Spring home by The Southern Illinoisan

HOME STYLE The Southern Illinoisan | March 21, 2014

Exterior Expert The ins and outs of outdoor upkeep

Toolbox Upgrade To be a true home expert, invest in some grown-up tools

THE

HANDYMAN CAN

Save money (and time!) with proactive home care and cleaning habits

Dusting for Dollars Home Maintenance Calendar GETTY IMAGES

Home Maintenance Calendar ‌ o you tend to forget important home maintenance D checks? We’ve compiled the major tasks, concentrated in Spring and Fall, to make them easy to remember. Post this calendar in your kitchen for all to see. Or, add the items to your personal calendar to ensure that no small task goes undone.

Spring Maintenance

KEY Appliance

It helps to attach each month’s chores to a date that’s memorable, for instance, the date of a recurring credit card payment.

Exterior Building Integrity Safety Cold-Weather Climate

Fall Maintenance SEPTEMBER

MARCH

Clean the chimney and fireplace

C heck smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers (Experts recommend this twice a year, coinciding with the Daylight Savings switch – March 9 this year)

Schedule A/C or furnace check Pump septic tank

Schedule A/C or furnace check ater heater – flush sediment W and check anode rod

OCTOBER Check outdoor faucets and drains

APRIL

ake down window screens, T weatherstrip doors and windows

Wash windows

B leed radiators (steam-heat homes only)

Put up window screens/ screen doors

Remove air conditioners

R everse any weatherproofing measures you took before winter

Check attic for insulation C heck roof & chimney for leaks and issues

MAY C heck basement for leaks and cracks

Trim trees and shrubs

NOVEMBER Clean (and store) garden tools

Check outside walls for damage

Clean (and store) patio furniture

Clean gutters and downspouts

C lean deck (pressure wash or otherwise)

C heck smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher (Daylight Savings, Nov. 2)

Clean refrigerator coils

Page 2 Friday, March 21, 2014 The Southern Illinoisan HOME STYLE

BE AN EXTERIOR

One expert recommends that you make a regular trek around your home; try to look at it like a first-time visitor would. That way, you’re more likely to notice things that need to be taken care of. CTW

EXPERT The outside of your home needs as much attention as the components inside. Here’s a rundown of the most important exterior elements to maintain.

DAN RAFTER

M CTW FEATURES

ore people will see the outside of a home than will ever see the interior. Beyond pure vanity, though, maintaining a beautiful home exterior will keep the structure sound and ensure

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Driveways‌

FROM PAGE 3

Clogged gutters aren’t just an aesthetic problem. If water puddles near the home, it could lead to costly water damage.

a healthy resale value. It’s puzzling, then, how it can be so easy to neglect the home exterior. One culprit could be a lack of attention, says Sabine Schoenberg, founder of Greenwich, Ct.-based home improvement site SabinesHome.com. “You don’t catch whether your driveways or gutters are in bad shape because you go into ‘auto mode’ when you come home for the day,” Schoenberg says. “You come home so often, that you don’t pay attention to what’s around you.” Fortunately, there is an easy way to solve this: Every month or every quarter, view your home as if you’re a firsttime visitor. “Every so often you should go around and perform your own visual home inspection,” Schoenberg says. “I know we are all busy, but if you look at your home like a visitor would, you’re more likely to find the cracks in the foundation, the cracks around the windows and the stains in the driveway.” Here, home maintenance experts give tips on how to stay on top of exterior issues:

GREENER GARDENING

Lynda Lyday, a contractor, carpenter and home-improvement author, says that driveways are often one of the most neglected areas of a home. That’s because they are outside in the heat or cold 24/7. “I’m a big believer in the pressure washer,” Lyday says. “That’s especially true for the concrete driveway.” Lyday recommends that homeowners should pressure-wash their driveways every few months to wash away oil stains and other unsightly messes. It’s equally important for homeowners to apply new sealer to their blacktop driveways every two years to keep cracks from forming.

