spring clean
Home_042312_full_GHNS_7.qxd:GHNS
4/17/12
4:47 PM
Page 1
HOME-SELLING TIP
Home
Offer ‘creative financing’ Today's market is seeing an excess of homes as well as many interested buyers who may have difficulty qualifying for a standard mortgage. You can attract these buyers with "creative financing," which involves three options: 1) See if your lender will allow a mortgage assumption. 2) Help a buyer build a down payment via a lease-to-own deal. 3) If you have the equity, offer financing yourself. — FrontDoor.com
DID YOU KNOW? Building of green single-family residential homes increased from 2 percent in 2005 to 17 percent in 2011. — National Home Builders Association
HOME HELP
Mothers Cleaning Co-op uses chemicalfree cleaners and disinfectants. SHNS PHOTO BY LEZLIE STERLING
FAMILY FEATURES
Small updates These budget-friendly decorating ideas from Giuliana Rancic, entertainment journalist and style guru, make it easy to discover your personal style. All it takes to refresh a room are a few simple updates. Small changes add up.
“You don’t have to redo a whole room,” says Rancic. “Small changes like adding a new color or introducing a scent to a room really make a big difference.” Start at the beginning.
The entryway of a home is the first thing guests see. Tidy up the outside area, and add some inexpensive pops of color with a planter and flowers. On the inside, think about updating the walls with floral or damask wallpaper, or even a painted chevron pattern to add visual interest. Bring the outdoors in. Live plants and flowers do wonders for a room. Lemon or orange tree topiaries are a popular way to add a natural pop of color. If you’re not sure about taking care of live plants, you can easily find artificial ones that look natural. Silk bamboo plants come in all sizes and fit on a table top or fill up an empty corner in a room. — Family Features
STOCK.XCHNG
GARDEN GUIDE
Plants don’t like compact soil Soil compaction is the result of construction equipment, vehicles, and trampling by animals and people. Too much compaction presses the mineral grains together, reducing the air and water content. There is little room for roots to grow, and they cannot access enough nutrients and water. Most roots grow best in soil that is about 25 percent air and 25 percent water. Plants grown in compressed soils look stunted and droughtstressed, and they are more susceptible to disease. — University of Illinois Extension
GOING GREEN
Eggshells into plastic Scientists at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom are working on ways to convert WIKIMEDIA eggshells into COMMONS bioplastics, to be used in anything from pharmaceuticals to egg cartons. It can also be used as a filler to "bulk up" conventional plastics, possibly reducing demand for oil-based materials. The U.K. uses more than 5 million tons of oil-based plastics every year, according to the British Plastics Foundation. — Earth911.com
SPRING CLEAN Tips from the pros on deep-cleaning your house By Debbie Arrington Scripps Howard News Service
t’s that time of year again when we want to throw open the windows, take a deep breath and ... clean. Somewhere deep in our American heritage (or maybe it’s in our DNA?), we latched onto spring as a time of great home renewal. Even if the dust has piled up all winter, we suddenly have this urge to purge our clutter and tackle the grime. The hardest part: getting started. Too many distractions, too much to do. Seeking needed motivation and direction in this unending battle on dirt, we turned to the experts: folks who clean professionally yearround. “We do it every day,” said Betty Nicholson, founder of Carmichael, Calif.-based Mothers Cleaning Co-op. This time of year always places increased demand on professional cleaners. “In spring, people want to tackle the big jobs,” she said. “Windows; that’s always big in spring cleaning. “Mainly, when I think of spring cleaning, it’s thorough,” she added. “Empty the closets. Move everything. Pull the house apart and clean top to bottom. Every surface that ever gets touched gets wiped. Open the windows and start fresh.” House cleaning really does get easier with routine, say the pros.
