Prevent outdoor light bulbs from getting stuck in the socket

Removing outdoor light bulbs that are stuck in the socket can be near impossible to do without breaking the bulb and leaving just the base in the socket. To prevent this lightly coat the threaded base of the bulb with petroleum jelly before you screw it in, when it is time to change it, unscrewing it will not be a problem.

Another fireplace tip

To clean glass fireplace doors use a wet sponge to rub on some wood ashes. Next use a clean sponge to rinse off the glass and the dirt as well.

A green way to ship those Christmas gifts

Instead of using styrofoam peanuts use non-buttered popcorn to fill the spaces in your shipping box. Add a note in the box to the recipient that the popcorn is safe for the birds to eat.

Sharpen your paper shredder blades

Take two pieces of aluminum foil 8 1/2" x 11" and run them through your shredder one at a time. This should sharpen the blades quite well.

Create a scented fire in your fireplace

Place the rinds of an orange or a lemon on a paper towel and let it dry out overnight. When the rinds are thoroughly dry you can put them on the fire to get a wonderful citrus sent. If you don't like the citrus sent, toss a few pine cones on the fire for a woodsy smell.

Traveler's tip

The lost and found at most hotels is a great resource for cell phone users. The number one item left behind by guests is cell phone recharging cords. If you forget yours or lose it chances are good the hotel will have one that works on your phone. They may not give it to you, but will let you use it while you are there.

Storage tip for paint brushes and rollers

Do not lay those brushes and rollers down when in storage – it can deform and damage the bristles and nap. Those holes in the brush handle are there so the brush can be hung up. Put the roller back on the roller frame and hang it up.

Cleaning Water – based paint from a brush &/or roller

In a five gallon bucket add ½ cup of fabric softener for every gallon of warm water. The fabric softener helps dissolve the paint. Swish the brush for 10 to 15 seconds and the roller for 30 seconds. Don’t use dish soap – it gums up the ferrule and bristles. Also, don’t rinse the fabric softener off in fresh water - the softener leaves a coat which will allow the paint to flow effortlessly off the tool. For long jobs, clean your brush every two hours. Rub tool dry with a towel.

Removing red wine

Open another bottle – a bottle of white that is. Quickly blot off the red wine with a paper towel, then neutralize it with the white wine. Finish by whiping it clean with a cold damp cloth. If you are out of white wine work some table salt or baking soda into the stain and dab it off with club soda.

Travel tip for High-Tech gear

Place a sticker with your contact information on any high-tech or electronic gear you are traveling with. If you lose it and are lucky enough to have an honest person find it, that person can get in touch with you to arrange its return.

Removing scuff marks on shoes

Prepare a paste using 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water. Using a clean cloth to apply the paste, wipe off the scuff marks. You can also use a gum eraser (found in stationary and art-supply stores).

Toilet tank maintenance

The flush valve and ballcock in the tank receive a lot of wear and tear. To prolong the replacement of these parts, pour ½ of a 1-pound box of baking soda in the tank once a month at bedtime. When you flush the next morning the tank - and bowl too – should be nice and clean. You can also drop a couple of denture cleansing tablets in the tank and flush in one hour.

Maintaining a clothes washer

Detergent residue builds up in your washer and prevents it from doing its best. At the start of each month run your machine without laundry and a cup of distilled vinegar to clean out the residue.

Time to winterize your lawn equipment

To ensure your lawn equipment starts easily and performs well next spring you need prepare it for the long winter of sitting unused.

The first thing to do is run the equipment until it is out of fuel. Fuel left in the tank for long periods of time will form gum deposits and make it hard to start. Fuel stabilizers work well but they won’t last all winter - after two months it slowly stops working to stabilize the fuel. If any of your equipment is four-cycle you need to drain the oil. Don’t forget to check the spark plug and air filter and clean or replace as needed.

How to lower the acidity level of your tomatoes

If you prefer a sweeter tasting tomato you first have to lower the acidity level. To do that simply sprinkle baking soda around the plants and work it into the soil.

