Help a MN'er out - random niggling life problems we need to sort out but aren't' worth their own thread.

[RobinEllacotStrike]

A supportive thread for women who have lots of shit to do. Below are some issues that pop into my head at random inconvenient times that I really need to sort out.

Things I need to sort out but I'm not quite sure about.

1. I really want to cancel my TV licence, but I'm unsure about the rules around this now. It used to be virtually impossible to do but now many are. What do I need to know?
2. My dentist has been hassling me for years to get an electric toothbrush - I had one but it rattled my brain so I got rid. A few weeks ago I gave in and bought another one - Superdrug own brand. About £40 on offer. IT CUTS MY LIP!! This cant be right? there seems to be a gap between the vibrating head and if it touches my lip it cuts me. Even if I am really careful it does this. Its this faulty? Is this a normal hazzard when using electric toothbrushes? Its probably too late for a refund but is it worth buying another one?
3. Kitchen sink is starting to be slow draining - what do I do that doesn't involve a plumber.
4. Newish tyre - dramatically lost air pressure. I topped it up thinking I had a slow leak & it seems to be fine 2 weeks later. Is it?

Let me know if you have any random issues we can support with.

1. As long as you don't watch any live TV or iPlayer, you can cancel it and you'll be fine. So, no TV channels. Netflix fine, but a live event on Netflix, like boxing or Wrestlemania, not fine. The Channel 4 app, fine. Watching channel 4 live via the channel 4 app, not fine
2. Take it back, it's shit. Definately not normal
3. The u bend is probably full of gunk. Have a look in the cupboard under the sink, if the pipes are plastic then should be an easy job. Take a photo of the piping so you know the layout, then take it apart. Heave a few times at all the gross stuff in there. Take it outside and hose it all down. Put it back together again. If you've still got a problem then its further down the pipes. There's stuff you can buy that you pour down the sink and disintegrates blockages. If that doesn't work, then it's plumber time.
4. Tires lose pressure in colder weather, because the air inside the tire contracts. I always have to pump mine up a bit round October / November. Also it could just be that the valve was stuck slightly open, and you topping it up has now closed it properly. Keep an eye on it, if its fine, its fine, if not, take it back to the tyre place.

@VimesandhisCardboardBoots 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
thats amazing you have an answer for all my dilemmas. thank you.

I never thought about the U bend & I've never done that before. I'm 57 so pretty lucky thus far. My friend is excellent on U bends so I can get her round for guidance.

The TV licence is a bit stange now but I don't watch live TV anymore - just on firestick. I might miss 6 music I guess but rest of it no.

I'll get a new toothbrush - I've lost the receipt for this one sadly.

The U-bend should be a fairly easy job really. If the pipings plastic, it's usually possible to undo it by hand, just twist the connector anti-clockwise to undo it. Just don't do the truly idiotic thing I did the first time. Took the ubend out, and then prompty started running water in the sink to clean it, forgetting I'd just removed the pipe that water went down!

And the TV licence rules are a bit daft. You'll be fine still listening to 6music though, radio is free to listen to even without a licence. Personally, even though the BBC has it's issues and I don't really watch live TV, I still think it does enough good to justify still paying the licence fee, as I get enough use out of the radio and podcasts, and I think it's news output is important. But you don't actually have to have a licence fee to access those things.

I used to be the BBC's biggest fan.
But I'm totally over it now and wish to regin by TV licence in protest.

I'll tackle the U bend this weekend - I'm quite excited about that. It will be extremely gross bit no doubt satisfying. A while ago I took the top of the drain bit out & cleaned that up. Incredible how gross it was.

If you have tricky/sticky/broken locks and/or handles on your UPVC windows you can simply switch out the handles.

New ones can be bought online for £10 or less and it takes a few minutes to switch them over. No trade required.

Many thanks to a woman on Insta for this magical revelation.

Oven temperature knob (electric fan oven). Until a couple of days ago, it turned clockwise to switch on, e.g. go from 12.00 position to about 5.00 position if wanting 180-200 degrees.

