Dishwasher Cleaning - Tang Has The Power

Is the inside of your dishwasher looking a little dingy and yellow?  Does it have funny odor? It is likely caused by the hard water mineral deposits. This is very common in homes or communities that are on well systems.

It's alright! Don't think it’s the end of the world. The other good news you probably won't have to invest in a new dishwasher? There is a product out there that many of us had in our house probably before. This product has vitamin C that will break down hard water stains and return your dishwasher to it sparkling bright condition that you so vaguely remember. It is available at your local grocery store. The magic product is...believe it or not... TANG breakfast drink.

•Empty your dishwasher of dishes and other items.

•Toss 1 cup TANG into the dishwasher.

•Run the dishwasher on a regular hot-water cycle.

•There's no need to rinse the dishwasher before running your next load of dishes.

Using the TANG trick at least once a month will keep your dishwasher looking and smelling clean and bright.

There are other useful ideas of TANG around the house that will keep your entire house keep smelling clean. 

 

 

 

Kool-Aid Stain Removal Technique for Carpets

Kool-Aid is known for that smiling face on the large pitcher. Unfortunately, smiles diminish after the discovery of dried-in Kool-Aid stains on your nice carpet.

As some of you may have already experienced, the accidentally spilling red Kool-Aid onto the carpet creates a huge red mess. You cannot miss the extremely visible red stain, due to the red coloring in Kool-Aid. Fortunately, red Kool-Aid stains can be removed from carpets with some relatively simple cleaning products. Believe it or not, both the new and old Kool-Aid stains can be removed from carpets.

Old Kool-Aid stains are among the most difficult to remove from carpets because they contain food dyes. Food dyes dye the fibers of the carpet and the longer they remain in the carpet, the more permanent they become. You may need to try more than one method to remove the stain. Start with the simplest option and proceed until the stain is gone.

Here is what you need to do:

·     Pour 1 tsp. liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tbsp. ammonia into a bowl. Add 2 cups of warm water to the bowl to form a soapy solution.

·     Dampen a white cotton cloth in the soapy solution. Blot the stain with the damp cloth until the Kool-Aid is absorbed.

·     Continue blotting the stain with the soapy solution. If the stain is a little more stubborn, pour 3 tsp. liquid hand dishwashing detergent, 1 tbsp. white vinegar and 2 cups warm water into a bowl.

·     Dampen a white cotton cloth in the solution, and then blot the stain with the cloth until the stain is removed. If the stain still won't come out, dampen a sponge with rubbing alcohol.

·     Scrub the stain with the sponge until the red stain is completely gone. Dampen another white cotton cloth with cold water, and blot the carpet with the cloth to rinse out the rubbing alcohol. Dry the carpet with a towel.

Another avenue to pursue is the Borax Method:

·     Spray the stain with cold water. Sprinkle borax over the surface of the stain.

·     Cover the area with a damp white cloth and press down firmly to push the borax into the carpet.

·     Lift the white cloth and spray the area with more water.

·     Lay a clean cloth over the stain and press down again. Continue this process until the stain is gone.

·     Scrape off the borax solution and rinse the carpet with water.

·     Place a clean, dry cloth on the area and lay a brick over it for several hours.

·     Vacuum the area to remove any remaining borax.

The Heat Method is one that has shown to work well too:

·     Lay a wet white cloth on the stain.

·     Set a warm (not hot) iron over the stain and wait 15 minutes. Do not rub the spot with the iron or press down on the carpet.

·     Remove the white cloth and replace it with a new wet cloth. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Be mindful, there are some things you do not want to use when cleaning spots out of your carpet:

·     Do not use laundry detergent or automatic dishwasher detergents as they may damage the fibers of your carpet.

·     Do not use bleach or ammonia on wool carpets as it will damage the fibers.

·     Do not use carpet spot cleaners on oriental rugs as it will damage the fibers. Oriental rugs should be cleaned with caution. If your rug is an antique, silk, or part silk, contact a professional to remove the stain.

When Looking For The Best Handyman For The Job...Keep Reading!

When Looking For The Best Handyman For The Job… Keep Reading!

Some homeowner’s thing they need to hire a general contractor to do the honey-do repairs around the house.  Actual, not all home repair jobs require the help of a general contractor or specialty contractor. A handyman can be hired for a variety of small home improvement projects. For the busy or simply hammer-phobic homeowner, it sounds almost too good to be true – hire a handyman to tackle your odd jobs for about a third of the cost, time, and hassle of a general contractor.  The good news, there are some licensed handyman out there that are also licenses general contractors and specialty contractors.  

Keep in mind a handyman is a skilled jack of all trades who can be hired by the hour to complete a wide range of small home improvement work and repair. A handyman, or handyman company, typically charges the customer by the hour plus material costs, regardless of the task at hand. Many homeowners will compile a list of repairs and hire a handyman to complete the list in a single visit.

Unfortunately, there is no national standard or regulation for handymen. Licensing and regulation vary by state. New Jersey, for example, requires handymen who work for a profit to register with the state and carry insurance. California requires handymen to carry a license from the State Contractors License Board to work on any project that exceeds $500 in labor and material costs.  The good news, a legitimate handyman or handyman business, will proudly share their insurance certificate and workers compensation coverage with you.

Most general contractors don't usually like to bother with small repair & maintenance tasks.  If you have a good working rapport with one, he might be willing to suggest one of his guys who take side jobs.  Just be mindful the general contractor will typically not stand behind the warranty of cover this job under their insurance.

There are benefits of hiring a handyman. Like most of us, you probably have a to-do list of home improvements like changing out a bathroom faucet, replacing missing shingles on the roof and painting a kitchen wall. You could hire a plumber, roofer and painter who all would have conflicting schedules of availability and their own service charges, or you could hire a handyman to complete all three projects in one day for a single hourly rate.

A homeowner can save money on home improvement projects by hiring a handyman because it eliminates the need for multiple service providers and contractors. Many handymen charge by the hour so a homeowner only pays for one worker who can complete a wide range of projects. A service charge from a plumber or roofer to come to your home could equal or even surpass the price to hire a handyman for a few hours.  Hiring a handyman also prevents waste and overcharging, as the handyman will only charge you for hours worked. A contractor or specialist is more likely to price a job based on the estimated amount of time it will take to complete it. Handymen are able to keep their rates low because they don't have to pay additional workers and have lower overhead costs than general contractors.

Unlike general contractors, who name their price upfront, handymen bill you for the materials they use and the time they spend -- typically at around $50 to $85 an hour. There are some handyman companies that do charge an upfront flat labor rate but bill you for materials separate.   

Many homeowners turn to handymen when they have a job but don't know who to call. Handymen have been known to do all types of work.

HandyPro Newletter - Fall 2012