Category: Clean It

Microwave Out Sponge Bacteria

WebMD says: Your microwave may be a powerful weapon in protecting your family against disease-causing germs.

A new study shows zapping sponges and plastic scrubbing pads in the microwave can kill bacteria, such as E. coli, that can cause illness.

“Basically, what we find is that we could knock out most bacteria in two minutes,” says researcher Gabriel Bitton, professor of environmental engineering at the University of Florida, in a news release. “People often put their sponges and scrubbers in the dishwasher, but if they really want to decontaminate them and not just clean them, they should use the microwave.”

Researchers say disease-causing bacteria and germs from uncooked eggs, meat, and vegetables often work their way onto countertops and cleaning tools, and the dampness of sponges, dish cloths, and scrubbers provide an ideal breeding ground for the bugs.

Toilet Train Your Cat

Move the cat’s litter box so it is right next to the toilet, keep it like this for about a day.
Then gradually raise the litter box up by placing phone books (or something similar) under it. Repeat daily until the box is of equal height to the toilet. Whenever you raise the box take a little bit of the litter out of the box. You may need to secure the litter box to the phone books or whatever it’s sitting on so that it doesn’t move when the cat jumps onto it.

Move the box over 1 inch onto the seat. Repeat daily until the box is directly over the seat. Continue gradually decreasing the amount of litter in the box until there is only a thin layer (less than 1 inch) of it left.4Replace the litter box with a “training box”. You have a few different options here, but the important thing to remember is to make sure the “training box” can hold your cat’s weight if they step or jump onto it:
Lift the toilet seat and tape a piece of wax paper over the hole so that the toilet looks like a drum. Lower the seat over the wax paper. Add flushable litter.
Lift the toilet seat and tape a bowl or aluminum pan to the edges. Put the seat down so that it holds the bowl in place. (See video below.) Add flushable litter.
Use a commercial training device, sold specifically for this purpose. via

Fall Skin Care

1. Face care. In the changing weather, it does not matter whether your skin is dry, combo or oily-prone. By switching to a milder, moisturizing face wash will help prevent moisture loss. Using soap or foaming cleansers can strip the skin of essential oils. Cooler temps take away moisture in all types of skin. Consider using a non-water-based cleanser. Use moisturizer with more hydration. Oily types may find that lotions are still superior, but dry complexions need to look for a cream. Ointments are oil-based moisturizers, which provide even more hydration than a cream. Moisture needs to only be applied to the dry areas on your face. Avoid the oily areas.

2. Sunscreen. Just because the weather cools down and the sun isn’t as strong doesn’t mean you should put away your sunscreen. Sun protection is a mainstay in your routine year-round.

3. Body wash. Look for creamier body wash.

4. Lotion. Your entire body needs hydrating. The drier, cooler weather takes the moisture from your entire body. To retain moisture, look for a luxurious, all-over body moisturizer. Always carry a small bottle of lotion with you.

5. Don’t forget your lips. Always carry a moisturizing lip balm with you.

Thanks Carolyn

Unstick a Sticky Door

Sticky doors, like squeaky stairs, can really get under your skin. You’re always pushing and pulling a lot harder than you need to, and somehow the door never seems to close quite right. You intend to take care of it one day, but the task keeps getting pushed further down your to-do list in favor of other, more pressing items.

Make today the day you fix that sticky door.

First, take a few minutes to diagnose the problem. The stickiness could stem from one of several issues, each of which calls for a different treatment. To identify the problem, open and close your door slowly, watching it closely, and notice where it sticks. You should recognize one of the following scenarios:

1. The door has no gaps and needs to be slammed shut.
2. The door’s inside edge rubs against the the jamb.
3. The door hangs too close to the floor or the door’s outside edge rubs against the jamb.

1. IF THE DOOR HAS NO GAPS AND NEEDS TO BE SLAMMED SHUT…
It’s likely caused by excessive humidity. Most builders accommodate for seasonal changes by making sure the door panel and casing are lined up exactly right. This makes sure that the door has enough clearance to close properly, even with swelling. Try to fiix the sticking door at the most humid time of year for best results.

Materials
Srewdriver
Hammer
Block plane
Sandpaper
Paint or sealant

Directions
1. Open the door and remove the hinge pin by tapping the bottom of it with a hammer and pulling it out from the top.
2. Unscrew the hinges, starting with the top.
3. Gently remove the door.
4. Using a block plane, shave off just enough wood to give the door clearance; if your door is sticking elsewhere you might need to do the same thing on the other three edges too.
5. Sand the cut for a smooth finish.
6. Protect the wood by sealing or painting the cut edges.
7. Put the door back on its hinges; reinsert pins and tap them down with your hammer.

Photo: jennifur-jinx, flickr

2. IF THE DOOR’S INSIDE EDGE RUBS ALONG THE JAMB…
It’s often due to loose hinges. (The jamb is the vertical portion of the door frame to which the door is attached.) Here is a simple fix:

Materials
Screwdriver

Directions
1. Determine if the problem is at the top, middle or bottom hinge.
2. Using the screwdriver, tighten both the door and frame screws; be careful not to over-tighten them or you’ll strip the screws.
4. If the screws are already stripped, or the holes are too rough, replace them with longer screws.

3. IF THE DOOR HANGS TOO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR OR THE DOOR’S OUTSIDE EDGE RUBS AGAINST THE JAMB…
Typically, it’s a result of the house settling, which can cause the strike plate to fall out of alignment. Here’s how to fix that:

Materials
Petroleum jelly
Chisel

Directions
1. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly to the end of the latch.
2. Close the door slowly, noticing where the jelly transfers, as this should tell you if the plate is too high, low or deep.
3. Remove the strike plate and carve out wood from the jamb, compensating for the misalignment.
4. Check it repeatedly so that you don’t remove too much wood by accident

Once you’ve chiseled or tightened your way out of the sticky situation, keep that door working properly with bi-yearly tune-ups. A squeak won’t impact the way a door functions but it sure is annoying, so while you’re tightening those hinges, add a little lubricant.
via