Growing grass under River Birch trees

The seed pods that drop from River Birch trees in the spring change the Ph of the soil where they lie and prevent grass from growing thick and healthy. Also, River Birch is a thirsty tree and draws a lot of moisture out of the ground leaving less for the grass. The solution to this problem is simple and easy.

First rake up and discard as much of the seed pods from the ground as possible. Next apply pelletized lime to the affected area. Be sure to measure the square footage of the area and strictly follow package directions for application. You are now ready to apply seed and seed starter fertilizer. Water often and continue to do so after the new grass has matured.

This procedure will have to be repeated each spring after seed pods are done falling and, for best results, apply the lime and more seed in the fall ( first weekend in September is ideal).

Geranium Care

Geraniums are plants that require a lot of water to keep the roots moist, but do not do well if the roots sit in water. They need proper drainage when planted in a pot or in the ground. A good way to keep the roots moist is to create a mulch from your coffee grounds. Rinse off the coffee grounds and place them around the base of the plant.

Patio moss & weeds in cracks

Use distilled white vinegar as a more environmentally friendly way to get rid of patio moss and weeds growing up through cracks. Just pour the vinegar on the affected areas and let it stay there - do not hose it off - and in a couple of days weeds and moss are dead.

If you want more immediate results boil 1/2 cup of table salt in one quart of water and pour the very hot liquid directly on the weeds and moss.

Removing Splinters

Working with decks and fences as much as I do, I get my share of splinters. Here's two easy ways to remove splinters. Press tape over the splinter and quickly remove the tape in the opposite direction that the splinter went in. Or cover the splinter with glue (not Super Glue!). Let it dry and then peel it off at an angle and the splinter should come out.

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Concrete stain removal

Grease and oil stains on concrete can be removed with liquid dishwashing detergent. Drench the stain with the detergent and let it soak for an hour. Ater an hour pour just boiling water on it. A little scrubing with a stiff bristle brush may be needed. If some of the stain remains, repeat the entire process.

Easy way to remove hard water spots

To easily remove hard water spots on your chrome kitchen and bathroom fixtures, use newspaper. Take some newspaper (not the shiny ads section) and tear/cut off a strip at least 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. Fold it lengthwise a couple of times so that it is a couple of inches wide, making it stronger. Use it like a buffing cloth or just rub the spots with the newspaper.

Stripping paint and stain from wood furniture

Using stripper to remove paint and stain from wood furniture is a messy process. After the stripper has dissolved the finish you need to remove it from the wood fairly quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Using a scraper works great on flat surfaces but is no help on spindles and recessed areas. Washing it off with water just creates more mess and also gets the wood wet.

The best technique I have found to solve this problem is to use sawdust. The sawdust works two ways.

It is very absorbent : the sawdust acts like a sponge and soaks up the stripper quickly and is much easier to dispose of.

It is abrasive : once the majority of stripper has been removed a handful of fresh sawdust can be used like sand paper to complete the removal of any remaining finish and stripper on spindles, crevices, and hard to reach areas.

Check with your local junior high or high school wood shop teacher and you very likely can get a big bag of sawdust free.

Safety tip about washing machine hoses

Leaving a washing machine’s valves open all the time greatly increases the chance of catastrophic hose burst. Any hose that is cracked, blistered, soft, or has corroded fittings needs to be replaced. I prefer the hoses that have a braided stainless steel jacket. You will pay more for this hose but it is much stronger and will last longer. The best preventive measure however is to develop the habit of always closing the valves when the washer is not in use.

De - fogging mirrors & saving energy dollars

If your mirrors fog up after a hot shower there is a way to prevent this. Shaving cream combats fog and keeps it off glass surfaces. Just rub it on mirroirs, shower doors, windows, and even eyeglasses - wipe clean and they will stay fog free for a few weeks.

Also, during the months that you are using your air conditioner you will save energy dollars if you close the door to the bathroom and turn on the exhaust fan while showering. The humidity put into the air from the shower causes your air condition to turn on so it can eliminate the extra humidity. The exhaust fan draws the humid air out of the house. Be sure to turn it off before you open the bathroom door.

