Category: Household Helps

Is Inhaling Vinegar Steam Good For Sinuses?

Is inhaling vinegar steam good for sinuses?  It’s that time of year again. The weather is cooling off, the leaves are turning brown and blowing all over, and sinus pressure in pain has made its appearance the same way it does every year at this time.

And just like clockwork, home remedies pop up all over offering a easy homestyle fix for every runny nose and congested chest all up and down the streets.

Congestion and head colds seem to be  a problem that everyone has a home remedy waiting in the wings to cure and hope you get back on your feet.

Inhaling vinegar steam

One home remedy for clearing up congestion in your face and in your chest is the use of vinegar. More specifically the use of vinegar vapor and steam.

The ideal is to put apple cider vinegar in a pot of boiling water and breathe in the steam. Another way of doing it would be to add it to your humidifier/ vaporizer.

Another technique after you have the steam rolling is to place a towel over your head to trap in the steam so that you get the biggest breath of it you can.

Why does inhaling vinegar steam help clear sinuses?

Inhaling steam is a good way to irrigate the sinuses.

The main ingredient of vinegar is the substance called a acetic acid. Acetic acid is a natural microbial deterrent that can aid in the reduction and reproduction of bacteria in the sinuses.

Apple Cider Vinegar is also full of other nutrients like vitamins B,A, and E, as well as calcium and magnesium that can help reduce inflammation in the sinus cavities.

This is one remedy that does not have the wholehearted agreement of its effectiveness or safety.

There are proponents of it who say that breathing vinegar steam will burn your sinuses because of the acetic acid.

As with any home remedy, the best idea is to try it and if it doesn’t give you any results or worse gives you a bad reaction, then stop.

Though there are people who absolutely swear by the use of apple cider vinegar steaming, if the method is too strong for you, then you may be at a point where you need to see a doctor already.

inhaling white vinegar steamInhaling white vinegar steam

Inhaling white vinegar steam is not the same as inhaling apple cider vinegar steam.
White vinegar is made with grain and basically is fermented alcohol.

That is one of the reasons why it is so effective as a cleaning solution or additive.

It is also good for killing weeds and deterring insects.

And unlike apple cider vinegar, it does not have the enzymes and vitamins that can account for the medicinal properties of apple cider vinegar.

Though distilled vinegar or white vinegar may not be as beneficial as a steam bath to relieve congestion, that’s not to say that it’s all together ineffective.

But when you consider the fact that it is good as a weed killer, I’d probably would rather just go with the apple cider vinegar rather than mess around with something that could be potentially harmful.

But people drink soda all day long and it is well known that you can clean corrosion off your battery post with soda as well as get the ring out of your toilet with it. So you be the judge.

Putting vinegar in a humidifier

Vinegar is one of the most popular natural substances that is known to remove mold and inhibit its production.

That is one of the reasons why it is a popular additive to humidifier water.

As you probably already know, humidifiers have for good reason, the reputation of also being dangerous when not well maintained.

The reason is, the device has all the ingredients: moisture, warmth, and dark corners to be a effective mold production factory made to spit out moisture into the air.

And when that device is not properly taken care of, the moisture it spits into the air can be full of mold and bacteria.

Adding vinegar to the humidifier, is a simple way of keeping a cleaner humidifier.

Though it doesn’t take the place of regular cleaning and replacing the purified or distilled water in the machine, it definitely makes a big difference in the amount of mold production that is able to take place in the machine.

Adding apple cider vinegar to a  vaporizer will not only help inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria in the vaporizer, it also becomes a healthy and safe additive that can help in the elimination of head congestion and clogged sinuses.

Is inhaling vinegar steam good for sinusesRecap

Inhaling vinegar steam, more specifically apple cider vinegar steam is an old country remedy to relieve head and chest congestion.

Many people already keep water boiling in the winter to help alleviate symptoms caused by dry air.

Apple cider vinegar makes a great additive to the boiling water because of the enzymes and nutrients found in it can help with sinus inflammation and clearing.

But not all vinegar is the same. Apple cider vinegar is known for its medicinal properties and vitamins.

Distilled vinegar or white vinegar does not have the same nutrients and could be more acidic as a steam.

The main ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid. Proponents of using vinegar as a steam to clear out the sinuses usually note that acetic acid can be too strong and burn the sinuses.


For this reason, if you’re going to try inhaling vinegar steam to clear out your sinuses, it’s probably better to crawl before you walk and try it out slowly.


And remember A little dab will do you.

 

How to Stay Warm Without Heat or Electricity

Are you prepared for a power outage this winter? You never know when it’s going to snow so hard that you can’t leave your house and are possibly snowed in for several days. And what’s worse, electric lines can easily snap and leave you without electricity during a blizzard.

What do you do if you find yourself in that situation?

How do you stay warm without heat or electricity?

  • Generator
  • Gas heater
  • Battery Operated Heater
  • Fireplace
  • Put on Extra Layers of Clothing
  • Wrap Up in Blankets
  • Close Up any Part of the House You Don’t Need
  • Weather Seal Around Doors and Leaky Windows
  • Warm liquids and Hot soup
  • Open the Curtains and Let the Sunlight In
  • Huddle Up
  • Go to Grandma’s house or a shelter
  • Warm Bath

Hopefully this article is a before the fact type of article that succeeds in urging you to invest in a generator or gas heater of some sort.

1.Generator

When electricity goes out, having a emergency generator on hand is the best possible scenario. A portable generator is not only useful in emergencies, it is a great way to stay warm when you are on a camping trip or hike.

