Household Tips

This is something that none of us likes to think about, but just what DO you do in a disaster? Preparing your home helps to protect your family (not to mention your investment!) Read on, to learn important safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation.

A hurricane, tornado, flood, fire or lightning accident can occur in a blink-of-an-eye. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) urges consumers to become more knowledgeable about electrical safety during and after weather disasters by offering free tips on what you can do to protect your family from electrical dangers.

To help keep you and your family safe from electrocution and electrical fires, ESFI has created a free, downloadable Electrical Safety Precautions During Disasters brochure, available in both English and Spanish at http://www.electrical-safety.org. This booklet includes basic information to help consumers identify safety precautions before a disaster hits.

“After severe weather is gone, electrical hazards can still cause deaths and injuries,” noted Brett Brenner, ESFI president. ESFI warns consumers to beware of electrical dangers associated with downed power lines, portable electric generators and electrical wiring or appliances that have been wet. Brenner recommends that people in areas struck by such storms or disasters can help prevent loss of life and property by following some simple safety precautions.

ESFI’s Electrical Safety Precautions During Disasters brochure is available for downloading from the ESFI Library on ESFI’s website,
http://www.electrical-safety.org. Print copies can also be ordered through ESFI’s website, or call ESFI at 703-841-3329.

Electricity is a powerful tool. It can also be a lethal hazard. Better safety standards have reduced electrical hazards that cause deaths, injuries and property damage. But good safety habits are still the best prevention against electrical hazards. Visit
http://www.electrical-safety.org for more information on electrical hazards and precautions.

Founded in 1994 through a joint effort between Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is North America’s only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety in the home and workplace.

For additional electrical safety information, visit the Foundation’s Web site at http://www.electrical-safety.org or call 703-841-3229.

preparedness, electricity, safety

OK, let’s get it out of the way… Other than to DRINK! Here are some great uses for rubbing alcohol!

household tips, alcohol

Ok, of course adding salt to your lawn fertilizer would be a bad idea. But if you haven’t fertilized your lawn this summer, it’s probably time. Over-fertilizing can be as bad as (or worse than!) not fertilizing at all. If you’re like me, with a postage-stamp sized lawn, try a salt shaker. Yes, really. Grab an old (empty) salt shaker, and use it to properly fertilize small areas of lawn or flower beds.

lawn, grass, fertilizers

You know, it’s easy on the student. I know I was totally clueless about what it would actually be like living away from home. My two goals? A good stereo and a personal fridge. Oh, and a coffee maker. That was it for me! Luckily, my mother was a bit more practical! For those of you moving into dorm or moving kids into dorms, check out these helpful hints from Lowe’s. With a $150 budget, you can do pretty well!

As college-bound students face the daunting task of turning a 230-square-foot space into an all-in-one bedroom, kitchen and living area, here are a few easy decorating ideas that can appeal to any budget. For less than $150, students can transform an entire dorm, complement any roommate’s style, and ease the tension when packing up at year’s end.

Students shouldn’t forget functional items such as a small box of basic tools, tape, and extension cords that will
come in handy during the school year. Here are a few simple ideas to jump start the transformation to dream
dorm room.

Get on Board
Bulletin boards and white boards are crucial to keeping track of party invitations, ticket stubs, notes from family and to-do lists.
— Keep notes in style when creating a new bulletin board. Buy four packages of natural cork and attach them to a piece of plywood (Item #12206, $5.88) with foam mounting squares. Consider painting the plywood and cork in your school colors or bedroom theme.
— White boards can function as message centers for roommates or quick artwork. White tile boards are available in the Lowe’s lumber department where a store employee can cut the boards into custom sizes.

Lights On
Since most dorms come equipped with only one large overhead light, give your study space some comfortable lighting. Consider hanging string lights such as the Square Nylon Lantern String Lights (#18082, $10.98) from your ceiling. These lights create a relaxing atmosphere, without taking up valued floor or furniture space.
— Put a twist on the traditional study lamp. Choose a lamp with a textured shade that has a lot of color such as the Portfolio(TM) Pink Coin Table lamp (Item #237110, $23.98).

