How to 7-15

Make simple work of

Household chores

Get a

Better night’s sleep Make the most of

Small living spaces

a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • july 15, 2016

32 How to Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016

Come In & Celebrate With Us Saturday, Sept. 10th For Our 70th Anniversary

Eileen and Ronnie Blank Slate Media’s

Best of the North Shore Blank Slate Media BSMBestoftheNorthShore.com

Eileen and Ronnie, the owners of Bobb Howard’s Auto Repair Shop and General Store, are a couple of baby boomers who grew up on Long Island playing hopscotch and hide-andseek, stickball and stoopball, flipping baseball cards and jacks, and playing hit the penny and spin the bottle...

This family owned and operated auto repair business was opened 70 years ago on Columbus Day, 1946, by Eileen’s parents. Today, as in 1946, old-time values continue to be followed they perform oil changes to motor changes, and everything in-between, and each automobile gets vacuumed, has its windows washed, and you get a “sweet treat” from their General Store too!

AND, they don’t charge to put air in your tires!!!...

They opened the General Store about 23 years ago, when Eileen, noticing the frenetic pace of today’s computerized world, decided it was time to go back to a simpler time, to have people remember what it felt like to be a “kid in a candy store” again, and go back to a time when games didn’t require batteries - a place where kids of all ages could come and browse and giggle with nostalgic memories. The store now has over 1000 retro candies and toys and ships

Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Shop since 1946

“packages of memories” all over the world...

People often comment on the combination of the two businesses, but for Eileen and Ronnie it is a natural extension of the things they love.

Cleanliness, honesty and integrity are of utmost importance to them, traits that were passed down to them by Eileen’s parents. There is also an awards program set up each year at the New Hyde Park High School in Eileen’s parents‘ memories, not for the smartest kids in the class, but for the kids that “try the hardest” - that’s all her parents ever asked of her....

Both the Auto Repair Shop and the General Store have won numerous awards, including Best Auto Repair Shop, Best Service Station, Best Muffler Shop, Best Party Supply Store, Best Candy Store, Best Collectible Store, Best Toy Store, “One of the 101 Places to Take Your Family”, and “Family Friendly Favorite”, but the one they are the most proud of is the award they won for BEST MOM and POP BUSINESS on LONG ISLAND!!! Eileen and Ronnie feel very blessed and incredibly lucky: they love what they do, they love coming to work everyday, and they love working with “kids” and “kids at heart” in both the Auto Repair Shop and the General Store - it must be a “generational thing”...

WE SELL “OLD” CANDY

bobb howard’s auto repair shop bobb howard’s general store www.bobbhowardsautorepair.com

www.bobbhowardgeneralstore.com

581 Lakeville Road • New Hyde Park • (516) 488-7996 • Mon. - Sat. 7:30am - 6pm

News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016 • How to Guide

33

Wax Lips, Candy Buttons, Astro Pops, Black Jack Gum, & Fizzies?

Bonomos Turkish Taffy, Dubble Bubble, BB Bats, & Fruit Stripe Gum? Zotz, Nik-L-Nips, Regal Crown Cherry Sours & Pine Bros. Cough Drops?…

Slinky, Wooden Tops, Duncan YoYos, Jacks & the Booby Trap Game?

“Spaldeens”, Gyroscopes, Wacky Packs, Bozo, & Howdy Doody?

Come visit our “ General store” filled with over 1000 retro candies and toys…and see why we were voted

“ THE BEST” 6 YEARS IN A ROW

Kids’ Party Favors, Family/School Reunions “ Going to Someone’s House”, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet16s, College Survival Kits, “ Thank You” Presents, Business Baskets, Weddings/Showers

FEATURED IN: Newsday, Parent Magazine HEARD & SEEN ON: Fox 5 News, KJoy 98.3, News 12 & Fios 1

CAMP BUNK JUNK

WE PERFORM OIL CHANGES TO ENGINE CHANGES & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!