2.Gas heater

Having some sort of gas heater, whether it be propane or kerosene on hand if you are stuck in a situation with no electricity to heat your home is a lifesaver. Consider purchasing a indoor vent free propane heater. You stop a heater comes equipped with a oxygen sensor that will shut the machine off if it detects a lack of oxygen in the room and the risk of asphyxiation.

3.Battery operated heater

Just like you should keep a flashlight loaded with fresh batteries ready for such a Time as this, having a battery operated space heater and package of brand new batteries handy will get you out of a miserably cold situation and sustain you till you can get the power back on.

4.Fireplace

Keeping your fireplace stocked is a simple way of making sure that you have a way of keeping warm at the electricity goes out.

How to Stay Warm Without Electricity5.Thermal underwear

Long johns, thermal underwear, whatever your favorite way of referring to them is, can give you an extra layer of warmth , whether or not you are stuck in a cold house or you’re out on a job where there is no heat or electricity.

6.Put on extra layers of clothes

Lettering up is a great way to keep the warp insulated inside of your clothes. Remember that your feet and your head is where your body heat exits the fastest. Pay special attention to where extra socks and a toboggan to keep your body temperature at a safe place.

7.  Blankets

Stocking up on blankets may seem like a waste of space until you find yourself in a situation where you need those blankets. Bundling up in a warm blanket is a excellent way of building up body heat in order to get and stay warm.

8.Close up the parts of the house you don’t need

If you find yourself with that electricity trying to warm up in your house, close the doors to any part of the house you don’t need. That will not only reduce the amount of area that needs heating, keeping everybody in the same room will combine everyone’s body heat.

9.Weather seal around doors and drafty windows.

Putting towels under the door and window seals will help keep cold air from pushing through the windows and the doors.

9.Drink warm beverages and eat hot soup

If you have a gas stove, a hot bowl of soup or warm tea can have a very warming effect on your body.

10.Open the curtains and let the sun in

During the day when the sun is out, open the shades and let the sun warm the room up. The sun coming through the window will have the extra benefit of the window magnifying it, and helping add some warmth to your home. In the same respect, close the drapes at night so that the cold night Air does not amplify through the Windows.

11. Huddle up.

Two bodies are better than one. If you have someone to huddle up with even if it’s a dog or a cat, the combination of bodies will cause an exponential rise in the amount of body heat you can generate.

12. Go to Grandma’s house or a shelter

Sometimes the best thing to do is just find a different place to get. If your home is too cold for you to safely stay then it might be time to find a shelter that will help you out during the excessive cold.

13. Warm bath

Assuming that you have a gas water heater, taking a hot bath is a great way to warm up quickly. The trick is to get dried off and into some jammies and under the covers before you get cooled off afterwards

What is Bleach and Baking Soda Good For? (and Not!)

What is Bleach and Baking Soda Good For? Bleach is a household cleanser that most people have around the house and baking soda is another item that people keep around the house.

Both of them have dozens of uses individually. But did you know that mixing bleach with baking soda is a safe use of both products to create an even more potent diy household cleaner then either can accomplish alone?

In this article, you will find out a few of the excellent applications for bleach and baking soda and you will also find out what it is not good for.

1. Bleach and baking soda for mold

Bleach is one of the best ways of killing mold in your shower but just spraying bleach on mold is hard to manage in a way that is effective enough to do a good job because it runs off and down the wall nearly as fast as you put it on.

But when you combine baking soda with bleach at a three to one baking soda to bleach ratio, you get a pasty, gritty, substance that can be wiped on the top of mold where it will stay.

Giving the bleach the time it needs to sit and kill the bacteria.

Afterwards the gritty paste is used as a scrubbing agent to help get the discoloration of mold out of the bath or shower.

2.Bleach and baking soda for white clothes

Bleach is pretty much the gold standard for getting stains out of white clothes.

But baking soda also has whitening properties that can get stains out of a white garment rather nicely too.

But out of the two, bleach is the clear winner.

But together, bleach and baking soda can make a very effective stain remover for white clothes because baking soda is a terrific odor remover that will help reduce the smell of bleach when they are mixed together, which is one of the main reasons people steer away from it.

Be sure to follow the instructions on the bleach bottle for proper water to bleach amounts.

3.Homemade grout cleaner

Bleach and baking soda is also a very effective homemade grout cleaner. Bleach is a very strong mold and bacteria disinfectant cleaner but it is not very useful when you’re trying to clean a wall with it because being a liquid it just runs off.

Grout is one of those problems that bleach is a very good remedy for because of its whitening properties. But it needs a thickening agent to keep it on the wall long enough to soak in and eliminate the bacteria and remove the stains.

By making a mixture of 3/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of bleach, you can rub the mixture on the grout and let it sit for as long as you want it to, though as little as 15 minutes is probably all it’s going to take. The baking soda gives it the abrasive quality it needs to be able to scrub the areas that don’t easily come off.

Bleach and baking soda for mold4.Bleach and baking soda for toilet bowls

A easy way to clean the ring out of a toilet bowl is to just pour a half gallon of bleach into the toilet and let it sit.

 But sometimes, even with that level of concentrated bleach actively killing the bacteria in the toilet, you still need an abrasive element to finish getting the ring off of the toilet.

 Baking soda can be added to bleach safely and used as a scouring agent to help get the ring out of the toilet and also help absorb some of the odor from the bleach.

5.Bleach and baking soda for drains

This is a bad one. Somehow bleach has made it to the top of household items that is recommended to pour down a drain when you have a clog. But the truth is, bleach will not do much of anything to clear out a clogged drain.

And after it is realized that it is not going to do anything to help with the clog, people tend to pour a different kind of cleaner down the drain.

