How It Works Life Hacks - 2nd Edition 2022

134 Pages·2022·28 MB·English

NEW
How to change Build the best-ever
a tyre sandcastle
Make the perfect
DIY slushie
Maximise your 111000000
travel plans
The right way to
put up a tent
SOLUTIONS
TO EVERYDAY
PROBLEMS
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Top decorating tips
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O L E V E L U P Y
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L E A R N H
Grind coffee without How to put up a Make any photo
a grinder shelf straight a masterpiece

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What to do while Become a Spotify Maximise your
you wait for a plumber power user mowing
ND ON DIY FIXES TIME-SAVING TIPS SOLVE IT WITH SCIENCE TOP TECH TRICKS
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Do you want to be better at everything you do? Whether it’s fixing up
common household problems and getting those tiresome DIY jobs done
quickly, or getting the most from your tech, or learning cool new skills and
how to make the best of everything, we can help! This indispensable guide
will teach you how to combat DIY disasters and make jobs like de-icing,
changing tyres and mowing quicker and easier. You’ll learn how you can
transform your photos and videos, boost your Wi-Fi signal and fix your
phone. And you’ll discover how you can be better at everything, from
making the tastiest food and drink to catching a wave on a surfboard or
learning a new language. Read on to discover the best quick fixes, problem
solvers, performance boosters and time saving life hacks.

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Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA
Editorial
Editor April Madden
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Printed in the UK
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Life Hacks Second Edition (HIB4366)
© 2022 Future Publishing Limited
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company quoted on the Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford
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www.futureplc.com Tel [phone]
Part of the
bookazine series
CONTENTS
Learn how to level up your life skills like a pro
DISCOVER
QUICK 98
TRICKS &
3 techniques to make
CLEVER any photo a masterpiece
SOLUTIONS
34
How to build
a shed
80
Stop hackers spying
on your webcam
PART 1: AROUND THE HOUSE
Don’t nail through wires ................................................................. 10
How to put up a shelf straight ..................................................... 12
Decorate like a pro ............................................................................. 14
What to do while you wait for the plumber .........................16
Get better acoustics in your rooms ..........................................18
How to escape a burning building .......................................... 20
Babyproof your house ..................................................................... 22
The smart way to stack dishes .................................................... 24
Grow a veg patch on your kitchen counter ......................... 26
Deep-fry a turkey ................................................................................ 28
Maximise your mowing .................................................................. 30
Rotavate your garden in minutes ............................................... 32
How to build a shed .......................................................................... 34
How to take your shed off the grid ........................................... 36
68
Fix a punctured bike tyre without a repair kit ..................... 38
The simple way to change a car tyre ..................................... 40
4 most common
How to jump-start your car .......................................................... 42 Wi-Fi problems and
how to fix them
Cover up a car paint scratch ........................................................ 44
The fastest way to de-ice your windscreen ..........................46
6
30
Maximise your
mowing
86
8 battery myths
busted
14
Decorate like
a pro
116
8 ways to survive
your first marathon
PART 2: TECH TIPS PART 3: LEVEL UP
Take stunning time-lapse video ........................................................ 50 Write a novel in a month ........................................................................ 90
Add special effects to your home movies ................................... 52 The perfect home cinema ...................................................................... 92
Turn your phone into a hologram projector .............................. 54 10 ways to become a Spotify power user ...................................... 94
Watch Netflix videos offline ................................................................. 56 Become a YouTube superstar ............................................................... 96
The simple way to install a ceiling speaker ................................. 58 3 techniques to make any photo a masterpiece ........................ 98
Turn your tablet into a PlayStation ................................................... 60 Learn a new language with Memrise ............................................ 100
Restore faded family photos ................................................................ 62 8 hacks to get a five-star holiday for less ...................................... 102
Make any photo 3D ................................................................................... 64 Long-haul flight hacks ........................................................................... 104
Turn your tablet into a picture frame ............................................. 66 Build a sandcastle like a pro ................................................................ 106
4 most common Wi-Fi problems and how to fix them ...........68 Stand up on a surfboard ....................................................................... 108
Boost your broadband speed ............................................................. 70 How to cast a fly line .............................................................................. 110
6 ways to live one the cloud ................................................................ 72 The right way to put up a tent ........................................................... 112
Never see a pop-up ad again .............................................................. 74 Chop wood like a champ ...................................................................... 114
4 steps to avoid bad eBay customer service .............................. 76 8 ways to survive your first marathon ............................................ 116
Unsend those shameful emails .......................................................... 78 Grind coffee without a grinder ........................................................... 118
Stop hackers spying on your webcam ......................................... 80 Make the perfect smoothie ................................................................. 120
6 ways to fix your phone ....................................................................... 82 Make the perfect DIY slushie .............................................................. 122
Switcher’s guide to changing phones ............................................ 84 How to carve like a pro .......................................................................... 124
8 battery myths busted .......................................................................... 86 Cook the perfect pulled pork roll ...................................................... 126
7
32
Rotavate your
garden in minutes
28
Deep-fry
a turkey
26
Grow a veg patch on
your kitchen counter
42
How to jump-
start your car
16
36
What to do while you
How to take your
wait for the plumber
shed off the grid
8
AROUND
THE HOUSE
Fast fixes and handy hints to help you get all
of those jobs around the house out of the way
quickly, easily and safely
Don’t nail through wires .................................................................. 10
How to put up a shelf straight ...................................................... 12
Decorate like a pro .............................................................................. 14
What to do while you wait for the plumber .........................16
Get better acoustics in your rooms ..........................................18
How to escape a burning building .......................................... 20
Babyproof your house ...................................................................... 22
The smart way to stack dishes ..................................................... 24
Grow a veg patch on your kitchen counter .......................... 26
Deep-fry a turkey ................................................................................ 28
Maximise your mowing ................................................................... 30
Rotavate your garden in minutes ................................................ 32
How to build a shed ........................................................................... 34
How to take your shed off the grid ............................................ 36
Fix a punctured bike tyre without a repair kit ...................... 38
The simple way to change a car tyre ...................................... 40
How to jump-start your car ........................................................... 42
Cover up a car paint scratch......................................................... 44
The fastest way to de-ice your windscreen...........................46
9
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DON’T NAIL
THROUGH
LIVE WIRES
Detect pipes and wires
and spot studs to avoid
major DIY disasters
Common sense
obviously plays a
part with tracing
hidden wires
01 02
Socket to ‘em True detective
Before you even pick up a drill, you need to work out the best To make sure that you’re not about to drill into something then
place to hang whatever it is you’re wanting to put up on the wall. Look you need to have something like a multi-detector – of which there are
for obvious problem areas, such as radiators or electrical sockets, as many, but we’re going with this excellent one from Bosch. Place the
they’re obviously going to have some pipework or wires located in their device against the wall and it’ll light up green when you’re safe to drill and
immediate vicinity behind the wall. Once you’ve found the perfect spot red when you’re not. You even get a bar that increases or decreases to
then it’s time to bring out the detector. show you how close you are to the potential hazard.
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