Old Fashioned Service

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AUTO REPAIR SHOP SINCE 1946 Our Parents Always Told Us: “ IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE A FAIR DEAL, THEY WILL NOTICE ” Thank you for noticing our hard work, cleanliness, honesty and integrity…

NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD or LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE? Stop in to our 70 year old family-owned & operated Auto Repair Shop… See why we were voted:

“THE BEST” 6 YEARS IN A ROW! 581 LAKEVILLE RD., NEW HYDE PARK • 516-488-7996 (Halfway between Hillside Ave. & Jericho Tpke.) www.bobbhowardsautorepair.com

Need a ride locally to your home, work or train?

No problem ...

OPEN 6 FULL DAYS MON.-SAT. 7:30-5

Ask About Our BUY 3 GET 1 FREE PROGRAM… Don’t forget to check out our award winning General Store for a bunch of nostalgic memories!

34 How to Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016

How to make your dishwasher work better

Make simple work of household chores

T

he dishwasher is an unsung hero of many a kitchen. When a dishwasher is working properly, it can make fast clean-up of scores of dishes, silverware and glasses.

•

There are many ways to make the job of cleaning your home a lot less daunting.

M

aintaining a clean and orderly home can sometimes be overwhelming. Homeowners juggling the responsibilities of work and family may find they have little energy for everyday household chores. But homeowners can employ some simple strategies to keep their homes clean and orderly without taking up too much of their time.

• Enlist a buddy. Work goes much more quickly if you have someone to help you.

Make a list of all the jobs that need to be done and then split them among your cleaning helpers. Kids can get involved by taking care of the simpler tasks, such as dusting or wiping down counters.

• Clean from top to bottom. Dust and dirt will settle at the lowest possible points, so do not create extra work for yourself by cleaning floors and other surfaces and then dusting off shelves or cleaning cobwebs from the ceiling.

Always work your way downward when cleaning your home.

• Keep stray item baskets in main rooms. Items from other rooms will inadvertently gravitate to places where your family spends most of its time. Cleaning takes a lot longer if you’re constantly interrupting your tasks to put things where they belong. Instead, toss them into a catch-all basket and make your rounds to other rooms at the end of the cleaning session.

Try a chore each day. Some cleaning enthusiasts advocate performing a different chore each day. Breaking cleaning down into more manageable chunks can make the task of cleaning a home a lot less daunting.

• Keep cleaning items in the bathroom. Bathrooms get daily use, and they need a lot of attention. Store a set of cleaning tools and cleansers in the bathroom so they will always be at the ready. Consider keeping a spray bottle of a bleach-and-water solution or mildew cleaner near the shower so you can simply spray down the walls right after showering.

As handy as dishwashers can be, sometimes they seem to lose their cleaning power. While inadequate cleaning may indicate the time has come to replace the dishwasher, many times all the appliance needs is a little maintenance and TLC. Begin by investigating the interior of the dishwasher. Check for any visible food particles or debris, cleaning out any food traps at the bottom of the dishwasher. The matlike item at the bottom is called the coarse filter and is meant to catch big particles that could prevent your tub from draining. Don’t forget to clean the rubber seals around

the perimeter of the dishwasher where the door meets up with the tub of the dishwasher, as this is a prime location for debris to gather.

Running an empty dishwasher with a clarifying rinse can help wash away any residue and improve performance. Plus, this maintenance task can remove odors and refresh the dishwasher. Put two cups of white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher so that it will distribute through the appliance during the cleaning cycles. White vinegar will naturally break down old dishwasher soap and scale buildup inside of the unit. Consider a short rinse afterward with some baking soda to remove odors and scour the interior of the appliance as well. Baking soda and vinegar are popular cleaning substances and are safe to use

For more intense cleaning, create a bath of vinegar and water in your sink basin. Remove parts from the dishwasher, such as shelving and the utensil holder, so that they can soak in the solution.

Some dishwashers have removable spinning cleaning arms. Take these off, if possible, and let them soak to dislodge any residue that has clogged the water jets.

