Quick Tip

If you’re planning to roll some color onto your walls, here’s how can you keep your paint tray in pristine condition: Before you get started, put the paint tray into a plastic bag, then press the plastic into the edges and corners of the tray—conforming to the tray’s contours. Now pour the paint onto the plastic-covered tray and dip your roller as usual.  When done working, remove the tray and toss out the plastic bag. The tray remains clean, as if it were never used. Saves clean-up time too.

Mobile Batteries

My mobile phone loses power sooner now than when I bought it a year ago. Is this normal? A friend said it’s because I’m recharging my battery wrong and it remembers to only partially charge. Is that even possible? Any advice would be appreciated.

Cynthia in Sri Racha

Your friend is referring to the mythical ‘memory effect’ attributed to nickel cadmium batteries, Cynthia. According to such theories—which have been largely refuted, if a battery is only partially discharged before being recharged, it “forgets” that it has additional capacity. However, having bought your phone a year ago, you probably were provided with a lithium-ion battery; they are not subject to the memory effect. That said, note that the amount of charge all batteries can hold gradually decreases due to usage, aging, and  poor maintenance. In general, the effective life of a battery is 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles. Depending on the battery, this translates into a 1-to-2 year time frame. But there are some things you can do to enhance battery performance and lengthen its life span. Proper charging of a new battery is the first and most important step. Nickel-based batteries should be charged for 16 hours initially and run through two additional cycles of fully discharging and recharging. Charge new lithium-ion batteries for about 5-6 hours (even if the phone indicates that the battery is full); thereafter, charge when the power level approaches—but does not reach—one bar on the battery meter; avoid fully discharging a lithium battery. It also helps to keep your phone cool. High temperatures ( in a hot car, in your hot pocket) quickly wear down batteries. Turn off the phone when you will not be using it for a while, at night or in an area with poor or no signal (power depletes rapidly when your phone is constantly seeking a better connection). Also, turn off the vibrator and turn on the ‘battery save’ option. Finally, periodically clean the contacts on the battery and on the phone using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Hang Ten

Andy, we’ve got about ten large, framed photos hanging on the wall, but they are not aligned. I thought I put them up straight but they seem to shift position somehow. Can you offer any tips?

Simon in Rayong

Sure, Simon. Push a straight pin into the bottom two corners of each frame on the backside, then clip off the heads of the pins; leave about 1 cm (3/8 of an inch) sticking out of the frame. Hang each print using a level. When set in place, gently push the section of the picture frame with the pins behind it into the drywall to secure its positioning.

Driveway Dregs

The stonewash finish to my paths and driveways have become badly discoloured in certain areas. The extent of staining varies from slight to almost complete blackening though some parts are unaffected. How can this be removed? We have tried detergent with different brushes without success. Strong application using a wire brush brings off the stone and spoils the surface. Do you know of a reliable firm locally who could do this work? Or is there a good product we could use? Your help will be much appreciated.
Bob (not the builder)

If the culprit in your driveway is a car leak, Bob, you might be able to only lighten it enough so that it is barely seen. Attack all stains as soon as possible because porous surfaces are subject to permanent staining if oil, grease and dirt are not removed quickly. Try these techniques in the following order, moving on to the next only if necessary: 

1-Pour cola on the stained areas, and leave overnight. The next morning, add a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into a bucket of water until you have a good lather. Scrub the surface, then rinse with the soapy water before washing down with a hose.

2-Sprinkle baking soda or other absorbent powder (such as cornmeal or sawdust) on the stains. If the stain is dry, wet it first to make a scouring paste. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom.

3-Sprinkle automatic dishwasher detergent on the stain. Leave it for several minutes, then pour boiling water on the area. Scrub with a stiff brush or broom, then rinse.

4-Sprinkle trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the stain. Again, if the stain is dry, wet it first. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Scrub using a stiff broom. [WARNING: TSP is a dangerous product; wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing. Also, never wash a TSP product down drains.]

5-For exceedingly tough spots, try muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer’s directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Follow with a pressure washer set at 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch (psi), or 176 to 211 kg per square cm. [Like TSP, muriatic acid is a dangerous product; if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash such a product down drains.]

After trying any of the suggestions above, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area to neutralize the solution you’ve used.

If none of that works (or if you want an easy way out), call Western Services in Pattaya (038 410-611). They do high-pressure cleaning of walkways and driveways.

Epoxy Quest 

Hello, Andy.  For some reason I cannot find a source of epoxy paint in Thailand.  I have used the product on my in-ground masonry pool in the Caribbean very successfully for years; need to reapply about every 4 years.  Here, it appears, no one has heard of doing this. Can you name a manufacturer in Thailand, preferably one that has countrywide distribution since my pool is in Ubon? 

Ubon Nick

Many companies in Thailand manufacture epoxy paint and related materials, Nick. The specific products you seek more likely are stocked by stores that sell building supplies and materials (rather than paint or hardware stores). If you have already checked those sources, try contacting some of the following manufacturers directly: Fosroc (662 711-2828); Thai Epoxy And Allied Products (662 253-5031); TOA-Chugoku (662 260-2701); Thai Polyset  (662 709-4300); Two Thousand Supply Co. (662 688-7135); Repax Construction Co. ( 662 463-8459), and Hitech Elite (662 437-8771).

–Handy Andy