Category: Post Notes

Pillar To Post Newsletter July 2012

Posted on July 9, 2012 by - Post Notes

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We all have pessimism ingrained into our persona; and if we let it rule our lives, our accomplishments may be more limited. Not everything in life is great or rosy or always upbeat, but always try and keep your inner belief stoutly positive.

Pessimism, from the Latin word pessimus (worst), denotes a belief that the experienced world is the worst possible.
It describes a general belief that things are bad and tend to become worse.

Pessimism - reacting to setbacks from a presumption of personal helplessness:

• Bad events will last a long time
• Always my fault
• Will undermine everything I do

Optimism is the belief in the goodness and betterment of things. It exemplifies a life view where one looks upon the world as a positive place. Optimists generally believe that people and events are inherently good. They have a so-called “positive” outlook on life, believing that things will work out in the end.

Optimism - reacting to setbacks from a presumption of personal power.

• Bad events are temporary setbacks
• Isolated to particular circumstances
• Can be overcome by my effort and abilities

Optimism is not magic. But, the event-explanations of optimism can be practiced and learned, even by those who have not consistently used them previously.
Optimism has positive benefits:

• Inoculates against depression
• Improves health
• Combines with talent and desire to enable achievement

How do you maintain the optimistic point of view or change from the pessimist you are.
Here are some tips:

1. Build self-confidence.
2. Maintain strong family values.
3. Smile often.
4. Laugh when you can and laugh often.
5. Set short-term, achievable goals as well as long-term goals.
6. Reward yourself for your achievement.
7. Become physically active.
8. Get a pet - a dog or cat or try a turtle or bird.
9. Have the will to try new things.

A favorite quote on optimism comes from Helen Keller, “No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway to the human spirit.”

You can become more optimistic and reach for the stars. Give it a try.

 

Whether you are renovating or looking to make your home more energy efficient.The toughest decision is determining what type of window to install that is within your budget. So it’s important to educate yourself with options.

One of the key factors that influences price when it comes to windows is what they are made of.

VINYL WINDOWS are the least expensive window on the market. They are most popular for budget-conscious retrofits. While some companies are starting to introduce new colors, color options are generally limited to white, almond or brown. Keep this in mind when considering your interior finishes.

ALUMINIUM WINDOWS should not to be confused with aluminum-clad windows, are low-maintenance, strong and won’t rust. But because aluminum is a good thermal conductor, you will lose heat through the frame. So this is not the best option for cold climates.

WOODEN-CLAD WINDOWS are the most versatile when it comes to size and design - they can receive any finish you want on the interior. Naturally, they are generally expensive. A word of caution: When buying wooden clad-windows do your research and choose a reputable manufacturer. A poorly made clad-window will allow moisture to contact the wood, which causes rot.

Do your research, make the decision that’s right for you and your home, and look forward to enjoying the view.

 

Can’t get away for the weekend? Bring summer indoors with tricks that will turn your home into a breezy, seaside cottage in minutes.

• Summer-ize your decor with toss pillows in shades of turquoise and seafoam green, glass bowls filled with seashells and woven seagrass floor mats (that shake away the extra dirt that gets tracked in during summer).

• Breathe in the salty air with sea-scented candles, sachets and room sprays - It will transport you to the shore.

• Watch the surf crash by hanging up inexpensive prints of beach scenes. Or, make enlarged copies of beach scenes from a travel book and place them in frames.

• Lighten up with whisper-light sheers that gently billow in the breeze. If privacy is not a concern, leave windows bare and let the sun stream in.

TIP! Bring an outdoor table, sofa or chair inside for a fresh, cottage-y feel.

 

Eggs, a serious staple for any kitchen come in great packages that can be put to other uses once the cooking is done. Here are a few of them:

START SEEDLINGS. Save up the cartons for the spring and get a headstart on planting a vegetable patch. Place potting soil in sections of a cardboard egg carton until three-quarters full, then add seeds. Put in a sunny spot and water the soil until damp. When seeds sprout, cut out each cup and plant outside - the carton will break down in the ground over time.

FREE PACKING MATERIAL. Foam egg cartons are perfect for protecting fragile objects for shipping or storage. Just pull the carton apart and use as an eco-friendly alternative to packing peanuts.

SORT GOLF BALLS. Keep your golf balls contained and out of sight. Simply nestle each ball in its own compartment and then shut the lid to keep them corralled.

