Home Improvement 2015
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Are Your Spring Cleaning Products Safe? (StatePoint) Do you know what ingredients are in the cleaning products you buy? Probably not, as there are no federal governmental regulations requiring companies to disclose their contents. But harsh chemicals can take their toll on the indoor air quality of your home, are harmful to the environment and may irritate eyes and skin. So how can you learn more about the cleaning products you plan to purchase? Luckily, certain retailers are making it easier for consumers to make informed decisions. For example, in 2011 Whole Foods Market introduced the Eco-Scale Rating System, which are the first household cleaner standards offered by a retailer. This season, don’t just spring clean your home; take stock of your cleaners and clean up your entire act. By opting for green clean-
(c) Konstantin Yuganov - Fotolia.com
ing products, you can help make your home a safer, healthier place. Here’s how: • Do an audit: Take a look at the cleaning products you currently own. Just because a brand or product is well known does not make it a healthy option. A quick Internet search can reveal the safety attributes of a product’s ingredients -- so long as the manufacturer has chosen to disclose ingredients. Toss anything problematic and make a shopping list of what you need to replace. • Full disclosure: Avoid cleaning products that don’t disclose what ingredients they use. Look for brands, such as 365 Everyday Value, that make it easy for you to know what ingredients are being used in the product you’re purchasing.
• Be informed: Know what ingredients to avoid entirely. Harsh ingredients like formaldehyde and chlorine can still be found in cleaning products today. Don’t know where to start? Take a look at the list of more than 40 ingredients that aren’t allowed in Whole Foods Market’s cleaning products, including chlorine, formaldehyde, phosphates, phthalates and triclosan. • Lock-up: No matter the contents of your cleaners, it’s good practice to keep them stored in a safe place, such as a locked cabinet. Young children and pets should not be able to access your cleaning products supply. • Do it yourself: A quick and easy way to know exactly what’s in your cleaning products is to make them yourself. Luckily, only a few inexpensive ingredi-
ents are needed to make your own all-purpose cleaner. Simply mix one part water with one part vinegar, add a few drops of your favorite pure essential oil, and you have an all-purpose spray. Baking soda is another great cleaner that has a mild scrubbing power and helps combat odors. Don’t have the time to make your own cleaner? The Eco-Scale Rating system evaluates products for environmental impact, safety, efficacy, source, labeling and animal testing. Visit WholeFoodsMarket.com/ ecoscale to learn more. If you’re using conventional cleaning supplies, you may be exposing your family to harmful ingredients. By learning more about the products you use, you can green your spring cleaning, for a healthier home.
SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT is published by the Stevens Point Journal. Contents of the section are for Stevens Point Journal. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of Stevens Point Journal. For information, contact Steve Tuman at 715-345-2051 or email stuman@Wausau.Gannett.com.
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HOME & GARDEN
Time-Saving Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home’s Outdoor Spaces (StatePoint) It’s time to prep your home’s outdoor spaces for the season ahead. From the yard to the garage to the deck, getting these areas tidy is all part of a thorough spring clean. Here are some tips to make the process faster and easier. De-Clutter Your Workspace Your shed, your garage, your toolbox -- it’s time to take stock of what you’re storing in these key areas. Broken tools, piles of junk – these are items that will get in your way and slow you down all season long.
So before you get to the nitty gritty of your outdoor spring clean, take the time to organize your workspace. Throw out what is junk, donate what you aren’t using, and organize the rest into categories. Vertical storage can save crucial room, so install tall shelves and use walls and the ceiling to install organizational systems. Now is also a great opportunity to perform routine maintenance on your lawn equipment and tools to improve their efficiency. Identify Multitasking Tools
Check out innovations on old tools that can make your versatile workload easier. For example, you can upgrade your conventional pressure washer for a newer model with more diverse functionality. For example, Briggs & Stratton’s new POWERflow+ Pressure Washer technology has one pump with two separate cleaning modes -- high pressure and high flow, which work for different tasks. Remember, different surfaces require different cleaning techniques.
