Learnt this the hard way , after a $150.00. call out fee for a professional to remove a half teaspoon of gunk from the drainpipe causing dishwasher blockage last week .  Thank you Cooper for your visit and the helpful tips !  ( Would have preferred a price-reduction but ....  😄😄 ) 

1. Use the dishwasher at least once a week to avoid particles from drying and hardening in the pipes.  Time for a mindset change semicentennials.  You are NOT wasting water !!
2. If there are no dishes even a 10 minute  "stop-start, spin-drain -dry"   cycle is effective.  
3. Instead of a rinse aid , throw in baking soda and vinegar to run and clean (when empty)
4. Rinse dirty plates and utensils before hand in a basin of water .  All it takes is a small amount of food over time to clog up pipes and prevent free-flow draining 
5. Switch between cycles to kickstart an instant drain effect.   
6. Feel free to open when in use , stop-start , even add in more plates if needed . No , the water will not come flying out , in most DW models .  
7. After use , keep the dishwasher slightly open, buffered by a thick towel , to dry out completely.

Check out the tips below on some more practical & optimal use of your dishwasher ! 
 
www.thespruce.com/dishwasher-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-1901143

A convenient little trick for tired thumbs ! 
Make sure you select the correct mic icon - there are two.  One for voice messages , the other that converts speech to text.  ​
Speak slowly and mechanically in a quiet place for best results. 
​Say "comma" , "Question mark" … when you need these interjections inserted. 


The Dictation feature was added in the latest WhatsApp update, and is available on both iPhone and Android.
First, go into the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and make sure you've got the latest version of WhatsApp installed.
Then follow these steps:

• Open WhatsApp
• Open a chat with the contact you want to speak to
• Open up the chat keyboard, where you'd normally type messages
• Look for a microphone icon (not the one next to the chat bar): on Android, it's black and in the top right, and on iPhone it's in the very bottom right of the screen

If you want a comma and question mark, simply say "comma" or "question mark" out loud. It's the same story for adding "full stop".
Once you've finished your message, check it over and then hit send.
When you're speaking into the microphone, remember to talk clearly and enunciate words – as turning speech into text is very tricky for apps.
It's also best to dictate your message in a quiet place, to give your microphone the best chance of picking up your words.
You can always edit your dictated message before you send it anyway, to correct any typos that may appear.

​



​www.thesun.co.uk/tech/8217172/whatsapp-dictation-speech-to-text-without-typing/#

​Reduce scrubbing and washing time by frying bacon in parchment paper.
Begin in a cold pan lined with the paper, and note that it might take a little longer to heat up.

The same trick for assorted baking - I personally use a lining of foil (on the bottom) , then wax paper over for veggies , light fish , frittatas …. Saves heaps of time.