MAKE ICE. Don’t run out of ice at your next party. Wash foam egg cartons, then fill the bottom halves with water and stack them in your freezer for an extra stash of ice.

 

A staple of the North American backyard, pressure treated wood chemically inhibits, fungus and rot. In 2004 CCA (chromated copper arsenate) was discontinued for use in pressure treated wood because it was toxic to the environment and people.

HEALTH RISK
Government bodies agree that there is no significant health risk from existing CCA pressure treated wood. They believe that there is not a reason to remove or replace CCA treated structures including decks and playground equipment.

PRUDENT AVOIDANCE
This means minimizing exposure which would come from getting arsenic into the mouth, not from only touching CCA treated wood. Children are most at risk since they often put their hands into their mouths. Parents should manage the risk by making sure children always wash hands thoroughly after contact with CCA pressure treated wood. This is especially important with respect to food. Wash hands before eating, make sure no food comes in contact with pressure treated wood, use a table cloth on tables made with CCA treated wood.

NEW PRESSURE TREATED WOOD
New pressure treated wood does not contain arsenic or chromium. The two main preservatives are alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole (CA). These new preservatives have very low toxicity. To make the preservatives effective, the amount of copper used is much higher, four or five times as much. To the consumer, this means higher prices.

STAINS AND COATINGS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tested the effect of coating existing CCA treated wood to reducing exposure to arsenic. The results were that application of a penetrating sealant can reduce the exposure to one tenth but the protection is short lived. The penetrating sealant should be re-applied every year or two. Oil based, semi transparent stains that soak into the wood are the most effective. Surface coatings such as paint or varnish were not considered to be as effective.

CORROSIVE
New pressure treated wood is 5X more corrosive to steel than CCA. Stainless steel fasteners and copper flashing must be used. Galvanized steel fasteners can be used but must be of a higher grade, designed for the application. If the wrong fasteners are used they will corrode very quickly and could lead to failure of the structure.

Feel guilty about surfing the Web, watching TV or playing games? Scientists say that these everyday habits are strengthening your brain power. Here are other brain boosting activities:

Chewing gum fires up focus. Pop a piece of gum before a big test or work presentation. It increases blood flow to the brain, improving brain cell communication

Playing Angry Birds helps you multitask. People who play this and other fun games 15 minutes a day are building new neural brain pathways to increase memory and focus.

Texting improves mental sharpness. Your Hand-eye coordination improves by 25%. Since most of us respond right-away to texts, just by texting our brain is trained to think faster in all situations.

 

Here are some smart ways to keep your electronics in good repair by keeping them clean and ready for efficient use.

Dust your speakers. If your stereo sound isn’t as crisp as you would like, dust is likely the problem.Remove dust by rolling a lint brush over the front of the speakers.

Fix your DVD player. Dust is the biggest culprit that slows down gadgets. Check the back of equipment for dust buildup in the vents. Cover your vacuum’s nozzle attachment with pantyhose and safely suck dust away.

Disinfect your gaming controllers. Germs build up fast on handheld controllers. Use a disinfecting wipe to surface clean and a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove dirt from the crevices around buttons.

Organize wires. Use the plastic tags from bread bags to mark which wires belong to what electronic. Write “TV” or “DVD” on the clip and attach to the cord.

 

Since the new preservatives are so expensive, wood is pressure treated only to the extent required for the particular application. For example, deck boards do not need as much preservative as wood that will be in contact with the ground.
The three levels of treatment commonly used for pressure treated wood are:

• Decking
• Above ground structural elements
• Ground contact.

The treatment level is dictated by the dimensions of the lumber.
4X4s and 6X6 are treated for ground contact. 2X lumber is treated for above ground use, smaller than 2X such as 5/4 deck boards is treated at decking levels.

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Pillar To Post Newsletter May 2012

Posted on May 9, 2012 by - Post Notes

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People procrastinate for a swarm of reasons. Some say it’s simply habit, a product of how we were brought up, while others think it’s a clear sign of mental health issues.

Here is a short, fun quiz to see what kind of procrastinator you might be.

When confronted with a large, complex task you:
A. Get on it immediately - too much on your plate makes you anxious.
B. Start thinking about ways to tackle the project by making lists.
C. Put it out of your head completely - due date is a month away.

Your in-laws are coming to dinner. You want to impress them so you:
A. Paint the living room two weeks before the big day.
B. The day before, you clean house, buy fresh flowers and a prime roast.
C. Order in.

