Category: Leisure And Hobbies

Flea Market Bargains That Paid Off Big

 

Most times wealth comes from decades of saving and investing, but on exceedingly rare occasions, incredible value hides in plain sight, masquerading as a piece of junk, a forgotten yard sale trinket or a strangely heavy rock.

You do not always need a winning ticket to strike gold, though you do need an extraordinary alignment of circumstances. From dusty yard sales to ordinary dog walks, here are documented moments when everyday Americans stumbled into extraordinary discoveries.

1. The $4 flea market frame

In 1989, a Pennsylvania man bought a damaged painting at a flea market for $4 because he liked the frame. When he removed the artwork, a folded document fell out.

It turned out to be an original Dunlap Broadside, one of the first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence. The document later sold at Sotheby’s for $2.42 million.

2. A dog walk worth millions

In 2013, a Northern California couple walking their dog on their rural property spotted a rusty metal can sticking out of the ground. Inside were gold coins. They later unearthed several more cans.

The discovery became known as the Saddle Ridge Hoard, a cache of more than 1,400 U.S. gold coins dating to the 19th century with an estimated value exceeding $10 million.

3. The million-dollar paper bag

In 2016, a family cleaning out a relative’s home discovered a paper bag containing seven rare Ty Cobb baseball cards from the early 1900s.

The cards were identified as rare T206 Cobbs and were later valued in the seven-figure range after professional authentication.

4. Diamonds found at a public park

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is one of the few places in the world where the public can search for diamonds and keep what they find. Visitors regularly uncover stones there, including diamonds large enough to be cut, appraised and sold.

Over the years, multiple multi-carat diamonds have been discovered at the site. In 2020, one visitor found a 9.07-carat diamond while walking through a plowed field. It was the second-largest diamond found at the park since it became a state park in 1972.

5. The $3 yard sale bowl

In 2007, a New York family purchased a small white bowl at a garage sale for $3. Years later, they sought an expert opinion.

The bowl was identified as a rare Northern Song Dynasty Ding ware piece, roughly 1,000 years old, and later sold at Sotheby’s for more than $2.2 million.

6. The $2 thrift store tintype

In 2010, a California man bought a tintype photograph for $2 at a Fresno-area shop. The image showed men playing croquet.

After extensive authentication, the photo was identified as featuring Billy the Kid. The image has been estimated to be worth up to $5 million, depending on market demand and condition.

7. A superhero in the insulation

During a home renovation in Minnesota, a contractor discovered a copy of Action Comics No. 1 stuffed into a wall as insulation.

The 1938 issue marked Superman’s debut. Despite condition flaws, the comic later sold for $175,000 at auction.

8. The multimillion-dollar storage unit

A buyer purchased an abandoned storage unit for $500 and reportedly found a safe containing $7.5 million in cash.

Ultimately, a negotiated settlement was reached in which the buyer returned most of the money to the original owners and kept $1.2 million.

9. An out-of-this-world doorstop

A Michigan man used a large rock as a doorstop for decades after buying a farm. He later had it examined by experts.

The 22-pound stone was identified as a meteorite and later estimated to be worth roughly $100,000.

10. The fortune cookie lottery sweep

In 2005, 110 people won second-tier prizes in the same Powerball drawing, raising suspicions of fraud.

Investigations determined there was no cheating. Many winners had played numbers printed in fortune cookies, resulting in second-prize payouts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the Power Play option.

The reality of rare discoveries

It is tempting to think your attic is filled with secret millions, but the reality is that these discoveries are historical anomalies. For every million-dollar yard sale bowl, there are millions of genuine $3 bowls.

However, if you do stumble across an item with unusual weight, distinct markings or a backstory that does not quite add up, resist the urge to throw it away immediately. Getting an appraisal from a certified expert usually costs very little, and on the rarest of occasions, it can make a meaningful difference in your financial future.

Source:  moneytalksnews.com

Related:  11 Things to NEVER Buy at a Thrift Store – TUTORING YOU

The Best Wordle Start Words to Help You Solve the Daily Puzzle 

These strategic words will get you to those green squares in no time.

 

Perhaps you’ve heard of the game Wordle? It’s pretty hard to miss these days.

The strategic word game has positively swept the internet in recent weeks. Some are comparing it to baking sourdough as the craze of choice for a new phase of the pandemic. The New York Times liked it enough to cover its backstory at length (spoiler: its creator, a software engineer, made it as a love offering for his partner) …and then buy the game for a sum in the “low seven figures.”

