When your tire blows out

Do not panic! If you have heard a loud boom from under the car, keep a firm hold on the steering wheel and avoid hard braking. Gently lift your foot off the gas, and coast until you have control, and then you may brake cautiously. Turn on your flashers to warn the cars behind you, but stay focused on steering the car as straight as you can while you slow down the vehicle, and guide yourself to the side of the road. Your ability to steer may be harder if you blow a front tire, and depends on how much of the rubber is left on the wheel. Call for help after you get to the side of the road.

Gas pedal sticks or your car will not stop accelerating

First check if you accidentally put your foot down on the accelerator by mistake (easy situation to fix). Second, be sure to stay calm! In case your gas pedal sticks, reach down to see if something, like floor mats or any object, might be wedged under there. Put the car into neutral (or press down the clutch), and do not worry about damaging the transmission. This procedure just takes the power from the engine away from the wheels, and lets you use the brakes to stop the car from rolling. In the worst-case scenario, you can even shut off the engine completely (just turn the key to OFF). Your steering and brakes will be harder to use, but they will still work! Coast to the side of the road, and use your emergency brake if you need extra help stopping. You can always practice doing this in parking lots occasionally.

Stop a car in an emergency situation

If your car is equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your foot stomped down, and do not lift off the brake until your car comes to a complete stop. Most of today's vehicles are equipped with ABS that help drivers maintain control of the car by preventing the wheels from locking up. If you do not have ABS, you have to be able to push the brake pedal down hard, but not so hard that you lock up and skid the tires. It takes a lot of skill to do this well, so you could practice in an empty parking lot once in a while. If your brakes do not work at all, try to steer yourself away from traffic and people. Turn on your emergency blinkers. Use your gear selector to downshift into lower gears and, if you have room on either side of you, steer the car sharply from side-to-side to slow you down. If that does not work, sideswipe your car against the guardrail until you are going slow enough to use the hand or foot brake to bring you to a standstill.

Body Wash Day!

Liquid soap is a hygiene product mainly used for washing, bathing, and cleaning the body, that comes in different colors and scents. Today you will find helpful alternative uses for it. Take advantage of them and you can even save some money...

Sanitize combs, brushes and rollers

Clean your hair accessories making a solution of body wash, water and one half capful of bleach, all mixed together, to sanitize your items.

Eyeglass, mirror or window cleaner

Mix a few drops of body wash and a quarter cup of water, place in a small spray bottle and use as a cleaner for your eyeglasses, mirrors and windows.

Bubbles for playtime fun

Make a mixture of body wash and water, place the stick in the solution and have bubbles of fun. It is inexpensive and provides hours of entertainment for children.

Household cleaning

If you run out of sink and toilet cleaner put a few squirts of body wash into the sink and clean with a non abrasive pad. For the toilet, you can swish the bowl with a small quantity of body wash, and the bowl will be clean with little effort.