Living It With Lisa

First reports from the fire inspectors for Country Music Star Trace Adkins home said that the total loss of his 5,000 square foot house started in his dryer!  No matter what the cause, there are lots of house fires that start in a dryer.  Let’s eliminate that possibility for our homes with a few easy tips from a appliance repairman.

Have you ever had the heating unit go out on your dryer or think it is about to fail because the clothes aren’t getting dry?   Well here is a tip from a repairman. Go over to the dryer and pull out the lint filter.  I’ll bet it is clean since most of us clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.  Now take your “clean” filter over to the sink and run hot water over it.  (The lint filter is made of a mesh material).   If the hot water is sitting on top of the mesh you have a big problem! Dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh and that’s what burns out heating units. You can’t SEE the film, but it’s there. Those dryer sheets make your clothes soft and static free.

Now take one of your dryer sheets out of the box.  Feels waxy doesn’t it?   This substance builds up on your lint screen and can stop the air circulation inside the dryer and vent. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down!   The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time  is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush every six months. Put it on your calendar! Your dryer might last a few years longer too.

Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and an old toothbrush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it .. the water ran right thru the screen!  There wasn’t any puddling at all!  That repairman knew what he was talking about!

Another  Tip: Twice a year you should clean the plastic hose pipe that vents to the outside. Use the vacuum cleaner to suck out accumulated dust and lint.

So clean them both and don’t forget to schedule the dryer cleaning on your calendar six months from TODAY!

Wonder how to keep your guest room bed smelling fresh?  Before your guests arrive tuck several fabric softener sheets under the bottom sheet to keep it smelling nice.  They are sure to ask what you use in the dryer!

Okay I have been tardy in blogging!   Too much on my plate…however in the midest of moving Joseph in the house and moving lots of my stuff out…the issue of cleaning a house comes to mind.  

How many times do you go to the bathroom and it looks like a tornado just hit?  Towels on the floor, stuff scattered on the counter, clothes… well you get the drift.  

Here are 3 Household rules that should keep the bathroom from being a disaster zone. 

1.  If you use it … clean it!  Put caps back on products, wipe off the counter, if neccessary clean the toilet bowl!  Keep the toilet brush handy.

2.  Nothing is left on the floor.  That means towels and clothes.  Hang them up and pick them up when you leave.

3.  Put everything back where it belongs.  Right stuff in the right place! 

It is easy to do if everyone does their part. 

FYI… Well the house looks much better now that Maria came and cleaned the mess from top to bottom giving Joseph a clean slate to maintain.   WooHoo! 

Have you ever tried to get candle wax off of a table, carpet or fabric?  Get an iron and some newspaper.  Heat to a safe temperature for the type of item.  Place the newspaper on top of the wax, then place the iron on top of the paper for 5 to 10 seconds.  It wicks the wax right up into the paper.   Replace the newspaper as needed.  You might need to repeat a few times.

How about candle stuck in your votive holders?  To remove it, place the votive holder into the freezer for several hours until it is really cold.  Take it out, turn upside down and the candle should come out.  You can use a plastic knife to coax it out.

Well here is a great tip to remove the body powder that gets on your knit top.  You know what I am talking about… you remove your knit top and there it is .. those little white line … now what?  It is not really dirty… it may have been a top you were trying on in the store and decided to buy.   

Here is the tip..  You know the hangers that have the sponges on the shoulder so that tops or dresses don’t slip off?  Take that little rectangle off the hanger and dab it gently on those little white lines … Presto! GONE!  It lifts it right off the knit.  No smudges.  No smears!