favorite squeaky toy can be a wonderful reward for a “stay,” or opening the back door for access to the yard can be a perfect way to reward a “down,” for example. Having your dog earn a variety of rewards will help you fit training into your day-to-day activities.

5. Don’t let walks go to waste.

There are many rewarding objects out in the world. Just the chance to sniff the neighborhood fire hydrant is super exciting from a dog’s perspective. So, take advantage of all he wants and work a little training in with the exercise. For example, have him “sit” before letting him explore the boulevard or work on “leave it” with leaves and acorns. But be cautious when training new behaviors outdoors. Learning is far more difficult in an exciting environment, so be sure your dog has mastered the basics in a quiet location before adding the element of distraction.

The more that training becomes an everyday part of life with your dog, the more your dog will benefit. His mind will be stimulated, he will understand the rules of the household, and he will gain a sense of control over his environment as he learns how to earn what he wants. And you will benefit from a well-behaved family member. If you keep things fun and engaging, training time can become synonymous with playtime. Rather than thinking of training as something that is taking time away from fun and games with your dog, make it just another way to enjoy spending time together.

Featuring: Mark Fulmer | Sarahsetter Kennel

Opening Day is what we wait for all year long. It’s the start of the best time of the year. We gather with family, friends, and most importantly, our dogs. Some of us run covers and fields while others sit in boats and blinds by a pond, lake, or river. No greater joy comes from watching a pup develop in his first season. It’s important to have realistic first season expectations, and here’s what pro staffer Mark Fulmer of Sarahsetter Kennel has to say. Fulmer’s advice applies to retrievers, bird dogs, flushing dogs, and versatile dogs alike.

Every Dog is Unique
“Dogs develop differently,” Fulmer said. “Their breed and genetics play important parts, but so does their socialization and training. We all want “jam-on” dogs, especially if they are our first, but the simple fact is that some dogs come along faster than others. It’s important for handlers to watch their pup’s progress and to build it gradually. Young pups don’t have the stamina of mature dogs. They don’t have the long focus and attention of older, wiser dogs. Take your pup’s development into account. Assess his abilities and make sure what you ask of him is appropriate. For instance, asking a young retriever to make multiple blinds might be a lot. Asking him to make repetitive retrieves in cold water with strong current might be too much. Determine your dog’s abilities before you ask him to do something. The more positive results he gets, the more he’ll want to do it again.”

Less is More
“Time in the fields and water is where I see a number of young handlers make mistakes. Training time with pups and young dogs should always be short and regular. The short training time enables them to focus on the given command and to do it properly before moving on. Repetitions make the master, so frequent reps help young dogs get into a rhythm of what is expected. Those two principles should be maintained during hunting season. Young bird dogs that run too hard get tired, lose focus, and make mistakes. Young retrievers that are asked to do too many marks and blinds also get tired, lose focus, and make mistakes. Plan their daily workload based on their abilities. For young dogs, shorter duration across time is a proven winner.”

Teach Dogs to Be Under Control
“Working with young dogs can test a handler’s nerves, but it’s important to be patient with them. Young dogs are very excitable, so think about that. Isn’t it great to have an excited dog? That’s the one that can’t wait to get out of his kennel and get to work. But calming him down so he’s under control is critical. Handlers who can calm young dogs with gentle strokes and pats, who praise them when they do the right thing, and use a stern, deliberate voice for correction (no yelling, please) help young dogs calm down. If the young dog is supercharged, walk him around on a lead and heel him. Go through other basic commands like come, stay, and—especially for retrievers—sit, and praise them. Release the dog to work when he’s exhibited the kind of control and discipline he showed you during training sessions.”

Have Fun with Them
“The first year should be fun. You should expect mistakes, and you should expect performances that are less than stellar. That is part of the process that turns young dogs into seasoned veterans. A handler’s attitude is key, so help pups learn from their mistakes. Take time out of a hunt to work on the details and to make midseason corrections. Do them when the pup is young, and you’ll have an all-star for the rest of his life. Ignore them now, and you’ll be at odds with your pup for years. You’re a team, for better or worse. The handler’s job is to make worse better, and that starts with having fun.”

Dogs are only young once, and those first few years are formative. This season, set realistic expectations for your young dogs, and the rest will fall into place. It always does, and that’s the joy of sporting dogs.

For most people, life is incredibly busy, and the time you have to spare for your beloved dog is limited. You want to spend that time playing with him, not training basic obedience. But without proper training, your dog isn’t happy, and his inevitable bad behavior means you aren’t either. So how do you squeeze that essential training into your busy lifestyle? Here are five quick tips to help you take advantage of every opportunity to make training easy and fun.

1. Keep your training sessions short.

Although training classes are often one hour long, that’s not the goal for at-home sessions. For most dogs, short bursts of training are far more suitable. And if you think you must schedule hour-long intervals, you will never find the time. Five minutes per session is more than enough. Anything longer, and you risk having your dog become bored or frustrated. If you keep things fun and stop before your dog loses interest, it will help build enthusiasm for future training sessions.

2. Spread training throughout the day.

Short training sessions are far easier to fit in during the day. Every time you interact with your dog, you have an opportunity to train, even if it’s as simple as practicing “sit” before you let him outside to go to the bathroom. Before you know it, a few minutes here and there will add up to far more time than that hoped-for hour-long session.

To help make training part of your daily routine, keep rewards close at hand. Wear a treat bag around your waist, put a few pieces of kibble in your pocket, place treat containers in strategic places around your home, or put a tug toy by the sofa, so you are ready whenever you get the chance to train.

3. Take advantage of mealtimes.

A bowl of food is a huge reward. Why waste it by simply placing it on the floor? Mealtimes are a perfect way to schedule daily training sessions. At the very least, have your dog perform a desired behavior before you give him his bowl. Better still, divide the food up and get as many repetitions as you can. This is easiest with pieces of kibble, but even canned food or raw food can be doled out one spoonful at a time for each correct response.

4. Use rewards other than food.

Anything your dog is willing to work for is a reward, from going for a walk to getting a cuddle. So, if your dog thinks something is great, you can use it in your training. That means you don’t always have to have a treat in your hand. And that opens up a lot of training opportunities.

Anytime your dog wants something, consider taking a moment to train. Rather than handing over the good stuff for nothing, work on a few behaviors first. Tossing his favorite squeaky toy can be a wonderful reward for a “stay,” or opening the back door for access to the yard can be a perfect way to reward a “down,” for example. Having your dog earn a variety of rewards will help you fit training into your day-to-day activities.

5. Don’t let walks go to waste.

There are many rewarding objects out in the world. Just the chance to sniff the neighborhood fire hydrant is super exciting from a dog’s perspective. So, take advantage of all he wants and work a little training in with the exercise. For example, have him “sit” before letting him explore the boulevard or work on “leave it” with leaves and acorns. But be cautious when training new behaviors outdoors. Learning is far more difficult in an exciting environment, so be sure your dog has mastered the basics in a quiet location before adding the element of distraction.

The more that training becomes an everyday part of life with your dog, the more your dog will benefit. His mind will be stimulated, he will understand the rules of the household, and he will gain a sense of control over his environment as he learns how to earn what he wants. And you will benefit from a well-behaved family member. If you keep things fun and engaging, training time can become synonymous with playtime. Rather than thinking of training as something that is taking time away from fun and games with your dog, make it just another way to enjoy spending time together.

Training should be a fun experience for you and your dog. He learns some new tricks, you learn how to communicate with him better, and the bond is strengthened on both ends of the leash. Training can also be very frustrating, especially if your dog is not interested in focusing on you. Here are some tips for keeping your canine companion engaged, from AKC GoodDog! Helpline program manager Penny Leigh, CPDT-KA.

The High-Energy Dog

Dogs with a lot of energy can seem distracted during a training session and more interested in chasing something or jumping on you than learning a new behavior. “The challenge with very high-energy dogs can be that they do not enjoy learning the basics, like sit, stay, and down, because they want to keep moving,” explains Leigh. “Impulse-control exercises [like sit-stay or leave it] are recommended for high-energy dogs. I also recommend that high-energy dogs be exercised before coming to class, so they can concentrate better.”

On the plus side, high-energy dogs often don’t mind repeating behaviors over and over again and tend to do well at canine speed events, like agility and flyball.

The Non-Food-Motivated Dog

Does your dog seem unimpressed with treats? A canine companion that doesn’t want your reward will often disengage during training. “My first thought when a student tells me this about his or her dog is that they have not found the right treat — or a high-enough-value treat — or that they are feeding their dog too near the start of the training session,” shares Leigh. “I advise students never to feed their dogs a meal before training.”

In addition, she says that almost every dog has some food that motivates him, but it’s not always his kibble, or a dry, hard dog treat. Smelly, soft treats, like cheese, pepperoni, specialty dog treats, or even salmon, can entice a dog to want to work. “For dogs that turn up their noses at even the most enticing food, I advise owners to try toys — tug toys are awesome, and many dogs prefer toys to food,” Leigh continues. “Playing with your dog can also be a reward. Sometimes you need to get very creative as a trainer. For instance, if your dog loves to chase squirrels in the backyard, you can find a toy that looks like a squirrel, put it on a tug line, and you have a great motivator for that canine.”

The Easily Distracted Dog

Dogs that get distracted may be reactive or nervous. Or maybe your pup can’t stop looking for a scent to track. For these dogs, Leigh says the length of a training session is very important. “Keep training sessions very short (10 minutes) and do more short sessions throughout the day instead of one long session,” she advises. “Use lots of reinforcement and make it very high value, in the form of enticing treats and toys.”

For dogs that are anxious around new people, dogs, and/or strange noises, you should start your learning sessions in quiet, non-distracting locations. As your dog becomes comfortable with conquering new skills in familiar settings, you can gradually add distractions, starting with mild distracters and slowly increasing distractions as he becomes consistently successful at each level.

In the case of any of these types of learners, you may find your dog getting bored if you are asking him to repeat the same behavior or you might get stuck in one spot while shaping a behavior. When this happens, Leigh suggests shortening your training sessions down to that 10-minute mark with a few repetitions throughout the day.

“Find the right motivators,” she adds. “Having something that really turns your dog on can make the difference in a dog that wants to repeat behaviors and a dog that is yawning after one rep of an exercise. Too many owners approach it like a job. If you and your dog are both having fun, then the dog will be much more engaged. Move around; use a lot of verbal praise in addition to the food and toy treats. If you lose your dog, then do something very short and easy that you are sure your dog can do successfully, and end the session on a positive note.”

Knowing these expert tips will help keep training fun and set you and your dog up for success.

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Training a new pup to become a solid contributor in the duck blind or goose field is a long, continuous journey that takes practice and real life experience to really develop a rock solid gundog. I feel the most important part in that period is the first couple months of his or her life. This is where you teach a dog to learn and to give it the same drive and love we have for our sport. If you can accomplish this early in the developmental stages, you will light a fire in them that any professional dog trainer would love to fuel

TIP 1 – Teach your new pup it’s name and make sure it comes to you immediately.

This is something you can do from day one. It’s real simple to do. In an excited voice, call your pups name lightly clapping your hands. As it gets to you, reward it with heavy praise with excitement. If your dog ignores you, try running away from it calling his or her name excitedly, again clapping your hands. As it follows you, turn around letting it come to you and giving it heavy excited praise when it gets to you. Treats work well in the early stages, don’t underestimate the power of hunger. If none of this works, a long check chord works well by gently pulling the pup back and praising it when it gets to you. Eventually you won’t have to touch the check chord and can remove it entirely.

TIP 2 – Teach your dog the basic commands.

You need to teach your new pup commands you will use and they will have to follow, his or her entire life. “SIT, LAY DOWN and STAY”. Those are the three most important commands besides “here” or “come”. Start with short training sessions, gradually building to longer ones. You should be training constantly at an early age, several short training sessions a day. Within weeks of daily training you can have your pup listening to you and obeying them as best as a pup can do. When you tell your pup to stay, you want it to stay for as long as you tell it to, not stay until you turn your head and it sneaks off looking for something to chew on. Start with short sessions. Make it stay for 10 seconds and then give it a release command “FREE,” “RELEASE,” whatever. It is important to give your pup a release command. Something that tells that pup, okay you are free to get up. Each day work on longer times. You should be able to tell a dog to stay and lay down until you release it and this is how you get there. If you don’t enforce your commands you will quickly teach a pup it can do whatever it wants. A good solid “NO” with a finger in its face will quickly get the point across. Puppies have great sense of your mood by the tone of your voice and your body posture.

TIP 3 – Teach your dog to love to fetch.

Your pup naturally wants to put things in its mouth and chew on them. Find a small stuffed animal or dog toy and get them chewing on it and playing with it. Take it from them excitedly and throw it away from them. Most likely they will run, grab it and come back to you. Take it from them excitedly with lots of praise and throw it again. You might only do this for 2 or 3 times the first time. A puppy’s attention span is very short when they are young like that, they can get bored really fast. The trick is to stop before they get to that point. Get them excited every time they fetch and leave them wanting more. If you find a toy they love playing with, use that, but only use it during “fetch training”, then put it away. If your dog will not come back, start in a narrow long area like a hallway, to where the pup has to come back to you. This will quickly teach it to come back. You can also use a long check chords and gently pull the dog back. By doing this over and over at a young age it will enhance an already natural instinct to retrieve.

