It may seem like there’s always something going on as a homeowner, from silencing a squeaky hinge to unclogging a temperamental toilet. But many household problems can be easily fixed without calling a repair service.
A can of WD-40, a toilet plunger and a bottle of vinegar are great basics to keep on hand for easing sticky fittings, clearing the toilet and making short work of common stains. Here are some simple fixes for common home problems that even the non-handy can handle: Squeaky Floorboard Banish that annoying squeak by sprinkling a little talcum powder over the noisy area and brushing it into the cracks. Stained Tub Removed stubborn stains by combining equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water. Stuck Sliding Windows Loosen stuck windows by spraying a little silicon spray lubricant (found at hardware stores) onto a rag, then wiping along the tracks, whether metal, wood or plastic. Dry and Worn Cutting Board Revive a worn board by warming a bottle of mineral oil (available at drugstores) in a bowl of hot water, then wiping the oil onto the surface with a soft cloth. Wipe off the excess four to six hours later. Scuffed Linoleum Take care of scuff marks by rubbing the spot with white toothpaste and a dry cloth, or spraying WD-40 on a towel and rubbing lightly. Later, degrease the area with liquid dishwashing soap and water. Poor Toilet Flush Before you call a plumber, look for the water valve behind the toilet, on the wall or the floor. Turn it counter-clockwise as far as you can. Once it’s fully open, the tank will get its optimal water fill and power up your flush. Torn Window Screen If tiny tears are letting bugs in, apply clear nail polish to any tiny holes. For larger rips or tears, look for new and effective screen repair patches at the hardware store. While world peace is a great idea, if you want to add a touch of calm to your life, begin with your bedroom. Your room isn’t merely the place to rest your head, it’s where you wake, and the vibe of your room can set the tone for the rest of your day. Below are five tips for bringing a peaceful vibe to your bedroom.
Choose calming colors. While red or orange may be your favorite fiery hue, when picking shades for your room, choose soothing, calm colors like light blue or a gentle gray. Pick minimal patterns. Keep the fun, funky patterns for the living room throw pillows. Busy patterns can make us feel crowded and overwhelmed, so minimize zany patterns in your sleep space. Clear the room of clutter. Create a sanctuary in your bedroom by keeping it clear of clutter, from laundry to oversized furniture. Spend a few minutes before bed each day storing any items you pulled out, close the closet doors, put the books back on the shelves and dive into bed with a clear head and space. Bring in nature. Houseplants can boost mood and pump more oxygen into the room. Choose a few easy-to-care for plants, like a fern or a ficus, and place them where you can see them when you wake. Select the right lighting. While blackout shades can be great for blocking disruptive light, it can also negatively impact your sleep patterns by keeping your body from waking at its natural time. Find a set of blackout curtains that filter light but allow you to wake in the morning naturally. ![]() Children are often oblivious to the many dangers around them. Accidents in the home are a leading cause of injury and death among children. Here are a few ways to childproof your home and keep your little one safe. Potential Hazards Look at your home from a baby’s or toddler’s perspective. Ask yourself: What would catch my eye if I were low to the ground? Look for those things that your child would reach for, pull down, play with or put in their mouth. When babies are learning to walk, they grab furniture and bookcases for support. Many injuries and deaths occur each year when young children pull on furniture or televisions and the objects fall on top of them. Secure heavy objects to the walls to prevent this. Keep dressers and filing cabinets closed when you’re not using them. Cover sharp corners on furniture to prevent injuries if your child falls. Use childproof gates to keep your baby or toddler out of hazardous areas, such as specific rooms or stairs. Choose gates that are difficult to climb and do not have V-shaped openings, which can trap children. Open windows from the top or keep them closed. A screen is not strong enough to prevent a child from falling out of a window. Do not place furniture near windows because that can make it easy for a child to climb onto a windowsill. Children can be strangled by cords on blinds. Use window coverings without cords. Outlets are a common source of injuries. Children are tempted to play with them and stick objects in the openings, which can lead to electrocution. Use outlet covers with safety latches to protect your child. Store any medications, vitamins, cleaning supplies