Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Motor oil

Possibly the biggest “no-no” for pouring anything down drains is used motor oil.  It’s actually illegal in most municipalities, because of how much environmental damage it does and how easily it can contaminate an area’s soil and water table. If you change your own oil in your car, NEVER pour used motor oil down a … Continue reading “Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Motor oil”

Trying to Sell Your Home? Make the Plumbing Fixtures Look Nice…

If you’re one of the many homeowners looking to sell your home in this tough real estate market, you might have read all sorts of tips on how to get prospective buyers to take a second look around and really be taken in by what your home has to offer. Most prospective home buyers aren’t … Continue reading “Trying to Sell Your Home? Make the Plumbing Fixtures Look Nice…”

MacPumpkin Scones

This is an appropriate scone for the day after a Thanksgiving feast… and a perfect way to use any leftover canned pumpkin. Ingredients: 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup (1 stick) chilled butter or margarine 1 … Continue reading “MacPumpkin Scones”

Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Starchy Foods

Rice, potatoes, noodles, and breads that are poured down a garbage disposal can clog a drain.  After being mashed up by the disposal, water is added as it is rinsed down the drain and travels down the pipe, then these starchy foods can turn into a paste and expand to clog and block any water … Continue reading “Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Starchy Foods”

Tax Credits For Energy Efficient Home Upgrades

To encourage homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which came out in February of this year, has a provision that offers tax credits for energy efficient upgrades to homes. Most projects can claim credits for 30% of the materials cost up to $1,500, and include … Continue reading “Tax Credits For Energy Efficient Home Upgrades”

MacCranberry Oatmeal Scones

This month’s scone is a tasty breakfast scone that is great warm with butter or margarine.  We had fun making this one because it was so simple and easy- it only took us about 20 minutes from measuring the ingredients until it was in the oven, so it’s great for making in the morning for … Continue reading “MacCranberry Oatmeal Scones”

The Art of Plunging a Bathtub

Sometimes a completely clogged bathtub drain can be plunged free- using a toilet plunger.  Plunging a bathtub drain works by forcing a pocket of water or air through the pipe to break up or loosen the clog- which is most often made up of hair and collections of soap in a bathtub. To plunge the … Continue reading “The Art of Plunging a Bathtub”

MacMolasses Scones

These scones make a good after-breakfast snack; with a hint of cinnamon and a mildly sweet flavor from the molasses- which is called treacle in Scotland. Ingredients: 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground/powdered ginger ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup butter (5 … Continue reading “MacMolasses Scones”

Kitchen Sink Odors

Kitchen sinks get a lot of food particles and other debris washed down the drain, especially if you have a garbage disposal.  There are a number of “home remedies” people prescribe for their stinky drains, and sometimes they can successfully tame a mild odor. Baking soda eliminates various odors around a home: for your kitchen … Continue reading “Kitchen Sink Odors”

Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Coffee grounds

A few stray coffee grounds here and there down the drain won’t cause much of a hassle, but a large amount of coffee grounds dumped down a drain at once can cause a clog.  Coffee grounds tend to attract grease, allowing small amounts of oils and grease to build up much more easily. Instead of … Continue reading “Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Coffee grounds”