TIP 4 – Teach your pup to use it’s nose.

That most northern part of a dog is the most powerful sense that it has. According to some website I looked up, the Labrador retriever has the 5th most powerful nose of all dog species. Scientists say their sense of smell are 10,000 times stronger than ours. Teach them to use it at a young age. Play a game of hide and seek. Place something they want like their favorite fetch toy, into something that can hide it, like short brush, grass, whatever, and tell them to “HUNT IT UP” or “DEAD BIRD”. A command of your choice that tells him or her to find that object. Start by placing it easy to where the pup can see you throw it in the brush and say your “HUNT IT UP” command. You can graduate to a game where you don’t let him see you throw it and you make him walk through that brush or grass looking for it as you tell him to “FIND IT”.

TIP 5 – Give your pup as much life experiences as you can. It is so important to give your dog confidence. You need to take your dog as many different places as you can. Go on long rides, get it use to being in your truck for the 12 hour drive to Canada. Go around other dogs and allow them to play with other dogs. Everyone has a hunting dog and if your dog doesn’t play well with others, you will probably find yourself hunting by yourself or one of your buddies who doesn’t have a dog. Teach your dog to love its crate and a layout blind. Teach them to stay and be comfortable in both, bring them in the house and let them get use to them both. Teach your dog to be around loud noises including gunfire. A real simple trick to as you feed it slam a couple pots together (lightly at first) so it associates loud noise with pleasure. Teach it to swim early, get it to love water. Give it warm baths and play with the toy in the warm tub if its too cold outside.

There are so many little things that are so important in the early developmental stages, but what I basically comes down to learning how to learn and applying it early in its life. Wayne Gretzky “The Great One” started skating at the age of three years old. Kobi Bryant was three when he told him mother he was going to play professional basketball. Tiger Woods was 3 when he appeared on television and putted against Bob Hope. All these amazing athletes along with numerous other athletes, musicians, and performers started very young, and they achieved greatness. Teaching your dog how to perform in the way for which they were bred for will give you more satisfaction than almost anything you can experience in our world of cattails and wet dogs.

“We Want More! We Want More!” the crowd chants and stomps as the house lights come on.

Any great concert ends this way and every good performer knows that you always want to leave them wanting more. Back in the day, I used to go to a lot of concerts. There were plenty that left me feeling satisfied, some that I was glad to see end, and many that I left early to avoid the traffic. Then there are those rare etched-in-my-mind forever concert experiences. Those bands left me and the rest of the crowd screaming for more, but made us wait until the next tour to get it.

Why the heck am I talking about rock concerts? I want to make a point about the importance of knowing your audience and avoiding burn out. In your case, the audience is your dog. Just like a musician doesn’t want the audience talking amongst themselves or leaving the show early, you don’t want your dog to go lay down in the shade while you stand there holding the ball. You need to find the things that motivate your dog and then always leave him wanting more.

Keeping training and play sessions short is the key to successful motivation training. If we keep our dogs interested and motivated, they will enjoy working with us and be much more apt to snap to it when we ask something of them. Short, fun, controlled sessions will keep your dog coming back for more and can help you avoid having an over-stimulated “ball crazy” dog with no impulse control or a dog that easily blows you off because he thinks he can get things whenever he wants.

Treats, tennis balls, tug toys, praise and affection are all like gemstones; they become more valuable when rare. They are also like sugar or wine, best if used in moderation.

Combining play sessions, obedience and exploration creates impulse control and stability

I have noticed that most people don’t think of training their dogs as fun and hence don’t do much of it. This is unfortunate, because training can and should be fun. Rather than grind away at obedience commands, keep things interesting by using combinations. For example:

Jane takes Rover to the local park every day. They play fetch until he collapses under a tree, then they go home. “Rover is absolutely bonkers over the ball,” she says. “He doesn’t care about anything else.”

In this scenario, Rover is getting a fair amount of physical exercise but is getting mentally over stimulated and possibly even possessive of the ball. Jane could balance things out by using it as a special plaything rather than Rover’s main outlet. She is already taking him out every day, which is great, so she could simply tweak how the time is spent. What if it went something like this?

• Walk in heel position to the park with the ball out of sight, having Rover sit at every corner. Throw in some right and left about-turns and maybe a short down stay.
• Arrive at the park and allow Rover to sniff and check his pee mail.
• Walk around the park doing a combination of 50% heeling and 50% allowing him to sniff around and explore his surroundings. If he obsesses on the ball in your pocket, just ignore him and walk around as if you are looking for something.
• When Rover least expects it, call him to you and then whip out the ball! Play fetch for only five throws. In between throws, have him do a “sit” or “down” before releasing him to chase the next throw.
• After the fifth throw, put the ball out of sight and do some heeling, then put Rover in a down stay. Walk away and come back to him. Calmly say “good boy” and pull out the ball again. Oops, that does not mean he is released. If he gets up, put him back in the down stay. Walk around him with the ball in plain sight until he settles into the stay. Now release him and throw the ball another five times. Continue these combinations until it’s time to go home.
• Walk home from the park in the same calm and controlled manner discussed earlier.

This is just one of endless combinations, but the idea is that Rover is getting trained while having fun. Everything is happening in short spurts and he never knows what trick Jane will be pulling out of the hat. He is also learning impulse control and maintaining mental stability without losing his drive. He loves the game, leaves wanting more, and is not obsessed or bored. Even though he did less running than with Jane’s previous method, he will be more relaxed overall because he received mental exercise as well.

OK, you may be saying, I get it but how short is short? Is there a time limit?

There is no one-size-fits-all formula, but it is safe to say that multiple short sessions are better than one long one. This avoids burn out and builds drive. Dogs, just like people, have individual stamina levels and attention spans. You will have to experiment a little to find out what motivates your dog and how much he can handle. The more you work with and play with your dog, the better you will get to know his limits. You will begin to notice signs of boredom, fatigue, obsession, etc. and learn to stop before these problems really kick in.

If you are training with food, then the dog should be hungry before you start and you should quit way before he gets full or bored. If you are using a tug toy or ball as a motivator for training or just playing with your dog, again, quit while you’re ahead. End the session by putting the ball in your pocket and closing your treat pouch with the dog following you as if to say, “Come on, one more time, pleeeease!”

If we make it fun and don’t overdo it, our dogs will look forward to the next time, just like I did with those special concerts.

Chad Culp–Certified Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, Certified Holistic Chef for Animals

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References Approved

This article was co-authored by Guy Gabay. Guy Gabay is a Solar Energy Contractor and the CEO of AmeriGreen Builders, a full-service solar energy, roofing, HVAC and window installation company based in the greater Los Angeles, California region. With over eight years of experience in the construction industry, Guy leads the AmeriGreen team focusing on bringing an educational approach to energy efficient home upgrades. Guy holds a B.S. in Marketing from California State University – Northridge.

There are 32 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

This article has been viewed 1,154,707 times.

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that not only benefits you but the environment as well. With the effort you put into making a homemade solar panel, you can help prevent environmental pollution by reducing fossil fuel usage. [1] X Expert Source

Guy Gabay
Solar Energy Contractor Expert Interview. 4 August 2020. What’s even better is that you’ll save money on you electric bill. To build your own solar panel, you’ll need to assemble the pieces, connect the cells, build a panel box, wire the panels, seal the box, and then finally mount your completed solar panel.

If you are someone who is looking for some information on how to make your own solar panel, this is a good post to begin with. Here we’ll look at why you should choose solar energy, its benefits, its drawbacks and many other things which will help you truck along the green road to save some bucks with the side benefit of helping Mother Earth.

Why solar Energy? Why Now?

If you’ve been following the trends, you’ll know that lately, there has been a lot of talk about solar power. There are loads of reasons for this shift in trends starting with the economy taking a big dip. It seems like everyone has become cost conscious and we’re all looking for ways to bring our budget under control. With solar power supplementing regular electric power, our utility bills will see a recurring reduction- not to mention a hedge against future energy increases. Besides, people can add some good karma to their investment by protecting the earth with green options to power their needs.

Why You Should Make Your Own Solar Panel, and Not Buy Readymade Units

The next thing to consider is should you be building a solar panel or getting it pre-built from some store. The latter option may not be very good, given the steep prices that manufacturers quote for them. There is no point spending thousands of dollars on an alternative source, when your main goal was to bring down your power bills. So the obvious choice is to make your own solar panel.

Equipment You’ll Need to Make Your Own Solar Panel

A solar panel is made up of a series of individual silicon cells that generate power from sunlight. When the light hits the solar panel’s surface the light particles create an electrical current on the surface of the silicon wafers. One single solar cell produces about a half a volt of energy. The solar energy is collected by the solar panels and then sent on to a converter.

The very basic solar panel consists of some standard parts. To make a solar panel you would need the photovoltaic cells to capture the sunlight. Besides that you need glass, boards and copper wires for the connections. You can buy most of these parts from any local store or even purchase it online. Regardless of how you get these products, make sure they are good quality parts. Do not equate price to quality, as it is not always true. Look for specifications and reviews before plunging in.

Parts to Make Your Own Solar Panel

Solar panels consist of a semiconductor as well as a silver plate. The solar cell supplies electrical power every time the sun’s rays hits the solar panel. So you’ll need solar plates, a semi conductor block, photovoltaic cells, a converter and conductor wires. Fasten the photovoltaic cells and solar plates together. Place the solar plates on top of the cells and tie them together with a tight knot. Next, place the semi conductor block over the plates and cells and tie them all together with the conductor wires. Insure that they are firmly set together so that they can’t move. Connect the solar panel to the converter which then connects with your battery.

Other factors?

The best place to install your solar panels is on your roof because that’s where it gets the most exposure to the sun. Be sure to do an inspection of your roof to find the best possible spot for the panels. Make sure you do not place the solar panels anywhere that can be shaded by adjacent buildings or overgrown branches as this will reduce the effectiveness of the solar panels.

The power needed will determine how many panels you really need to buy. So you need to calculate this based on the specifications of your appliances. In addition to the previous parts needed to make your own solar panel you’ll need to get a charge controller. Overcharging the batteries brings down their lives. So it is best to have a controller which will regulate the charging and improve the longevity of the batteries. This is another small investment to save you money in the long run.

Last Updated: April 8, 2021 References Approved

This article was co-authored by Guy Gabay. Guy Gabay is a Solar Energy Contractor and the CEO of AmeriGreen Builders, a full-service solar energy, roofing, HVAC and window installation company based in the greater Los Angeles, California region. With over eight years of experience in the construction industry, Guy leads the AmeriGreen team focusing on bringing an educational approach to energy efficient home upgrades. Guy holds a B.S. in Marketing from California State University – Northridge.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

This article has been viewed 139,569 times.

So you’ve decided to switch your home electricity system to solar power, but you’re not sure how. Making the switch to solar power is an exciting change that can provide you with lots of savings on your energy bills over the years, not to mention reduce your carbon footprint. To get started, figure out how much energy you need and make sure your home will be able to generate at least that much solar power. After that comes the fun part! You have some options when it comes to working with a solar contractor and how you actually pay for and install your solar system. Whatever you decide, you’re sure to enjoy the benefits of solar power for years to come.

DIY Solar: Do it Your Self 100W Solar Panel Part 1. How to Build Homemade Solar Panels from Scratch. This is the first in 2 videos of a solar DIY project. Everything you should know to build a 100 watts solar panel at home. Subscribe

➥ Watch part 2:
➥ How to renovate my old house

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📝 To build a 100W solar panel you need:
➥ 6×6 solar cells kit:
2mm tabbing wire (pre solder coated).
5mm tabbing wire (buss wire).
Solder Wire. (Used to tin the solder iron, also used to solder the tab cells on the buss wire).
Flux Pen. Prevents beading of the solder.
Strapping Tape (sure tape).
Regular tape.
(useful to hold the solar cells).
Sillicone Paste-like seal (UV christaline).
Untabbed Cells
Solar Panel Aluminium Frame
Clear Epoxy Resin 40 ounces / 1Kg. + Epoxy Hardener 2 Epoxy resin x 1 Hardener.
➥ Best to use Silicone Elastomer Sylgard 184
➥ 6 or 8 gauge AWG Solar Wire (10 gauge 30Amps, 8 gauge 40Amps, 6 gauge 55Amps)
➥ Solder Iron 60/80W
➥ Multimeter. (Volts and Amps).
➥ 20 Amps PWM Charge controller
➥ 300/600W DC/AC Inverter
➥ 12V 48Ah Depp Cycle Battery
12V 90Ah Depp Cycle Battery
12V 120Ah Depp Cycle Battery

✦ Polycrystalline Solar Cells
+ The process used to make polycrystalline silicon is simpler and cost less.
+ Polycrystalline solar panels tend to have slightly lower heat tolerance than monocrystalline solar panels.
– The efficiency of polycrystalline-based solar panels is 14-16%.
– Lower space-efficiency. You need to cover more surface to output the same electrical power as Monocrystalline cells.