Relax on a Rug
For those late night study groups, having a comfortable rug is essential. Many dorm rooms and apartments lack adequate seating, so friends are forced to retreat to the floor. Pick a rug that complements both roommates’ styles but will still hide dirt. Consider choosing from the Broadloom Assorted Rugs collection (Item #264529, $21.98). Many rugs can be found for less than $40, so if it gets too dirty, you can throw it away at year’s end.

Make your walls POP
Posters are a dorm room tradition, but consider a new way to dress up your walls with Wall-Pops(R) (five for $9.96). These stick-on wall decals come in a variety of colors and shapes and are repositionable, reusable and removable. They allow you to redecorate as often as you like without leaving any paint damage.
— Cover up drab, marked walls with Wall-Pops(R) by layering stripes throughout the room. Vertical stripes on an accent wall can make any room appear taller and gives the illusion of more open space.

Curtain Call
Standard dorm blinds get high marks for privacy, but they might not rank so high in the style department. You can decorate any window or closet with a shower curtain for around $30. Buy a tension rod and matching shower curtains to cover any jumbled clothing or boring blinds.

Create Great Storage
Any storage unit bought for a dorm can be carried into fraternity or sorority housing, apartment living, and even a future home. It’s key to invest in good-quality durable bins and stackable units that will last for years, even after tastes change.
— Choose flat bins with wheels for under-the-bed storage such as the Rubbermaid Wheeled Underbed Storage Box (Item #110001, $14.97). The wheels provide versatility and make items such as school supplies or snacks easily accessible.
— A three-drawer chest of drawers on wheels (Item #72317, $14.97) makes a great bedside table, keeps organization simple and can hold an alarm clock, lamp or textbook.

In the last couple of years, we’ve all become increasingly aware of chemicals. Pesticides. Abrasives. Cleansers. Stuff. Added to other stuff that we think is safe. Some have responded by cleaning their homes with only vinegar and water. (I like vinegar. I just don’t like using tons of elbow grease!) So, how much chemical is too much? Well, according to the SDA, that’s the Soap and Detergent Association, science and research suggest that we can safely use modern cleaning products. They urge us to use “common sense.” (Wow! There’s a term you don’t hear much these days. I’ll leave the value judgment to you. Part of me is convinced. The other part will continue using lots of clear, plain, white vinegar.

Whether it’s the kitchen counter, the school cafeteria or the operating room, proper use of cleaning products serves a critical role in preventing the spread of infectious disease and in ensuring good health.

This fact won’t change, despite a recent report (based in part on outdated databases) that maligns ingredients commonly found in cleaning products — ingredients that help enable the product to be effective, according to The Soap and Detergent Association. Since 1926, SDA has served as the home of the U.S. cleaning products industry, representing product
manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.

“We encourage consumers to use common sense when they use cleaning products and when they hear alarmist rhetoric about product safety,” said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education.

“Responsible manufacturers ensure their products go through comprehensive, extensive risk assessments, and also review scientific developments and monitor product use data that may affect the safety assessment process. An incredible amount of research and development goes on before these products ever hit the shelves, not to mention that the products must meet certain federal and state quality and safety regulations,” said Bock.

“These products are used safely and effectively in homes, schools, businesses and healthcare settings by millions of people every single day, yielding improvements in both hygiene and overall quality of life.

“Cleaning products play an essential role in our daily lives,” added Bock. “By removing soils, germs and other contaminants, they help us to stay healthy, care for our homes and belongings, and make our surroundings more pleasant.”

CleaningProductFacts.com
SDA’s new micro website, http://www.CleaningProductFacts.com, offers consumers quick, useful, fact-based information on the human health and environmental safety of cleaning products.

Use As Directed
Bock noted that three words can go a long way to preventing any real-world problems from ever happening when using cleaning products: Use As Directed.

Read the label carefully. Use the product properly. Store the product securely.

“These simple steps go a long way toward ensuring that the product is used safely as you clean your home every day,” said Bock.

Cleaning to Control Asthma and Allergy Triggers
Bock added that proper cleaning products and practices play an important role in reducing the triggers that lead to asthma and allergy suffering.

