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Northeast Floodwaters Recede, Residents Begin Cleanup

The muddy floodwater swirling through riverside towns across the Northeast was receding Friday, and residents began the arduous tasks of clearing away debris left by five days of heavy rain and trying to tally the cost of the flood.

The damage was expected to run well into the tens of millions, with $2 million in repairs to the National Archives building alone.

Most states still had no estimate Friday, and several riverside towns were still partially submerged. At least 16 deaths in four states had been blamed on the deluge, and about 6,000 people who fled homes along the Delaware River in northern New Jersey were advised Friday to wait at least another day before returning.

"It's not over yet," New Jersey state police Sgt. Jeanne Hengemuhle said Friday. "You don't know what's in the water, under the water. You don't know what it's done to your home."

In Trenton, where neighborhoods remained flooded and thousands displaced, the mayor on Friday called the damage "tremendous." Foot-long carp could be seen swimming down one flooded residential street.

For many along the Delaware River, it was the third time in two years that floodwaters invaded, putting basements underwater and sending muddy water flowing into stores.

"It's a disaster," said Herbert Sandor, whose street-level shops in New Hope, Pa., were spared, but whose basement offices were under 5 feet of water.

He knows all too well what comes next: bulldozing the mud from the parking lot, getting the power turned on and buying new carpet.

Though the National Weather Service had a flood warning in effect until Saturday morning, the forecast gave residents some hope the worst was over. The outlook Friday included some thunderstorms, but most of the region was expected to be dry.

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich said Friday he would ask for a federal disaster declaration for the hardest hit areas of the state to help "rebuild lives, property and infrastructure."

State officials didn't expect a final disaster cost estimate in Maryland for several days.

In New York, Gov. George Pataki estimated at least $100 million of property damage. New Jersey Gov. John S. Corzine said the flood looked a lot like one last year that caused $30 million in damage. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell declared parts of the state a disaster. All three were also seeking federal help.

In Washington, D.C., where a National Archives theater was inundated and several other federal buildings shut down because of flooding, the General Services Administration was also still trying to determine the extent of the damage, when it might be repaired or how much it would cost, said spokesman Mike McGill.

Corzine and Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez planned to tour flood-damaged areas in New Jersey on Friday. Sen. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton planned to tour some of the flooded regions of upstate New York. Vermont was hit by heavy rain against Thursday that led to more flooding there.

The flooding this week was brought on by days of heavy rains that caused several rivers to swell. The Delaware River crested Thursday night at Trenton at 25.1 feet -- 5 feet above flood stage -- and wasn't expected to sink back below that level until early Saturday, Palmer said. The Susquehanna River crested at just over 34 feet at Wilkes-Barre, Pa. -- below expectations and the 41-foot floodwall.

Along the swollen Delaware, officials closed 10 bridges connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania because of high water. Though a a 117-mile stretch of the New York Thruway between Schenectady and Syracuse reopened Thursday, Amtrak service in much of the western part of New York remained shut down.

The Erie Canal from near Albany to east of Rochester was closed. Water was rushing so hard over a lock under repair in Amsterdam that it washed away construction trailers and knocked the lockkeeper's house off its foundation.

In and around Wilkes-Barre, an evacuation order covering up to 200,000 people was lifted Thursday when newly raised levees held back the raging Susquehanna. In Maryland, an evacuation order for 2,200 residents downstream from a dam in Rockville was lifted.

But others weren't as lucky. Officials cautioned residents in many communities to stay away from their homes until authorities determined gas and electricity are working properly and homes are structurally sound.

Almost 3,000 people remained in shelters in New York, where widespread problems with drinking water and power outages continued. In Trenton, Palmer said some residents might not be able to return until Tuesday. Drinking water was dwindling after the city's water filtration system was shut down because of debris in the Delaware, and Palmer said it would not restart until at least Friday.

"I want to move," said Jennifer Helmuth, who sweltered in a sport utility vehicle with her 16-month-old son and extended family outside a middle school serving as a shelter. "Away from the water. Away from this."

Deaths in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New York have been blamed on the storms and the flooding. In New York's Sullivan County, searchers found the body of a 15-year-old girl whose house collapsed as she stood on the porch waiting to be rescued.

Searchers also found the bodies of two Maryland boys, ages 14 and 16, who were swept away earlier this week after they went to look at a rain-swollen waterway. Pennsylvania Health Department spokesman Troy Thompson said Friday that four additional deaths -- nine in all in that state -- had been tentatively linked to flooding.

Even as waist-high waters invaded streets, some tried to look on the bright side. In Johnson City, N.Y., Erin Davis and her boyfriend, Chris Newton, both 25, took a break from cleaning up with a short game of badminton.

"We were cleaning when I saw a tabletop float by with the rackets and birdies," Newton said. "We're just trying to make the best of a bad situation."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/06/30/northeast-floodwaters-recede-residents-begin-cleanup

Wet Basement Repairs in Quakertown PA - New VIDEO

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Will "Fracking" for gas cause sinkholes and cracked home foundations?

Just to clear up some misconceptions noted here:

Firstly, while fracking, when used in popular parlance, is typically referring to the extraction of methane gas from shale, that is not the only thing it is used for. In fact, it has been used to extract a wide variety of underground resources and has even been used for things like well restoration and increased heat production for geothermal energy. Different activity methods and outcomes will likely have different side effects - and some of these will not involve any great likelihood of water supply pollution. So, it would be irresponsible to paint them all with the same brush.

Secondly, gases are a type of matter and have mass - So, they do "take up space," so to type - While they do not have a definite volume, the collisions of their molecules still exert pressure on whatever is containing them - Here's some info on that: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5257070_gas-closed-container-exert-pressure.html - Removing gasses from rock or concrete frequently causes them to compact. (In fact, there is now a technique that uses sound waves to force air out of concrete to compact it and make it super hard.)

When you take water and dissolve it in sugar, the overall volume of the water is increased... So, one way of describing it definitely could be that it "takes up space" - It has not gone away and left only its flavor behind. It has simple been incorporated into the sugar water compound - Here's a bit on that: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_sugar_still_have_volume_when_it_is_dissolved_in_water

So, with that understanding, look again at fracking and other underground resource harvesting operations - Just like removing water from underground streams causes the ground to lower, removing oil from the ground when drilling can do the same - When this occurs, it is known as land subsidence. Here's a decent overview of that: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwlandsubside.html This occurs because the liquids exert a supporting pressure on the solid earth. Removing them means that pressure is gone and the ground typically settles.

Ok - So, let's apply that idea to methane gas, which is found in pockets in shale - When we remove gases or settling pushes out the gas filling those pockets, they tend to fill in with shale - and this shale is not magically formed within the pockets. Rather, it comes from above and around the pockets - In essence, the very earth is moved. Think of putting a balloon in a box with a multitude of rocks around it. Over time, the air will escape from the balloon and the rocks will cave in, filling the space where the air was. When they do so, the height of the rock piles in the box will be lowered.

Now, perhaps this is not causing sinkholes and earthquakes. The earth is moving all the time, with gasses and liquids getting pushed around and forced to change course regularly. Perhaps it is all just natural. However, it seems, from our understanding, to be atypical that such large volumes of gasses and liquids inside the earth move around as much at once as the volumes that get moved around quickly during a variety of underground resource harvesting activities - and this seems like it very well could cause some earthquake, sinkhole and similar activities in a much shorter time than would typically be required for such.

I would also note that fracking frequently involves the injection of liquids into the earth, and it would appear that these often have a destabilizing effect - an effect that seems likely to be causing the slippage of faults already in the earth - Again, perhaps this has no particular effect on the earth above, but I think it is at least strong food for thought - After all, an earthquake is, by definition, seismic activity typically caused by the rupturing of faults beneath the earth's surface...

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2630847

UPDATE 2-Power outages in Calgary could last for months after floods

Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38pm EDT

By Nia Williams

CALGARY, Alberta, June 23 (Reuters) - Power outages in the Canadian oil capital of Calgary could last for weeks or even months, city authorities said on Sunday, as record breaking flood waters moved downstream to threaten smaller communities in southeastern Alberta.

Even as officials told 65,000 Calgary residents they could start returning to their water-damaged homes, 10,000 people in were evacuated in Medicine Hat, where the South Saskatchewan River is expected to burst its banks.

CF Industries said it was temporarily halting production at its Medicine Hat facility, Canada's largest nitrogen fertilizer complex, as a precautionary measure in view of the flooding.

The floods have closed key transit arteries, including some rail lines and the east-west TransCanada Highway, and displaced more than 100,000 people.

The floods already look significantly worse than those of 2005, which caused C$400 million ($383 million) in damage.

Three people have been confirmed dead.

But officials say it is too early to put a figure on the damage in the Western Canadian province and in Calgary, its largest city, with a population of 1.1 million.

"It will certainly be at least the middle of the week before people will be going back to work. There are some pockets of downtown where normality will not return for weeks," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi told a news conference.

"We have turned a corner. We are still in a state of emergency, but our hearts and thoughts and prayers are now with our colleagues downstream."

Bruce Burrell, director of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said it could take days, weeks or perhaps even months to restore all power in the downtown core, where many of Canada's oil companies have their headquarters.

Many of the companies were making plans for employees to work from home.

Heavy rains were blamed for 750 barrels of synthetic oil spilling from a pipeline approximately 70 kilometers (40 miles) south of the oil town of Fort McMurray, in northern Alberta, early on Saturday.

Enbridge Inc, Canada's largest pipeline company, said the cause of the spill was still under investigation but unusually heavy rain may have resulted in ground movements that impacted the pipeline.

The oilfields were not threatened by the floods.

Enbridge also has shut down two other major oil pipelines serving Canada's oil sands region as a precaution. Canada is the biggest supplier of energy to the United States.

There was little, if any, trade in Canadian crude oil on Friday, after the evacuations started in Calgary. Net Energy Inc, one of the two main Calgary crude brokers, said it would be open for business this week with brokers working remotely.

INSURANCE GAPS

Jeff Burke, president and CEO of insurers Western Financial Group, said many Canadian homeowners would not be covered for damages resulting from groundwater flooding.

"There is no flood insurance in Canada, so people do not have coverage for this. Where there's some coverage in some cases is if they have sewer back-up cover," Burke said.

"Just looking at water levels, what we have experienced and the destruction is much more severe now than in 2005."

The company is headquartered in High River, one of the communities worst affected by the flooding, and the site of the three deaths recorded so far.

The floods followed 36 hours of unusually heavy rain that pushed the volume of water in rivers to record levels. Some communities received six months of their normal rainfall in fewer than two days.

Evacuations started on Thursday and utility Enmax switched off power to central Calgary on Friday afternoon to avoid water damage to its downtown facilities.

Troops have been helping evacuate residents and throw up sand or earth barriers to protect low-lying communities.

Soldiers on Sunday helped shore up the east bank of the Bow River in Calgary and ensure the stability of an substation belonging to utility Enmax.

City authorities said 24,000 Enmax customers were still without power.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/23/canada-floods-calgary-idUSL2N0EZ06M20130623

Flooded Basement Cleanup Quakertown PA - Carpet Water Extraction - Wet Basement Repair

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Water Damage & Flood Clean-up - Flooded Basement Cleanup Quakertown PA

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Cumberland River recedes as Tennessee cleans up

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Cumberland River begins to recede in NashvilleFlooding leads to at least 28 deaths across the Southeast -- 19 in Tennessee Music City institutions among buildings floodedNaval facility outside Memphis hit by floodwaters

(CNN) -- The Cumberland River in Tennessee was receding Tuesday as favorable weather was in the forecast, bringing some relief to the flood-battered state.

Severe weather over the weekend was blamed for at least 28 deaths across the Southeast -- 19 of those in Tennessee -- between Saturday and Monday, emergency officials said. Ten of the Tennessee deaths occurred in Nashville and surrounding Davidson County, the Nashville mayor's office said.

President Obama on Tuesday named parts of Tennessee major disaster areas.

The designation makes federal funding available to affected residents in the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman and Williamson, according to the White House.

The Cumberland River crested Monday evening at 51.9 feet, 11.9 feet above flood stage, National Weather Service Meteorologist Sam Herron said.

"It's going to continue dropping through today," he said.

The National Weather Service expects the river to fall below flood stage by Thursday morning. The water should recede enough to leave the downtown Nashville area by Tuesday night, Herron said.

"Conditions are going to improve from this point out," he said.

In western Tennessee, significant flash flooding swamped a U.S. Navy base and affected a large part of its operations, a base spokesman said Tuesday.

Water rushed into base housing and several other buildings at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee, less than 20 miles from Memphis.

Base officials shut all the affected buildings to limit long-term damage.

On the website for the base, a message from the commanding officer announced, "For Tuesday, May 4, only those personnel directly involved in recovery efforts need to report to work. All other personnel should check in with their chains of command."

Some buildings were undamaged, but some communication systems remained down.

Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson said engineers had assessed some of the residential streets and determined that some homes are safe for sailors and their families to return.

Those residents can go only to and from their homes; the rest of the base is still closed and considered unsafe. No visitors were being allowed on base.

At Tennessee State University, which sits on the banks of the Cumberland River, the university's president was involved in the rescue of a faculty member.

Using a boat, President Melvin Johnson and a graduate student were able to rescue a professor who had been stranded by flash flooding on Sunday.

Johnson said he got the faculty member, who was suffering from hypothermia, to a hospital.

Officials at the state and local level responded well to the flooding, but "this tragedy was so widespread that we couldn't wait on the emergency response teams to our campus," Johnson said.

Tennessee State wasn't the only Nashville university affected.

According to the Vanderbilt University website, exams were canceled on Monday. As of Tuesday, things were getting back to normal, the website said. "We still have numerous cleanup and restoration efforts going on across campus," said Mark Petty, assistant vice chancellor for Plant Operations.

Chris McDonald shot video of streets covered by water around the university that he submitted as a CNN iReport.

"It was just shocking to see the extent of the flooding. We had been hearing about it, but seeing it for myself was a whole different perspective," he said.

In a news conference Tuesday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean praised the high number of residents who had volunteered to help those affected by the flooding.

The city was soliciting donations of large quantities of diapers, formula, cleaning supplies, brooms, mops and generators, the mayor said.

"We are now officially beginning to transition from the response to the recovery stage of this disaster," he said.

"We are looking at a long recovery period," the mayor said, adding that he believed that Nashville would recover completely from the flood damage.

This was a "500-year flood," said Larry Nash, spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Part of the reason the river was receding at a slow pace was because the Corps of Engineers were strategically releasing some water upstream from some dams.

Map: iReporters document flooding

The releases were necessary for the dams and actually stemmed flooding down river, Lt. Col. Anthony Mitchell, commander of the Corps' Nashville District, said in a statement.

"The perception is that flooding along the Cumberland River was made worse by releases from Corps dams," he said. "The truth is that Corps dams kept the flooding throughout the region from being much worse."

There were also questions about how Nashville would be economically affected by the flooding.

iReport: Have you been affected by the flooding? Send photos, video

The CMA Music Festival, one of Nashville's signature music events, will continue as planned in June, organizers said.