✦ Monocrystalline Solar Cells
+ Monocrystalline solar cells have the highest efficiency rates.
+ Monocrystalline silicon solar cells are space-efficient.
+ Monocrystalline cells have a long lifespan.
+ Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient in warm weather.
– Monocrystalline solar panels are the most expensive.

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Introduction: Make a Solar Cell Easily

today i want to share how to make a solar cell at home easily and it is fun to make.but firstly i want to tell you dont expect to light your house with these solar cells because it produces small voltage and may need acres of them to power the house!but yet it is easy and need ordinary stuff .but little caution is needed to handle and make the cell.it is great for science classes and projects

visit my profile:https://www.instructables.com/member/argha+halder/ to see some more of such interesting projects.

Step 1: Things Needed:

the things you will need:
1)gas or electric stove
2)copper plate or flashers -2
3)a transparent plastic or glass container
4)some wire
5)some water
6)salt
the tools you will need:
1)voltmetre(just for testing)
2)pliers
3)soldering iron

Step 2: Making the Semi Conductor Layer Part-1

every solar cell has a semi conductor plate and our cell contains one which is cuprous oxide that is made by burning or heating copper,why it is necessary is given in the step “how does it work”.so first take one of the two copper plates and hold it with a pliers.now turn on the stove and put the copper on the fire.the colour of the copper would start to become mixed like orange red and many other colour in one copper.heat it in that state for 20 minutes.
be extremely careful not to burn your hand and dont touch or dip the copper in water while its hot.

Step 3: Making the Semi Conductor Part-2

now take the heated copper and put aside on a dry place to cool.after some time you will see some black flakes is starting to pop and break and flying away.the skin will start to appear.now when it fully cools down the flakes will fall from the full copper plate and the copper will take reddish brown colour.now using hand or sand paper remove the flakes from the copper surface.

Step 4:

now take the transparent plastic container and pour some water in it.now take some salt and keep dissolving until any more salt does not get dissolved.

Step 5: Making the Connections Well

now take the heated copper and solder a wire to it.now take a normal copper plate and add an wire to it.

Step 6: Setting Everything Up!

now lets set everything.first take the two copper plates and place on the two inner sides of the tranparent plastic container containing salt water.make sure the two copper plates does not touch each other.its ready!the cuprous oxide end is the negative end and the copper is the positive end

Step 7: Lets Test It!!

now first add the wires of the solar cell we made to a voltmetre.now in the dark see that it is producing a small volt around 0.02-4.now bring the cell in the sun and see the metre jump to almost 0.40 volts!i know it is not very much.but i can’t think of anybody who wont be happy to see it work.now dont expect it to run your house.

Step 8: How Does It Work?

Cuprous oxide is a type of material called a semiconductor. A semiconductor is in between a conductor, where electricity can flow freely, and an insulator, where electrons are bound tightly to their atoms and do not flow freely.

In a semiconductor, there is a gap, called a bandgap between the electrons that are bound tightly to the atom, and the electrons that are farther from the atom, which can move freely and conduct electricity.

Electrons cannot stay inside the bandgap. An electron cannot gain just a little bit of energy and move away from the atom’s nucleus into the bandgap. An electron must gain enough energy to move farther away from the nucleus, outside of the bandgap.

Similarly, an electron outside the bandgap cannot lose a little bit of energy and fall just a little bit closer to the nucleus. It must lose enough energy to fall past the bandgap into the area where electrons are allowed.

When sunlight hits the electrons in the cuprous oxide, some of the electrons gain enough energy from the sunlight to jump past the bandgap and become free to conduct electricity.

The free electrons move into the saltwater, then into the clean copper plate, into the wire, through the meter, and back to the cuprous oxide plate.

As the electrons move through the meter, they perform the work needed to move the needle. When a shadow falls on the solar cell, fewer electrons move through the meter, and the needle dips back down.

Step 9: How to Make It Stronger

you can add two or three cells in parrallel and charge a battery of 1.5 volts with it.or you can make a joule thief to increase the volt.here is a link to make a joule thief instructions:https://www.instructables.com/id/make-a-joule-thief-easily/.or you may increase the size of copper plates and use a magnifiying glass to increase the brightness of light and centerise the light alling on a large place.you may put covering or sealing to not let the salt water dry.the ways are limitless.

Step 10: Troubleshooting

if your cell does not work then be sure you properly made the cuprous oxide or not.see whether you have not kept the copper place touching each other.make sure the plates are not touching each other.make sure you dont use cuprous oxide even instead of the bare copper plate.remember one plate should be copper and the other should cuprous oxide.i dont know or faced any more problems.
i am argha halder living in naogaon bangladesh.i read in class 7.i dont know english much as it is not my mother tongue language.and so if any mistake help me find it.give some more ideas.feel free to ask questions.i will try to answer them as much as possible for me.oh! i am soon shifting to usa.so maybe this will be my last instructable in 1 or 2 months.till then bye!have a nice day

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The amount of electrical energy we use will only increase in the future. Why hesitate to get started when you can start saving money and our earth right now? Electricity costs are steadily ascending. You can easily cut these costs by making your homemade solar energy. Solar panels are a renewable source of energy which is very cheap and effective.

By building the solar panels anyone can save hundreds of dollars a month for the rest of your life and they will help in reducing the usage of fossil fuels which helps in reducing the pollution. Solar Energy originates from the thermonuclear fusion reactions occurring in the sun. Solar Panel is responsible to collect solar radiations and transform into electrical energy.

Choosing solar energy to power your home is a great way of saving money and anyone can build a solar panel without any technical skills. By learning how to make solar panel you will find a great way to convert power from the sun into energy. Read our brief review of a great guide to build home solar power at home called DIY Home Energy System by Jeff Davis.

Simple Steps on How to Build Solar Panels

Before you start, please prepare the following components required: Solar cells, Plywood, Plexiglass, Tin Wire, Silicon, Soldering Iron, Solder, Rosin Flux Pen, UV protector, Batteries and Volt Meter. Let’s get started and follow this step by step on how to build solar panels!

Step 1: Cut the Plywood. Cut the plywood to the right shape and size so that your solar cell fits completely on the plywood. There are a lot of solar cells you can purchase from the market. The best option to buy is polycrystalline cells. The number of Solar cells you want basically depends on your solar panel size. Normally 80 solar cell generates 100 W of power.

Step 2: Apply UV Protector and Flux Pen. Apply UV protector coats to plywood. It makes the plywood more durable and helps in preventing wear and tear of plywood. After applying the UV protector, draw with a flux pen around the solder which helps in keeping the wiring down.

Step 3: Combine Solar Cells with Plywood. But before the connection of plywood with the cells, solder together all wiring and cells which helps in connecting the cells. After the connection of the rows, you have to attach the rows by using the wire. After that attach the cells with the plyboard with the help of silicon. Use silicon in a less quantity.

Step 4: Connect the Wires and Create a Border.. Drill holes in the plywood so that the wires can go through. Also, around the plywood make a border that covers your panel. Silicon should be used to as an adhesive which helps in preventing any water leakage from the borders of the panel.

Step 5: Connect Plexiglass with the Border. Plexiglass is a transparent acrylic plastic that often used in place of glass. Connect Plexiglass with the borders which will be able to cover the panel. Again use the silicon. After the previous step, you have to screw the plexiglass with the plywood for adding support. Keep in mind that the holes which you drill should be smaller than the screws so that it will not loose in future.

Step 6: Wire Your Panel to the Battery. Connect the final wire to a diode. A diode is a semiconductor with two terminals that allows the flow of current in one direction. After that connect your panel to a charge controller and then connect the charge controller to your batteries. Use the batteries. Once you have the batteries connected you can run your electronics appliances from the batteries.

Step 7: Moisture Prevention. Moisture can go into the panel whether your cells are completely sealed. So it is very important to prevent the moisture to save your Solar Panel drill a hole at the bottom of the panel which helps in passing the air and helps in preventing the moisture.

Conclusion

You can save electricity and your money by applying solar panels. It is very easy to make a solar panel. After making solar panel you can power anything that runs on DC current and you can also charge your car and bike batteries and many more.

Making Solar panel can be a great learning experience. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge for making the solar panel. We have a brief review of a great guide that will help you in making the panel and build solar power at home. You can read it here.

Introduction: Small Solar Panel

Construct a small, portable solar panel that will charge two AA rechargeable batteries in a day or two. Use the batteries to make any battery-powered device solar powered.

Step 1: Introduction

Construct a small, portable solar panel that will charge two AA rechargeable batteries in a day or two. Use the batteries to make any battery-powered device solar powered. Or use the panel to directly power small DC electronics.

The panel consists of eight 1″x3″ solar cells wired in series with a blocking diode mounted on a board and protected by clear plastic. In this configuration the panel provides about 250 milliamps at 4 volts, which will charge two batteries in a day or two, depending on the weather and the batteries’ capacity. Other solar cell configurations are possible to provide more or less power to, for instance, directly charge a 3.6 volt cell phone battery, or to provide a faster charge to AA batteries.

There are a number of off-the shelf small solar panels available on the web, but building one yourself gives you the flexibility to configure it to provide exactly the voltage and amperage your project needs. And it could be cheaper.

Step 2: Background

My original goal was to use several small 1″x3″ solar cells I’d purchased a year ago to charge my cell phone. For my first panel I connected nine cells in series and very simply mounted them on a board with no cover. That generated enough electricity to directly charge my cell phone.

However, it had several shortcomings. First, I found that I needed to charge the phone when the sun wasn’t shining. Second, when I wanted to receive calls the phone was often outside charging while I was inside. Third, the cells got dirty and one broke. Finally, because the circuit could run in either direction (no blocking diode), the cell phone battery would discharge to the panel when the was no light.

My solution to these problems was increase flexibility by charging two AA batteries instead of the cell phone and to put the charged batteries into the Minty Boost to charge the phone. To better protect the cells I glued them to the backing board and covered them with a clear plastic sheet. A blocking diode prevents battery discharge.

The inspiration for mounting the cells comes from otherpower.com
I couldn’t find any other resources on the internet with details for creating your own solar panels, but there must be something out there.

Step 3: Solar Cell Basics

It helps to understand some fundamentals about solar cells before designing a panel. All common solar cells, like the multicrystal cells used in this instructable, produce 0.5 volts or so. That is, the front and back have a 0.5 volt difference. The size of the cell determines the amperage. A full-sized cell (6″x6″) could produce three amps, depending on its design, but smaller cells may produce only 250 milliamps or less.

To increase the voltage of a panel, wire the cells in series. To increase the amperage, wire the cells in parallel.

Step 4: Materials

eight solar cells (I purchased multicrystal cells online. Try, for instance, Silicon Solar, Plastecs, eBay, or do a Google search.)

small gauge wire

ribbon wire (Flat wire commonly used to connect solar cells to one another. I purchased cells with the ribbon already attached to the front of each cell. You can connect with regular wire, but the flat ribbon is less likely to cause the cells to crack when mounted.)

clear plastic (I used plastic that was 0.1 inch thick)

four to six wood screws

battery holder for two AA batteries

wood, about 1/2 inch thick panel

adhesive (I used an adhesive/sealant intended for bathrooms, but silicon should work fine)

UV light shines through a sample of transparent material containing quantum dots, tiny nanoparticles that can be used to harness solar energy for electricity. | Photo courtesy of LANL.

Researchers in the Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics at Los Alamos National Laboratory are seeking to transform everyday windows into solar collectors by harnessing the unique properties of quantum dots.

The advantages of solar power as a source of clean, renewable energy seem obvious. Sunlight is abundant, free and, for all practical purposes, eternal. While the price of solar photovoltaic cells recently has plummeted and their efficiency has gone up, challenges remain around siting vast arrays of solar-electric panels and finding ways to integrate them into buildings and other applications.

These challenges prompted a joint research team from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy to try a fresh approach to solar power. Working with quantum dots, the team achieved a breakthrough in solar-concentrating technology that can turn windows into electric generators and revolutionize the way we think about where and how we generate energy.

Think about it: If windows can generate electricity for use on site, the consumer would gain the advantages of free, non-polluting power and at least partial grid independence. The grid would reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, gain resilience and get relief from peak-use demands, which would slash greenhouse gas emissions. Solar windows would also be practically unnoticeable, meaning you could reap the benefits of solar power at home with a minimum of impact on you or the community around you.

If this technology replaced all the glazing on the One World Trade Center building in New York City, the windows could power more than 350 apartments.

Quantum dots fashioned from a light-emitting material make it work. As nanocrystals roughly one-billionth of a meter across, or just 10 to 50 atoms wide, quantum dots obey quantum-mechanics laws. That trait gives them properties that can be manipulated in the laboratory. Quantum dots can absorb light at one wavelength, efficiently convert it and re-emit it at another wavelength. A bigger quantum dot emits on the red end of the spectrum, a smaller dot on the green-blue end. By adjusting the dots’ size, we can precisely tune those wavelengths to suit our purposes. A luminescent solar concentrator consists of quantum dots dispersed in a clear plastic material, which forms a waveguide. The quantum dots absorb sunlight and convert it to a wavelength best suited for the PV cells. Then the waveguide directs light toward the solar cells installed at its edges, which make electricity.

