Updated 03/01/2010
PAGE INDEX:
Family Hack Household Hints site
Home Security - Doors
Stain Removal
Replace or repair a broken appliance?
Helpful Household Hints
MSHDA has a new loan program to help homeowners and landlords repair and upgrade their properties. MSHDA Brochure
DIDYOUKNOW?
Most fire departments recommend replacing any smoke or carbon dioxide detector every 6 to 10 years? The detector eye can become dirty and cause a false alarm or even malfunction and not go off in a fire. When replacing any detector look for one that is self cleaning.
Return to top of page.A sample from an interesting site called FAMILY HACK
Problem: Kids put sticker everywhere and they can be difficult to remove.
Solution: Get out the hair-dryer and apply heat to the sticker. After heating up the sticker it will then easily pull off (without leaving much residue). The remaining residue can be removed by using a touch of lighter fluid on a rag.
PLEASE NOTE:Isopropyl alcohol (99% works best) is a safer way to remove glue residue from most surfaces. It is also a very good cleaning agent for almost anything. - Brian
Home Security - Doors
Every burglar's favorite method of entering a home is thru a door. Are all of your doors as burglar proof as possible?
Are your doors equipped with strong pin tumbler locks?
Do you lock every door every time you leave your house?
Do you have Dead bolts on all the doors?
Do you use them every time you leave and at night?
Do you have chain latches on every door?
Do you use them when answering the door?
Are your doors equipped with the type of hinges that can not be forced open from the outside?
Do you have high quality steel doors with steel door jams?
Return to top of page.Here is a handy web site for Stain Removal.
Should I replace or repair a broken appliance?
Do to the cost of repairing most small appliances and electronic items, a basic rule of thumb is if the replacement cost is under $200.00, buy a new one. Or if it is more than 6 years old, you may want to buy a new one for the newer technology.
For major appliances got to National Association of Home Builders for a listing of the average household appliance life expectancy. If the age of the appliance is less than 3/4 of its life expectancy AND the repair bill is less than 1/2 of the cost of a new one. Conceder repairing it. Again if it is much over 6 years old you may want to buy a newer more efficient model. You would have to factor in utility cost savings and price VS estimated repair cost and remaining life. If there is a large utility cost savings or large technology advancement, bite the bullet and buy new.
Washers - New front-loading washers are so energy, water, and detergent efficient that they have rendered top-loaders obsolete. So unless that top-loader is an expensive model and only a few years old, consider replacing it for the more efficient model. Here the utility savings will be huge.
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