SPRING IMPROVEMENT
Kids Say
Gloria Austin spoke to grade 3-5 Houlton Southside School students.
The children interviewed did not know they were answering a home
improvement question.
What is a jigsaw?
Elizabeth Howe
Grade 4
“I don’t know how to play it?”
Joseph Tompkins
Grade 4
“Like this thing — pointing
to the game Jenga — you stack up with wood.”
Riley Fitzpatrick
Grade 4
“Is it like a jigsaw puzzle? Or isn’t it a quest or something?”
Natalie DeLucca
Grade 4
“It is a puzzle.”
Madison Marino
Grade 4
“It is a ‘jigsaw’ puzzle.”
Rylie Sylvain
Grade 4
“It is a saw that cuts wood.”
Four overlooked spots to spring clean in your home
(StatePoint) Is your spring cleaning routine sufficient? Or do you suspect dirt may be lurking in places you’ve never even put on your to-do list?
If you’re like most Americans, chances are you forgot some of these often overlooked spots while spring cleaning:
In the kitchen
Most people hit the stove, fridge and the microwave. But there are more places in the kitchen needing your attention. All cupboards and pantries should be cleared and re-stocked at least once yearly to dispose of expired food and guard against insects and rodents.
Also make sure you clean your can opener! This often used, rarely cleaned tool can be a trap for bacteria and spores. Use Q-Tips and soapy water to wipe down every nook and cranny, including the gears.
In the laundry room
Have you noticed an unusual funk coming from your washing machine? This may be because the new, high-efficiency washers use less water than traditional ones, causing residue buildup from dirty clothes, detergent and hard water minerals. If so, it’s time to clean your machine. Something as simple as Tide’s Washing Machine Cleaner, which comes in a small packet you drop into a normal cycle without clothes, can keep your machine smelling fresh.
Once you’ve got your washing machine clean, next focus on what you put in it. With spring and summer whites sure to be washed this time of year, consider switching to a detergent with both stain fighting and whitening power, such as Tide plus Bleach Powder. And look for a new concentrated version, which not only gives you the same cleaning with one third less detergent, but helps save you space and helps save the planet by reducing packaging.
In the bedroom
Spring cleaning usually involves a change of bedding, but how about those decorative pillows or stuffed animals in children’s rooms? Because of their soft, uneven surfaces, they’re prime locations for dust and allergens. Sticking them in plastic bags and then in the freezer for four hours will kill dust mites. Then use a vacuum to suck up dead carcasses.
You should also pay attention to ceiling fans, crown moldings and even the walls. It’s best to use a damp cloth to wipe down all surfaces. Dry feather dusters tend to kick up dust and allergens, which settle back down in the same place.
In the living room
Window treatments and lampshades attract dust and germs as much as any other home surface, but are easily cleaned using removable vacuum attachments, such as a combo brush or crevice tool extension.
And don’t skip floor vents, door jambs, and window sills. These areas are often overlooked and can collect years of grime.
Of course, regular cleaning is the best way to minimize your spring cleaning. To find products that can help make cleaning less of a chore, visit www.tide.com.
Then get to it! After all, a clean home is a happy home.
Kids Say
Gloria Austin spoke to grade 3-5 Houlton Southside School students.
The children’s answers were mostly modest for their ages.
If you could add
anything to your house what would it be?
Damon Levesque
Grade 3
“A game room for my video games.”
Abigail Lowrey
Grade 3
“Probably something to help my dog with his hip dysplasia.”
Tia Burlock
Grade 3
“A new T.V. for my family.”
Sean Crouse
Grade 3
“A hot tub, dog feeder and another dog.”
Conner Ames
Grade 3
“A flat screen T.V.”
Isaac Campbell
Grade 3
“A United States flag.”
Remodeling on a shoestring? Interior painting fits the bill
With jobs scarce and household expenses rising, there’s a natural tendency to put your remodeling plans on the back burner. But even if your budget is tight, there’s one home remodeling project that is still affordable: interior painting.
According to experts at the Paint Quality Institute, the do-it-yourself cost of repainting a room is typically less than $100, not much more than taking a family of four to the movies and sharing a box of popcorn. Unlike a night at the movies, however, the enjoyment of a freshly painted room will last for years.
Afraid to tackle the job yourself? You shouldn’t be. According to Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Institute, interior painting is one home remodeling project that nearly everyone can do.
Zimmer advises that do-it-yourselfers start by visiting the local paint store to check out the color display for the highest quality, 100 percent acrylic latex interior paint. “These paints are easier to work with, hide the old color better, and are especially tough and durable,” she said. “The fun begins by looking through the color cards and envisioning what your room will look like with an entirely new color scheme.”
If you’re the decisive type and have good color sense, you might quickly spot the perfect color for the room you’re repainting. For everyone else, it’s usually best to take a few color cards home to view them in the space you want to paint. Once there, you should follow a few time-tested rules to ensure that you make the right choice.
First, conceal all the colors on the card except for the one you are considering. By isolating the color, you’ll get a better idea of how the room will look in a particular tint or shade.
Second, evaluate the color both in the daytime and at night when all the light comes from fixtures and lamps. You may be surprised how different a color can look when lighting conditions change. (Paint colors usually look darker at night, in shadow, and on cloudy days.)
Third, take into account the time of day you typically use the room. For example, if you are painting a breakfast nook, be sure you like the way the color looks in morning light; but if you’re painting a bedroom, it’s more important that you find the color pleasing at night.
Fourth, be aware that colors tend to be much more intense on a large area than a small one. A hue that looks just right on a color card may be too dark or bold when applied to your walls. For that reason, it is often safer to move down one degree of intensity on the color card and choose a slightly lighter color.
Finally, if you’re still undecided, buy a paint sampler in the color you are leaning towards and apply some large swatches to the walls. Live with the color for a day or two. You’ll soon know if you nailed it, or missed the mark.
Once you’ve chosen the color, interior painting is easy.
Begin by removing dust and grime from the surfaces you’ll be painting by scrubbing with a detergent-water solution, then rinsing; this will help the paint adhere better. If there are cracks, seams, or nail-holes, repair them with paintable water-based all-acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk, drywall compound, or spackling paste.
When you go to paint, use good quality brushes and rollers. They’ll apply the paint more evenly and make the job easier. If you are applying a water-based latex paint, use brushes and rollers with synthetic bristles and covers.
Start to apply the paint by using a brush to “cut in” the edges of a section — near the ceiling or baseboards, for example — wherever there is a natural break in the wall surface. Then begin to fill in the area by applying the paint with a roller. Apply the paint liberally in a zigzag or “M” pattern, then fill in the pattern with even, parallel strokes. For the best final appearance, work quickly to keep a wet edge on the paint.
When you’re done, take a moment to admire your workmanship. Assuming that you used a top quality 100 percent acrylic latex interior paint, the fresh appearance of your new paint job should last for years. .long after the memory of even the best movie has faded away.
For more painting advice, visit the Paint Quality Institute website at www.paintquality.com.
