Easy Home Maintenance Tasks for August

Even in the August heat there will be some days when you can begin to get ready for the busy fall season. Here are some easy things you can do around your home. Check faucets for leaks and replace washers or repair the faucet as necessary. Use a vacuum with a narrow nozzle to clean condenser coils on the back of or underneath your refrigerator. Clean underneath range hood. Remove and clean or replace range hood filters. Clean window balances. If windows stick, clean the tracks in which the sash slides with a mild detergent. Lubricate with silicone spray if the window drags. If a furnace is part of your air-conditioning system, check the filter. Clean or replace it, if necessary. Carefully vacuum dust away from your heating and cooling thermostat. If needed, now is a good time to have your furnace serviced for winter.

Tips to Service Your Air Conditioner Between Professional Inspections

Turn off the unit before you begin. Start with the coils. Dust and dirt act to reduce heat flow, so cleanliness is practical. Central air conditioners have two coils. One, located inside (usually connected to the furnace ductwork), absorbs heat from the house, chilling the air and removing humidity. The second, outside the house, expels heat as a large fan blows air over the coils. A good shop vacuum should be up to the task. You may want to use a spray cleaner to loosen accumulated debris and dirt. Air conditioning removes moisture that drains into a pan and then to the outside. Clean the drain pan. Keep this drain system clean to prevent mold, etc. (A pro can add a tablet to the pan to keep bacteria from growing.) Make sure the condensate drain system and all filters and fans are clean. Clean or replace filters each month during the periods of use. Source: Minnesota Office of Energy Security.

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Try This for Carpet Stains

First mix a teaspoon of mild detergent with a cup of lukewarm water. Dip clean cloth into solution and gently blot the stain; continue until no more stain is removed. You could also use a cleaner such as Shout or Carpet Science Foam Carpet Cleaner. Then mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup lukewarm water. Apply a small amount, then blot; repeat if necessary. Finally, place a half-inch layer of clean, dry tissues or other white absorbent material over damp area and weigh them down with something heavy, such as books. Allow to dry. 

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How to Unclog a Drain

A clogged drain can be a pain. Sometimes a moderate clog can be cleared with this homemade mixture: pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful. There will be foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Leave for about three hours, then run the water. For a slow drain from grease, try pouring in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Let it sit overnight. For weekly maintenance, combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Mix together thoroughly and pour into a covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water. Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well. If the homemade drain cleaners don't work, try How Stuff Works for helpful plumbing tips.

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How to Dispose of Latex and Acrylic Paint

You have some old or leftover paint. What now? You cannot throw it into the trash, it is not accepted at landfills, and you certainly can't just dump it down the drain. A paint solidifier (available at your local paint or hardware store) is an environmentally acceptable option for quick, easy and safe disposal. Just add to the paint and shake or stir. Within minutes the paint will thicken into a solid that can be safely disposed of as trash in most localities. If you leave a stir stick in, it will make a great handle. This is also a great way to handle paint spills. Simply sprinkle, mix and sweep your surface clean and dry. Keep a bag of solidifier handy for annoying spills that would otherwise take a lot of time to clean.

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NEWS 

On July 31, 2009 the AP said, “The economy sank at a pace of just 1 percent in the second quarter of the year, a new government report shows. It was a better-than-expected showing that provided the strongest signal yet that the longest recession since World War II is finally winding down.

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Fast Facts

• Hypothenar refers to three muscles of the palm that control the motion of the little finger.

• A violin contains about 70 separate pieces of wood!

• Your body is creating and killing 15 million red blood cells per second!

• Skepticisms is the longest standard word in English that alternates hands when typing!

• Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village".

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