Something fishy is going on over at the makers of Arm & Hammer. The packaging on their Fridge-n-Freezer® Odor Absorber now recommends the box should be changed every 30 days when previously, every three months would do the trick. Odd, especially considering they haven't changed the ingredients and the Arm & Hammer website still recommends changing it every three months. It's a shame when a trusted brand like Arm & Hammer would resort to tricks like these to increase usage.
If you are looking for a new home, you know that one big turnoff can be the smell of a place. Moving into a smoker’s home as a non-smoker can be especially challenging for some people. If you still want the home but not the smell, here are some steps you can take to improve the indoor air quality.
1) Scrub down everything you can over the sink or outside. 2) Remove carpet and padding and replace if possible. 3) Use a heavy-duty primer to seal in smoke on the walls. 4) If necessary, clean ductworks and chimneys. 5) Wash baseboards with a lemon juice and water mixture.
Some home improvement projects need more than a little Nike-like, "just do it" encouragement. "I'll Get Around to It!" is a great article on BeJane.com that examines why we procrastinate and why delaying daunting tasks only makes them harder. It also gives some useful techniques to enable you to tackle new projects without hesitation.
One tip, for instance, is one that I can relate to: Avoid perfection. "Perfection is essential when it comes to building a space shuttle," the article says, "but not so much when painting your bedroom. If you're a bit of a perfectionist it's probably affecting your ability to start a project. Learn to ease up on yourself. Perfection in home improvement is a relatively unachievable goal, so don't convince yourself otherwise."
Point well taken. I guess I shouldn't obsess over getting the painter's tape just right.
Are homeowners getting more gullible? According to the Council of Better Business Bureaus, home repair rip-offs are on the rise–up 60 percent over the past five years. Reader's Digest lists the five biggest scams as:
Stop digging around in those cluttered drawers and cabinets! Save yourself from searching for the seldom-used items in your home by turning to the iPhone. Its applications are now replacing real-life household tools. Here are 11 things you can get rid of and replace with iPhone applications.
1) Tea timer: 30 sec.- 15 min. 2) Level: Used for recreational purposes only. There are several modes included (landscape, etc.). 3) Tape measure: Not the most accurate at short distances, but it can be combined with GPS to measure very long distances. 4) Flashlight: Includes different colors and SOS signals. 5) Dice bag: In case it is game night. 6) Writing pad: Turns your handwriting into text. 7) Self-defense alarm. 8) Shopping list: Includes over 200 popular grocery items that can be checked off when found. 9) Handheld recorder: Unleashing the spy in all of us. 10) Abacus. 11) Whoopie cushion: Choose from 10 different rude sounds (strictly for work purposes).
The majority of household cleaning products are not known for being very environmentally friendly. In fact, they usually contain some pretty volatile and acidic compounds. Three new cleaning products called Perfect Planet Cleaners are setting a new trend and are even certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment Program. The three products are a natural all-purpose cleaner, a floor cleaner and a floor polish and all feature plant-derived cleaning agents that are biodegradable, non-toxic and non-hazardous.
Nothing goes hand in hand quite like sunlight and swimming pools. That's why this solar powered pool skimmer from Hammacher Schlemmer makes almost too much sense. Two solar panels power the device as it continuously paddles the pool, scooping up debris. This is one sophisticated device; when the batteries are running low, it stops cleaning and seeks out sunnier areas to recharge. And when it becomes clogged, it reverses direction to rid itself of the junk. It holds two 3-inch chlorine tablets that slowly dissolve as the skimmer moves across the pool. It can be ordered online from the Hammacher Schlemmer Web site.
