INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look at the bulbs on your strand of lights to be sure that each one is seated firmly into its plastic socket, as they sometimes come loose. Focus first on looking at individual unlit bulbs, or the first and last bulbs in a section that is unlit, but you should check all bulbs for loose connections. Gently push a loose bulb down into the socket until its connecting edge appears flush with the socket or it clicks into place. Remove any bulb that you know for certain is dead, either because it is an isolated unlit bulb in a strand of otherwise functioning bulbs, or it is clearly shattered, burnt-looking, or otherwise discolored. Gently remove a dead bulb by grasping it between two fingers and pulling it up out of the socket. Some bulbs may require you to twist the bulb before pulling up. Replace any individual dead bulb with a new one of equal size and wattage, placing it firmly down into the socket. If you have a section of unlit bulbs in the strand, use a bulb tester, found in stores where Christmas lights are sold, to determine which bulb is causing the problem. Inexpensive bulb testers can be found as a plastic mold or pen-shaped tool powered by a 9-volt battery. Start with the first and last bulbs in an entire strand that is unlit, or the first unlit bulb that follows a section of working bulbs. Follow the individual instructions provided with your bulb tester for proper use. Remove any bulb you discover to be dead and replace with one of equal size and wattage. Plug your strand back into a power source after you've replaced any bulbs found to be dead to determine if all bulbs are now lit. You may need to replace more than one bulb in a section of unlit ones. Continue to test all bulbs in an unlit section if replacing just one doesn't solve the problem. At the end of the season, of after you've replaced bulbs, ensure that others are not broken or damaged by storing them where they will not be crushed or exposed to extreme temperatures. When putting up or taking down lights, be sure not to pull too hard on the strand, or otherwise roughly handle the wires and bulbs in such a way that could damage them. Coil your light strands neatly around a piece of cardboard, a clothes hanger, or other sturdy object, then place them into a box where there will not be pressure placed on the bulbs or wires. Note that typical Christmas tree lights usually have a life of about 1,000-1,500 hours, or about one to three seasons of use (unless they are LED lights, in which case they can last much longer). Plan to replace light strands every few years rather than continuing to attempt bulb replacements beyond the strand's expected lifespan.

SUMMARY: Check first for loose connections. Replace dead bulbs. Test bulbs in a dead section. Test the strand after you've replaced bulbs. Continue to care for bulbs when stored.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can use any size jar, though keep in mind the number of Scobys you want to store in it. Wash your jar thoroughly with soap and water. You can squirt some soap into the jar and soak it, then rinse the jar to wash away soap residue. For example, you can use a a 0.5USgal (1.9L) glass jar. Over time, you will add more Scobys into the same jar to create your "hotel." This is helpful in case 1 of your brews goes bad. That way, you will have back up Scobys to use for new batches. You can place a few Scobys or several inside the same jar. You can use some of your recent kombucha brew or use a bottle of store bought kombucha. Pour in some kombucha, and then dump in a few cups of freshly brewed green or black tea mixture. This helps feed your Scobys in their hotel. To make your tea, you can boil {{convert|5-6|cup|L} of water and steep about 4 teabags. Then, pour in about 0.5 cups (0.12L) of cane sugar. Use a tightly woven cloth, and place it on the top of your jar. Then, screw on your lid so it fits tightly over your jar. If you don't have a cloth, you can use 2 coffee filters instead. You can place this next to other kombucha batches, if you'd like. Make sure your Scoby hotel will not be disturbed in whatever location you pick. Since you have multiple Scobys in your batch, it will ferment quicker than normal and will be much more potent. Because of this, replace your kombucha with a fresh batch after 2 weeks. To use up your kombucha, you can drink kombucha from the jar, pour some off, or discard it.

SUMMARY:
Select a large, sterile glass container big enough to fit several Scobys. Put all of your Scobys into the jar. Pour in 1 cup (0.24L) of kombucha and 3 cups (0.71L) of freshly brewed tea. Cover your jar with a clean cloth and secure it with a lid. Store your jar in a dark, warm, and dry place. Replace the kombucha in your Scoby hotel every 2 weeks.