The problem is,  bleach has a list of things that it should never be mixed with, and some of those things or other items that people try to clear the drain out with.

The whole point is, pouring bleach down the drain is pretty much just asking for a poisonous combination to happen when someone else comes along and pours something else down the drain.

6.Bleach and baking soda for your pool

Bleach and baking soda can actually be used as a substitute for costly pool chemicals better purchase to kill algae and maintain pH.

Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. If you look on the list of ingredients contained in your alkalinity raising product, you’ll find that it is almost 100% sodium bicarbonate. And baking soda cost me your pennies compared and is something you probably already have in your refrigerator to soak up smells in it.

Unscented bleach at an 8.25% strength is a perfectly good substitute for granular chlorine.

Remember to wear rubber gloves and a mask anytime you’re using bleach.

Ventilation is very important when using bleach so prepare ahead of time to be able to keep the windows open and exhaust fans running.

You also want to be sure to wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting white spots on when using bleach, because it’s almost impossible to clean with bleach without getting at least a little bit of it on your clothes somewhere.

DIY Coil Cleaner

Aluminum Tin Foil on Windows? (11 Answers and Install Guide)

Why do people put aluminum tin foil on Windows?

If Id have to be honest, the first thing I think about when I see a house that has the windows covered in aluminum tin foil is there must be something nefarious going on inside of the house. Drug dealers, crack cocaine, they’re doing something, I know it.

But that hardly makes sense. Why go to the trouble of attracting attention to yourself by blacking out the windows with aluminum foil if you were actually involved in criminal activity.

There are a lot better reasons that actually makes sense to cover your windows and aluminum foil.

Here are a few good reasons people put aluminum foil on Windows.

1. Darkens the room for sleeping

Aluminum foil is completely airtight without any way to see through it at all.

Putting tin foil on the Windows is an effective way to black out your room for sleeping.

There are plenty of professions and jobs that require people to work at night and sleep during the day.

And a lot of people, including myself need a dark room to be able to sleep soundly.

A dark room for developing film also requires complete blackness.

2. Does tin foil reflect Heat?

Easily the most common reason people put tin foil on the window is to reflect the heat coming in from the Sun.

This is not a new ideal.

Aluminum backed Radiant barriers are sold as insulation wrap for your attic to reflect the sunlight pounding the exterior the roof thereby cooling off the Attic and helping lower the energy bill.

Attic and wall insulation can also be purchased with an aluminum foil backing with the same ideal of placing the insulation with the foil side to the inside to reflect the heat.

NASA has long used this technique to to  reflect the Sun from transferring heat into the space shuttle.

Another example is a windshield shade for your car. Many times you we’ll see a shade that has aluminum foil backing on the outside to help reflect the Sun.

Putting foil on the windows follows this logic.

But aluminum foil on its own is not the most reflective of surfaces.

Adding the tin foil to a layer of cardboard before putting it in the window will create a much better  Radiant barrier reflector then tin foil alone.

And it’s an easy DIY recipe to help reflect and block the Sun from heating up your room.

3. Privacy

Most people just shut the blinds when they want privacy but if you need absolute privacy with no chance of anyone peering around the edges of your curtains, aluminum foil on the Windows is an effective way to block anyone from looking into your house.

4. Keeps the glare off the windows

Glare coming off the windows can not only be annoying because it reflects off of the TV or your computer screen making it hard to read or watch TV, it actually makes the sun feel like a magnifying glass peering down on you.

Aluminum tin foil on the windows, whether it be your taste or not, is an effective way of keeping glare from coming through your windows.

Why do people put aluminum tin foil on Windows?5. Reduces the energy bill

Aluminum foil on the windows can keep the sun from coming in and heating the house which causes the AC to kick on. By effectively blacking out the windows with aluminum foil, you could save on your energy bill because of the lesser need of the AC.

Is it safe to put aluminum foil on Windows?

It is absolutely safe to put aluminum foil on the windows, after all we are talking about a product that is made to put on your food and cooked in the oven.
There is no chance of toxins or radiation being released from the foil in the windows.
Tin foil is made to withstand extra high temperatures while keeping your food from burning.

Is Aluminum foil on windows illegal?

There are no laws against blocking out your windows so that people cannot look inside of your house. After all many people live in apartments where there is no possibility of being able to look into your home anyway

Can aluminum foil catch on fire?

Aluminum foil does not catch fire. It is one of the most durable ways to heat food up on a campfire without ever having to worry that it will incinerate.

Tin foil on Windows shiny side in or out?

When you put aluminum foil in the windows, the shiny side of the foil should be pointed towards the outside of the house. It is the most reflective side of the foil and has the best chance of reflecting sunlight.

 

Does aluminum foil reflect UV light?

Ultraviolet light is another term for sun light.
The shiny side of the aluminum foil is often used as a UV reflector on different products.

Does aluminum foil reflect radiant heat?

Perforated aluminum foil insulation is a popular product that is used to reflect radiant heat coming in to your attic. It is used in many products and applications to reflect radiant heat whether it be your home, for your vehicle.

Aluminum foil on Windows in winter

Does aluminum foil reflect the cold?

Aluminum foil does not keep things from getting cold. Tin foil is often used to wrap and store food in the freezer. If it reflected the cold, the food would not be able to freeze.

Likewise, putting foil on the windows to reflect the cold in the winter will not do anything to keep the cold from transferring through the window.

Aluminum foil on the windows in winter is still useful for other reasons.

The blacking out your windows is not just about keeping the heat out, it’s about blocking the sunlight from coming in when you need your room completely black for sleeping for developing film, etc.

