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Archive through July 11, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jul. 2007 ~ Sept. 2007: Home and Garden (ARCHIVES): TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through July 11, 2007 users admin

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Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Ok, so after reading over these sites, I'm going to try several of these this week from the list Vee posted, including the baking soda for her carpert, the salt/vinegar all purpose cleaner, and vinegar/water for mopping. And the mineral oil for polishing the wood...if someone can tell me where to find mineral oil?

That site also says to boil cinamon and cloves for an air freshner so I'm thinking if someone with COPD can handle that, cotton balls with a drop or two of vanilla will be ok too. I can think of several places in each room to place those where she isn't close to while sitting or laying down. I'll try the cinamon and cloves, but only when I'm there. She doesn't use the stove at all anymore so I don't really want to leave something boiling while I'm not there.

I'm really feeling terrible though and realizing just how much I have to learn. Up until now, I've been going under the assumption that if it is something I can use at home with Dakota and her asthma and it doesn't bother her (like the bleach/water) that it'd be ok for my aunt. Part of the problem is is that she doesn't want to be a bother, so if we do something she doesn't like, make food she can't eat, etc, she often won't tell us.

Oh oh, I did my kitchen last week. LOL, I've been so short on time and knew I would be for awhile that when I had the chance I went nuts cleaning in there.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Ugrace I now have a flat glass stove top -- how do you clean it? So far I have only cooked two things on it so it isn't really dirty, but I figured I would have to read up on what products I can use etc. TIA.

ETA: Oh the other question I was going to throw at you guys. You know that thing that you pull up on the tub faucet to make the shower go? Well mine leaves water coming out the faucet while the shower is on, is that easy to fix or do I need a new fixture? Thanks again.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Mineral oil can be found many places. I purchased mine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I found this link showing what my bottle looks like: *Mineral Oil.*

It is often used as a laxative so you can find it in the health aisle of Wal*Mart I would guess.

Since we're working in the kitchen, I would like to suggest that we get out our edible mineral oil to treat our wooden cutting boards and all our wooden kitchen spoons, etc., this week. Yup, we'll call it "Vee's Mission." Anyway, you'll be glad that you did!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 10:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh thanks Vee, I wouldn't have none what it looked like, nor would I have thought to look in the health aisle!

Dipo, when we had that problem, Darren tried to fix it. After the third or fourth time he went to get a new fixture, lol.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 1:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Dipo, do NOT use anything on your flat glass stove top except the smooth cooktop cleaner that is recommended. What is your stove top brand name? You can gently scrape any cooked on mess with a razor scraper after the spill has soaked under the cleaner for a moment (especially if you have a 'marked' burner circle). Also, do NOT wipe away spills on HOT surface. Wait for it to cool. (if you don't the surface will get pock marks) Your cooktop will stay looking brand new for years!

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 1:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Others have asked plumbing questions and gotten them fast with an online Ask The Plumber site.(this is just one of them) Your plunger mechanism that you pull (to make the water stop from the faucet and start through the shower head) has malfunctioned or unhooked from the stopper. Sounds like a plumber would be necessary, since he has the right tools.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 2:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
If you happened to purchase new homeowner's insurance for these little surprises, the plumber's visit might be covered. Sometimes the seller purchases insurance against anything that comes up in the first year as a selling point. I vaguely recall doing that when I sold my former home.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 3:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Thanks guys, I do have some sort of homeowners protection or warranty plan for one year. As soon as I locate all my documents I will check it.

Ugrace, I knew there must be rules for the stove, thanks, I know the former owner left me a bunch of books so I will look for the stove one and see what it says. It is a Kenmore Elite, I think.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Monday, July 09, 2007 - 6:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Dipo, found this under Jenn Air:
Smoothtop - Never use oven cleaners, chlorine bleach, ammonia or glass cleaners with ammonia. NOTE: Call an authorized Glass-Ceramic servicer if the glass-ceramic top should crack, break or if metal or aluminum foil should melt on the cooktop. • Allow the cooktop to cool before cleaning. • General – Clean cooktop after each use, with a damp paper towel and Cooktop Cleaning Creme* Then, buff with a clean dry cloth. NOTE: Permanent stains will develop if soil is allowed to cook on by repeatedly using the cooktop when soiled. • Heavy Soils or Metal Marks – Dampen a “scratchless” or “never scratch” scrubber sponge. Apply Cooktop Cleaning Creme* and scrub to remove as much soil as possible. Apply a thin layer of the creme over the soil, cover with a damp paper towel and let stand 30-45 minutes (2-3 hours for very heavy soil). Keep moist by covering the paper towel with plastic wrap. Scrub again, then buff with a clean dry cloth. NOTE: Only use a CLEAN, DAMP “scratchless” pad that is safe for non-stick cookware. The pattern and glass will be damaged if the pad is not damp, if the pad is soiled, or if another type of pad is used. • Burned-on or Crusty Soils – Scrub with a “scratchless” or “never scratch” scouring pad and Cooktop Cleaning Creme*. Hold a razor blade scraper at 30° angle and scrape any remaining soil. Then, clean as described above. NOTE: Do not use the razor blade for daily cleaning as it may wear the pattern on the glass. • Melted Sugar or Plastic – Immediately turn element to LOW and scrape sugar or plastic from hot surface to a cool area. Then turn element OFF and allow to cool. Clean residue with razor blade scraper and Cooktop Cleaning Creme*.


Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 3:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
*Tuesday's Mission*

I'd love to give up those little burner trays to clean, but I'd miss the flame too much. I think. Maybe not. Your stove is going to glow, Dipo! Thanks, Urgrace, for finding all that information.

Did anyone else watch Oprah yesterday? I found *Peter Walsh's* way interesting. He's done the show Clean Sweep, which, of course, is a completely different concept from FlyLady's. A couple of things really resonated with me.

One was that all clutter can be divided into two categories: 1. Stuff that I might need in the future, and 2. Stuff that I am emotionally tied to from the past. Since I still have both kinds, I am renewing my determination to get rid of it. I'm starting with two kitchen drawers. Walsh's recommendation was to empty the drawers of kitchen utensils into a box; every time you use something, it can return to the drawer. Anything left in the box has to go. Good idea. But I think I can decide today what I never use. Ha!

Happy fluttering today!

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Missed it Vee. Sorry, but I don't even know what time she is on.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 3:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
*Wednesday's Mission*

What I'd really like to do, instead of just cleaning out under the sink, is to paint under the sink. It could use a fresh coat of bright white. But, I think that that will have to wait a bit longer until I can bend easily. :-)

Happy Wednesday!

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 3:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
I have been working and then when I am home just trying to clean up office area and get things back to their correct spots.

A hint for under your sink. I don't paint under there as we have very old cupboards. I use mac tac, but a great way to keep your "under the sink clean" is to take a piece of linoleum flooring and cut it out to fit under your sink. This saves a lot of damage to the bottom of your cupboards and also is very easy to clean.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 4:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Skootz, mac tac? Is that contact paper?

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 5:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
Yes it is contact paper. I had to image google it and I got it.

It of course can be called many other names, but here is a picture of what I mean. I use this a shelf liner as well as I find rolls of shelf liners do not stick very well and come off easier and mactac (contact paper) stays in place and its easy to clean. When in I lived in an apartment years ago, I changed the fronts of my kitchen cupboards using this contact paper. It looked so much more modern and cleaner.



Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 6:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Skootz. I like contact paper better than shelf liner, too. Sadly, the sides of my undersink area are rough so I can't use it there. I do use a piece of linoleum on the bottom and it does work well. Well, off to declutter another drawer. At this rate, I may be able to consolidate and get one empty drawer. Yay!

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 6:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
On the utensil drawer cleaning, what do you do with the utensils that are only used once or twice a year! The turkey baster, the tiki tongs, the zip bag full of cake decorating bags,floret trays, holiday picks, and tips, etc.? I also have a drawer with seasonal hot pads!<yes I'm a dork>

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 7:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Keep'em! You do need them and even the dude on Oprah said so. Ha! I might be tempted to move it to a new spot, though. Nothing worse than rifling through that stuff looking for what you do need. As for the seasonal hot pads...sounds cute! A dork?! I don't think so, Urgrace.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 8:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
All that stuff I don't use too often, I stick in my cabinet with plates/cups. I have plenty of room in there and it's out of the way when I don't use it.

The only thing I need to do under the sink is get a damn child safety lock for it, lol. That's my cleaner cabinet and I don't have to worry about my kids getting into it, but my nephew sure found that one quick! Usually I keep the baby gate shut (which is why I forget to pick up a lock) but when I don't he sure goes straight for it.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Just heard a tip on the Today show: Keep a small bottle of Purell in your car to remove stains! Said it even works on ink.

Thanks Vee! I'm a seasonal Halfnuti! (pun intended)

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 8:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
I have the corn cob holders, LOL, still haven't given them a home. Where do you get this linoleum that you put on the bottom of my sink cabinet? Home Depot? That is the nice thing about moving to a new place, there is no clutter in any of my drawers or cabinets, LOL.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 9:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Urgrace, I have a cheap-o utensil rack hanging inside the cellar doorway and put those seldomly used things into gallon ziplock bags and just hang them up. My rack looks similar to this one:


You could probably also use simple cup hooks wherever you have space out of the way, but still use the ziplock bags.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
What a splendid idea, Hukd! I love that you put them into ziplock bags so they'll stay clean.

Y2krazy
Member

09-17-2002

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 10:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Y2krazy a private message Print Post    
I have a peg-board hanging on a wall near my back door (behind it, kind of hidden) It's like 3 or 4 ft. wide by 2 ft long. You can put either short or long hooks (or pegs) into it. So you can really vary what and how you hang things on it. I keep the seldom used utensils (in zipper bags), tools(the ones DH tries to hide sometimes) dozens of things....that crowd (or get lost) in kitchen drawers.

I'm at work, so this post has taken me about 2 hrs to type...LOL

Y2krazy
Member

09-17-2002

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 11:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Y2krazy a private message Print Post    
As for, "seasonal hot pads", I use "Rough Totes" or similar...plastic bins with lids...for ALL my seasonal stuff. Big ones, and more than one...for Christmas stuff..smaller ones for other holidays...Valentines, St Patrick's, Easter, July 1st( Canada Day)...well, you get the picture...I decorate for lots of holidays. I store these boxes and bins in my storage room (formerly a spare bedroom, you may have a garage or similar)