Archive for November, 2010

Make Your Log Cabins Worth Living In – Get Rid Of Those Musty Odors!

November 30th, 2010

A log cabin means a lot more than just a wooden home to many of us out there. The feel of living in one is very different from the average house that we all live in. It makes us feel closer to nature. Just as glass and metal create a contemporary or modern setting, logs and heavy timber produce a unique environment that soothes the soul. But the structure is highly sensitive to fungal growth which is not a commonplace in masonry or masonry structures. In order to get rid of those musty log cabins, here are some instructions.

To start with, make sure that proper air circulation is present. Keep the windows open for the exchange of air to take place. If the cycle of air exchange is blocked, the air becomes stagnant hence the bad odor. This simple step alone could rid you of the problem to a good extent.

A high level of humidity in the air greatly supports the musty smell. To reduce the level of humidity, run a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier can be installed in your home to decrease the level of humidity in the air. The normal humidity level indoors is somewhat 50%. Higher levels of humidity, in general, are dangerous in many other ways like encouraging Dust mite populations escalate causing problems for allergy sufferers and Condensation in electric items which may cause damage beyond repair. For effective use of the dehumidifier, proper usage of it must be carried out.

If you want to try something inexpensive that works well to get rid of foul odors in wood, place a bowl of baking soda in the corner of each room. It is a natural odor remover, and it will effectively remove musty smells. You will find baking soda in large boxes that are meant for cleaning and deodorizing large areas, and you will be surprised by how cheap it is compared to other odor removal options.

Continuing with items that are available in the kitchen, vinegar and lemon juice are your next options. Both vinegar and lemon juice are acidic substances. Any smell causing organisms that are present in the air would be killed due to constant contact. Fill several small bowls with one of the two and place them randomly in different rooms. In case of lemon juice, do mix water with it. The same can be done with ground coffee.

It might surprise you but kitty litter can be of great help when it comes to musty odor. Kitty litter is a natural and effective odor neutralizer. Put kitty litter in open containers and place one container in each room. Change every twelve hours. Do the same for two to three days and you have an odor free log cabin.

Check the drainage. Condensation in pipes often leads to dripping which creates a foul smell. Also ensure that there are no leakages. The smell does not really appear from the water droplets, but from the molds and fungi that grow out of the puddles formed by the leaks. When these critters grow in number, they can generate a pretty strong odor. They can even spread to other regions of your home, which strengthens the musty scent.

Many commercial cleansers are good for neutralizing odors. Check them out a local store as they should be readily and easily available. It would be alright to spend a little more on a known brand than spend a small amount on an unknown brand that will hardly work. A five dollar investment is better than three two dollar ones.

Seek out professional cleaners for hard to reach areas and musty smells that have not gone away even after much struggle. These people have the right tools to remove fungi and clean any area of your home. They may charge fees for their services but you surely would not trouble yourself with nasty home odors when they’re done. Remember, some of the best things in life are not free.

If you are successful in getting rid of the musty smell, which you should be, make an effort in keeping your log cabin clean. General cleaning of the place goes a long way and should keep your place odor-free for good. An unclean home, even after going through a comprehensive odor-removing procedure, will always be susceptible to odors.

A visit to your home will not be a comfortable experience if your home has offensive odors, nor will you enjoy living in your own foul- smelling space. Follow these suggestions for eliminating odors. Leave the scented candles for a romantic dinner.By Stewart Wrighter

Tips on Choosing the Best Silk Flowers and Artificial Trees

November 29th, 2010

With the emergence of many craftsmen who are dealing with artificial floral designs, for you to be able to get the best silk flowers and artificial trees based on quality and price needs careful thought otherwise you might end up with wrong flowers for your home or office.

The procedure starts with identifying the anticipated look and on where you want the flowers or trees to be placed in that office or home. If this is not thought out well, you might end up achieving a bushy look right inside your office hence incur unnecessary loses. Remember that there are different sizes, shapes and types of these silk flowers, getting the right design therefore depends on the type of craftsmanship you might choose to use in getting that great look.

To get more for your money means that you must do some research about the available dealers by either scouring for details online or asking around from neighbors to friends. This way, you will be at a better position to weigh all the prices and settle for what fits your lifestyle best.

The artificial flowers and trees are made of different materials or a mixture of a variety of the materials. When crafting the flowers, their makers always have a presumed purpose for each of their flowers depending on the design and material being used. For instance, flowers designed for wedding ceremonies will be different in both design and material from those made for Christmas celebrations. Whenever you are choosing your flowers, ensure that you consult with your dealer, if you are not sure of what to do to avoid wasting money on what you actually don’t need.