“Using cleaning products as directed is a powerful ally in eliminating or reducing the triggers that lead to asthma suffering, including dust and dust mites, animal dander, insect droppings, and mold and mildew.”

SDA makes available — at no cost — online educational materials on how cleaning is an effective and inexpensive way to combat asthma and allergies. Visit SDA’s Asthma Information Page at http://www.cleaning101.com/asthma to view our online materials.

The Soap and Detergent Association (http://www.cleaning101.com), the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Product and Oleochemical Industries(SM), is the non- profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products, their ingredients and finished packaging; oleochemical producers; and chemical distributors to the cleaning product industry. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K
Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

Today’s tip: Turn down your hot water heater. It should not be 140 degrees!

A new product hit the market — a shower head designed to prevent scalding. My thought? Why do I need a $35 shower head for this? Why can’t I just turn down my hot water heater? OH! We’ve already done that!

Food for thought. Buy and install new product or set the temp at a sensible number?

hot water heater

This really is sad. According to half of Americans, their cublicle is smaller than their home bathroom. Wow.

Mountains of unfiled paperwork. To-do lists from six months ago and Post-it(R) Notes that have lost their
stick. Do you ever wonder if there is any room left for you?

According to a recent national survey sponsored by Fellowes Inc., an office supply company, Americans are feeling more cramped at work than ever before. Nearly 50 percent of full and part-time working adults that work in an office cubicle indicate that their bathroom is larger than their cubicle, and nearly a quarter say their closet (23 percent) or kitchen
pantry (23 percent) is bigger.

On top of that, the average office space per person continues to decrease, dropping from 410 square feet per employee in 1997 to 355 square feet in 2001(1), making it increasingly difficult to stay organized. One in five survey respondents say their office cubicle makes them less organized. And messy cubicles affect more than the 59 percent of Americans who work in
a cubicle (2). In fact, the average desk worker has thirty-six hours of work on his or her desk and spends three hours per week sorting piles trying to find the project to work on next(3).

While many people want to personalize their work area, limited spaces makes it a challenge. More than half of survey respondents say they would have to sacrifice personal items such as books, family photos and trinkets to make more room for work-related items.

cubicle, bathroom

This is peak vacation time for families around the world. Unfortunately, that also means it is peak property crime time! There are simple ways that you can protect your home while you’re away. Double check this list from Protection One before heading out for the week — or weekend!

– A home that appears occupied deters burglars: Use timers to operate lights;
– Leave blinds and curtains in everyday positions;
– Turn your telephone ringer down, so no one outside can hear repeated rings;
– Review your answering machine. Make sure it does not imply you are away;
– Ask a friend to pick up newspapers and deliveries, or have deliveries stopped;
– Arrange for continuing yard care; and
– If your car is parked in the driveway, have a friend move it occasionally.

Protection One also suggests following these tips for securing your home year-round:
– To reduce the chance of easy entry, plant thorny bushes below first-floor windows and cut tree limbs away from second-story windows.
– Remove objects that might allow access to your home, such as ladders stored outside or trashcans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence;
– To prevent intruders from hiding behind shrubs, trim bushes to expose branch structure;
– To illuminate vulnerable or isolated entries, install motion lights;
– Make it easy for emergency personnel to locate your home: Install easy-to-read and illuminated address numbers in a visible place.
– Always be aware of usual and unusual neighborhood activities and report suspicious behavior;
– Secure all windows, including those upstairs;
– Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best places;
– Install peepholes, and screen your visitors;
– Ask to see identification from service and delivery people before letting them in;
– Install deadbolt locks on exterior entrances;
– Make sure smoke detectors work or consider adding monitored detectors;
– Keep emergency information by the telephone. Make sure houseguests also know where emergency numbers are located.

security, home safety

I hate to move. When I married my husband (who is NOT a mover), I eased the transition with the promise that I would never have to move again. Never, of course, is a very long time. But I do hope to not need these tips any time soon! For those of you moving this summer (and summer is certainly a popular time for moving!), here are some fabulous tips!

