Looking at family dynamics in response to stress
If you live in a cold country, or you have hair that is completely wild when left to its own devices, you will appreciate the value of a good hairdryer when it comes to looking after and styling your hair. Did you know, however, that a hairdryer is useful in many contexts other than the one it was originally designed for? Indeed, from dusting to drying, a hairdryer is a handy tool when it comes to all things housework.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
If you have any wood floors or surfaces in your home, you'll know just how easy it is to stain them. Perhaps your kid spills their drink, or your coffee leaves a ring.
Thankfully, hairdryers are great at removing water stains. Once the surface is dry and clean, set your hairdryer to medium and hold it a few inches away from the mark.
Move the hairdryer in a circular motion to help the moisture that is trapped under the varnish evaporate. Once you're done, finish the job with a little furniture polish.
When it comes to removing dust, it can be tricky to know what to do with delicate items, such as pot plants, flowers, or lampshades.
Using your hairdryer on its 'cool' setting is a quick and simple way to blow dust off the surface of your more intricate items, without having to use a cloth.
A hairdryer can even be used to get rid of the dust that accumulates on the surface of candles. Just be sure to use it on the cool setting.
If you have little ones, you may have been blessed with unsolicited works of art on the walls of your home! And at room temperature, crayon wax is very different to remove.
Heat your crayon graffiti with the hairdryer on its medium setting, and the wax will soften to the point that you can simply wipe it off.
If there is any residue left after the hairdryer treatment, you can also clean the area with a cloth/sponge and a mild soap solution.
Kids with crayons are not the only possible source of wax stains in the home, of course. If you like to burn candles, for examples, you'll know the wax can quickly get everywhere.
To remove candle wax using a hairdryer, set your device to medium and warm the wax until it softens. At this point, you should be able to wipe it away with a cloth.
Removing wax from fabrics is usually more difficult than removing it from surfaces. In both cases, however, the hairdryer option is usually better than scratching with a knife.
If you are a keen redecorator, or you love going overboard for the holidays, you may well make use of peel-and-stick wall decorations in your home.
These are all well and good until you want to remove them. Designed to be sticky, pulling at them can quickly ruin your paint or wallpaper.
Thankfully, a hairdryer set to medium can help loosen the glue of a peel-and-stick item and help you remove it without causing any damage.
If your home has windows that need insulation during spells of excessively hot or cold temperatures, a practical option is to use window film.
Install the film on the inside of the window using double tape, and then shrink it to fit using a hairdryer (there are, of course, more detailed instructions with the product).
Using a hairdryer to shrink the film will give your windows a great finish. Indeed, with no sags or wrinkles, the film will be pretty much unnoticeable.
It is no great secret, of course, that a hairdryer is a useful tool when it comes to getting your hair ready for a night out.
What is perhaps less obvious is that a hairdryer can also be used to finish off your makeup.
For a polished look, use your hairdryer on a low setting to dust off any makeup residue, and remove any loose hair strands or individual eyelashes.
If you have ever had a manicure, or indeed passed by a nail salon, you may have noticed those little machines that they use to dry nail polish in seconds.
Unfortunately, those machines can be quite expensive. Thankfully, however, a hairdryer can offer a practical, and certainly cheaper, alternative.
If using a hairdryer to dry your nails, be sure to keep it on a cool or medium setting, and remember to move it around continuously so as not to burn your skin.
If you have ever had excess ice buildup in your freezer, you'll know that it is not only very annoying, but it can also be fatal to the functioning of your appliance.
Regularly defrosting your freezer can prevent harmful ice buildup, and using a hairdryer can greatly expedite this (admittedly boring) task.
Switch your hairdryer to a medium setting and keep it moving. Aim to cover small areas at a time, and keep the dryer at a safe distance so as to avoid water damage.
Last but not least, a hairdryer can save the day in hosting situations where you need warm plates, and your oven is otherwise occupied.
Of course, the most efficient way to warm plates is in the microwave (provided they are microwave-safe). If you don't have one, however, a hairdryer can offer a reasonable alternative.
To warm a plate with a hairdryer, set the hairdryer to low or cool and move it steadily over the plate at a distance of around 6 in (15 cm).
Sources: (Martha Stewart)
See also: How to hack your home cleaning using the junebug method
Unexpected uses for a hairdryer around the house
From craft projects to cleaning
LIFESTYLE Life hacks
If you live in a cold country, or you have hair that is completely wild when left to its own devices, you will appreciate the value of a good hairdryer when it comes to looking after and styling your hair. Did you know, however, that a hairdryer is useful in many contexts other than the one it was originally designed for? Indeed, from dusting to drying, a hairdryer is a handy tool when it comes to all things housework.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.