Main > Household > Pests
Earwigs: If you have a problem with earwigs just roll up a newspaper and leave it in the problem area over night when you wake up in the morning they will be inside the paper put in plastic bag and throw away. Of course it isn't a permanent solution but it will help cut down on the quantity.
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Main > Household > Pests
Silverfish: If you are troubled with silverfish try placing whole cloves in the closets and drawers. Sprinkling epsom salts at the back of cupboards can also help.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Organization: You'll enjoy the job more if you get everything together at the start. Organize a tool station in the middle of the area you'll be working in. Gather together your paint, brushes, rollers, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic bags, plastic wrap, rags, paint can opener, and drop cloths.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Plan a day for prep: Don't try to get everything done in one day. Use the day before painting day to gather furniture in the center of the room, patch cracks and holes, put blue painter's tape around doors and windows, and cover wall and ceiling light fixtures (light bulbs removed, of course!) with large plastic bags.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Clear out all the furniture and accessories. Take everything you can off the walls. If you can't move everything out, place the furniture and lamps in the middle of the room and cover them with a good drop cloth. Be sure that you tape the cloth around the furniture. Then put a second cover of plastic or old sheet over everything.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Remove hardware: It may seem easier to paint around door knobs or cabinet hinges, but unless you're a professional, very experienced painter, you're bound to get drips around. So carry around some zip top bags and remove all cabinet knobs and hinges, door knobs, light switch plates and outlet covers, and light fixtures. Place the pieces together in separate bags and clearly mark the contents and location (top left cabinet, bathroom door, etc) you took them from. This is a great time to clean the hardware! Put them back when you're done painting.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Don't paint over problems: If your walls have holes or cracks, fix them before you start with the paint. Any home center or paint store has knowledgeable personnel to guide you to the best products for the job. Wide cracks and large holes can be "bridged" with fiberglass tape, spackle will fill small holes and cracks, and texturizing products are available to match your existing wall finish.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
As a general rule of thumb, anything with a shiny surface needs to be dulled before painting.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Repaired, patched, stained and new surfaces require a coat of primer before painting. If the surface has been painted before, you only need to paint the patched or repaired areas.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Quality is important, so look for a roller in the mid to upper price range.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Start with diagonal or zigzag strokes to transfer the paint onto the wall or surface.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
When the roller is almost dry and the paint is distributed, go back over the area with long, vertical strokes for an even finish. This is called "laying off".
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
For solvent based paints, lay off from floor to ceiling. For water based paints lay off from ceiling to floor. If painting the ceiling, lay off towards the light source.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
To avoid lap lines, paint the surface in overlapping blocks (approx. one metre square). If you work quickly, this will blend the edges together. For glossy paints, paint in smaller blocks as lap lines are more noticeable.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Choose a roller that will cover a large area as quickly as possible. Tradespeople recommend a 270mm roller.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Generally, the smoother the surface, the shorter the nap (length of the pile).
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
A long nap is best used for semi smooth to rough surfaces and painting large areas.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Most solvent paints are used on smooth surfaces so a 5-6mm nap is recommended.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Water based paints on smoother surfaces are best applied with a 5-10mm nap.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Lambskin covers work best on smooth surfaces and with solvent based paints.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Mohair sleeves are best for undercoats and gloss and enamels on smooth surfaces.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Foam rubber covers are best for gloss and semi-gloss enamels and clear finishes.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
Pre-wet the roller with appropriate solvent or water, spinning out the excess.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
If right handed, paint left to right. Of course, the opposite applies if you're left handed.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Rollers
An extension pole makes the job much easier, especially when painting ceilings.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Brushes
There are two types of brush on the market -- filament and hog's bristle. The new filament brush is said to make painting easier as it doesn't lose bristles and leaves less brush marks.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Brushes
A good brush is worth buying so look for one in the mid to upper price range.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Brushes
If you're painting a large surface like a wall, it makes sense to use a large brush. Choose a brush you are comfortable handling for a long period of time. Tradespeople recommend a 100mm brush.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting > Brushes
Brushing tips:
- Mark off adjacent areas that you do not want to paint, eg. Skirting boards, switches.
- Do the edges first. With a little practice, you can "cut in" your paint so that you don't have to mask. Cutting in refers to painting the edges of the area you are covering.
- For best results when cutting in, use a long handled cutting in brush, with a round handle for curved work and a square handle for general painting.
