Home Improvement  

12. Environmentally Safe Ways to Remove Weeds
There is a lot of concern about herbicides and what they are doing to our environment. Large amounts of chemicals leech into our groundwater polluting our water supply. Cancers and strange diseases with no apparent cause are being linked to chemicals and pollutants in our environment. So how do we control all those pesky weeds in our perfectly manicured landscapes? I will outline several different ways to eradicate weeds without polluting our environment. The first and probably the simplest of all, is to roll up your sleeves, get down on your knees, and pull the weeds out! I know this seems counterintuitive in an age when we are accustomed to instantaneous and easy ways of doing things. When all we have to do is spray some highly-t...
Author: Dean Novosat Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:14 -0400

13. Laying Out Your Landscape Part Two
Part Two in a Series Once you have your landscape design on paper, now it’s time to transfer it to the actual location where you will be planting your plants. You will need a couple of tools in order to accomplish this. First it’s handy to have a long tape measure. For example a 50 foot or 100 foot tape measure is a lot easier to use an 8 foot or 16 foot one. You will be able to easier layout your landscape with a longer tape measure. You might also need some wooden stakes, some string, an old garden hose, and some marker paint. If your landscape design calls for a regularly repeating pattern, or a very rigid formal grid structure, you’ll want to use stakes and string. Start by finding a fixed point on your design and take all ...
Author: Dean Novosat Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:14 -0400

14. Lamp Shades Decorate a Room
When redecorating a room, don’t forget about your lighting. While it may seem that you will have to purchase all new lamps for your new décor, sometimes all you need is a new lampshade. Replacing a lampshade is a lot cheaper than purchasing a whole new lamp. I find it is easier to wait until your major room components are in place before selecting new lampshades. Let the theme of your new room eveolve, then select lamp shades that either compliment or contrast with your theme. For example, a wild safari room with a zebra rug on the floor, might be well-served by a simple solid-color lamp shade to help offset the boldness of the rug. However, in a less wild décor, such as a simple, clean, contemporary design, a bold lampshade would ...
Author: Dean Novosat Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:13 -0400

15. Make Your Own Lampshades
When redecorating your room, you may be faced with looking for new lampshades (or perhaps a lampshade you currently have has gotten damaged). So why not make your own! If your lamp currently has a lampshade on it, half of the battle is already won! You have a base to start building your new shade. When selecting a material for your new shade, you can use paper, fabrics, plastic, or any heat-resistant material. Do keep in mind though, that the surface of a 100-watt light bulb can reach over 200 degrees and could cause a fire hazard. Make sure the material you choose for a lampshade is either far enough from the light bulb, or is fire-resistant. Next, have fun! Take a trip to your local craft store or fabric store and get some id...
Author: Dean Novosat Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:13 -0400

16. Plant Hardiness Zones
When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select plants that will grow in your climate. The United States has 10 of growing or climate zones. These zones range from the zone 1 in the extreme northern part of United States, to his own 10, which covers the southernmost part. Zone 1, is for the most hardiest of cold weather plants. Temperatures in zone 1 can reach 50 degrees below 0. Zone 10 on the other hand, is is a more tropical climate. Zone 10 plants only need to worry about cold temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees. Your local nursery or garden center should have plants that are appropriate for your climate zone. however, if you are buying your seeds or plants over the Internet and, or through a catalog, you ne...
Author: Dean Novosat Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:12 -0400

17. The Ultimate Comfort - Top 5 Reasons For Getting an Awning
Awnings are an economical and efficient way to shade a deck or patio from the hot glaring sun or cold winds and rain. The great thing about choosing an awning is that you could go with a design whereby the awning is out all the time or if you prefer a retractable awning that can be pulled back when you want to enjoy sunlight and open air. As you will discover in this article, there are many reasons why you should buy an awning. To get you started, we will provide you with the top five! Design and Adaptability One of the greatest benefits of both the standard and retractable awning is that they can enhance the design of any architectural building. In other words, when choosing an awning for your home, no matter what the struct...
Author: Dion Semeniuk Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:11 -0400

18. Urine Stains In Carpet - Get Them Out
First the bad news: Not all urine stains are removable. The types of damage caused vary according to the urine content. This is determined by the pet's diet, age, sex, and any medications being taken. If it is removable, the following steps may get it out. 1. Blot up the urine as soon as you discover it. Use plain white paper towels to avoid dye transfer. 2. Mix 1/4 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and non-lanolin) in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the spot. 3. Blot up the moisture, rinse with warm water, and apply more of the detergent mixture. Rinse, and continue the process until you don't see any urine transfer to the paper towels. 4. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia in a cup of water. Apply this ...
Author: Steve Gillman Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:11 -0400

19. A Place For Everything In Your Home
Are there homeless items living in your home? If you’re like most families, you have countless bits and pieces lacking designated spaces, so the homeless items are left lying on the nearest shelf or countertop. After awhile all the little items without a home begin to accumulate, causing clutter and chaos in your household. Without a specific place for everything, your level of discomfort may increase because when you need one of these floating items you will not know exactly where to go to find it. Talk about stressful! How do you combat the urge to throw your stuff on the kitchen table and decide to put it away later? First of all, stop telling yourself that you’ll ‘Get to it later.’ For most people, later means ‘When I can n...
Author: Nicole Dean Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:10 -0400

20. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Millions of people everyday rely on fire extinguishers to put out minor fires which start in the home. Fire extinguishers contain a powder which is known to instantly put out a fire and prevent it from spreading any further. In 2004, fire extinguishers saved over 25 lives in the United States and prevented over 1,500 injuries. Fire departments all over the world encourage home owners to have at least one fire extinguisher in the home at all times. That said, studies show that approximately 80% of homeowners do have at least one in their home, but the question is do they know how to use it? Sure it's great to know there's a fire extinguisher close by if you ever need one, but what most people don't understand is if you don't know ho...
Author: Jim Staller Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:57:10 -0400

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