It will also keep the glare from coming in from the windows as well as give you absolute privacy from people staring into your house.

Of course putting foil on the Windows is not everybody’s cup of tea, there can be no denying that there is actually some good benefits to doing so.

Does tin foil reflect HeatAlternative to tin foil on Windows 

Still not convinced.

Aluminum tin foil on the Windows is not the only game in town.

There are alternatives to putting tin foil on the windows.
1.  Blackout curtains

Blackout curtains are what they sound like. They are curtains that are made to block out any light coming in through the window. Plus they do have the added benefit of creating a thermal barrier. See More Here

2. Blackout shades

Blackout shades have a similar effect as blackout curtains and many people prefer shades over curtains.
 They often have the added benefit of being able to control their movement with a remote control. See Here

And if you are hooked up to Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control their movement by simply telling them to lower or rise.

3.  Window film

Window film is usually the go-to product when you’re trying to lessen the amount of sunlight coming in to your windows. Whether you’re talking about a vehicle, your home windows or a 100 floor skyscraper, adding UV and heat rejection film is typically the first product that is used. View Here

4.  Awnings

Awnings and eaves are a traditional way of keeping the Sun from pounding into your home through your windows. If you don’t need a complete blackout solution, awnings can add a dash of Elegance to the exterior of your home also. More Here

5.  Heat resistant film

Some people do not want to black out their windows in any way but still want to reduce the amount of heat being transferred into the room by the sunlight on their windows. See here

Heat resistant film is a thick plastic product that can be purchased and cut to cover your windows. This product is a insulator that you can see through. Is it as effective as blocking out the Sun? probably not. But it will reduce the amount of heat, though however marginally.

tin-foil-on-windows

How to put aluminum foil on Windows.

Things you will need:

  • Double sided Scotch tape
  • Aluminum foil
  • Razor blade or a sharp razor knife
  • Cardboard
  • Spray adhesive

1.  Apply some double-sided Scotch tape to the outside perimeter of the window pane. The closer you can get it to the frame, the easier time you will have cutting the aluminum foil.

2.  Tear you off a piece of tin foil big enough to cover the entire glass. Leave the tin foil big enough that there’s an overhang to cut off

3. Stick to tin foil to the window using the double-sided to keep it up while you take a sponge or a washcloth and gently press it flat and into every crease and corner, be careful not to tear the foil.

4. Take a sharp razor blade and carefully and slowly cut the tin foil around the crease of where the window meets the window frame.

How to make an install a radiant barrier using cardboard and aluminum foil.

1. Measure the window pane exactly.

2. Using a straight edge and a framing square, cut the cardboard to the exact size of the window.

3. Put the cardboard in the window and test it out to make sure you got a good fit.

4. Take a big enough piece of aluminum foil to cover the whole piece of cardboard and leave enough overhang to be able to cut off.

5. Spray the cardboard and the dull side of the aluminum foil with spray can adhesive.

6. Once tacky, put the tin foil onto the cardboard and press it down gently with a sponge or towel till it is completely flat on the cardboard.

7. Place the cardboard with the aluminum foil face down onto a surface that you can cut into. If you used a cardboard box for the cardboard, the leftover cardboard from the box is an excellent area to cut on.

8. Take your razor blade or sharp razor knife and cut around the cardboard through the aluminum foil. Be sure to go slow and be gentle as to not tear the foil.

7. Put some strips of double-sided clear tape on the window pane.

8. Press the aluminum foil backed cardboard into the window pane with the aluminum foil  facing inside.

This also works well as a temporary way to black out your windows.

How Long Does it Take Spray Paint to Dry?

How long does it take spray paint to dry?

With a standard temperature of 65 to 85°, spray paint will be dry enough to add another coat after 5 minutes.  To be completely dry, anywhere from an hour to 24 hours.

Of course, there are variables.

1.  Thickness
2.  Climate
3.  Type of surface.

1. Thickness
The thickness you apply spray paint has a great deal with how long it’s going to take to dry. Generally it is better to put on one light coat at a time. A light coat will take much less time to dry and help you avoid drips.

(quick tip: if spray paint is dripping onto your fingers, you probably have your finger too far up on the nozzle. Try backing up a little bit.)

2. Climate.

Spray paint doesn’t fair too well and humid conditions, especially if it’s raining. Finding a dry area to paint in will help you speed up the process. If you’re stuck painting somewhere moist, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun on a low setting. Make sure you go back and forth across your area and don’t apply any heat to one area too long.

3. Type of surface.

A smooth surface is what you’re after for quit drying. If you’re trying to paint something that has a lot of pores or divots, you can expect a wait a little longer for it to dry.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on metal?

For your metal spray paint project, allow 36 to 48 hours to dry before using.
On metal, the best spray paint is going to be a rust proof enamel. Which also means it’s going to take longer to dry.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on wood?

10 to 15 minutes. Wood is much more porous and has a tendency to absorb. Which can make the drying time a little faster.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on plastic?

Spray paint on plastic takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to dry.

If you are in a cool or humid area, it is not advised to use a heat gun to speed up the process. A heat gun could end up melting the plastic.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on cardboard?

24 hours before you add a second coat.
Cardboard takes a little more love to spray paint and requires a lot of patience to get right. Be sure to start our off with light coats or you will get the paper wet and be prepared to set it aside and do something else before you add another coat.

How long does it takes spray paint to dry on fabric?

Allow 72 hours to dry before you wear or use.
For fabric, you should make very light passes and let it dry in between passes to build up to a solid color.
Also, the quality of spray paint you use will make a big difference.
There are fabric spray paints available that will make your job much more successful than a cheap can of spray paint.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on metalHow long does it take spray paint to dry on glass?

