Thursday, October 30, 2008
#
Hello, boys and ghouls! With Halloween just around the corner, thoughts naturally drift toward the grotesque, the macabre and the dreadful. At an appliance parts site, this means that the typically benign and even benevolent functions of our favorite familiar machines can suddenly turn dark and sinister. At every relaxing bath there lurks a demented stranger just waiting to drop in a live toaster; each after dinner fireside chat is a potential mass cremation... [Warning: Like almost every other aspect of the internet, some of these clips are NOT suitable for younger or more sensitive viewers.]
10.) Ghostbusters (1984)– Ghostbusters broke the mold when it comes to changing the way people view their household appliances, and not necessarily for the better. Ghostbusters, more than any other movie ever created, is responsible for making people fear the fridge. With the help of a dozen eggs hooked up to a high compression air hose and a smoke and light filled stage worthy of a “Yes” concert, director Ivan Riteman took the home’s most reliable comfort zone and shredded it. I still cringe a bit when I open the fridge in the middle of the night for a late night nibble and listen closely for something other than my stomach growling the word “Zuul”.
9.) Amityville: The Evil Escapes (1989) - You have always known that your garbage disposal secretly wants to kill you and your family in a crimson font of psychotic glory. Well, here’s the proof. And 2 words for that guy, duct tape!
8.) Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982) – Jason kills the bearded guy by pushing him into a fuse box. Though it is one of Jason’s only kills that doesn’t involve a blade or pipe, it is a bit dull– and certainly not “shocking.” (Hollywood, I will be here if and when you need a script for the new Nightmare on Elm Street.)
7.) Dead Alive (1992) – Directed by the inimitable Peter Jackson, (later to direct Lord of the Rings), this low-budget zombie flick left a rather, erm… indelible impression on many viewers. If you do view this clip of a zombie baby in a blender, just bear in mind that it’s Autumn– you didn’t want a smoothie anyway. Best to stick with red wine.
6.) Maximum Overdrive (1986) – In this short clip from the film (based on a Stephen King story and directed by the author himself!), a hapless Little League coach is killed by a vending machine throwing fastballs to the neck. You know, I never really played sports as a kid and now I regret it less than ever.
5.) The Brave Little Toaster (1991) – I am absolutely not being ironic. The following scene, from Disney’s The Brave Little Toaster, is known as the “Clown Dream” and is terrifying. It’s like you just dropped acid and Satan is your trip-sitter.
4.) A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) – Quick Trivia: This scene is the origin of the pre-kill puns that became a Nightmare trademark. Here, Freddy offers his victim her “big break” in television, but it also doesn’t even make sense. I’m no Quincy, M.E., but he smashes her head into the television, which is technically more of a bludgeon. Right? That’s going on IMBD’s “goofs” as soon as I finish this glass of scotch.
3.) Gremlins (1984) – This scene is like the Citizen Kane of movies where small monsters get killed by electric cake mixers and microwaves. In fact, it’s pretty much the whole reason I went into the appliance parts business. Just look around your office and think: “How many gremlins could I take out with what I have here?” Yep. That’s how I know I made the right choice.
2.) The Mangler (1995) – Based on a Stephen King short story and starring Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund, The Mangler features an industrial laundry press possessed by a demon. Um… what?! This is like a movie you’d make when you were a little kid, because you couldn’t find any adults to be the monster and all your friends just look like unscary little kids so you’re just like, “Well, I guess the dryer has to be the monster.” And you’d be done in time for lunch.
1.) Attack of The Killer Refrigerator (1990) - Hey Susan, have you ever noticed that the rust stains on our fridge look a lot like dried blood? I’m sure its nothing, want a beer?
Happy Halloween!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
#
1. Be Prepared
- Read and understand the instructions fully.
- Educate yourself on each step of the DIY project.
- Make sure you have enough time to complete the project so you don’t have to cut corners or take short cuts.
- Read safety and warning labels fully.
- Use the proper tools for the job. Don’t substitute.
- Be aware of all possible hazards, even when the job seems relatively small.