1. Put all of your valuables, prescriptions and travel documents in one container the day before the packers and movers arrive and keep it with you for easy access.

2. Avoid making travel arrangements or scheduling appointments on your moving day. Also, it is best to travel the day after your shipment loads and to be available during packing, loading and delivery in case questions or concerns arise.

3. Before you disconnect your phone service, make sure your driver and your move coordinator know how to reach you while your move is taking place. Also, provide the movers with your cellular phone number.

4. Consider buying professional moving boxes if you are doing your own packing. They are made to fit in a mover’s truck, so they stack better and save space.

5. Mark a “last on, first off” box so it is noticeable and pack it with items you will need as soon as you get to your destination (coffee and coffee maker, paper cups and plates, paper towels and toilet paper are some suggestions).

Visit http://www.American-Moving.com for more tips and advice!

moving, packing, boxes

Yesterday, I shared tips from Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart for saving money at the store. Today’s continuation — picking the best groceries!

Ask the butcher. For the freshest, best tasting cuts of meat, poultry and fish ShopSmart experts warn against purchasing the prepackaged items in the refrigerated cases. There is a good chance the meat is treated with gases like carbon monoxide, which react with its pigments and keep it looking red even if it’s spoiled. Instead, go directly to the butcher counter to find the freshest cuts.

Check the stems. When picking out produce, first focus on the stems. They should look fresh and be firm, not shriveled. Then take a look at the skin to make sure it is firm as well.

Skip the frozen bricks. When shopping for frozen items look for foods labeled IQF, or Individually Quick Frozen. If that label does not appear then choose packages with individual peas, strawberries, etc. Skip packages that are frozen into one solid mass. That is a sign that it was probably thawed and refrozen at some point, which means its quality wont be as good
as food that is frozen once at its peak flavor.

Baked fresh daily. Check the dates and buy only what was baked that day because some freshly baked goods have no preservatives. Leftover baked goods should be put in the freezer after a few days.

Stinky Cheese? If there is even the slightest whiff of ammonia in the cheese, take a pass. Avoid cheeses with blue spots unless it is a cheese such as gorgonzola that is intended to have them.

shopping, groceries, consumer reports

Consumer Reports’ new magazine, ShopSmart, has released nine tips for slashing your grocery bills. You’ve heard many of these before, but I’m always up for a reminder!

Shop at the cheap stores. A reader survey revealed that the best overall prices were found at Aldi, Costco, Market Basket, Slater Bros., Shoppers Food Warehouse, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart. The trade-off can be more limited selection or you may have to buy in bulk.

Be smart about circulars. Not all items in circulars are on sale. Manufacturers sometimes pay to have their products listed. The mere mention of a product in a circular can boost sales by up to 500 percent, even without a price cut.

Avoid store fake-outs. Beware of the end-of-aisle bins, island displays, recipe related item placement and “middle-shelf” items. They might appear to be sale items, but that is typically where higher-priced and impulse buys are placed. Bargain items are often on the low shelves.

Be color-blind. Color can be used to persuade you to choose one brand over another. Black, for example, is equated with luxury; yellow suggests an inexpensive product; and red screams discount. Ignore the colors and check out the unit prices instead so you can compare apples to apples.

Slice, dice and chill it yourself. If an item is packaged in a convenient way, the price can skyrocket. Pre-sliced cheese at the deli counter is often more expensive than the un-sliced version in the dairy aisle and pre-chilled soft drinks can cost more than twice as much as the room temperature ones only a few feet away.

Try store brands. A test of store-branded items against national brands found the store brands performed just as well or better in categories such as paper towels, plastic bags, canned peaches, french fries and yogurt.

Ask for a bargain. Many stores will match other stores’ sales prices or coupons as long as you have a circular to prove what the competitor is charging.

Use the store card. They can get you discounts on products in the store circular that are on sale without clipping coupons.

Watch the scanners. Scanners at the checkout make mistakes so be sure watch as items are passed through.

consumer reports, shopping, groceries

Jane Buckingham has teamed up with one of my favorite product lines (Swiffer) to offer her version of house-keeping tips for the modern homemaker. I like this assortment of tips for (quickly) preparing your home for guests!