24 hours to completely dry and 15 minutes between adding coats.
Glass as you can imagine, needs very light coats to avoid streaking and drips.

(quick tip) Shake the spray paint a full two minutes before using to avoid drips.
It’s on the directions of every can of spray paint but it is very seldom that you see somebody follow those directions. And it is amazing how much difference it makes when you do shake the can properly.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on paper?

24 hours. It is very easy to get too much spray paint on a piece of paper. In order to make it work, it takes very light passes that are allowed to dry completely before spraying again.

How long does it takes spray paint to dry on rubber?

24 hours. 30 minutes between second coat passes.

Rubber is a very porous surface. For that reason it takes more time to dry and more patience to get right.
If you don’t use a quality paint and give it the diligence it requires, you can expect it to come off pretty easy.

Conversely you can also purchase rubber spray paints that spray a layer of rubber as the paint.  These are products like Flex seal the most often the weather sealing products rather than paint.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on canvas?

It’s important to use a primer on canvas.

Primer will take about 1 hour to dry.
Spray paint will dry on canvas using light coats enough for a second coat within 5 minutes.
It will take 1 to 2 hours to be fully dry.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on concrete?

It takes masonry spray paint 24 hours to dry.
Concrete absorb spray paint very easily and takes a few coats to get nice and dark.
You probably noticed how fast it takes spray paint to dry on your concrete when you’re trying to avoid spraying it.
If you’re doing a serious concrete painting job, there are better ways to paint concrete than spray paint.
You’ll want to start off with an epoxy seal and then by the correct paint that is made for external conditions.

How long does it take spray paint to dry on woodHow to make spray paint dry faster?

Spray paint needs a dry environment to get the best results out of it.

If you’re on a humid area and don’t have access to a dry area, there are a few things you can do to lower the humidity.

1. Space heater
2. Fans
3. Dehumidifier
4. Air conditioner
5. Charcoal briquettes
6. Hair dryers and heat guns

1. Running a space heater is an easy way to dry up a room but if the weather is humid, more heat may not be comfortable solution.

2. Placing fans, osculating around the room we’ll also help dry out the air.

3.  Dehumidifiers are made to pull the moisture out of the air but they also expel heat out of the back as they’re working. So they may not be a great solution for summer unless you were thinking ahead and run the dehumidifier before you do your spray painting.

4. Air conditioning uses the same function as a dehumidifier to dry up the room. A great solution if it’s summer…

5. Charcoal briquettes or a great DIY solution to pulling moisture out of your art room. Putting charcoal briquettes in a few cans or containers around a room can help pull moisture out of the air and look very Arty if someone comes in and notices them.

6.  Running a hair dryer or heat gun over the surface will help the paint dry faster. Make sure they are on low because they will push the paint and add ripples if you are not careful.
a heat gun is not recommended for certain surfaces like plastic and canvas because it will melt them very easily if you are not careful.

 
 

Homemade Floor Cleaner – My 6 Favorite Recipes

Keeping the floors clean is a necessary evil that none of us necessarily want to have to deal with.

And when it comes to the commercial floor cleaners available, there are other “evils” in the form of dangerous chemicals that are less than environmentally friendly, not to mention unfriendly to you and your families health.

Especially if you or someone in your family is already as a pre-existing allergy or sufferers from asthma.

There is also the issue of toxic residues that can be left behind on your floors after using commercial cleaners. Residues that you do not necessarily want your babies getting on their hands which will inevitably get into their mouth.

The good news is you probably already have everything you need in the house to make your own homemade floor cleaner. Not only make your own, but make a better version then you can get from The big box store.

Here is a list of 6 of my favorite homemade floor cleaning recipes.

1.”All Purpose” homemade floor cleaner

The first homemade floor cleaner is super awesome for cleaning linoleum. It is also great for cleaning vinyl flooring, laminates, tile, and hardwoods.

Ingredients:

  • Two cups of warm water
  • Half a cup of white vinegar
  • A quarter cup of rubbing alcohol
  • Three drops of non antibacterial dish soap. Don’t use Castile soap. Castile soap is oil-based and will leave your floor full of streaks.
    And 5 to 10 drops of essential oil. (Peppermint is my favorite)

Simply mix it all together and pour it into a spray bottle. Or you can also just put it in your mop bucket, but I prefer a spray bottle because when I’m done I can just put the rest under the sink instead of dumping it out.

To use it simply, spray it on the floor or directly on your mop.

2. Homemade wood floor cleaner

This recipe has two versions one with vinegar and one without vinegar.

Homemade hardwood floor cleaner without vinegar

This recipe doubles as a floor polish that will leave your hardwood floors with a gorgeous all natural luster.

Ingredients:

  • A gallon of hot water
  • 3/4 of a cup of olive oil
  • Half a cup of lemon juice

Mix all the ingredients into a bucket.
And with a wrong out mop, apply the solution to your floor. Allow your floor to completely dry.

And you’re finished. There’s no need to rinse it, the water and lemon does the cleaning, and the olive oil leaves polished Sheen.

All Purpose" homemade floor cleaner3. How to clean hardwood floors with vinegar

A lot of people don’t want to use vinegar in their homemade floor recipes because of the acidity. But when you mix it with water it becomes a great additive to help cut through dirt and grime. Also Vinegar, like it does as a windshield cleaner, will leave a streak free appearance to your floor.

Ingredients:

  • Half a cup of white vinegar
  • A gallon of warm water
  • Three drops of essential oil (if you’re trying to emulate a household cleaner like pledge, try lemon essential oil to get a similar aroma effect)

That’s the full mop bucket recipe. If you want to put it in a spray bottle or use a refillable mop, reduce the water down to 16 oz and the vinegar down to about 3 tsp.

