January Home Improvement: Weekend Projects

Tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season

The holidays are over and the New Year has begun. January is the time to get cracking on lots of little winter home improvement projects, avoiding big winter woes later on. Here's where to start.

WEEKEND #1: Put Away Holiday Decorations

The holidays are officially over, so January's first weekend is the perfect time for a home improvement project: putting away those sparkly decorations. Remove all of your holiday decorations and while you are taking them down, examine them for any damages. Check to make sure all the lights are working, replace any burned out bulbs and make certain the holiday season has not caused wires to fray. This January weekend is the best time to make sure your lights will be in good working order next season. Plus if any damage is found, you can replace them while they are still 50% off!

To store your holiday lights, cut some cardboard into 12 by 9 pieces and wrap the lights around it to keep them tidy and at the ready for next year. Be sure to store decorative items in clear plastic bins so you know exactly what is in there, and to be sure moisture does not deteriorate any of the cheer. Place all stored items at the back of your storage area to allow the current seasonal items to be accessible.

WEEKEND #2: Fix Unsightly Wall or Ceiling Cracks

By now you have spent some time indoors due to the wintry weather, and you have no doubt noticed a few cracks here and there. This January weekend is a good time to repair them. Here are a couple of tips to help. If you see cracks where your walls meet the ceiling, don't worry.  While unsightly, they pose no structural risk. These cracks are just from the normal expansion and contraction of your house where two pieces of drywall meet. You might notice cracks in either ceiling or wall seams. This cracking can happen anywhere pieces of drywall meet and is normally caused by the joint compound over the seam drying out.

To fix these unsightly cracks, start by removing the old piece of drywall tape. This is going to cause some damage to the surrounding area but will ultimately allow you to make a repair that will stand the test of time. Next, apply a continuous piece of meshy fiberglass drywall tape over the joint.  Then apply a thin layer of joint compound using a wide spackle knife and let dry. Continue to apply layers, allowing each to set before applying the next. You can apply three layers, and on your last layers, use a narrow spackle knife. Once the tape is fully covered, sand the area using a fine sand sponge or paper to smooth the texture of the wall or ceiling, and then repaint.

If you see cracks along your crown moulding and the ceiling, you can easily fix those cracks with a latex paintable caulk. Be sure to smooth the bead of caulk with your finger. Once dry, you can paint the caulk to match the trim if necessary.

WEEKEND #3: Clean Tile And Grout

Whether it is used for floors, backsplashes or walls, grout is possibly everywhere in your home. Grout does not have to be darker than it was when first applied. Here are some home improvement tips to get dirty grout clean and bright once more and do a little something to help it stay that way.

The type of tile you have and the amount of discoloration on your grout is going to determine how you clean it. If you have an unglazed tile, you want to always use a natural cleanser; glazed tiles allow you to work with a stronger chemical cleanser. You can use a homemade solution of baking soda and a bit of water. Make a paste of the baking soda and water and apply with a toothbrush, working in small areas so the baking soda doesn't dissolve and loose its abrasiveness. Rinse the area with water once you are done cleaning the grout. 

For more stubborn stains on your grout, use diluted bleach before bringing in chemical striper for the most difficult projects. Once the grout is clean and thoroughly dried, apply a grout sealer, epoxy or acrylic, which is going to help the grout to not absorb any dirt and stains. Do it once, do it right, and your grout will look as nice as your tile for the long haul.

WEEKEND #4: Lubricate and Eliminate Squeaks and Creaks

Does old man winter have your joints aching this January? No doubt it has the joints of your home aching and creaking as well. If you notice any doors that are not opening as smoothly or sliding the way they used to, that is an easy fix. Grab some WD-40 and attack the working parts of those creaky doors. Lubricate the hinges and the sliding tracks to help smooth out the sticky situation.

You can also lubricate the hinges on medicine cabinets and kitchen cabinets with WD-40. Also, every so often, place WD-40 on your key and slide it into the lock to keep those parts working. Once you start you will find yourself working to lubricate just about anything that opens. That's okay, home improvement addictions are perfectly allowed!

Resource: The Money Pit

10 easy, New Year's resolutions for the eco-slacker

These resolutions will help you save money, cut your carbon footprint and decrease your home's waste.

