Posted by admin | Bedroom Decor | Posted on August 18th, 2011
Kids bedding can make you crazy – don’t let it happen to you! Between crib bedding, toddler bedding and sleeping bags, nap mats, twin vs. twin XL sheets, sleepovers and pillows fights, it’s a jungle out there. Tame the bedroom beast with a plan.
For the nursery you may decide go over the top, especially with your first child and that’s understandable, plus you probably had a baby registry and received all sorts of gifts along with hand-me-downs, family heirlooms and stuff you borrowed from friends.
The transition from a crib to a toddler bed can be fraught with issues so you want to make it as hassle-free and fun as possible for your little one. One way to facilitate the transfer from a crib to a bed is to select bedding with a theme or character your child adores – if Barney is his best buddy and pal then dinosaur bedding may be the way to go. This is even more important if you are migrating from a crib directly to a conventional bed. The bedding environment should be as inviting as possible to ensure your child looks forward to and enjoys bed time.
The same holds true for nap mats. Napping is a key element of early childhood development and a regular nap schedule should be established and encouraged for as long as possible. A special nap mat and even a designated napping area is a great way to make nap time an important part of the daily ritual.
Posted by admin | diy, Home Maintenance | Posted on August 8th, 2011
Storm damage
Winds below 50 mph rarely cause damage to a well-built house, but even moderate winds can blow over garden umbrellas, dustbin lids etc. It is not practical to take too many precautions against the risk of gale damage, but if your home is particularly exposed it would be wise to take some safety measures. Have the roof tiles, chimney and TV aerial inspected regularly — cut back tree branches which could break windows in a gale and keep a supply of sheet polythene handy.
During a gale-force storm close windows securely and unplug the TV if it has an outside aerial. If a window is broken, block it immediately with hardboard, tarpaulin or polythene sheet. If a roof tile is heard to fall, don’t go out to inspect the damage until the storm has passed. At the end of the storm call a builder immediately if there has been damage – otherwise check the roof for slipped tiles and the gutters for blockages. A temporary repair of a lost roof tile may be possible by pushing a large sheet of polythene between the battens and the tiles surrounding the hole. After a snowstorm clear away any snow which may have collected in the loft.
Smells
There are two types of unpleasant odour which afflict the householder — temporary smells and persistent ones. Temporary smells include fresh paint and tobacco smoke (a bowl of vinegar is claimed to remove the odour), bonfire smoke and burnt food. For all temporary smells an air freshener block or aerosol is useful — but make sure that the aroma of the aerosol is not more unpleasant than the smell you are trying to mask. Rubbish in kitchen bins and outdoor dustbins should always be contained in plastic bags — use mothballs or a proprietary dustbin product if there is an odour problem with the bin in summer. Remove fish smells from pans by pouring in cold tea — leave for 30 minutes before washing. Smells are generally not a problem in the average home. Air fresheners are fine, but the prime way of achieving freshness is to air each lived-in room by opening the window for at least a few minutes every day.
Persistent odours are much more worrying. A foul lavatory smell usually indicates a blocked drain – seek expert help. A musty smell is caused by mould growth or rotting wood — locate and tackle the problem at once.
Efflorescence
A white deposit frequently appears on the surface of new brickwork. This is due to the water-soluble salts within the bricks being drawn to the outside as the walling materials dry out.
Never try to scrub it away with water — you will only make matters worse by bringing fresh salts to the surface. On inside walls it can be a problem by disfiguring or even dislodging the paper. To prevent efflorescence reappearing it is necessary to strip off damaged paper, leave the surface to dry, brush off the deposit and then treat the surface with a proprietary sealer before redecorating.
Efflorescence should not persist after two years. If it continues to appear you should consult a builder. It could mean that dampness is entering the wall from a leaking pipe, faulty damp-proof course etc and there could be serious trouble if the fault is left unattended.