Whether you’re cleaning up tough mold and mildew stains from your deck or patio or washing the more delicate surface of your car, you can switch modes or apply soap directly from the nozzle. This feature eliminates the need for switching attachments or walking back to the pressure washer, making an afternoon of diverse to-dos manageable. Just be sure you’re using the proper mode for the task. Tips and instructional videos can be found at www.PowerTIME SAVING CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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HOME & GARDEN
Create a Healthy Ecosystem in Your Own Yard (StatePoint) This season, help promote a healthy ecosystem by learning to identify and control damaging plants and insects in your yard. Information about common invasive species and backyard invaders is now being offered by Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE): Invasive Plants Invasive weeds can outcompete native species, changing the local ecosystem. Many varieties, first introduced as flora to plant in gardens, can be confused with similar, native varieties. Here are two common damaging ones to watch out for: • Purple Loosestrife, native to Europe and Asia, is found in most states. One plant can produce more than two million seeds annually. • Native to China, the Tree-ofHeaven was widely planted as an ornamental plant for many years and is often confused with other trees having similar leaves, such as black walnut, butternut, and most sumac. Invasive Insects Invasive insects can also have a severe negative impact on native species by out-competing them for food and resources. Many also cause and carry disease and prey on native species.
Two common ones to look out for include: • Emerald Ash Borer, native to Asia, is prominently found across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeastern United States. The larvae do the most damage, killing ash trees by feeding on the inner bark. • Zebra Mussel, native to lakes in southern Russia, is found in hundreds of waterways throughout the United States. The species commonly clog water intakes, damage boats, and can cause cuts and scrapes if they grow on rocks, swim rafts, and ladders. Backyard Pests Did you know native plants and insects can cause damage too? • Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Left untreated, Lyme disease infects the joints, heart, and nervous system. After time spent outdoors, check for ticks, especially in and around your ears, inside your belly button, behind your knees, around your waist, on your scalp, and in your hair. • Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus. While most people may show few symptoms, 20 percent of people
develop a fever along with headaches, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Follow the “three Ds” to protect yourself: Drain standing water; Stay indoors at Dusk and Dawn; Dress in long-sleeves and pants; and use DEET-based mosquito repellent. • Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can lurk in backyards. Almost 85 percent of people develop a rash when they come into contact with these weeds. Control poisonous weeds long-term by carefully digging out the plants while wearing waterproof gloves or treating with a pesticide. Defend your local ecosystem by identifying exotic plants in your garden or yard. Spot invasive weeds and insects in your area? Let your county extension office know, which may have a monitoring and management program in place. For more lawn and garden tips, visit www.DebugTheMyths.com. By being aware of invasive species and other pests in your area, you can help support native species and a healthy ecosystem in your own backyard and neighborhood.
Invasive weeds, such as the Purple Loosestrife, can out-compete native species. (c) Ruud Morijn - Fotolia.com
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stevenspointjournal.com | Thursday, March 26, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
How to Plant Your Garden from Scratch (StatePoint) Planting a garden from scratch can sound like a daunting task, especially for those who are new to the hobby. But with the right knowledge, you can plan a successful, fruitful green space and expect to have a great harvest. One way to get a head start on your garden is to start your seedlings indoors and then transplant them later into an outdoor garden. This time-tested technique can save you hundreds of dollars annually, as young plants at a nursery can be pricey. Here are some tips and tricks to make the most of this method: • Don’t start your indoor plants too soon. They can grow in about four weeks or less if you use a high-quality garden starter. Check seed packages to learn when to plant outdoors in your area, and then start them indoors one month earlier to your transplanting date outdoors. • Consider using a seed-starting system that takes some of the gardening guesswork out of the equation. For example, the Aerogarden Seed Starting system allows you to start up to 66 seedlings indoors with no dirt or mess, nurturing seeds with optimal amounts of water and nutrients for reliable germination and healthy growth. • Add new nutrients to the seedlings every two weeks and keep the water at full level. Feeding your plants more than PLANT YOUR GARDEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Your business could be hanging out with more people. We’ll help you make friends with new customers. Language, technology and media choices are moving fast, and we’ll consult with you to keep you out in front. No one knows Stevens Point and reaches your customers in more places and more ways, including search, email, print, mobile, and social media. But it’s more than just the right marketing tools: It’s knowing how to combine and customize them for your success. You’ll stay ahead of what’s trending for the best ways to build your business.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Gray Trending as a Home Exterior Color
color, look for one that is rich but soft. Deeper shades with a harder edge are great as accents.
