Instruction hanger

Describe the problem you were solving?

I would make these reminder lists for myself in the kitchen for both cooking and also to help remind me to do things to clean up.

How is it  being used?

I use it on my kitchen cupboards

How did you come up with the solution?

Reused a plastic cloths  hanger.

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How did it make things better?

It reminded me to do things, especially around putting things away after I have eaten.

Control button bumps

Describe the problem you were solving?

My spouse was having a hard time finding the right buttons to press on our dishwasher because the controls are so difficult to see and find. 

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How is it being used?

Originally it was used on the dishwasher in the kitchen but I have now put these orange buttons on our washer and dryer in the basement.

How did you come up with the solution?

I bought these orange sticky buttons at Home Depot and just repurposed them for raised buttons on our electronics.

How did it make things better?

By putting a these  orange bumps on the controls it is much easier for her to remember and for me to tell her which button to press to start the dishwasher.

Induction cooktop

Describe the problem you were solving?

My wife would turn on the stove elements and not turn them off and burn the pots. I took out the stove electrical elements from the top and put an Ikea portable induction cooktop in.

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How is it was being used?

On my oven top

How did you come up with the solution?

Someone suggested that these induction cookers and I took the electric oven elments off.

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How did it make things better?

She cannot turn it on as it does not have knobs to turn and is finger activated and the induction cooktop does not get hot when it is on.

Door stoppers

Describe the problem you were solving?

I was worried she would accidentally slam or pinch finger in the door or even lock herself in.

How is it was being used?

All of the doors in the house.

How did you come up with the solution?

I chopped a foot-long chunk off a foam pool noodle, cut a vertical slice along its side, then push the noodle onto the door’s outer edge.

How did it make things better?

The door never completely shuts so id do not worry about doors slamming, shutting or her fingers getting caught.

Remote control controller

Describe the problem you were solving?

Used this orange tape to cover all of the non essential buttons on this remote for my grandpa. 

How is it was being used?

Beside his chair in the television room.

How did you come up with the solution?

I got some orange tape and started wrapping the tape around the remote to only expose the controls he needs.

How did it make things better?

It is great as it make it easier to just press the buttons he needs. I want to make a new versions with fabric that looks better.

Sugru

Describe the problem you were solving?

My Mum has a hard time gripping and handling things.

How is it was being used?

I use it everywhere in the house where she needs to grip or turn something.

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How did you come up with the solution?​

I bought this amazing material I found called Sugru which starts as modelling clay and It starts out like a modelling clay and turns into silicone rubber  after a day. It holds shape but stay flexible and it sticks to almost anything. It is also heat resistant and I am putting it on pot handles now.

How did it make things better?

Makes things easier to grip, turn and see because it is orange.

Screen door markings

Describe the problem you were solving?

I kept walking into the screen door because I could not see it.

How is it being used?

Screen door that goes out to the back porch

How did you come up with the solution?

I wanted to mark the screen and thought of using typewriter correction fluid which is white

How did it make things better?

I now see the screen door better and do not walk into it.

Bed riser

Describe the problem you were solving?

My wife was having a hard time getting out of bed because it was too low. I could not pull her up out of the bed when it was that low.

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How was it being used?

I used it on bed under the box spring

How did you come up with the solution?

I made it out of wood and straps so the box spring and bed mattress would not slide.

How did it make things better?

I elevated the bed and she just slid over and got on her feet. 

Pill bottle labels

Describe the problem you were solving?

She could never read what was on the pill 

bottles because the labels were too small and on a curved bottle.

How is it being used?

We keep the pill bottles in a shoe box in a drawer in the kitchen and she can see the top of the bottles when she opens the drawer.

How did you come up with the solution?

I cut out circles in paper and glued them on to the top of the bottles.

How did it make things better?

Both she and I can read the pills from the top cap in the draw. We can easily find our pills.