I
How to get started Steve and Paula Mumm, who operate Merry Maids cleaning service in Granite Bay and Folsom, Calif., have been helping clients conquer dirt for two decades. They start at the front door. Use entry mats — inside and out, Steve Mumm said. “It is amazing how much dirt
they catch.” Use the big sturdy kind like those found in businesses; one on each side of the door. To limit dirt’s access, use only one entry door into your home instead of multiple entries. Before you can polish the countertops, you need to get rid of clutter, said the Mumms. They offer this anti-clutter assault plan: Divide it into three groups: junk, charity and undecided. Toss or recycle the first, give away the second and store the third in a box or bag until you can decide whether it’s really worth keeping. Cleaning is easier with the right tools. Cotton diapers or old T-shirts work well for most jobs. “People used to clean with just a rag for generations,” Nicholson said. Sponges are a must. So are soft-bristle brushes, rubber gloves and a squeegee. Assemble a cleaning carry-all, the Mumms said. Store all your basic cleaning supplies in a cleaner’s apron or bucket, and carry them with you from task to task.
A deep steam cleaning Having the right tools yields professionallooking results. The Mothers’ secret weapon for big jobs: steam. They use the Vapor Boss ES600 residential steam cleaner made by U.S. Steam. This pricey tool (suggested retail $795), which Nicholson found online, has become a huge hit with both clients and cleaners. “People ask us all the time, ‘Where did you get it?’” she said. “They love it. They like to watch us steam.” Steamers have increased in popularity for their ability to deep-clean surfaces. Because the steam can lift embedded dirt, it cleans effectively and sanitizes without the use of harsh chemicals. “Steam takes up stuff that’s trapped in
crevices and deep inside surfaces,” Nicholson said. “And once it’s clean, it stays clean. You can get the kitchen cleaned to a level you can’t without it.” The Mothers — all moms who love to clean and work part time for the co-op — use steam for many jobs. “Windows, tile, counters, almost any hard surface,” Nicholson said. “It opens the pores so you can clean deeper. It does a beautiful job. And you get a free facial, too. Just be careful; you are using heat.”
Have a game plan How do you attack a messy house? Clean top to bottom, said the Mumms. Use the same approach to each room, one at a time, until the house is done. The Mumms offer their room-by-room Merry Maids method: Dust first, vacuum last. Go over the carpet twice, changing direction. Cut down on streaks: Scrub, wipe and polish in straight lines (if wood, with the grain) instead of circles. Clean windows and mirrors like a pro. Squeegee the surface with an initial horizontal stroke across the top, then top-down vertical strokes, wiping the blade after each stroke. The job will get done faster if you give cleaning solutions time to work. Spritz counters, mirrors and surfaces in the bath and kitchen. Let them sit while you scrub the sink, tub and toilet, then go back and wipe them clean. Finally, defy dust from coming back — or at least slow it down, the Mumms said. Change your furnace filter and replace vacuum bags monthly. Don’t miss the vents when you dust and vacuum. With winter’s grime a memory, take time to enjoy the results of your effort. Open the windows and let the spring air in.
Replacing both springs keeps garage door in balance Q: I'm going to replace a broken spring for our garage door. The home-store salesman said I needed to replace both springs even though only one is broken. Is this true? A: A majority of homes use overhead doors for the garage entry. In a few older homes, I have found doors that were swinging, folding or sliding, but the overhead doors, which use a trackand-roller system are the most commonly installed door today. There are usually two springs for the average residential
garage door and, depending on the size and weight of the door, there are two different types of springs to counter the weight of the door. Torsion springs are found on a
door's overhead track. When the door is closed, the tension springs are stretched, storing energy in the metal coils. As the door opens, the springs relax, releasing the stored energy to help lift the door. When replacing tension springs, it is recommended
DWIGHT BARNETT long metal bar above the door, and as the door is closed the springs wind tightly, storing energy in the metal coil. As the door is opened, the springs unwind, releasing enough energy to aid in lifting the heavy door. Lighter-weight and smaller doors use tension springs, which are located on either side of the
that both springs be replaced and matched because the older unbroken spring will have lost some of its tension from years of use. Replacing both springs helps to balance the door so that it opens smoothly with equal force being applied to each side of the door. Once installed, tension springs can be adjusted. Measure the length of each cable, and secure them to the door's track while the door is open and the springs are relaxed.