Springtime cleaning tip

Artificial flowers and greenery inside a house will collects dust and dirt over the winter. To clean, pour some salt into a paper or plastic bag, add the flowers or greenery and shake vigorously for a couple of minutes. The salt will remove dirt and absorb dust leaving the flowers and greenery looking clean and fresh.

Planting and caring for annuals

Your annuals will grow bigger and produce more flowers if you use a root starter. Root starter is a type of liquid fertilizer that promotes quick and robust root development and at the same time provides nutrients for good top growth.

When you are ready to plant your annuals mix enough root starter according to package directions to water each plant at the time you place it in the ground. Continue to use the root starter every three weeks for the first three months then switch to Miracle Grow.

What to do about ants

I usually rely on a professional exterminator to remove ants and any other pests found inside or outside the house because I have pets and worry about their safety. If you do not have pets it is certainly worth the effort to try extermination on your own.

The first thing I would do is perform a through inspection of the entire outside circumference of your house looking for ant highways. A professional exterminator taught me to look for a trail of ants on the side of your house or somewhere around the foundation. If you find any trails you can possibly see where they are getting into your house and more importantly, follow them back to the colony.

If you are successful in locating the colony, there are several products you can use. I’m only familiar with the bait stations you place close to the colony. If the colony can’t be found, place the bait near their trail. The ants will eat the bait and then carry it back to the colony and ultimately eliminate all of them.

Transplanting perennials such as day lilies

“Transplant shock” can occur when transplanting any type of plant. To minimize the shock for day lilies and other perennials that have already emerged, do the following:

• Leave a small ball of soil around the plant when removing it from the ground
• Keep the soil ball a little moist
• Transport it in a container that will allow the ball to stay intact

The new bed where the lilies will be transplanted should be filled with good fertile dirt or a type of premixed bedding soil.

The next step is very important and will greatly increase your lilies chances of becoming well established in their new bed: only use root starter at the time of planting. Root starter is a type of liquid fertilizer that promotes quick and robust root development and at the same time provides nutrients for good top growth. Continue to use root starter once a week for six weeks, thereafter use a granular bulb food (I like Johnson’s Bulb Food) at a rate of one cup per ten square feet of bedding. Repeat the granular bulb food again in eight weeks.

See my blog entry about Fertilizer for bulbs and tubers for more information on caring for established perennials

Fertilizer for bulbs and tubers

For your daffodils and other bulb type perennials I recommend Howard Johnson’s Bulb Food. No, I am not suggesting you go to the nearest Howard Johnson Motel and steal their fertilizer! This is a brand of bulb food I purchased a few years ago and have been pleased with the results.

The primary nutrients your bulbs and/or tubers need are found in this product. These nutrients are phosphorus, potash, and nitrogen in a 9-8-6 formulary, ideal for new or established flower beds.

The product is clean and easy to use. It is granular, not liquid, and can be sprinkled directly in your garden. The package includes additional instructions for soil preparation and planting new flowers or vegetables.

Drop spreaders vs. rotary spreaders

Application of granular type pesticides, fertilizers, and grass seed is most commonly done using either a drop spreader or a rotary spreader. The drop spreader distributes product straight down on the ground with a coverage pattern only as wide as the spreader hopper. Compared to a rotary spreader, application time is increased with a drop spreader and makes it difficult to get even coverage. If a slight bit of overlap of each pass is not accomplished the edge of the spread lines will show. If you have ever seen a lawn that looks like it has broad darker stripes and narrow lighter stripes it usually means that a nitrogen rich fertilizer was applied with a drop spreader.

Rotary spreaders have a spreading spinner under the hopper which broadcasts the product being used six feet across and three feet forward. Less time is needed for application and there is no concern with “edge of spread lines” showing.

A quick word about turf type fescue grass

Turf type fescue is a type of grass with increasing popularity here in the Midwest, used now more than the once predominate blue grass. Fescue is hardier and requires less care than bluegrass. Fescue roots grow much deeper in the soil - up to six feet in depth. This makes it much more drought resistant because the roots can get to the water that is deeper in the soil. Grubs don't like fescue as much as they do the bluegrass; however they will eat it, so grub control still needs to be applied to control them. Another benefit of fescue is it tends to be more disease resistant.