- Make sure your work area is clean.
- Make sure you have all the necessary safety gear including facemasks, eye goggles, gloves, etc.
2. Be Safe
- If you’re working on something electrical, make sure it has been turned off and remove the fuse or circuit breaker.
- When painting, make sure you have the room properly ventilated.
- When using a ladder, make sure it is in good condition and has been erected according the instructions. Do not overload or lean on the ladder.
- Store tools in a safe place when not in use. Don’t leave tools lying around on the floor and make sure inactive power tools are shut off and unplugged.
- If you’re working with any hazardous materials, make sure you know how to properly store or dispose of them.
- When using sharp knifes, always cut away from you.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry while working on your project.
3. Common Sense
- Use the instructions provided.
- Be alert.
- Plan ahead.
- Don’t get lazy or too confident and skip steps.
- Don’t work on projects when you are over-tired or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
- Make sure all your equipment and tools are functioning properly.
- Keep your work area clean.
- Keep children and pets away from your working area.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- When in doubt, consult a professional.
- Be realistic about the task and your abilities.
- Take the job seriously.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
#
Monday, September 29, 2008
#
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
#
How many times have you tried to clean something only to end up with an even bigger mess? Ever been frustrated by creating more work for yourself because you did something wrong? Cleaning mistakes are a pain and can be costly, especially when it comes to appliances. If you don’t know how to clean them properly you can cause irreversible damage to your appliances and sometimes make them unusable.
We’ve put together the 5 Most Common Appliance Cleaning Mistakes so you can avoid them in the future, reduce your aggravation, extend your appliance’s life and make sure the whole thing doesn’t blow up in your face… literally.
1
Don’t clean the glass refrigerator shelves while they are in the fridge especially with hot water! Chances are they will crack or shatter.
Do remove the shelves and let them adjust to room temperature and then clean them using warm, soapy water. Rinse well and allow to dry before putting them back in your fridge.
2
Don’t use chemical cleaners inside your self-clean oven. Residue from chemical cleaners can damage the self-clean oven liner and cause the self-clean feature to stop working properly.
Do take out the oven racks and wipe away any loose crumbs. Manually lock your oven door if necessary (some brands lock themselves once a certain temperature is reached), turn the oven to "clean" and set the timer for 3-5 hours, depending on how dirty the oven is. Once the oven is cool, wipe out the ashes. If there are no ashes left then you’ve run the cycle too long, and if there is a lot of debris left then you should run the cycle longer next time.
3
Don’t use flammable products to clean your ceran-top. Surface units may still be hot even if turned off or dark in color. Some cleaners produce noxious fumes if applied to a hot surface and some may explode if left near a hot burner. Keep the area surrounding your ceran-top clear from any type of combustible cleaning products during and after use.
Do use a cleaning cream designed for ceran-top appliances. The special cook-top cleaning cream leaves a protective finish on the glass to help prevent scratches and abrasions. After applying the cream and wiping it off, buff with a non-abrasive cloth or pad such as a no scratch scrub sponge. Clean the glass surface after each use, this helps protect the top and makes clean up easier.
4
Don’t remove ice from your freezer with an ice pick or any sharp or pointed object. This is the quickest way to cause permanent damage to the freezer liner.
Do remove all of the contents and place in another freezer or icebox. Set your freezer to defrost. If your freezer doesn’t automatically defrost you may need to unplug or turn your freezer off for a few hours. Use a sponge to wipe away the water as it thaws or let it fall into the drip pan. If you are in a hurry and can’t wait for the freezer to completely defrost, use a flat tool such as a soft spatula to scrape off the ice once it has broken up a little.
5
Don’t substitute regular dish detergent for dishwasher detergent. Liquid detergents will quickly fill your dishwasher and ultimately overflow bubbles onto your floor. If you happen to make the mistake of using regular dish detergent, toss half a cup of oil in your dishwasher and set it to the drain cycle to remove the foam.
Do use “low-suds” products in your dishwasher. They are made specifically for your dishwasher.