For beginners who probably don’t have the right skills in cutting stems or arranging the flowers, it’s advisable that you start with less expensive flowers. If you successfully master the art of personalizing the silk flowers to suit your personal desired finish without any help, then you can go for the more expensive and attractive designs.

Although most florists focus on fresh flowers if you find some of their contacts in your local telephone directory consider visiting them because some have been found to keep very beautiful artificial replicas of their real flowers. Which better way to find an artificial flower that looks like its original counterpart than to view and consult florist? If they in any case happen to have been in business with you before, you can imagine some of the services that you can enjoy as a permanent customer like discounts among other after-sell services.

When choosing the flowers, it’s imperative that you take your time to observe the intricate details like which material has been used in gluing the silk leaves together or/and kind of wire used in framing the branches. This is necessary since some very good looking flowers end up breaking down after a short period of time, especially when they come into contact with water.By Greg Mitchell

Surprising Items You May Need As A Homeowner

November 28th, 2010

Every homeowner knows they will need some basic tools when it comes to maintaining their home. Popular housewarming gifts include cordless drills, nail guns and laser levels. Some homeowners may not even make it to their housewarming party and they hit the hardware store the day after they move into their new home. Just moving in requires a number of basic tools to get settled and comfortable in your new space. As time passes, homeowners manage to accumulate a number of items that make jobs around the house easier and quicker. As each unique project arises, homeowners find easy and creative ways of dealing with issues. This results in finding unusual ways to solve problems and finding tools that work well for unintended purposes. For instance, you will find an industrial ladder or aluminum ladder will come in handy for changing light bulbs, cleaning gutters, repairing garage doors, tarring the chimney, and pruning trees.

While a blow torch may seem like a tool that would be used in welding jobs that are more complicated than the average homeowner has to tackle, small torches can come in handy around the house. Those who live in climates with harsh winter temperatures may find their water pipes freeze. A blowtorch is an effective way to melt the ice that is blocking the pipe. If pipes freeze they can burst, which leads to flooding and home damage. The faster you can melt the build-up in a pipe, the easier it will be to avoid serious problems.

Incense may seem like a pleasant way to alter the scent in your home, but incense sticks can come in handy for other reasons. Without a flame, incense produces a thin ribbon of smoke which can be held up to windows and wall joints to determine if there are drafty spaces. Simply light the stick and let the smoke begin, and hold the stick up to areas you suspect may need insulation. This is a quick and fun way to determine where insulation is needed and there is the added bonus of a pleasant fragrance while completing the inspection.

If you are looking for alternative methods to using intense chemical cleaning products, you have a number of options. Items like baking soda and vinegar come in handy as natural cleaning products. Homeowners can create their own fresh, effective cleaning solutions from products they may have lying around the house. Baking soda can also be used in the refrigerator or near cat litter boxes to reduce the unpleasant odors. Vinegar is an effective product for shining and cleaning hard surfaces and it can also be used for removing stains.

Finally, every homeowner should have a high-powered vacuum that is capable of sucking up dry and wet items. You never know when you might have to deal with flooding and having a vacuum that can take care of standing water can save you a lot of damage. High-powered vacuums are typically used in garage areas, but they also come in handy indoors and in the yard.By Stewart Wrighter

Timber Joinery and DIY

November 27th, 2010

The outdoor wood to use for things such as furniture. We’re going to start off with the obvious wood, oak. Oak is thick and heavy however it is sustainable and fairly cost effective considering it’s life. If you leave it outdoors it can retain heat in the summer which can lead to expansion and cracking may occur. The cheapest kind of furniture is pine, this is not the better wood for out doors however, simply because its a lot lighter than most wood is not as structurally sound. No no the best wood in my opinion for outdoor material is cedar. This is a strong hardwood resistant to cracks and weathering. It is lightweight, resistant to rot and decay and better than this the aroma it gives off puts off moths and insects. At first however the wood seems expensive but it lasts a long time and has the added benefits that other woods don’t have. Other hardwood’s are available to do the same thing like redwood or cedar.

As there are thousands of different types of wood indoor and outdoor we’ll go through the common ones as they are easiest to acquire. So I’m going to begin with oak again. Oak well known for furniture makes with that classic style of antique. It is tough stuff resistant to rotting and insects. Because oak is quite a heavy wood it is better to be used for things that need be able to withstand pressure and not get moved around that much. Next up I’m thinking of pine, structurally sound pine is one of the most commonly used wood for indoor furniture. Finally I’m thinking of plywood, this is a composite wood made up of recycled old wood. This is a cheap way to make furniture however it doesn’t look that great, paint is in most cases needed.

