Home tips: Start a home journal

Southern Living, Spring 2003 by Belden, Derick

Start a Home Journal

Earlier this spring, we recommended that you start a garden journal A home journal is a great idea too, It will help you keep up with paint colors, where you purchased a certain rug, and who has worked on your house before.

An inexpensive three-ring binder or a spiral-bound notebook is a great place to start. Simply divide it up by rooms, and begin filling in as much information as you have. Tape paint chips, wallpaper samples, carpet scraps, and even fabric samples onto the pages for the pertinent rooms. For the kitchen and bath, record your appliance models and makes, countertop styles, plumbing fixtures, and any tiles you have in the rooms. Old invoices and work orders will also provide helpful information. It is a good idea to devote one chapter to the names and phone numbers of painters, upholsterers, plumbers, and anyone else you may want to contact to work on your house. This way everything is at your fingertips.

Follow these tips to make little projects around the house easier.

Painting Solutions

* Tape off glass panes before you paint window sashes. Often an overlooked step, taping off your windows will save you time in the end and will yield crisp lines. There's nothing worse than finishing a window and then spending an hour or two scraping paint from the glass.

* Thin trim paint. Whether you're using oil based or latex, try thinning the paint a bit when it begins to thicken up. Stir a little paint thinner into oil based, or add water to latex. The result is fewer brushstrokes.

* Don't discard old stockings. They make good paint strainers. Stretch a pair over an empty paint can, and pour old paint through it to remove lumps and dirt.

* Transfer unused paint to a new can (available at home-improvement and hardware stores) when your project is complete. Label the container with the brand of paint, color, where it was used, and any formula for remixing. Then store it in a dry, dark place. This way all your paint will be in clean, sealed cans.

* Spend a little more money on good paintbrushes. They'll last longer and produce better results. To prolong their life, mix a little fabric softener in the water when you clean them. For brushes with dried paint, comb out bristles with a wire brush, and then wash with fabric softener.

Helpful Household Hints

* Pour full-strength bleach down your drains once a month, wait 10 minutes, and then flush with hot water. The bleach cleans the pipes and could help you save on costly plumbing repairs later.

* Prolong the life of your garbage disposal by using only cold water when it's running. Hot water can break down the lubricants used to keep the machine's parts moving. Grind up lemon rinds occasionally to freshen your kitchen.

* Use a capful of white vinegar with a gallon of hot water as an inexpensive hardwood floor cleaner. The vinegar leaves the floors shiny and virtually residue free.

* Remove a broken lightbulb using a raw potato. Cut the potato in half; push over light socket, and twist. The potato should be able to loosen the lightbulb base enough so you can unscrew it the rest of the way with your fingers. Be sure to unplug the lamp before you try this.

* Arrange a group of pictures on the floor before you hang them on a wall. If you're still unsure of how they will look on the wall, buy some inexpensive poster board, cut it to the size of your pictures, and then tape it to the wall to perfect the arrangement before making it permanent.

DERICK BELDEN

Outside Ideas

* Rub a clear paste wax on your metal outdoor furniture to help water bead and run off as well as to prevent rust or mildew.

* Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly on your exterior keyholes to help keys slide in and out easier and to protect the insides from corrosion.

* Seal brick with a clear, flat masonry sealer to solve difficult water leaks. Many folks think brick is totally waterproof, but depending on how it was made, brick can be porous. If you have a spot where water seems to be finding its way into the house, seal the brick around the area. Chances are the leak will stop.

* Substitute a small amount of antifreeze for some of the water required to make a batch of concrete. By using antifreeze, you will prolong the drying time, which will strengthen the concrete.