Excessive rain can cause drainage problems
With inclement weather come floods. Last week I received calls from local residents needing assistance because their basement or sunken living room flooded from excessive rain. Generally this situation happens because of hydrostatic pressure forcing water through the cracks or pores of the concrete foundation.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Here's the buzz on how to eliminate fruit flies
Last week I received a call from a very nice lady who said she was having problems with little flies.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Household tips save time
This week I received several calls requesting help with small household projects. Because of the nature of the calls I thought I would share them with you.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Don't let unwelcome house guests bug you
New York City has reported an 800 percent increase of bed bug infestation from 2008 to 2009. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development received 13,152 infestation complaints. (nachi.org)
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Don't let a wet room dampen your spirits
Last week, because of heavy rain, my company responded to emergency flood cleanups that usually require removing water from either a basement or sunken living room. Generally this situation happens because of a broken pipe releasing water into the living envelope or hydrostatic pressure forcing water through the cracks or …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Common sense helps take bite out of crime and keep home safe
Last week during a conversation with a friend, she said she has been receiving calls from someone wanting to know if she is going to be home. She said the conversation went like this; “Hi grandma, are going to be home today?” Not thinking, she responded, “Yes” and the person …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Cell phones, gasoline can be explosive combination
Last week I received a notification from Shell Oil; it contained a warning about using cell phones when refueling vehicles.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Clean cutting boards and wipe out germs
In this week’s article I thought I would discuss cutting boards. Almost every home or business has cutting boards. It really doesn’t’t make a difference whether its wood or plastic, cleaning that surface is very important to the person using that item for health reasons.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Don't let maggots worm way into home
Over the last month I’ve received six calls from new homeowners that have “toilet maggots.” All of these homes were bought through the foreclosure process and had set vacant for 6 months or more. All of these homes were on a septic system which had been pumped; waste elimination, before …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
You'll be beaming when cleaning tough-to-reach spots
Last week I received a phone message from a gentleman requesting that I discuss in my weekly column the cleaning of exposed ceiling beams and fans. Per his request here are my thoughts.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Don't go nuts over your squirrel problems
Last Saturday I came out of my office and called for Kaikee and Peewee, my dogs. I didn’t get a response which I thought was unusual.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Be careful around raccoons
Last week I received several calls concerning raccoons. One caller said her wiener dog (Killer) was attacked by a raccoon and beat up pretty bad. She said the 20-pound raccoon jumped on her 15-pound dog’s back and bit the tar out of him. She said “Killer” almost died. Another caller …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Don't throw up your hands when tackling vomit stains
Last week my daughter, son-in-law and brand-new granddaughter arrived from Florida. To be honest, I could not wait to get my hand on the new arrival to our growing family.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Jump into action to stop flea infestations
Last week we were at an area home. During the course of the conversation on the front porch with the homeowner I notice she had lots of what looked like mosquito bite on her legs and arms. I asked her if there were a lot of mosquitoes at night. She …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Hints will help you collar dirt stains
Last week I received a call from a lady by the name of Sandra. She said they had just moved here from Michigan. She said last summer while in Sandpoint their family stopped at Hoot Owl’s for breakfast. While waiting for their meal she read my article to her husband …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Allergy season is nothing to sneeze at
Allergy season has got to be one of the worst times of the year. If your one of the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies, not only do you have to put up with the sneezing and itching but you also have to go the extra mile with cleaning …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Ed tackles questions on lawn fairy rings, night air
Last week, I received several calls from folks who had specific questions concerning their environment.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Right steps needed to break your home's mold problem
Last Wednesday, I received at least 10 calls from area residents asking about an article written on mold. Most of the callers wanted to know if the solution mixture would in fact cure fungal problems within the home.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Moss doesn't have to cost a lot of green
Roof moss problems and the cure:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Don't get in a pickle, cucumbers have multitude of uses
Last week I received an e-mail from Joyce, a family friend. In the e-mail she listed 13 different uses for cucumbers. I thought in this week’s article I would share 8 of those uses with you, the reading audience:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Carpenter ants can built big problems
As most of you know my company does a lot of environmental work. Almost all of it involves both commercial and residential buildings. In my travels around the two counties I see lots of wet rot, dry rot, various kinds of fungal growth and carpenter ant damage. Generally, when you …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Don't let cat urine become a big pet peeve
As most of you know my company often cleans problem properties. Those problems range from sewage back up to eliminating the odor from a deceased body. In this week’s article I would like to briefly discuss animal urine in the home.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Baking soda has thousands of uses
In this week’s article I thought I would explore the various uses of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). Before I get started I must state that I am not a medical professional. I cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Resources abound to ensure abundant garden
In last week’s article I left off with soil. Soil and water is the core of every garden. The better your soil, the greater results you will have with plant growth because your plants will be happy and consequently produce outstanding veggies.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
How does your garden grow?
