My buddy Dave once grabbed a roller when we were staining my patio and left globs everywhere. I had to redo the whole section with a proper brush. Now I always lay out the exact tools and show people how I want it done before they start. It feels a bit bossy, but it saves so much time and hassle in the end. If someone really wants to help, I give them prep work like sanding or cleaning instead. Finishing touches are just better when you do them yourself, I mean, you know the standard you're after.

Recently, I read a piece from a chef who swears by leftover fried rice. They mentioned that surprising combos can work if you cook each ingredient separately first. @granta12, the fear of odd flavors makes sense, but a solid scramble of eggs and some green onions can cover a lot. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that a bit of sesame oil at the finish helps blend everything.