The music festival brings in more than $22 million in direct visitor spending to Nashville, Country Music Association board chairman Steve Moore said.

"We cannot think of a better way to help our local economy at this time of great need than to continue the 39-year tradition of CMA Music Festival," he said.

CNN affiliate WKRN-TV: Recovery efforts expand

Country music artist Keith Urban told CNN's Rick Sanchez that his road equipment was likely lost as a result of the flooding.

He may have lost his equipment, but "this pales in comparison to people who have lost homes and everything," Urban said.

"Nashville is just such a great community and that community spirit has never been more evident than it is now," he said, predicting that benefit concerts in the music-rich city may help raise funds to restore it.

CNN's Chris Lawrence, Martin Savidge and Mariano Castillo contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/05/04/tennessee.flooding.deaths/

Wet Basement Repairs in Quakertown PA - New VIDEO

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Bonneville Environmental Foundation Unveils First-Ever Voluntary Water Restoration Marketplace

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an effort to bring life back into U.S. rivers and streams that are critically dewatered, the nonprofit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced the creation of the first and only national voluntary water restoration marketplace via BEF Water Restoration CertificatesTM (WRCs).

"Americans use twice as much water as Europeans and almost forty times more than people in developing countries," said Margie Gardner, CEO of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. "At least 36 U.S. states anticipate water shortages by 2013. Clearly we need to think more deeply about how we use water. BEF invented Water Restoration Certificates so businesses and households could learn more and take direct action to help solve our water scarcity issues."

Through WRCs, BEF offers businesses and individuals an opportunity to take responsibility for their water consumption by restoring to nature an amount of water equal to what they use. Each WRC represents one thousand gallons of water restored to critically dewatered streams.

"Water rights are managed in the Western U.S. with a 'use it or lose it' system that forces water use even when it's wasteful. When businesses and consumers buy BEF WRCs they create a revenue source that provides economic incentive to leave unneeded water in rivers and streams," explained Rob Harmon, Chief Innovation Officer at BEF, who led the development of the new program.

Charter customers that have invested in BEF WRCs to balance their water use include the Bullitt Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and WhiteWave Foods Company.

"I'm excited to see a product that so elegantly addresses one of Earth's most pressing problems - our looming fresh water crisis," said Denis Hayes, President and CEO of the Bullitt Foundation and National Executive Director of the first Earth Day in 1970. "The BEF Water Restoration Certificate is a simple and immediate way for businesses and consumers to help bring water and life back to streams that are currently dry."

BEF has launched www.BEFwater.org, which features a host of resources, including tips on how to reduce water use, calculate water consumption and purchase WRCs to rebalance water use. Businesses can download white papers and learn more at www.BEFwater.org/business.

"At WhiteWave, we take great pride in working with a nonprofit like BEF that has vision and leadership in both the renewable energy and emerging water market categories, and shares our commitment to making it easier for businesses and consumers to make environmentally responsible choices," says Ellen W. Feeney, VP Responsible Livelihood, WhiteWave Foods Company. "The BEF water calculator and Water Restoration Certificates are simple, cost-effective tools that we can all use to make more sustainable choices about our water use and create real environmental benefits."

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has certified the standards and criteria for all BEF WRC projects to ensure that water is returned at a time and place that will produce real environmental benefits, providing increased water flow to critically dewatered ecosystems so they can better support fish and wildlife. Also, BEF has partnered with water trust organizations at each location who work with local irrigators and monitor flow restoration. To ensure that water returned to the environment is never counted twice, WRCs are individually numbered and tracked by Markit Environmental Registry, a leading global provider of registries for ecosystems markets.

Markit's Head of Ecosystem Markets, Joanna Silver, said "The new WRC is a first of its kind. We are very excited to be at the forefront of this new environmental market with an innovative organization like BEF and to play a part in creating a robust and credible product. Only with quality infrastructure can environmental markets be scalable and easily implemented regionally, nationally and globally."

The BEF WRC market is having initial success:

For years, Prickly Pear Creek in Montana did not flow throughout the irrigation season, running dry in the late summer season. This summer BEF and the Montana Water Trust expect to restore the creek to continuous year-round flow, supporting approximately two river miles of additional habitat for fish and wildlife.

In Oregon, where BEF works with the Deschutes River Conservancy, water flow in the Middle Deschutes River is almost four times what it has been historically, fostering a healthier ecosystem for people, plants and wildlife and prompting local fly fishing guides familiar with the area to report improved fish populations.

Evan's Creek, which is also in Oregon and where BEF works with The Freshwater Trust, is enjoying a 50 percent improvement in summer stream flow, prompting a return of wildlife to the area with beavers actively pooling up the small stream and steelhead trout and Coho salmon using the stream as rearing habitat.

About BEF

An entrepreneurial nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. Customers who buy independently certified BEF Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities, while customers who buy BEF's Water Restoration CertificatesTM support the return of water to critically dewatered streams and rivers. All BEF customers and donors support long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenues to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since it was established in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at www.b-e-f.org.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090818005302/en/Bonneville-Environmental-Foundation-Unveils-First-Ever-Voluntary-Water

MonitorBot, Sensicast and B&B Electronics Announce First Remote, Totally Integrated Moisture Monitoring System; As Hurricanes and Floods Rage, Smart Wireless Sensors Help Disaster Restoration Services Get More Customers High and Dry Faster

NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 2006--MonitorBot, Inc. (disaster recovery systems developer), Sensicast(R) Systems (wireless sensor solutions leader), and B&B Electronics (manufacturer of data-comm products for building controls) announced that they have jointly developed, and will soon make available the world's first remote, totally integrated moisture monitoring system: MonitorBot.

MonitorBot is a Totally Integrated Moisture Monitoring system (T.I.M.M.) that combines 24X7 wireless sensor monitoring of humidity and moisture levels, dissemination of that data through a Sensicast SensiNet(R) mesh network, ruggedized components and a wireless gateway developed by B&B Electronics, and online notification (via reports or alarms) of current conditions. The solution consists of a field-installable kit and a Web-based ASP service, and will be available in Q3-06.

After a simple installation, MonitorBot monitors job-site conditions remotely from any computer with an Internet connection. MonitorBot has been designed to meet the needs of service providers who deliver post-flood/disaster water cleanup, drying, dehumidification, deodorization, and building stabilization services for residential and commercial buildings. Service providers that may be interested in MonitorBot include the more than 4,000 franchisees of ServiceMaster Clean-- the market leader in residential disaster restoration, with over 1,000 disaster restoration facilities in North America.

Beyond its ServiceMaster Clean subsidiary, The ServiceMaster Company (NYSE:SVM) provides outsourcing services for more than 10.5 million residential and commercial customers and announced its acquisition in February 2006 of another innovator in the disaster response and reconstruction business--the InStar Services Group. "When disasters strike, service providers need to spend more time fixing problems caused by flooding, and less time doing routine checks on the conditions in properties they serve," said Tim Bruffey, president and originator of the MonitorBot system. "As a ServiceMaster Clean Quality Restoration Vendor franchisee myself, I sought a way to cut back on time I spent traveling to/from and at, on-site visits. With MonitorBot's remote monitoring and Internet reporting, I've cut-back labor costs, improved service, and can now handle more jobs simultaneously. To increase the value to franchisees: MonitorBot's alarms and reports are formatted specifically for ServiceMaster insurance forms, billing, and standard company processes.

"With The National Hurricane Center predicting 12 to 15 storms in the current 2006 hurricane season, providers need to deliver effective damage restoration services to homes, businesses and institutions," said Paul Richards, VP of Sensicast. "Developed by a ServiceMaster franchisee--for fellow franchisees, MonitorBot incorporates Sensicast's SensiNet wireless mesh network for a solution that lets providers optimize their manpower and improve service delivery."

"When pipes break, appliances overflow, or drains clog; wet conditions cause mold to grow and spread quickly, destroying fiber in wood, paper and fabric unless it is treated," said Don Wiencek, president of B&B Electronics. "By integrating MonitorBot software, and ruggedized components and wireless gateways from B&B Electronics; ServiceMaster franchisees will have a comprehensive system for remote moisture monitoring, and a strong addition to their damage restoration toolkit."

"MonitorBot's technology is very impressive," said Jake Labrie, VP of Operations of Texas-based Lautriv, Inc.--early MonitorBot tester, whose company serves property casualty insurers. "We plan to use MonitorBot for remote monitoring because we know it will accelerate the process of documenting and paying claims and translate into significant cost savings for insurers." Greg Grandee of ServiceMaster of Alexandria (VA) agrees: "MonitorBot will handle routine monitoring automatically and let me dedicate more time and resources to accelerate the drying and remediation process."

Five Facts About Water Damage and Floods

1. Water damage is one of the most common reasons people make home

insurance claims: Burst pipes, leaky appliances, and flooded

basements are just a few of the reasons.

Source: Insure.com

2. Claims for water damage, mold and freezing totaled an estimated

$25.6 billion in 2002.

Source: Insurance Services Office, Inc.

3. Floods are the #1 most common natural disaster in the United

States.

4. Your home has a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood during

the course of a 30-year mortgage, compared to a 9% chance of

fire.

5. Mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water

exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are

taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively

deal with the mold problem.

Source: Department of Homeland Security/FEMA

About B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co.

B&B Electronics (www.bb-elec.com) is a leading manufacturer of data communication products for industrial automation, retail services and building control fields. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Ottawa, Illinois, the company serves over 50,000 customers worldwide.

B&B Electronics is a subsidiary of Avtek Corporation, a privately held company in Providence, RI.

About Sensicast Systems, Inc.

Sensicast (www.sensicast.com) provides comprehensive intelligent wireless sensor solutions for a wide range of services and applications, delivering crucial information from environments where data collection is impossible or impractical through wired sensors. Sensicast's SensiNet wireless sensor networks operate in buildings worldwide providing robust and reliable monitoring of temperature, moisture/humidity and energy metrics. Headquartered in the USA, Sensicast is a private company, with Ardesta, LLC and Global Environment Fund as its primary investors.

About MonitorBot, Inc.

MonitorBot, Inc is the originator of the first remote, totally-integrated moisture monitoring system: MonitorBot. Designed for easy deployment by professionals providing residential, commercial and institutional disaster recovery services, MonitorBot gives providers enhanced control and real-time property-site status through a turnkey system of smart wireless sensor monitoring technology, and a Web-based reporting service. Using MonitorBot, providers can deliver water damage clean-up services more efficiently, to more customers, than ever before.

More information http://monitorbot.net/

SensiNet and Sensicast are registered trademarks of Sensicast Systems, Inc.

All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060906005328/en/MonitorBot-Sensicast-BB-Electronics-Announce-Remote-Totally

Cumberland River recedes as Tennessee cleans up

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Cumberland River begins to recede in NashvilleFlooding leads to at least 28 deaths across the Southeast -- 19 in Tennessee Music City institutions among buildings floodedNaval facility outside Memphis hit by floodwaters

(CNN) -- The Cumberland River in Tennessee was receding Tuesday as favorable weather was in the forecast, bringing some relief to the flood-battered state.

Severe weather over the weekend was blamed for at least 28 deaths across the Southeast -- 19 of those in Tennessee -- between Saturday and Monday, emergency officials said. Ten of the Tennessee deaths occurred in Nashville and surrounding Davidson County, the Nashville mayor's office said.

President Obama on Tuesday named parts of Tennessee major disaster areas.

The designation makes federal funding available to affected residents in the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman and Williamson, according to the White House.

The Cumberland River crested Monday evening at 51.9 feet, 11.9 feet above flood stage, National Weather Service Meteorologist Sam Herron said.

"It's going to continue dropping through today," he said.

The National Weather Service expects the river to fall below flood stage by Thursday morning. The water should recede enough to leave the downtown Nashville area by Tuesday night, Herron said.

"Conditions are going to improve from this point out," he said.

In western Tennessee, significant flash flooding swamped a U.S. Navy base and affected a large part of its operations, a base spokesman said Tuesday.

Water rushed into base housing and several other buildings at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee, less than 20 miles from Memphis.

Base officials shut all the affected buildings to limit long-term damage.

On the website for the base, a message from the commanding officer announced, "For Tuesday, May 4, only those personnel directly involved in recovery efforts need to report to work. All other personnel should check in with their chains of command."

Some buildings were undamaged, but some communication systems remained down.

Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson said engineers had assessed some of the residential streets and determined that some homes are safe for sailors and their families to return.

Those residents can go only to and from their homes; the rest of the base is still closed and considered unsafe. No visitors were being allowed on base.

At Tennessee State University, which sits on the banks of the Cumberland River, the university's president was involved in the rescue of a faculty member.

Using a boat, President Melvin Johnson and a graduate student were able to rescue a professor who had been stranded by flash flooding on Sunday.

Johnson said he got the faculty member, who was suffering from hypothermia, to a hospital.

Officials at the state and local level responded well to the flooding, but "this tragedy was so widespread that we couldn't wait on the emergency response teams to our campus," Johnson said.

Tennessee State wasn't the only Nashville university affected.

According to the Vanderbilt University website, exams were canceled on Monday. As of Tuesday, things were getting back to normal, the website said. "We still have numerous cleanup and restoration efforts going on across campus," said Mark Petty, assistant vice chancellor for Plant Operations.

Chris McDonald shot video of streets covered by water around the university that he submitted as a CNN iReport.

"It was just shocking to see the extent of the flooding. We had been hearing about it, but seeing it for myself was a whole different perspective," he said.

In a news conference Tuesday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean praised the high number of residents who had volunteered to help those affected by the flooding.

The city was soliciting donations of large quantities of diapers, formula, cleaning supplies, brooms, mops and generators, the mayor said.

"We are now officially beginning to transition from the response to the recovery stage of this disaster," he said.

"We are looking at a long recovery period," the mayor said, adding that he believed that Nashville would recover completely from the flood damage.

This was a "500-year flood," said Larry Nash, spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Part of the reason the river was receding at a slow pace was because the Corps of Engineers were strategically releasing some water upstream from some dams.

Map: iReporters document flooding

The releases were necessary for the dams and actually stemmed flooding down river, Lt. Col. Anthony Mitchell, commander of the Corps' Nashville District, said in a statement.

"The perception is that flooding along the Cumberland River was made worse by releases from Corps dams," he said. "The truth is that Corps dams kept the flooding throughout the region from being much worse."

There were also questions about how Nashville would be economically affected by the flooding.

iReport: Have you been affected by the flooding? Send photos, video

The CMA Music Festival, one of Nashville's signature music events, will continue as planned in June, organizers said.

The music festival brings in more than $22 million in direct visitor spending to Nashville, Country Music Association board chairman Steve Moore said.

"We cannot think of a better way to help our local economy at this time of great need than to continue the 39-year tradition of CMA Music Festival," he said.

CNN affiliate WKRN-TV: Recovery efforts expand

Country music artist Keith Urban told CNN's Rick Sanchez that his road equipment was likely lost as a result of the flooding.