Use a pipe cleaner or another flexible device to carefully remove any debris from the water holes. You may be amazed at what has built up in these small holes.

You also may need to inspect the drain line, which is often made of plastic and connected to the trap under the kitchen sink. On occasion, this tube can get blocked and prevent the dishwasher from draining effectively.

In addition to these cleaning techniques, using a rinse agent may help the dishwasher work better.

According to Jet Dry, the maker of a popular rinse agent, rinse agents help your dishwasher rinse away residue that causes spots and film on dishes and glasses. They are designed to lower the surface tension of the water, causing it to sheet off the dishes during the final rinse.

This prevents the formation of droplets of water that can remain on the surface of the dishes and form spots and film.

• Multitask as much as possible.

Multitasking works at the office, and such an approach also can pay dividends when cleaning your home. For example, unload the dishwasher while your lunch is heating up in the microwave. This saves you some time and makes use of the time you would otherwise be standing around.

• Do laundry daily. Laundry can quickly sneak up on you, especially in a busy household. Instead of devoting an entire day to doing laundry, try to do one full load per day. This will make the pile of dirty clothes much more manageable and ensure that you and your family members always have some clean clothes available.

Find a cleaning schedule that works and then stick with it, and soon you will discover that maintaining a clean and orderly home is not so difficult after all.

around food items.

Dishwashers do a lot of cleaning, but they also must be cleaned in order to work effectively.

Maintaining a dishwasher with regular cleaning can help it perform better during each and every load.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016 • How to Guide

Simple techniques to help you relax

How to get a better night’s sleep

T F

inding ways to relax can improve life at home and at the office.

While it’s not often easy to find time to slow down, especially for those men and women juggling the responsibilities of career and family, the following are some simple techniques that don’t take much time but can have a positive impact on your day.

• Take some time out from multitasking. The ability to multitask is a cherished commodity for parents and working professionals alike, but men and women can benefit from periodic breaks from their everyday juggling acts. Something as simple as focusing on a single task for 30 minutes at a time, as opposed to checking emails while preparing dinner or working on a project while answering a client’s phone call, can help lower stress levels and have a lasting and calming effect on your nerves.

• Make time to meditate every day.

Studies have shown that meditation can affect the circuitry in the brain, positioning it to more adequately respond to illness and stressful situations.

Meditation has the added benefit of being a relaxing exercise, as meditation

he National Sleep Foundation notes that adults between the ages of 26 and 64 need an average of seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Such a sleep schedule may be ideal, but many adults juggling work and family find it difficult to get seven hours of sleep per night, much less eight or nine.

encourages people to sit with their feet on the floor with both eyes closed in a relaxing setting that is free of external distractions.

• Walk away from your desk and couch. It’s well documented that spending too much time sitting at a desk can have a negative impact on your health. In addition to elevating a person’s risk of heart disease and diabetes, sitting at a desk all day long has been linked to repetitive stress injuries, obesity and back pain, each of which can contribute to stressful living conditions that make it difficult to relax. Men and women should spend at least five minutes each hour walking, whether they are getting up from their desk at work or getting off the couch at home.

Doing so takes little time, but it can help to relieve stress at work and at home and improve your overall health.

• Practice yoga. Yoga is another activity that can help men and women relax.

Yoga involves a series of poses that helps stretch the muscles and aid their recovery from everyday aches and pains, including those that often result from stressful experiences or days at the office.

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While there may not be any way for adults to get more sack time at night, there are ways for men and women to get a better night’s rest so they can approach each day with as much energy as possible.

