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Archived Questions!

July 2, 2009

i am wondering what you would recommend for cleaning slate floor (perferably a non-toxic cleaner/truly kid, pet & earth friendly).

i have dark colored slate all throughout my entry way, hall way, kitchen & both bathrooms. (there is no varnish on the tiles-is there a way to 'wax' it so it has a little coating on it for shine/protection?) it collects dust & dirt like nobody's business. this is dust bunny heaven. help! right now i just use a basic cleaner like pine-sol & a mop, letting it air dry. i also scrub around the baseboards w/ a sponge on hands & knees...

thanks!

You are having a hard time cleaning the slate because it is porous. I would recommend sealing the slate. This will protect it and then you will be able to clean it with warm water. Here is a good site to check out: http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/floors-and-carpet/floors/how-to-clean-slate-floors/#SlateCleaningTips

Tom

July 2, 2009

Hey tom When I turned off an electrical appliance (a heater) at the wall I saw a small flame at the switch.Also the plug felt warm.Is this dangerous?Is the problem likely with the appliance or the outlet? My house has a safety switch which did not trip.

thanks

Robert Here -

I don't think what you saw is dangerous. Almost all wall switches work by opening and closing metal contacts (the exception is mercury switches, now somewhat rare). With an appliance that draws a lot of current, such as a heater, there is frequently a little arc of electricity, just as the contacts start to open. The plug got warm because, again, it was carrying a lot of current, and even though its copper prongs are good conductors, only a superconductor (which copper is not) will carry current heatlessly. A heater's cord and plug are made to tolerate the heat they are exposed to, but an ordinary extension cord is not, which is why you should never use one on a heater, an iron, a hair dryer, or in general any device that produces a lot of heat. Not that you did, but I thought I should add that.

July 1, 2009

Single mom looking for fuel filter on 86 chevy s10 pickup...needs to be changed asap. Please help

Thanks for all you do,

I believe, the fuel filter is under the car on the drivers side, just in front of the fuel tank.

If your not mechanically inclined, get someone that is.

Tom

July 1, 2009

How do I clean horizontal blinds that seem to have dirt caked onto them? Should I soak them in bleach water?

Robert Here -

Here is a pretty good site that tells you all you need to know: http://www.ehow.com/how_2239047_clean-venetian-blinds.html

June 30, 2009

After 5 years of cooking on a ceramic smooth top, I have a scratch. The cooktop is white and the scratch (about 1/2 inch) looks sort of tan... light brown. I thought perhaps I could "clean" the brown out of the crack and it would not show as badly. I got a single edge razor blade to do this task but it didn't work. Do you know of any way I can make this scratch less noticeable? Thanky.

I would try using BarKeepers friend on the ceramic top. http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/products.htm If you do not own any you should.

Tom

June 30, 2009

Hi Tom and friends!

I really enjoy reading your answers to such a broad range of questions and I am hoping that someone can give me a little insight to an issue I'm having with my 10 yo son.

His father and I have been divorced for over 3 years. We are divorced because he was addicted to drugs, drinking and very emotionally abusive to my son and me. In fact, you guys helped me see the light when it came to his behavior.

Anyway, my problem is that I have been too "nice" to my son and he thinks that he can disrespect me and other adults as he wishes. I am now dating a really good guy who treats me and my so so well and has done lots of things for both of us (he brings us on vacations, paid for summer camps, does my yardwork, makes going to church with us a priority, etc). Well, ds is sometimes very disrespectful and downright mean to my friend. I have told him that he can not speak to elders that way, I have punished him on occasion but nothing seems to work. DS should not have any other reason to dislike my friend other than he is not his father. How do I improve this situation? I am afraid that my child will soon be a teenager and will have total control of our household. Also, I don't like the fact that a 10yo thinks he can control my life. I know that I have let him get away with too much, but how to I take control now without him hating me?

Another thing, I think that having a good Christian male example in DS's life is a good thing for him. It sure seems like a good thing for me after all I went through with my ex. Do you think there is any hope that he can overcome whatever resentment he has?