That sounds fine in theory, but the team had to fix a few deal-breaking problems that plagued earlier, proof-of-concept demonstrations of related solar-concentrating technologies, including the use of materials containing environmentally harmful metals. The team solved these problems by creating quantum dots of copper, indium, selenium and sulfur, a composition without any toxic metals. A new industrial method developed by the University of Milan embeds the dots in a transparent material, where the dots absorb uniformly across the solar spectrum. The team’s quantum dots re-emit infrared light, which is ideal for the most common silicon solar cells, yet invisible to the human eye: Occupants in the room will notice only a slight, neutral-colored tinting effect, much like the filtering of conventional “low-E” windows that saves on cooling bills.

Turning windows into solar collectors is the kind of disruptive technology that can revolutionize energy generation and consumption and contribute to a low-carbon energy future. Someday, buildings ranging from your own house to urban skyscrapers might generate much of their own electricity through innocuous luminescent solar concentrating windows. If this technology replaced all the glazing on the One World Trade Center building in New York City, the windows could power more than 350 apartments. How’s that for megascale impact from nanotechnology?

Editor’s Note: This post was written about research led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the Department of Energy’s 17 National Laboratories.

July 16, 2020 by Hung Nguyen

Here are two ways to save any Google Doc to PDF format.

Google docs have become a staple for any digital workspace. They have also made it relatively simple to download files in PDF format.

How to Save a Google Doc as a PDF File

Open your document.

Click File > Download > PDF.

The download should start within a few seconds.

Double-check to make sure that the file looks right.

Saving a Google Doc as a PDF file with this three-click action.

My PDF Doesn’t Look Right

Although you can easily convert files from Google Drive to PDF documents, the export may not be 100% accurate. For instance, errors are very common when you convert scanned content.

If this happens, you can convert a Google Doc to a .docx file, and then use our (Smallpdf) converter to try and convert it to a PDF instead.

How to Convert a Google Doc to a PDF, Using Smallpdf

Open the Google Doc, click File> Download.

Save the file as a .docx instead.

Open our Word to PDF tool, drag the .docx in the toolbox.

Convert and download your doc as a PDF.

We don’t directly support Google Doc files—but when it comes to Microsoft Office documents, Smallpdf is the most popular online Word to PDF converter. Think of it as a smart transition between tools, as you convert your document to your desired format (PDF).

As such, you can take advantage of our free tool to quickly save your Google Doc as a PDF.

If you decide to save the newly saved .docx file from Google Drive, you can also import the file directly from our tool page, by clicking the ‘Google Drive’ button (to access your Drive account).

Save PDF back to Google Doc

Google Drive also offers the option to convert PDF to Google Doc. All you have to do is drag and drop the PDF to your Drive, double-click on it, and pick the option to open as a Google Doc.

Google will use OCR to extract the content of your document into an editable Google Doc. If this fails, head back to our converter, save your PDF back to Word format (using the OCR option), and then try to export it to Google Doc again. If all else fails, copy and paste the content manually into your Google Doc instead!

Your Secure Document Processing Tool

Our web pages run reliability for 30 million monthly users, 24/7.

Smallpdf’s servers use SSL encryption to ensure a protected environment for all users—from the moment you upload a document to when you download the created PDF file.

Better yet, you can use our service for other Google documents as well, including presentations and spreadsheets. There is a tool for each file type on our website: Excel to PDF, PPT to PDF, and even JPG to PDF.

And as an online site, feel free to convert your file from your Chrome browser, Safari, or Edge.

Audrey Goodwin

2021-05-12 12:20:51 • Filed to: Knowledge of PDF • Proven solutions

What is Google Docs? Google Docs provides a great solution for sharing documents of all types but more so for collaborating on projects. It is by far the most popular method for document creation simply because you can share the documents with anyone as long as they have a Google account. The person you share the files with can then make changes that you can view and respond to in real-time.

As to PDF documents, it is possible to open PDF in Google Docs, but Google Docs has a few shortcomings when it comes to editing PDF files. While you can open the PDF files in Google Docs, read and organize them, it is not very easy to edit them. In this article, we are going to provide a solution to this problem.

How to Open PDF with Google Docs

Follow these very simple steps to open a PDF document in Google Docs directlyпјљ

Step 1: Go to your Google Drive and log in to your account. Once inside, click on the “Upload” icon to upload files on to your account. This will allow you to browse the PDF file on your computer.
Step 2: Once the file had been uploaded, right-click on it, and then select “Open With > Google Docs.”
Step 3: In the pop-up window that appears, browse to choose the target image and then click “Open” to import it.

As effective as Google Docs can sometimes be, it does come with a few shortcomings. Some of them include:

• Opening a PDF in Google Docs may not always work, and the images in the original PDF may be missing in the uploaded document.
• You can’t edit the text in the document in Google Docs, and you can just copy the text in a new Google Docs file and then edit the words from there.
• Google Docs lacks some of the more advanced editing functions you will find on other PDF programs such as adding pages, deleting pages, and even adding and removing images.

Better Solution to Open PDF in Google Docs

If you need a better way to open PDF files, you may require the needs of PDFelement. This program is designed to make it easier for you to not only open and read PDFs but also give you a plethora of editing options to choose from.

Unlike Google Docs, PDFelement allows you easily and effectively edit both text and the graphics in the document. You can easily select any section of text and either delete it completely or make changes in terms of font and even color. You can also remove whole sections of the document and add even larger sections into the document.

Also, unlike Google Docs, the document you add to PDF elements will not be altered in any way. You can expect all of the content in the document to be in the same condition as the original document. If you, however, don’t like the images or their positioning, PDFelement does give you the option to make any changes you need to. You can easily remove, reorder, or resize the images as well as easily add more images into the document. Moreover, the Document Cloud service allows you to share your documents with the cloud so that you can view your document on any device.

Here’s how to open PDF without Google Docs. Begin by downloading and installing Wondershare PDFelement on your computer. Launch the program and then follow these very simple steps to open and edit your PDF file.

Step 1: Open the PDF File

To open the PDF file into the program, you can click on the “Open files” button and choose the PDF file you want to open.

You can also drag and drop your PDF document into this program.

Step 2: Edit the Document

Now that the document is open, you can go ahead and edit sections of it. To do this, click on the “Edit” tab where you will find a number of editing options, including “Add Text,” “Add Image,” and “Link,” among others.

Choose the option that corresponds to the action you want to take on the PDF document that you uploaded. For example, choose “Add Image” if you would like to add an image anywhere in the document. You can then browse for the image you wish to add. Once the image is in the document, you will see a blue box around it, click on the edges of this box to resize the image.

Step 3: Convert after Opening the PDF

Once you are happy with all of the changes you wish to make to the document, you can convert the file into a more Google Docs-friendly format such as Word. Fortunately, PDFelement makes this very easy. Just click on “Convert” and then select the “To Word” option to convert the file. Click “Save” in the pop-up window to begin the conversion.

The whole process should take just a few seconds. You should then see another dialogue box confirming that the conversion process is complete. Click on the link next to “Output Folder” to go to the folder containing the converted file. You can then upload the edited, converted file to Google Docs and share it with your networks.

Tips on How to Use Google Docs

Everyone with a Google account has access to Google Docs, which is an online word processor that allows users to create and format documents that can be shared with other people. The single biggest advantage of using Google docs is that it makes collaboration on projects quite easy. Any changes made to the document can be viewed and responded to in normal time.

If this seems like something you might want to use, here are a few tips to make Google Docs even better.

• Enable offline access in Google docs to allow you to work offline, and when you connect to the internet, all changes are synced. To do this, click on the gear icon at the right corner and then ensure that “sync your work to this computer so you can edit offline” is enabled.
• You can also publish documents online. Just click on “File> publish.” You will then get a link that you can share with others.
• Fix typos in the document by going to “Tools> Spell Check.”

There are plenty of reasons that you might want to convert any file formats to PDF including Google Docs. Well, as you all know that PDF file is one the most used file format and can be easily shared across multiple platforms when it’s compressed into a smaller size. So, in this guide, you will learn how to convert Google Docs to PDF on a computer and Android devices.

Meanwhile, when we want to convert a document to another format, we usually use third-party apps converter or even online tools. Luckily, modern apps have a built-in feature that you nonchalantly convert any document format to another file format.

For example, if you want to convert a word document to PDF, you can do it within Microsoft Word without using any other sources. In the meantime, you can also export Google Docs to PDF within the Google Docs app or website on both computer and mobile apps ( Android & iOS).

How to Export Docs to PDF on Computer

You can easily convert any documents that you’re created or creating in Google docs without using and online tools and third-party converter. In fact, you can do it in two different ways. You can either download a document as a PDF or save a document as a PDF. I will show you both ways.

Method 1: Download Google Documents as a PDF

Step 1. Go to Google Docs’ official website and sign in if required.

Step 2. You can either create a document in Google Docs or simply open a document in Google Docs.

Step 3. Now, click the File tab, click Download, and at last select PDF Document (.pdf).

Download Google Documents as a PDF

Step 4. Select the file location and click Save.

Method 2: Save a document as a PDF

Step 1. Go to Google Docs’ official website and sign in if required.

Step 2. You can either create a document in Google Docs or simply open a document in Google Docs.

Step 3. Click the File tab and select Print from the bottom of the list.

Save a document as a PDF

Step 4. Choose Save as PDF from the Destination drop-down menu and click Save.

Save a document as a PDF

Step 5. Select the file location and click Save.

Method 3. Send Google Docs as a PDF

The last method is also a useful way to export documents as a PDF. You can directly email your documents as a PDF and at the same time, you can keep a copy of that document on your computer as well.

Step 1. You can either create a document in Google Docs or simply open a document in Google Docs.

Step 2. Click on the File tab and select Email as attachment.

Send Google Docs as a PDF

Step 3. Make sure PDF is selected and if you want to send a copy for yourself then check the box next Send yourself a copy. However, if you want to send your document as a PDF to your colleagues and friends then complete the details such as Email, Subject, and Message. When done click Send.

Send Google Docs as a PDF

How to Convert Google Docs to PDF on Android (Mobile App)

Step 1. You can launch either the Google Docs or Google Drive app and open the document that you want to convert to PDF.

Step 2. Tap the three dots icon on the top right-hand corner and select Share & export.

Step 3. Tap Print.

Step 4. Tap on the PDF icon in the yellow circle on the top right-hand corner.

Step 5. Choose the destination folder and tap Save.

Convert Google Docs to PDF

Wrapping Up

That’s it. This post was all about how to convert or export Google Docs to PDF on the computer and Android devices. On the computer, you have three methods to convert Google Docs to PDF while on mobile there are some limitations.

What is Google Docs?

Google Docs is a word processor which is available as a web application, mobile app for Android, iOS, Windows, BlackBerry, and as a desktop application on Google’s ChromeOS. It is developed by Google and saves its data over Google Drive which is another free to use Google-developed cloud storage. This application allows the user to create and edit files while collaborating with other users in real-time.

What is PDF?

Portable Document Format or commonly called PDF is a file format developed by Adobe in the 1990s to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. PDF has an ability to correctly display content such as documents, forms, images, and web pages encoded in PDF format.

Convert Google Docs to PDF on Android

Since PDF is widely used and recommended, we shall learn how can you extract contents from a Google Doc sheet into a PDF encoded file easily.

Method 1

• On your device download and install Google Docs if not already.
• On the home screen of the app, click on three dots that appear next to your desired file.

• Simply click on “Download” from the pop-up windows.

• Google Docs by default will download the file in a PDF format.

Method 2

Now if the above method is not working on your Android phone, then you can follow the steps shown in Method 2 below.

• Open Google Docs and select and click on the desired file.
• Click on Three dots at the top right-hand side.

• From the resultant drop-down menu, click on “Share & export“.

• Again from the new menu, click on “Save as“.

• Select the format as “PDF” and hit “OK“.

This would open the file as PDF on your phone. Press the download options on the windows to have the file locally on your Android phone.

The PDF files would be available on your Google Drive folder. But on the phone through Google Docs you will not be able to open it.

Mehvish

10 Jun 2019

When we want to convert a document or file from one file type to another, we take the help of third-party services usually. However, most modern apps package that feature these days.

For instance, when you want to convert a Word document to PDF. You can easily do it offline from Microsoft Word itself. Similarly, you can convert a Google Docs document to PDF without taking any external help. The feature is built right inside Google Docs on both desktop and mobile apps (Android/iOS).

Without further ado, let’s see how to save Docs as PDF.

Convert Google Docs to PDF on Desktop

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Google Docs file on your PC from either the Docs or Drive website.

Step 2: Click on File in the top bar and choose Download as. Then select PDF document.

Step 3: A dialog box will open asking you to name the file. Give it a name and save it.

Convert Google Docs to PDF on Android

To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch the Docs or Google Drive app on your phone and open the document that you want to convert to PDF.

Step 2: Tap on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner and select Share & export.

Step 3: Tap on Save As followed by PDF Document and press Ok.

The file will be saved on Google Drive. To download it to your phone, follow the next step.

Step 4: You will be taken to a new screen. Tap on the download icon at the top. Now the PDF file will be available on your phone that you can easily share with others.

