Vases:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dirty Vases not look bad, but they also reduce the longevity of the cut flowers you keep in them. The residue in vases, including growth such as algae, plugs up the stems of the water-drinking flowers and causes the flowers to dry up more quickly.
The easiest way to clean vases is to scrub them in hot, soapy water and a bottle brush. Rinse well and let them dry completely before storing.
To remove white mineral deposit stains from the inside of vases, swirl a mixture of rock salt and vinegar around inside the vase. The salt will gently scour the surface while the vinegar breaks down the deposits.
Simple SOLUTIONS
Oh, Those Narrow-Neck Vases >
If you can't get to the inside of a vase with a bottle brush, fill the vase with hot water and acid a couple of denture cleaning tablets--Efficient, for instance---and let it stand overnight. Rinse well and dry.
VCRs and Videotapes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with any electronic gear, the cleaner you keep your VCR, the better all those little parts will work---and the longer piece of equipment will last. That said , it usually doesn't pay to open up your
VCR for interior cleaning. You can use more harm than good. Luckily, the innards rarely need cleaning if you keep the outside clean. The only interior part you need to clean is the playback head--but that you can do with a head-cleaning tape.
Clean the front panel with a soft cotton cloth and glass cleaner. (First, turn off the VCR) No paper towels: They can tear and shed lint. Don't spray the glass cleaner directly on the unit. Instead, spray it
on the cloth and gently wipe the cloth on the panel. For sensitive areas, such as around panel control knobs and buttons, dust with a small, dry paintbrush. Don't apply cleaner to these areas, since it could seep into the controls. This way, you won't accidentally change your control settings, either.
WATCH OUT
Avoid videocassette--cleaning machines. Because these devices sometimes involve rewinding machines, they often damage the tape by stretching it.
To clean the chassis of the VCR--that is, the sides and top---use a soft cloth either dry or lightly misted with glass cleaner. Don't wet the cloth, since any residue left on the chassis could collect
dust and lead to corrosion. Never spray anything directly on the chassis. Wipe away from vent holes (not toward them) to avoid pushing dust into the workings of the VCR.
Dust the back of the unit, where the cable jacks are, with a dry paintbrush. Don't use cleaner around this sensitive area. If you must remove the cables to access the back, be forewarned: Many units store information for user settings, clock, and timers, and this memory can be lost when the unit is unplugged from the electrical outlet.
Wipe cables down with a cloth misted with same cleaner you used on the panels. Be careful not to pull cables out.
Clean the playback head periodically--once every few months, depending on use, or when the playback quality indicates a problem. If you rent a lot of videotapes, you may need to clean more often, since rental tapes bring with them dirt and debris picked up from all the other VCRs they've been played in.
Use a good-quality dry head-cleaning cassette---"dry" because the liquid that sometimes comes with head-cleaning cassettes may not evaporate completely before another tape is inserted, which can worsen the situation by attracting grime from the tape to the play back head. And that could lead to a pricey service call. Be sure to read your owner's manual. If your VCR incorproates an automatic head-cleaning system, the manufacturer may recommend that you not use any kind of head-cleaning tape.
If you need to clean a videotape's case, carefully wipe it with a damp cloth. Make sure you don't wet the tape itself or the tape path. Remove any labels or adhesives that are coming off. Labels that fall off are one of the biggest causes of tape jams.
RULES OF THE GAME
Step-by-Step VCR Cleaning >
Velcro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Velcro gets "dirty"----meaning the two sides get clogged up with lint and fuzz balls--it stops working. when that Velcro is attached to a pair of sandals or a handbag, you might be tempted to get
rid of the sandals or handbag. Don't. It's easy to freshen Velcro up so that it works the way it did when it was new.
To remove lint from the bristly side of Velcro, use a fine-toothed comb. Gently comb out the lint and hair and stray threads. If possible, submerge the Velcro in water while combing.
To remove lint from the soft side of Velcro, use the sticky side of duct tape the way you would use a lint roller.
To keep Velcro fresh, seal the two parts together when isn't not in use or while machine-washing. If you need to, buy extra Velcro tape from a fabric or craft store and use that to seal the Velcro.
If worst comes to worst, instead of throwing away that shoe or handbag, replace the Velcro. Cobblers and tailors will often do the job for a few dollars.