Wordle start words matter (a lot) to serious players determined to flaunt their skills.   Even if you’ve never actually played the game. You’re probably pretty familiar with the grid of yellow and green squares its users can display on social media to show just how quickly they solved the puzzle. You get six tries tops.  However, devoted fans love to show off their skills when they complete the game in just two or three. (This high-profile score flaunting that has won the game some notoriety among people who choose to be in the anti-Wordle camp.)

Another unique feature of Wordle: Players only get one puzzle a day. (There’s no official option to binge on endless archives — at least for now.) And that means you’re going to want to make sure each play really counts.

What word should I start with in Wordle?

Sure, you could just choose any five-letter start word that strikes your fancy. But did you know that you can also choose strategic Wordle start words that can get you to those green squares even faster (because… math)? Consider these options to improve your next game.

The goal of Wordle is to guess the 5-letter word in 6 tries (or fewer).

Best Wordle start words

If you’ve ever watched Wheel of Fortune, you know that it only makes sense to start out by guessing letters that occur most commonly in the English language.

Google’s director of research Peter Norvig analyzed all the available data from Google Books to generate a list of most commonly used letters in English. His report concluded that the most commonly used letters are E, T, and A. Here’s the top 10 in order:

  1. E
  2. T
  3. A
  4. O
  5. I
  6. N
  7. S
  8. R
  9. H
  10. L Best Wordle starting word mathematically.

So it stands to reason, then, that you’d want to choose a Wordle start word that includes as many of the most common letters as possible, without repeating any.

TikTok user crvlwanek used his computer science know-how (and, evidently, abundant free time) to generate an algorithm that spit out the best Wordle start words based on all past answers to the puzzle so far. These words are:

  1. LATER
  2. ALTER
  3. ALERT
  4. AROSE
  5. IRATE

For more variations on Wordle start word options, consider others that use five of the most commonly used letters without repeating — such as RESIN or NOTES.

One strategy is to choose a Wordle start word that includes as many of the most common letters as possible.

How to win Wordle

Because every word must have a vowel, it’s also a smart strategy to kick off your daily play using a World start word packed with vowels — ideally three or more if possible.

Consider these examples of vowel-packed options:

  1. ADIEU
  2. ABOUT
  3. AISLE
  4. OCEAN
  5. AROSE

Or, if you find it boring to use any version of the same starting word every time — or simply don’t see the point in ruining a perfectly fun pastime with overwrought strategy — just do you instead. Start with whatever word makes you happy… after all, Wordle’s just a game! (And, of course, there’s always sourdough.)

Alesandra Dubin  Source: (womansday.com)

Related:  Best ‘Wordle’ starting word?  – TUTORING YOU

The Winner of the 2026 World Cup

It began with 48 country teams competing for the right to be called world champion.

Now, it’s all over! And we do have a world champion winner.

It’s Spain, beating Argentina 1-o in a truly remarkable game.  Spain, undefeated in her last 37 games, dominated but still needed overtime to defeat stubborn Argentina.

It was one of the most one-sided World Cup finals in history. Argentina literally didn’t have a shot until the 117th minute.

Ferran Torres was the hero off the bench to score in the second-half of extra-time.

For Argentina’s hero, Lionel Messi, it wasn’t how he would’ve dreamed it. He didn’t impact the game anywhere near anyone would’ve expected him to, but what a tournament. What a player.

But it’s congratulations to Spain bringing home a well-deserved 2026 World Cup.

Source:  skysports.com

Flag graphic by worldatlas.com

Americans Aren’t Giving Up Their Firearms Anytime Soon and Here’s Why

Guns are an integral part of American culture and were essential to America’s victory in the Revolutionary War. Gun ownership is enshrined in the Constitution and is an essential part of millions of Americans’ identities. Here are some reasons why responsible gun owners will never give up their firearms.

Political Influence

Republican political figures are often ardent supporters of gun rights, and right-leaning voters are more likely to own a gun than Democrats. Organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) spend millions every year on lobbying efforts and donations to pro-gun candidates.

Rural vs. Urban

Americans living in rural areas are more likely to own a firearm than those living in suburban and urban areas. In rural areas, Americans are more likely to believe that owning a gun increases their safety, and hunting is a popular pastime.

Social Identity and Community

Guns are an important part of the social identity of millions of Americans and a symbol of independence and self-reliance. Hunting trips, gun clubs, and shooting ranges build communities around a shared interest.