He may have lost his equipment, but "this pales in comparison to people who have lost homes and everything," Urban said.

"Nashville is just such a great community and that community spirit has never been more evident than it is now," he said, predicting that benefit concerts in the music-rich city may help raise funds to restore it.

CNN's Chris Lawrence, Martin Savidge and Mariano Castillo contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/05/04/tennessee.flooding.deaths/

Howard Dean: Katrina Will Put GOP Out of Business

In one of those odd political moments that combine a poignant message with somewhat opportunistic maneuvering, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean took part in a cleanup effort in flood-ravaged New Orleans and used the moment to take a shot at the Republicans.

In his first post-Katrina visit to the Crescent City, Dean helped Acorn, a nonprofit community group that works with low-income families, to clean out Vincent Cooper's flood-damaged home on Derbigny Street in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.

"I don't want to be partisan at a time like this, but this is why the Republicans are going to be out of business," Dean said, pointing to the destruction around him. "Nine months after the hurricane, to have this? This is ridiculous. This is not the America we grew up in."

When asked if he thought Americans had moved beyond Katrina and may forget about the storm by the time the November elections rolled around, Dean replied, "This is a searing, burning issue, and I think it is going to cost George Bush his legacy and it's going to cost the Republicans the House and the Senate and maybe the presidency in the next election. People will never forget this."

The Acorn Home Clean-Out project is a volunteer drive to help people gut their damaged homes so that rehabilitation can begin. The 68-year old Cooper, a retired shipyard heavy-lift operator, has lived in this house since 1971.

Dean is in the Crescent City for the Democratic National Committee's annual spring meeting. The 350 DNC members and staffers attending the meeting are taking part in various community-service rebuilding projects in New Orleans.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1874314

Halloween Decorating Ideas: A Not-Too-Creepy Halloween Party

Sometimes it’s hard to walk that thin line between creepy Halloween and cute Halloween. But we think Katrina Sullivan, author of Chic Little House, did it perfectly with her Halloween decorating ideas. 

She offers her Halloween ideas as part of our Halloween Style Challenge. We sent Katrina, and several other excellent decor bloggers, mystery boxes of Home Depot Halloween decorations and asked the bloggers to come up with clever and practical ideas to decorate for the holiday. 

Katrina shows how she created not-too-creepy decorations for a Halloween party. Along the way, she shares some super simple Halloween decorating ideas along with a couple of easy DIY projects you can use for your own Halloween decorating. 

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, mainly because of my love of Halloween! I absolutely love dressing my home up in Halloween décor. For me Halloween is a time of magic and pretend, and pretty much anything goes from over-the-top scary, to cutesy Halloween décor. Personally, I land somewhere in the middle– I like a mix of creepy and pretty. I adore The Home Depot Style Challenges, and I’m thrilled to be asked to participate in the Halloween Style Challenge.

My Challenge space is dressing our dining room up in Halloween décor. The Home Depot, was generous enough to send me some goodies to help kick-off my pretty creepy Halloween décor. My sweet tooth cravings go into overdrive during Halloween, which made perfect sense to create a sweets table for the Style Challenge. I wanted to keep the main them in my Halloween décor white and black, showcasing hints of orange, gold and green in saturation.





To add some drama to simple treats, I placed hard candies in Halloween Apothecary Jars from The Home Decorators Collection. I love these jars glass jars. They come in a set of six each, with a detailed label and glass lid.





The details on the apothecary jar labels is one of the things I love most about them, transforming mint candies into ‘bat droppings.’

I’m a huge fan of flameless candles and placed the orange glitter ones stemless wine glasses.

By removing the family photos from our gallery wall and replacing them with creepy framed bugs and birds, it really helped transform the look of the room.

I spelled out EEK by, deconstructing papier-mâché letters, adding black roses in moss inside the letter forms.









I spray painted some rubber snakes and spiders black so that they would keep with the black and white color scheme of my Halloween party decorations.

To complete my style challenge, I also worked on a few projects with pumpkins, glitter and wood dowels (happy combination, if you ask me). I picked up a few mums from the garden section of Home Depot, along with a few pumpkins from their indoor pumpkin patch to transform into my vision.

Glam Black Pumpkin with Glitter Stem







I taped off off the pumpkin stem, then I lightly spray painted the pumpkin matte black using Rust-Oleum Matte Black. After allowing the pumpkin to dry overnight, I removed the painters tape and applied glitter glue to the stem.

Metallic Pumpkin Flower Vase









I also wanted to add a little color to the corner of my dining room, so I decided to transform a pumpkin into a pumpkin mum vase.

Using Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold, I lightly spray painted the bottom on the pumpkin. Once the paint was dry, I used the Dremal Pumpkin carver to remove the top of my pumpkin. I cleaned out the inside of the pumpkin using an extra-large pumpkin scoop I bought from the Home Depot Halloween section.

Crow’s Perch





One of my favorite projects for the challenge was making the hanging crow landing. I piece of bought 2 x 16 pre-cut dowel, along with black chain and hooks from The Home Depot.

I spray painted the dowel matte black and screwed the hooks into the wood, then added the chain.

Not wanting to poke holes in my ceiling, I used hanging hooks used to hold dustpans inside cabinet doors and hung from my ceiling, they work GOOD!



I’m thrilled with how our dining room looks, and so happy to dress my home up in Halloween style, that feels pretty and creepy at the same time.



Happy Halloween, may your month be filled with yummy treats.

Katrina Sullivan Katrina is a Northern California native, wife to Hasani and mother of two delightful boys. Katrina shares her DIY projects and ongoing home renovations on her blog Chic Little House.

Take a look at the cute outdoor bowling pins Katrina created for summer fun, here on The Home Depot Blog.

The mystery shipment of Halloween decorations The Home Depot sent to Katrina included these items:

For more great Halloween decorating ideas, see other articles in our Halloween Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog, and follow our Halloween Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decorations Department for everything you need to decorate your home for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 



http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/halloween-decorating-ideas-not-too-creepy-halloween-party/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=halloween-decorating-ideas-not-too-creepy-halloween-party

Fall Decorating Ideas in Black and White (With a Bit of Orange)

It’s hard to believe that Joni Lay of Lay Baby Lay hasn’t done much fall decorating up until now. You certainly wouldn’t know that looking at the distinctive fall decorating ideas she shows off in her living room all dressed up for the season.

Joni is one of the style bloggers of note we invited to participate in our Halloween and Harvest Style Challenge. As with others of our Style Challenges, we sent mystery boxes of Home Depot fall decorations, and challenged the bloggers to come up with fresh ideas and DIY projects for fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating.

We have seen Joni’s elegant, airy style on display in the spectacularly charming children’s play house she created for her little girls, and the backyard pergola she styled with a casual, natural vibe. You’ll see her love of natural elements and bright, clean spaces in play here with way she styled her bookshelves and fireplace mantel for autumn. And, as always, she offers us some very clever and simple DIY decorating elements, too! 

I’m really excited to be participating in this fall’s Style Challenge. I have never really done much for autumn decor, but I’m finding that with little people in the house, it becomes extra fun to decorate for the season and make it special. When it comes to fall, however, I’m not really super into the creepy Halloween stuff (love the dressing up!) and warm colors aren’t really my favorite in the house. Starting with this fall decor inspiration board, I tried to create a bright, simple tribute to this cozy season.



I was also really excited to tackle a project I’ve had on my list for quite awhile now: create some built-in bookshelves to the left of the mantel. We don’t have a ton of extra storage space in our little bungalow, and the book storage is currently at a premium. This was the perfect excuse to make it happen, and I’m so happy we did!



It was actually not as complicated as it would seem. With the help of my dad, we used five 1 in. x 12 in. x 8 ft. select pine boards and added a strip of 1 in. x 2 in. x 8 in. select pine to the back and the front, with two gaps in the front for the front strips. I used these inexpensive brackets spray painted gold (and hung upside down because the shelves are less than 12 inches deep) to support the ends.

To start, I painted the whole wall a bright white, then we hung the brackets, and then the shelves. There is one screw per shelf on the back strips to add a little extra security.

The gold brackets look really great, and add just the right bit of detail to the shelves.



Those sweet little sugar pumpkins (which you can find at The Home Depot!) add the perfect bit of fall mixed in with the books, and I’m pretty crazy about the adorable mercury glass owls, which make great bookends.



The photo above the mantel was taken by the awesome Sara Harper of my girls dressed like Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit, which I thought was a fitting image for the season. You can do something really similar by following this DIY poster wall hanging tutorial (except I used ¾ in. square dowels here, instead of furring strips). Such an easy way to create a large scale piece of custom art.



That garland is made from wooden beads (which you can find at most craft stores), these decorative pumpkins and gourds, and brass fittings (which you can find in the plumbing section of Home Depot). I painted the mini pumpkins matte black with chalkboard paint, drilled small holes in them, and strung it all together with sisal twine.





Also, as a side note, if you are looking for a house plant that is easy to take care of, go for a snake plant. I can safely say this as I have had this one for about six months now, and it’s still thriving.

I don’t have much of a green thumb (or rather, I just don’t have time for a green thumb right now with littles running about!) but this one manages to stay happy with very little attention.



One of my favorite little details is this wall hanging, which was inspired by these wall hangings. It seemed like an easy way to highlight some nature finds from the season. I just used the sisal twine and wooden beads to hang the items. I’ll be honest and say my original plan was to go treasure hunting with my little girl Vivi, but the timing just didn’t work out for this shoot– I’m planning to do another with her, though. Such a fun way to display backyard treasures!





I also have to say I’m pretty smitten with that white pumpkin (did you know they have white pumpkins and heirloom pumpkins at most Home Depot stores, too?). I wish I had gotten more before taking these photos, but I’ll likely be heading back to get several to place on our stoop. They are just so lovely and sculptural!





I’m so happy with the way the new shelves turned out! The extra storage will come in so handy, and the fresh, white coat of paint makes everything feel new. Hope you are inspired!



See more of Joni’s autumn mantel decor, including some subsequent additions and tweaks on Joni’s blog. 

Joni Lay offers decor ideas and inspiration, along with posts about raising her babies on her blog Lay Baby Lay. It’s packed with style boards, photos and even some of her own prints for sale. 

The mystery shipment of Halloween decorations The Home Depot sent to Joni included these items:

We have tons more Halloween and fall decorating ideas here on The Home Depot Blog in our Halloween and Harvest Style Challenge series. Follow our Halloween Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest, too.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decorations Department for everything you need to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.



http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/fall-decorating-ideas-in-black-and-white-with-a-bit-of-orange/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fall-decorating-ideas-in-black-and-white-with-a-bit-of-orange

Termite Barriers For Your Home After Flood

More people are affected from termite infestations than storm and flood damage combined.

When the floods have passed, Queenslanders should be aware that termite barrier repair is a critical part of structural repair to minimise the risk of any impending termite attack.

Any homes that have previously been treated for a termite barrier and have been affected in anyway by the floods with excessive water pooling around the home, may have been compromised.

Its important to consider a two-pronged attack, with both non-chemical physical building methods and chemical treatment.

Ensure no timber, cardboard, paper or any other cellulose-based materials have been buried by the floods or used as fill on your property when construction commences.

Discuss construction features with your builder to make sure there is no hidden termite access into the building that may complicate future detection and treatment.

Most infestations occur when steps and timber are in direct ground contact. The floods would have also caused damage to timber attachments or structures around the home, which may require a complete, re-build to prevent any termite infestations.



Some other things to look out for:





Structures that adjoin the building must have adequate clearance from the ground

Weatherboards, stucco or any other material that has separated from the foundation wall needs to be repaired fast, as termites can gain access, undetected.

Damaged termite shields or metal termite shields should be replaced.

When rebuilding or modifying your structure after a flood, be sure to consider a termite treatment:



Two plastic sheets impregnated with insecticides or termiticides products to repel or destroy foraging termites

One is called the Kordon Termite Moisture Barrier

Another is called HomeGuard

If you had a product such as the Altis Reticulation System installed prior to the flood, you might only require a recharge with termiticides to reinstate the barrier

Once you have worked out what it is you might have to do, and discussed the options with your insurance company, contact Cure All to discuss the best way to protect your home or business from termite damage.

Now you can learn more about Domestic and Commercial Pest Control, including Pest control Qld, Fleas and termite pest control Brisbane visit - http://pestcontrolbrisbane.webnode.com

Baby Formula Stain & Spit Up Removal Tips

Tips For Baby Formula Stain And Spit Up Removal

by Taylor



Below I've gathered several tips from readers, as well as a video from the web, which share spit up and baby formula stain removal instructions and tricks.

The key with these stains is to treat them as quickly as possible, whenever you can, because they can set quickly and also, especially in the heat, can smell sour and nasty quite soon.

The longer they dry onto the clothing, the more difficult they are to remove. Therefore, below you'll find some tips for neutralizing the spit up, which contains some stomach acid generally, to keep it from causing as much damage to the clothing before it can get washed away.

Further, some people differentiate between washing these stains from the baby's clothes versus adult clothes.

I personally don't think there is much of a difference, and have always treated my clothing and those of my kids in the same manner, but if you want to use products specifically designed for babies for their clothing you can.

There are always lots of ways to remove spit up and formula, so I don't claim I've gathered all the possible ways to do it. Therefore, if you've got another way that works for you I'd love it if you shared it with me here.

Further, the tips below focus on removing formula and spit up stains from clothing and other washable fabrics, such as bibs and burp cloths, but as you may know babies don't just spit up onto washable stuff. Instead, they also make a mess on upholstery and carpet. If you're searching for information for these surfaces make sure to check my article about removing formula stains.




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I Always Take A Bar Of Fels Along When We Travel

by SR101 Reader



SR101 Reader says:

Fels Naptha is a great pre-treater to have in the laundry room, but I have found that when traveling with a baby that it is very helpful to rinse out formula spit ups with cold water as soon as possible and apply the Fels, then rinse it out 5 to 10 minutes later.

This way when you are able to do laundry when you return home you have little or no stain to deal with.

Otherwise I have a lot of pre-soaking (and line drying) to deal with when I return, both on his shirts as well as mine!

I have also had good luck removing blood stains with Fels.

This product is well worth the price I pay for it.

Taylor says:

Thanks for sharing that tip!

I've collected a bunch of uses for Fels Naptha soap here if you're interested in even more ways to use this laundry soap bar.

In addition, you can read more tips for how to remove blood stains here, or share your own.

Further, since I got this tip another reader, Nancy, shared she had been following the advice and here's what she thought of it.

Nancy's Response To This Advice:

We recently took a long weekend trip with the baby and I packed a bar of Fels.

While I would like to forget about laundry for at least a few days, having the Fels with me really cut down on the time I would have spent on this constant task when we returned.

Rinsing out those formula stains and applying the Fels allowed me to just throw the clothes in the wash when we got home.

If it were not for the laundry bar I would have had to run 3 different soaks, one for his clothes, one for my tops, and another for my robe!

BTW for soaking clothes, I really have found the BIZ powder to be the most helpful.

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.

