Problem: Article: When you purchase your pitcher, take it out of the box it's in. Then, pull off the plastic that's wrapped all around the pitcher and discard it. Take out any items that are inside of your pitcher, such as the manual and/or the filter, and set them aside. With all packaging discarded, take apart the pitcher and place the different parts in a sink. Use a mild dish detergent, a sponge, and warm water to wash the parts. Then, dry them with a clean hand towel. Take the filter that came with your pitcher out of its packaging. Then, hold it under cold running water for at least 15 seconds. At this point, the filter is ready to be used. Take the lid off of your pitcher and hold your filter by its top. Line up the groove in the filter with the notch in the hole that's located in the bottom of the reservoir. Slide the filter down into the hole. With the lid still off and the filter in place, fill the reservoir completely with tap water. The water will slowly filter through and fill the bottom of the pitcher. At this point, your water will be ready to drink. In order to fill the pitcher completely, you may need to fill the reservoir more than once.
Summary: Take the pitcher out of its packaging. Wash and dry the pitcher. Rinse the filter under cold water for 15 seconds. Insert the filter into the pitcher. Fill the reservoir with water.

Problem: Article: Practicing prudence means practicing counsel, judgement, and decisiveness. You can be prudent at home by offering counsel to family members who are arguing and using good judgement to try to settle any disputes. Use problem solving methods like active listening, rational analysis, and talking through issues to help your family members reach a compromise. For example, maybe your siblings are having a disagreement about you should wash the dishes after dinner. Exercise prudence by suggesting that it would only be fair for the person who washed the dishes the night before to be given the night off and given the option of not doing the dishes that night. You can also use prudence to prevent more serious disputes, like a conflict involving money between family members. You may advise your family members to save all their receipts and keep a clear, up to date record on how money is being spent by each family member in the household. This can help to prevent arguments about money and spending down the road. To be prudent with your finances, make sure you keep the household finances organized and up to date by creating a budget. Keep a spreadsheet of all the household spending and costs every month, including items like rent or mortgage payments, groceries, utility bills, and cleaning expenses. You should also note any recreational spending done in relation to your home, such as decorating costs or maintenance costs. Being prudent with your finances will help you to prevent overspending every month and ensure you are aware of where your money is going every month. This will then allow you to make solid judgement calls about how to best use your income to cover your household expenses and manage your money. Make sure you are paying all your bills on time every month, from your utility bills to your credit card payments. Exercising prudence in terms of bills will ensure your finances are in order and you do not fall behind on your monthly expenses. To help you be prudent with credit card payments, you may consider consolidating your debts so they are all on one card or with one credit card company, rather than spread out among several cards with different interest rates. Consolidate your debt under the card with the lowest interest rates and the lowest transfer fees so you have lower monthly payments and can pay off the debt faster. You should also try to settle any outstanding debts you may have, such as money owed to family and friends or to other financiers. Rather than try to write off your debts through a write off company, which is often not successful, you should set up a monthly payment system to help pay off your debts over a set period of time. Arrange realistic monthly payments based on your income and take into account any added interest on your payments. Plan for the future in a prudent manner by setting aside a set amount of money in your savings account every month. This will ensure you are forward thinking and making decisions based on long term goals, rather than short term goals. You should factor in the amount of savings money you will be placing in your savings account based on your monthly income and your monthly expenses. Try to save about 10% of your annual income, especially if you make a decent salary and do not have high monthly expenses.
Summary: Use problem solving and critical thinking to settle disputes between family members. Organize your household finances. Pay bills on time and settle any debts. Put money aside every month in a savings account.

Problem: Article: DEET is the most effective pesticide for repelling mosquitoes, but it will only last a few hours at most, and can kill beneficial insects in your yard as well. Other insecticides may cause less collateral damage, but tend to be less effective, shorter lasting, and/or designed to work on clothing rather than large areas. Check the label to see if the pesticide is approved for the intended use by the Environmental Protection Agency or another regulatory organization. The one plant proven to repel mosquitoes is the lantana plant, but be aware that this can be poisonous to pets, can cause allergic reactions, and is an invasive species in some areas. Other plants may have a minor effect, but try these only if you enjoy them in your garden or are willing to plant a large quantity: Citronella, lemon grass, any citrus fruit, basil, rosemary, mint, or catnip may all have a minor effect. Bug zapper traps can seem effective because of loud sounds, bright lights, or sparks. However, most of the insects killed are not mosquitoes, and they can even kill insects that would normally eat or compete with mosquitoes. Ultrasound devices are simply not effective. Some mosquito-killing traps work using a fan system, very similar to the homemade trap described above. These can be effective, at least temporarily. Mosquitoes tend to avoid smoke, and will be blasted away by a strong fan. Dinner on the patio might not be as pleasant if you are sitting in a smoke cloud or wind tunnel, but if you only care about keeping them away for the next few minutes, this is one option. Citronella candles are mostly effective due to the smoke, not the scent. Any candle will work almost as well.
Summary:
Spray insecticide for a temporary solution. Consider a mosquito-repelling plant. Be skeptical of bug zappers and ultrasound machines. Use temporary measures.