Ventilation Systems
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air quality is in the news a lot these days. Every scary new story about allergic reactions and illness caused by household dust and mold makes it easier for duct-cleaning companies to sell their services. It's not surprising that some of these companies are fly-by-night--or, as they are known in the trade,
"blow-and-go" for the shoddy jobs they do. The U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) has done studies on the issue, and its advice is simple: Relax, Few, if any, homeowners need to clean their ventilation systems on an annual basis, as some contractors suggest. Having the ductwork cleaned might actually make matters worse by dislodging dust and mold that might otherwise not have circulated through the house.
The most important thing you can do is prevent dust and moisture from building up. And if you do determine that your ducts need cleaning, you should hire a reputable service provider.
(See "Choosing an Air Duct Cleaning Service" box below.)
Simple SOLUTIONS
Do Your Ducts Need Cleaning >
Determining whether your ductwork needs to be cleaned is fairly straightforward. /Clean ducts if
There is substantial visible mold growth inside the duct.
The ductwork has been infested with rodents or insects.
The ducts are clogged with excessive dust or debris of if particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
If none of these conditions is present, don't bother to get your duct work cleaned.
Choosing an Air Duct Cleaning Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are plenty of opportunists out there making big buks off the fear stirred up by stories about mold illness and allergy. /These conning contractors may charge up to $1,000 for a duct -cleaning job that is both shoddy and unnecessary. What's worse, they may leave your home's air quality worse than it was before they began tinkering with your ducts.
If you have determined that you really do need your ducts cleaned (see Simple Solutions above),
take these steps to ensure that you get your money's worth for a job well done;
Keep your system clean by using high-quality filters and changing them at least twice a year, in the spring and fall. If they become clogged, change them more often. Not only does that excess dust fill the air, but it also makes your air handler work harder, raising power bills and shortening the life of the motor.
To make changing filters more convenient (and cheaper), buy the filters in bulk and store them in the
basement.
keep your system clean
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dirty Vases not look bad, but they also reduce the longevity of the cut flowers you keep in them. The residue in vases, including growth such as algae, plugs up the stems of the water-drinking flowers and causes the flowers to dry up more quickly.
The easiest way to clean vases is to scrub them in hot, soapy water and a bottle brush. Rinse well and let them dry completely before storing.
To remove white mineral deposit stains from the inside of vases, swirl a mixture of rock salt and vinegar around inside the vase. The salt will gently scour the surface while the vinegar breaks down the deposits.
Simple SOLUTIONS
Oh, Those Narrow-Neck Vases >
If you can't get to the inside of a vase with a bottle brush, fill the vase with hot water and acid a couple of denture cleaning tablets--Efficient, for instance---and let it stand overnight. Rinse well and dry.
VCRs and Videotapes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with any electronic gear, the cleaner you keep your VCR, the better all those little parts will work---and the longer piece of equipment will last. That said , it usually doesn't pay to open up your
VCR for interior cleaning. You can use more harm than good. Luckily, the innards rarely need cleaning if you keep the outside clean. The only interior part you need to clean is the playback head--but that you can do with a head-cleaning tape.
Clean the front panel with a soft cotton cloth and glass cleaner. (First, turn off the VCR) No paper towels: They can tear and shed lint. Don't spray the glass cleaner directly on the unit. Instead, spray it
on the cloth and gently wipe the cloth on the panel. For sensitive areas, such as around panel control knobs and buttons, dust with a small, dry paintbrush. Don't apply cleaner to these areas, since it could seep into the controls. This way, you won't accidentally change your control settings, either.
WATCH OUT
Avoid videocassette--cleaning machines. Because these devices sometimes involve rewinding machines, they often damage the tape by stretching it.
To clean the chassis of the VCR--that is, the sides and top---use a soft cloth either dry or lightly misted with glass cleaner. Don't wet the cloth, since any residue left on the chassis could collect
dust and lead to corrosion. Never spray anything directly on the chassis. Wipe away from vent holes (not toward them) to avoid pushing dust into the workings of the VCR.
Dust the back of the unit, where the cable jacks are, with a dry paintbrush. Don't use cleaner around this sensitive area. If you must remove the cables to access the back, be forewarned: Many units store information for user settings, clock, and timers, and this memory can be lost when the unit is unplugged from the electrical outlet.
Wipe cables down with a cloth misted with same cleaner you used on the panels. Be careful not to pull cables out.
Clean the playback head periodically--once every few months, depending on use, or when the playback quality indicates a problem. If you rent a lot of videotapes, you may need to clean more often, since rental tapes bring with them dirt and debris picked up from all the other VCRs they've been played in.