Photo by bradleyolin

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I Pretreat Formula Stains With Dishwashing Liquid

by Liz



Liz says:

I had already been using the 20 Mule Team Borax for soaking baby clothes (and mine), but when I saw your tip about pre treating formula stains with dish washing liquid I tried it, and it is really helpful.

Before I put the clothes in to soak I apply dish washing liquid, leave it on for about 15 minutes, rinse with cold water, and then apply a little more, rub in, and drop the garment into a soak bucket.

I use the same process for my tops because I get a lot of the same stains on them as well, just use a separate soak bucket.

When I am ready to wash a load, I just dump the bucket of clothes into the washer and add detergent.

Pretreating and soaking stained clothes makes a world of difference in the cleaning results, and saves time and money.

Of course I try to apply the dishwashing liquid to the stains as soon as possible, what a difference the timing makes.

Though it is not always possible, the other catch all here is that it is best to air dry all of the garments that you know were stained, just in case the stain was not totally removed in the wash.

Otherwise you can end up with clothes that you can only wear at home, believe me I have some of those.

Taylor says:

Thanks for sharing this Liz. Everyone's got dish soap at home, so this can really help some new Moms with these pesky spots.

You can use dishwashing liquid for lots of cleaning and stain removal uses. Here's some more dish soap uses here, or share your own!

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The Sun Plus Lemon Juice Is How I Deal With These Tough Stains

by Mary



I use the power of the sun to remove extremely tough (old) formula stains from white clothing.

Once I have done my normal soaking and washing of these garments and there are any stains remaining, I will apply a liberal dose of lemon juice and let them dry in the sun. It works every time as a natural bleaching effect.

Photo courtesy of comingstobrazil

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Use Borax As Presoaker

by Amanda



Amanda shared how she uses 20 Mule Team Borax to presoak baby stains, to help them come out.

You can read her entire suggestions here (since I filed them on a different page).

I just didn't want anyone to miss this tip!

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.

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Baby Formula Stain Removal From Clothes - With Video



Here's a video showing several alternate tips for baby formula stain removal from clothing.

In this video, instead of using liquid enzyme laundry detergent or a stain pretreater, as suggested in my article on removing formula stains, this video suggests using unseasoned meat tenderizer instead.

Basically, the premise is the same -- both the meat tenderizer and the laundry detergent or laundry pretreater contain enzymes, which help break down the formula stain, which is made of protein, mainly.

I guess the theory in suggesting meat tenderizer is that you can use items that will be in your pantry to remove the stain.

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.

Unfortunately for me, I would have to go out and buy meat tenderizer at the store before I could use this stain removal method, where as I already have both a laundry pretreater and laundry detergent sitting in my laundry room.

However, this gives you an alternative way of removing these stains, for those of you who do keep meat tenderizer handy.

Further, I do like how this video suggests some additional methods for formula stain removal.

First, it suggests that if you catch the stain fast enough you may just be able to wipe it away with a baby wipe. Those are generally pretty handy if you are dealing with formula stains -- so I like this tip. (Click the link if you'd like to read more uses for baby wipe around your home, or to share your own.)

Finally, it suggests using undiluted lemon juice if the stain is on a white item, which can then be laid out in the sun (see the tip above for more details on that).

***Update: An SR101 reader wrote in to share this thought about the video with me. She said:

I agree with the video that you should use sunshine to help remove these stains.

I do this all the time for bibs and shirts that get spit up stains on them.

***End Update

Photo by brokinhrt2

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Baby Spit Up Stain Removal Tip

by Taylor



Baby spit up is generally acidic, since it came from your baby's stomach.

These stains can yellow quickly. To stop the acid in the spit up from yellowing your baby's clothes you need to neutralize it.

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.

The easiest way to do this is sprinkle baking soda onto the spit up, and then wash as soon as possible.

If you do these steps many pieces of clothing and also your spit cloths can be saved from yellowing.

Of course, if you get out baby clothes from storage and see a yellow stain that you don't think was there before, it is not necessarily a yellow stain from the acid in the spit up, which got washed away in the wash.

Instead, it is most like oxidized proteins from the spit up, from either formula or breast milk.

Here is another reader tip for removing yellow stains from old baby clothes, which should help.

So, do you have any tips for how to use baking soda around your home? If so, you can share your baking soda uses here, or read others already submitted.

Photo by susansimon

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Dishwashing Liquid + Oxi Clean Powder Works For Me!

by Joan



I also pretreat formula stains with dishwashing liquid just as Liz indicated.

The dishwashing liquid really breaks up these stains.

I have also used it on greasy food stains.

I do a lot of presoaking with the Oxi Clean Powder, of course the version that is free of perfumes and dyes.

Unless you are able to wash these stained clothes right away presoaking is the best method.

An ongoing soak bucket is the most economical and efficient way to handle these constant stains, both on the baby's clothes as well as ours.

I also use a separate soak bucket for the adult clothes.

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I Use Fels, Zout & 20 Mule Team Borax For Baby's Messes

by Heidi P.



Heidi says:

I have used Fels for several years, mainly to pretreat shirt collars and other occasional stains.

Of course after my son was born laundry became a whole new process.

I contacted the company that produces Fels and asked for advice regarding my new laundry problems, i.e. formula and baby food stains.

They recommended Zout as a pretreater and also 20 Mule Team Borax as a presoaker and general laundry booster.

I now use all three of these products depending on the severity of the stains and how fast I can tackle them.

I really like soaking with the Borax and also adding it to the wash as a booster.

The Zout is a very good pretreater for small stains, including formula and fruit juice.

Of course I will never give up on my Fels, especially since it is effective and inexpensive.

I keep a bar of Fels at work, as well as an extra shirt, since my son will occasionally perform a delayed spit up on me between the time I leave the house and drop him off at the day care.

It is amazing what a difference it makes to rinse out a spit up stain right away, rather than to have it sit for several hours!

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.

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How To Handle Fresh & Old Baby Formula Stains

by SR101 Reader



An SR101 reader shared with me how she removes these stains, depending on how old they are. Instead of using home remedies she uses specific products, which she recommends.

SR101 Reader says:

For same day treatment of baby formula stains:

1) Apply a cold water paste of baking soda to the stain and let sit for 15-30 minutes. This will neutralize the stain and help eliminate sour odors.

2) Rinse, and apply Shout Gel pretreater rubbing the Shout into the stain using the applicator brush.

3) Launder with Dreft detergent.

For stains more than 1 day old or where there are multiple stains, i.e. baby food and formula:

Pre-soak with Clorox 2 powder noting the appropriate soak times for white versus colored garments. Rinse thoroughly.

Then apply Shout Gel if needed.

Leave the garment sit for about 10 minutes. Finally, launder with Dreft detergent.

For formula stains on adult clothing (a common event) apply the same rules as above. You may want to substitute another enzyme detergent such as Tide or Wisk since they tend to be more economical than Dreft.

Taylor says:

Thanks so much for sharing what products and method you use for treating these stains.

I'd love to hear from even more people sharing what products they use too, be they baby laundry products, or more general supplies designed for everyone to use.

You can share your laundry stain remover reviews here, or read other opinions and experiences that have already been submitted by other readers.

Photo by katerha

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How I Deal With Formula Stains That Happen At Home

by SR101 Reader



For baby formula stains that occur at home I will rinse them right away with cold water.

Then apply dishwashing detergent to the stain leaving it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing.

Next I will apply the Shout Gel pretreater and throw it in the hamper for the next wash. Of course it does not take long to accumulate a load of wash, but the Shout can be left on up to a week.

The only time I have not done a load of baby clothes in a day is when the washer broke down! Most of the time I need to follow these steps for 2 shirts, the baby's and mine.

When I run the baby's wash I use Dreft liquid and always add about a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the load.

If I am unable to handle these stains immediately I presoak them with Biz powder over night before washing with Biz and Dreft. Biz really knocks out set in stains.

Taylor says:

Thanks for sharing all these great ways for removing these baby stains.

I noted that you use dishwasher detergent to remove the stains. You may not be surprised, but many readers may be, that this cleaning supply actually has lots of other cleaning and stain removal uses. In fact, I've collected quite a few of them at the link, so if you're interested read the article to see how else you can use dishwasher detergent for stain removal. In addition, if you know of a use yourself please share it as well!

Photo by Cherrysweetdeal

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I Tried The Approach Suggested Above And It Helped

by Sharon



Sharon sent me this note saying she had used the advice from the SR101 reader above, regarding dealing with formula stains that happen at home.

Sharon says:

I am always looking for ways to cut down the amount of time I spend on laundry.

Sometimes I think my laundry hampers are bottomless pits, as my washer runs almost as much as my refrigerator!

I recently tried your approach in removing formula spit ups and it really helped.

I was already using Shout Gel, but the use of dishwashing liquid was news to me. There must be something in it that neutralizes the stain.

I know that dishwashing liquid can be helpful in removing greasy type stains on clothing but never thought of using it on formula.

I have a friend that uses it on shirt collars as it can help in removing make up stains.

I now keep a bottle of dishwashing liquid in the baby's room as well as the laundry room.

BTW I read through all of the tips and note that I also like the Biz product.

Photo courtesy of abbybatchelder

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Baby Stains - A Tip From A New Mom



Monica from Desperately Seeking Coffee has a great suggestion for baby food stains that works for her, and I think will also work for you.

She keeps her favorite laundry stain remover right next to the hamper where she puts her baby's clothes once they've been worn.

That is a wonderful idea, because the quicker you can put a stain remover on the stain, the easier it will come out in the wash.

And babies, as any parent knows, have a tendency to make a mess on the majority of their clothes.

I have even found that babies can make a mess in places you don't normally even look. For example, once I didn't notice my child's sock had a big splotch of, I think, strained carrots on it, and put it through the washer and dryer without pre-treating.

It was basically ruined because I had set the stain in the dryer, but who would have ever thought to look on a sock for a food splatter? Not me, the new mom, but now I know better!

I'd love to hear even more tips from you, sharing your tips for removing baby stains of all varieties. You can share your tip here.

In addition, you can read my tricks and ideas for removing the top types of baby stains.

Photo by tiffanywashko

Related Links On This Site

Clothing Stain Removal Tricks & Tips

Stain Removal Tips & Tricks For Busy Moms

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Thanks For Visiting My Website



Hi, I'm Taylor, a busy mom with 3 kids, so I have lots of hands on experience with house cleaning, laundry and my fair share of spots, spills and other messy catastrophes. Thanks for visiting my site.

I update the website all the time with tips, tutorials, cleaning recipes, reviews of products from readers like you, and tests I've done on various cleaners, removers and laundry supplies.

I'd love for you to keep in touch with me, and I've created a couple of free resources for you when you do!

If you subscribe by email to get my weekly newsletter you will get a free laundry stain removal chart!

In addition, if you "like" the site on Facebook you'll receive a free 40 page housekeeping checklist e-book.

I hope you enjoy these gifts, and stop by again soon!

CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.

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Oil spill in China is huge threat to marine life and water supply

There is another oil disaster out there, besides just the BP spill in the gulf. There was a large spill in China five days ago and it has been growing steadily as cleanup efforts are underway. One man who was on the cleanup crew was drowned and when found he was covered in oil.

China does not have as much technonology as the US for oil spills it seems since cleanup crews have been left with nothing more than plastic gloves and straw mats. "We don't have proper oil cleanup materials, so our workers are wearing rubber gloves and using chopsticks," said an official who was not named.



 The spill started when a pipeline at a Northeastern Chinese port exploded, flooding the sea with oil. It has spread to over 165 miles in the past five days. The beaches are black and cover in a thick coat of oil. It seems as though the spill in China is worse as far as beaches go. They are completely covered.



The spill is also a huge threat to sea life and water quality. It's estimated that about 1,500 gallons have spilled which seems like nothing compared to the millions that have leaked into the gulf. However, the little bit that has leaked seems to be doing just as much damage, especially near the shoreline.

It seems like oil related disasters are more and more frequent lately and it's a sad thing not only for economies but also for wildlife as well. Many species just may not make it through the spill and that is a really depressing fact to think about.

DIY Spooky Halloween Decorations: Secrets from a Hollywood Designer

Hand it to a Hollywood production designer to know exactly how to turn his front yard into a creepy– seriously creepy– Halloween display. We’re talking about Johnny Love, who has a growing following of fans for his annual Love Manor Halloween house, his amazingly elaborate tribute to the macabre.

He’s shown us how he turned his fireplace into a faux stone hearth suitable for a horror movie. He also shared his expert techniques in creating a eerie ghost paintings and haunted house lighting. 

And now, his newest contribution to our Halloween Style Challenge series. We send mystery boxes of Home Depot Halloween decorations to some of the most talented designers and DIY bloggers on the internet, and step back to let them come up with their special takes on Halloween. 

Johnny Love shows us how he created a very spooky Halloween decorations–a flying Grim Reaper figure, along with hanging jack-o-lanterns and faux tomb stones– all made from materials found at The Home Depot.

When asked this year to venture outside and create a visual Halloween focal point I was pretty excited. I’ve always found with outdoor spaces you can utilize such a natural environment to create something frightening. That being said, I wanted to create something extra frightening… a flying monster. However, rather than approach it from a shock value, I wanted to create something both artistic and macabre.

I remember when my school had dress up days for Halloween, my go to was always the Grim Reaper. I’d spend countless hours shredding away any black fabric I could get my hands on and then stitching it together. The way the different shades of darkness caught the wind’s hands was always very beautiful… and eerie. I think when wondering the aisles of Home Depot and stumbling upon some black weed block fabric all those memories came back to me. I knew I wanted to create the silhouette of a dark spirit flying over a graveyard.

The Flying Monster





I knew I needed to create something that was light wind and would “fly” easily over the yard. So I created a simple frame out of chicken wire held together with black zip ties.





Once the general shape of the figure was created, with the most important element being the hood, I placed an armature of PVC pipe and two elbows inside to create what would become ghoulish lengthy arms.





The most visual thing I wanted to create was lengthy hands. Using some pink foam core and a thin gauge wire did the trick! I used wire to attach it to a drilled hole within the PVC pipe and secured it with tape. Again, using all light weight elements to help this spirit take flight.







Now the fun part. I used drop cloth material to conceal the chicken wire form and help shape the figure. I simply used a thin gauge wire to “stitch” it onto the chicken wire below.



Once done with that, I applied several coats of black spray paint.



Since the drop cloth was more to create the general shape, I needed another fabric that would catch the wind. This is where the weed blocker fabric came in great use! Both light weight and easy to apply, it did the trick tremendously. I simply shred it into pieces and used wire to attach it to the drop cloth. Don’t be a perfectionist! The more raggedy the scarier.



For the arms we simply used black duck tape to conceal the PVC pipe. The texture and shine gave them a unique look.



The Graveyard





With the spirited figure drying, I moved onto what would be his setting. Foam insulation sheets from Home Depot is the perfect material to make tombstones. I found some terrific 2 ft. pieces of pink foam core that were perfect for what I needed. I simply measured out the shape of the stone and cut it out using a utility knife. Again, perfection is not needed when it comes to this. You want the stones to appear a little worn, as if they’ve been there for ages.