Gutters‌

It’s important for homeowners to clean their gutters at least once every season. Stopped gutters can cause water to puddle along the edges of a home. It can be costly if that water leaks into a residence’s basement. Lyday says not to forget the downspouts. Many owners clean their gutters but then forget to unscrew their downspouts and clean out any clogs in them. A clogged downspout can also result in large pools of water around the edge of a home.

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Underground drain lines‌

Schoenberg says that 99 percent of homeowners forget to check their underground drain lines. This could be a costly mistake. In older underground systems, especially those made of clay material, tree roots can clog pipes enough so that they are only working at 20- to 30-percent effectiveness. “That works during most rain events. But if you get a real heavy rain, your whole drainage system might back up into your basement,” Schoenberg says. Homeowners should hire plumbing experts with drain cameras to look for blockages every few years, she says. Owners with older drainage systems should do this every year.

“Exterior maintenance is often about this kind of common-sense approach. You need to keep up with it to prevent it from becoming a bigger job.” Lynda Lyday, a contractor, carpenter and home-improvement author

that homeowners every season use a push broom and garden hose to scrub around the base of their windows. This should remove any vegetation or mildew that builds up around them. For Lyday, taking care of a home’s exterior mostly requires common sense. Decks‌ She believes, for instance, in the power Wood decks suffer when they are of binoculars. exposed to either too much sunlight or “Say you need to check on your guttoo much shade. Schoenberg recommends that homeowners seal their wood ters,” Lyday says. “Get a pair of binoculars and look up into those gutters. decks every few years to preserve the See what is inside them. You might be material and make it last longer. surprised at what you find. Exterior maintenance is often about this kind Windows‌ of common-sense approach. You need It’s easy for windows that face north CTW‌ To fully enjoy an outdoor wood deck, homeowners should seal the wood every few years and to keep up with it to prevent it from to become overgrown with mold and power-wash it when the seasons change. mildew. That’s why Lyday recommends becoming a bigger job.”

the Greenest

yard

‌ he grass isn’t necessarily greener T when you spend more resources on your lawn and garden. Sustainable landscaping can help conserve water and save money, plus you can avoid using expensive and damaging chemicals. Here are some tips for maintaining your gardens with “green” techniques:

Instead of chemical-ridden fertilizers, try natural alternatives, says Sabine Schoenberg, founder of home improvement site SabinesHome. com. Used coffee grounds are especially effective for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, tomato

plants, roses and boxwood shrubs.

Don’t throw away the wood ash from your fireplace, Schoenberg adds. This product works as a natural fertilizer for alkaline-loving plants such lilac bushes, hydrangeas, irises and daisies. It will also help keep rabbits, slugs and other pests away.

Wood ash can help with composting, too. If your compost pile isn’t breaking down fast enough, or if it smells, try spreading some wood ash on it. It will reduce the odor and help break down leaf piles more quickly.

This may seem like it goes without saying, but be judicious about watering the lawn. Only run the sprinklers before the sun comes up or after it goes down to ensure the water won’t simply evaporate off the blades of grass.

Choose native plants to reduce the amount of care they’ll need. For instance, in an arid climate, foreign plants can require a lot of water. Depending on where you live, you might be breaking water-use regulations if you plant the wrong perennials, bushes and trees. — CTW

HOME STYLE The Southern Illinoisan Friday, March 21, 2014 Page 5

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YOUR

Toolbox

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HOME STYLE

Stash Your Stuff

First things first – if you’re making a commitment to nice tools, invest in a sturdy toolbox. Whether it’s canvas, metal or strong plastic, it will keep tools organized and in good shape. The junk drawer or flimsy plastic bags are poor storage solutions for important tools. A real toolbox can save you time instead of wondering, “Where did I leave that?” Roberts says.