It is important to install a second cable inside the spring in case the spring would come loose or break. A word of caution for the DIYer: Torsion springs should be
replaced by a skilled installer. Torsion springs have so much stored energy that they can cause serious injury or even death if mishandled. You can find the average weight of your garage door by visiting: http://www.garagedoorpartsllc.com/weight-calculator.html. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at [email protected]. Scripps Howard News Service
4/17/12
4:47 PM
Page 1
HOME-SELLING TIP
Home
Offer ‘creative financing’ Today's market is seeing an excess of homes as well as many interested buyers who may have difficulty qualifying for a standard mortgage. You can attract these buyers with "creative financing," which involves three options: 1) See if your lender will allow a mortgage assumption. 2) Help a buyer build a down payment via a lease-to-own deal. 3) If you have the equity, offer financing yourself. — FrontDoor.com
DID YOU KNOW? Building of green single-family residential homes increased from 2 percent in 2005 to 17 percent in 2011. — National Home Builders Association
HOME HELP
Mothers Cleaning Co-op uses chemicalfree cleaners and disinfectants. SHNS PHOTO BY LEZLIE STERLING
FAMILY FEATURES
Small updates These budget-friendly decorating ideas from Giuliana Rancic, entertainment journalist and style guru, make it easy to discover your personal style. All it takes to refresh a room are a few simple updates. Small changes add up.
“You don’t have to redo a whole room,” says Rancic. “Small changes like adding a new color or introducing a scent to a room really make a big difference.” Start at the beginning.
The entryway of a home is the first thing guests see. Tidy up the outside area, and add some inexpensive pops of color with a planter and flowers. On the inside, think about updating the walls with floral or damask wallpaper, or even a painted chevron pattern to add visual interest. Bring the outdoors in. Live plants and flowers do wonders for a room. Lemon or orange tree topiaries are a popular way to add a natural pop of color. If you’re not sure about taking care of live plants, you can easily find artificial ones that look natural. Silk bamboo plants come in all sizes and fit on a table top or fill up an empty corner in a room. — Family Features
STOCK.XCHNG
GARDEN GUIDE
Plants don’t like compact soil Soil compaction is the result of construction equipment, vehicles, and trampling by animals and people. Too much compaction presses the mineral grains together, reducing the air and water content. There is little room for roots to grow, and they cannot access enough nutrients and water. Most roots grow best in soil that is about 25 percent air and 25 percent water. Plants grown in compressed soils look stunted and droughtstressed, and they are more susceptible to disease. — University of Illinois Extension
GOING GREEN
Eggshells into plastic Scientists at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom are working on ways to convert WIKIMEDIA eggshells into COMMONS bioplastics, to be used in anything from pharmaceuticals to egg cartons. It can also be used as a filler to "bulk up" conventional plastics, possibly reducing demand for oil-based materials. The U.K. uses more than 5 million tons of oil-based plastics every year, according to the British Plastics Foundation. — Earth911.com
SPRING CLEAN Tips from the pros on deep-cleaning your house By Debbie Arrington Scripps Howard News Service
t’s that time of year again when we want to throw open the windows, take a deep breath and ... clean. Somewhere deep in our American heritage (or maybe it’s in our DNA?), we latched onto spring as a time of great home renewal. Even if the dust has piled up all winter, we suddenly have this urge to purge our clutter and tackle the grime. The hardest part: getting started. Too many distractions, too much to do. Seeking needed motivation and direction in this unending battle on dirt, we turned to the experts: folks who clean professionally yearround. “We do it every day,” said Betty Nicholson, founder of Carmichael, Calif.-based Mothers Cleaning Co-op. This time of year always places increased demand on professional cleaners. “In spring, people want to tackle the big jobs,” she said. “Windows; that’s always big in spring cleaning. “Mainly, when I think of spring cleaning, it’s thorough,” she added. “Empty the closets. Move everything. Pull the house apart and clean top to bottom. Every surface that ever gets touched gets wiped. Open the windows and start fresh.” House cleaning really does get easier with routine, say the pros.