Suddenly it won't go clockwise, it is as if there is an obstruction stopping it. No indication this was going to happen. You can turn from 12.00 anticlockwise to somewhere on the dial, and off by reversing that, but I am pretty sure it is not the right temperature inside through this method. Can it be fixed without an expert?

oof @Ormally that's tricky - perfect example of something I would just live with for years, driving myself just a tiny bit crazier every time I turned that knob the wrong way.

Hopefully someone will be along with some practical fix it advice soon.

Yes, almost a modern version of 'gaslighting' as I can't be sure of whether it's doing the same thing as it used to!!

My fridge (leiber) has a small drain at the back which is blocked. I’ve stuck a few things in to free blockage such a screwdriver and wooden skewer but it needs to be something that bends!

It’s happened before but not for a while and I managed to free blockage last time… meanwhile there is water gathering in my salad drawer and on the floor.

I’m at work, about to go home for lunch and expect a pool of water waiting for me in the kitchen sigh.

Pipe cleaner – you can buy a packet at any tobacconist. Perfect for cleaning fridge drains.

@Sourisblanche Can you still buy pipe cleaners nowadays? one of those might work.

@Eyesopenwideawake snap!

I just looked at my oven.

I took all 3 knobs off (I didn't know this could happen) - have you done that and had a look? Have you checked the knob is fully intact in the non visible bits? (inside the knob not inside the oven panel).

Behind each knob is 2 screws - I think if I take these off I will be able to take the whole control panel off . Probably a step too far for me.

In my head I'm great at DIY like my Dad. In reality I'm a bit shit at it.

Ooooo nr 3 I just use domestos overnight. Its not failed me yet 😳 I don't know if that's bad for pipes or what but I always have it in the house so I pour it down any drain that slows down. So far it's all worked 😅

@RobinEllacotStrike that is worth a try! Nothing seems to be in the way of what I can see, or gunked up or anything.

so annoying - my fridge has a little plastic thing that sticks in that hole & sometimes I use rolled up kitchen roll to have a week poke around..

Pipe cleaners will be better - good luck!

Yes I do this too & flush with hot water etc. But we are slowly but steadily moving into new territory.

You can normally just pull the actual knob cover off... might be stiff but just tug it... Do this and have nosey.

Drop in button on the Alexa app won't work anymore?

Suspect I need to uninstall and reinstall to fix

Best write here what works if I ever join you in this territory! I don't flush down with anything, thick large amount and leave it overnight and then regular water/use 🤔

Pipe cleaners and where to get them - usually in the children's craft stands (e.g. in The Works, Flying Tiger, Hobbycraft, even supermarkets I think).
My Dad is an artiste of rare talent when it comes to making models with them!

Brain dump about logistics - help a woman out. I've got a total block here.

I need to rip up carpet in living/dining area - its gross and I'm not a fan of carpet anyway. Apart from its good at warmth & reducing noise etc.

Floorboars underneath but 80's ones not nice old ones. Too cold & noisy for floorboards alone sadly.

I want to replace it with lino & it will probably need to have an underfloor layer too. Kitchen is on the same floor so I'm thinking same flooring thoughout.

Q: What do I do with all my furniture while the new floor is being laid. I can pack up/move bits and bobs but what about sofa/dresser/table etc - do I need to move this all out onto the street? There is no where in the house to put it & I couldnt do it anyway. I live in a town house where living space is on first floor so stairs are invovled.

Are floor layers able to work with the furniture in the room & just move it around. Or would it be my responsibility? How does this happen?

I had odd issues with my kitchen Alexza - I suspect it's a bit close to the Instapot. Voice activation kept going off & turing it off/on was a short fix.

I turned it off & ingored it for a week & then reinstalled it & rest it in the ap - its fine now & has been for about a month <fingers crossed>

so worth a try.

Wouldn't the lino fitter fit one half of the floor then move the furniture onto that while they fit the other half? That's what happened when I got laminate flooring.
I used soda crystals to clear slow draining sinks. I pour them down and leave for a while before flushing with boiling water

Q: What do I do with all my furniture while the new floor is being laid

Anyone else just itching to resurrect the carpet fitter thread now? 😅