Mehvish

10 Jun 2019

When we want to convert a document or file from one file type to another, we take the help of third-party services usually. However, most modern apps package that feature these days.

For instance, when you want to convert a Word document to PDF. You can easily do it offline from Microsoft Word itself. Similarly, you can convert a Google Docs document to PDF without taking any external help. The feature is built right inside Google Docs on both desktop and mobile apps (Android/iOS).

Without further ado, let’s see how to save Docs as PDF.

Convert Google Docs to PDF on Desktop

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Google Docs file on your PC from either the Docs or Drive website.

Step 2: Click on File in the top bar and choose Download as. Then select PDF document.

Step 3: A dialog box will open asking you to name the file. Give it a name and save it.

Convert Google Docs to PDF on Android

To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch the Docs or Google Drive app on your phone and open the document that you want to convert to PDF.

Step 2: Tap on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner and select Share & export.

Step 3: Tap on Save As followed by PDF Document and press Ok.

The file will be saved on Google Drive. To download it to your phone, follow the next step.

Step 4: You will be taken to a new screen. Tap on the download icon at the top. Now the PDF file will be available on your phone that you can easily share with others.

There are a few ways to convert a Google Doc into a PDF.

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

What To Know

• To download: Open the document, and go to File >Download >PDF Document (.pdf).
• To use email: Open the document and go to File >Email as attachment. Enter the address, convert (optional), and Send.
• To save to Google Drive: Open the document and go to File >Print. Pick Save to Google Drive as the Destination, and Save.

This article explains how to use Google Docs to convert a document to a PDF file and save it to various places, like email and your Google Drive. The instructions in this article apply to the desktop version of Google Docs, which is accessed through a web browser.

How to Download a PDF Version of a Google Doc

Log into Google Docs and open the document you wish to convert to PDF.

Select File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf).

Check your computer’s download folder for the PDF you just created. You can access your downloaded PDF file here.

If your browser is not setup to ask you where to save downloaded files, the file will automatically be placed in your Download folder. Otherwise, you will be prompted to choose a location and filename for the document, and then to press Save to save it.

How to Email a PDF Version of a Google Doc

Log into Google Docs, and open the document you wish to convert to PDF.

Select File > Email as attachment.

Enter the recipient’s email address. Use your email address if you’d like to have the converted document delivered to your inbox.

Enter a subject header, and, if you’d like, a message.

Select Send. The recipient(s) will receive the PDF as an email attachment, which they can then download.

How to Save a PDF Version of a Google Doc to Google Drive

These instructions only work for Google Chrome.

With the Google Doc open, select File > Print.

In the Destination field, select Save to Google Drive, then select Save.

The PDF will be saved to your Google Drive. You can view or share it directly from this location.

What Are the Benefits of a PDF file?

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. The format was created by Adobe in the early 1990s as a way to share files without compromising a document’s formatting. Before then, sharing files between computers could be problematic, as it was common for fonts, text sizes, and other settings to get lost or altered.

PDF solves that problem. When someone opens a PDF file, it looks exactly how it did when it was saved. The formatting is locked into the document, preventing unwanted changes.

People also like PDF because it allows for visual elements like clip art, digital images, and photographs. Others prefer it because it looks more polished and professional. The format uses internal compression, which means it uses less space than other file types, making it ideal for emailing, printing, and uploading documents to the web.

In addition to preserving your formatting, PDFs remove unnecessary and distracting elements from digital documents, like margins and outlines. They also preserve document formatting when printed out.

When Should You Use PDF?

You should consider using the PDF format for any of the following documents:

• Legal forms, such as contracts, leases, and bills of sale.
• Invoices, resumes, cover letters, and online portfolios.
• Downloadable materials, such as ebooks, product manuals, or white papers
• School projects and research papers.

More Options for Saving PDFs From Google Docs

In addition to these methods for saving a Google Doc as a PDF, you can install third-party software, such as DriveConverter, which lets you download Google files into different formats, including PDF, JPG, and MP3.

There are a few ways to convert a Google Doc into a PDF.

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

What To Know

• To download: Open the document, and go to File >Download >PDF Document (.pdf).
• To use email: Open the document and go to File >Email as attachment. Enter the address, convert (optional), and Send.
• To save to Google Drive: Open the document and go to File >Print. Pick Save to Google Drive as the Destination, and Save.

This article explains how to use Google Docs to convert a document to a PDF file and save it to various places, like email and your Google Drive. The instructions in this article apply to the desktop version of Google Docs, which is accessed through a web browser.

How to Download a PDF Version of a Google Doc

Log into Google Docs and open the document you wish to convert to PDF.

Select File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf).

Check your computer’s download folder for the PDF you just created. You can access your downloaded PDF file here.

If your browser is not setup to ask you where to save downloaded files, the file will automatically be placed in your Download folder. Otherwise, you will be prompted to choose a location and filename for the document, and then to press Save to save it.

How to Email a PDF Version of a Google Doc

Log into Google Docs, and open the document you wish to convert to PDF.

Select File > Email as attachment.

Enter the recipient’s email address. Use your email address if you’d like to have the converted document delivered to your inbox.

Enter a subject header, and, if you’d like, a message.

Select Send. The recipient(s) will receive the PDF as an email attachment, which they can then download.

How to Save a PDF Version of a Google Doc to Google Drive

These instructions only work for Google Chrome.

With the Google Doc open, select File > Print.

In the Destination field, select Save to Google Drive, then select Save.

The PDF will be saved to your Google Drive. You can view or share it directly from this location.

What Are the Benefits of a PDF file?

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. The format was created by Adobe in the early 1990s as a way to share files without compromising a document’s formatting. Before then, sharing files between computers could be problematic, as it was common for fonts, text sizes, and other settings to get lost or altered.

PDF solves that problem. When someone opens a PDF file, it looks exactly how it did when it was saved. The formatting is locked into the document, preventing unwanted changes.

People also like PDF because it allows for visual elements like clip art, digital images, and photographs. Others prefer it because it looks more polished and professional. The format uses internal compression, which means it uses less space than other file types, making it ideal for emailing, printing, and uploading documents to the web.

In addition to preserving your formatting, PDFs remove unnecessary and distracting elements from digital documents, like margins and outlines. They also preserve document formatting when printed out.

When Should You Use PDF?

You should consider using the PDF format for any of the following documents:

• Legal forms, such as contracts, leases, and bills of sale.
• Invoices, resumes, cover letters, and online portfolios.
• Downloadable materials, such as ebooks, product manuals, or white papers
• School projects and research papers.

More Options for Saving PDFs From Google Docs

In addition to these methods for saving a Google Doc as a PDF, you can install third-party software, such as DriveConverter, which lets you download Google files into different formats, including PDF, JPG, and MP3.

By Kate Kozuch 28 April 2021

Keep social distancing and play Cards Against Humanity online with friends

Playing Cards Against Humanity online is a great way to have fun with friends while you’re still social distancing or if they’re far away. Cards Against Humanity is one of the best board games that easily transfers to the virtual realm. Zoom and dirty humor were made for each other! Playing Cards Against Humanity online can entertain you and your friends for hours on end.

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Before you learn how to play Cards Against Humanity online, there are a couple things you’ll need. Make sure you’re situated with one of the best video chat apps, like Zoom. Check out our guide on how to use Zoom to initiate a meeting with your fellow players.

Version 2.0 of Cards Against Humanity, the “party game for horrible people,” costs $25 and comes with 600 cards, 50 more than before. Plus, there are 150 brand-new cards so you can submit even funnier answers than ever. You can also expand the game with the Absurd Box, the Red Box, the 2000s Nostalgia Pack, the College Pack and more.View Deal

You’ll also want to know the basic rules of Cards Against Humanity. Your goal is to complete fill-in-the-blank statements using offensive words or phrases from the hand dealt to you. Players take turns judging each round, picking which white card best suits the black card’s prompt.

The goal is have your white card picked, and collect the black cards as points. Think of it like Apples to Apples, only more apathy. There’s also a new Cards Against Humanity Family Edition, which you can print and play here. Yes, it’s by the actual CAH team. We’re as shocked as anyone.

Now that you know the rules and your chatroom is ready, it’s time to get your lewd imagination going. Here’s how to play Cards Against Humanity online with friends.

How to play Cards Against Humanity online

If you’re looking for how to play Cards Against Humanity online, you’ll likely learn about a website called Playingcards.io.

Playingcards.io is the easiest way to get a game of Cards Against Humanity started online. The software is even simple enough for your grandparents to use, should you feel comfortable playing this raunchy version of Apples to Apples with them.

• Step 1: Visit playingcards.io,
• Step 2: Scroll down to ‘Play your favorite tabletop game or make your own’ > ‘Cards Against Humanity’ > ‘Start Game’.
• Step 3: Copy the game room link and share it with up to 5 other friends. Click enter when everyone has the link and you’re ready to get started.

You’ll see a digital card board with black and white cards at the top. The board also has discard piles, winning piles and places to play your white cards in the middle. The white box at the bottom is your hand of cards — no one can see what ridiculous moves you have to play.

This version of Cards Against Humanity online doesn’t do much for you, so you’ll have to move the cards around as you would if you were playing in-person. You can also see where players cursors are in real-time, so you can see who is moving cards around at any given time.

For more online entertainment you can enjoy with friends while stuck at home, here’s how to use Netflix Party and how to use Houseparty.

• What are the best VR games to play
• The best Nintendo Switch games right now

Cards Against Humanity quickly became popular among college students and gamers despite not being sold by retailers. The Linky Blogger tracked down all the stores that sell Cards Against Humanity to save you time.

Cards Against Humanity is a very popular party game that encourages people to show their ‘horrible’ inner selves. It is a very amusing game that has grown in popularity over the past 2-3 years since it was first released. The game is part trivia, part opinion based on the cards you are dealt and which deck you are using. But you already know all this, don’t you? I am just explaining physics to the physicists. So let me cut to the chase and talk about where you can buy Cards Against Humanity. Or, to be precise, which stores sell Cards Against Humanity.

This is an interesting question because I know from having searched high and low for popular games myself that stores sometimes sell out of stock. What’s worse, if you are looking for a game in the off season the stores may be slow to restock it because they can always use shelf space to carry products that are “in season”.

In my experience the best time of year to find games like Cards Against Humanity in the stores is the holiday shopping season, which begins right after Halloween and ends right after New Year’s Day. Of course you can get the best deals after the shopping season because all the seasonal merchandise is put on clearance. But don’t panic. There is one store that almost always has what you want in stock:

I’m sorry I waited three paragraphs to tell you that but I know we’re not finished because not everyone wants to shop at Amazon. If you’re an Amazon Prime member I guess it makes no difference but if you have not signed up for the Amazon Prime program then it is a little more expensive for you to make some purchases online.

But don’t panic. I have done some research and learned where else you can buy Cards Against Humanity, probably close to home. Let’s take a look at which stores sell Cards Against Humanity.

Which Specialty Toy and Game Stores Sell Cards Against Humanity?

Okay, there is only one major toy store company left in North America: Toys’R’Us. Believe it or not, they do not sell the game, at least not when I checked.

But then Toys’R’Us specializes in games for younger people and Cards Against Humanity is really not suitable for young children. So while you may find some traditional games like Chess and popular board games like Axis and Allies at Toys’R’Us, you’re not likely to find many games that appeal to adults.

You might find some regional comic book or gaming shops that sell Cards Against Humanity but I’m not sure it’s worth looking. I checked Party City and they do not carry the game.

Sorry. I don’t think specialty toy and game stores sell this game.

Which Book Stores Sell Cards Against Humanity?

Well, you might think that if book stores are struggling to stay relevant into today’s cutthroat retail world they would sell popular products like this game. In 2016 Barnes and Noble did not carry the game. But we checked again in 2017 and 2020 and now the game as well as some not-safe-for-work merchandise inspired by the game is available for sale. They don’t have any of the expansion sets. It doesn’t look like Barnes and Noble sells these products directly. Instead, you buy them through their “marketplace sellers”.

BooksAMillion lists an unofficial score keeping book for the game and a “for dummies …” book about Cards Against Humanity but nothing else.

Regrettably, the Hastings book store chain went out of business in 2016 but they were not selling the game at that time anyway.

We looked at Powell’s Website but they don’t list Cards Against Humanity so you cannot buy the game from Powell’s.

Which Warehouse Membership Stores Sell Cards Against Humanity?

The warehouse membership clubs are BJ’s, CostCo, and Sam’s Club. I was hoping to find that at least one of these companies might sell the game on their Websites, but they do not even have it listed on the Web.

However that makes sense because these companies usually sell toys and games only when they are in season and only when there is a lot of local demand for such items.

Which Discount Retail Stores Sell Cards Against Humanity?

Okay, having failed with the toy shops, gaming stores, book stores, and the warehouse membership stores I decided to check into the major retail stores. There are not many of them. Here is what I was able to find.

K-Mart – I could not find any trace of the game at K-Mart stores.

Sears – I could not find this game at Sears. Sears is owned by K-Mart so that makes sense.

Target – This is a really strange company. I saw an ad on Google for Target and Cards Against Humanity, but when I checked Target they did not have the game. Maybe their advertising is running on autopilot and it got carried away.