No need to rinse as the vinegar will give it a natural shine.

4. Homemade disinfectant floor cleaner

This recipe is not only a great bathroom floor cleaner, it also works great as a all-purpose bathroom cleaner they will not only clean your tiles and shower, will disinfect your bathroom is well.

Ingredients:

  • A gallon of hot water
  • 1/4 cup of Borax

( if you never heard of Borax, it has an amazing amount of household uses besides homemade floor cleaner. You usually find it with the clothes detergent in the supermarket)

Fix the ingredients together and mop and shine your floor. In my opinion this is one of the best recipes for cleaning a marble floor.

5. Homemade laminate floor cleaner

Though laminate is one of the easiest types of floor to take care of, if you use the wrong cleaner to do the job, you can mess up the finish.

Ingredients:

  • 5 oz of white vinegar
  • 5 oz of rubbing alcohol
  • 5 oz of distilled water
  • Three to five drops of essential oil

    ( lemon makes a great household scent, but you can also get a great spice smell from mixing lemon with orange and peppermint!)

Using this mixture and a spray bottle is a great way to be able to store it later.

6. Homemade vinegar floor cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp of white vinegar
  • 1 and 2/3 cups of baking soda
  • Half a cup of dish washing soap (liquid)
  • Half a cup of warm water

Mix the ingredients together. It’s a little more to mix than some of the other recipes because of the addition of dish soap and baking soda but it’s well worth it.

This homemade vinegar cleaner is not just for floors. It is equally effective at cleaning the toilet, the shower, and your mucky countertops.
It’s also a great stain remover for carpet.

Remember to rinse the floor well after using this DIY vinegar floor cleaner.

Homemade hardwood floor cleaner without vinegar 7. Strong homemade floor cleaner

If you find that all natural ingredients in your floor cleaner are not quite living up to your expectations, there is a version, that may be right down your alley.

Ingredients:

  • Water
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Vinegar
  • A few drops of dish soap

This recipe mixes equal parts of the vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol.

As you can imagine it can be quite strong to the nostrils.
You can also be very aggressive with certain surfaces.
The best ideal is to test it out on a small area before diving in.
You would not want to take the color out of something or take the finish off either.

Homemade floor cleaning is easy and convenient. And it gives you the Peace of mind of knowing that you don’t have harsh chemicals in your home they can make your family sick.

How to Reset Honeywell Thermostat – Touchscreen and Program

How to Reset Honeywell Thermostat 

 

Most of us know the irritation of coming home to an extra hot or cold house only to find out that somebody has messed with the thermostat again.

Honeywell programmable touch screen thermostats ensure you are never “surprised” by the thermostat being changed again.

They also give you the advantage of being able to schedule when your heat and air comes on or stays off.

A great advantage for saving energy while you are at work or on vacation.

If you ever need a factory reset,
Resetting your Honeywell touch screen is a simple process.

But be warned “Factory reset” completely wiped all your previous setting including your WiFi password.

Honeywell Touchscreen Thermostat Reset Instructions

Menu- Preferences -Restore Defaults

Step 1. Press Menu -Located in the right hand top corner. Then use the up and down arrows to scroll down to “preferences”

Step 2. Press “Preferences”. Use the up and down arrows to scroll down to “Restore Factory Defaults”

Step 3. Press ” Restore Factory Defaults”
This will more than likely bring up a dialog box that ask you to confirm that you want to return all your settings to factory default.

Step 4. Press Yes.
You should see a message across the screen saying “Restoring factory default settings”
After about 10 seconds, the screen will go dark and the Honeywell logo will appear.

Step 5. As the thermostat resets a “please wait” message will appear on the screen.

Step 6. When you see a message asking you for your Wi-Fi details, your Honeywell touch screen thermostat has reset to factory and is ready to be freshly programmed.

Honeywell Touchscreen Thermostat Reset InstructionsHoneywell Programmable Thermostat Reset (non-touchscreen)

Step 1. Turn the thermostat off

Step 2. Look at your breaker box and flip the breaker that controls the thermostat to the off position.

Step 3. Remove the batteries

If you have the type of thermostat that has to be removed from the wall first to get the batteries out, remove the thermostat first

The easiest way to get it off the wall is to remove the batteries and hold the back plate against the wall through the battery compartment while you pull the front cover off with the other hand.

Step 4. Reinsert the batteries backwards so that the positive terminal on the battery is lined up with the negative terminal on the thermostat. Leave the batteries in for a few seconds, up to 7.

Step 5
Take the batteries back out and put them in the right way this time.
The display should come back on at this point.

The Honeywell thermostat is now freshly reset to factory.

How to Lower Humidity in a House?

What humidity level is uncomfortable?

As the old saying goes ” it’s not the heat, it’s the Humidity”

Most people have a hard time dealing with high humidity. The temperature can be somewhat mild but then humidity outside can make it feel extra hot. Andt at a certain time of the year, namely the late summer heading into fall, there are days when you can turn the air conditioner on and not even feel it because of the humidity in the air.

According to shorstmeyer.com, the humidity that most people start to feel uncomfortable is about 65% with the temperature at 90° outside.

Is 65 humidity high?

65% humidity is about the top of the scale before it becomes too miserable for most people. At 65%, according to the heat index, the temperature at 88 degrees feels more like 98°.

Is 70 percent humidity high?

70% humidity can make a 96° day feel like 126° outside. And at 70% humidity, dust mites and mold begin to be a real problem. For persons allergic to dust mites and mold spores 70% humidity can be more than hot, it can be a nightmare.