At work, colleagues describe your work style as:
A. Diligent but uptight.
B. Conscientious and fair.
C. Reasonable but a little flaky and unreliable.

Here’s the interpretation of your answers:
If you pick A’s: You need to procrastinate more or at least relax a bit.
If you pick B’s: You’re well balanced in the procrastination department.
If you pick C’s: It’s time to curb your procrastinating because it’s annoying others.

Here are some helpful suggestions to stop you from your delay tactics.

• Time to jump in - literally.
Your mantra should be stop thinking and start doing. By over thinking and attempting to dream up the perfect plan you put off the inevitable. Get on with it.

• Do something, anything.
If you tend to magnify and blow things out of proportion, you end up imagining that it’s much worse than it is. Take the big first step.

• Make deadlines.
To help yourself set a manageable pace other than breakneck, set deadlines or mini deadlines for the completion of something.

• Large complex tasks.
Need to be broken down into smaller more manageable segments. Attempt each separately. Break four hours of dreaded paperwork into one-hour slots. Start with the easiest. Take a break after each block of time and perhaps even treat yourself to a latte.

• Be accountable.
Use the friends and family approach by making yourself accountable to them for completing a project. Look to a trusted friend for encouragement and support.

• Turn down the volume.
Because we are so hyper-connected these days this can be hard to do, but it’s a must if you’re a diehard procrastinator who gets easily distracted. No TVs, radios, iPods because their job is to divert your attention.

• Finish.
As difficult as it is to start a project, remember also to finish it. There is nothing like completing a task, no matter how small, to earn you a sense of accomplishment.

Whatever your procrastination tendencies may be, here’s to overcoming them and making your life a real success.

 

Many people think of adding physical square footage to create more space. But you can make your home appear bigger visually. Remember what the eye needs is the illusion of spaciousness not actually more space. Here’s how to create the illusion of space without adding square footage.

Think diagonal views. Your house will appear much bigger if you are able to stand in one corner and look to the far corner without any obstructions. Diagonal tiles also help to push out the walls, visually.

Think like a sailor. Aim for no wasted space. Try built-ins, space-saving cabinets, drawers under beds, etc.

Lighting will open up space. Give your house an airy feeling with simple window dressings that let in natural light and steal space from outdoors.

Play with the furniture. Move furniture away from walls if space allows.

Accessorize. the bigger a piece of artwork, the bigger the feeling of space.

Color your world. Use just one or two colors per room for visual simplicity that expands a space. White, neutral or pale colors best reflect light, visually pushing back walls.

Let there be height. Use at least one tall element in a room to draw the eye upward, towards the ceiling to maximize vertical space. And also draws the eye up to the less crowded ceiling space above.
Minimize the amount of furniture in each room. Select furniture and accessories that perform multiple tasks.

Feel greater serenity and clarity in your home and be able to welcome guests in your home with the joy-boosting principles of feng shui.

Clear Clutter. Disorder can stop “chi” or positive energy in its tracks, so your entryway should be kept as tidy as possible.

Hang a mirror. Mirrors symbolically enlarge tight spaces - such as entryways - and are an excellent feng shui tool to “expand” positive energy.

Use the right accents. Bright reds, warm pinks and shiny metallic will encourage good fortune, and make guests feel good about entering your home.

Pick the perfect mat. Your interior mat or area rug should be as wide as your door’s width. Anything smaller can make people feel uncomfortable upon entering your home

Hanging a mirror? Make sure it’s high enough to show 8” of space over your head, so as not to “cut off” your potential success.

 

Turn your deck or patio into added living space, combining the comfort of indoors with the enjoyment of outdoors by the addition of an awning. Here are some of the benefits.

1. An awning shields out harmful sun rays while keeping you cool. It blocks the sun from entering your home, cuts cooling costs and protects furniture and carpet from fading.

2. Awnings are fully customizable and available in a wide variety of style options and vibrant acrylic fabrics to compliment any home.

3. An optional wind or motion sensor automatically retracts the awning when wind speeds reach a predetermined level.

4. A sun sensor can be added to allow for automatic operation determined by the sun’s strength.

5. An Interior wireless remote control can be added for easy-access operation.
When not in use, awnings can easily be retracted, safely stored, and will subtly blend in with the exterior beauty of any home.