Years ago, fescue had a thicker and courser blade than today’s varieties and lacked the deeper green color of blue grass. However today the new tuft types have thinner blades, the grass is not as course and the color rivals that of blue grass. For a heartier lawn, requiring less time and effort to maintain, fescue is a good option.

Good idea to use a soil conditioner

Generally the soil in eastern Kansas is full of clay. Clay in the soil inhibits water absorption which can cause water to stand or pool, can restrict nutrients getting to plant roots, and is just plain hard for digging!

Soil conditioner softens the clay which allows deeper root growth and improves water utilization. Soil conditioners also add beneficial micronutrients to promote maximum plant and root growth. This, in turn, will improve your lawn’s appearance.

It is easy to apply - just attach your garden hose to the spray applicator on the bottle of conditioner and water. For optimal results apply three times a year - spring, summer, and fall. If you elect to apply it only twice a year, do so in the spring and the beginning of summer.
Check with a lawn and garden center for this product. Read and follow the product instructions carefully. This stuff is really well worth the cost and time involved to use it!

Yard care and yard equipment time is here

If you haven't already done so, it is time to apply a pre-emergent weed killer on your lawn. Choose one that has fertilizer to help jump start your lawn. Remember it must be watered in within twenty-four to thirty-six hours after application. If you do not have an underground sprinkler system or are not inclined to drag out the water sprinkler and move it around, have your pre-emergent on hand and be ready to get it down just ahead of a rain.

If you did not winterize your mower last fall you will need to drain the oil and fill with fresh oil. Pull the spark plug and clean by brushing with a stiff brush (I like to use a small brush with brass bristles). Check the plug gap according to your owners manual and adjust if necessary. Make sure the spark plug ceramic top is not cracked or broken - replace if it is. Install a new air filter. I hope you did not leave any gasoline in the tank. If so, drain it and replace with fresh gas. Gum deposits may have formed over the winter and your mower may be hard to start.

One of the most important things to do is sharpen your mower blade!! A dull blade does not cut grass but tears it. Grass blade tips that are torn do not heal over quickly and exposes the grass to various things that can harm it. Another negative consequence of tearing the grass is it promotes brown tip - appropriately named because the tip of the grass blades are lose their nice, healthy green color and turn brown. To reduce and/or avoid brown time on my lawn, I sharpen my blade after every two mowings. This might sound excessive but after twenty-eight years of caring for grass I have determined this to be the most beneficial mowing practice for optimum cutting results.

One last thing. Please don't mow that grass too short especially in really hot weather! Set the mower to either the highest or next highest setting and leave it there.

Wood deck and fence care

Remember how attractive your fence or deck was when the wood was new? Proper care can keep that new look while preserving the wood. This is much less expensive than the cost of replacement.

Now that spring is here, it’s time to start thinking about the maintenance needs of wood decks and fences. The combination of rain and the UV rays of the sun work to rapidly deteriorate wood and cause the greying effect which hides the natural beauty of the wood.

New wood should not be treated for a few months so that is can fully cure. Whether new or old wood, both should be thoroughly pressure washed to remove dirt and prepare the wood to accept a stain/sealer. It is important to choose a pressure washer with a least 3000 psi @ 4 or more gallons /minute to insure a good deep cleaning. Washers of this type are commercial grade and not usually what the average homeowner owns. Depending on the type of wood - cedar, CCA, etc. – a different type of washer tip is required so as to not damage the wood during the cleaning process.

The choice of a sealer or stain/sealer combination is very important. The old saying "you get what you pay for" is very relevant here. The cheaper ones do not protect well and do not last long. Always choose a quality product. Water based ones are more convenient and environmentally friendly but are not as robust as the oil based ones.

Application can be done with a sprayer however, to ensure that the stain/sealer fully penetrates the wood it is essential that it be brushed in as it is being sprayed on. I cannot stress this enough.
One last bit of information. Horizontal surfaces such as railing tops and deck floors require more frequent maintenance because water sits on it longer after a rain than it does on vertical surfaces. If the restoration process is properly done the upkeep and preservation of the wood is not expensive and the natural beauty of the wood can be enjoyed for many years.