Media Influence

Firearms appear in countless American movies and TV shows, especially in Westerns, crime, and thrillers. Some Americans have argued that this glamorizes gun violence, but for many responsible firearm owners, Westerns helped spark their interest in them.

Crime Deterrence

Many Americans, especially those living in rural areas who lean Republican, argue that firearm ownership increases safety by allowing citizens to protect themselves from intruders and violence. Democrats and urban Americans are less likely to believe they improve safety.

Influence of Military Service

Veterans are more likely to own guns than other Americans and have had extensive firearm safety and combat training. They’re unlikely to want to give up something that was essential to them in their military career.

There’s more to the story at: Country Going©

©Photo Credit: hxdbzxy/Shutterstock

How do you play Sudoku?

Play Sudoku – The Ultimate Number Puzzle Game

Sudoku is a classic logic-based number puzzle game that challenges players to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that every row, column, and 3×3 section contains the digits 1 through 9 without repetition.

I love how Sudoku exercises the brain, improving logic, pattern recognition, and concentration. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an expert solving complex puzzles, Sudoku provides endless mental stimulation and satisfaction.

Sudoku Rules

Every Sudoku puzzle consists of a two-dimensional grid of nine rows and nine columns—essentially a nine-by-nine spreadsheet with 81 spaces, often called “cells.” In addition, the Sudoku grid is divided into nine three-by-three squares (also known as “boxes”), each comprising nine cells. The object is to fill all 81 cells with a number from one through nine, subject to two caveats:

  • No number may appear more than once in any “house,” meaning a row, column or square.
  • Each game begins with some of the 81 cells already filled in. These “givens” actually provide all the information you need to solve the puzzle. So, the general rule is that the fewer the givens, the more challenging the grid will be.

Sudoku glossary

CellEach of the 81 spaces in a Sudoku puzzle
SquareEach of the nine three-by-three xsquares, also known as “boxes”
HouseEach of the nine rows, columns or squares
GivenCells that have a pre-filled number at the start of the game
CandidatesEvery number (one through nine) that could be slotted into a particular cell
ChutesThree adjacent vertical or horizontal nine-by-nine squares

Sudoku puzzles tend to come labeled by their degree of difficulty. Regardless of how easy or hard the puzzle is, all must be solved in the same way, and that is through the process of elimination. “Any blank cell could, in theory, contain any of the digits one to nine,” Anthony and Goodliffe tell Reader’s Digest. Sudoku game-play consists of eliminating wrong numbers until only the right ones remain. What follows is the best way to go about it, according to the guys behind Cracking the Cryptic.

Understand “candidates”

Reader’s Digest

In Sudoku parlance, every digit (one through nine) that could be slotted into a cell on a grid is known as a candidate. But “if a digit already appears elsewhere in a blank cell’s row, column or square, then that digit cannot be a candidate for that particular blank cell,” Anthony and Goodliffe explain. In other words, with regard to any blank cell, if a digit already exists elsewhere in its house, then that digit is not a candidate.

Don’t use “automatic candidates”

Anthony and Goodliffe recommend against resorting to “automatic candidates,” a setting in many on-screen iterations of Sudoku that allows you to make all candidates visible with a single click. As tempting as that may seem, the downside is that “it can be difficult to see even simple patterns within the Sudoku grid when every cell has lots and lots of markings in it.”

Don’t guess

There are many worthy Sudoku strategies to help you fill out the grid, but guessing is not one of them. As Anthony and Goodliffe put it, “Guessing avoids finding the logic that most Sudoku puzzles inherently possess and therefore you neither maximize your chance of finding the solution nor improve your skills.” Indeed, a legitimate or “fair” Sudoku grid should require no guessing at all, and our experts advise steering clear of any that do. Fortunately, those that you’ll find in newspapers and magazines, and many you’ll find online, tend to be fair, our experts tell us.

Most Sudoku grids will come with some number of blank cells for which, thanks to the placement of givens, only one candidate is possible. Of course, the harder the puzzle, the fewer of these you will find. However, if they’re there, it’s by design, and a good scan of a fresh grid should reveal them. Because every cell you fill in offers new information about the remaining empty cells, Anthony and Goodliffe recommend starting your Sudoku-solving by seeking out this “low-hanging fruit” in the rows, columns and squares that contain the greatest number of givens.