hen you’ve moved beyond assembling cheap furniture for your first home, that second-rate toolkit won’t cut it anymore. A proper renovation, DIY proj- On the Level ect or home maintenance task requires Even the nicest framed art can be heavy-duty equipment. ruined by a crooked wallThose who plan more ambitious home mount, but it’s difficult projects can go beyond the standard screwdriver and hammer to make completing them a breeze. “It’s worth it to invest in the higher quality tools because they’re going to last you for a lifetime,” says Alex Roberts, president of Mr. Handyman International LLC in Ann Arbor, Mich. Even when a high-end tool is out of your price range, “I really recommend people buying a mid-grade tool that isn’t cheap plastic,” says Mag Ruffman of the ToolGirl blog. Read on for recommendations that will take your tool collection to the next level.

to determine evenness with the naked eye. Fortunately, “a level can be the deciding factor,” says Lisa Shapot of The Think Tank, an art, construction and design firm in Garnerville, N.Y. Forget the chunky level with hard-to-read bubbles in neon yellow liquid. Use a laser level to hang an assortment of items, such as picture frames, shelves and flat-panel TVs. Roberts recommends a laser level for both its usefulness and compact storage.

‌ ost homeowners don’t have the space for a huge assortment of tools. M Save space and get more out of your toolbox with these multipurpose objects you probably already have laying around. •T ‌ he screwdriver, hammer and pliers are the trifecta of multipurpose toolbox basics. A screwdriver turns into a putty scraper or mini pry bar. Both a hammer and pliers pull out nails, while the latter keeps them in place.

Protect Your Walls‌

“People put a lot of holes in walls,” Roberts says, from hanging shelves to pounding picture frames into place. An electronic stud finder can take the guesswork out of the process. Plus, you can avoid of unsightly pockmarks from a few too many blows from a hammer.

erased) can be the difference between hanging a shelf correctly or doing it twice. Use it as a general tool to scoop, scrape and prod.

• ‌There’s almost no end to duct tape’s uses. Patch up holes, reinforce binding • ‌A paintbrush is great for and make a number of more than just touch-ups. Sweep up debris around your temporary repairs. workspace and use the end to poke through small spaces. • ‌A ball of string or twine can be a lifesaver. Lay out pieces of string to outline ‌• ‌An underrated addition your project or measure to your toolbox is a pencil. objects that don’t neatly fit Small markings (easily

around a ruler. Bring out the rope for planks of wood and larger materials. •C ‌ ut, file, clip, sharpen and perform dozens of other actions with a real “multitool” like a Swiss Army knife. — CTW Features

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Stay Safe‌

No toolbox would be complete without the right safety products. Protect your eyes with highquality goggles, your ears with earplugs, your hands with thick but pliant gloves and your nose and mouth with a mask, depending on the project. Think ahead for which safety supplies you’ll need in a bind – electrical tape, for example. “Very often you see a live wire you don’t know what to do with. The best thing to do is take the electrical tape to cover it up,” says Sindi Landman, Shapot’s partner at The Think Tank. Have a little one at home? Keep chemicals, blades and pointed edges tucked away with child-safe locks, and always have a first-aid kit nearby.

See the Light‌

Whether the power goes out in a storm or a project calls for investigating a hard-to-see corner, a good flashlight is crucial. Especially in the event of an emergency, you don’t want to find yourself without a reliable light source. Reliability is one reason that tool experts say you shouldn’t skimp on a cheap flashlight.

Pry It Open‌

Got a stubborn door that won’t stay shut or open wide enough? A good pry bar should do the trick. Its skinny flat blade gets into the toughest spots around the home. “You always have a door sticking where you have to pry something off,” Ruffman says. The same goes for tricky cabinets and drawers. A pry bar also does double-duty by removing nails from objects.

