Apply a chemical stripper in a well-ventilated area. Spread the stripper onto the surface with a brush, and then scrape it off with a putty knife. Always wear protective clothing, such as rubber gloves, a ventilation mask and long-sleeved clothing when you are working with chemical stripper. Start with a medium-grit paper to get rid of dings and scratches. Then, finish with a fine-grit paper to smooth the surface. Then, wipe the surface with a tack cloth. Clean up excess dust from your area with a shop vacuum before you start painting or leafing. If you are painting the surface with brown paint, you may want to start with a layer of primer before you paint the surface with interior paint. Read the paint or primer instructions indicating how long it takes to cure.

Summary: Strip the existing paint off of the piece of furniture if it is chipping away. Sand the surface of the furniture. Brush off the surface with a broom. Paint the surface with a grey primer. Let the paint cure completely for a day or more before you start leafing.

You should release the skunk in an area that is at the edge of your property, close to trees or a spot near a forest. Keep all outdoor areas and doors closed, such as your garage door or your barn door, so the skunk cannot run into these areas once you release it from the trap. If you are setting the trap yourself, you should try to set the trap in an area where you have seen skunks before, at the far end of your property. It will then make it easier to release the skunk into the wild, rather than risk it running somewhere on your property. If you have a gravity door trap, you will need to flip over the trap so the door opens and allows the skunk to leave. You can use a painters pole or a pole that is 10 feet (3m) long at least to gently push the trap onto its roof. Once the trap flips over, the gravity door should pop open. You can also approach the trap from the side and use your hand or foot to gently flip over the trap. Make sure the trap is covered completely with the towel or tarp before you approach it. Spring loaded trap doors are a little trickier to open. You will need to approach the door and open it manually by pressing the spring loaded latch or button on the door. Make sure the trap is covered at the end opposite to the door so you can access the door easily. If you set the trap yourself, you may want to practice opening and closing it beforehand so you can do it quickly when it comes time to release a skunk. Opening the door quickly will reduce your risk of getting sprayed. Once you have opened the door, you should walk away from the trap quickly and quietly. You may hold another towel or tarp over your body and back away facing the trap so you are protected if the skunk does spray. Do not jump or run away from the trap as this can startle the skunk. Instead, walk away slowly and quietly so the skunk has time to come out of the trap on their own. Though the trap is now open, it may take the skunk some time to actually leave the trap. Noises around the trap may deter from the skunk from leaving. Skunks are also nocturnal animals so they may not exit the trap until nightfall. You should wait and check the trap the following morning, as the skunk will likely be gone by then. If you are in a rush to get the skunk out of the trap, you can use a garden hose to lightly wet the skunk. Do not spray the skunk with the force of the water. Instead, you should make the skunk wet with a light spray of water so it is encouraged to exit the trap. Make sure any enclosures nearby are closed and sealed so the skunk does not run out of the trap and hide in these areas. If you do end up getting sprayed by the skunk in the process of approaching and releasing it from the trap, you should make sure you clean your clothing and your body well to remove the smell. You will need to combine hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap to get rid of the skunk spray. Wash your clothing and your body with the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap mixture. You should also flush your eyes with water if you get sprayed in the eyes.

Summary: Choose a good spot to release the skunk. Flip over a gravity door trap. Open a spring loaded door trap. Walk away from the trap quickly. Check the trap the following morning. Clean your clothing if you do get sprayed.

Once the filters are the color you want, use tongs or your fingers to lift them out of the paint. Let the excess paint drip back into the pan and lay the filters on a wire rack. They'll dry faster in a single layer so don't stack the filters on the rack. The filters should dry within 20 or 30 minutes, depending on your climate.

Summary: Remove the filters and dry them in a single layer.

You should have some idea that you want to present in your thesis statement, which is typically two to three sentences long and articulates your overall argument. Don't worry about getting your thesis just right at this point - that comes later. If you don't feel ready to write the thesis out, jot down some notes in the introductory part of your outline. At the very least, you need some idea of what you want to say in your essay. While it may seem odd to summarize your essay before you've begun, writing your thesis at the beginning of your outline will help you organize your ideas and select the most important details that you want to present. The body of your essay is the part between the introductory paragraph and the conclusion paragraph. Select main details from your research that demonstrate your overall thesis (from Step 1). The number of details you use depends on the paper length: if you're writing a five-paragraph essay, then you have three paragraphs for the body, so you'll need three main ideas. Make sure you choose the most important details, and that they are all distinct from one another. Details used to support your thesis are also called "evidence." Now that you've identified the major point for each paragraph, jot down smaller, supporting details that help your reader understand the paragraph's main idea. These might include examples, facts, quotations or further explanation. Make sure you have enough supporting details for each paragraph. If you don't have enough to say about the paragraph's main topic, consider changing the topic or combining it with another paragraph. Alternatively, you can research a bit more to find additional supporting details for the paragraph. The conclusion summarizes what you've already said, and brings some new level of nuance or sophistication to your original thesis. Think of it as your final opportunity to make sure your reader understands what you've written.
Summary: Plan an introduction with a hook. Use one major supporting detail per paragraph in the body of your essay. Add in supporting details for each paragraph in the body. Restate your thesis in your conclusion.