Use a good-quality dry head-cleaning cassette---"dry" because the liquid that sometimes comes with head-cleaning cassettes may not evaporate completely before another tape is inserted, which can worsen the situation by attracting grime from the tape to the play back head. And that could lead to a pricey service call. Be sure to read your owner's manual. If your VCR incorproates an automatic head-cleaning system, the manufacturer may recommend that you not use any kind of head-cleaning tape.
If you need to clean a videotape's case, carefully wipe it with a damp cloth. Make sure you don't wet the tape itself or the tape path. Remove any labels or adhesives that are coming off. Labels that fall off are one of the biggest causes of tape jams.
RULES OF THE GAME
Step-by-Step VCR Cleaning >
- Turn off the VCR
- Spray glass cleaner on a soft cloth and gently wipe the front panel.
- Dust control knobs and buttons with a small, dry paintbrush
- Clean the sides and top with a soft cloth (dry or lightly misted with glass cleaner).
- Dust the rear with a dry paintbrush. Wipe cables with a cloth misted with cleaner.
- Clean the playback head with a good quality dry head-cleaning cassette. First, check your owner's manual.
Velcro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Velcro gets "dirty"----meaning the two sides get clogged up with lint and fuzz balls--it stops working. when that Velcro is attached to a pair of sandals or a handbag, you might be tempted to get
rid of the sandals or handbag. Don't. It's easy to freshen Velcro up so that it works the way it did when it was new.
To remove lint from the bristly side of Velcro, use a fine-toothed comb. Gently comb out the lint and hair and stray threads. If possible, submerge the Velcro in water while combing.
To remove lint from the soft side of Velcro, use the sticky side of duct tape the way you would use a lint roller.
To keep Velcro fresh, seal the two parts together when isn't not in use or while machine-washing. If you need to, buy extra Velcro tape from a fabric or craft store and use that to seal the Velcro.
If worst comes to worst, instead of throwing away that shoe or handbag, replace the Velcro. Cobblers and tailors will often do the job for a few dollars.
Ventilation Systems
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air quality is in the news a lot these days. Every scary new story about allergic reactions and illness caused by household dust and mold makes it easier for duct-cleaning companies to sell their services. It's not surprising that some of these companies are fly-by-night--or, as they are known in the trade,
"blow-and-go" for the shoddy jobs they do. The U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) has done studies on the issue, and its advice is simple: Relax, Few, if any, homeowners need to clean their ventilation systems on an annual basis, as some contractors suggest. Having the ductwork cleaned might actually make matters worse by dislodging dust and mold that might otherwise not have circulated through the house.
The most important thing you can do is prevent dust and moisture from building up. And if you do determine that your ducts need cleaning, you should hire a reputable service provider.
(See "Choosing an Air Duct Cleaning Service" box below.)
Simple SOLUTIONS
Do Your Ducts Need Cleaning >
Determining whether your ductwork needs to be cleaned is fairly straightforward. /Clean ducts if
There is substantial visible mold growth inside the duct.
The ductwork has been infested with rodents or insects.
The ducts are clogged with excessive dust or debris of if particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
If none of these conditions is present, don't bother to get your duct work cleaned.
Choosing an Air Duct Cleaning Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are plenty of opportunists out there making big buks off the fear stirred up by stories about mold illness and allergy. /These conning contractors may charge up to $1,000 for a duct -cleaning job that is both shoddy and unnecessary. What's worse, they may leave your home's air quality worse than it was before they began tinkering with your ducts.
If you have determined that you really do need your ducts cleaned (see Simple Solutions above),
take these steps to ensure that you get your money's worth for a job well done;
- Contact the Washington, D.C-based National Air Duct Cleaners Association (www.nadca.com) for a contractor recommendation in your area.
- Talk to at least three contractors. Get written estimates. Compare their Services. Check references. If they make any claims about mold or dust as a reason your ducts need cleaning, ask them to show you the evidence. Ask how they will protect you and your pets from contamination while cleaning.Checks any licenses or certifications they say they have.
- Beware the cleaner who makes broad claims about duct cleaning's being good for your health. Those claims have not proved. Certainly steer clear of any cleaner who recommends duct cleaning as a regular part of maintaining your heating and cooling system.
- Check with your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau to find out whether complaints have been filed against any of the duct-cleaning services you are thinking of using.
Keep your system clean by using high-quality filters and changing them at least twice a year, in the spring and fall. If they become clogged, change them more often. Not only does that excess dust fill the air, but it also makes your air handler work harder, raising power bills and shortening the life of the motor.
To make changing filters more convenient (and cheaper), buy the filters in bulk and store them in the
basement.
keep your system clean
No comments:
Post a Comment