Called an evaporative cooler, or “swamp cooler” this cooling system uses seventy-five percent less electrical energy than a refrigerated central air-conditioning system. Evaporative coolers have a catch: they only work in very dry climates.

How Does it Work?

Evaporative cooling takes advantage of a simple physical principle: the process of water evaporating (changing from a liquid into a vapor), which uses a great deal of heat energy. So how does this process cool your house? This diagram shows a simple evaporative cooler:

* Water is sprayed on a mesh of plastic or melamine, or trickles through pads made of excelsior (wood wool, aspen fibers).
* A blower draws hot, dry air from outside the house through the mesh or pads and blows the now-cooled air into the house.
* Water sucks heat out of this incoming air stream.
* The air emerging from the evaporative cooler is 20 to 30 degrees cooler than what went into it.

So Why Only Dry Climates?

The water involved in the vaporization process also goes into house as moisture. In a hot, dry climate, this moisture is probably a welcome addition. But in a humid climate, additional moisture is uncomfortable and can cause all kinds of problems such as mold, rust and rot. The hotter and dryer the climate, the more evaporation will occur, and the more effective the cooling system. For example, at the time this article was written, the forecast for Phoenix, AZ called for a high of 100o F and a relative humidity of 5%. In these conditions, the air generated from the evaporative cooler will be about 70F.

Air Balance

Since the evaporative cooling system draws air into the home from outside, excess air in the home must be expelled through open windows. The amount of cooling for any room of the house is controlled by adjusting the window opening. Opening a window wider allows more air out of the room and more fresh cool air to flow into the room.

Maintenance

Evaporative coolers need more frequent maintenance than conventional central air conditioning systems: a major cleaning and maintenance every season as well as routine inspection and cleaning throughout the season. A technician usually performs the seasonal maintenance. But you can do routine maintenance yourself. The homeowner maintenance protocols depend on the type of system you have, but in general the following should be done several times during the cooling season, or as often as once per month in very hot climates:

* Shut off the power to the cooler.
* Drain and flush the water and remove scale and sediment from the water reservoir.
* Inspect and replace, or clean, pads and filters.
* Inspect and clean the water distribution system.

If you live in a hot and humid climate, this system is not for you. But if you live in a hot dry climate, you can take advantage of this economical and effective form of cooling.

 

Your identity is often defined as a cocktail of characteristics - humor, intelligence, warmth - and that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Various research has revealed that a few physical traits can provide a telling glimpse of who you are beneath the surface. If you:

Have dark eyes: You think quickly.

Tend to be ticklish: You’re sociable.

Are left-handed: You’re an artistic genius.

Have light eyes: You’re introspective.

Have allergies: You’re resilient.

Furniture can be so easily damaged. Here are a few “easy” ways to fix some minor mishaps.

• Cover it up. Fill in scuffed areas with a matching wax crayon or furniture marker.

• Iron it away. To even out a dent, cover it with a damp washcloth, and iron the washcloth on medium heat. Caution: The moisture helps lift the dent out of real wood, but can damage veneers.

• Ice it off. Don’t wipe off wax if it’s dripped onto a surface. Instead, let it dry, then place an ice cube in a bag on top until it hardens, and then scrape off with a credit card.

• Erase it with mayo. If a cold drink or vase left its mark on your table, coat the area with mayo, leave for an hour, and wipe away the mark.

 

There are many benefits to an evaporative cooler:

 

• They are inexpensive to install and operate.
• They work better as the day heats up, performing at peak operation during the hottest part of the day.
• They provide a steady stream of fresh air from outside, and a constant cool breeze throughout the home.
• Humidification makes the home more comfortable and helps keep woodwork from drying out.

And now the cons

• They do not work well on humid days.
• Allergy sufferers may have a problem from the constant stream of air and pollen from outside.

 

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Pillar To Post Newsletter March 2012

Posted on March 9, 2012 by - Post Notes

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Pillar To Post welcomes your comments and concerns. You can contact us: Click Here
 

People procrastinate for a swarm of reasons. Some say it’s simply habit, a product of how we were brought up, while others think it’s a clear sign of mental health issues.
Here is a short, fun quiz to see what kind of procrastinator you might be.

When confronted with a large, complex task you:
A. Get on it immediately - too much on your plate makes you anxious.
B. Start thinking about ways to tackle the project by making lists.
C. Put it out of your head completely - due date is a month away.

