Archive for September, 2010

It is impossible to imagine the many things we do on a daily basis without the help of our various electronic gadgets, but carelessness can cause accidents.

Everyday appliances like refrigerators, food processors, etc must always be used for specified purposes only and as per the manual that comes with them.

Light bulbs should be of correct wattage. It is extremely foolish to change bulbs with the power on.

Power outlets should not be burdened with many connections and must be covered with child safety plugs or safety plates when not in use.

• Call 911 the moment you witness unruly sparks.

• Never leave electrical appliances near a water source.

• Metal ladders must not be used near power lines.

• Trees should be shortened to avoid power lines.

• Never cover lampshades with extra cloth.

• Keep heaters away from beds and linen.

• Bathroom and kitchen outlets must have a ground fault circuit interrupter.

House phones or land lines are still especially in areas that receive weak or no cellular signals at all. Being prepared with a regular house phone at such times can be a great help.

First of all be forewarned by subscribing to efficient weather warnings in your area and keep a corded telephone connected, because a cordless phone does not function for too long without power.

On receiving sufficient advice about the drastic turn in weather carry out mandatory procedures like taking cover in the basement.

Prior to that if you do not have a house phone extension in your basement make calls to 911, any family member and or a business associate about the situation you are in.

Remember to put calls through to your gas agency in case you smell a gas leak and the law enforcement about the severe weather. Do not accept social calls at such times.

Keypad garage door openers are much safer and durable than remote door openers. Garage door opener kits can be easily found in home décor stores. They offer services to help you set up the system free of cost.

However with most security arrangements it is better to do it yourself. All instructions are preloaded into the machine or written in the manual.

Once you are in the garage press and leave the “learn” button located at the back of the unit near the antenna wire.

This action will provoke the LED light on the unit to blink. Now activate the open button by pressing and holding the button till the LED motor main light flashes two times. Release the button and wait for an additional 30 seconds for the light on the LED to stop flashing.

The light stops flashing when your program has ended and the code is set.

The portable toilet was made for travelers and campers who had the facilities to carry such elaborate booths with them. By and large whether the booth or a mini toilet seat, portable toilets are more a bother than an easy solution to campers and trekkers in the most advanced global quarters.

Many people are turning to cardboard boxes that resemble toilet seats with a hole lined by bio degradable plastic bags which can be disposed off without causing harm to the environment.

Camping enthusiasts have also started using buckets filled saw dust and wood chips lined with degradable plastic bags to hold the mess.

Finally taking a cue from their unfortunate peers in poverty stricken regions, campers have begun to dig a hole in the ground to do the job efficiently. Once done the whole is covered with mud and dirt to leave no ugly traces and tell tale odors.

Spiral or compact fluorescent light bulbs are popular for their energy saving capabilities and longevity. However the Environmental Protection Agency has shown concern over the haphazard disposal of these bulbs as they contain small amounts mercury.

Store the used bulbs in their original packaging to avoid accidents until you have reasonable number of them to take with you to the closest hazardous waste collection site. Wrap the box that contains them in heavy duty plastic for extra safety.

If you are unaware of any laws pertaining to the same, The Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers websites give detailed rules for your relevant area.

In case there are no strict rules where you stay home décor stores like IKEA, Home Depot, Ace Hardware and few others also provide recycling and collecting services for used bulbs.

Or simply visit the Earth911 website and search for your town or locality by zip code.

Bonded leather as the name suggests is not the real thing but a compilation of scraps of leather pressed together with polyurethane glue to look and feel like real leather. Bonded leather furniture and accessories are offered by most home décor stores.

However it must be cared for as you would real leather. Most times it doesn’t carry a very long warranty given its composition.

Wipe bonded leather furniture with lukewarm water and a soft clean cloth to get rid of the dust and stains if any. Clean any cracks and scratches in a similar manner.

Dry it with another equally soft clean cloth and wait till it dries completely.

Next, wear latex gloves to protect your hands and take the mentioned amount of leather conditioner on a clean soft cloth and rub over the surface, even on cracks and scratches till the conditioner is absorbed by the bonded leather.

A two way mirror can hide a flat screen television in the most straightforward way without disturbing your basic home décor.

Get a two way mirror that is larger in size than your flat screen television. On the darker side set a d-ring and a screw hole at the upper left and right corners of the frame. The screws should be fastened in a way that the ring part points toward the top of the frame to ease hanging.

After measuring the distance between these d-rings transfer them to the wall above your TV and find and mark any stud points in this particular wall. Drill holes and settle the wall hooks in place by twisting them into the wall till the screw end is completely embedded.

Finally hook up the mirror to the wall so that it covers the TV completely but allows you to use your remote efficiently.

Rustic furniture is exclusively available in North Carolina as it is a practiced and famous folk art of the region. Rustic furniture adds a feeling and splendor of the mountains to your home and garden.

If you want to use rustic furniture to enhance your home décor start by searching online at the rusticfurnituremakers.com and northcarolinafurnitureguide.com websites which offers a list of furniture makers in the whole of North Carolina and their history.

Once you have a list of possible addresses plan a visit to North Carolina and look at shops in Ashville and smaller towns Black Mountain, Smoky Mountains and Swannanoa that are equally famous for art, craft and furniture making.

When you are there also make a mini trip to high point which is again a place to buy good rustic furniture. Do your homework by visiting the hp.furniture.com to get details of the best available furniture sellers.

An army theme is a great home décor idea for a boy’s room as they simply love the action of soldiers and camouflage tanks.

Military gear and camouflage uniforms offer a range of sober shades for wall colors, like lighter off whites, olives, tans, sand and muted browns to work as a backdrop for any army related murals you might paint on the walls.

Or you could get affordable acrylic wall stickers of tanks and army scenes that can be peeled off to put up new ones easily in most dollar stores.

Military fabric should be added in little dashes such as pin boards, lamp shades to avoid excess. Photographs of family or friends in their army regalia who the boy idolizes also serve as a focal point.

Collect a range of theme based toys that also serve the dual purpose of being show pieces arranged on the toy shelf.

The pulpit is the stand placed in front of the church. Many churches center the pulpit right in middle of the stage. Some churches however place them off to one side. The pulpit is used quite often in a church service and it can be used in a number of ways. These pulpits are many times decorated using some sort of religious decor like an image of Jesus and Mary. These images remind the congregation that the sermon of music is in honor of God.

The church pulpits cost anything between few hundred to several thousands of dollars. However, you can easily build your own attractive looking pulpit by using normal woodworking tools and material from the hardware store. You can make use of millwork pieces as well. This way your pulpit can look like finely crafted wood even though you don’t have the carpentry skills. You can place the symbol of your faith in front.