- To cut in, load the brush normally, leaving plenty of paint at the tip. Hold the brush like a pen with the narrow edge facing the line you are cutting in. Guide the brush along the area you are painting. Apply slight pressure to bend the bristles towards the cutting in line and allow a few bristles to overlap the adjacent surface.
- Paint with the grain of the wood for an even line.
- Use short strokes to distribute the paint, then go over the area with longer strokes for an even finish.
- When using water based paints, load the brush well, but don't use all the paint in the brush. It is best to lay off while the brush is still quarter full.
- Always paint into corners while your brush is fully loaded.
- Gloss paints look best when applied with a brush, rather than a roller.
- Clean you brush with an appropriate solvent, then wash in warm soapy water and rinse. Wipe the bristles with kerosene and store wrapped in newspaper.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Household > Power-saving > Appliances
LCD Monitors: use about 1/3 the power of CRT monitors (or TVs). LCD monitors also use about 30% less power than plasma screens.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Drainage
Keep your drainpipes and guttering clear by inserting a ball of galvanised steel wool into the opening - it acts as a filter and prevents the pipes from becoming blocked.
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Main > Household > Cleaning
A foggy mirror can be prevented with shaving cream. Simply spread over a dry mirror, wait 20 minutes, then wipe away with a soft cloth.
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Main > Household > Cleaning > Clothes
Ring around the collar: Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are traveling.
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Main > Household > Cleaning
Scuff Marks: Use 3 tbsp. Of TSP (trisodium phosphate) to a gallon of water to clean scuff marks or crayon marks off walls. TSP can be found in the paint department of a hardware store. Wear gloves and do not use on semi-gloss or gloss paint or wood surfaces.
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Main > Household > Cleaning
Dusting: Use paint brushes to dust cracks and hard to reach places in telephones, stereos, etc.
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Main > Household > Cleaning
Candle Wax from Walls: Candle wax can be removed from walls or other surfaces with an iron and facial tissue. Set the tissue over the wax and gently iron. When the wax seeps through or the tissue begins to brown, apply a new tissue.
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Main > Household > Cleaning > Carpets
Cigarette burns in carpeting can be repaired by cutting the blackened fibers from the hole. Squeeze liquid glue into the hole and fill with fibers trimmed from carpet remnants.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Painting
Window Painting: Newspaper strips when wetted can be used around windows when painting, in place of masking tape. Remove strips before they dry out.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Washing machines
Oversudsing causes leaks and blocks drains. To reduce the suds, pour 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed with some cold water into the washer. Next time, use less detergent (try low-suds type).
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Main > Household > Recycling & wastes > Garbage disposal
Safety: If dismantling the Disposal or working on electrical connections, shut off power at the main disconnect. Never put your hand in the Disposal. Use pliers or tongs to remove an object. Never pour a chemical drain cleaner into a Disposal.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Toilets
When loosening connections, avoid slipping with a wrench and cracking the fixture by dousing stubborn connections with penetrating oil.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Toilets
When trying to detect a tank leak, add food coloring to the tank water if you can't tell whether your toilet is leaking around the tank bolts or just sweating. Wait an hour; then touch the bolt tips and nuts under the tank with white tissue. If the tissue shows coloring, you have a leak; otherwise, it's condensation.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Leaking pipes
The sound of running water helps. If you hear it, follow it to its source. You can buy a listening device that amplifies sounds when it's held up to a pipe.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Leaking pipes
If water is staining the ceiling or dripping down, the leak is probably directly above, but occasionally, water may travel along a joist and then stain or drip at a point some distance from the leak.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Electrical
Safety: Always shut off power at the main disconnect before doing electrical work. Always tape over the main switch, empty fuse socket, or circuit breaker, empty fuse socket or circuit breaker when you're working. Leave a note there so no one will accidentally turn on the electricity. Keep any fuses you've removed in your pocket.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Electrical
Don't trust someone else to turn off the main power switch for you. Do it yourself.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Electrical
Always check that the circuit is actually dead before you begin working on it. Use a circuit tested or voltammeter.
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Main > Household > Maintenance & repair > Electrical
Always unplug any appliance or lamp before repairing it.
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Main > Household > Cleaning > Toilets
Ring around your toilet? Alkaline deposits cause those nasty rings. Depending on the hardness of your water, pour one or two cups of white vinegar into the toilet once a month to eliminate the problem.
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Main > Household > Plumbing > Drainage
Blocked drains: Pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Wait an hour and flush with warm water. The combination fizzles away most of the buildup. Works for shower, tub and kitchen sink drains as well.
kellyjones00 (593)
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