Household Tips

For Gardens:

1.          Divide perennials that bloom during spring in the fall.

2.          Divide perennials that bloom during summer in the spring.

3.          Cover bed with 2-3” of mulch to prevent frost from pushing bulbs up over winter.

4.          To rejuvenate an overgrown woody shrub such as lilac, privet, or viburnum, cut back a third of the larges and oldest branches.  Cut them right to the ground.  Repeat the next year, and again the year after that.  You’ll still enjoy blooms, and the plant will come back with thicker foliage, stronger branches, and more flowers.

5.     If you want the mossy look of old-world flower pots without waiting years to achieve it, store       clay containers in a cool, shady place and spritz them occasionally with a little buttermilk.  They’ll fur up nicely. 

For Driveways:
     To remove oil stains from a paved or concrete driveway:

1.          While wearing protective gloves, mix 3 Tbls. Lye per 1 gallon cold water

2.          Brush onto stain, and let sit for 30 minutes

3.          Brush and rinse clean 

For Lawns:

1.          Change cutting direction every time yard is you mow. (Note: for special occasions or showings, mow lawn twice in opposite directions to get a square pattern and ensure that all blades are of equal height.)

2.          Always mow with a sharp blade to prevent the grass from being torn

For Deer Problems:

1.          Mix moth balls or flakes into ground surrounding troubled flower beds.

2.          Hang nylon stockings with hair clippings or unscented deodorant bar of soap in the troubled shrubs.

For Cleaning Up After Pets:

1.          Clean up pet accidents instantly (Acids in urine can permanently damage carpet dyes and fibers).

2.          Blot up mess with plain white paper towels, then apply a mix of ¼ tsp liquid dish-soap with 1 cup warm water, and blot until dry.  Then treat with a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar with 2 cups water, and blot until completely dry.

3.          Use a bacterial/enzyme digester, found in pet stores, as a final precaution.

             *Note: If there are pet odors but you cannot find the source, darken the room and hold a black light fixture close to the carpet.  Pet urine and feces appears to glow*

Interior Painting:

1.          Two light coats of paint is better than one heavy coat.  The coverage is better, surface is smoother, and the possibility of drips is reduced. 

2.          Use a gloss, semi-gloss, or other washable paint in areas subject to hand prints, smudges or spatters.  Flat paints are more likely to be damaged by repeated cleanings.

3.          Use decorating glazes to create a variety of beautiful wall finishes.  Sponging, stippling, or splattering glaze over a base coat allows the base color to partially show through.  Choose at least two complimentary colors to go over your base color.  Allow each color to dry completely before applying additional pigments.  Practice a variety of effects using sponges, rolled rags, stippling brushes, or other materials on an old piece of wood or heavy art paper prior to applying to your walls.

4.      Hate the smell of fresh latex paint? You can cut way down on the odor by mixing a tablespoon of vanilla extract or a drop of lemon extract into every gallon.

Miscellaneous Tips:

Before you caulk the bathtub to the wall tile, fill the tub with water.  That’ll open the gap to its in-service size, making the caulk a lot less likely to crack or pull away.

A CD of digital images of each room in your house, as well as individual photos of each wall, with artwork and furniture in place, can help you establish value for insurance reimbursement in case of fire, earthquake or flood.  But this only works if you remember to date the CD and store it off-site of in a safe-deposit box.

To unscrew the base of a broken light bulb, cut a raw potato in half and press the cut end onto the jagged glass.