Walmart – It looks like Walmart is the only local retail store you can find which sells Cards Against Humanity. If your local Walmart does not have the game in stock you can check their Website and order it online. When I last checked, in April 2020, you could order Cards Against Humanity online from Walmart.

See Who Else Is Trying to Help You Buy Cards Against Humanity

I found these articles that might also be of help to you. Their information is a little older than mine but you should check them out.

One Last Place to Look for the Game Cards Against Humanity

Believe it or not, there is an official Website where you can look for the game. You may be able to buy the game directly from them.

cardsagainsthumanity.com

There is a store on the Website but I have not used it.

I hope that helps you find which stores sell Cards Against Humanity. I was very surprised to learn that so few stores do sell the game. Maybe that will change as it becomes more popular. They do seem to have an awful lot of expansion sets. I think that means people keep buying the game and playing it with their friends.

If you want to know more about the game and how to play it, I recommend you check out this article: “How to Play Cards Against Humanity” from Card Gaming Info. That’s a great article and a really nice site.

Good luck and I hope you can find stores that sell Cards Against Humanity at a good price and with convenient availability for you and your friends.

Setup

To start the game, each player draws ten White Cards.

Game Play

One randomly chosen player begins as the Card Czar and plays a Black Card. The Card Czar reads the question or fill-in-the-blank phrase on the Black Card out loud.

Everyone else answers the question or fills in the blank by passing one White Card, face down, to the Card Czar.

The Card Czar shuffles all of the answers and shares each card combination with the group. For full effect, the Card Czar should usually re-read the Black Card before presenting each answer.

The Card Czar then picks a favorite, and whoever played that answer keeps the Black Card as one Awesome Point.

After the round, a new player becomes the Card Czar and everyone draws back up to ten White Cards.

Pick 2s

Some cards say “Pick 2” on the bottom. To answer these, each player plays two White Cards in combination. Play them in the order that the Card Czar should read them – the order matters.

If the Card Czar has lobster claws for hands, you can use paperclips to secure the cards in the right order.

Gambling

If a Black Card is played and you have more than one White Card that you think could win, you can bet one of your Awesome Points to play one additional White Card.

If you win, you keep your point. If you lose, whoever wins the round gets the point you wagered.

House Rules

Cards Against Humanity is meant to be remixed. Here are some of our favorite ways to pimp out the rules.

Happy Ending

When you’re ready to stop playing, play the “Make a Haiku” Black Card to end the game. This is the official ceremonial ending of a good game of Cards Against Humanity, and this card should be reserved for the end. (Note: Haikus don’t need to follow the 5-7-5 form. They just have to be read dramatically).

The Stepto Maneuver

At any time, players may trade in an Awesome Point to return as many White Cards as they’d like to the deck and draw back up to ten.

Packing Heat

For Pick 2s, all players draw an extra card before playing the hand to open up more options.

Rando Cardrissian

Every round, pick one random White Card from the pile and place it into play. This card belongs to an imaginary player named Rando Cardrissian, and if he wins the game, all players go home in a state of everlasting shame.

Never Have I Ever

At any time, players may discard cards that they don’t understand, but they must confess their ignorance to the group and suffer the resulting humiliation.

By Kate Kozuch 28 April 2021

Keep social distancing and play Cards Against Humanity online with friends

Playing Cards Against Humanity online is a great way to have fun with friends while you’re still social distancing or if they’re far away. Cards Against Humanity is one of the best board games that easily transfers to the virtual realm. Zoom and dirty humor were made for each other! Playing Cards Against Humanity online can entertain you and your friends for hours on end.

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Before you learn how to play Cards Against Humanity online, there are a couple things you’ll need. Make sure you’re situated with one of the best video chat apps, like Zoom. Check out our guide on how to use Zoom to initiate a meeting with your fellow players.

Version 2.0 of Cards Against Humanity, the “party game for horrible people,” costs $25 and comes with 600 cards, 50 more than before. Plus, there are 150 brand-new cards so you can submit even funnier answers than ever. You can also expand the game with the Absurd Box, the Red Box, the 2000s Nostalgia Pack, the College Pack and more.View Deal

You’ll also want to know the basic rules of Cards Against Humanity. Your goal is to complete fill-in-the-blank statements using offensive words or phrases from the hand dealt to you. Players take turns judging each round, picking which white card best suits the black card’s prompt.

The goal is have your white card picked, and collect the black cards as points. Think of it like Apples to Apples, only more apathy. There’s also a new Cards Against Humanity Family Edition, which you can print and play here. Yes, it’s by the actual CAH team. We’re as shocked as anyone.

Now that you know the rules and your chatroom is ready, it’s time to get your lewd imagination going. Here’s how to play Cards Against Humanity online with friends.

How to play Cards Against Humanity online

If you’re looking for how to play Cards Against Humanity online, you’ll likely learn about a website called Playingcards.io.

Playingcards.io is the easiest way to get a game of Cards Against Humanity started online. The software is even simple enough for your grandparents to use, should you feel comfortable playing this raunchy version of Apples to Apples with them.

• Step 1: Visit playingcards.io,
• Step 2: Scroll down to ‘Play your favorite tabletop game or make your own’ > ‘Cards Against Humanity’ > ‘Start Game’.
• Step 3: Copy the game room link and share it with up to 5 other friends. Click enter when everyone has the link and you’re ready to get started.

You’ll see a digital card board with black and white cards at the top. The board also has discard piles, winning piles and places to play your white cards in the middle. The white box at the bottom is your hand of cards — no one can see what ridiculous moves you have to play.

This version of Cards Against Humanity online doesn’t do much for you, so you’ll have to move the cards around as you would if you were playing in-person. You can also see where players cursors are in real-time, so you can see who is moving cards around at any given time.

For more online entertainment you can enjoy with friends while stuck at home, here’s how to use Netflix Party and how to use Houseparty.

• What are the best VR games to play
• The best Nintendo Switch games right now

Socially distancing just got a whole lot more fun

Not interested in playing Cards Against Humanity with your immediate family while stuck at home? Don’t fear: now there’s a way to play the often-risqué party game with friends while still abiding by safe social distancing guidelines.

It turns out that Cards Against Humanity can be played online — for free!

All you need is a computer or smartphone, plus a webcam if you’re curious to see the other players’ facial expressions when they inevitably read a cringe-worthy card.

Here are the three ways to play:

Playingcards.io

The first option, which is probably the simplest, requires players to head to playingcards.io. From there, scroll down and press “Cards Against Humanity,” then “Start Game,” and send that link to other players, who will join by pressing “Enter Game.”

Once the game begins you’re entirely on your own. Meaning, you have to deal the cards, move them, and discard them by clicking around, which makes you feel like you’re playing the real deal.

It’s also possible to see where your opponents’ cursors or fingers are on the screen, so you can easily detect if someone is trying to sneak a peek at the cards you’ve played.

This version allows up to 6 participants.

Pretend You’re Zyxxy

While this isn’t exactly Cards Against Humanity, the website Pretend You’re Zyxxy allows for more players, any expansions, and a much more in-depth level of play.

Go to the website, create a username, hit ‘Create Game’ in the top left corner, and then share the link to your pals so they can jump in.

Once all the players are present, the game can be played with any and all expansion packs and extra rules, such as a time multiplier and points limit. Participants that don’t want to play can also join as spectators.

This game allows anywhere from 3 to 20 participants.

Cards Against Humanity Lab

CAH Lab is played by just one person per game and involves an AI dealing one black card and a selection of white cards. The player has to choose the funniest card, or in some cases, which cards aren’t funny, so that the AI knows which cards are the best.

While this game isn’t necessarily a competition, it can be pretty hilarious for the player having to pick between the AI’s choice of cards.

Many of the cards also aren’t found in the real game packs, so the player can expect the unexpected when it comes to which crazy phrase is coming their way next.

Now get playing — you’ve got plenty of free time!

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. To help provide doctors and nurses on the front lines with life-saving medical resources, donate to Direct Relief here.

• 1. What is the goal?
• 2. Game setup
• 3. Gameplay
  • 3.1. Basic Rules
    • 3.1.1. Pick 2 cards
    • 3.1.2.
    • 3.1.3. Gambling
  • 3.2. House Rules
    • 3.2.1. Happy Ending
    • 3.2.2. Packing Heat
    • 3.2.3. Rando Cardrissian
    • 3.2.4. God Is Dead
    • 3.2.5. Survival of the Fittest
    • 3.2.6. Serious Business
    • 3.2.7. Never Have I Ever
• 4. How do you win?

Check out our easy to read Cards Against Humanity Rules – how to play online guide

If you find this useful please share!

What is the goal?

The goal of Cards Against Humanity is to pair the question and answer cards in the funniest, most provocative and intelligent way possible.

Game setup

Gameplay

Basic Rules

Randomly select a player to be the Card Czar, who will then play a Black Card. They will then read the question or fill-in-the-blank phrase on the back of the Black Card out loud.

Everyone answers the question/phrase by passing face down to the Card Czar, one White Card.

The Card Czar then:

1. shuffles all of the answers
2. shares each card combination with the group by re-reading the Black Card before presenting each answer for full effect.
3. chooses the funniest play. Whoever submitted this play gets one Awesome Point.
4. After each round, there is a new Card Czar and everyone draws back up to ten White Cards.

Pick 2 cards

Some cards have PICK 2 at the bottom.
To answer these, each player plays two White Cards in the combination. The order matters, so play them in the order that the Card Czar should read them.

Gambling

If a black card is played and you have more than one White Card that you think could win, you can bet one of your Awesome Points to play an additional card.

Winning allows you to keep the point however losing will result in the winner of the round wagering it.

House Rules

Cards Against Humanity is created to be remixed. Here are some different ways to spice up the rules:

Happy Ending

The “Make a Haiku” Black is the official ceremonial ending of a good game of Cards Against Humanity and this card should be reserved for the end. When you’re ready to stop playing, play this card to end the game. Haikus don’t need to follow the 5-7-5 form, they just have to be read dramatically.
Rebooting the Universe
Players may trade in an Awesome Point at any time to return to the deck as many White Cards as they’d like and draw back up to ten.

Packing Heat

When playing Pick 2’s, all players draw an extra card before playing the hand to open more options.

Rando Cardrissian

Every round, pick a random White Card from the deck and place it into play. The card belongs to an imaginary player called Rando Cardrissian and if he wins the game, all players go home in a state of everlasting shame.

God Is Dead

Play with a Card Czar. Instead, each round every player votes on their favourite combination and the card with the most votes wins.

Survival of the Fittest

After everyone has answered the Black Card, players take turn eliminating one card each and the last remaining card is declared the funniest.

Serious Business

Each round, the Card Czar ranks the top three cards in the following order instead of picking a favourite card;
Best Card gets 3 Awesome Points
Second Best Card gets 2 Awesome Points
Third Best Card gets 1 Awesome Point
Keep a running tally of the score and at the end of the game the player with the most points is declared the funniest (mathematically-speaking).

Never Have I Ever

Players may discard any cards they don’t understand at any time but must confess their ignorance to the group and suffer the resulting humiliation.

OBJECTIVE OF CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY: Earn the most black cards or Awesome Points.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3-20+ Players

MATERIALS: Cards Against Humanity Deck – 550+ cards

TYPE OF GAME: Fill-in-the-blank

AUDIENCE: Adult

INTRODUCTION TO CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY

Cards Against Humanity is a card game that involves filling in the blank on a black card with inappropriate, politically incorrect, or down right offensive white cards in order to make the funniest statement. The game is modeled after the popular, but family friendly game, Apples to Apples. This game can be downloaded and printed for free on the company website, which you can access here. For players who own the hard copy game, many expansion packs may be bought to increase the number of cards and possibilities, or better accommodate large groups of people.

BASIC GAMEPLAY

Each active player draws 10 white cards from the box. The player who has pooped most recently starts the game as the Card Czar. The pick and play a black card by reading it aloud to all the other players. The black cards are fill-in-the-blank. Active players who are not the Card Czar choose a white card from their hand that they think best completes the phrase or sentence(s). These cards are passed to the Card Czar, face-down, for consideration. The Card Czar shuffles and reads the responses aloud to the group, whichever the Czar thinks is the funniest wins the black card. Who ever played the white card takes the black card and keeps it as their Awesome Point. After the round is finished, a new player becomes the Czar and the rules repeat. Players replace their cards in order to maintain a hand of 10 cards.

Picking Two

Some black cards have two blanks to fill and ask for two cards. Players should pass these, in order, to the Czar for consideration. Be sure to not let them out of order, or you may lose when you had the potential to win an Awesome Point!

Gambling

If you believe you have more than one white card that could win you an Awesome Point, you may bet an Awesome Point you already have and play two white cards. If you win the round with either card you keep your bet, if you lose the winner of that round gets the Awesome Point wagered.

HOUSE RULES

Happy Ending

If you wish to finish the game, grab the black card that says, “Make a Haiku.” This is the “official” closing ceremony of a Cards Against Humanity game. Haikus do not need to follow the 5-7-5 format but simply must be dramatic.

Rebooting the Universe

At any point in the game, players can choose to trade in an awesome point in order to exchange up to 10 white cards.