With that being said, I cutout some cracks and indents.



Now, time to paint. Using a mixture of three colors from Behr Paint did the trick– Mined Coal to create aging, and two grey colors– Broadway and  Wet Cement– for the overall color.





Once the base coat of grey was applied, I used a separate brush to blend in the black paint, running it down from the top to the base of the stone to create a mossy water effect.



Once ready to place, secure a heavy gage wire through the base and simply press down into the perfect area of your front yard. Use Spanish Moss to add character.

Pumpkin Buoys



I’ve always been fascinated by glass water buoys. I knew I could create something using pumpkins. The Home Depot sells a variety of ropes, so I went with the most rustic I could find. Within my mystery boxes were some foam pumpkins, which were the perfect candidate due to them being very, very light weight.





Simply create a rope harness for the pumpkin to sit in, and secure it from the top and bottom with a zip tie.

You can then use a smaller sized rope to wrap around the top to add a faux knot.





Once the three of these elements were brought together, it created one eerie and beautiful setting.

I incorporated a duo of bats I was pleased to find in my mystery boxes to accompany the flying spirit on his evening flight.



Johnny Love is the creative mastermind behind Love Manor, an annual haunted house in the Los Angeles area. See more Johnny’s spooky Halloween decorations on Love Manor. 

To create his Halloween haunted house, Johnny used the following products from The Home Depot:

For more DIY spooky Halloween decorations, see other articles in our Halloween Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog, and follow our Halloween Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decorations Department for everything you need to decorate your home for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 



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New Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA

Doylestown, PA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/17/2014 -- Fastwaterremoval.com announces the availability of Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA. Floods caused by nature or man-made problems can result in untold damage if not immediately dealt with. In natural disasters, after the water has receded, the mess left behind can be completely overwhelming. Add the almost immediate growth of mold on any wet areas, and the problem suddenly becomes a health hazard. Whether the damage has been cause by flood, broken pipes, breaking appliances or vandalism, these emergencies require immediate action.

During an emergency, property owners have little time to begin shopping around for the right company to reliably do the job. Fastwaterremoval.com technicians are licensed and bonded and most insurance companies readily accept their quotes; this means no waiting for days and days for insurance approval while the damage keeps accumulating. Long after the original cause of the emergency has been alleviated, damage from water, smoke, fire and even sewage can continue to escalate. When the firefighters or repairmen have left the scene, that is when the second wave of need begins. Having a company nearby that can respond quickly, 24 hours a day, can feel like a miracle when minutes and hours matter. Knowing the job will be done right and with professional courtesy is a blessing when the damage seems overwhelming.

Displaced residents and employees are draining resources that may never be recouped when everyone is waiting for the damage to be repaired and the property to be restored. This is definitely a situation when "time is money." Fastwaterremoval.com has a reputation for reliable, swift response and expert services. Residents of Doylestown and Yardley no longer need to rely on companies from distant metro areas to respond to an emergency that is miles away. The further away the company, the higher the charges and the longer the wait. When restoration technicians start coming and going, travel time to and from the jobsite quickly becomes an issue. With reliable, expert help close-by, residents of Yardley and Doylestown know how important it is when time and effort are being devoted to the job at hand, and not to the commute. Simply put, expert, reliable, local service can mean the difference between disaster and inconvenience.

To learn more about the services offered, visit Fastwaterremoval.com Elite Water Damage Restoration Inc

http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/new-emergency-flood-repair-in-doylestown-and-yardley-pa-546174.htm

Fukushima operators set to remove fuel rods at nuclear plant

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Operators begin procedure to remove spent fuel from crippled Fukushima nuclear plant

TEPCO will begin taking out 1,500 spent fuel units from Reactor 4 for storage

Plant damaged by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011

Cleanup beset by numerous problems, including the leak of 300 tons of radioactive water

(CNN) -- Operators of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan have started the dangerous task of removing fuel rods from a damaged reactor, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said Monday.

The procedure is considered a milestone in the estimated $50 billion cleanup operation more than two years after a massive earthquake and tsunami brought disaster to the facility.



When the tsunami swamped the plant, located 149 miles (240 kilometers) north of Tokyo on Japan's eastern seaboard in March 2011, it cut the power to vital cooling systems for the three reactors in use at the time. This resulted in the second-worst nuclear accident in history -- after Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union in 1986 -- as the reactors melted down and leaked radioactive material into the atmosphere.

On Monday, TEPCO revealed "preparatory work" was underway, with a remote-controlled crane lowered inside Reactor 4. Some 1,500 spent fuel units will then be lifted from the cooling pool in specially-designed containers, or casks, and closed with a lid. Following decontamination, these casks will be taken down to ground level and transported to the common spent fuel pool on a trailer.

The entire removal of all fuel inside the Unit 4 spent fuel pool is expected to take until the end of 2014, TEPCO says.

'Stopgap approach'

The Fukushima cleanup has been beset by numerous problems, with TEPCO frequently criticized for its handling of the disaster. Earlier this year, Japan's Trade and Industry Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, compared its "stopgap approach" to a game of "Whack-a-mole." The government has since stepped in and pledged $470 million to try to tackle the leaks, through measures, which by its own admission are unconventional and untested.

TEPCO has been pumping huge volumes of water into the plant -- hundreds of tons daily -- to cool the crippled reactors that once powered the plant.

But this water, which becomes highly radioactive once it comes into contact with the plant's fuel rods, has been stored in makeshift, hastily-built storage tanks around the site -- about 1,000 so far -- containing enough irradiated water to fill about 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with about 400 tons added to the tanks daily.

Ongoing leaks

Scientists who monitor radiation levels offshore have pointed to evidence of an ongoing leak for more than a year, but it was only recently that TEPCO admitted it was occurring.

Last month, TEPCO said one of the storage tanks at the site had leaked 300 tons of toxic water, prompting Japan's nuclear regulator to declare the situation a Level 3 serious incident, its most serious assessment since the 2011 meltdown.



It has since stated that several tanks and pipes at the plant are suspected of leaking toxic water.

Michael Friedlander, a nuclear engineer and former U.S. power plant operator, told CNN in September that the eventual failure of the tanks years after they were deployed on a supposedly temporary, emergency basis is illustrative of TEPCO's ad hoc, unsustainable response to the disaster.

"Given the cards they were dealt, building a tank farm to hold the water in the heat of the emergency, there was really there only one option, so I don't fault them for that," he said.

But beyond the emergency response, TEPCO had demonstrated no long-term vision for dealing with the problem, he said.

Fukushima's nuclear power mess: Five big questions

Journey to the heart of Fukushima's crippled plant

CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo contributed to this report.

EGO POWER+ Cordless Leaf Blower

EGO POWER+ Cordless Leaf Blower

By: Jodi Marks

EGO POWER+ cordless leaf blower with 56-volt lithium-ion battery.

The EGO POWER+ cordless blower (Model # LB4801) is the most powerful rechargeable blower available and can get your yard work done in no time.

EGO POWER+ blower features include:

Powerful 56-volt, lithium-ion battery

Variable speeds from 250 to 480 CFM

Up to one-hour run time

Charges in 40 minutes

Ergonomic design

The EGO POWER+ leaf blower is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

Please Leave a Comment

We want to hear from you! In addition to posting comments on articles and videos, you can also send your comments and questions to us on our contact page or at (800) 946-4420. While we can't answer them all, we may use your question on our Today's Homeowner radio or TV show, or online at todayshomeowner.com.

Jodi Marks: I love the fall because you got football, you’ve got all your home improvement projects that you’re tackling before the winter hits, and of course you’ve got to deal with those pesky leaves that are falling in your yard. But if you are in the market for a blower, take a look at this right here.

This is the cordless blower by Ego. Now, you’ve got your electric blowers and you got your gas blowers, and they all have their good points; but let me tell you about this one right here.

First of all, it’s running, it’s operating on a 56-volt lithium ion battery. What does that mean? That means that’s got a lot of bang for its buck, baby. This thing is really powerful. As a matter of fact, when compared with other gas-operated blowers, it actually performed better because it’s got a lot of pack and punch.

You’ve got about an hour run time on this battery. It only takes about 40 minutes to charge it up, and let me just show you how powerful it is. Now, it’s got a variable speed, so I’m going to move it over to high. Watch this little flag right here. Whoo, baby!

So if you’ve got a lot of leaves to move, this is definitely the blower to get. I love it.

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Mobile Home Floor Repair

Water is the most obvious and a biggest enemy to the floor of your mobile home. The task of repairing the flooring is a bit laborious and time-consuming. Generally, professionals are hired for the same. In order to repair it yourself, you need certain tools like hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, electric saws, and safety goggles. While working with such tools, your prime concern should be safety. The best way of self-protection is to follow the guidelines and work cautiously. Never forget to wear goggles. You may feel their extra weight on your eyes, but it would protect you from splinters of wood or iron. The repairing procedure takes place in two major steps - removal of the old floor boards, and the installation of a new floor.



Removal of Damaged or Old Floor: If you have installed any kind of floor covering or carpet on the floor, remove it. Mark down the lines with the floor beams or support. The beams that support the floor boards are called joists. Set the saw to a bit deeper than the floor, and saw out the damaged board. Make use of the lines you have put down as a guide. In this manner, you can saw out all the floor boards one by one. In case, only a part of the floor is damaged, and you do not intend to repair the entire house floor, then rip out only the damaged section, and work on that part. For the floor along the wall, you would need to chip out the old boards. When the removal work is done, clean the joists thoroughly, especially the top portion, and ensure that they are flat. With cleaning, the removal step is accomplished.



Installation of New Floor: The floor boards are of two types, differing in the dimensions. Your choice depends on the dimensions of the joists, which you have installed in your home. The following description is based on the dimension 2 x 6 of the floor boards.



The installation of the new floor starts with framing the two by six boards between the floor beams. You need to apply the technique of floor board installation. Install the 2 x 6 boards in such a way that only half of the floor joist supports the edge of one 2 x 6, and the other half is left to support the other floor board of the same dimension. Make sure that all the boards have their edges supported by the joists. Screw in the boards, and run through the ends at an angle so that they go through the floor joists. By going on in this manner, you would easily complete the framing work. After the procedure is over, clean the framework to remove any humps in the new floor. A far as possible, maintain the thickness of the new floor as that of the old one. If you are not satisfied with the board leveling, you can replace them. Ensure that all the boards have been secured to the framework. Sweep away all the debris from the area. Now, you can spread the carpet or the floor covering. If you find the floor covering is too old, or not good enough for the newly installed floor, this is the time you can plan to install a new carpet.



If you do floor repair yourself, you would not only save money but would always cherish the experience of doing something for the home you love so much.

How To Remove Urine Smell

If urine has had the time to soak into a mattress, you can find that it is a lot harder to remove that urine smell. However, you shouldn't despair, as there are methods which you can consider which not only remove the urine smell, but take any odors which may be attached with it.

Firstly, mixing a stain-remover like cornstarch and water with a washing-up liquid can help remove a urine smell. The stain-lifting power of the cornstarch can meet the fresh-smelling odor of the washing-up liquid, allowing you to get the best of both worlds. However, it can be said that such detergents do more masking of odors than actual effective odor removal.

Finding an air freshener which goes to the root of the problem could be a great path to consider when combined with your chosen stain remover. There are products out there which go deeper into the fabric to target the source where the odor is coming from, eliminating the smell once and for all. Air fresheners which simply mask the odor in question usually only work for one or two days at a time.

Lastly, making sure that you give the mattress enough of a period to air out fully can ensure that odors do not culminate because of the damp. If a mattress is not fully dry, the odor can develop once bedding is put over it which can mean you find yourself back at square one - not a move you really want to consider.

When push comes to shove, there are a few ways which you can remove urine smells. Listed in this article are just three of them, but with further research you should be able to find many more.



By: Shannon Lynn Miller

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Discover the best bedwetting treatments at www.StopBedwettingToday.com



Also, be sure to visit the blog for more information on how to remove urine smell.

New England Flooding News, Photos and Videos

New England Reeling From Flooding



Record rainfall -- three months' worth of downpour in less than a week -- has brought parts of New England and Massachusetts' Merrimack River the area's worst levels of flooding in 70 years. The Spicket River in Methuen, Mass., overflowed its banks, and fear that the Spicket River Dam would give

Planet Dishwashing Liquid Reviews: Eco-Friendly & Hypoallergenic

Planet Dishwashing Liquid Review: Hypoallergenic & Scent Free

by Taylor



I'm still trying new dish soaps, and this time I tried Planet dishwashing liquid, which only comes in a scent free and hypoallergenic version.

This brand is advertised as eco-friendly, and made with biodegradable ingredients.

Funny enough, when my husband first used it he said, "I don't like the smell." I responded, "it's scent and dye free, it shouldn't have a smell." He then said, "Oh."

I think he just said it as a knee-jerk response, since he seems to hate the scent of almost any scented dish soap I try, because after I said that he never complained about its scent again.

I found this soap did pretty well on lightly soiled items, although it was a bit on the thin side, which meant I felt like I accidentally squirted more out than I intended a couple of times.

However, it seemed to have a bit more trouble with heavily greasy items, and I had to keep adding more soap to the sponge to make sure I got everything clean.

For those who love scent this is not the soap for you, since the company's whole line of products is scent and dye free, but for those with allergies this might be something right up your alley!

Overall, I would buy this again if there was a coupon and sale, but I think I could find a green dishwashing soap I like a bit better.

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.




I'd love to hear from more people who've used this product, or any of the other products from Planet, sharing how they worked for you. You can share your green cleaners review here for this or any other natural or eco-friendly brand.

Further, I've got quite a collection of natural dishwashing liquid reviews here, with lots of different brands represented, some come check it out and share your own review as well!

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to natural dishwashing liquid.

Planet Dish Soap Is The One That Cleans & Suds In Hard Water

by Michelle



Michelle says:

We have tried a lot of green and claim to be green but aren't (e.g., Method) dish soaps and just now found one that actually cleans and suds in our hard well water: Planet Ultra dish washing liquid.

It actually works like the un-green stuff and gets a zero or 1 from environmental working group (can't remember right now).

Taylor says:

Thanks for your review. As you can see from my own review above I didn't like it quite as much as you did, but I'm glad it worked for you!

Has anyone else used this or another green dish soap and want to tell me about it? You can submit your own review here or read others already submitted to find one that works well for you, and also is good for the environment.

Taylor says: Here are links to buy this or related products. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission which helps support this site and my family.




Related Pages You May Enjoy

I-Q Household Cleaners Reviews

Green Cleaning Products Reviews

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There are affiliate links on this page, and if you purchase a product through them I receive a small commission. Purchasing through my links costs you nothing extra, but helps support the free information provided on this site and my family. To learn more please see my product review disclosure statement.

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Thanks For Visiting My Website



Hi, I'm Taylor, a busy mom with 3 kids, so I have lots of hands on experience with house cleaning, laundry and my fair share of spots, spills and other messy catastrophes. Thanks for visiting my site.