I
How to get started Steve and Paula Mumm, who operate Merry Maids cleaning service in Granite Bay and Folsom, Calif., have been helping clients conquer dirt for two decades. They start at the front door. Use entry mats — inside and out, Steve Mumm said. “It is amazing how much dirt
they catch.” Use the big sturdy kind like those found in businesses; one on each side of the door. To limit dirt’s access, use only one entry door into your home instead of multiple entries. Before you can polish the countertops, you need to get rid of clutter, said the Mumms. They offer this anti-clutter assault plan: Divide it into three groups: junk, charity and undecided. Toss or recycle the first, give away the second and store the third in a box or bag until you can decide whether it’s really worth keeping. Cleaning is easier with the right tools. Cotton diapers or old T-shirts work well for most jobs. “People used to clean with just a rag for generations,” Nicholson said. Sponges are a must. So are soft-bristle brushes, rubber gloves and a squeegee. Assemble a cleaning carry-all, the Mumms said. Store all your basic cleaning supplies in a cleaner’s apron or bucket, and carry them with you from task to task.
A deep steam cleaning Having the right tools yields professionallooking results. The Mothers’ secret weapon for big jobs: steam. They use the Vapor Boss ES600 residential steam cleaner made by U.S. Steam. This pricey tool (suggested retail $795), which Nicholson found online, has become a huge hit with both clients and cleaners. “People ask us all the time, ‘Where did you get it?’” she said. “They love it. They like to watch us steam.” Steamers have increased in popularity for their ability to deep-clean surfaces. Because the steam can lift embedded dirt, it cleans effectively and sanitizes without the use of harsh chemicals. “Steam takes up stuff that’s trapped in
crevices and deep inside surfaces,” Nicholson said. “And once it’s clean, it stays clean. You can get the kitchen cleaned to a level you can’t without it.” The Mothers — all moms who love to clean and work part time for the co-op — use steam for many jobs. “Windows, tile, counters, almost any hard surface,” Nicholson said. “It opens the pores so you can clean deeper. It does a beautiful job. And you get a free facial, too. Just be careful; you are using heat.”
Have a game plan How do you attack a messy house? Clean top to bottom, said the Mumms. Use the same approach to each room, one at a time, until the house is done. The Mumms offer their room-by-room Merry Maids method: Dust first, vacuum last. Go over the carpet twice, changing direction. Cut down on streaks: Scrub, wipe and polish in straight lines (if wood, with the grain) instead of circles. Clean windows and mirrors like a pro. Squeegee the surface with an initial horizontal stroke across the top, then top-down vertical strokes, wiping the blade after each stroke. The job will get done faster if you give cleaning solutions time to work. Spritz counters, mirrors and surfaces in the bath and kitchen. Let them sit while you scrub the sink, tub and toilet, then go back and wipe them clean. Finally, defy dust from coming back — or at least slow it down, the Mumms said. Change your furnace filter and replace vacuum bags monthly. Don’t miss the vents when you dust and vacuum. With winter’s grime a memory, take time to enjoy the results of your effort. Open the windows and let the spring air in.
Replacing both springs keeps garage door in balance Q: I'm going to replace a broken spring for our garage door. The home-store salesman said I needed to replace both springs even though only one is broken. Is this true? A: A majority of homes use overhead doors for the garage entry. In a few older homes, I have found doors that were swinging, folding or sliding, but the overhead doors, which use a trackand-roller system are the most commonly installed door today. There are usually two springs for the average residential
garage door and, depending on the size and weight of the door, there are two different types of springs to counter the weight of the door. Torsion springs are found on a
door's overhead track. When the door is closed, the tension springs are stretched, storing energy in the metal coils. As the door opens, the springs relax, releasing the stored energy to help lift the door. When replacing tension springs, it is recommended
DWIGHT BARNETT long metal bar above the door, and as the door is closed the springs wind tightly, storing energy in the metal coil. As the door is opened, the springs unwind, releasing enough energy to aid in lifting the heavy door. Lighter-weight and smaller doors use tension springs, which are located on either side of the
that both springs be replaced and matched because the older unbroken spring will have lost some of its tension from years of use. Replacing both springs helps to balance the door so that it opens smoothly with equal force being applied to each side of the door. Once installed, tension springs can be adjusted. Measure the length of each cable, and secure them to the door's track while the door is open and the springs are relaxed.
It is important to install a second cable inside the spring in case the spring would come loose or break. A word of caution for the DIYer: Torsion springs should be
replaced by a skilled installer. Torsion springs have so much stored energy that they can cause serious injury or even death if mishandled. You can find the average weight of your garage door by visiting: http://www.garagedoorpartsllc.com/weight-calculator.html. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at [email protected]. Scripps Howard News Service