People TO THE

Page 8 Friday, March 21, 2014 The Southern Illinoisan HOME STYLE

Odds and Ends‌

Don’t forget to stock your toolkit with the vital bits and pieces to complete your projects. Always keep enough fasteners, nails, screws and bolts on hand, and place them all in separate compartments to keep them neat. Shapot calls Elmer’s Glue an indispensable tool, but your project might call for rubber cement, which is perfect for paper, or heavy-duty super glue that can bind materials like metal and wood.

‌Home improvement blogger Mag Ruffman knows that many people fear power tools. But as an expert well versed in all things home improvement and renovation, she encourages everyone to give power tools a shot. An electric drill gets the job done faster, and it also can be used for more than one purpose. Shut off the power and it becomes a

manual screwdriver. Add a paddle attachment, and mixing paint becomes a breeze. When used properly, electric saws need not be feared, either. Neither will break the bank for most DIYers. Ruffman especially likes cordless tools for the freedom that they allow users. “You’re not tethered to a workbench,” she says. — CTW Features

GET YOUR

GARAGEGEAR IN

You call that oversized junk drawer a garage? Reality check: It’s time to organize and make the most of your space.

everything,” says Scott Roewer, a Washington D.C.-based professional organizer at Solutions by Scott LLC. Pick up and then deposit in bags or boxes labeled as “trash,” “donate,” “recycle” or “keep.” The “keep” pile can be divided into like categories, such as garden or sports equipment. An “undecided” box as well as a “to be repaired” bin can be helpful, too, Roewer says. Everything should go into a box or bag, and then set in one area of the garage or in the driveway. Check the weather report before leaving things outside, cautions Lee. The floor usually requires a washing down, and “you may want to brighten up everything with a paint specially made for garages,” Lee adds.

MARILYN KENNEDY MELIA

‌W CTW FEATURES‌

hen it comes to cleaning the house, many tools and sundry items wind up in the garage. If your garage, like many others, is not particularly organized, those items may never be found again. In a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, Lehigh Consumer Products LLC found that not only does garage clutter annoy homeowners, it is literally a pain: Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they tripped over garage items, and 27 percent had hit an object opening their car door. The key to making the most of this space is to keep it clean and organized.

Time It Right‌

The changing of the seasons is a great time to look into your messy garage. Whether you roll the task into spring cleaning or use a fine autumn day when you put away lawn and garden tools, a scheduled once-over of this perennially disorganized space is due. It takes at least a day, maybe more if you choose to paint or install shelves or other organizational systems, says Lisa Jacobs, New York-based professional

A New Plan‌

Specialty storage is available for everything, from bike racks to tiny boxes for odds and ends.

organizer at Imagine It Done. The garage and basement are usually the two biggest repositories of clutter in any home, Jacobs says. “Getting started is the worst part. It can feel very overwhelming.” It may be tempting to browse the wide array of organization products (from specialized shelving to motorized lifts that store items close to the ceiling) before tackling the collected junk. But, experts say a sort-and-purge of existing clutter should be the first step.

Get Prepped‌

All it takes is one motivated person to tackle the job, but it’s probably better if two people can work together, says Denise Lee, National Association of

CTW‌

Professional Organizers, St. Louis chapter president. Heavy objects might require two lifters, plus, it helps to have a second opinion on sorting decisions, Lee explains. Anyone pitching in should take safety precautions. Gloves with rubber or leather palms protect against cuts, and eye protection and breathing masks may be necessary if there’s lots of dirt and dust, Lee says. An ample supply of contractor-quality trash bags (available at hardware stores) and empty boxes are also necessary for the organizing ahead.

Smart Sorting‌

“The aim is to touch each item in the garage just once as you’re clearing out

Now, the work switches from physical to cerebral. “Consider where you should place things,” Lee says. Frequently used items should be accessible. Things that need to be loaded and unloaded into the trunk frequently, like sports equipment, Roewer says, should be near the car. Things that must remain out of reach from kids should be placed high. For those who decide the garage could descend into clutter again without better storage, a bevy of do-it-yourself as well as professionally installed shelving, cabinets, tool tables and the like are available. Among the favorites of professional organizers interviewed for this story: The Garage Zones by Closet Maid, HyLoft, Gladiator GarageWorks by Whirlpool Corp. and the elfa garage systems offered by The Container Store, all of which are available at retail locations throughout North America.