I update the website all the time with tips, tutorials, cleaning recipes, reviews of products from readers like you, and tests I've done on various cleaners, removers and laundry supplies.

I'd love for you to keep in touch with me, and I've created a couple of free resources for you when you do!

If you subscribe by email to get my weekly newsletter you will get a free laundry stain removal chart!

In addition, if you "like" the site on Facebook you'll receive a free 40 page housekeeping checklist e-book.

I hope you enjoy these gifts, and stop by again soon!

CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.

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Labor Ready Looking for Flood Workers in OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The three Labor Ready branches in the Oklahoma City area are sending out the call loud and clear: We need people right away to help our customers with flood damage/cleanup.

"Last week, my three branches here were already blowing the doors off, providing temporary workers to local businesses. We sent out 950 temporary workers -- general labor for roofers dealing with damage from our recent hailstorms, landfill workers, construction cleanup, you name it," said District Manager Kevin Ducey. "But now with the flooding, we're looking to expand our recruitment of workers. If you want to help people, you should contact us."



Ducey said that anyone who is interested in helping local businesses and residents recover from the flooding should contact one of Labor Ready's three Oklahoma City branches:

914 N.W. 23rd St., Oklahoma City -- (405) 524-1388

925 S.W. 59th, Oklahoma City -- (405) 634-3100

1712 N. Rockwell, Bethany -- (405) 789-4500

The branches start taking applications at 5:30 a.m. every workday.

Through Labor Ready's "Work Today Paid Today" system, temporary workers have the ability to walk home with money in their hands after their day of labor for Labor Ready.

"This is what we do best: Provide on-demand blue-collar workers to help businesses handle unexpected labor needs," Ducey said.

Labor Ready is a nationwide provider of temporary general labor, with more than 600 branches across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Last year, Labor Ready put nearly 300,000 people to work. Along with on-demand services, Labor Ready provides businesses with temporary help for anticipated needs and longer-term staffing solutions.

Website: www.laborready.com http://www.laborready.com

Opening a Pond in Spring

When opening a pond, you will have to remove any debris from the water that has been sitting there since last autumn. Fallen leaves and other plant material cause ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates to build up. This negatively affects water quality, and the health of fish.

Inevitably, some, if not most of the water must be removed to clean up the debris.

Conditioning

When adding new water from the hose, a water conditioner must be used. Water conditioners remove chlorine and chloramines from the water, which can feed algae and be poisonous to fish.

Chloramines, a relatively new addition to municipal water supplies, will not dissipate, even if the water has been left to sit. If hose water is left untreated, the chloramine in it will add harmful ammonia to the pond, which makes using a water conditioner imperative.

A biological filtration supplement should also be added, especially if the pond is intended to house fish. Biological filtration supplements contain natural bacteria that spread and multiply throughout the pond. These bacteria naturally break down ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, thus creating a healthy environment for fish.

Oxygenation

Fish need oxygen to survive in a pond.

Water circulation through mechanical filtration is a good way to oxygenate water. A mechanical filter will not only circulate the water, but help trap unwanted debris that is floating around the pond.



Make sure your filters are in good working order and that any old filter media has been replaced when opening your pond in the spring.



Oxygenating plants should be added as well. They not only look nice, but in addition to creating more oxygen in your pond, they also provide hiding places for fish. Also, oxygenating plants help use up nutrients that would otherwise go to feeding unwanted algae.



Some very effective and readily available oxygenators are hornwort and cabomba. These two plants are inexpensive and can be found at most pond, garden, or pet stores.

Cover Plants



Adding cover plants like water hyacinth and water lettuce not only provide fish with areas to hide, they also, like oxygenating plants, eat up nutrients that feed algae. Stocking your pond with adequate cover plants at the beginning of the season will help prevent nuisance algae from overwhelming your pond later on. No one likes a pond that is so green that they can't even see their fish.

Feeding

An often overlooked area of pond maintenance is the proper feeding of pond fish. Many people assume that their fish will just eat insects and plants. Though this is true, these are in short supply during the early spring.

If the fish have been out all winter, then they have been depleting their body fat supplies to stay alive. When the ice melts, those fish are hungry. Feeding them a spring/fall fish food will help them replace these fat stores in spring, and build them up again in autumn.

A regular pond fish food should be fed during the summer, one that is not as high in protein as the spring/fall diet.

Pond fish foods help enhance the natural colors of fish. Regular feeding also encourages interaction with your pond fish, so that they will come up to greet you rather than dart away and hide. Regular feeding will also encourage fish to just nibble at your ornamental plants, instead of totally devour them.

Having a pond is a great way to enjoy the outdoors during the spring and summer months, and proper maintenance helps maximize the enjoyment that this hobby brings to water gardeners everywhere.

Southern Romance Historic Home Renovation Project

Exterior of the historic Ford House in Mobile, Alabama.

Even though she lives and works in Canada, Esther de Wolde has had a longstanding fascination with the American South and a passion for historic homes.

Esther de Wolde at Ford home.

As one of the founders and CEO of Phantom Screens, de Wolde has worked with Danny Lipford many times over the years, so it was only natural that she should turn to him for advice to make her dream of Southern home ownership come true.

After looking at a number of houses in Mobile, Alabama, she found just what she was looking for in the heart of the city’s Oakleigh Garden Historic District.

Built in 1906, the Ford House had been badly neglected in recent years and was in need of extensive restoration to return it to its turn-of-the-century glory.

The home is an Arts and Crafts bungalow complete with a wide front porch and beautiful stained glass transom over the entry door. Inside, the house features 11’ high ceilings and a wide center hall that extends much of the length of the three bedroom home.

In renovating the house, de Wolde plans to retain as many of the home’s historic architectural elements as possible while incorporating a modern kitchen and bathrooms to make the house more livable. Danny Lipford’s remodeling company, Lipford Construction, will oversee the restoration of the home.

Front porch on the historic Ford house.

The Southern Romance historic renovation project will be chronicled in a monthly, 13-part series of videos on TodaysHomeowner.com starting in October 2014. Click on the links below to watch or find out more:

More information about the Southern Romance renovation project can be found at ExperiencePhantom.com.

Tags: , house renovation, Phantom Screens, renovation, Southern Romance Project

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Flood Water Damage Restoration

Flood water damage restoration is a tedious job. After the calamity, it is very difficult to restore the damage caused by flood water. This article gives some tips for restoration of the damage.



Flood water causes severe problems, and restoration of the damage caused is a very serious issue. It is important to start the water damage clean up as soon as possible to avoid mold and mildew. Drying the place quickly is the only solution to avoid further increase in their growth.

Things Required

Low temperature dehumidifiers

Air purifiers

Air sterilizers

Vapor steam cleaners

These are the things that you will require to dry the wet area and clean it. These machines will help to decrease the chances of an attack of microorganisms on the house.

Tips on Disaster Restoration

The first and foremost thing to do while entering the house is to check for water inside the house. If there is stagnant water, it is recommended that one wear rubber boots and gloves. Also, make sure that the structure of your house is safe and does not have any pointed or sharp edges that can cause injuries while cleaning the water damage.

Turn off the electricity via the main switch in the house. Do not touch anything before turning off the electricity. Once you turn off the current, make sure to dry the electricity cords that are above ground.

Boil all the drinking water before consumption or use a water purification system to filter the water. Contaminated water is one of the threats after a natural disaster.

It is important that you do not keep anything that is damaged like rugs, books, photographs, food, and other things in the house.

Clean the sewage with water and use masks while you are cleaning anything, as there are chances that these things have developed fungus and bacteria. Drying is very important. The dishes in the kitchen must be cleaned in a dishwasher with hot water.

Clean and dry the surfaces of cabinets, the basement, and the flooring. With the help of a dehumidifier, dry the damp areas. Use a vapor steam cleaner to disinfect the house.

Check the hardwood furniture. Wood easily attracts fungus and mold, so it must be either cleaned properly or discarded immediately.

Check the plumbing and electrical systems in the house. If these systems are not working properly they must be repaired at the earliest.

The health risks after the floods are tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influenza. These diseases spread very fast in this period, as the atmosphere is favorable for the growth of these infections.

These are some of the tips for cleaning your house and keeping your family safe from diseases.

Onset Computer Corporation Announces New Software Tool for Water Damage Restoration Projects

BOURNE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2006--Onset Computer Corporation, a leading supplier of battery-powered data loggers, today introduced a new software tool that makes it fast and easy for water damage restoration and mold professionals to calculate Grains Per Pound, or the mass of moisture contained within the air.

The new Grains Per Pound Assistant, which is a plug-in software module to Onset's HOBOware(R) software, makes it easy for users to document building dry down and restoration projects by converting temperature and relative humidity data collected with HOBO(R) data loggers into Grains Per Pound data. The converted data can then be submitted to insurance companies to validate the dry down process.



The Grains Per Pound Assistant is available immediately from Onset Computer Corporation via Internet download http://www.onsetcomp.com/gpp for $29 U.S. HOBOware software is sold separately.





ABOUT ONSET COMPUTER CORPORATION

Onset Computer Corporation has been producing small, inexpensive, battery-powered data loggers and embedded controllers since 1981, and has sold over 1,000,000 loggers that are used throughout the world by over 50,000 customers. The company manufactures a broad range of data logger and weather station products that are used to measure temperature, humidity, light intensity, voltage, and a broad range of other parameters. Onset products are used in a wide range of research, commercial, industrial, and educational applications.

New Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA

Doylestown, PA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/17/2014 -- Fastwaterremoval.com announces the availability of Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA. Floods caused by nature or man-made problems can result in untold damage if not immediately dealt with. In natural disasters, after the water has receded, the mess left behind can be completely overwhelming. Add the almost immediate growth of mold on any wet areas, and the problem suddenly becomes a health hazard. Whether the damage has been cause by flood, broken pipes, breaking appliances or vandalism, these emergencies require immediate action.

During an emergency, property owners have little time to begin shopping around for the right company to reliably do the job. Fastwaterremoval.com technicians are licensed and bonded and most insurance companies readily accept their quotes; this means no waiting for days and days for insurance approval while the damage keeps accumulating. Long after the original cause of the emergency has been alleviated, damage from water, smoke, fire and even sewage can continue to escalate. When the firefighters or repairmen have left the scene, that is when the second wave of need begins. Having a company nearby that can respond quickly, 24 hours a day, can feel like a miracle when minutes and hours matter. Knowing the job will be done right and with professional courtesy is a blessing when the damage seems overwhelming.

Displaced residents and employees are draining resources that may never be recouped when everyone is waiting for the damage to be repaired and the property to be restored. This is definitely a situation when "time is money." Fastwaterremoval.com has a reputation for reliable, swift response and expert services. Residents of Doylestown and Yardley no longer need to rely on companies from distant metro areas to respond to an emergency that is miles away. The further away the company, the higher the charges and the longer the wait. When restoration technicians start coming and going, travel time to and from the jobsite quickly becomes an issue. With reliable, expert help close-by, residents of Yardley and Doylestown know how important it is when time and effort are being devoted to the job at hand, and not to the commute. Simply put, expert, reliable, local service can mean the difference between disaster and inconvenience.

To learn more about the services offered, visit Fastwaterremoval.com Elite Water Damage Restoration Inc

http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/new-emergency-flood-repair-in-doylestown-and-yardley-pa-546174.htm

BP Oil Spill: Super Skimmer A Whale Promises to Help Cleanup Efforts

Of the thousands of people who've come forward with big ideas for cleaning up BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one company has come forward with a giant idea it claims could collect hundreds of thousands of barrels of oily water per day and make a whale of a difference.

The company's massive skimming ship currently floating off the Louisiana shoreline is called, literally, "A Whale," and with good reason. The 1,100-foot long tanker is 10 stories tall, stamped with a blue whale on the side of its bridge, and has been specially retrofitted by its owner, TMT Shipping of Taiwan, to collect oil from the Gulf.

Watch "World News" for more on this story tonight on ABC.

Upon hearing about the oil spill, now the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico, the owner of the ship, mysterious Taiwanese billionaire Nobu Su, ordered his engineers to cut vents in the bow and redesign the tanks inside, creating the largest skimming vessel in the world.

They claim that the monster can do in two weeks what 500 skimming boats have accomplished in two months' time.

"We can effectively skim about 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day," said the ship's captain, Sanio Radhakrishman.



There's no question that more skimming capacity is needed. Skimming boats are still docked because of the effects of Alex, a tropical storm moving over central Mexico.

Jindal Expresses Anger Over Federal Response

Near Barataria Bay, La., the state's Republican governor, Bobby Jindal, asserted his frustration with the cleanup efforts, noting that he asked President Obama a month ago for help cutting through the bureaucracy.



"What is frustrating is they just don't get it in Washington, they just don't have a sense of urgency," he said, calling on the federal government to approve his plan to build a barrier of rock pilings to keep the oil at bay. "It is ridiculous when they think rocks in the water are more dangerous than oil."

But the government has moved quickly to give A Whale a shot on the water. It soon will give the ship a test, but no one is sure whether the vessel will actually work.

"We're anxious to find out how effective it will be," said Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander. "But it is a very large ship that's been converted to be able to recover oil, and we'll see how it goes."

Today, ABC News went aboard A Whale and descended deep into the bowels of the ship to see firsthand how it is supposed to work.

In the Gulf, the ship will take enough water into its ballasts that the jaws are level with the surface of the water.

"The oil water will be coming through those jaws, going through those gates," said Chief Officer Moham Bhist, as he gestured toward the grilled openings cut into in the bow, about a foot tall.

The oil-water mix will be pumped through those openings into holding tanks, where simple science takes over. Like a giant decanter, the oil will float to the surface, where it will be skimmed off. The remaining water then will be pumped back into the Gulf.

Dirty Water In, Cleaner Water Out

While the skimming process may not remove every drop of the oil, the ship's crew says it could help cleanup efforts tremendously.

"Whatever we are taking in, that is more dirty as compared to what we are pumping out," said Bhist.

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Facts On Water Damage Restoration by Morgan Vawter

The process restoring water to the pre loss stage is called the water damage restoration. There is no set pattern declared by the government of United Sates regarding the procedure of water damage restoration. Yet, IICRA and RIA, the certifying bodies that are quite renowned do have mentioned the procedure for water damage restoration.

Both the methods cited by IICRA and RIA are quite different from each other. However, mostly the companies follow S500, the IICRA method of water damage restoration.

S500 Water Damage Restoration

The very procedure of water restoration is based upon the practical experiences and after much research and extensive researches and gathering of facts and figures has come into existence.





All the industries and communities who has contributed to gathering information are regional, national and international associations working for the restoration of disaster industry, the scientific community, cleaning schools, equipment manufacturers, chemical formulators, insurance industry, trades persons and many more experienced industries. The best part about the S500 water damage restoration method is that as and when the technology evolves, the method too evolves following the processing and testing procedures.

The S500 method does not teach the industries the way of water damage restoration. It provides the practical standards that are mandatory for water damage restoration. The basic principles upon which the restoration process of water depends are provided by the S500 method of water damage restoration.