Going to farmers markets and becoming a weekend vegetarian are two easy green lifestyle changes you can make in the new year. (Photo: JohnnyRokkit/Flickr)

It's easy to think about all the big changes you're going to make in the New Year as the old year comes to an end — but by the second week of January, most of us are already finding reasons to skip the gym or break the spending freeze. That's why we've come up with ten green New Year's resolutions so easy you'll have no excuse not to keep them — and as they help you save money, cut your carbon footprint, decrease your home's waste stream, and improve the quality of the Earth, you'll be glad you did.

1. Never buy bottled water again

Trade your bottled water habit for an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year; pair it with a reusable bottle (like one made of glass, aluminum, or recycled plastic), and you'll always be prepared to tackle your thirst. Bonus: With bottled water no longer on your shopping list, you could save as much as $1,400 this year.

2. Brew your own Fair Trade coffee

Carrying your own coffee in an insulated travel mug helps you reduce waste from cardboard cups and carrying sleeves — which are thrown away at a staggering rate of 58 billion each year. For greener at-home brewing, choose a Fair Trade blend that supports farmers; add organic milk instead of artificial creamers; and try a French press (instead of a traditional brewer) to save electricity.

3. Remember your reusable bags

With more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint — but the hardest part about using them is simply remembering to take them with you. A set like this one from Blue Avocado is almost impossible to forget: It comes with six different bags, sized for everything from frozen goods to fresh fruit, and the entire collection folds down into a slim packet for easy transport.

4. Cut back on paper towels

If you're grabbing a paper towel for everything from wiping up spills and cleaning your counter to scrubbing the bathroom and keeping your hands clean at dinner, it's time to make a change. Instead, invest in a few cotton cloths and some fabric napkins; then drop them in the wash when you run a load of laundry. Using the cloth alternatives is just as easy as using the paper versions, and you only need to buy them once — plus you can help eliminate the 3,000 tons of paper towels that end up landfills every day.

5. Use a bike for short trips

It takes a certain amount of dedication to permanently give up a car in favor of a bike, but even an eco-slacker can make it work for short trips that don't require hauling a lot of stuff: picking up milk at the local grocery store, after-dinner ice cream at your favorite dessert spot, your morning yoga class, brunch with friends at the coffee shop. Ride your bike for trips shorter than 2 miles and you could cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gasoline and car maintenance, and increase your fitness level — all at the same time.

6. Order from your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Going to the farmer's market always sounds like such a great idea — until Saturday morning rolls around and you realize you have to get up early, have enough cash, and fight other customers for the best strawberries. Instead, have your local CSA program do the hard part for you by putting together a box of their best produce each week — and, if you're really feeling lazy, have it delivered right to your door so you get fresh, local fruits and vegetables without giving up your lazy coffee-and-crossword mornings.

7. Become a weekend vegetarian

Cutting meat out of your diet just two days a week can decrease your carbon footprint by about 1/3 of a ton — and coming up with meat-free meals for Saturday and Sunday isn't as hard as it sounds. Try pancakes and fruit for breakfast; fresh salads or roasted vegetable sandwiches for lunch; and veggie pizza, bean soups, and creamy risottos for dinner. And since doubling a recipe rarely adds any time to your prep work, you can make extras to eat throughout the week (and trim your carbon footprint even more).

8. Eliminate phantom power

It takes approximately one second to unplug the charger for your cell phone, mp3 player, e-reader, or iPad — but if you really can't be bothered, then let nifty, energy-efficient gadgets do the work for you. Use power strips to turn off all your appliances at once; put your television, DVD player, game system, and stereo on a timer so they automatically shut off overnight; and invest in chargers that stop drawing current when the device's battery is full. You could cut your energy bill by as much as 10 percent annually — without lifting a finger.

9. Switch to green power

Switching your home to run on green power sounds like a big job — installing solar panels, geothermal energy, or a tankless hot water heater is not a job for the construction-impaired. But you can also make this happen without getting out of your chair: Call your local energy company and see if they offer renewable options (most do). You might see a small jump in your bill, but it's an easy way to make a big change.

10. Replace your lightbulbs

Replacing your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights may be the ultimate change for the eco-slacker. Despite all the jokes, it takes only one person to change a lightbulb — and since CFLs last longer than traditional bulbs, you'll be saving time for years down the road while cutting your energy use by as much as 80 percent. Can't even face the hardware store? Order your bulbs online and have them come straight to your door.

Resource:  Mother Nature Network