HOME STYLE The Southern Illinoisan Friday, March 21, 2014 Page 9

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Page 10 Friday, March 21, 2014 The Southern Illinoisan HOME STYLE

Drains

ALYSSA KARAS

CTW FEATURES

Dusting FOR

Dollars

Regular cleaning habits will keep your home running as smoothly as a well-oiled machine

f regular cleaning tasks sound tedious to you, imagine a home appliance giving out while your in-laws are visiting. “The hot water heater will usually expire when you need it the most, during the holiday season when everybody’s using it,” says Glenn Haege, host of the popular radio program “The Handyman Show with Glenn Haege” in Michigan. With some regular upkeep, many of these disruptions can be avoided. “Preventative maintenance is always less expensive … than when something breaks down,” Haege says. “It usually breaks down when it’s a stress period, like extreme weather.” Here are some items that need regular cleaning, plus a few of the unexpected materials (Tang and food coloring?) you can use to make them shine.

Dryer Vents

Preventive maintenance is always less expense than dealing with something when it breaks down.

CTW

“Obviously people should be careful [of] what goes down their pipes so that you’re not putting excessive food or grease down there,” says Julia Strzesieski, marketing coordinator at Cole Hardware, based in San Francisco. In addition, maintain the diameter of the drains, where things like hair and soap can build up. Drain openers can be too harsh for this job, so pour one cup of a solution containing bacteria and enzymes down the drain once a month, Haege says, to keep drain walls clean.

Driveways and Walkways

If you live in a cold climate, melted snow can seep into cracks in driveways and sidewalks. If it refreezes, it can break up concrete even more. Maintenance doesn’t end with winter weather. “Hose down your driveway and those flatwork areas to get the salt out of them so they don’t continue to break up over the summer,” Schloegel says.

Cleaning out the dryer Toilets vent is important for Here’s a fun one. the machine, but it’s Take leftover food colalso a necessary safety oring from baking or precaution. Lint can cooking projects, Haege build up and clog the says. “Pour it in the dryer vent, which can back of the toilet and cause fires. “That’s one wait three hours.” of the largest reasons Then, if the color CTW for insurance claims in leaks from the tank into Keep grease and food out of the the United States,” says the toilet bowl, it’s time drain as much as possible. Regular Charlie Schloegel, gento replace the flapdrain cleaning can prevent expeneral manager at Schloeper ball. Maintaining sive plumbing costs down the road. gel Property Solutions, this will save houseKansas City, Mo. holds a few dollars You can buy a brush every month. kit and DIY, or hire a professional. Either way, sweep the line from the back of Refrigerators the dryer to the exterior, and then run a “One of the biggest culprits of failure vacuum hose to pull out additional lint, on a refrigerator is a condenser motor,” Schloegel says. Haege says. At least twice a year, clean the dust off of the condenser coil, which is located underneath or on the back of Dishwashers the refrigerator, depending on the model. If dishes are coming out of the dishDon’t forget to disconnect the power first. water streaked or filmy, it’s time for a deep cleaning. The product for the job is surprising: Locks Tang orange drink mix. In the wintertime, use a dry lubricant The citric acid breaks down excess on car and garage door locks. This will deposits in the dishwasher, Haege says. keep moisture away and allow locks to Dump the entire jar of dry mix into the move freely, Haege says. This is particudishwasher and run it. Do this two to larly useful for garage doors. “The hinges four times a year, he says, depending on of the door need lubricity in the winterwhether or not you have a water softener. time, or it puts a strain on the motor.”

HOME STYLE

The Southern Illinoisan

Friday, March 21, 2014

Page 11

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