Cut the Clutter
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pieces glowing with these dusting tips:
▪ Clean safely. Dust fine furniture often
fur
with a lambswool duster or barely damp white
cotton cleaning cloth. Microfiber cloths do
nitur
a good job of attracting and removing fine
blown-in soil. Avoid using a feather duster,
as a broken quill can scratch and damage
e
delicate finishes.
▪ Dust damp. Dusting with a dry cloth can
scratch, so lightly spritz your cleaning cloth
with water, a spray dusting agent, or wood
polish. Never spray furniture directly, as
overspray can leave a difficult-to-remove film.
Follow the grain of the wood as you dust to
avoid cross-grain scratches.
▪ Dust often. Frequent dusting removes dirt
before it has a chance to settle in and make
itself at home. Dusting often keeps an oily
build-up from forming on wood furniture.
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Getting the most from
beds and mattresses
A good night’s sleep starts with a good bed. How does yours stack up? Since we spend one-third of our lives in them, beds and mattresses deserve proper care.
They’ll repay us with a clean, healthy place to sleep. Whether heaped with pillows or minimally spare, beds and bedding will stay in top shape with these tips.
The Pea Princess’ guide to mattress care
▪ Use protection. Sweet dreams are the goal, but accidents While the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” was meant to happen. Protect mattresses from messy mishaps with mattress show the delicacy of the true princess, in reality, it showed up pads. They’ll absorb moisture and spills before they soak through her future mother-in-law’s housekeeping habits. Keep your to the mattress.
castle’s bedding in top shape with these tips for mattress care:
▪ Suck it up. Regular vacuuming will keep mattresses clean and fresh. Remove all bedding from the mattress, then use the
▪ Frame it right. Just as our bodies need the support of a good upholstery brush to vacuum the top surface and sides of the mattress, so mattresses need a proper place to rest. Purchase mattress. Vacuuming removes dust, skin flakes, and the dust mattress and box springs as a set to make sure that the two mites that feed upon body waste. Vacuum mattresses thoroughly pieces will work together harmoniously. Check the bed frame; when rotating them seasonally.
larger mattress sizes—queen- or king-sized beds —require
▪ Clean stains safely. If a stain does occur, use an upholstery center support or full-width slats to span the wider width.
shampoo as directed to remove it. An alternative cleaner,
▪ Take a seasonal spin. Unless the manufacturer advises recommended by manufacturers for use on mattresses, is called otherwise, rotate mattresses from heel to toe when the seasons
“dry suds.” Create them by placing about ¼ cup (125ml) of change. To rotate, revolve the end of the mattress nearest the liquid dishwashing detergent in a small mixer bowl. Turn the headboard toward the foot of the bed, then nudge the mattress back into place on the box springs. Rotating mattresses helps
“Protect the planet—regular
prevent the formation of sleeping “wallows,” caused by the same body in the same spot every night.
cleaning and care extends the
▪ Flip it. Some mattresses should also be flipped when the seasons change. While pillow-top mattresses should not be useful life of your mattress.”
flipped, other mattresses wear more evenly when the bottom surface nearest the box spring is flipped over to the top of the mixer on, and add a few teaspoons of water, a teaspoon at a bed during a seasonal rotation. Check with your manufacturer time. Stand back! The bowl will quickly fill with foam. Scrape for specific recommendations for your model.
the top layer of foam into a small bowl, and take it to the
▪ Ban bouncing. Kids enjoy bouncing on the bed, but the mattress. Rub the stained area gently with the foam, using a poor mattresses loathe the practice. Discourage these child sponge or a soft brush, being sure not to wet the padding gymnasts. Jumping on beds can damage mattresses and box beneath. Leave the mattress exposed until it is thoroughly dry springs, and fracture bed frames.
before replacing the bedding.
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Controlling allergens in the bedroom
▪ Fight back with spring-cleaning. Because mites grow We share our sleeping quarters with more than family pets or best in warm, humid weather, take advantage of early spring beloved teddy bears. Carpet, window treatments, and mattresses to clean the house. Vacuuming and dusting will remove the collect dust and dander and provide a happy playground for mites who’ve wintered over before they can run riot in spring.
dust mites. Found anywhere there are humans, humidity, and
▪ Kiss Teddy good-bye. Stuffed toys are a comfort for warm temperatures, dust mites are a major cause of allergic children of all ages, but harbor dust mites just as mattresses symptoms in the home. More correctly, it’s their feces and do. Replace the teddy bear with a plastic model for a healthier dead body parts that cause allergic reactions—and their food night’s sleep.
source is us! Dust mites feed on discarded skin flakes, making
▪ Wash bedding often, in hot water. Temperatures of bedding and bedrooms prime dust-mite real estate.
130ºF (54ºC) are required to kill mites; mites can survive Over the years, they’ll multiply inside mattresses to the cold-water washing. Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly, and point where it’s estimated that 50 percent of the weight of a give pillows, comforters, and blankets a trip to the washer every 10-year-old mattress is caused by dust mites and their leavings.
month to six weeks.
