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Tips Circuit Breakers - Take the time to label your circuit breakers. When you flip one, or blow a fuse, it is a lot easier to reset it or replace the fuse, if you know which one it is. It can also be very uncomfortable trying to find the correct switch, as this invariably happens when it is cold in the garage, and you have to keep the doors open (losing heat in your home) as you yell back and forth to your spouse or children as you test each switch. Also, when you are testing them to mark them, do it slowly. If you flip too many switches too quickly, you can cause a power surge. Drains - If you do not take care of your drains, you are going to have to call a plumber. However, if you never put anything but liquid down them, it is very easy to keep them running smoothly. Here are a couple things you can do for minor problems: - Try pouring plain boiling water down the drain. - Pour baking soda down the drain, followed by boiling water. - Use baking soda, followed by vinegar. Let sit, and then use water. - Fill the sink up completely with water, and let drain, using the water pressure to clear the pipes. Frozen Pipes - Be sure and protect your pipes when they weather gets cold. If they are not protected, they will freeze, and potentially burst. I'm sure the people who have grown up in cold climates are aware of this, but when we moved to Seattle, we were not, and one of our pipes burst. To keep your pipes from freezing, all you have to do is leave the water dripping in your sink. House Calls - If you need something done to your home, like a quarterly lawn application, check with your neighbors and ask who they use. You may be able to get a discount by having your service done at the same time. When you call for the service ask if there is any way they could discount the price if you have your service done when they are already in the neighborhood doing your neighbor's house. If that doesn't work, ask if they have any upcoming sales or coupons. Neighbors - Getting to know your neighbors is a good idea - on so many levels. It can save money to have a good relationship with your neighbors. There are many items that you use to maintain your property that are easily shared. Hedge trimmers, pruning shears, chemical spreaders and a host of other items are not needed by everyone in the neighborhood because they are used so infrequently. Make friends, and cut expenses. Paint brushes - Clean paint brushes quickly with a mixture of one gallon of water to 1 cup of fabric softener. Pest Control - Want to keep spiders from entering your home? Try keeping all bushes and shrubs 3 feet away from the foundation and siding. Most people let their landscaping get overgrown, so it is probably going to involve lots of pulling up plants and cutting them back. Scale Removal - Any time you deal with water, you are going to get buildup or slimy scale. It feels greasy, looks grimy, and is not good for people with allergies. I run a humidifier 24/7. I have to routinely clean it. It is a two step process. First vinegar is used to remove the scale, and then bleach to disinfect it. Make good use of vinegar in taking care of your household appliances that use water. Regular applications of vinegar will keep scale from building up, and keep things running more efficiently. Pour vinegar down your drains, run it in your dishwasher and washing machine to clean out the basin and hoses, use it to clean bathtubs and showerheads, and anywhere else you see or suspect the buildup of scale. Siding - If the siding on your house (usually the north side) grows mold and algae, here is the way to get rid of it. Attach a spray bottle to your hose, and fill it with a mixture of bleach and water. Spray down your siding, and let it sit 15 minutes before rinsing it off. Tools - Take good care of your tools. They are expensive. If you maintain them properly, they should last a lifetime. The biggest thing to watch out for is that they don't form rust. You need to keep them dry, and make sure when you store them so that they are away from humidity. If you must store them in a humid place, put something in with them that will keep the moisture from forming- such as charcoal. Water Damage - My husband is an insurance adjuster, and he has seen many claims due to water damage. If you have a pipe that bursts, the damage that is caused is covered, because the event is "sudden and accidental". (Bear in mind that insurance doesn't cover you plumbing itself). If you have a slow leak in your home, due to poor plumbing, and it causes damage- that is not covered. Be sure that you are not leaking water - especially in the bathroom and utility room. Poor caulking is often the cause of water dripping down and slowly rotting floorboards and worse. These are expensive repairs. If you see any sign of water where it shouldn't be, find the source, and fix it. WD-40 - WD-40 is one of those products you should have in your garage. It has so many uses. It loosens up lock mechanisms so that keys work smoothly. If you have metal part you are trying to remove, such as a hinge from a door or piece of furniture, spray it on and it should loosen it enough to move it. It also helps to remove oil stains from clothing. Window Screens - It is not difficult to replace the mesh fabric in a window screen. However, if you want to save the money, think about just patching any holes. Just use another piece of screen. Place it over the hole, and use invisible thread to sew the two pieces together. Window Sills - Wood inside your home that is exposed to water deteriorates. One place this often happens is on your window sill. Even if water isn't coming in, you often get moisture due to condensation. You can easily protect your sills from water damage and costly repairs. Routinely apply a layer of wax on the sills.

 

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