What causes high humidity in a house?

High humidity can begin in the house with the simplest everyday activities that you wouldn’t give too much of a thought to otherwise.

High humidity in the house can start from activities like:

1. Cooking – boiling water
2. Bathing – showering
3. Drying your clothes
4. Washing the dishes
5. Dirty AC filters
6. Setting the thermostat to “on” rather than Auto
7. Location-climate

Other reasons can include actual structure problems like:

1. Poor ventilation
2. Improper insulation
3. Weather stripping need replaced

How to lower humidity in house

1. Dehumidifier
2. Air Conditioning
3. Ventilation and exhaust fans
4. Heater
5. Dehumidifying plants
6. Fans
7. Shorter & Cooler showers
8. Change thermostat to “auto”
9. Crack the window
10. Charcoal dehumidifier
11. Rock Salt dehumidifier
12. Rice dehumidifier
13. Cat litter

1. Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers are mobile devices that work almost entirely the same way that a air conditioner does to remove humidity except that it expels heat into the room rather than cool air.

Dehumidifiers are great for areas like a damp basement or an areas where there has been leaking pipes and or water damage.

Dehumidifiers reduce the moisture by pulling air over refrigerated coils that cause the moisture in the air to condense.

The moisture is then captured into a tank or ran outside with a garden hose.

What humidity level is uncomfortable2. Air conditioning

Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are essentially the same machine only the air conditioners are used to cool the air and dehumidify the air as a byproduct.

Air conditioning is one of the easiest and most effective ways of reducing the humidity inside of the home provided it’s a refrigerated unit that condenses the humidity into the air and moves it outside.
Other types of air conditioners called “swamp coolers” or “evaporative air coolers” will increase the humidity because they are basically fans blowing over water.

3. Ventilation and exhaust

The main rooms in the house that have exhaust fans are the rooms the create the most humidity. The bathroom and the kitchen.
Showers and baths will steam up the house quicker than anything. It’s important to keep the exhaust fan running while you are taking a shower or bath to reduce humidity damage to your structure as well as mildew and mold production.

The kitchen is also a room that creates a lot of humidity from cooking and boiling water. It’s important to keep a lid on your pots and have the exhaust fan running to reduce the humidity produced by simply cooking.

4. Heater

Though most of the time people notice the level of humidity in the air is during the summer, winter also has its fair share of humidity buildup inside of the home.

You probably noticed water droplets and condensation building up on the Windows during the winter.

One of the easiest things to do during the winter to reduce the humidity is simply running the heater. Hot dry air coming from the heater will naturally dry out the moisture in the air.

5. Dehumidifying plants

Plants are natural dehumidifiers. And some prefer more humidity than others.
Some house plants that you can put in your home to help reduce the humidity in the house are:
a. English ivy
b. Boston fern
c. Peace lily
d. Reed palm

6. Fans

Using fans positioned around the house is also a natural way to reduce the humidity. Having fans operating is a simple way to dry the air out.

7. Shorter and cooler showers

A simple way to keep your bathroom from becoming a steamy Haze is to turn the temperature down on the water and not run it as long.
Another word if you don’t like the steamy feeling in the room don’t produce the steam in the first place.

8. Change AC thermostat to auto

There are many proponents for keeping your air conditioning thermostat on the on position because helps keep the air more evenly cooled when the AC cycles off.
But the other side of that argument is that the condensation never gets a chance to drip out before it evaporates and gets blown back into the house as humidity.
Keeping your thermostat on “auto” will help the dehumidifying function of the AC work much better and save you money in the long run.

9. Crack the windows

Sometimes the easiest way to reduce the humidity inside is to crack the window and open the door.
Of course if the humidity outside is 90%, this is not going to work.
But if the inside of the house feels extra muggy, opening the windows and letting the air exchange will help freshen up the room and keep the humidity down.

The next four suggestions falls under the “home remedies for absorbing moisture” heading. These are products that you probably have around the house already that you may not have known were excellent for absorbing moisture and reducing the humidity in the air.

10. Charcoal dehumidifier

Charcoal is a natural dehumidifier that can be a super easy DIY project.
According to Readers digest, charcoal briquettes can be placed in a coffee can with hose punched into the lid and placed in humid areas to absorb moisture.

Placing charcoal briquettes in bookshelves that have glass doors is a librarians trick for keeping musty odors and mowed from getting inside of old books

11. Rock salt dehumidifier

If you have ever owned a pink Himalayan salt lamp, you have noticed that it appears to leak water.
But in actuality it is not leaking water but pulling moisture out of the air onto itself and dripping off.
The same concept can be used with rock salt.
The rock salt humidifier can be easily built by taking an everyday planting pot and filling it with rock salt. The planter works good because as the salt draws moisture to itself and leaks it has a place to leak into instead of the floor.

12. Rice dehumidifier

You’ve probably heard that if you drop your phone into the toilet you can throw it in some rice afterwards. I’m not sure I’ve ever known anyone that that is work for. But rice can definitely soak up moisture from the air over a period of time.
After all, you can put a cup of rice in a pan and fill it with water and the rice will practically absorb every bit of the water.
This is the same concept as placing small containers of rice around a room to help with humidity.

13. Cat litter dehumidifier

Kitty litter is excellent at absorbing moisture. Not only can it be used for your cats, it will also draw a moisture from the air.
An easy DIY cat litter dehumidifier is to fill a tube sock with kitty litter and hang it in the closet or wherever you’re having an issue with moisture.

One application is to hang it from the rear view mirror in your car, which can help keep your windshield from condensation building up on the inside.