Every restoration job, however, should be reviewed according to its procedure and scope. All the rules and regulations laid out by the country should be followed and latest and most innovative technology that sustains at the very point should be considered during water damage restoration.

Since each requirement for water damage restoration may be varied, thus the steps and guidelines should be followed accordingly; be it for homes, buildings, or any other structure.



Process of Water Damage Restoration

The process of water damage restoration involves various steps as:

? Loss Assessment and Evaluation: Firstly a document is made specifying the materials that got affected by the water damage. The Blue Book is referred to value the lost material?s price.

? Categorization of Water in Water damage: Water damage may be clean water damage, grey water damage, and black water damage. The least problematic is clean water damage, while the most hazardous is black water damage.

? Principles in Drying: The principles set by IICRA ensure that the companies follow quality check and the standards are maintained along with the safe methods that results in healthy living.

? Structural and Contents Consideration: This is nothing else but the moving around of the materials that are affected by water damage like the furniture, books, electronic items etc.

? Monitoring: Once the work is completed, everything is monitored, be it a wall, piece of furniture etc for humidity, temperature conditions etc.



? Final Inspection and Completion: After the monitoring process is complete and all the standards set by the IICRA are maintained for water damage restoration, equipments are taken back, considering the process to be complete.

Halloween Decorating Ideas for Those Who Don’t Have a Mantel (or Do)

These whimsical, cute Halloween decorating ideas would work great on a fireplace mantel. There’s no reason to feel deprived, though, if your home doesn’t have a fireplace. Natalie Dalpias, the crafty mind behind The Creative Mom, is here to show you how to create a Halloween display without a mantel. 

This is her contribution to our Halloween Style Challenge. We send mystery shipments of Home Depot Halloween decorations to some especially talented bloggers to see what sort of decorating ideas they can come up with.

Natalie has some very practical Halloween ideas with a few of her own special DIYs to make her mantel-that’s-not-a-mantel burst with fun Halloween spirit.



I always love decorating for Halloween. I love that pretty much anything goes for this season and while things can be cute, you have more freedom to spook things up and add more fun touches than you usually can. With that being said, I will admit that I’m a HUGE wimp. I don’t really love scary things, and I didn’t want to scream with fright every time I walk into the room, so while I added some spooky things into my decor this year, I tried to keep it on the fun side… you know, for the kids *wink.



My assignment for this Style Challenge was to come up with Halloween decorating ideas for the mantle. Except I don’t have a fireplace, so therefore I have no mantle, which really isn’t a huge deal… except my kids no longer believe in Santa, and I don’t have a good place to decorate for all the different holidays. So I built these Cafe Shelves a while back, and I’ve loved having them to decorate each season. This is a PERFECT solution for homes that don’t have a mantle.



Probably my favorite part of the whole shelves are these apothecary jars. Each jar has something creepy on the label, and I just put some different things in each, like water with food coloring for the “witches brew”, noodles for the “bones of dragons”, and coarse salt for “crystallized bat droppings”.

My kids think this is hilarious, and who am I kidding? I do too.



I created these pedestal stands you see above from simple things I found at The Home Depot, like table legs and door knob stops.

I love that they add dimension to all the different items on the shelves. Oh, and that spider is a terra cotta pot coaster painted black with pipe cleaners and googly eyes.



This candle holder is another pedestal stand. I made it using a table leg and a post cap turned upside down. I used some books and  the carvable foam pumpkins to fill everything in.

And don’t you just LOOVE that spooky Halloween mirror? Except it’s not a mirror at all. It’s just an empty frame with some plywood spray painted silver and a spiderweb drawn on with a Sharpie. Looks kind of cool, right?



This chalk board printable above is available for free on my blog, and that cute little glass owl is probably staying up all year long because I just love him so much.



Since my shelves are in my dining room, I added some spooky touches to the table too. These huge spiders really add some oomph to the the space. I just zip tied them to the backs of some of our chairs, and my kids fight over who gets to sit in the spider chairs!



I used some burlap from the garden section at The Home Depot for my table runner. Then put this cute lantern and glitter votives on a silver tray for my centerpiece. So cute and simple.



I also hung a spider from our light, just for fun.



And then my wall needed a little something. So I built this pallet art- except I didn’t use a pallet at all. I used ceder fence pickets, cut in half, and attached them together for a pallet look, without all the work of ripping apart a pallet.

I’m really happy with how this space turned out. Having shelves like mine is such a great solution for houses without mantles.

Natalie Dalpais describes herself as “a crafting,  DIY-ing, decorating, Photoshopping, handy-woman.” Her blog The Creative Mom has tons of fun and useful tutorials and inspiration. Take a look at her tutorial for a DIY farmhouse bench here on The Home Depot Blog. 

The mystery shipment of Halloween decorations The Home Depot sent to Natalie included these items:

For more DIY Halloween decorating ideas, see other articles in our Halloween Style Challenge series, and follow our Halloween Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decorations Department for everything you need to decorate your home for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 



http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/halloween-decorating-ideas-dont-have-a-mantel-or-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=halloween-decorating-ideas-dont-have-a-mantel-or-do

Basement Flooding & Water Removal

Do you have the flooded basement blues? Due to their nature, being underground structures, basements are prone to water damage. It doesn't take a river overflowing its banks or a major hurricane to flood a basement. In fact, basement flooding often occurs due to water build up in the surrounding soil.

So what's a home owner to do? Prevention is always the best medicine, especially when it comes to your home. As little as an inch of water can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Even small leaks can become major disasters when mold takes over. If your basement isn't flooded now, take the necessary precautions to prevent the most common basement flooding problems. You'll save yourself a great deal of heartache (and money) later.

First, if you have block walls, use a waterproof coating using the manufacturer's spread rate specifications. Don't skimp! You may even need a second coat if water seepage continues after the first application. Use a waterproof coating that is specifically formulated to block water passing through due to hydrostatic pressure.





What is hydrostatic pressure? This is pressure caused by water in the soil which could include the water table, rain runoff flowing toward your home underground, or even your home's own gutter system.

Other prevention steps include fixing leaks, ensuring proper drainage, and installing a sump pump. Leaks in the basement don't always originate down below. For example, if you have a leaking toilet above, where do you think the water is going to end up? Drip, drip, drip... down to the basement!

Remember that faulty gutter system? Is rainwater draining properly or is it collecting in the soil that's pressing against your basement walls? Make sure that your home's gutters are draining properly - away from the foundation and basement. Does the ground near your home slope away from it or toward it? Ideally, the ground should slope away. If not, consider grading the soil.



Sump pumps are increasingly being used as a preventative tool. In the past, sump pumps were used after flooding occurred. Now, many municipalities have restricted builders from routing rainwater from gutters to the sewer systems as they try to comply with the Clean Water Act. If the water isn't carried away from your foundation and basement, flooding can occur.

The sump pump acts to remove water from the lowest sections of the basement, even below the basement floor. A sump hole collects rising ground water. The sump pump kicks in when the water reaches a "critical" level and begins pumping the water out. The water is pumped through a pipe that diverts it away from your home's foundation and basement.

Many different types of sump pumps are on the market. Most use a "float" which activates the pump when the water reaches a certain level. Some are designed to work underwater while others are not meant to get wet. Different materials such as plastic and cast iron affect the price and long term performance of the pumps. In addition, sump pumps can be powered by either water or electricity.

Sump pumps should have a "check valve" to prevent water from flowing back in once the pumping is complete. Otherwise, the water will come right back in, trigger the sump pump, and create an endless pumping cycle. Choose the type of sump pump that best meets your needs and check it frequently to make sure that it's working properly.

What if it's too late and your home is already flooded? Help is just a click or two away. Let us help you dry out your basement and take care of any related mold issues. No matter where you live, a Dryout affiliate is ready to help. Simply fill out a brief form explaining the damage and a local representative will call you back right away.



By: Mrk Decherd

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.dryout.net Mark Decherd

Choosing a Contractor for Foundation Repair

As a home owner you are aware of the necessity and advantages of keeping your home in good repair. A properly maintained home is a source of pride. It is also safer since there are fewer chances of structural damage, mold formation, water logging, and so on. This reduces the chances of accidental injuries caused by uneven floors or illnesses because of allergy to mold. Additionally, a well maintained home has a greater value if you want to sell it. Among the many home improvements that are possible, foundation repair, structural repair, and waterproofing are more important. If you are planning to undertake foundation repair of your Long Island home, you need to retain the services of a specialist contractor. This is because foundation repair requires special products and systems and the training and expertise to install them properly.



Tested Products

A Long Island foundation contractor that uses products developed by structural and geotechnical engineers specifically to strengthen foundations is ideal for those who want to undertake structural repair of their Long Island home. Many foundation problems such as buckling walls, tilting walls, cracked foundation walls, are caused because of expansive soil that exerts considerable pressure on the walls. As such just sealing the cracks or rebuilding the buckling walls is not sufficient. Some home improvement companies have access to or employ engineers to develop products that strengthen the walls and even straighten them. Moreover, the products are easy to install, taking only a week. This causes minimal disruption to your schedule. Yet another advantage of using a reliable contractor is that they will reduce the damage to your landscaping and clean up after they complete the installation. Whether you are undertaking foundation repair in Queens, NY, or Long Island, you can ask for and obtain written warranties that clearly specify the contractor's long-term responsibility.

Construction of New Foundations

Sometimes, individuals constructing their own homes require the help of a specialist contractor to lay the foundation. This is because new foundation construction in Long Island, or elsewhere, needs to be done properly to ensure that the entire structure is safe. Incorrectly constructed foundations can lead to wet basements, uneven floors, cracked walls, and similar problems. A contractor with expertise in the construction of new foundations will be able to ensure that the foundation is long lasting. They will use the proper material suitable for the soil conditions on your land.

Extending Foundations

When you want to add a room to your home to increase the floor space, you need to extend the foundation of your home. Extending the foundation of your Long Island home should be entrusted to a contractor who has expertise in this area. They will study the soil conditions near your home and use appropriate material and technology to ensure that the foundation remains firm and does not sink or crack.

Waterproofing Foundations

Even when foundations are constructed with care, sometimes the soil around the foundation accumulates excess water that seeps into the basement and crawl spaces. This can lead to build up of mold, damage goods stored in the basement, increase heating and cooling costs, generate a musty smell, and more negative consequences. To waterproof the foundation of your Long Island home, the contractor will lay special drains around the perimeter or under the basement floor to collect the excess water in a sump. The contractor will then install a sump pump that will pump the water away from your home.

New Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA

Doylestown, PA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/17/2014 -- Fastwaterremoval.com announces the availability of Emergency Flood Repair in Doylestown and Yardley PA. Floods caused by nature or man-made problems can result in untold damage if not immediately dealt with. In natural disasters, after the water has receded, the mess left behind can be completely overwhelming. Add the almost immediate growth of mold on any wet areas, and the problem suddenly becomes a health hazard. Whether the damage has been cause by flood, broken pipes, breaking appliances or vandalism, these emergencies require immediate action.

During an emergency, property owners have little time to begin shopping around for the right company to reliably do the job. Fastwaterremoval.com technicians are licensed and bonded and most insurance companies readily accept their quotes; this means no waiting for days and days for insurance approval while the damage keeps accumulating. Long after the original cause of the emergency has been alleviated, damage from water, smoke, fire and even sewage can continue to escalate. When the firefighters or repairmen have left the scene, that is when the second wave of need begins. Having a company nearby that can respond quickly, 24 hours a day, can feel like a miracle when minutes and hours matter. Knowing the job will be done right and with professional courtesy is a blessing when the damage seems overwhelming.

Displaced residents and employees are draining resources that may never be recouped when everyone is waiting for the damage to be repaired and the property to be restored. This is definitely a situation when "time is money." Fastwaterremoval.com has a reputation for reliable, swift response and expert services. Residents of Doylestown and Yardley no longer need to rely on companies from distant metro areas to respond to an emergency that is miles away. The further away the company, the higher the charges and the longer the wait. When restoration technicians start coming and going, travel time to and from the jobsite quickly becomes an issue. With reliable, expert help close-by, residents of Yardley and Doylestown know how important it is when time and effort are being devoted to the job at hand, and not to the commute. Simply put, expert, reliable, local service can mean the difference between disaster and inconvenience.

To learn more about the services offered, visit Fastwaterremoval.com Elite Water Damage Restoration Inc

http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/new-emergency-flood-repair-in-doylestown-and-yardley-pa-546174.htm

Water Damage Repair Clarified | Dirmeikis

Have you been smelling a mild mildewy odor whenever you stroll into the basement or climb right into the attic room? Have you seen stains on your ceilings and walls, buckling floorings, and/or musty developments anywhere in your house? If so, then you are likely seeking some water damage repair. The signs of water damages could not be apparent initially, yet you will absolutely start to notice them after they have actually become entrenched. It is very important to get repairs on your house early on to prevent any type of major damage to the walls or structure. Flood damage tends to are more hazardous compared to conventional water damage. This could trigger rot, mold, and mildew, each one of which can ultimately bring about a buckling foundation. It's important to fix your water damage and also invest in fast flood damage restoration if required.



Flooding as well as water damages are several of the most usual issues that property owners face. Residing in an area that floods regularly suggests that you'll have to take precautions. As an example, if you stay in a floodplain, you may would like to make sure that the ground all around your home inclines downward away from the foundation. You can additionally set up (as well as consistently clean) rain gutters that effectively lead water away from the basement or foundation. The most effective kind of flood damage restoration is definitely deterrence. But, not all water damage is triggered by flooding. In fact, even basic rain could cause problems gradually. If water leaks through the roof into an attic, you might be in jeopardy for building up mold, mildew, and rot. Maintaining a strong roofing system will certainly mitigate the amount of water damage repair you may experience. Check-out www.restoringvancouver.com for more info on repairing damages caused by water/flooding.



If you live a location where flooding is common, then it's important to keep your home safeguarded. Appropriate flood damage restoration is likewise vital for the continued safety and security and efficiency of your house. Many people incur flood damages to their basements or various other areas that lie below ground level. Of course, water damages can take place virtually anywhere in your home. It can additionally happen due to non-flood-related elements. For instance, a water pipe burst could end up damaging the interior of your home significantly. If you have incurred any sort of damages related to water, then you will wish to invest in quick and also competent water damage repair. It's the only way to get you, your family members, and your home back on their feet.

Jeff Cohn - Baltimore Home Improvement Examiner - Home Improvement.

Baltimore Home Improvement Examiner



Jeff Cohn is an expert author in water damage, fire damage, mold removal, hoarding clean up, and crime scene clean up. He has experience of more than 22 years in the restoration and clean up industry.



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Top Ten Strongest Earthquakes in the World

The ranking of the top ten earthquakes by the U.S. Geological Survey is based on magnitude according to the Richter scale. Earthquakes with lower magnitudes sometimes cause more severe damage to property and higher death tolls than higher magnitude earthquakes.

Why do Some Earthquakes Cause More Damage Than Others?