Your in-laws are coming to dinner. You want to impress them so you:
A. Paint the living room two weeks before the big day.
B. The day before, you clean house, buy fresh flowers and a prime roast.
C. Order in.

At work, colleagues describe your work style as:
A. Diligent but uptight.
B. Conscientious and fair.
C. Reasonable but a little flaky and unreliable.

Here’s the interpretation of your answers:
If you pick A’s: You need to procrastinate more or at least relax a bit.
If you pick B’s: You’re well balanced in the procrastination department.
If you pick C’s: It’s time to curb your procrastinating because it’s annoying others.

Here are some helpful suggestions to stop you from your delay tactics.

• Time to jump in - literally.
Your mantra should be stop thinking and start doing. By over thinking and attempting to dream up the perfect plan you put off the inevitable. Get on with it.

• Do something, anything.
If you tend to magnify and blow things out of proportion, you end up imagining that it’s much worse than it is. Take the big first step.

• Make deadlines.
To help yourself set a manageable pace other than breakneck, set deadlines or mini deadlines for the completion of something.

• Large complex tasks.
Need to be broken down into smaller more manageable segments. Attempt each separately. Break four hours of dreaded paperwork into one-hour slots. Start with the easiest. Take a break after each block of time and perhaps even treat yourself to a latte.

• Be accountable.
Use the friends and family approach by making yourself accountable to them for completing a project. Look to a trusted friend for encouragement and support.

• Turn down the volume.
Because we are so hyper-connected these days this can be hard to do, but it’s a must if you’re a diehard procrastinator who gets easily distracted. No TVs, radios, iPods because their job is to divert your attention.

• Finish.
As difficult as it is to start a project, remember also to finish it. There is nothing like completing a task, no matter how small, to earn you a sense of accomplishment.

Whatever your procrastination tendencies may be, here’s to overcoming them and making your life a real success.

 

When it comes to deciding which wood floor would suit your needs in the best way, consider the room’s use, what subfloor or existing floor that is there now, budget and your preferable design.

Solid hardwood floor. might outlast your house since it can go through several refinishing cycles. Installation needs underlayment, but it could be installed on existing subfloor. Hardwood provides an excellent design solution as it comes in many kinds of wood: oak, maple and ash.

Engineered floor. provides all the benefits of hardwood, it can be refinished as well but is easier to install and does not require underlayment subfloor and can be installed on any surface. Engineered hardwood flooring is made of wood, but it’s not solid. Instead it is a laminated product like plywood, with a thin but tough veneer of real wood on top laminated to three to five layers of less expensive wood (or fiberboard) and bonded under pressure with strong glues.

Laminate. is completely synthetic with a tough melamine wear coat over a paper or fiberboard core. The beauty of laminate flooring is that it can be made to look like any material; stone, ceramic tile, wood, and more - at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. The effect is achieved in the second layer, which contains a photographic representation of the real flooring material. It is easy to install and water resistant.

Bamboo plank floor. is an environmentally friendly material. Not only is bamboo a fast-growing and renewable crop, the companies that make bamboo flooring use binders with low emissions. Bamboo flooring is made by shredding stalks of the raw material, then pressing them together with a resin that holds the shreds in their finished shape.

 

Feel greater serenity and clarity in your home and be able to welcome guests in your home with the joy-boosting principles of feng shui.

Clear Clutter. Disorder can stop “chi” or positive energy in its tracks, so your entryway should be kept as tidy as possible.

Hang a mirror. Mirrors symbolically enlarge tight spaces - such as entryways - and are an excellent feng shui tool to “expand” positive energy.

Use the right accents. Bright reds, warm pinks and shiny metallic will encourage good fortune, and make guests feel good about entering your home.

Pick the perfect mat. Your interior mat or area rug should be as wide as your door’s width. Anything smaller can make people feel uncomfortable upon entering your home

Hanging a mirror? Make sure it’s high enough to show 8” of space over your head, so as not to “cut off” your potential success

 

Splatters and baked on foods inside the microwave are a nasty task to clean up. Here are some simple easy ways to get it done.

1. Freshen with lemon.
Poke a few holes in a lemon with a fork and microwave for 30 seconds. That will release the citrus oil and make it easy to wipe away dirt while freshly scenting the microwave.2. Remove Odors.
Fill a bowl with water and add 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Microwave at 30 second intervals until the smells are gone.

 

3. Steam away stains.
Microwave a glass bowl filled with water for 2 minutes. Add a wooden toothpick to prevent overheating. The steam will loosen debris, making it a cinch to wipe clean.