Take the “square route”

Perhaps the most popular Sudoku strategy is to focus specifically on what Anthony and Goodliffe refer to as “chutes” of three adjacent nine-by-nine squares. These occur both vertically and horizontally. The rule of thumb, which some people refer to as the “three number rule” is that “a digit must appear three times per chute but only once per row, column and box.” So, begin by scanning for rows or columns within the chute that already have two of the same digit. This will hone it down to a single row or column where the third occurrence of that digit fits.

Often, there will only be one particular cell where the third instance of that digit can go; if so, you’re now one step closer to solving the puzzle overall. Other times, however, there may be two or three cells where a digit could go. And this is where this next Sudoku strategy comes in.

Reader’s Digest

Once you have identified a number that can fit into two or even three possible cells in one house, it’s time to break out the “pencil-marking” strategy, which Anthony and Goodliffe tell us was first popularized by three-time World Sudoku Champion Thomas Snyder.

The way it works is that “if there’s one digit that can go in exactly two cells in one square, you put a little “pencil mark” (or otherwise note the digit is a candidate) in the corner of each of those two cells.” As you fill in more cells, it should eventually become obvious which of these cells is the correct one for that digit. (Although it probably goes without saying, when playing Sudoku online, you won’t need an actual pencil; most online iterations of the game allow you to work in pencil-marking mode, although they may call it something else such as “Notes” or “Candidates” mode.)

Find and make use of Hidden Pairs and Hidden Triples

Reader’s Digest

The pencil-marking strategy is so effective, according to Anthony and Goodliffe that once you master it, you’ll be able to solve virtually any Sudoku puzzle—even the most difficult. Even better, pencil marking will help you finish faster. That’s because once you’ve mastered pencil marking, you can move on to the important Sudoku strategies known as Hidden Pairs and Hidden Triples.

A Hidden Pair refers to two candidates that appear in two cells in the same house and nowhere else in the house (remember, a house is any of a single row, column or square) where at least one of the two cells has other candidates. Those other candidates can be summarily eliminated—without another thought. But if you do want to think about it, the reason is that of those two candidates, one is the solution to one of those two cells, and the other candidate is the solution for the other cell. Therefore, the unpaired candidates in those two cells cannot possibly be the solution to either.

Using Hidden Triples works the same way except that there have to be three cells in which the same three candidates appear, and those same three candidates cannot appear in any other cell.

Practice and practice some more

If you’re a beginning Sudoku player looking to improve your game, there’s no substitute for practice, say Anthony and Goodliffe. Not only will you get better at recognizing patterns within your pencil markings, but you’ll also be better equipped to use some of the more advanced Sudoku tips and tricks. Of these, “X-Wing” is arguably the simplest, although there’s really nothing simple about it.

X-Wing refers to a scenario in which one candidate occurs in two cells in each of two rows, and those two cells are also located in the same two columns. As long as there are no other cells for which the digit in question is a candidate, you’ll be able to eliminate all other candidates in all four of the cells. And that, of course, can be very useful.

Source: rd.com/article/sudoku-tips/©

Is it Hard to Learn to Play Guitar?

 

Learning to play the guitar can be challenging, but with dedication and the right approach, it can also be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.


Factors Influencing Difficulty


Individual Goals: The difficulty of learning guitar largely depends on your personal goals. If you aim to play complex solos like a professional guitarist, it will require more effort and time compared to simply strumming chords to accompany singing.

Practice Commitment: Regular practice is crucial. Beginners may find it hard initially due to the physical demands of playing, such as finger positioning and strumming techniques. However, with consistent practice (about 30 minutes a day), many learners can start playing basic songs within a few months.

Learning Resources: The availability of resources, such as online tutorials, apps, and personal instructors, can significantly ease the learning process. Utilizing these resources effectively can help you progress faster.

Physical Challenges: Developing the necessary motor skills can be difficult at first. Many beginners experience discomfort in their fingers and hands as they build strength and dexterity. This discomfort typically decreases with practice.

Setting Realistic Expectations: It’s important to have realistic expectations. Learning guitar is a journey that involves continuous improvement. Setting process-based goals (like practicing for a certain amount of time each day) rather than outcome-based goals (like mastering a specific song) can help maintain motivation.

This next infochart takes you thru the whole learning process.

Photo by musicaroo.com

Chart by Guitarist Next Door

Related:  When to Change Your Guitar Strings – TUTORING YOU

Get in a Poker Game with this helpful Poker Chart

 

Poker is a game of chance. However, when you introduce the concept of betting, poker gains quite a bit of skill and psychology.