If family members wake each morning with puffy eyes and
▪ Pitch the houseplants. They are lovely to look at, but plants sneezing noses, it’s time to control allergens in the bedroom. Fight bring pollen, insects, dust, and microbes into the bedroom. For back against dust mites, dander, dust, and pollen with these tips: best rest, restrict them to other rooms.
▪ Cover mattresses. Use vinyl covers designed to form a barrier between mites and the mattress.
▪ Replace down products. Pillows, comforters, and other items should be made from synthetic fibers. Encase pillows in vinyl covers for added protection.
▪ Clean well and often. Regular cleaning is the best defense against allergens and dust mites.
▪ Send Duff to other quarters. Bed down household pets in an area outside the bedroom if allergies are a problem. Pet dander is an allergen for many, and pets shed fur and skin cells, too, promoting dust mite populations. Banish Duff from the bedroom at night, and make it up to him with extra walkies in the morning—after a good night’s sleep.
▪ Keep humidity levels low. Dust mites die back when there’s insufficient moisture in the air. In humid climates, use a portable or whole-house dehumidifier to reduce in-house humidity levels to between 30 percent and 50 percent.
▪ Keep cool. Mites thrive in warm weather, so keep household temperatures on the low side in the bedroom.
▶ Sleep sustainable. Retired mattresses present big problems at disposal sites. Protect your investment—and the planet—with regular cleaning, weekly clean bedding, and care to extend the useful life of your mattress.
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Plumb perfect: maintenance tips
for plumbing systems
Plumbing. It’s been with us since Roman times, but today’s homes have a lavish supply of hot and cold water on demand, thanks to modern plumbing systems. The principles are simple—pressure and valves—but if they fail, the household may be faced with a soggy mess. When thi
s happens, act quickly to avert major problems.
Smart householders know how to spot and resolve small
▪ Learn how to tackle small problems. With a few tools plumbing problems before they become major issues at home.
and a little knowledge, most of us can handle small plumbing Help your plumbing stay dry and happy with these tips: emergencies. With a plunger, a pipe wrench, and a sewer snake in your tool kit, you’ll be able to take care of small problems like
▪ Keep an eye out for trouble. When it comes to plumbing, clogged drains, blocked toilets, stuck valves, and dripping faucets.
little leaks can lead to big problems. Be alert to signs of How-to books, home improvement stores, and adult education impending plumbing failures; leaking faucets, damp cabinets, classes can pay for themselves when it’s time to call the plumber.
rocking toilets, or dripping refrigerators all signal problems that need prompt attention.
Cold snap: keep plumbing safe in cold weather
▪ Repair problems early. A leaking faucet isn’t just In hard-winter climates, freezing pipes can create a sudden annoying; the moisture it releases puts wear on sink fixtures household emergency. Frozen water expands, cracking pipes; and can encourage the growth of mold and mildew. Stay on when the area thaws, the cracks vent a flood. Plumbing help top of problems to keep the household clean and dry.
can be hard to find in a weather crisis, so try these tips:
▪ Know where to go when trouble happens. Should plumbing fail, will you know how to stop the flood? Locate the
▪ Prevent frozen pipes before they start. Best defense: main shut-off valve for the home water supply. If it’s in a dark, insulation. Insulate exposed pipes in a crawl space or in the hidden, or hard-to-reach place, gather any tools you’ll need for garage with easy-to-install plastic insulation. It’s a peel-anda quick shut-off, and store them nearby. There’s nothing like stick solution. Before winter comes, remove exterior hoses, and the frustration of a missing flashlight or a misplaced shut-off apply insulating caps to outdoor fixtures, as a frozen exterior key when water’s pouring down the stairs from a broken pipe.
spigot can damage interior pipes. Households with automatic
▪ Shutting off appliances. Similarly, know how to shut off sprinkler systems can clear standing water with compressed water to sinks, toilets, washing machines, and water-using air; public service groups like the Boy Scouts offer this service appliances like the refrigerator’s icemaker. Should they misbehave, each fall at reasonable rates—much cheaper than replacing knowing the location of the shut-off valve will save the day—
split pipes come spring.
and a lot of wet clean up.
▪ When cold weather strikes, go into action. Open
▪ Spot the sewer valve. Finally, hunt down the location of the cabinets beneath sinks and bathroom fixtures; warmer the household’s main sewer valve. It’s there to provide access to household air will help prevent the pipes inside from freezing.
correct a clogged sewer line; don’t make the Ready Rooter man Opening taps to a bare trickle keeps water flowing and avoids spend pricey labor time looking for it when the toilets overflow.
a frozen blockage.
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▪ If pipes do freeze, don’t panic. First, shut off the water supply to the house, then open a faucet near the blocked area to vent vapors from the frozen water. If you suspect that pipes in the hot water system are frozen, turn off the hot water heater.
Use a hair dryer to warm the frozen pipe (never use an open flame to thaw a pipe), starting at the end of the pipe nearest to the tap. (Don’t use a hair dryer in areas of standing water.) You’ll know the pipe has begun to thaw when water begins to trickle from the open faucet. When the flow is restored, check the plumbing carefully for cracks or leaks.
