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Reusable paper cloths

I’ve been using these Swedish DishCloths to cut back on my use of paper towels. It’s basically a really thin sponge. They’re super absorbent and can pick up the tiniest of crumbs. When dry, they’re gritty enough to scrape gunk off countertops and stoves — which is exactly what I wanted them for. — CD

Industrial hand cleaner

When doing manual work it’s hard to get your hands clean of sticky grease, paint, glue, ink, grime – all things ordinary soap won’t remove. The best way I know of to clean super grimy hands is to squirt them with Fast Orange, and then rinse with water. This is the industrial-strength cleaner auto shops use. It cleans better, faster than anything else I’ve tried. The after smell is a pleasant orange, which is a bonus. — KK

Discounted shipping

I’ve been using Pirate Ship for quite some time and I can vouch for its reliability. If you have a package or flat rate envelope you want to send by USPS or UPS, give it a try. Not only is the interface much easier to use than the USPS or UPS website, the shipping is cheaper, sometimes by a lot. — MF

Gourmet instant ramen

Tipped off by a reader (bookofjoe) I’ve been trying out gourmet instant ramens. Nongshim instant noodles from Korea are noticeably better than your average instant ramen, and good enough to repeat. My favorite is the Vegan style, but they come in beef, mushroom, chili, and other flavors. The ones packaged in cups are particularly handy in a pinch. — KK

Hotel drying technique

If you need to wash and dry clothes while traveling, here’s a drying tip from Jono Hey’s excellent Sketchplanations newsletter. First, wash your garment in the hotel sink. Then, lay it flat on a towel, roll the towel up tightly, and wring it out. After that, remove the garment and drape it over the towel rack to dry.  “With any luck,”  writes Jono, “your underwear will be wearable again in the morning. And if it’s not quite there, there’s often a hair dryer to help finish off.” — MF

Define your visual style in five steps

I love this idea of defining my own visual style. This how-to article outlines how to discover your visual foundation so that you can make timeless and meaningful design decisions. The five steps are:

1. Get personal: Connect to a favorite place or story to find inspiration for your visual style.
2. Get curious: Create a visual research board to collect images, icons, and typography that resonate with your theme.
3. Embrace frequency bias: Look for patterns and recurring elements to solidify your visual direction.
4. Check yourself: Confirm your theme is personal and relevant to you. 
5. Create a definitive visual taste palette: Compile an edge-to-edge board filled with visuals, type, color, and shapes that expresses your unique visual style.

— CD 

10/8/23