Use the example and chart below to make poker more user friendly.

An Example Five Card Draw Hand.

Five card draw is one of the most common types of poker hands. Each player is dealt five cards, then a round of betting follows. Then each player may discard up to 3 cards (4 if your last card is an ace or wild card, in some circles).  Thus, get back (from the deck) as many cards as was discarded. Then there is another round of betting.  Finally, hands are revealed (the showdown) and the highest hand wins the pot.

The Poker chart

 

However, like the song says, you got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, and know when to run!

 

Learn more about playing cards here:

The Lost Origins of Playing-Card Symbols – TUTORING YOU

Do You Sudoku? Sudoku Tips That’ll Help You Win

Whether you are ready to learn how to play Sudoku or consider yourself a puzzle master, here are Sudoku tips, techniques, and strategies for getting your mind right your pencil ready.

 

The object of the puzzle is to figure out the places where you have to place the numbers 1-9 in order to have every single row, column, and block filled up with a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and a 9. Most sudoku puzzles are made so that there is only one final solution after sifting through all the options and filling in all the blocks. Only 1 same number is allowed in any row, column, or small square.

 

There’s a lot more to Sudoku than simply writing numbers in a row and column. Sitting down before a fresh Sudoku grid and playing Sudoku requires logic, not guesswork, and a substantial knowledge of Sudoku solving techniques. Once you know these Sudoku tips, you will be able to solve even the most challenging puzzle.

 

What is the technique to solve Sudoku?

There are more than a few techniques to solve a Sudoku puzzle, but per Conceptis Puzzles, the easiest way to a Sudoku solution is to, “Scan rows and columns within each triple-box area, eliminating numbers or squares and finding situations where only a single number can fit into a single square.” If you’re looking to learn how to play Sudoku, the scanning technique is a swift and generally efficient method of solving easy Sudoku puzzles from start to finish and can get players far into more difficult puzzles before switching to an advanced Sudoku strategy.

What is pencil marking in Sudoku?

Sudoku pencil marking is a systematic Sudoku solver strategy in which puzzle doers use a pencil to write small numbers inside the squares, denoting which numbers may fit in. Conceptis Puzzles says that, “After pencil marking the puzzle, the solver must analyze the results, identify special number combinations, and deduce which numbers should be placed where.” Pencil is, of course, easy to erase in a hurry once you find the solution—or realize you made a mistake

What is a Sudoku single candidate?

A single candidate is a very easy Sudoku strategy for solving a puzzle. Sudoku of the Day says this Sudoku strategy involves “Using pencil marks to store what candidates are still possible within each cell.” The site continues on to note that, “By then examining the surrounding column, row, and box, a single candidate means you’ve managed to rule out all other possibilities for a particular cell,” leaving just a single number left that could possibly fit.

What is a hidden pair in Sudoku?

A hidden pair in Sudoku is “When a pair of numbers appear in exactly two squares in a row, column, or block, but those two numbers aren’t the only ones in their squares,” according to thonky.com.

So, are you ready to try and solve an easy Sudoku puzzle? OK! Here is one that you can print out. It has an answer sheet, so no worries. If you get stuck, just erase until you see the mistake. The game will become easier for you as you do more puzzles. You are then ready for more difficult ones.

Good luck. I hope you have fun with Sudoku and continue playing whenever you can.

Source: rd.com©

 

Challenge #1

Answer Sheet

Guitarguide

There’s lots of information out there on how to do specific procedures on your guitar, but there’s really no high level, bird’s-eye overview of what you can expect over the next 20+ years that you’ll own your guitar.

Before You do Anything Else

If you just bought a new guitar (and especially if you ordered it online), have your guitar set up properly by a qualified guitar technician or music store. If you don’t know what a “setup” is, check out my article:

“Guitar Setups: What They Are and Why You (Might) Need One”

Getting a setup will ensure your guitar is as physically easy to play as possible. That way you can focus on learning instead of physically fighting the guitar.

A setup will run about $40 – $60 depending on where you go.

If you bought your guitar in a music store, they may have already done a setup for you. If you’re unsure, call them and confirm by asking: “Did my guitar get a full setup before I brought it home?”

Good guitar stores will perform a full setup and install new strings as part of the purchase price. You’ll usually know if they’ve done this, because rather than letting you take the guitar home right off the wall, they’ll tell you they need anywhere from a few hours to a few days to get the guitar ready. Most of the time, that means they’re doing a setup for you.

