# Liquid level indicators

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by Skyla (move over school!) on Thursday, 24-Sep-2015 10:58:13

Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that try as I might, I just don't like reaching my finger into a boiling cup of water to see how much I've poured, even though I know a lot of people who've really gotten used to it. So then I began hunting around for a liquid level indicator, but have found that they don't tend to reach far enough into the cup to truly allow you some wiggle room for adding cream or milk or whatever it is. I really wish there were a model where the prongs actually reach a bit deeper into the cup, as to fill it nearly to the rim and then having to carry it somewhere can feel a bit...unstable, especially if you aren't good at knowing if you're holding the cup perfectly straight (am I the only one who's had a sighted person say "hold that straight" and thinks "But I am! it feels straight to me!"?.
Anyway, your thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. I know there are liquid level indicators that say they will alert you twice--once as the liquid approaches the rim, and again when it gets there, but I think that's actually the one I have and again, it's far too close to the top for me to really feel comfortable. Are there better ones out there? are they all made equal? Am I missing something?

## Post 2 by Leafs Fan (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 24-Sep-2015 11:28:34

Hi there. I hate the "hold it straight" thing. Unfortunately I have no idea where I found it, it was many years ago, pre-Internet I'd even say. But I did have a liquid level indicator at one time with very long prongs, ample room to have the cup filled an inch from the top or perhaps even a tad lower. So they do exist ... I wish I could help more but at least you can take solace in that much.

## Post 3 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Friday, 25-Sep-2015 7:04:53

Go anti-tech. I can't find the longer-pronged indicator. So, I put ice in the cup, before it's half full. If I can feel the cube, I do better. I know that's pretty lame, but, it's pretty good for 4 in the morning. Anyway, I hate burning what's left of the feeling out of my fingers. Hope it helps.
Blessings,
Sarah

## Post 4 by Skyla (move over school!) on Friday, 25-Sep-2015 10:04:47

That's actually a really creative solution that never occured to me. I don't know how easily I'll be able to access ice cubes at work, but now you've got me thinking. Maybe even a fake ice cube will do. That said, it's really frustrating that the creators/designers of the liquid level indicators haven't recognized the shortcomings.

## Post 5 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Friday, 25-Sep-2015 15:55:17

Well, what scares the crap out of me, is the fact that the idiots that taught me, taught me Right-handed, because South-Paws ain't supposed to be blind. God knows, where they get that junk from. But, I can pour right-handed, but not left-handed. The trouble is, I am already having trouble with the tips of my fingers. And, they need to make a Liquid Level Indicator for deaf-blind people. How am I supposed to use mine, when it sounds just like the tones of my hearing aides? Ugh!
Blessings,
Sarah

## Post 6 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 26-Sep-2015 16:05:31

sarah, they make vibrating liquid level indicators. I actually prefer them
because I can make coffee in the morning without having some shrill tune
played as I pour. Plus, I hate any little gismo that makes an annoying noise like
that. So, you might look for a vibrating indicator to solve your deaf blind
problem. I can't give you a link, since I haven't searched for one in a decade or
more, but I do know through experience that they exist.
Also, to insure that you get the same liquid level all the time, even with cream
or sugar, try putting the cream and sugar in the cup first. Then Archimedes law
will be working in your favor. Once the indicator makes its piercing squeal, you'll
know you have a perfectly pour cup of coffee with the cream and sugar already
included. If you need a bit more, it won't make too much of a difference. One
packet of sugar will only raise the level of the liquid a few millimeters. That's my
suggestion.

## Post 7 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Tuesday, 29-Sep-2015 0:27:18

Thank you. The shrill sound hurts my head in the morning. And, getting something that I can feel, will be much better.
If only they made them so they didn't shriek, but, you don't get all you want, so oh well.
Blessings,
Me

## Post 8 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 29-Sep-2015 12:41:42

They don't shriek sarah if you get the vibrating ones, they just shake and
rattle, they don't shriek. They don't make any sound at all except the vibrating
against your cup.

## Post 9 by Skyla (move over school!) on Thursday, 01-Oct-2015 17:46:10

All great ideas! another suggestion is to only put as much cold water in the kettle as you'll need to fill your cup. That does of course mean that you'll need to reheat/boil for cup number two, but ehhh, no one's perfect, I guess.
Thanks again, guys!

## Post 10 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Friday, 02-Oct-2015 12:19:44

Bah. I just brave it and stick my index finger in the coffee.

## Post 11 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 03-Oct-2015 21:55:24

This may not work for all glasses, but if you're able to detect the temperature change from the outside of the cup, you can generally tell how full it is without resorting to stickig your finger over the side. this does not work too well with room temperature liquids, but I find this to be helpful when dealing with hot or cold drinks.

## Post 12 by VioletBlue (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Thursday, 08-Oct-2015 15:59:15

Yeah, I'm with Imprecator, post 10. *smile* Just a quick check. No fiddly gadgets needed. Why complicate a simple task?
I wouldn't bring the matter up, your guests probably won't think about this at all, when you're pouring a cuppa for someone else.
You can judge how full the mug is by sound, or the outside temp of the cup, but that's not foolproof, all the time.