Q: Brushing your teeth is an essential part of your health. Unfortunately, many people don't put the proper time and effort into it. Give yourself at least two minutes to brush your teeth, focusing on the molars and parts of your teeth that are otherwise hard to get to. Try dividing your mouth into four sections, and spend 30 seconds on each. Be gentle but thorough with your toothbrushing. A whitening toothpaste is recommended if you want to maximize your smile. Flossing once a day is a good thing to consider adding on to your toothbrushing routine. Going to see a dentist should be a no-brainer if you want to improve your smile. Dentists are trained professionals who specialize in maximizing the brightness of smiles. If you haven't seen a dentist in a while, it's a really good idea to go as soon as possible. Make a regular habit of seeing a dentist at least once every 6 months. Dentists can be expensive. Although basic check-ups aren't too pricey all things considered, oral surgeries are best approached with some insurance at hand. Smoking is one of the most injurious things you can do to your smile. Your skin will pale out, and your teeth will get yellow. This damage is usually gradual, but can sometimes completely destroy a smile if left unchecked. It's never an easy thing to stop smoking, but your body will thank you in more ways than one if you do. Ask your doctor about a smoking cessation aid if you feel you need one to go through with it. This can take the form of a skin patch, or medication designed to turn you off of smoking. Whitening strips effectively bleach your teeth to become a brighter shade of white. Buy a box, and apply them twice a day for a couple of weeks, or until the box runs out. Improvements should be noticeable within a few days, and will last for a few months before you have to start the process over again. It's not a total solution for teeth whitening, but it can have a significant impact on your smile if yellowness is a concern of yours. You can get your teeth whitened at a dentist's office as well. This operation can be fairly expensive however. Appointments take between 30-60 minutes, and are relatively painless. Braces are expensive and time-consuming, but they have the power to completely transform someone's smile. If your dentist recommends you for orthodontic surgery, you should seriously consider going through with it. It may be expensive, but the effect it'll have on your smile will be worth it. If you feel self-conscious about wearing braces, there are "invisible" alternatives you can use instead. This is a good option if you feel anxiety towards wearing traditional braces. Braces can be worn at any age. Although they're commonly associated with adolescence, there are lots of adults who decide to get them later on in life. A winning smile looks great at any age.
A: Brush your teeth twice a day. See a dentist. Stop smoking. Apply whitening strips. Consider braces.

Q: For most projects, you can keep the metal socket piece intact. If you only want the actual glass bulb for your project, however, you will need to remove the socket piece before continuing. You may want to remove this piece for visual aesthetics. Another reason to remove it would be to create as large an opening at the base of the bulb as possible. If you want to reattach the metal socket after removing it, you can do so by simply applying a little glue to the top edge and pressing it back onto the bottom of the glass bulb. Place a shallow amount of Muriatic acid in a glass bowl. Rest the attached socket in this acid and let it soak for 24 hours. Muriatic acid is a powerful cleansing agent often used for cleaning toilet bowls and other heavily stained plumbing surfaces. Only use enough acid to submerge the metal part of the bulb. After soaking the socket, remove it from the acid and rinse it well under running water. Use a little soap or a mild base, like baking soda, to neutralize the acid still clinging to the surface of the bulb socket. Wear gloves while working to protect your fingers from the harsh chemical. Hold the bulb firmly with one hand, then slowly twist the socket off the bottom with your other hand. The acid should have dissolved the powerful adhesive glue holding the metal socket to the glass, making the socket loose and fairly easy to remove. If done carefully, you should be able to avoid breaking any glass at the bottom of the bulb.
A: Ask yourself if this is necessary. Soak the socket in Muriatic acid. Clean off the acid. Carefully twist off the metal socket.

Q: This is very important because any oils will prevent the paint from sticking. It will also get rid of any sanding dust if you trimmed the hook down. Simply soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, then wipe down the outside surface. You should do this even if you just took the hook out of the packaging. You don't need to wipe down the back of the hook because you won't be painting it. If you paint the entire hook to match your wall, then the actual hooked part will show up against the curtain rod. Masking the hooked part off will leave the original color behind, and help it blend into the rod. Tear off a piece of making tape, then wrap it around the hooked part of your Command hook. Stop when you reach the rectangle or oval that the hook is attached to. You can use the brush-on or spray-on kind of primer. If you are using the spray-on kind, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and to cover your work surface with a sheet of newspaper. Shake the can before using it, and hold it several inches/centimeters away from the surface. Let the paint dry before moving on. Make sure that you use a primer made for plastic surfaces. If the primer doesn't stick, then the paint won't stick either. You can use spray paint for this, but it would be easier to color-match the hook to your wall with interior wall paint. Use a small brush to apply the paint in neat, overlapping rows. Let the paint dry, then add a second layer if it is thin or streaky. If you are working with spray paint, be sure to paint on top of a sheet of newspaper in a well-ventilated area. Use a sweeping side-to-side motion. If you live in a rental unit, ask your landlord for some spare paint. Apply the paint with a brush. Make sure that you pull the tape straight up and away from the hook. Do not drag it across the painted part of the hook, otherwise you risk chipping the paint. If you get some chips in the paint, fill them in using a small pointed brush and some spare paint. Whether or not the paint needs curing depends on the type of paint that you are using. Most spray paints are ready to use after they finish drying, which should only take 15 to 20 minutes. Many interior wall paints, however, have a curing time in addition to a drying time. Check the label on your can of paint. Don't use the hooks if the paint feels tacky. It has not cured yet. If you use the hooks before the paint finishes curing, it may peel off. Once the paint has dried and cured, the hooks are ready to use. There is no need to seal them because they are not being heavily used. In fact, sealing the hooks may mar any metallic finishes. The base of the completed hook will match your wall, and the hooked part will match your curtain rod.
A:
Wipe the hook down with rubbing alcohol. Wrap painter's tape around the hooked part. Paint the hook with paint primer intended for plastic surfaces. Paint the hook a color that matches your wall. Peel off the tape once the paint dries. Allow the paint to cure, if needed. Use the hooks.