It’s important to bare in mind how the wood you’ve chosen for bigger projects is processed. I’m going to look into air dried, kiln dried and pressure treated wood. Kiln dried wood such as oak is great for a now-a-days home. Kiln drying is only part of the process and usually starts with air drying, kiln drying is great for the changing temperatures of the ‘new homes’ of today. Air drying can take up to 5 years or more and usually has the wood cut length ways and separated with the grooves. This means that any natural stress found in wood is released through time as it is left outside throughout the seasons. Unlike kiln dried wood air drying is a natural process meaning it is much more effective than the artificial methods. A finish that is used is pressure treatment. This uses pressure and chemical to kill any bugs and prolong the life of the wood.By Vic Efford

5 Stair Safety Hints

November 26th, 2010

A lot of people slip and fall on staircases and many are badly injured. Some people never fully recover, whether it’s a broken hip on an elderly person or even worse. Many of these accidents and their related pain and suffering are avoidable with some common sense and by following the tips below. I’ve slipped and fallen but fortunately have never been seriously injured; I’ve just had my dignity injured.

1) Be aware as you climb up or down. Watch were you step and look out for debris, foreign objects, ice, and rain/water. Any of these can be treacherous. Pay attention every time. What was clear 10 minutes ago may have children’s toys, leaves, or something else potentially dangerous now.An enormous amount of accidents can be avoided my merely being aware, i.e. paying attention. The worse fall I ever took on a staircase was simply because my mind was elsewhere and I wasn’t paying any attention.

2) If there is a railing or handrail and at all in doubt, use it. Unless you know better, make sure the it is strong and secure. One that is flimsy and weak can be worse than none at all. One staircase in a warehouse I sometimes use had a railing that had splinters, was poorly attached and felt so flimsy that it felt like it could easily have broken. Fortunately it was replaced before any accident occurred.

3) When carrying objects up and down do not overload yourself. You can both block your vision with too many or large objects as well as make walking difficult. I’ll admit to not being good with this one. When carrying many objects up or down, I often try to minimize my trips by carrying a lot. This is fine as long as safety is not compromised.

4) If there are lights and it is dark or dimly lit, turn them on. Too many accidents happen on dimly lit stairs and in the dark. Simply turn the lights on, or use a flashlight if necessary as in an unlit staircase going into the basement of an apartment building I went down last week.

5) If you do fall and are carry anything, concentrate on lessening the impact, not on what you are carrying. A friend fell down a stair case with a bowl of noodles and saved the noodles despite getting quite a head bonk. Better if they had let go of the bowl of noodles and protected their head!By Harold Baldwin

New Ideas For Bedroom Organizers

November 25th, 2010

Our bedrooms can be our sanctuary within our homes, and all too often they get cluttered. Whether you have tons of clothes or you simply don’t have enough space for all of your stuff, bedroom organizers can make your room come together and make it easier to keep track of your belongings. There are many different kinds of bedroom organizers that can be made to work with any type of bedroom décor.

The Purpose

Your bedroom may not be seen by visitors, and it’s all too easy to let it get a little or a lot cluttered. Unlike the other rooms in your house, you just may not need to keep it as clean and as organized. Eventually however this leads to a build up of clutter and it can be nearly impossible to find anything that you’re looking for.

We’re all familiar with how closet organizers work, but bedroom organizers can serve an even greater purpose. If they’re out in the open, they can become part of your bedroom décor and there are plenty of design options available.

If you’re being overrun with clutter in your bedroom, it may also affect the quality of your sleep, especially if you are a person that likes to be neat. Over time, all that clutter can just wear on you to the point where you don’t even know where to start to clean it all up.

Getting Organized

Your bedroom décor should be peaceful but if you’re overwhelmed by clutter, chances are you may not even be able to see it anymore. Your furniture pieces may be buried with clothes, shoes and other items and before long, you’re dealing with a huge mess.

Select a closet design that will match your existing bedroom decor and offer you plenty of storage options. If you have extra clothes, look for an armoire type organizer. If little clutter is the issue, an apothecary chest is an inventive piece of bedroom décor that can serve a dual purpose. For blankets and other bedding, a chest at the foot of your bed offers an easy solution that gets you organized and keeps the items you need close at hand.By Andrew Caxton

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