4. Clean the window glass.
To de-grease the glass in an instant, wipe it down with equal parts water and vinegar.

5. Tame it with tea.
Get rid of smells in your microwave by boiling tea! Place two tea bags in a mug with water. Microwave for 30 seconds to remove odors.

 

Radon is a radioactive gas that exists naturally in the environment in very low concentrations.Radon comes from uranium in the soil. While uranium is not present in significant quantities in most geographical areas, traces of uranium in the soil exist everywhere. As uranium breaks down, it produces radon gas.

Radon is classified as a human carcinogen. Breathing radon gas is associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The risk increases with increased concentration of radon in the air and exposure time. The concern is around radon levels that can build up inside a house. Even if you live in an area with fairly low environmental radon, you could still have significant levels in your home.

Radon Testing
You can get a relatively inexpensive test to determine the radon levels in your home. Testing strategies fall into two general categories: short term testing, which may take only a few days; or long term testing, which could take several months. While long term testing gives you a better indication of the radon exposure, people often choose short term testing for faster results.

Understanding Radon Levels
Radon levels are reported in one of three different units of measure:

• The most common unit of measure in the United States is pico Curies per Liter (pCi/L)
• The most common unit of measure in Canada is Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3)
• You may also see the term working levels (WL), common in scientific literature

Fixing a Radon Problem
If you have radon levels at or above the action level, you should take action. The most common remedial technique involves depressurizing the soil under your home. If your home has a basement or slab-ongrade, a suction pipe is inserted through the slab into the gravel below. Then suction is applied to the pipe to draw radon in the soil towards the pipe, effectively sucking the radon out of the home. Cost for a sub-slab suction system ranges from about $1,000 to $3,000.

In the past, remediation involved a trial-and-error approach. A technician might try sealing all of the cracks in the basement, such as a gap between the floor slab and the foundation, and then conduct a re-test. If the re-test shows acceptable levels, you may get away with paying only a few hundred dollars for the fix. But if sealing the cracks does not solve the problem you will have to go to the next level of remediation. Most people feel that it is better to do a proper, comprehensive fix the first time.You can also dilute radon by increasing the ventilation rate in your home. Adding a heat-recovery ventilator brings fresh air into the home, discharges stale air outside, and swaps heat in the process to prevent heat-energy loss. But this approach does not sit well with everyone since it effectively lets in radon in order to deal with it.

 

Everyone knows that snacks and movies make a blockbuster combination.

But did you know the food you buy at the concession stand also says a lot about what kind of friend you are? Research by physicians shows that there is a real connection between how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

So pick your favorite movie munchie and unwrap the secrets to your popularity.

NACHOS: You are the life of the party.

POPCORN: You are loyal.

TWIZZLERS: You are a kid at heart.

JUNIOR MINTS: You are super generous.

MILKY WAY: You are full of surprises.

 

Here are a few environmentally-friendly solutions to remove soap scum in the shower or tub.

1. Bye-bye, buildup. Put vinegar in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour into a spray bottle and mist the shower. Let sit a few minutes, then rub away.

2. Re-use dryer sheets. Rubbing shower doors and tiles with fabric softener sheets after bathing will prevent soap scum.

3. Lemony fresh. Apply lemon oil with a cloth to tiles to remove film and protect against future stains.

4. Squeaky clean. Combine a cup of baking soda and water to make a paste. Coat your tiles, leave 15 minutes, rinse. Want to get rid of soap scum from now on? Just switch from bar soap, which contains soap-scum-forming talc, to liquid shower gel.

 

The following numbers will give you an idea what to expect to see:

 

• Average outdoor level is 0.3 pCi/L or 10 Bq/m3
• Average indoor level is 1.2 pCi/L or 45 Bq/m3
• Indoor action level in the United States is 4 pCi/L or 150 Bq/m3
• Indoor action level in Canada is 22 pCi/L or 800 Bq/m3
(the level at the time of writing of this article, expected to change soon to 200 Bq/m3 )

Action level is the level at which you should take steps to reduce the radon gas entering your home.

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF

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If you would like to use any of this content for your own use, please contact Pillar To Post ® marketing department.

 

Pillar To Post Newsletter January 2012

Posted on January 9, 2012 by - Post Notes

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Some people do spring cleaning in, well, spring. I prefer to do it before I start a new endeavor. In preparation for the New Year, you will need to make room for your new adventures and opportunities in your life.