With Obamamonics in full play, lots of us are on unemployment and facing tough economic times. A garden is one way to reduce those high food bills. Before I get into this article, I must state that I’m not a “Master Gardener” or a “horticulturist.” That being said, I personally …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Don't let exhaust hoods range beyond safe limits
This weekend my wife and I went to a friend’s home. While there, Betty expressed concern over her exhaust hood. In this week’s article I thought I would share with you; the reading audience, a portion of my conversation with her.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Don't let exhaust hoods range beyond safe limits
This weekend my wife and I went to a friend’s home. While there, Betty expressed concern over her exhaust hood. In this week’s article I thought I would share with you; the reading audience, a portion of my conversation with her.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Get through hard chores with these simple tips
As most of you know I’m constantly experimenting with different things to make my life easier: Below are a few tips that I think you will find beneficial:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Sticking interior doors often connected to high humidity
Last Saturday I received a call from a homeowner handyman by the name of Jim.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Pesticides not needed to keep creepy crawlers at bay
With spring just around the corner, a lot of folks are thinking about gardens. With gardens come pests. To be honest, I really don’t like to use pesticides for various reasons. If the situation gets to the point that I can’t control the situation; then and only then will I …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Spring tool maintenance is time well spent
Looks like spring is almost here. Our annual snow load by-passed us and hit the mid-west and northeast sections of the United States, consequently our temperatures have been fairly moderate.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Clean up with these kitchen tips, tricks
In this week’s article I thought I would share a few more tips of the trade with you:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Today's freezer are great
Almost all modern freezers are now designed to be frost free. When frost builds up, the freezer automatically melts the frost buildup. The more food you have in the freezer. in reality, causes the freezer to be more efficient. It takes more energy to freeze a half full freezer that …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Nifty trick disarms stains left behind by deodorant
Last week while at a job site some of my crew started harassing another crew member about his body odor; granted, the internal temperature of the area we were working in exceeded 80 degrees. A little deodorant would have saved this apprentice some embarrassment, I’m sure he got the message.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Attic insulation is important part of home's airflow
Last week I received a call from a gentleman who said he was caretaking a friend’s home. He said he stopped by the home and when looking through the living room window he noticed the ceiling was almost black. I made an appointment to meet with him.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
Ensure firms focus is on you
On Saturday I received a call from a very distraught lady stating that her home had caught fire and needed assistance. I immediately dispatched a Journeyman and two apprentices to the scene.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO
Christmas trees help spread holiday cheer
Most of us don’t realize that our Christmas customs, songs, images of Santa, pine trees and glass ornaments migrated to us from Germany. It’s interesting how these traditions really got started.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Crystal clear tips keep dishes sparkling
Last week several calls came in requesting I re-run the article I wrote on holiday crystal. So for Nan, Terry, Sharia and Tonie; I hope this helps.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Give winter footwear problems the boot
Winter is here and with that comes wet rainy and snow-filled days.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Exercise care for a safe winter
This week was a walk down memory lane for me especially when I woke up with couple inches of snow on the flat and still snowing.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Keep mice from feeling at home in your house
Last week I received a call for a very delightful lady by the name of Jeanie, she said there was a nasty odor in her pantry and she could not find it. I went to her home and sure enough her pantry smelled awful, however the odor was very distinctive. …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Maintenance helps keep sump pump running smoothly
Winter is here and with that comes lots of water. In the Sandpoint and surrounding areas the sump pump stays in active use especially in the winter.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Don't fall behind in your winter home preparations
I, like everyone else in the area, have started preparing for winter. Around my home that means painting, caulking and nailing in an attempt to seal my home up from wind and water intrusions. Below are a few handy tips that you may find beneficial:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Germs find a happy home in dirt and grime
Last week we did a cleanup of a foreclosed property. While doing the job, neighbors stopped by to see what we were doing. The number one question asked was “what area of the home is the dirtiest or collects the most dirt?”