• Stick to a schedule. Keeping a sporadic sleeping schedule can make it difficult to get the kind of restorative sleep that can help you maintain adequate energy levels throughout the day. To ensure you get a better night’s sleep, go to sleep at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each day. Try to stay true to your sleep schedule on weekends, resisting the temptation to sleep in later or stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Nap effectively. Men and women who have the time to sneak in a nap may find that napping is a more effective way to make up for inadequate sleep than sleeping in late in the morning. Effective napping allows men and women to recharge without affecting their ability to fall asleep at night. Napping in the early afternoon and keeping nap time to between 20 and 30 minutes can provide the energy boost you need and help you make it through the after-dinner hours without feeling drowsy. Such drowsiness can lead to post-dinner periods of dozing that can make it difficult to fall asleep come bedtime.

• Adopt a nighttime ritual. The NSF notes that a relaxing nighttime ritual that is noticeably different from the hustle and bustle of the rest of your day can help your body adjust for sleep, increasing the chance that you will get a more restful night’s sleep. Relaxing ways to unwind before climbing into to bed to fall asleep including reading a book, listening to calming music or taking a warm bath. Once you find something that works, stick with it.

• Find time to exercise. Studies have shown that men and women who exercise regularly benefit from more restful nights’ sleep. Finding the right time to exercise is essential, as many people find that exercising right before bed elevates their heart and stimulates their body in ways that make it difficult to fall asleep. Exercising in the early morning can provide more energy throughout the day, and come bedtime your body might be more ready to fall asleep.

However, if you find yourself exercising at the expense of your sleep, try to find another time to get your workout in.

• Ensure your bedroom is sleepfriendly. The NSF recommends maintaining a relatively cool temperature between 60 and 67 F in your bedroom for sleeping. In addition, eliminate any potential distractions, such as light and noise, that can negatively affect your ability to fall asleep. Humidifiers, eye shades or even machines that generate white noise can effectively counter any distractions that you cannot get rid of on your own.

A good night’s sleep is essential to human health. Men and women struggling to get adequate, beneficial sleep can employ a host of strategies to improve their quality of life.

40 How to Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016

How To Protect Your Car Paint From Fading & Chipping Protecting your vehicle's paint job is an important part of maintaining its appearance and value. Every vehicle has a clear, top coat that gives it a glossy appearance and protects the underlying color. Damage to this top coat can quickly cause the paint to peel and spread to the colored paint layers underneath. Taking proper care of your vehicle's paint job can prevent scratches and rust while giving the vehicle a beautiful appearance. * Wash your vehicle every two weeks.

Regularly washing your vehicle with standard car soap and soft sponges removes harsh substances which cause damage to the paint. Use a regular water hose with a medium flow to avoid applying too much pressure to the vehicle's paint. * Rinse the vehicle's undercarriage and tires weekly.

Debris are prone to these areas which can cause unseen scratches and rust damage to the vehicle. This damage can quickly spread

to the more visible areas and result in a costly repair job. * Dry the car with towels immediately following each car wash.

Allowing the car to air-dry softens the paint and causes rust and water spots. * Wax your vehicle once a month.

Purchase a wax specific for your vehicle's color finish and use a soft cloth to apply. Follow the product's instructions for properly applying the wax to your vehicle. Use a buffing cloth to gently rub the wax into the vehicle's surface until it

is no longer visible. * Protect your vehicle from weather damage by parking it in a covered area.

The sun can fade your paint and promote peeling while other weather, such as rain, sleet or snow, can scratch the paint. If there is not a covered area available, parking your vehicle in the shade will reduce the sun's effects. * Repair any small scratches to your vehicle with a matching touch-up paint.

Follow the paint's instruction for correct application.

This is easily accomplished but may need to be repeated often. For large scratches or rust spots, consult a professional auto body mechanic or detailer to repair the damage. * Purchase a sealant to protect your vehicle's paint.

A professional can apply the sealant which protects your car from rust damage.

According to G&R Body Shop, a five-year warranty normally accompanies this protective sealant.

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News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016 • How to Guide

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42 How to Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, July 15, 2016

Redefine a space with an interior decorator’s help

Make the most of small living spaces

have no idea where to begin when attempting to establish flow from room to room in their homes. Decorators can help homeowners tailor the interiors of their homes to the homes produce the desired vibe.