Packing Heat

Prior to a Pick 2 card, all players (but the Card Czar) should draw an extra white card in order to have more options.

Rando Cardrissian

During every round, pick a random white card from the box and throw it into play. These cards belong to the imaginary player Rando Cardrissian. If Sir Cardrissian wins the game, each player must hang their head in shame that they were unable to be funnier than the chaos of the universe, which is most simply, chance.

God is Dead

Play without a Card Czar. Each player picks which card they think is funniest and they are put to a communal vote. The card with the most amount of votes wins the round.

Survival of the Fittest

In true Darwin style, players eliminate 1 white card at a time when judging the round. The last card standing is the winner of the round.

Serious Business

Each round, instead of awarding a single person a single Awesome Point, the Czar ranks their top three favorite responses. #1 earns 3 Awesome points, #2 earns 2 Awesome Points, and #3 earns 1 Awesome Point. Keep a running tally of each player’s score. The player with the highest number of Awesome Points at the end of the game is the winner.

Never Have I Ever

If a player must shed a white card due to ignorance of its content, they must announce it to the whole group, and be shamed for their lack of being in the know. Humiliation is encouraged.

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0 upvotes in June

This is a Discord bot that coordinates multiplayer gameplay on Discord for the popular card game Cards Against Humanity.

Simply create a new game, tell your friends the game code, and have fun!

Gameplay:
The game consists of multiple rounds in which one winner is awarded a point. The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Each round, one player is the “judge”. For the first round a random player is selected to be judge, for subsequent rounds the judge is the winner of the last round. There is one question card, which contains a prompt such as ______: kid tested, mother approved. . Everyone except the judge chooses whichever of their 7 response cards fits the question card the best. After everyone has chosen a card, the judge anonymously selects which card they thought was best, and the player who played the card selected by the judge wins and gets a point.

Here are the official rules to the original game. Since this game is online, a few aspects have been changed for an improved experience.

How do I use the bot?

To use the bot, just add it to your discord server using this invite link. You’ll need the proper permissions/role in the server in order to be able to do this.

Once the bot is added, you are ready to start playing! If you need any help, run the command !cah help in game. Here’s a list of the basic commands:

!cah msg – Send a message to all the players in your game
!cah new – Create a new game
!cah kick – Kick a player (Admin only, must mention user to kick in a public text channel they are in)
!cah leave – Leave the current game you are in.
!cah choose – Choose a card in game
!cah end – Ends the current game as soon as the round finishes and declares a winner.
!cah join – Join a game using its join code
!cah begin – Begins the game you are in. (Admin only)
!cah info – Returns information about the game you are currently in

Check out the home page for the full Discord Bot List.

As everyone is staying at home amid the coronavirus outbreak, friends and family are turning to video chatting sites like Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom to hang out. But if you’re bored with just chatting—how much is there to update each other on anyway?—there are plenty of games you can play online with your friends.

The social distancing guidelines will remain in place in the U.S. until at least April 30, but playing online games means you won’t have to miss your family and friends too much. Plus, with online versions of classic board games, you can keep your weekly game night running while safely socially distancing.

Games you can play online with your friends

• Cards Against Humanity
• Trivia
• Heads Up!
• Quick Draw
• Monopoly
• Scrabble
• Boggle
• Yahtzee

Cards Against Humanity Online

If you typically spend time with your friends playing Cards Against Humanity, you can still meet up virtually and play the game online, sort of. Pretend You’re Xyzzy is an online clone of Cards Against Humanity, though it’s not affiliated with the original.

To play Cards Against Humanity online on Pretend You’re Xyzzy, first enter a nickname and an optional verification code. You can play online with strangers or with friends, create a game, set a score limit, player limit, and spectator limit and choose your expansion packs. If you want to play with only your friends, you can set up a game password and share it with them.

Pretend You’re Xyzzy also has a chat box so you could either video chat on a separate app with your friends while you play or chat within the browser.

Games on Houseparty

Houseparty is a video chatting app with four games built-in. Chips n Guac is similar to Cards Against Humanity, as it’s a word association game. One player is selected to be the judge, and the round starts with a Guac Card which states a written expression or word. Then, the players receive Chips Cards, one of which they have to match to the Guac Card. Once the players submit their cards, the judge will choose a winner.

Other games available to play on Houseparty are Quick Draw, which is like Pictionary, where friends take it in turns to draw a certain item and other friends have to guess what they’re drawing. You can also play Heads Up! on Houseparty, the app made by Ellen DeGeneres which is like Who Am I?, where friends have to give one player clues about the person or concept they’re holding on their forehead. Finally, friends can also use Houseparty to play a trivia game.

Online board games with friends on Pogo

You can play online versions of classic board games with your friends on Pogo, and choose from Monopoly, Yahtzee, Scrabble, Boggle, Trivial Pursuit and more. Sign up for an account on Pogo and ask your friends to do the same, and then you can add each other by username. You’ll then be able to play online versions of your board games with your friends.

Online Poker

Social distancing doesn’t mean you have to miss your weekly poker nights. There are online websites that allow you to play poker with your friends, like PokerStars, which allows you to play poker in private games with your friends for free, and you can choose to play with money or without.

To set up a game with your friends on PokerStars, everyone will need to make an account. Then, set up a private game and invite your friends to play using the Club ID Number and the invitation code. You can play various Poker Games on PokerStars, like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and Razz.

Many people use halogen light bulbs freely throughout their homes. Halogen light bulbs are among the most common types of light bulbs in the world today, and they do have several benefits. While generally considered safe, there are a few potential dangers that you need to consider when using halogen light bulbs.

1. Potential Burns

Because of the way that they are constructed, halogen light bulbs burn hotter than similar incandescent light bulbs. They have a smaller surface envelope to work with and therefore, tend to concentrate the heat when left on for long periods of time. When you leave a halogen light bulb on for a long time, you need to be careful not to touch it. More importantly, you will want to make sure that they are not within reach of small children while they are turned on.

Touching a halogen light bulb while it is on has been known to cause some serious burns on the skin. They could be serious enough to require medical treatment, especially when dealing with children.

2. Sun Burn

While it might seem strange to think about, some halogen bulbs have been known to cause sunburns on those that sit beneath their lighting for too long. The halogen bulb emits a certain level of UV rays when it is turned on. Therefore, if you sit within direct exposure to the bulb, you could be burned as a result. If you use halogen bulbs, you need to use them in moderation, much the same way you would treat being out in the sun.

3. Fire Danger

Another problem that you may have to worry about with halogen bulbs is that they could potentially cause a fire in some cases. As you know, they burn hotter than comparable incandescent or LED light bulbs. Because of this, they have been known to cause a fire when they touch the wrong surface for too long. For example, if the lamp falls over while the light is turned on, it could potentially catch the drapes, carpet, or some paper on fire. Small children have been known to drop a blanket or some other flammable object on the top of a lamp and leave it. While it would not ignite immediately, over time, it could potentially cause something to catch on fire.

4. Glass Hazard

The fact that the bulb is made out of glass can present you with a potential danger all by itself. This is not limited to only halogen bulbs, but it should be considered with any light bulb. If a light bulb breaks, the pieces of glass that it emits could potentially cause a dangerous situation. If someone were to come along and step on one, it could cut them severely. When dealing with any light bulb, make sure that you are very careful and prevent breaks. If a break happens, do not allow any breakage to go unswept for long.

A halogen light bulb emits intense light and has more illuminating power than other conventional light bulbs. It is part of the family of incandescent light bulbs and is highly efficient. Many homes and industries today prefer halogen bulbs because of their illumination features. The main component of a halogen light bulb is a thin wire filament that is heated by electricity and in turn produces a bright, white light. When changing halogen light bulbs, you will have to be very careful since they can become really hot. Here is how to replace halogen light bulbs safely.

Step 1 – Turn Off the Power

Make sure to turn off the lighting fixture and unplug it from its electrical source before you start. Do not immediately remove the light bulb after use. You should allow a full ten minutes for it to cool before unscrewing it. To be sure, quickly feel the bulb first to make sure that it is cool enough and safe for removal.

Step 2 – Detach the Bulb

When your light bulb housing uses a heat guard or other protective covering, carefully detach it first, then set it aside for reattachment. When unscrewing bulbs, grasp them gently but firmly, and turn them counterclockwise. You can use a cloth rag or glove for added protection.

Do not squeeze or forcibly remove a hard to unscrew light bulb as the glass may break and cut your skin; it is recommended that you use a light bulb grip for this purpose. A light bulb grip is available in most hardware and lighting shops.

Step 3 – Install a New Halogen Light Bulb

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the type of halogen light bulb rating to use for your lighting fixture. Use cloth gloves when handling new halogen light bulbs. Our hands contain oils that can be transferred to bulb surfaces which when heated produces a dark stain.

When putting new light bulbs in, screw the replacement bulbs in a clockwise fashion into the fixtures until they stop. Then check to see that the fitting is tight and secure. Make sure to use a cloth rag or glove for this purpose. When installing new light bulbs, make sure they are at room temperature. There is a risk of an explosion once the switch is turned on if you install a halogen light bulb that is too cold to the touch.

Step 4 – Discard Old Halogen Bulbs

When disposing of old bulbs, wrap them first in a thick paper to prevent injury or cuts if the glass breaks.

Step 5 – Check the New Halogen Bulb

Once the new bulb is firmly in place, re-plug the fixture into its electrical source and then turn on the switch to make sure that the replacement bulb is working.

Halogen bulbs are long-lasting, resulting in user’s cost savings. However, care is needed when removing and replacing old halogen bulbs since incorrect handling may cause serious injuries.

If you buy an item via links on this page, we may earn a commission. Our editorial content is not influenced by commissions. Read the full disclosure.

Do you know how to change a double-ended halogen bulb? If you don’t, then this guide is for you. We’ll give you the steps on how to get this job done quickly.

Have you ever had your halogen bulb busted and thought to yourself, “so how do you remove double-ended halogen bulb and replace it with a new one anyway?”

If you’ve asked yourself this question before, then this article is definitely for you. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to choose the right replace bulb based on double-ended halogen bulb sizes. We’ll also teach you how to change a double-ended halogen bulb easily.

What You Need to Know About the Double Ended Halogen Bulb

Before you learn how to change a double-ended halogen bulb, you need to understand what a double end halogen bulb is and its structure.

We’ll explain this to you in this section:

In a nutshell, double-ended halogen bulbs are high wattage bulbs that are usually T3 sized. However, they may come in other sizes. They are usually only compatible for enclosed fixtures and used for both indoor and outdoor purposes.

Take note that if you’re planning on installing double-ended halogen bulb to replace your old one, you need to take into consideration the length and the measurements of both ends. This ensures that you can get the exact fit.

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How to Change a Double Ended Halogen Bulb?

Now that you know a little bit more about double-ended halogen bulbs, we can move on to double-ended halogen bulb replacement. The biggest problem that most people encounter when replacing double-ended halogens is that the socket stays in place and can hardly move. Due to that, the bulb also stays in place and can’t be replaced.

The trick here is to take note of the springs located on both sides of the halogen lamp. If you push these two springs together, then you can push back the bulb and take it out in a snap. Of course, a lot of people find it harder to do during the actual deed, so we’ve got a little trick that can help you with that.

Fixing this little problem just requires that you follow these few steps:

1. First, remove the glass from the fixture before you try to take out the bulb.
2. Take out a flathead screwdriver and tap on the gap on one of the sides.
3. Use the screwdriver to press on the spring load and slowly pull out the first side of the bulb.
4. Use the screwdriver to do the same thing on the other side.
5. Force the second side out and snap it out.

Now that you got the old lightbulb out, you can already put the replacement bulb in. Before anything, you need to make sure that you choose the right replacement type. The only thing that you need to take into consideration is the size and diameter of both ends. They can be either T3, T5, T8 or T12. You just have to choose which one fits your existing fixture.

Once you get the right size for your replacement, follow these steps to put the new one in:

1. Attach one side of the light first then proceed to attach the other.
2. Turn on the light to test it if it works first.
3. Once it works, put the glass back on again.
4. Turn on the light again to test it once more.

The steps to changing your double-ended halogen bulb are pretty simple. All you need to do is apply them while taking note of the steps and you’re good to go.

Also, read HERE to know the best color temperature for different room types.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to change a double-ended halogen bulb, you can do it anytime you need to. The trick here is to simply know how the fixture for a double-ended bulb works, and you’ll know how to take the bulb out. The important parts to take note of are the spring loads from both sides because those parts are what will help you snap the bulbs out.

The steps above will help you take advantage of these parts so that you can replace the bulbs. At the same time, you also take note of these spring loads in order to put the new bulb in place. Of course, tools like the screwdriver can be used to make life easier, but you can also use your hands if you want.

Replacing the halogen oven bulb is an easy task, even if you have no experience doing it before. Here are a few tools that you will need, along with some steps that can help guide you through the process.

Step 1 – Prepare

Begin by turning the oven off completely and even unplugging it from the wall. This way you can make sure that nothing happens while you are working on the bulb. Then you want to find the actual oven light bulb. This is typically located near the back of the oven, on most models on the right. You will also want to find replacement bulbs before actually starting the process. You can find the bulbs at almost any store. You can look at the local convenient, grocery or hardware store.