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Old sayings are rich in history, interesting facts
Have you ever wondered how different types of saying got started like “Ring around the rosy”? In this week’s article I thought I would share with you, the reading audience, and a brief history of just a few sayings.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Would your home pass inspection? Get it ready for winter now
Gosh, the weather has been great; however, I know winter is just around the corner. Last winter we had lots of snow with temperatures dropping below freezing. If temperatures stay below freezing for more than three days, un-protected plumbing pipes will bust or break.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Ask questions to ensure home repairs go smoothly
In this week’s article I thought I would explore the relationship between contractors, bankers, and insurance companies.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Break the mold cycle for a clean home
For several months my company has been heavily involved in flood remediation and restoration. With water intrusion comes fungal (Mold) growth. As most of you know I've written several articles discussing mold and its effects. Last week I received numerous calls about mold. Most folks want to know how mold …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Tricks of the trade help your home shine
In this week’s article I will continue this series with part 4 of “Tricks of the Trade”
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Don't let moisture reign in your happy home
For several weeks my company has responded to emergency flood cleanups that usually require removing water from either a basement or sunken living room. Generally this situation happens because of a broken pipe releasing water into the living envelope or hydrostatic pressure forcing water through the cracks or pores of …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
Don't dig yourself into a hole when you shovel snow
Our images of snow falling gently to the ground bring in warn thoughts of a fire place roaring, maybe hot coffee or cocoa soothing those tired sore bones after a long winter day. For me; however, it bring in thoughts of snow shoveling, snow blowing and a skid steer pushing …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 16 YEARS AGO
Quick action helps minimize damage and speeds emergency cleanup
Winter is here; Saturday morning my phone started ringing at 3:30 a.m. with folks needing assistance with frozen and broken pipes. The outside temperature was minus 4 degrees.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 16 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Get the facts when hiring a cleaning company
In today's market, there seems to be an abundance of businesses that specialize in cleaning in one form or another. The cast of characters will vary from highly-trained professionals and capable companies to one-night operations.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 18 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Avoid 'clothes' call and keep brown recluse spiders away
With winter just around the corner and temperatures dropping, most homes will experience unwanted guests.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 18 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Wash away vehicle's grime
Winter can be a challenging time for those of us who live in North Idaho. The roads tend to be wet and have lots of grime on them. Consequently, that grime ends up on our vehicles. The purchase of a vehicle is one of the highest priced items you will …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 18 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Clean cutting boards are no small matter in staying healthy
In this week's article I thought I would discuss cutting boards. Almost every home or business that I go into have and use cutting boards. It really doesn't make a difference whether it's wood or plastic, cleaning that surface is very important to the person using that item for health …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 19 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Putting up pictures is easy to get the hang of
In my business, I get the chance to examine a lot of wall surfaces. I thought in this article, I would share with you some tips on placing articles on your walls.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 19 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Baking soda kills smell and cleans like a dream
One of the oldest and often forgotten cleaners is baking soda. Gosh, I really like this stuff, it's truly amazing what it will do. Below are just a few things baking soda will have an effect on:
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Vinegar works wonders when it comes to cleaning
Maybe one of the oldest and most often forgotten cleaners on the market to day is vinegar. As a young lad I can remember my grandmother using vinegar for just about every thing. I often wondered why it way so effective. It wasn't until I went to college that I …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Removing the smell of tobacco
Recently, I received a very complimentary call from a young lady by the name of Betty. She had just bought a used car that smelled of tobacco smoke.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Allergies are nothing to sneeze at
If you are one of more than 60 million Americans who suffer from allergies, you should consider going the extra mile and deep clean your home. If you have allergies to pollutants like mold, dust mites, animal dander, human skin particles, pollen, cockroach droppings, etc., you should thoroughly cleaning your …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Solution puts teeth into cleaning dirty combs
Before I get into the proper cleaning of a comb, I thought I would share with you a little history about a product called Barbicide. It's this product that barber shops and beauty shops use to clean their combs after use. As a young lad I would go to the …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Odor solution shuts the door on smelly refrigerators
Several weeks ago, I submitted the high bid on two refrigerators at a silent auction. I knew when I bought them that they had a smell problem from being stored for a long period of time without the doors being open.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 20 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
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