Hiring a designer can help a person avoid making potentially costly design errors. An aesthetically appealing house also can increase the home’s value, setting a property above others in terms of appeal. Even though the designer will charge a fee, the investment may be well worth the expense when the room is done right the first time.

T

hough it may seem like interior decorators are a luxury reserved exclusively for the rich and famous, interior decorators work with people of all budgets. Homeowners sometimes wrestle with the practicality of hiring a decorator, wondering why they should spend the money when they can do the work themselves. But just like homeowners may hire professional electricians or landscapers, hiring a professional interior decorator can ensure the job is done right, within budget and completed within a reasonable amount of time.

Those who have already invested quite a bit of money into their homes but want to add some finishing touches would be wise to hire interior decorators or designers. Homeowners often

Interior decorators have numerous resources at their disposal. Fine tuned to the world of design, they understand which trends will come and go and also which design ideas have staying power. In addition, decorators will be in touch with vendors in the industry, connecting homeowners with the best of the best in terms of providing furniture, housewares, photography, and additional special touches that help make a house a home.

In addition to expertise and resources, interior decorators have eyes that will be trained on things homeowners may not have noticed or even realized can be done. A designer may envision removing a room to create more space or knocking a wall down to let more natural light into a room.

Designers and decorators are trained to think differently and spatially to achieve concepts homeowners may never have envisioned for themselves.

They can help tell stories through design and improve spaces immeasurably.

T

iny houses are a recent phenomenon and have spurred many businesses — from builders to decorating experts — looking to connect with consumers who want to go small. The small house movement advocates for living simply in small homes, some of which can be as small as 100 square feet or less.

Although living in a tiny house is not for everyone, many people prefer smallspace living to living in larger, more spacious homes and apartments. For those looking to make the most of their small living spaces, there are ways to make such living arrangements feel larger.

• Light is your friend. Establish adequate lighting in a room that includes at least three working lights. Varied light sources from different angles will eliminate dark corners and shadows that can make a space feel smaller.

Lighting also can draw the eye where you want it and distract attention from the room’s flaws.

• Make use of vertical space. Homes where space is at a premium may have limited storage areas. An often-overlooked storage option is vertical space.

Space above doors, shelving, and areas above cabinetry are ideal places to store items. Use hooks on walls to keep belongings off the floor.

• Choose light-colored paint. Choose lighter hues for your home furnishings and wall colors. You do not have to limit this to white (unless landlords require white walls). Pale colors will help reflect light and can make the room seem larger than it really is. Using a dark color on the flooring can make other lighter shades really pop in contrast.

• Conceal the clutter. If you cannot keep personal belongings to the utmost

minimum in a home, experiment with clever ways to keep items out of sight.

Furniture that serves dual purposes can help with this task. Storage ottomans will conceal small toys or linens and also provide seating options in a room when guests come over. A dresser can be used as a dining room buffet piece, and the numerous drawers can hold knickknacks or silverware.

Furniture with built-in, hidden storage is well worth the investment when living spaces are limited.

• Create dual-purpose rooms. Lack of space means getting creative with the space you do have. A nook in your bedroom can be devoted to a miniature home office. Perhaps you can establish a crafting center in a portion of your laundry room. Garages have long served as catch-all spaces in homes.

Apart from storage, they can be subdivided for home gyms or even a place to gather and watch a ballgame.

• Hang mirrors to “expand” rooms.

Mirrors can trick the eye into believing there is more space in a room. Mirrors melt away room borders and can accelerate the flow of light. Hanging them throughout your home can make spaces seem larger.

• Think about built-in furniture.

Traditional furniture may not be practical for small spaces and can waste a lot of room. Custom-built furniture is often the way to go to maximize the area you do have. Employ a little do-ityourself initiative as well, customizing items for the perfect fit.

• Work with a designer. If you’re having difficulty making a small space work for you, consult with an interior designer or a contractor for some ideas.