A comb with sturdy, widely spaced teeth is essential for combing out severe tangles. Fine combs and brushes are likely to meet too much resistance, forcing you to either pull out clumps of hair, or stop brushing. Be sure to pick a comb that doesn't have teeth so wide that smaller tangles slip through. Always comb tangled hair starting near the ends. Place the comb a few inches (several centimeters) from the end of the tangled hair, and brush downward. Repeat until that section of hair is free of tangles, then move the comb slightly higher up. Repeat until the entire length of your hair is combed. For long or thick, severely matted hair, this may take an hour or more. If you have a sensitive scalp, hold a section of your hair as you brush it. Grasp a portion of hair about the thickness of a marker or glue stick between your fingers, and give it a half-twist to keep the comb from pulling directly on your scalp. Comb this portion of hair beneath your hand, moving your grip higher once the hair below it is successfully untangled. Apply a drop of conditioner or oil to a tough knot and rub it in with your finger. This will help lubricate those hair strands further, reducing the amount they cling to each other. If a mat of hair refuses to come apart despite all your efforts, you may need to thin it out. Open a pair of scissors and hold your hair tight with your other hand. Run the bottom blade of the scissors along the underside of the mat, then gently tug at your hair to remove loose strands. If it has been weeks or months since the last time you combed your hair, cutting mats out may be your best option, as you can spend hours detangling with no results. Use a wide-toothed comb until the severe mats and tangles have been straightened out. Switch to a fine-toothed comb or a brush to remove any small knots that may remain. Rinse out any hair treatments completely once your hair is untangled. If you have tightly coiled hair, and the severe mats have separated enough to allow you to part your hair, clip each section of hair to keep them separate, and rinse one at a time.
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One-sentence summary -- Use a wide toothed comb. Comb the ends first. Hold your hair higher up to prevent pain. Apply additional conditioner or oil if necessary. Thin stubborn mats with scissors. Finish with a fine-toothed comb or brush. Rinse your hair.

Baking soda absorbs moisture and odors. To keep these issues at bay, set out open containers of baking soda in rooms with lots of moisture and/or musty smells. If you've tried getting rid of the wet carpet smell but the scent persists, it may be worth having professional carpet cleaners come take a look. They will be able to tell you whether the carpet can be cleaned and salvaged. A carpet cleaning company may even be able to remove and fully clean a carpet damaged by flooding or another source of persistent moisture. If you have a carpet that was installed with tack strips, you may be able to remove it, clean it, and reinstall it. If you or a carpet cleaning professional are able to salvage the carpet itself, the padding beneath it should still be replaced. If cleaning the carpet yourself, mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with five parts water and spray the entire carpet on both sides. Then lay it out in the direct sunlight until the carpet is fully dry. If water has permeated your carpet and the padding beneath it, you may need to replace it. In general, if a carpet was saturated with liquid for more than 24 hours, or if moisture has allowed mold or mildew to permeate the carpet, it will need to be replaced. If the source of moisture was temporary or minimal, your may be able to dry out a wet carpet.
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One-sentence summary -- Place open boxes of baking soda in humid rooms. Consult professional carpet cleaners if necessary. Remove the carpet for cleaning if possible. Consider discarding moisture-damaged carpeting.

Core-formed concrete, precast concrete panels, and ICF, or Insulated Concrete Form wall construction is essentially more waterproof than most other construction methods to begin with, meaning that it rarely needs additional waterproofing attention. That being said, the exterior walls of pre-fabbed concrete are often coated more for appearance than for weatherproofing. If you think your structure may need waterproofing, get a general contractor you trust to give you advice. He or she may suggest applying a liquid membrane and not much else, or suggest filling up any cracks or joints, instead of staging an elaborate waterproofing production. If you do decide to go ahead with waterproofing, nearly any technique you use will require your concrete walls to be in good standing. This means: Caulking to fill any expansion joints or larger cracks up to 14 inch (0.6cm), with a good quality polyurethane caulking. Concrete patching to fill any joints larger than 14 inch (0.6cm), making sure the concrete patch is completely dried before proceeding. Grinding to smooth out any rough, uneven concrete so that your waterproofing membrane or slurry has an even surface to adhere to. With a stiff brush, some TSP (trisodium phosphate) and some water, wash away any loose material, oil, or dirt still clinging to the concrete. Most membranes like a clean surface to adhere to. Let dry before proceeding.
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One-sentence summary -- Determine if your concrete house needs waterproofing. Prepare the walls for the coating you have selected. Thoroughly clean the surface of your concrete before waterproofing.

If you wear contacts, switch to eyeglasses instead until your symptoms go away. The additional contact with the infected eye(s) can increase both your discomfort and your likelihood of spreading the infection. You can soothe some of the discomfort associated with an infection by applying cool compresses to your closed eyes. Seal some ice in a clean plastic baggie. Wrap with tinfoil to slow the melting of the ice, and then wrap the entire thing with a towel or paper towel to make it more comfortable against your eyelid. Place the compress against your eye for five minutes. Use a different compress on each eye to avoid spreading the infection, and use a new compress each time. Warm compresses are not recommended. Though they may relieve some discomfort, the warmer environment can create an even better breeding ground for bacterial conjunctivitis. Artificial drops can help ease symptoms by reducing the gritty sensation in your eye(s). Speak to your eye care professional about using lubricating drops in conjunction with prescription eye drops. You can also put the artificial tears in the fridge to cool them. when dropped into the eye, this will soothe the eye even more
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One-sentence summary --
Avoid contacts. Apply a sterile, cool compress to the eye(s). Use over-the-counter eyedrops.