Step 2 – Remove Cover

Most models have a cover and wire bail over the light bulb. You want to make sure that the wire bail comes off in one piece so that you can get the cover off of the bulb. Be careful not to smash the bulbs as you are removing them. Basically you will just need to loosen the wire bail and pull it off straight and then you can take the cover off the same way. If you do not have a light cover in your oven. you may want to take this chance to buy one as they really do protect the bulb.

Step 3 – Remove Bulb

Once you have complete access to the bulb you can twist it off like you would for a regular light bulb, being extremely careful again not to break the bulb. If you break it in the oven, there is a good chance that you could end up getting glass pieces in your food in the future, so it is extra important to make sure that it doesn’t break while you are working.

Step 4 – Replace New Bulb and Cover

Now you can replace the old bulb with a new one. Once you have it in, before you replace the cover you will want to test it out. make sure that the bulb is secured in place but the rest of the parts are outside. Then, plug in the oven and look to make sure that the light bulb is working. Once you know that it is, you can unplug the oven and open it back up to put the cover back on. Screw the cover on the way that you took it off. Then, put the wire bail back over the cover and secure it. You can then close up the oven and then plug it back in again to make sure that it works.

Keep in mind that you need to check before with the manual or on the Internet for the model oven that you have. You want to make sure that the bulb you get as a replacement will work with the oven that you have.

You’re probably already aware that halogen light bulbs aren’t the most energy efficient options when it comes to lighting. So, how can you safely replace your halogen light bulbs, and what’s the best alternative? Here, we outline how to do it, and discuss the best light bulb alternatives to halogens.

Understanding halogen light bulbs

Halogen light bulbs work by heating a thin wire filament of tungsten metal with electricity. This type of lightbulb emits a bright white light, like standard incandescent light bulbs. However, halogen light bulbs differ slightly to incandescents, in that they’re filled with a special gas that allows the vaporized tungsten to be deposited back onto the filament. This means they last longer and are more efficient, but also run hotter than incandescents.

While some people like the idea of heating with their lighting, halogens are an inefficient way to heat up your spaces, and you’re definitely better off separating your lighting and heating. You can get low-voltage halogens or high-voltage options, such as a 240V series, but low voltage doesn’t necessarily mean that the light bulb will save you energy. Halogens are a step up from other convention incandescents in efficiency and lifespan, but better alternatives are available today.

Safely removing halogen light bulbs

Because of the way they’re constructed, halogen light bulbs can become extremely hot during operation, so take care when removing your lightbulbs. Follow these steps to minimise risk of injury.

• Unplug and cool – Always unplug the light fixture from the electrical socket and wait until it’s completely cool before removal. You might need to wait at least 10 minutes. Check with a quick feel of the bulb to make sure it’s sufficiently cool for removal.
• Housing and parts – If the light-bulb housing of your light fixture includes heat guards and protective covering, remember where these fit, and carefully set them aside so you can reattach later.
• Handling light bulbs – Use a firm but gentle grasp to unscrew the lightbulb so you don’t crack the thin glass. Wear a glove or use a piece of cloth for extra protection. Turn the bulb counterclockwise to remove, alternatively you might have a “bayonet” fitting, in which case you will need to push-in and turn. If you’re unable to turn the lightbulb, don’t apply excessive force, Instead, contact Platinum Electricians and we will remove it safely for you.
• Hard-to-reach spaces – If you’re removing a bulb from a hard-to-reach spot, ensure you have the right safety equipment to get you to the light, alternatively we can help you out as our electricians have specialty access equipment.
• Disposal – Always wrap old halogen light bulbs in layers of paper to prevent injury in case of glass breakage. Check with your council whether you can place the lightbulbs in your garbage.

Alternatives and replacements for halogen light bulbs

LEDs or CFLs are the best alternatives to halogen light bulbs, with lower wattage halogens and IRC halogens being the next-best options.

• LEDs or CFLs – LEDs and compact fluorescent lightbulbs are efficient, long-life alternatives to halogens. Because they’re more efficient, a lower wattage will get you more lumens. Lumens measures brightness. For example, a 4-5 watt LED will yield 230 lumens, while a 20 watt halogen is required for the same brightness . Note LEDs are more energy efficient than CFLs.
• Lower wattage halogens – If LEDs or CFLs are not an option, you can opt for a lower wattage halogen. You’ll save on electricity and the space won’t be as hot, but brightness will also be compromised.
• IRC or energy saver halogen lamps – IRC or energy saver halogen lamps are another alternatives. These offer the same brightness while using less power, and they can help you save up to 25% in energy costs.

Things to check when choosing replacement light bulbs

With numerous manufacturers and product options, you’ll probably be able to find an LED, CFL, or another alternative that’s compatible with your lighting fixture. However, always check the following before you buy, to save yourself a trip back to the store.

• Light level – Make sure the light level of your replacement bulb is what you’re looking for. Check lumens instead of watts or volts to determine brightness.
• Time to full brightness – If you need the lightbulb to reach full brightness quickly, check the package to make sure your replacement bulb can light up within the required time.
• Dimmers – If you have a dimmer feature on your light fixture, check that the replacement bulb can accommodate this.
• Base type – The base type is probably the most obvious thing to check. Whether it’s a particular diameter or style (such as Edison screw or bayonet cap), check your replacement has the right base type.
• Colour – You can get bulbs in white light or tinted shades in warmer yellows, so check the packaging to make sure it’s the right shade for the space.

If you use halogen lights in your business or home, you should probably look at replacing them with more efficient solutions like LEDs or CFLs. Take extra care when removing and handling halogens, and get professional advice if necessary. Platinum Electricians is a market leader, providing a diverse client base with a full range of electrical services across Australia. If you have a lighting-related electrical issue, contact our friendly service team for more information on how we can help.

If you buy an item via links on this page, we may earn a commission. Our editorial content is not influenced by commissions. Read the full disclosure.

If you need to change a 2-pin halogen bulb but don’t know how, let us help. Our guide will teach you how to change a 2 pin halogen light bulb the easy way.

Have you ever changed 2 pin halogen light bulbs before?

If you haven’t, then you may want to learn how.

You see, learning how to change a 2 pin halogen light bulb isn’t as simple as attaching the bulb to the socket. There are various sizes of 2 pin halogen light bulbs to consider. Other than that, you also need to take into account the safety implications.

With that said, we’ll provide you with a step by step guide on how to change this specific sort of light bulb with total ease.

What Is Halogen Light Bulb?

Before we go to the guide, it’s important that you first understand what a halogen light bulb is and how it differs from the other light bulbs that you can find in the market.

Most people are more familiar with the incandescent light bulb since this is the most common type found in households. Halogen light bulbs are similar to incandescent light bulbs but they are filled with halogen gases—namely iodine and bromine gases.

The advantage of using this type of bulb compared to the traditional incandescent type is that halogens can emit light at a higher temperature, giving you more power.

However, they do work the same way an incandescent light works. The electric current will flow from the socket to the light bulb base. From there, it will heat up the tungsten filament and produce artificial light. Since halogens work the same way as incandescent lights, we can say that halogens are actually more enhanced versions of the incandescent bulb.

How To Change A 2 Pin Halogen Light Bulb (Step-By-Step)

Now that you know what a halogen light bulb is and how it works, let’s move on to the steps on how to change a double ended halogen bulb.

Checkout the steps below:

1. Determine The Type Of 2 Pin Halogen Bulb You Need

One of the most important things you need to think about is getting the right type of halogen bulbs you must get. The type is usually determined by the size of the bulb. There are 4 types that are usually used by homeowners.

These are the MR8, MR11, MR16, and GU10. Get to know the sockets in your house and buy the bulbs accordingly.

2. Switch Off The Power

No matter what bulb you change, you should always start with this first step. Turning off the power ensures that you don’t get electrocuted while changing the bulb.

So, be sure that you always do this and keep safe.

3. Get A Ladder

Once you turn off the power, simply get the ladder and keep the new bulb close by. After that, climb the ladder and begin taking out the old bulb.

4. Get A Pair Of Gloves

Before you even touch the bulb, it’s best that you wear a pair of rubber gloves. Why? Because your hands emit skin oil which can sharply increase the temperature of the bulb. When increased too much, there is a huge chance that the bulb might burst.

5. Lightly Push The Bulb Inward

With your gloves on and the ladder steadily in place, grip the bulb and lightly push it inward. While doing this, slowly turn the bulb counterclockwise and gently pull it out. If it doesn’t want to come out, you may want to wiggle the light bulb a bit so that you can loosen it.

6. Put New Bulb Inside

Once you take out the old light bulb, get your new light bulb and press it in the socket. When all the way in, twist it clockwise and fasten it tightly.

7. Test It

Now that you’ve installed your new bulb, the last thing to do is test it to see if it works. To do this, simply turn on the power switch. If it doesn’t work, you may want to try tightening the bulb.

If that still doesn’t work, there is a high probability that the bulb is defective. You might have to buy a new one in that case.

Conclusion

In these seven steps, you now know how to change a 2 pin halogen light bulb with ease. Most of the steps mentioned above deal with safety because there are some hazards to handling bulbs if you don’t do it carefully. So, follow the steps we’ve given above and enjoy your new 2 pin halogen light.

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Halogen lights emit pure white light that is brighter than incandescent light. That quality reduces eye strain and makes them ideal for illuminating kitchens. They also burn longer than standard incandescent bulbs and are more energy efficient. Changing the bulb, however, can be a problem for inexperienced homeowners, especially because the instructions for changing the bulb are not always found on the bulb packaging.

Get Prepared

Changing a halogen lamp is a little more involved than changing a regular bulb, so have everything ready before you begin. Make sure the light fixture is turned off and no power is flowing to the light. The bulb needs to cool off for at least 15 minutes before you begin. Make sure the new bulb is the same wattage as the existing bulb and the right type for the fixture. Keep the bulb in the box until you are ready to install it. You need a pair of gloves or a piece of non-linen cloth. You may also need a screwdriver to open the light fixture.

Protect the Bulb

Wear gloves or use a piece of non-linen cloth whenever you handle halogen lamps, as the lamp can get so hot that the oil from your fingerprints or any residual moisture can cause the bulb to burn out quickly. Use the cloth as a barrier between your hands and the bulb.

Remove the Old Lamp

Most kitchen halogen lamps are covered with safety glass to protect the bulb from grease and typical kitchen moisture. If the old glass is held in place with screws, remove them. Otherwise, press the glass firmly to loosen it from the clips that secure it. Once the lamp is exposed, press it in firmly and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew the bulb. If the bulb is difficult to remove, a bulb suction cup, available at hardware stores, makes it easier to grasp.

Replace the Bulb

Still wearing gloves or using a non-linen cloth, line up the two prongs on the lamp with the holes in the holder and turn it clockwise to secure the lamp in the fixture. Replace the safety glass and turn on the power. Halogen lights get hot enough to cause serious burns; do not touch it once you have restored the power.

• The Family Handyman: The Pros and Cons of Halogen Bulbs
• Reader’s Digest: How to Change a Halogen Globe

Diane Watkins has been writing since 1984, with experience in newspaper, newsletter and Web content. She writes two electronic newsletters and has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Clemson University. She has taken graduate courses in biochemistry and education.

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Opening an oven door to check on the status of your meal releases heat and thus affects the cooking time of the food. When your oven’s light function works properly, you can peer through the glass door and see if your casserole is browning nicely or if your souffle has collapsed. Ovens contain either a traditional light bulb or a halogen bulb, with the difference being that when replacement is warranted — such as when the bulb burns out or breaks — a light bulb is screwed in or out, while a halogen bulb is pushed in or pulled out.

Burned-Out Bulb

Turn on your oven’s light switch to see which halogen bulb is out. Depending on your particular model, your oven may contain one or more halogen lights, with the location varying from top corners to either side of the oven.

Unplug your oven or turn off the breaker switch that controls the oven to ensure that no power is flowing to the bulb’s location. Slide the oven from the counter space carefully until you can unplug the electrical cord, or turn the breaker switch for the oven to the “Off” position.

Remove any oven racks that are in your way and set them aside.

Unscrew the casing that surrounds the halogen bulb, and set it aside in a safe place. If your bulb is protected by a flat cover, use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the cover gently.

Put on your work gloves or use a rag to pull out the bulb in a straight movement. Discard it carefully so as to not have it shatter.

Push in the replacement bulb carefully while still wearing the gloves or using a rag, so the oils from your fingers don’t burn out the bulb prematurely.

Screw on the casing or reattach the flat cover to protect the new bulb.

Broken Light Bulb

Unplug your oven or turn off the breaker that controls your oven.

Put on thick work gloves to protect your fingers from broken glass. Grasp the side of what’s left of the halogen bulb with needle-nose pliers, and pull the bulb out of the socket slowly. Place the broken bulb in a paper towel, wrap it up and discard it carefully in the garbage.

Wipe the socket with a small brush to make sure the area is clear of any glass pieces.

Push in the replacement halogen bulb while wearing gloves or using a rag. Clean up the bottom of the oven with a damp rag or dry-wet vacuum to pick up any traces of broken glass.