- Target the biggest dust magnets in your home- electronics. These areas tend to act like glue for dust and are really the areas where you guests may notice a lot of dust. [Jane suggests that you] use a dry duster like Swiffer Dusters - they are better than traditional feather dusters because they trap and lock the dust, versus a feather duster which just spreads it back around your home.

- No one has to know about the clutter that’s behind closed doors- but you don’t want your guests to walk into a mess! Grab a laundry basket, and fill it with all the things that just don’t belong in each room where you will be entertaining. Hide the evidence, you can find everything a home later, once they guests have left. [I personally LOVE this tip.]

- How your home smells is one of the first things a guest will notice. Take the garbage out. Run a lemon down the garbage disposal. Do the dishes that are hanging out in your sink- all of these factor into the scent of your home. I also like to burn a scented candle; it’s a great way to eliminate odors.

- Take your shoes off!! 85% of household dirt, dust and allergens come from the bottom of your shoes. Take your shoes off at the door and make your kids, spouse and guests do the same to cut down on the dirt that enters your home!

housekeeping, guests, tips

I live in an old house with what realtors love to call “heart of pine” floors. Supposedly, that means my softwood floors are more like hardwood floors! I love my wood floors, but I also recognize the ethical dilemma people face in deciding on flooring today. On the one hand, wood is incredibly durable (my floors are original — 80 years old!) On the other, hardwood flowers contribute at least in some part to deforestation, right? (And yes, I’m aware of re-planting, etc.) Anyway… This is an interesting and very positive alternative!

During the past few years, many environmentally conscious consumers have been looking for ways to increase the environmental friendliness of the choices they make for their homes. One of the most eco-friendly flooring options available is engineered wood
flooring.

Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using three to five layers of different wood veneers. The layers are referred to as face ply for the top layer, core ply for the middle layers, and back ply for the bottom layer. Each of the layers can be of the same species, or of different species, but the face ply of engineered wood flooring always consists of high-quality wood. The grain of each individual layer runs in different directions, which is called a cross-ply construction process.
This process makes engineered wood flooring very dimensionally stable, meaning that the wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during normal seasonal fluctuations in humidity and temperature.

Engineered floors can be nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor, or glued down to a wood subfloor or concrete slab. This makes engineered wood floors ideal for slab and basement installations, but they can be used in any room in the home.

One of the best benefits of engineered wood flooring is that it requires less lumber to produce the final product. In addition, because the core and back ply layers can include any species, there is less overall waste.

To learn more about the benefits of wood floors, visit the NWFA’s consumer web site at http://www.woodfloors.org, and click on the “All About Wood Floors” link. You also can find a wood flooring professional in your area by visiting the “Find a Professional or Product” link.

engineered wood, floors, hardwood

Funky fridge smells are no fun. No fun at all! But they’re easier to get rid of than you might think! First, we all know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so if you don’t already have an open box of baking soda in your fridge, pick one up immediately! (And you should replace them a least once every 6 months. So you probably need to pick up a box anyway, right? And they’re, what?, 80 cents a box??)

If the odor has gotten beyond the point where the baking soda will help, you have a few options… For an easy and cheap solution, either line a drawer of your fridge with charcoal or place a plate holding a cup of dry coffee grounds in that drawer. The smell should dissipate in a few days. (The smell won’t completely dissipate, though, until you REMOVE the charcoal or grounds — it often traps the odor!)

Happy sniffing!

fridge, smells, stink

I love silver jewelry. But I don’t love how quickly it turns. For all those pieces you own (including the good quality fake stuff) that have little intricate designs and are just a pain to polish, try this quick-fix method for restoring the natural shine.

Boil some potatoes. Yes, really. And find some way to use them — like mashed potatoes! (I’ll post a recipe to Elementary Chef tomorrow!)

Reove the potatoes from the water and let it cool to room temperature, or slightly warmer. Drop your silver jewelry into the water! Yes, really! The starch will help remove the tarnish! (Now, rinse your jewelry, if you don’t want starch sticking to you!)

silver, tarnish, potatoes