The third way that moisture can get into your basement is through condensation. Closing basement windows when the relative humidity outside is over 50 or 60 percent will prevent humid air from entering your house, and prevent condensation from forming. This is especially important in the warmer spring and summer months. Condensation forms when warm, humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, such as your basement wall or floor. Increasing the air flow will make it harder for condensation to form, because the movement will help to drive moisture out of the air. Increase ventilation in the basement by opening windows on non-humid days, by running fans, and by using exhaust vents. Along with preventing humid air from entering your basement, another way to prevent condensation is to insulate the walls to keep them warmer. When the walls are warmer, humid air won't condense on them. Only insulate exterior walls after addressing leaks and other areas where water is entering the basement from outside. Otherwise, you'll trap water behind the insulation and end up with mold. Cold water pipes are a classic place for condensation to form, because they're typically cooler than surrounding surfaces. Buy some foam pipe insulation, cut it to size for the pipes, and wrap the pipes with the insulation. This will prevent moisture from collecting on the pipes and condensation from forming.

Summary: Close basement windows on humid days and nights. Increase ventilation in the basement. Add extra insulation to exterior basement walls. Insulate cold water pipes.

Put your shoes in the microwave on high for no longer than 30 seconds. The heat from the microwave will make the fabric more malleable to your feet. Make sure there are no metal pieces in the shoes before putting them in the microwave. Make sure the eyelets in your shoes aren't metal, too. Take the shoes out of the microwave and put them on right away while the material is still warm. Walk around with them on for a minute. After a minute, they'll start to cool down, so take them off and put them in the microwave again for 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, wear your shoes again, and they should be widened enough. The heat from the hair dryer will soften the fabric for stretching. While wearing thick socks, put your shoes on and aim a hair dryer at them for 20-30 seconds. Keep the hair dryer a few inches from your feet so as not to burn yourself. Try the shoes on without the thick socks to test their fit. They should be looser. Steam will relax the shoe fibers and make them more malleable to the shape of your feet. Boil a kettle of water and hold your shoes over the steam for 3 to 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn yourself. Try the shoes on and flex your feet around in them until the fabric has been stretched wide enough to accommodate your foot.

Summary: Microwave canvas shoes for a quick way to stretch them. Use a hair dryer on the shoes while wearing socks. Use steam to soften canvas shoes for stretching.

Mount pieces of mirror instead of the glass in an old, rustic-looking door or window frame. Get the mirror pieces custom-cut to the dimensions you need by a mirror and glass company. Mount the mirror with silicone adhesive. Make sure to remove any old glass pieces from the door or window before you mount the mirror pieces. Use silicone adhesive to attach a mirror inside of the tray or dish. Things like old cake pans or serving platters work well. You can go thrift shopping for cheap, vintage platters and dishes, then get a mirror custom-cut to fit perfectly. Use a hot glue gun to glue shells, sticks, ribbon, or anything else you can dream up around a regular old mirror frame to give it a new life. Let your imagination run wild! You could even glue tiles around a mirror to make a mosaic frame.

Summary: Frame a mirror in a reclaimed wood door or window for a rustic frame. Mount a mirror inside a vintage platter or tray for a unique mirror frame. Glue anything you want around a plain mirror frame to decorate it.

You can do this by using your toothbrush to brush your tongue. The point nearest to the front of your tongue that makes you gag is where you should concentrate. Don't stick your fingers in your mouth. You might induce vomiting. Yes, you'll gag, and it will be unpleasant, but it won't last long. Spend about ten seconds brushing that area (and gagging). Then call it a night. Repeat the process over the next few nights in the exact same spot. Your gag should gradually decrease each time you do it. Once you can touch your toothbrush to the original starting point without gagging, it's time to move the toothbrush farther back. Try brushing to inch (6mm12mm) behind where your gag used to begin. Repeat the process as you did in the first spot. Do this each time you make progress desensitizing small areas in front. Keep moving it farther back until you've reached the farthest visible point of your tongue. Eventually, the toothbrush will come into contact with your soft palate, if it hasn't already. Be persistent. This process takes about a month to complete. Afterward, you should be able to have a doctor swab the back of your throat without gagging. You might have to repeat the process from time to time, as your reflex might return if you don't. A good way to keep yourself desensitized is to brush your tongue regularly. Not only will it help quell the gag reflex, it'll also give you fresher breath!
Summary: Find out where your gag reflex starts. Brush your tongue right where your gag begins. Increase the brushing area. Move the brush farther back. Desensitize everyday.