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2012 Second Quick Tip Week: Using Vinegar to Kill Weeds

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Our Quick Tip Week continues today in the household category, specifically yard work. 

In continuing to care for our yard, garden, and beds, we treat our driveway and sidewalk with weed killer. The grass and weeds sprout through the cracks contributing to a messy look.

Quick Tip #2: Using Vinegar to Kill Weeds

Though not recommended for the yard, gardens, or flower beds, vinegar (white or apple cider) will kill the weeds on hard surfaces.

In reading this Vinegar for Killing Weeds article, I learned that vinegar strips the waxy coating from the leaves making it impossible for the plant to survive. The best part, one or two applications will solve the problem. Presto!

In using time wisely to improve your sidewalks, brick patios, and driveways, consider pouring or spraying white vinegar into the cracks while saving money, energy, and time. Happy maintaining!

Question: How do you kill weeds?

Cleaning: Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

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Ridding mildew from the dishwasherUpon returning home from our vacation, I found mildew growing in our dishwasher. Disgusting!

My house was nice and clean with I left, so I was surprised that my dishwasher did not enjoy its vacation from us. 🙂

Since we do not use paper plates in our home, I serve each meal on our everyday ceramic dishes. With dishes from three meals a day and snacks, our dishwasher gets a workout.

The warmth inside and the bout of inactivity brought on a growing case of mildew.

Though the black residue was only on the sides and the vent of the door, I quickly started ridding mildew from the dishwasher.

Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

  • Tracy’s Tools of the Trade

1. Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Toothbrush

3. Old towel

  • Tracy’s Cleaning Technique

1. Spray the mildew with the Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Wait about 5 minutes

3. Use the old toothbrush to remove stubborn mildew from the sides and vents

4. Dry off with the towel

One of the sides needed extra scrubbing to release the mildew. To get a thorough cleaning, I scrubbed inside the rubber seals around the dishwasher door which trapped mildew in the creases.

Preventing Mildew from the Dishwasher

In running our dishwasher almost every day, I did not realize that frequent use keeps mildew away. Simple wipe downs and scraping food from the dishes prior to loading the dishwasher keep the appliance parts clean and clear to operate efficiently.

For more tips, visit this How to Clean and Maintain a Dishwasher post which explains how to take the dishwasher apart for a thorough cleaning.

 As you load and unload your dishwasher, check and rid mildew before it builds up. Keeping your appliance clean and clear of debris prevents overworking your dishwasher. Yes, it takes time, but in using time wisely, your efforts can lengthen the longevity of your household appliances which saves you money, energy, and time. Happy cleaning!

Question: How often do you run your dishwasher?

Fall Home Maintenance

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When Paul and I purchased our home, we also purchased the book, Home Maintenance For Dummies.*

Besides money-saving tips to fix small repairs, this book also provides monthly maintenance checklists. Of that list, Paul and I plan to perform the following tasks for our fall home maintenance:

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

  • Drain hot water heater
  • Clean and replace furnace and air conditioner filters
  • Check air intakes for insect blockages and debris
  • Clean range hood filter
  • Clean all appliances and counters
  • Disinfect and freshen garage disposal with vinegar ice cubes
  • Paste wax our dining room table and wooden trash can
  • Deep clean laminate surfaces
  • Deep clean all the floors
  • Test smoke detectors
  • Test carbon monoxide detector
  • Test auto reverse safety feature on garage door opener
  • Clean lint from dryer duct and from the interior of dryer housing
  • Inspect washing machine water supply hoses

Depending on your home, you may need more or less items on your fall home maintenance checklist. In our home when I find light bulbs out or batteries low, I jot them down on my “Honey-do” list. As Paul has a few moments to spare, he will work through the list to keep our home operating efficiently.

In using time wisely schedule your fall home maintenance. Create your own list to perform monthly or quarterly checks. Heading off problems before they happen will save you money, energy, and time. Happy maintaining!

Question: What additional items would you add to this fall home maintenance checklist?

* This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon.com (disclosure policy). Should you choose to purchase Home Maintenance For Dummies, Using Time Wisely benefits. 😉

2012 Update Week: Yard Work

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Yard work 2012

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Welcome to Update Week! During this week, I will follow-up on topics introduced throughout the year. Each day, I will choose one topic from that category. For today, I chose our yard work update.

Back in May and June, I posted about our spring yard work. Though we finished later than planned, I have been able to keep up the weeding.

When I wrote the last post, we had completed our side bed and under our tree. I still had 2 more beds to complete.

For some reason, I can only find the pictures of the one bed. I’m almost positive I took pictures, but I cannot find them. Oh well, here’s an update to the one bed as we cleared it out.

Yard Work 2012

With the yard work complete, I only needed to nip the weeds before our Halloween party.

All lit up at Halloween

In November when Paul cleaned out our garage, my son raked our leaves in the front yard. The kids were playing in the little pile of leave before collecting them in the trash bags. Seeing the fun they were having with a few leaves, I took them after school to a field with a huge leaf pile. They had a blast!

Playing in a pile of leaves

This morning, I snagged a few more weeds, and then took a picture. (Our Christmas net lights are on, but I’m not sure you can tell.) With our yard work up-to-date, our home has a clean look within our neighborhood. Keeping the weeds at bay has been worth our time and energy.

Yard work complete

As you continue your yard work, take it one area at a time. My kids enjoy helping as they get to wear their own gloves. Giving them a tool encourages them to help which saves me energy and time. Happy weeding!

Question: How is your yard work coming along?

Planning for Success: Purchase Batteries – Day 14

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Planning for success - Day 14

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 14: Purchase Batteries

If I had known how many batteries we would need once we had children, Paul and I would have purchased stock in Duracell. Besides coming with wires, plastic cases, and complicated packaging, most toys require batteries. Though we keep a stash of the basic types – AA, AAA, C, and D, we rarely have 9-volt batteries in our stockpile.

Since our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors take 9-volt batteries and we change these batteries on Daylight Savings Time weekend, I add a reminder on my calendar to buy batteries.

If the weekend arrives and I don’t have the batteries, then no change is made. By the time the weekend is over, changing the batteries has slipped my mind and will go untouched until the next Daylight Savings weekend.

With Daylight Savings Time occurring this year on March 10 and November 3, I have added to my calendar at the beginning of February and October a notation to purchase batteries. The reason for the early notice is to watch the sales during the month. As most sales run on 6-week cycles, I should find a battery deal within that time frame.

In planning for success, purchase batteries prior to Daylight Savings Time. Having this reminder in my calendar alerts me to the upcoming time change and this important household maintenance. Though our detectors work on electricity with a battery backup, I want all systems in top condition should an emergency occur.

Continue adding your household alerts to your planning tool. With the reminders, you can address these maintenance items in the desired season. Keep using time wisely as you add tasks to your calendar while planning for success. Happy scheduling!

Question: How often do you change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?