Clean Up Your Schedule
Start with freeing up your time. Do you find yourself on the computer or in front of the television only to look up and see that 2 hours have passed?

Time is a unique gift in that it passes whether you are using it consciously or not, and you can’t get it back.

If you want to know if you have any extra hours in the day, record how you spend your time for the next 14 days. Do so diligently in 15 minute increments.

I realized that it takes me 30 minutes in the morning to begin doing anything. When I figured this out, I tried to squeeze my morning time in order to exercise and meditate before I head out to work. I set the alarm for a half hour earlier.

For the New Year you might want to develop new habits like exercising, but you may think, “I don’t have the time.” Find out where you are spending your time, and take steps to cut the fat from your schedule.

Clean Up Your Living Space
Make physical space in your life. Get rid of knick-knacks. File the pile of bills on your desk. You might have bought new clothes, but left the unworn clothes in the closet. Get organized, and create some physical space in your world.

It may seem irrelevant to do this in order to achieve your goals for the coming year. However, having space in your physical surroundings translates into calm, openness, and peace of mind. It will become a place where you sprout fresh ideas.

Prune Your Circle
Ask yourself the question: “Who supports my genius and purpose, and who must be left behind?”

Sometimes old friends fall away without deliberate action when they become out of step with you. On the other hand, sometimes we cling to relationships that drain our energy rather than infuse us with zeal. Rather than do anything drastic like never calling back or confronting a friend, try just shifting your social time and energy to people who are fueling you. When you do this your circle of friends will morph into one that supports your goals.

Make room for the New Year; it is here!

More minor accidents occur in the bathroom than in any other room. The good news is they are mostly preventable with these easy steps.

Make it a fall-free zone. Swap cloth bath mats for a rug with a non-slip backing or liner. Also make your tub slip-free with a non-skid mat or adhesive strips.

Prevent shock. Shock is typically caused when hair dryers and electric razors touch water. The solution would be to replace your wall outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter, which automatically cuts off power when appliances get wet.

Set your hot water heater. Eliminate the potential for scalding by setting your hot water temperature to 120 degrees F or 48 degrees C. Replace your tub spout with a Hot Stop spout that reduces water to a trickle if it reaches dangerous temperatures.

Splash some colour on the walls. A white tub and toilet along with white walls can lead to falls for children or for people that do not have good vision. Adding bright trim or decals will prevent mishaps since the edges can be identified easily.

BONUS TIP: The best way to dry tub toys is in a net or mesh basket. It allows for even drying so that germs can’t grow and spread. And wash toys that trap water, like rubber ducks, with a diluted bleach solution, then rinse.

Once a child moves away from home it might be time to consider updating their kid-friendly room to make it more guest appropriate. The main focus of any bedroom is the bed, so why not make it stand out with a unique and interesting headboard.

• A D-I-Y headboard is a great way to add class to any room without breaking the bank.

• Experiment with one of these fun projects

• Create a focal point by painting grid boxes in bright colors on the wall, aligned above the bed.

• Get an illusion of a headboard by painting the wall area over the bed a different color and lining it with wallpaper trim.

• Create rustic ambiance by repurposing vintage doors or window frames and hanging them above the bed.

• Design a custom fabric headboard with bed linens that have matching sheets, comforters and drapes. Once the headboard is complete, extend the project by adding a new coat of paint, a glamorous chandelier and a new area rug to create the ultimate retreat for your guest.

The extra living space that a finished basement can provide is a real bonus. Here are some key points to consider to provide the best situation for your family.

1. CREATE GOOD HEADROOM.
a minimum of 6 ft. 8 in., but 7 ft. 6 in. or more is ideal.

2. THE NEXT ISSUE IS WARMTH.
Insulate walls, upgrade windows and address the issue of cold concrete floors.

3. ADD LIGHTING.
with dimmer switches and arrange in small well lit areas.

4. PAINT COLORS.
should be warm but not dark. Trim should be painted white or off-white, semi-gloss.

5. STORAGE.
can be added at a relatively low cost. Combine areas that are hidden behind doors with some open shelving to make the space seem bigger.