Your response is very much appreciated

Robert Here -

A pushover parent may avoid hatred, but cannot avoid contempt. Actually, you probably aren't looking at hatred, only the threat of it, the old testing-the-boundaries thing. If he can fake you into letting him grow up un-raised, he thinks he's won the childhood game. Only, it isn't really a game, and the only thing he wins by still being a jerk at 18 is the right to get beat up.

Is he going to hate you if you take control? Probably not, but maybe, for a while. Do the right thing anyway. It works better in the long run. And yes, a positive male role model is a good thing. A lot of single mothers have done fine all by themselves, but a good male authority figure can help. Good luck.

June 29, 2009

Hey Tom,

We moved into our house five years ago. When we bought the house, we had a half acre of sad looking lawn surrounded by beds of weeds, including poison ivy vines on trees and fences. DH and I have worked in the yard side by side. We've felled trees, hauled hundreds of yards of soil and compost, schelpped and planted trees, shrubs, and perennials. We also rebuilt the walls of a leaking, 60 year old in ground pool. Aside from lots of work inside, we now have restored the lawn and landscaped front and back. So now, it's time to kick back and enjoy.

I am no wimp in the yard but I work 40 plus hours, travel for work, do the majority of cooking, cleaning, shopping, family organizing and (ugh!) paperwork. I also weed, prune, fertilize and deadhead. My husband or son will mow the lawn but I can‰Ûªt get them to blow the clippings off the walk, edge, or weed whack without a lot of . . . requesting. My sidewalks and front steps are stained with algae, and there are weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk and driveway. My siding has never been powerwashed since we've lived in the house.

We've done a lot to improve the curb appeal of our house, but how can we take it to the next level? What would you consider to be the basic steps of mowing the lawn and what should be done seasonally or sporadically as far as edging, power washing, etc.?

Thanks!

PS If I could get my husband to wrangle the piles of paperwork, I would happily take on these tasks. I'd much rather be outside, which is probably why I have piles of paperwork.

I can tell you what I do. I mow the lawn every week. Mowing the lawn includes using the weed eater and blowing off the side walk. I edge using the weed eater unless it is very bad and then I would use an edger. I may edge once or twice a year.

A half acre is a decent size lawn. Mine is closer to an acre. I mow using a John Deere Lawn tractor and use a walk behind mower for the areas the Deere doesn't roam. I have a gas weed eater and a gas blower. I believe I have them listed in my favorites. I find I am more likely to use them if I don't have to deal with the cords. Especially when you have a large lawn. Also, you get more power from the gas tools and Tom likes power.

Once a month I walk the cracks in the driveways, steps, etc. I kill any weeds or grass using Round up that comes with a pump sprayer. It has pretty good residual power so it takes a while for anything to grow back.

To clean the steps, you can use a 50 percent bleach and water solution. Mix in a bucket, use a small stiff scrub broom to apply. Wait 5 minutes and see what you have. Most likely that will do the trick if not, scrub it a little and reapply. Make sure to wet your grass around the area first so the bleach doesn't hurt it. And if you get more on the lawn, wet down the area you splashed. Remember to rinse off the steps.

Check out FlyLady's Home Maintenance control Journal. It is a free down load on FlyLady.net. It gives you a schedule of things to be done seasonally around the house.

Tom

June 29, 2009

Hey, Tom-

This is really a question for Robert. Flylady mentioned on today's Ask/Answer that you made a shelf for her laptop to sit on her treadmill. Can we see a picture, or could you give a description of how you attached/arranged it? This might be a very good thing in our household.

Many thanks

Robert Here -

I don't have a picture handy, but I can describe it. First, you have to have a treadmill that has the right kind of hand-rests. Ours has straight ones that are sloped so that the closer they get to you, the lower they are. They are the support for the shelf. Luckily, the rests have little switches that keep the shelf from sliding off. Without those, I would have to have taped a stop on each rest. Anyway, the shelf is simplicity itself: a board, wider than the distance between the hand rests, deep enough for the laptop, with a lip along its lower long edge, to keep the laptop from slipping off.