Cat litter dehumidifierRecap

Humidity is the difference the temperature being mild outside and insufferably hot.
At 65 and 70% humidity, the temperature can feel 20° hotter.
And when the humidity is at those levels, household allergens like dust mites rise in population considerably.

But when you have high humidity in your house, there are many things you can do to reduce the humidity including some easy do-it-yourself dehumidifiers that can be made with products you already have around the house.

Does Lysol Kill Mold Spores?

Does Lysol Kill Mold Spores? Mold is a variety of fungus that can decompose all sorts of carbon-based compounds. Anywhere there is low light and humidity, you’re bound to find mold growing somewhere in the vicinity.

And where you have mold, you also have mold spores floating around and looking for the next available food source.

Mold is everywhere and that’s not an exaggeration. But it only becomes a problem when it takes root in your home somewhere.

If you don’t catch it early, it can decompose your walls, floors, ceilings, etc. Anywhere in your home that predisposed to moisture.

Does Lysol kills mold?

Lysol is a brand of aerosol disinfectant that is extremely effective for killing mold and mold spores.  And since it is one of the most widely used household cleaners, you may even have a can of it under your sink right now.

Why is Lysol so good at killing mold?

Bleach. That’s right, the secret ingredient is bleach. The cat is out of the bag.

To use Lysol to kill mold spores in your home, you should follow a few simple procedures to make sure that it is done right.

Step 1. Scrub the mold infected area with warm water and detergent using a heavy brush.

Step 2. Spray the Lysol directly upon the  molded area till it is thoroughly soaked.

Step 3. Let it sit for 2 minutes. If you have a particularly severe case, leave the Lysol soaked into the area for at least 10 minutes.

Step 4. Scrub the area again to to break the mold loose from the surface.

Step 5. Wipe the area down with a clean washcloth.

Step 6. Thoroughly rinse the area with clean water.

Lysol Safety

Remember we are talking about cleaning mold and mold spores with Lysol, which contains bleach.

Not only can you get an adverse reaction to mold spores, you can also get a bad reaction to bleach if you are not careful.

To make sure that you do not come in contact with the mold and the bleach, goggles and rubber gloves should be employed.

Ventilation is also important. If possible, open the window. If you don’t have a exhaust or window to open, it’s a good idea to use a respirator so that you do not inhale mold spores or bleach fumes.

Step 7. Let it completely air dry.
Making sure it dries well is important so that mold isn’t invited to start growing there again.

Bleach vs vinegar for mold

If you don’t have Lysol which contains bleach in the house, there is a good chance you do have vinegar.

Vinegar is actually one of the best things to use to clean up mold. It is not only safer than using bleach, it is more effective at deeply penetrating the mold infected area.

The steps for using vinegar are very similar for using Lysol to clean mold.

Soak the area thoroughly with a vinegar and water mixture, then let it sit.
Then take a stiff brush and scrub the area.
Rinse it thoroughly with water and make sure it dries completely.

Does Lysol Kill Mold Mold prevention

Mold takes root anywhere there is dirt, moisture, and low light.

The key to preventing mold is to prevent moisture from building in the first place.

Things like leaky pipes, or drips should be taken care of immediately.

Bathroom should be outfitted with exhaust fans to pull the moisture out of the room.

Kitchen exhaust should also be employed to pull excess humidity out of the room when there is cooking going on.

And if you live in an area that has general heavier humidity, you may consider purchasing a dehumidifier.

 
 

Braeburn Thermostat Programming Instructions

Braeburn systems is a company based in Montgomery Illinois. Their product line includes thermostats, humidistats, and zone dampers.
They have a full line of thermostats that include programmable, non-programmable, and smart Wi-Fi, including wireless and touch screen.

Braeburn programmable thermostats allow you to schedule when your heat and air are running. A feature that will save you money by turning your air off while you’re out of the house or sleeping.

Braeburn Thermostat  Instructions

Set Up

1. Date/time

Locate the dates last time button on the keypad. Using the up and down arrows, change the hour, then the minutes, then the day of the week. Save each selection by tapping the day/time button afterwards.

2. Set the Fan

Scroll through the fan settings by pushing the “Fan” button repeatedly till you find the setting you want.

“Auto” runs the fan only when the unit is running.
The ” On” setting keeps the fan on continuously.
The ” Circ” setting runs the fan for 24 minutes and off for 24 minutes continually.
“Prog” is the setting that you program the thermostat to run the fan on.

Confused about which one to pick?
See this resource.

3. Set the differential

This is the setting that allows you to choose how much the temperature in the room changes before the air conditioner or heater comes back on.

To set it, hold the return button for 4 seconds. Pick what you want your differential to be by scrolling up or down. Some models have two and three different stage differentials that can be set using the same procedure as well.

Programming your thermostat

1. Enter the programming mode by pressing the” Prog” button.

2. Choose “Heat” or “Cool”.
Some models have a switch that you simply move into position, others require you to make your choice by pushing the “system” on the touch screen.

3. Day/time

On this step you can either choose to program one day at a time or a full week. Simply press the day/time button to choose one or the other.

4. Hours/ minutes

This is the hours and minutes of the day that you want the heat and air to run.
Hit the up and down arrows to scroll up or down to find your desired times.

5. Unoccupied

The “Unocc” mode is the program your thermostat for when the house will be unoccupied. To find this mode, simply press the “Prog” button.

6. Unoccupied mode is programmed the same way as the other settings. Use the up and down arrows till you find your desired days and times.

7. When you’re finished, press return to complete.

Congratulations you have finished programming your Braeburn thermostat!
braeburn thermostat programming instructions