DIY Life

A few months ago, I replaced the batteries in my cordless phones. To my shock and surprise, they only lasted for two months, and now neither handset works at all. I would replace them, but not if they are going to last that short amount of time. When reading the online reviews for the batteries, I learned I was not the only unhappy customer; nearly everyone that bought replacement batteries were horribly disappointed.

The same could be said for cell phone batteries. I do not own a cell phone because I can't get reception. Ahhh, the joys of living in the sticks! If you have been having some difficulty with your battery on your cell phone going kaput on you, learn how to make you cell phone battery last longer. You can increase time between charges by turning the phone off at night when you go to bed, not using the vibrate function on your phone, and not searching for a signal when there obviously isn't one to be found. You can prolong the life of your battery by fully charging a new battery before you use it, keeping the battery cool by not leaving your phone sit out in your purse in an overheated car(or similar situation), and by cleaning the battery contacts on both the battery and on the phone itself.

I am pretty sure that my phone batteries didn't last as long as I expected them too because I didn't initially charge them the way they should have been charged. Being on a dial up connection though kind of takes away from the life of my phone battery and so I am stuck with what I get, even though I know they should have lasted more than two months. You don't have to be disappointed; simply follow wikiHow's tips.

Your PDA's swaddled in suede, your cell's clad in couture and your laptop's loving its sleek new custom case. Meanwhile, those are mere decorations and only protect you from scratches -- how do you protect your gadgets from water?

Ever dropped your gadget in a puddle, had your toddler pour coffee on your laptop (ah, the perils of a working parent), or worse ... you leaned over to flush the toilet only to have your cell phone slide out of your pocket and right into the bowl? Usually it means that you have to replace your gadget ... but sometimes if you act fast, you can save yourself from another expensive purchase.

Follow these steps to avoid a trip to the gadget graveyard.

Step 1: Turn off your gadget and immediately remove the battery -- no matter what you do -- DO NOT TURN IT BACK ON. If you dropped your phone and it has a SIM card, remove that too. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on it. To some people this could be more important than the phone itself.

Step 2: Dry it off as much as you possibly can. Even take a Q-tip and get into the cracks and crevices. You can never be too thorough.

Step 3: Put the gadget and battery in a dry, warm spot and wait. Don't try putting the battery back in to see if it works as this would risk damaging the phone with a short circuit. Remember: Water and electricity don't mix ... don't let your short patience get the best of you. You will have to wait this one out and your best bet is to let it dry for two to three days and not a minute less!

Step 4: Put your batteries back in and cross your fingers. With a little luck, your gadget will be back in working order. Note: This can work for your kids' electronic toys too.

Tip: If something other than water (like coffee or soda) was the culprit, you may need to add another step ... after drying you will want to take your Q-tip and clean the gadget with alcohol (use sparingly) and then dry again. Unfortunately, liquids other than water will corrode the inside parts and the longer it dries without being cleaned out, the more concentrated the substance will become.