House Proud

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday May 18, 2006

Mrs Miggins

GRUBBY MITS

My children are always touching our computer with dirty fingers. What's the best way to clean a screen?

C. D., Terrey Hills

Children are wonderful creatures, aren't they? But they will insist on touching things. Apparently the cupboard under the stairs and a stout padlock are now frowned upon. We didn't have DOCS in my day and we did OK. But I digress. I am something of a Luddite when it comes to technological items. But I did some digging around and discovered the following. You should only clean a screen with a damp cloth and then dry it with another cloth to prevent streaking. Many screens have an anti-glare coating that you risk damaging if you use cleaning products. You can buy special screen wipes which can also be used on mucky keyboards and mice. Encourage your children to wash their hands after eating, painting or torturing animals and before using the computer. Antistatic sprays and other specialty cleaning chemicals are available which are designed not to damage your screen. Some people swear by them; others aren't so trusting.

NICE YOUNG MAN

Many thanks to reader Glenn Watson from Summer Hill who had another suggestion regarding the problem of hanging hooks in hollow doors. Glenn writes: "Hollow-core doors have an outside frame behind the ply skin which is at least 75mm wide. The frame at the top is the best place for a hook - just make sure it's about 40mm from the top of the door. This has the advantage of maximising the available hang length ... but you do have to be tall enough to reach it." What a lovely young man.

Write or email

Send your design and DIY dilemmas to Mrs Miggins at House Proud, Domain, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2001, fax 9282 2481 or email houseproud@smh.com.au.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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