Call a licensed plumber if your efforts are unsuccessful.
Maintaining water conditioning systems
In hard-water areas, water softeners condition water to remove unwanted minerals. Softened water uses less soap, prevents mineral build-in pipes, and extends the life of appliances and hot water heaters.
Keep them on the job with proper maintenance. Most
models use a salt-exchange method that depends on a supply of salt pellets or nuggets. Use the type of salt recommended by your manufacturer for best results. Check the brine tank regularly to be sure salt levels are adequate. The salt should sit above the water line. “Salt bridging” occurs when a crust of salt forms over the top of the water in the brine tank; break it up by adding hot water to the tank or by poking the crust with a broomstick if it occurs.
After a period of use, water softeners will need to regenerate or recharge: the unit will flush collection areas of accumulated mineral particles pulled from hard water. If your unit offers an
▲ Be brave—and save. Plumbing systems are fairly simple; automatic regeneration scheduling, use it—you’ll have soft don’t be intimidated by small repairs. Invest in basic tools and water automatically. If your unit requires manual recharging, plumbing supplies to keep the water flowing.
stick carefully to the manufacturer’s recommended time intervals.
Reduce household water usage
either; most modern dishwashers are designed to remove food A more sustainable and cost-efficient household means without need for pre-rinsing.
conserving water, but green living doesn’t have to be dusty
▪ Go with the (low) flow. Household toilets can be water and dry. Try these strategies to cut water use at home: hogs; replace older models with low-flow alternatives.
▪ Save in the shower. Keep showers short and sweet to
▪ Load up the dishwasher. Hand-washing dishes may feel stay sustainable. You can also save water—and money—by authentic, but it’s wasteful; automatic dishwashers use less installing a low-flow shower head, which use up to fifty hot water and energy than washing by hand. No need to rinse, percent less water than older models.
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CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Power play:
electrical safety at home
It’s a true miracle: the electrical power that infuses your home. Your electrical system keeps the lights on and the household humming, and illuminates every aspect of life. Power has its price, however. Treat your electrical system with respect: learn these simple safety routines and schedule maintenance chores.
Follow these guidelines to maintain your home’s electrical Test GFCIs monthly, and after any thunderstorms, to be sure their system and keep the lights on and the power flowing: protective function continues to work. Replace them if they no longer trip when the “test” button is pressed.
▪ Be alert for problems. Keep a careful eye out for electrical Note: do not plug refrigerators or freezers into outlets hazards at home. A flickering lamp or crimped extension cord with GFCI protection. In the event the circuit is tripped without could cause a short—or worse, a fire. Be on the lookout for your knowledge, the appliances will shut down, spoiling the frayed or bent wires, or a shock or tingling when you touch an food inside.
appliance.
▪ Repair quickly. If an appliance appears to have an electrical Use electricity safely
problem, take it out of active use until it is repaired. Don’t pass Prevent shock hazards and system outages by observing these the trouble on to others by donating or selling the item. Have safety rules:
the appliance repaired if possible; if not, dispose of it to keep every home safe.
▪ Use hair dryers safely. Keep hair dryers away from water
▪ Know your circuit box. Most homes have a central circuit in sinks and bathtubs.
box or breaker panel. This service box controls delivery of power
▪ Take the right precautions. Unplug appliances before you to different areas of the home. At the circuit box, you can cut clean them, and never carry a small appliance by the cord.
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sp; power to any—or all—areas of the home.
▪ Avoid overloading. Don’t overload outlets with multiple
▪ Take time to get familiar with your circuit box.
cords, or try to force a plug into an outlet where it won’t fit.
If your circuit box uses fuses, lay in a supply of extra fuses for Avoid the use of “cube taps,” and if a tap or cord feels warm, emergencies. Work as a team with another family member to unplug it immediately.
label each circuit; labels will make it easier to cut the power in
▪ Avoid extension cord hazards. Don’t run extension cords the right place if an emergency arises.
beneath rugs, under carpets, or across doorways.
▪ Test GFCIs monthly. Ground fault circuit interrupters,
▪ Childproof electrical outlets. Install childproof outlet caps known as GFCIs, are special outlets used in kitchens, bathrooms, on electrical outlets in households with young children.
and utility areas—anywhere water is present. GFCIs have a
▪ Check light bulbs. Make sure that light bulbs have the sensor that detects fluctuations in electrical current; when correct wattage for the lamp in which they’ll be used. Don’t use current surges, they shut down to protect against shock.
bulbs with a higher wattage than that specified by the fixture.
GFCIs have small colored buttons that permit you to reset a This can overheat the bulb, and may cause a fire. Tighten light tripped circuit. The red “test” button allows you to test the GFCI.
bulbs securely; loose bulbs can also overheat.
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Checklist for household systems
Household systems work hard to keep us comfortable and safe.
Reduce
In these days of rising prices, opening the
Keep them running smoothly with this maintenance list: power bill can be a shocking experience. Save
money and lower your household’s energy
Every month:
use with these ideas:
▪ Check bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms for leaking faucets or signs of water damage. If the refrigerator has an