Every Time You Play

Before Playing…

Wash your hands. Even if you think your hands are clean, wash ‘em anyway. It’s okay if you occasionally forget, but the more diligent you are about washing your hands before you play the cleaner your strings, fretboard, and frets will stay and the less work you’ll have to do later.

Check yourself. If you care about your guitar’s finish, double-check yourself for things that might scratch the guitar like buttons, bracelets, rings, zippers, belt buckles, etc.

Tune up. Check the guitar’s tuning, and tune it if needed. It’s easy to be lazy and settle for playing a guitar that’s slightly out of tune but, it’s a bad habit to get into. Just tune. It only takes a minute and the more you do it, the better and faster you’ll get at it.

After Playing…

Wipe the neck and strings. With a clean, soft, dry cotton rag or microfiber cloth, give the neck and strings a quick wipe. Keyword: quick. This shouldn’t take more than about 30 seconds. To see exactly how this is done (and how easy it is), see my article:

How to Clean Guitar Strings

Wipe the body. With a different (soft, cotton or microfiber) rag, wipe the spot on the front edge of the guitar where your forearm was resting during play. No guitar polish is needed–simply fog the area with your breath and wipe… repeating 2-3 times. If you like to play guitar with your shirt off, you’ll want to wipe the back of the guitar too. Basically, wipe anywhere there was skin-to-guitar contact.

Wipe metal bridge components. If you’re playing an electric guitar with a tremolo or metal bridge parts, it doesn’t hurt to give them a quick wipe as well, to prevent buildup of corrosive sweat and salts that our hands leave behind. If you have metal volume/tone knobs, wipe those too if you touched them. Even if the metal parts are black or coated in some other color or finish, wipe them anyway.

Every 4 – 6 Months

Remove Old Strings

To be clear, 4-6 months is really just a “ballpark” time frame for changing strings. How often you should actually change strings depends on how much you play and other factors. For a more precise guide on how often to change your guitar strings, have a look at my article:

How Often to Change Guitar Strings

Wipe the Fretboard, Frets, and Back of the Neck

While all the strings are off, take this opportunity to give the fretboard, frets, and the back of the neck a quick wipe with a clean, soft, dry cotton rag. Keyword: quick. This is not meant to be a deep cleaning. We want to get through this string change and get back to playing asap. You should be able to do all these tasks in under 5 minutes.

First, lay the cloth on the fretboard and run it quickly up and down the fretboard a couple times, end-to-end. If there are any spots that are especially dirty, wrap the cloth over your finger and give those spots special attention, rubbing with the direction of the woodgrain. If you can’t quite get it all off, don’t worry. You’re going to do a more thorough fretboard cleaning at the 1-year mark anyway. Next, quickly buff each fret. Lastly, give the back of the neck a quick wipe as well.

Brush Dust & Dirt Off Body & Headstock

Next, carefully brush or blow off any loose dust, dirt, hair, etc. that’s sitting on the surface. If you use a brush, don’t use a standard paint brush–most aren’t quite soft enough for a glossy guitar finish. My favorite brushes for sweeping away surface debris are a women’s powder brush or a specialized tool like the Music Nomad String, Body, and Hardware Cleaning Tool.

If you don’t have a very soft brush, you can get by with just blowing in really short, hard bursts. The key is to remove the big nasty stuff first, so you don’t just smear it around and potentially scratch your glossy finish.

Give the Body a Quick Wipe

Using a different rag than the one you used to wipe the fretboard, frets, and neck, give the body a quick rubdown. A soft microfiber cloth is my first choice for this, but my next-favorite type of cloth for general cleaning and polishing are 100% cotton cloth baby diapers. No joke. Wash and dry baby diapers 2-3 times before you use them on your guitar to ensure maximum softness (never use fabric softener when washing any guitar rags).

You can follow-up with a good guitar polish if you choose, but guitar polish really isn’t necessary at this stage.

Install New Strings

Once the basic cleaning is done, string it back up with a new set of strings, and don’t forget to stretch them thoroughly so they’ll stay in tune. If you don’t know how to stretch strings you can read my tutorial:

How to Stretch Guitar Strings

If it’s an electric guitar, set intonation if necessary. If your intonation was fine before the string change and you’re using the same brand and gauge fo strings, then you’re probably fine and don’t need to set intonation. 

Source: (guitaranswerguy.com)