Singing in the shower takes on a new dimension when you’re accompanied by a whistling shower head. No matter how you vary the pitch and stay in tune, the screech from the shower head just won’t play.
A poor melody is one thing, but water sprays and streaks to one side or the other are a real problem.
This problem is normally caused by a buildup of hard water deposits inside the small openings of the shower head. Once they become partially plugged, the squealing starts and the uniform spray is blocked.
Solve the problem by soaking the shower head in a plastic storage bag filled with vinegar or a hard-water-scale removal product. Often you can just fill the bag and tie it around the pipe that feeds the shower head. Follow label directions for any chemical you use.
After soaking the shower head, rub it with a coarse cloth or use a toothpick to clear away residue and hard deposits.
To make the job easier, you can simply remove the shower head by turning the connector counterclockwise. This may require using a small wrench or pliers: protect the chrome plating by placing a rag under the wrench.

After twenty years of soft drinks, coffee and wear and tear, a plastic laminate kitchen counter top can become discolored and worn. Small scratches dull the finish. It’s impossible to fully restore the color and eliminate scratches from plastic laminate (better known by common brand names like Formica).
The same properties that make plastic laminate such a tough and durable material for countertops also make it impossible to fully patch or repair. However, you can clean and polish laminate with a product like Gel-Gloss, a milky white cleaner/polish much like automotive wax. With a little rubbing, Gel-Gloss will remove most stains and discoloration with its mild abrasive and solvent cleaner.
Spread a thin coat on the counter top. After it dries to a light powdery residue, buff with a clean cloth. This leaves a nice gloss that tends to mask scratches, so the plastic laminate looks refinished. It also creates a smooth, sealed surface that resists water spotting and stains.
In the future, when the counter gets dull again, just apply more. Never use bleach or strong abrasive cleaners on plastic laminates. They can damage the surface and remove the color. Also, don’t flood the surface with water — water may get into the edge joints and swell the underlying particle board.

In homes with basements and crawl spaces, we always need to be concerned with water flow from the roof. An overflowing gutter will dump water next to the foundation and create a water leak into the crawl space or basement. In homes with concrete slabs, water next to the foundation can cause movement and cracking, which are bad things for a slab.
So, don’t let the gutters overflow. Trees can drop needles, seeds and leaves that can make a real mess In the gutters. Establish a routine for cleaning the gutters that addresses the needs in you yard.
Also make sure downspout extensions dump water away from the foundation. They should extend at least 3 feet and preferably 6 feet to an area where the water will naturally drain away from your home.
One of the best Inspection techniques is to observe your home during a had rain. Gutters should not overflow, and all surface water should be directed away from your home. Water pooled next to a foundation is almost always the cause of a water leak into a basement and can result in structural damage to walls and slabs. Maintenance is easy and simple — make it a priority.

So you’ve got an unsightly oil stain in your mobile home driveway. Maybe it came from an old clunker parked there by family or friends. It could be a drip from you latest barbeque or a remnant from the windy day when the garbage can tipped over and left a greasy smudge. In any case, you want that oil stain gone.
For a concrete or asphalt driveway, the fix is pretty simple. Purchase some Mex All-Purpose Cleaner or TSP substitute at the local hardware store. These powdered detergents are very strong and do an excellent job of removing oil stains.
Following label directions, mix a strong solution with very hot water. Wearing gloves and eye protection, scrub the spot with the hot detergent solution and a stiff brush. Scrub and soak, scrub and soak several times. Then scrub the area around the stain to blend into the surrounding surface. Rinse well with a strong blast from the garden hose.
Stubborn stains may require a second treatment. Eventually sunlight and weather will even out the color of the pavement. If you end up with a light spot where you were scrubbing, you may need to scrub the entire drive to even out the color.

There it is again – a loud squeak every time someone walks down the hall. This may be a good sound for parents hearing their kids coming home before curfew, but it’s really annoying at 3 a.m. when someones just making a trip to the kitchen.
Floor squeaks are caused by natural shrinkage of wood due to changes in moisture content. As the wood dries, it shrinks, and nails can loosen. When you step on the floor, the wood moves and rubs against the fasteners. Squeak!
Many options exist to correct floor squeaks. Often you can work from below to add (or “sister”) strips of framing wood to the existing joist. Use construction adhesive and screws to secure the strip of framing to the joist and the subfloor. The construction adhesive is the key – it bonds to all surfaces and will not shrink as it cures.
You can also add a thin wood shim to gaps between the floor joists and the subfloor. Again, use construction adhesive. Gently tap the shims into the gap. Don’t pound the shims into the gap because this may widen it and make the problem worse.

Time to geen up outside. Whether it’s cleaning the patio or watering the grass and flowers, we all have plenty of uses for our garden hoses. But what about those leaky connectors, the splits or damaged fittings? You don’t want to waste a perfectly good hose – but think of the mess and all that water wasted at the leaks.
A quick trip to the hardware store and just a few dollars can make you’re hoses perform like new. If the leak is at a fitting and the connectors are in good shape, just replace the washer in the fitting.
A hard, cracked or grooved washer will always leek no matter how much you tighten the fitting. The new washer will seal between the two mating surfaces and make the connection watertight.
If a hose section is split, you can purchase a splice. Sizes vary from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch. Cut out the bad section and take it to the hardware store to find the correct size. Splice the remaining good section with a short tube splice and simple clamps.
If a hose end connector is bent or damaged, but the correct size fitting, cut off the old fitting and slip a new one into place. Tighten the clamps and you are good to go.

Modern Water Hammer Arrester

Every time the clothes washer fills, you hear knocking and thumping in the wall or basement. Then it knocks again cluing the rinse cycle. What’s knocking?
Often It’s the water pipes knocking against the framing of your home. You may also hear a knock after the toilet fills or when you quickly turn off a faucet.
The knocking is caused by a phenomenon called water hammer. Water is heavy, and as it moves through pipes it carries lots of energy. When the water flow Is stopped by a valve, energy in the flow shakes the pipes. This is a particular problem when a valve closes quickly — like an electrically operated valve (solenoid valve) in a washing machine.
What’s the fix? Add a water hammer arrester to the water line. A water hammer arrester provides an air cushion that compresses when water flow is quickly stopped. The air cushions the energy and prevents hammering.
Modern water hammer arresters are sealed so they should never lose the air cushion. Older arresters are just inverted, capped pipes that are supposedly filled with air. The old units can lose the air cushion, and then you need to drain the plumbing system to re-establish the air cushion.

Provided courtesy of: The House Detective

Every once in a while, the washer creates a rust stain on clothes. Maybe rust was in the water or there’s a little rust in the washer drum, or maybe you left a rusty part in a pants pocket. Now the rust appears as a dark red spot on your pants or that new white sweater.

The quick fix for you- rusty stain is Whink Rust Stain Remover. Apply a small amount of liquid vvhink to the rust spot, and it will quickly disappear.

Before you treat the fabric, make sure it’s colorfast. Then follow the label directions. Dampen the stain with water and apply a few drops of Whink to the stain. When the stain is gone, rinse the fabric thoroughly with cold water, then machine launder and dry before wearing.

Since this is a powerful chemical, you need to follow the safety precautions on the label. Wear rubber gloves to avoid hand contact, and don’t use Whink with other chemicals. Avoid contact with colored surfaces.

Whink Rust Stain Remover can be purchased at most grocery and hardware stores. A small brown bottle costs just a few dollars and will go a long way.

Provided courtesy of: The House Detective