Just do it!

Source: Hannif Highclass
Publish:My Blog: 09/16/2011

Home Interior

Check and clean your tile grout.

Time for that black, dingy tile grout to go! Mold and mildew are the most common causes of it in the bathroom… and food stains and foot traffic are usual culprits in other areas of the home. For some stains, simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda can do the trick. However, you MAY need to use some special solvents to restore your grout’s beauty.

General Grout Cleaning Tips:

First clean the grout with water to remove loose surface debris and allow to dry
Don’t use bleach on colored grout, bleach will discolor the grout.
Don’t clean granite or natural stone with household cleaners.
When cleaning with acids such as vinegar, be aware that grout often contains cement which is alkaline. There are also plenty of natural stone tiles that have alkaline properties such as marble and travertine. Cleaning with acids can and will etch away the surface.

If you’re determined to clean with acids, always test an out-of-the-way spot, rinse thoroughly, and use baking soda to neutralize the acid.

Use a stiff nylon brush for cleaning, metal bristles will scratch the grout and the tile and make your efforts look dreadful. Toothbrushes are OK but the bristles are generally too soft.

Use protective gloves, and safety glasses with working with any chemical-based grout cleaner. Even if you don’t think you need it, your spouse will generally find you more attractive when you’re in uniform.

Test on a small area not easily visible to traffic. Don’ skip this test because it takes extra time, you might just find that your old grout doesn’t like chemical cleaners (especially true on old and damaged grout). Also take note that while cleaning your grout you’re bound to get the cleaning solution on the tile as well. Slate, marble travertine and limestone are generally sensitive to acids.

Don’t mix cleaners together. Bleach and Ammonia create the same type of Chlorine Gas that was used as a chemical weapon in WW2! If you mix Bleach and Hydrogen Peroxide, you end up with saltwater with oxygen bubbles (saltwater soda anyone?) which isn’t a very effective cleaner if you ask me.

When you’re done cleaning, keep it cleaner, longer, by applying a couple coats of grout sealer.

Grout sealer will break down after repeated cleanings, and using high pH or low pH cleaners such as bleach (alkaline) or vinegar (acid) will only hasten this process. So at the very least, a fresh coat of grout sealer should be applied every year.

 

Home Exterior

Crawl Space Maintenance

Claustrophobic? Then you may not like this… You’re about to find out why the area under your home is called a crawl space. It’s important to regularly inspect this area.p>

Eric Brennan, Yahoo! Contributor Network

“Whether your crawl space is a pull-down stairs access in the ceiling or a short door that leads under your home, a crawl space is more often than not a place that is avoided. But maintenance needs to be done at least on a bi-annual basis, especially if heating, air conditioning or other ventilation equipment is exposed in a crawl space. Besides being a little creepy, crawl spaces can also be energy-eating spaces if they are not properly maintained. Try these crawl space maintenance tips for a safe and energy-efficient home crawl space.”

Get Equipped

Before a cave explorer enters a cave, they’ve got to get their gear ready first. The same goes for entering the home cave-the crawl space. Flashlight in hand is not enough; proper dress is required to enter this exclusive club. Long pants, shirt, gloves and a respirator are mandatory for safety before you go poking around with your flashlight.

Use your Senses

As you explore your subterranean crawl space or your unfathomable attic area, you need to be vigilant in looking for problems. Starting with your eyes and flashlight, look for colorization or changing patterns. Mold, water damage and animal infestation all look random in the pattern filled world of the crawl space. If it doesn’t look right; investigate.

Besides the eyes, your olfactory glands can give you a heads up to problems in the crawl space. Whiffs of rotten animal, mildew and mold or chemical smells are all signs of problems in the crawl space.

Listening to the sounds of your home can also alert you to maintenance problems. Does the HVAC whistle? It may be the sign of an air-leak. How about a tapping or dripping sound? It might be a leaky pipe or electrical problem. Have your better half turn on the lights, HVAC and water as you traverse through the crawl space so you can hear problems as they occur.

Energy-Efficiency

If you haven’t had to call in the professionals for any major problems, maintenance issues can still be plaguing your crawl space. Insulation levels are a key concern. If your home was built in the last ten years, your blown insulation level is probably just fine. If it’s covering the joists, it’s at an acceptable level. You can add reflective foil pieces on top of the existing insulation for added energy-efficiency.

For under home crawl spaces, look for any uncovered, loose or falling batt type insulation. Use a staple gun to repair falling or damaged insulation with new batt and plastic covers. Replace any water damaged, animal infested or mold/mildewed insulation immediately.

All in all, if your crawl space smells right, looks good and sounds as if it’s running like a top, you shouldn’t have to visit this void for another six months to a year.

 

Lawn

Prune your roses.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Time to prune roses so they will bloom soon. (Okay, bad rhyme, but good advice.) Regular pruning IS imperative to the overall health of your rose bushes. It’ll eliminate weak branches, prevent overcrowding and open the bush for additional sunlight and better air circulation. When pruning, cut at a 45 degree angle, and always cut AWAY from the bush. When you’re finished, remember to paint all of the open “wounds.” Your roses need this additional step to fight off diseases and pests. Want more ideas for how to get your yard ready for spring?

Heard the slogan “JUST DO IT!
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I DID MY PART
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

YOUR COMMENT NEEDED BELOW!

Now that the kids are back to school, why not take the extra time you have to purge some of those old items accumulating in your closets/basement/garage over and participate in our Community Environment Day.? Love to hear from regulars at this event.

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