The electrical outlet not only provides vital access to the electrical current that makes your house hum, but it also warrants deeper consideration for reasons of comfort and safety. Our Pillar To Post® inspectors have seen it all when it comes to incorrect outlet wiring, a safety hazard if left unattended. But before we discuss safety measures, let’s start with a quick tour of this component and its mate, the plug. Hidden behind the outlet is a series of wires that must be properly connected for the outlet’s safe functioning. On a modern electrical outlet that accommodates a three-pronged plug, each hole serves a specific purpose: the round hole is for the ground pin on the plug; the small slot takes the small blade on the plug and connects to the “hot” wire in the outlet (the wire that can cause a shock); the large slot takes the large blade and connects to the “neutral” wire in the outlet. Specific wires have to be connected to the proper terminals for an outlet’s safe function. Pillar To Post® inspectors spot-check outlets with a tester during every inspection.

Reverse Polarity
The large slot and small slot on an electrical outlet, and the different-sized blades on a plug, designate their respective polarizations, and ensure that the plug goes in the outlet only one way, a safety feature that reduces the chances of shock. A light-bulb socket has exposed electrical connections, the threads being the most exposed part. But polarized socket threads are attached to the neutral wire to prevent someone from getting a shock when changing a light bulb. If the electrical outlet itself is mis-wired with reverse polarity, the lamp socket threads described above will become “hot”. Touching the threads in the socket, or on the bulb as you screw it into the socket, may give you a shock.

Outlet Not Grounded
In older homes, sometimes the cable leading to the outlet does not have a ground wire, yet the outlet has nonetheless been upgraded to a modern grounded type. Some plug-in electrical devices need this ground connection for their built-in safety features. If the outlet appears to be grounded but is not, the device’s safety features will not work.

Old Outlets
In older homes outlets may have no ground slot at all. This does not represent a defect or safety concern, but you will not be able to plug in an electrical appliance that has a ground pin on the plug. Today, most plug-in appliances are not the grounded style and, therefore, do not use or have a ground pin on the plug because they are a double insulated design. the old ungrounded outlet will work fine. If you think it might be a good idea to simply cut off the ground pin to accommodate an outlet without a ground hole, think again. This procedure is doubly unsafe because it not only bypasses the grounding safety feature, but also it bypasses the polarizing feature since a de-pinned plug can be inserted into the outlet either way.

Experts say that key numbers reveal insights into what makes you tick.

1. Leadership. You are a go-getter. You have no problem taking action.

2. Harmony. You are diplomatic - kind, sensitive and fair, you sometimes seem indecisive.

3. Intuition. You are creative - transform different elements into something new.

4. Stability. You are grounded - dependable, down-to-earth and wonderfully supportive.

5. Expansion. You are adventurous - always looking for the next big adventure.

6. Compassion. You are nurturing - with an instinctive understanding of others and a big picture outlook.

7. Mystery. You are a searcher - deeply curious and a great inventor.

8. Success. You are dynamic - with virtually endless energy and determination.

9. Completion. You are enlightened - graduated from the school of hard knocks and experience.

Here are some great uses for the mouthwash that usually sits on your bathroom counter.

• KILL KITCHEN GERMS. Wipe down your sink handles and basin with a rag dipped in mouthwash. It will instantly kill germs and add shine to your sink.

• CLEAN THE TOILET. Pour in mouthwash and let it sit for half an hour, then swish it around with a toilet brush for a clean bowl.

• GOODBYE ODORS. To get rid of strong odors left on your hands after cooking with garlic and onions, dip a cotton ball in mouthwash and rub it over your hands.

• STOP MOLD GROWTH. Use an old toothbrush dipped in mouthwash to clean and sanitize the grout in your bathrooms.

While it should go without saying that the relevant circuit breaker should be shut off prior to working on any electrical device - let us state this here as a safety precaution.

Outlet is Warm or Gives Off Sparks
Not good. Unplug all cords. Get inside and make sure that wire ends are all firmly connected. If there is any doubt about the condition of the receptacle, simply replace it.

Circuit Breaker Tripping or Fuse Burning Out
The most common reason for circuit breaker tripping is an overloaded system. Turn off appliances that consume a lot of electricity, flip the breaker, and try again.

A Light or Appliance Doesn’t Turn On
If the circuit breaker trips or fuse burns out, then lights and appliances will not work. But this usually affects a series of lights or series of appliances.

Cord Falls Out of Outlet
Bend out prongs to make the wire stay in the outlet or easily replace wires for lamps. Be careful about appliance cords, though - given the high power draws. Finally, the outlet may simply need to be replaced if it is old enough.

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