(StatePoint) Giving your home’s exterior a fresh look starts with color. And this year, many home improvement trend-spotting experts say the leading color family is gray, with its neutral yet refined elegance.
• Gray comes alive with dramatic accent colors. Paint your door a bold color to create a strong focal point. Use other accent colors to play a secondary role.
“Gray is an important home exterior color because it works equally well on all home styles, from historic to contemporary, and in every part of the country,” says Kate Smith, president and chief color maven of Sensational Color. “Quite versatile, gray tones can range from cool, clear bluish gray to a true neutral gray through a warm French gray or even taupe. With gray, it’s really hard to go wrong.”
• A touch of brass, bronze or copper warms up gray; gold or orange adds a spark of color. • Both warm and cool greens look fresh against gray; from thyme to palm or forest, green naturally brings out the beauty of gray. • Tried and true blue -- soft raindrop, bold blue paisley or admiral blue -- keeps gray fresh and clean.
While you may know whether you like something once it’s in place, achieving a look you love before making a commitment is crucial. Smith is offering tips for picking the perfect hues for your home:
• Light, clear gray is fresh and airy -- just be sure to look for any undertones. What appears as light gray on the swatch could seem light blue or lavender once applied. • If you’re going with dark gray as the main Thursday, March 26, 2015 | stevenspointjournal.com
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• The best gray for your home exterior is one that blends well with your roof and other fixed features, such as brick, stone or permanent design elements. For a middle tone that will work on most homes, look for a classic gray that will never go out of style.
• Go all neutral with gray on gray for a sophisticated scheme.
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shades of gray offered as options for polymer slate and shake roofing tiles at DaVinci Roofscapes. Their newest color, Smokey Gray, reflects a deep, rich blackish gray reminiscent of real slate. Combined with softer gray roofing tones, such as Light Weathered Gray or Slate Gray, you can create a unique roofing profile. For more ways to add gray to the exterior of the home, check out the insights from color expert Kate Smith at www.sensationalcolor.com. For a home update that will signify stability, elegance and dependability, consider going gray.
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TIME SAVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
PLANT YOUR GARDEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
FlowPlus.com. Do Smart Yard Maintenance If you have a larger yard, consider a riding mower to save time and energy on lawn maintenance. Remember not to over mow your lawn. Not only is it not healthy for the grass, it can be a time suck and increase your carbon footprint needlessly. Likewise, only water your lawn and garden when necessary. During periods of rain, you can ease up on this chore. The most efficient times s sines In Bu ears! 30 Y
of day to water your lawn are morning. When the sun is strongest, you will lose more water to evaporation and your work will be for naught. By changing up your lawn care habits, you can save time all season.
• Before transplanting, seedlings need to be hardened off. Skipping this step will almost certainly result in some or all of your plants dying. Hardening off seedlings eases their transition to the outdoors, where they will be exposed to the elements. The process involves gradually exposing plants to the outdoors, protecting them from full sunlight, temperature variations and wind.
While working outdoors can be fun, don’t spend more time than you need to on your household spring cleaning tasks. Finding simple ways to be more efficient will give you more time to enjoy your home’s outdoor spaces.
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the recommended amount will not make them grow faster. In fact, it could hurt the plants.
• Don’t let sprouts get too big before transplanting them outdoors. Ideally they should be about 4-6 inches tall. If possible, wait to plant your seedlings on a cool, cloudy day. If your seedlings get too large before weather will allow transplant-
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ing outdoors, transplant them into small pots with high quality potting soil. Keep fully watered in a sunny space until weather permits transplanting outdoors. • After transplanting seedlings outdoors, be sure to water them daily for the first two weeks, especially if the weather is dry and sunny. • Save and reuse your seed starter tray for the next season. Once the spring plants have been transplanted outdoors, you will be free to get a head start on your summer crop. More tips to start your own seedlings can be found at www.Aerogarden.com. For true green thumb bragging rights, grow your garden from scratch. Just be sure you know the tricks of the trade.
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