The worst risk during an earthquake is the shaking. Structures that are not earthquake proof can crumble. If the building is not flexible, it is more apt to fall. A recent example is the devastating earthquake in Haiti where many buildings were constructed of cement block.



Earthquakes send waves through below the earth's surface and travel at higher speeds through soil or sand but slow down through bedrock. In San Francisco, many buildings collapsed in the Loma Prieta earthquake because some were built on landfill resulting from the disposal of debris from the 1906 earthquake.

The Ten Strongest Earthquakes in the World

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the top ten deadliest earthquakes since 1900 are as follows:

Southern Chile: May 22, 1960 Magnitude 9.5

The most severe damage occurred in the Valdivia and Puerto Montt areas. Approximately 1,655 killed, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550 million damage. *

A massive tsunami spread across the Pacific Ocean. It caused 61 deaths, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000 damage to the west coast of the United States. *

Prince William Sound Alaska: March 28, 1964 Magnitude 9.1

Anchorage suffered the most damage as well as other cities including Kodiak, Seward and Valdez. The tsunami generated by the earthquake affected the west coast of Canada and the U.S. and Hawaii.

The earthquake and tsunami resulted in 113 deaths from the tsunami and 15 from the earthquake. It caused approximately $311 million in property loss. *

West Coast Northern Sumatra: December 26, 2004 Magnitude 9.1

This earthquake is best known for the giant tsunami that raced across the Indian Ocean. This tsunami holds the record for causing the highest number of deaths and the most destruction.

In total, 227,898 people were killed or were missing and presumed dead and about 1.7 million people were displaced by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 14 countries in South Asia, India and East Africa. *

Kamchatka Russia: November 4, 1952 Magnitude 9.0

The tsunami resulting from this earthquake adversely affected Hawaii and only caused minor damage in Alaska.

Property damage from these waves was estimated at $800,000 to $1,000,000, but no lives were lost. *

Coast of Ecuador: January 31, 1906 Magnitude 8.8

This earthquake generated a powerful tsunami that hit the coast of Ecuador and Colombia. The giant wave also struck Hilo and Honolulu in Hawaii.

Approximately 500 to 1500 people were killed in Ecuador and Colombia. *

Coast of Chile: February 27, 2010 Magnitude 8.8

The epicenter was off the coast of Chile near Concepcion which is south of Santiago. Other areas affected were Maule and Bio Bio. A tsunami struck the Island of Juan Fernandez but never materialized in the rest of the Pacific.

Approximately 708 people were killed.

Rat Islands Alaska: February 4, 1965 Magnitude 8.7

Because the areas affected by this earthquake were sparsely populated, there was little damage and no deaths. A 30-foot tsunami affected the nearby islands in the Aleutian chain.

Loss caused by flooding on Amchitka Island was estimated at $10,000. *

Northern Sumatra: March 28, 2005 Magnitude 8.6

Surrounding islands in Sumatra suffered damage and a 10-foot tsunami caused flooding in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Maldives.

At least 1000 people killed, 300 injured in Nias; 100 people killed in Simeulue; 200 people killed in Kepulauan, Banyak; 3 people killed, 40 injured. At least 10 people were killed during evacuation of the coast of Sri Lanka. *



Assam & Tibet: August 15, 1950 Magnitude 8.6

Buildings suffered extensive damage and landslides occurred in eastern Tibet. Areas of Assam in India experienced landslides and a natural dam broke, which created a 23-foot high wave.

At least 780 people killed in Tibet and 536 people died in Assam. * It is believed that this was not the final total.

Andreanof Islands Alaska: March 9, 1957 Magnitude 8.6

Docks and bridges were destroyed in neighboring islands in the Aleutians by a 15-foot tsunami. The giant wave continued to Hawaii.

The tsunami caused about $5 million in property damage on Oahu and Kauai Islands. *

Southern Sumatra Indonesia: September 12, 2007 Magnitude 8.5

Many buildings were destroyed or damaged in Bengkulu and Sumatera Barat. This earthquake occurred in the Sunda trench, which was ruptured by the earthquake on December 26th, 2004.

At least 25 people were killed, 161 injured, 52,522 buildings were damaged or destroyed. *

Five of the world's strongest earthquakes generated devastating tsunamis that hit Hawaii. Two earthquakes spawned tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.

Three earthquakes occurred in Indonesia and three earthquakes took place in Alaska. Two earthquakes were located on the west coast of South America.

All earthquakes, except for Assam & Tibet, occurred in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which circles the Pacific Ocean. It continues to be the most active seismic area in the world.

* "Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900", U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information Center, updated May 14, 2009

Cleaning Up A Home After A Flood: Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims

It's been two weeks since Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic and relief efforts are still in full-effect to help the victims and their families. If you or someone you know is returning home to find extensive water-damage to property, there are a few key things to know when cleaning up a home after a flood.

First, before you or anyone steps foot into a house that's been damaged, it's important to check with local officials including fire and safety personnel to make sure the home is secure. It's best to keep children and pets out of the space, even when you've been given the okay to access the area. "TODAY" contributor and do-it-yourself expert Lou Manfredini also recommends turning off the electricity, especially when you're dealing with high-water levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency suggests you dry everything in the home because germs and mold can accumulate after two days. It's best to check with the manufacturers of the goods for the best way to clean it. When doing this, you should wear goggles, gloves, workboots, a mask and long clothing to protect yourself. The Agency also recommends hiring a professional when dealing with a large amount of mold.

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention suggests you remove any items such as mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics and other things that cannot be washed and disinfected. This also includes drywall and insulation that has been contaminated. After you're done cleaning, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands and clothing.



With all of that said, many shelters and drop-off centers are no longer accepting clothing, but are in desperate need of cleaning supply donations to help these families clean up Sandy's aftermath. Many are requesting buckets, scouring pads, sponges, scrub brushes, reusable towels, gloves, masks, shovels, bleach, trash bags and other general cleaning supplies.

To find out what is needed in your community, contact your local officials and/or drop-off center.

If you're not anywhere near New York or New Jersey, consider the ways that you can still help:

Red Cross: Donate online or via text message to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Federal Emergency Management Association: Visit the government's Hurricane Sandy relief site to learn more ways you can volunteer and donate to areas in need.



Sew For Sandy: HuffPost Home has started an initiative to collect as many warm blankets, clothing and gear for those in need, we are asking our readers to "Sew For Sandy" and put their crafty skills to the test by making simple sewing (or no-sew!) projects to help keep those affected by the storm warm and toasty.

Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Want to cut down on your electricity bill and use light bulbs that last longer? You might want to consider replacing your current light bulbs with energy efficient ones. More on this here ...

Typically, light bulbs contribute to 50% of your electricity bill. Most people try to save electricity by religiously switching off their electric bulbs, when not in use. Though this is a good practice, it won't affect your bills drastically. Non-profit organizations all over the world are educating people with the benefits of energy efficiency. A crucial step in saving energy is by using only energy efficient ones. Let's see what these bulbs are all about.

Power Saving LED Light Bulbs

LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs are solid light bulbs which have proven to be very helpful in saving electricity. These have just been introduced in the market and have created a stir already. They are made using as many as 180 bulbs per cluster, which ensures more light spread and wider beams. The only problem with LED lights is the high cost of each bulb; however, researchers from all over the world are working on a process which involves the use of silicon wafers. If this technology proves effective, LEDs can become a standard for more lighting needs.

Power Saving Flood Light Bulbs

Energy efficient flood light bulbs might be useful in places where other light bulbs fail. These flood lights come with an extended life version, which can last up to 30,000 hours. They are excellent for walls and areas where there is more space, such as the deck and outdoor sitting areas. Also, they are available in various shapes, sizes, and colors.

Disposal

Replacing normal light bulbs with power saving ones is not only good for the planet, but also for you. You can save up to USD 15 per year on each light bulb. Energy saving light bulbs contain small quantities of mercury, which does not pose a threat to consumers, as it is sealed. However, mercury is a toxic metal and should be handled with care. You should dispose these bulbs with care and clean up broken pieces, if any. Recycling is the best and most effective way of disposing these bulbs. Hospitals and big companies hire recycling companies to collect these bulbs. There's a chemical clean out program held in various cities of the United States-called the Cleanout-which is held by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Some Facts

Power saving light bulbs are available in many patterns, designs, and types.

They last 10 times longer than normal bulbs and use very less power.

They use 1/3 the electricity and last longer than traditional light bulbs.

Replacing a normal light bulb with a energy saving bulb will keep half a ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

They don't flicker and hum like normal bulb lights.

If you still haven't switched to energy efficient light bulbs, I think it is time you do it. You are not only saving the environment, but also your hard-earned money.

Used Car Buyers Beware: Flood-Damaged Cars Are Coming; Auto Club Joins Insurance Commissioner Garamendi to Warn Consumers Against Buying Flood-Damaged Vehicles

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--The Automobile Club of Southern California joined California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi today to warn local car buyers about the danger of purchasing used vehicles damaged by flood waters during last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes.

"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms damaged between 300,000 and 600,000 vehicles in 2005," said Steve Lenzi, the Auto Club's senior vice president of public affairs. "It is estimated that at least half of those will end up on the used car market instead of being scrapped."

Some states require dealers to disclose known flood damage, but refurbishers intent on deception can clean up the more obvious evidence. Telltale signs that car buyers should look for include mud or residue under the dashboard, musty odors in the cabin or trunk, and mud or grit behind under-hood components such as the alternator, starter motor, or power-steering pump.

But even if mildewed carpeting or a ruined alternator is replaced, flooding can do permanent damage to sensitive electronics that manage the engine's operation or control such safety components as air bags and antilock brakes. And such damage might not show up until months after the flooding occurred, Lenzi added.

To inform its 6 million members about the threat of flood-damaged vehicles, the Auto Club published a warning in the January/February issue of its member publication, Westways. In this article, the Auto Club advises that used car buyers can protect themselves by:

-- Accessing free information on a special Web site, www.carfax.com/flood, provided by Carfax, a firm that provides background checks on used vehicles. Prospective buyers enter a vehicle's 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) and check if it was registered in a disaster area. The site also shows if the vehicle's title is marked "flood damaged."

-- Checking the database of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, www.nicb.org, which contains a list of vehicles and watercraft affected by the recent hurricanes. This information is also free.

-- Buying a certified used car or truck -- one warranted by the automaker, not just an individual car dealer -- because automakers preclude flood-damaged cars from their certified-car programs.

-- Thoroughly test driving a used vehicle and having it inspected at an auto-body shop and an Auto Club-Approved repair shop.



The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa.com.



Automobile Club of Southern California

Carol Thorp or Jeffrey Spring, 714-885-2333

How to Start A Water Damage Restoration Company

Mitigation is vital so as to limit the effects of water damage. When a miserable situation like this strikes, irrespective of what it really is, whether or not this is really a flood within the basement or the crawl space, leaks inside the roofing system or soot and smoke damage in the home, you can invariably call for the flood and fire damage experts for the complete repairing and also the restoration services. While there is certainly only a lot preparation for unexpected disasters, you will find a quantity of actions you can take to maintain your property in good repair and avoid unnecessary problems. It is important to start out the water damage cleanup as soon as you possibly can to avoid mold and mildew. However, these reasons are quiet minor if we consider the damage brought on by flood.

Cracks and breaks are the many signs that there might be water damage from ice or snow. A rehearsed plan also helps ensure the safety of those affected by the emergency. It is achievable for structural harm to occur if the situation is not repaired properly. There are numerous products which are available inside the market that advertise to treat dry and dull hair, but very few of them are actually effective. With serious amounts of attention you can improve your skills and increase your earning potential.

It may seem counterintuitive, but a lot of structural issues can begin with all the roof. Dry Out All Of Your Things and FurnitureYou can certainly salvage all of your furniture pieces should you have had the means to dry them out before any real damage is felt. Most of the time, serious water damage is followed by heavy mold growth left in the damaged area. Your family will be safe and your house will probably be nearly as good as new following their work. Another side effect is that it makes you wonder where else these businesses are taking rather than giving, where else is it cutting corners for their own gain, and what goes to keep coming back to the homeowner to haunt them because of it and when?.

Birmingham might even be prone to numerous other natural phenomenon that can greatly impact the lives of its inhabitants due http://www.restorationsos.com/ to its location inside the center of the Dixie Alley, within the tornado alley, and within the warm hurricane-prone waters of the Central Gulf Coast. It can be a type of fungi that thrives on moist places. You are able to have powered restored towards the remainder of your property so you can run the gear you have to start cleaning up.

Do assess the importance of every item within your house. Pipes can bust, roofs can leak, and appliances can malfunction. Bear at heart that harm due to water may be progressive as well as the things that could possibly be restored through the initially 48 hours of initial damage is not going to be repairable once the response is delayed.

Make sure the water restoration company is licensed and bonded and confirm it along with your state's licensing board. This substance contains water, which is precisely what the property owners want to avoid as of this point. You can try repairing the device, meaning you will have to spend a fair amount of energy and resources with the hope that it'll function again. Ordinary people will not be in a position to perform active Sewage Backup Cleanup so a skilled and reputable water damage restoration contractor will be competent for offering prompt assistance. It can be effectively done with the help of the restoration firms.





If you imagine a flood is stressful, try repairing that!While you might be eager to get started, the Rain Water Removal first you must do is check whether standing water is above electrical cords or outlets. You are better off to utilize the services of a good water damage restoration company to assist you using this problem. There are many products which are available within the market that advertise to treat dry and dull hair, but not many of which are in reality effective. However, this may sometimes present a challenge since the majority of electrical circuits are located inside the basement. They can carry out an analysis Flood Cleaning and take appropriate corrective measures.

If you're considering locating a company who is actually able to help with cleanup and restoration you'll probably decide to check online. Get estimates from different companies and don't hesitate to ask them about their qualifications. Your services can also comply for the RIA (Restoration Industry Association) standards. They also provide trained professional workers to deal with all the problem more accurately. Unfortunately, getting rid of mold isn't always a simple one-step process.

What You Should Do In A Plumbing Situation

Completing a plumbing project never happens without a problem or two. Some of these things may be simple to fix, but others may be more difficult. No matter what the problem is with your plumbing, you should be educated so when there is an emergency, you can act quickly to get the problem fixed.



If a Water Damage Storm Water Damage Restoration Contractors plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. So be sure to read through all your manuals as well as research as much as you can on the internet where you can gain information to help you with your projects. Before attempting any repairs, plan ahead, or you may make a costly mistake.

Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. While they are good at removing odors, they have a detrimental effect on the parts of the toilet that are rubber. This can make it not function http://www.rotorooter.com/ correctly and may even break it.



If you have a clogged toilet with the water level very low, and plunging it isn't working, it's possible to resolve this by pouring warm water from a bucket directly into the toilet bowl from about waist level. Do this as often as necessary if the water level dips back down again.





You can easily see if there are any serious damages caused by leaks by checking if the floor is soft around toilets. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. It's important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.

As mentioned, there are a variety of plumbing problems, from small to large. Use the tips given in this article to reduce the stress and danger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing of your plumbing repairs.