Recently, I had the fortunate pleasure of spilling a few drops of iced tea on my cell phone.  I have an enV2 and although phone was not flipped open when the spillage occurred, the stickiness made its way to the lower half of my QWERTY keyboard.  Needless to say, I was not too happy about this.  So, after many attempts click the keys so many times to free the sticky mess, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.

The first cleaning method that crossed my mind was water but then I decided against that because I didn’t want to have to invest in a new phone.  So, for some reason, I decided that rubbing alcohol would work out much better.  I guess I thought that since it cleans out bacteria from flesh wounds, it could most certainly stick it to the stickiness.  Now, my method of application was going to be tricky.  Did I want to use a cotton ball to ensure the alcohol was generously applied or did I want to use a Q-Tip for expert precision.  Once again, I went big and decided on the cotton ball.  I wanted to vanquish this stickiness and never have to deal with it again.

Much to my surprise, my rubbing alcohol trick cleared up the stickiness on my phone keypad.  I used it on the front and the inside.  I noticed that the rubbing alcohol leaves a slight residue and smell on the keypad so going over the keypad with a slightly damp paper towel will do the trick.  So, as a summary, here are the steps for cleaning your cell phone keypad:

1. Locate a bottle of rubbing alcohol.  DO NOT use water because it may seep in and cause you some real issues.
2. Apply to a cotton ball and gently rub the cotton ball over your keypad(s).
3. Once the rubbing alcohol has air dried, go over the keypad with a slightly damp paper towel.

I hope that this tips can help you out if you ever run into a sticky keypad issue with your phone.

What other methods have you found to be helpful in cleaning day to day devices?  What else do you use rubbing alcohol to clean?  Post your ideas in the comment section!

Everyone experiences ups and downs in regards to their finances.  Our “up” moments are usually characterized by raises, tax refunds, or any other event that give us more money.  On the other side of the coin, our “down” moments can be the result of numerous events, such as job loss, medical bills, car repairs, or something else that dwindles our finances.  But, have you ever considered an “up” moment to be when you’re saving money?  A lot of people think that saving money is almost as bad as paying for car repairs or a new water heater.  In fact, it’s the complete opposite.  Saving money can help you out when you really need it.  I bet you’re saying, “Sure Eric, I know that saving money can help me out in a pinch.  How is this article any different than anything else I read?”  Well, I’m going to let you in on a concept that I’ve personally used to help me out in the hard times and when I’ve needed a little extra money in my pocket.  It’s what I like to call my “Reverse Savings Account.”

Please note: The “Reverse Savings Account” should not be a priority on your list if you first do not have a regular savings account.  That should be a number one priority, not your “Reverse Savings Account.”

What is it?

The concept is pretty simple – you’re saving money in order to spend it.  Now, that may not sound like much of a savings account to you, but it really does come in handy and help out in the long run.  A lot of people have this mindset that when you have a savings account, no matter if it’s your first, second, or third, you really can’t spend it on anything unless it’s absolutely necessary.  This is a great mindset to have but it really only applies to your emergency savings account.  It is also possible to have a savings account that accumulates money which can be used at your discretion and not just in emergency situations.  That is the sole purpose of a ”Reverse Savings Account.” Continue Reading ->