# I need "Nair" for appliances **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121 "2001-01-02T18:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/1 "2001-01-02T18:35:45Z")
I am hoping that somebody here knows of some magic liquid that I can soak my space heater in that will disolve the accumulated hair & dust that must surely have collected inside after two years. On medium or higher heat settings, the thermal breaker trips so I am pretty sure there is an air flow problem inside. It’s a small plastic deal that sucks air in through the bottom & forces it our the top after heating it. The main problem is that the damn thing can’t be opened without a spanner screwdriver (why they felt security screws were needed to seal a $30 space heater is beyond me). It’s amazing to me that even after servicing consumer electronics for 12 years I have no tool that can open this device. I’d prefer to buy a set of spanners if I could find them anywhere but nobody seems to sell them. How about Vinegar- I know you run it through coffee makers to disolve hard water build up. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/2 "2001-01-02T18:39:03Z")
I forgot about that quotation marks/preview glitch. The topic line should say **I need “Nair” for appliances.** If some kindly moderator could make the needed adjustments I would be greatful. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/3 "2001-01-02T19:06:55Z")
try a very strong base, like lye or something (liquid plumr et. al.) This will turn the animal products (hair, wool, etc) into a mush. However, you still have to remove the mush and rinse/dry the unit well. Gosh, sounds like a lot of trouble for a $30 thing. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/4 "2001-01-03T02:31:35Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by spritle_: > > Gosh, sounds like a lot of trouble for a $30 thing. I agree. I know they built the damn thing this way to make me go out & buy a new one every two years. I just _hate it_ when they do that. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/5 "2001-01-03T02:53:49Z")
Could you borrow someone’s air compressor and blow the junk back out the inlet? ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/6 "2001-01-03T03:05:58Z")
Alternately, could you open it with some right angle snap ring pliers? I assume that you’re talking about the screws with two holes in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/7 "2001-01-03T12:41:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I assume that you’re talking about the screws with two holes in the face. Yep. Dem’s da ones. The problem is they’re deep, deeeeeeeep inside. Kinda like the way boombox screws are. If they were right on the surface of the enclosure I could use needle nose to turn them, or drill them out. So not only do I need a spanner screwdriver, I need one with an 8 inch blade. The air compressor is a good idea. I will try that. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-nair-for-appliances/48121/8 "2001-01-03T13:01:51Z")
Here, you can borrow my air compressor. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft. There. That outta do it. 🙂