or other chemicals in cabinets with childproof locks to keep them out of reach. Properly dispose of any expired medication. Store the phone number for your local poison control center in your cell phone. A child can drown in just a few inches of water. Never leave a child unattended in a bath, even if he or she is sitting in a chair. Install a latch on the toilet’s lid to keep it closed. If you use a bucket of water for cleaning, never leave it unattended and dump it as soon as you finish. Always supervise a child using a pool or kiddie pool. Install smoke detectors throughout your house and check the batteries regularly. When your child is old enough, explain the dangers of fire and how to prevent accidents and injuries. Never allow a child to touch the stove. Put away any appliances that use heat, such as a hair dryer and curling iron, when they’re not being used. Look Around Your Home Your child will want to explore your house as soon as they’re able to crawl. Dangers are everywhere, and they will increase as your child becomes more mobile. Take the time to childproof each room in your home to prevent accidents. Asphalt is a popular choice for paving driveways. It’s an environmentally-friendly material that can be recycled and is unlikely to cause damage to vehicles. Asphalt also lasts for decades and can enhance your home’s curb appeal, but eventually, it may show signs of wear or damage. If you notice any of these problems, they should not be ignored.
Visible Signs of Damage If your driveway is cracked in one or more places, you should have a professional inspect it. Even if the cracks don’t seem like a big deal, they can expand. A cracked driveway can cause damage to vehicles and increase the risk of a person falling and getting injured, particularly at night or when guests visit. Wear and tear from vehicles driving over asphalt can cause potholes as the ground becomes weak and cracks. If your driveway has several potholes, the surface may not be strong enough to support the weight of vehicles. Rain and water from melted snow can settle in the holes and cause them to expand, which can lead to serious injuries or damage to vehicles. If your driveway has potholes, it most likely needs to be repaved soon. If your driveway’s surface is uneven and covered with bumps, that means it has structural damage below the surface. Contact a professional to have the driveway inspected. Sometimes an old driveway will begin to crumble. If the pavement is eroding, that is a clear sign that the driveway needs to be repaved before the problem gets worse. Since asphalt is porous, it should be able to filter water and allow it to enter the ground below. If water is pooling or running off the driveway in a stream, that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If it isn’t, you could wind up with a serious drainage problem that affects your entire property. Have Your Driveway Inspected The last thing you want is for a family member or visitor to fall and get injured on your driveway or to suffer damage to a vehicle. If you notice cracks, potholes, bumps, erosion or drainage issues, it’s most likely time to repave your driveway. That can be a significant expense, but it can prevent many more serious and expensive problems later. Even if there’s no visible damage to your driveway, there could be some that is hidden. The foundation may have broken down over the years, and you will see damage on the surface sooner or later. If your driveway was paved 20 or more years ago, or if you’re unsure of its age, you should have it inspected. A professional can let you know if it needs to be repaved. If it’s currently in satisfactory condition, it can still be helpful to know approximately how many years of use your driveway has left so that you don’t wind up with a costly and unexpected project. WHEN IS INTEREST ON HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS TAX DEDUCTIBLE? 1. THE IMPROVEMENTS MUST BE "SUBSTANTIAL."In order to deduct the interest on the mortgage as acquisition indebtedness, the IRS requires the project to be a "Substantial Improvement" that:
2. YOU HAVE A 24-MONTH LOOK-BACK PERIOD.If you are pulling cash out to reimburse yourself for improvements already made, those improvements must have occurred within the past 24 months in order to qualify for the acquisition indebtedness deduction. 3. YOU ONLY HAVE 90-DAYS AFTER WORK WAS COMPLETED.You must take out the mortgage or home improvement loan within 90 days after the work is completed in order to qualify for the tax deduction. The home acquisition debt is limited to the amount of the expenses incurred within the period beginning 24 months before the work is completed and ending on the date of the mortgage.
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Isaac Conde
305 West Moana Street Suite C Reno, NV 89509 775-553-8805 B.S. 0143661 ROI
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