Home & Garden - 7 January 2007

I am redoing my kids' playroom. Currently we have Berber carpet in there, but it gets snagged on the edges of their toys plus it isn't the best surface for racing cars etc. So we want to put down a new floor but are unsure what to get. It needs to be reasonably priced. We will be selling the house in about 5 years, so it needs to be something that will hold up well to the children playing on it and yet retain value for when we sell the house. Any suggestions?

2007-01-07 04:33:48 · 5 answers · asked by moira77 4 in Decorating & Remodeling

Er... it keeps making that noise. Only in the evening tho!

2007-01-07 04:32:45 · 6 answers · asked by --Lost in this world-- 3 in Other - Home & Garden

I need to put in some GFCI outlets in the kitchen, bathroom and grage. But how do I know which ones to buy? I looked at Menards and was told that I want to get one that carries enough power for whatever I am going to plug in... ie. microwave, hair dryer. But how do I figure it out? And why do some cost more than others?

2007-01-07 04:30:39 · 15 answers · asked by bjmy1975 2 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

We spilt the soup last night and haven't done anything with it yet.

2007-01-07 04:30:25 · 4 answers · asked by ejs 1 in Cleaning & Laundry

I have a Home Improvement for Dummies book that says that if you stick the wires in the holes in the back of the switch, it is less reliable than wrapping the wire around the screws and tighting them. But when I took out the switch that was there, the wires were stuck in the holes in the back. The house is 25 years old and I assume that is the way it was done then. I don't think the previous home owner would have changed any of the switches.

So is one way really less reliable than the other? I plan to replace more of them and my instinct tells me to put them in the way I take them out.... but that's not what the book says!

2007-01-07 04:27:36 · 7 answers · asked by bjmy1975 2 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

There's already a fan installed (no light on it). Can I just take the old one off and put a new one up?

2007-01-07 04:27:32 · 12 answers · asked by JC 4 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

My old neighbor passed away and the oil ran out. We had oil delivered but I don't know how to get the oil from the tank to the burner. It's an old furnace and both the tank and furnace are in the basement.

2007-01-07 04:25:29 · 3 answers · asked by Tom J 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-01-07 04:24:19 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Garden & Landscape

What is the best vac for under 150.00 I bought a Eureka and I absolutely hate it. One that works and does not cost a arm and a leg.

2007-01-07 04:23:34 · 4 answers · asked by Veggiegirl 2 in Other - Home & Garden

I always water them from the bottom and use appropriate fertilizer. Am I doomed to just staring at fuzzy leaves?

2007-01-07 04:23:06 · 2 answers · asked by tublugator08 2 in Other - Home & Garden

2007-01-07 04:21:26 · 3 answers · asked by PrimeTime 2 in Other - Home & Garden

I now have two twin-size beds under my control. I do have the money to sell em and buy a new queen size, but is it possible to push two twin-size beds together and still have it be stable/comfortable? What would you do to finish it off, buy some sort of matress pad to put under the sheet, or is there some sort of thing you can put in the crack between the beds? Help a brainless furniture shopper!

2007-01-07 04:18:41 · 9 answers · asked by nindash 1 in Other - Home & Garden

2007-01-07 04:15:53 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Garden & Landscape

Stupidly I let a stray cat that's been hanging around my house a few weeks into my mudroom/laundry room last night to sleep (it seems to be a housecat because all it wants is to be petted and come in, but I have dogs who won't like a cat in the house). Well, I overslept this morning and found out that the cat had peed on the floor and on some laundry. I know cat urine is difficult to clean (it's a male cat too so I don't know if that matters) and that proteins in it can cause stains, so, who has the best tips on how to launder my clothes and the best cleaning solution to mop up the floor? I was thinking PineSol disinfectant with some baking soda for the floor. As for the laundry, I don't know. I know heat can set stains in/bake them in, so I wanted to get some help before I go and ruin clothes. Thanks in advance. (No need to tell me never to do that again because I'm not letting in any more strays from now on).

2007-01-07 04:14:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cleaning & Laundry

My old hoover packed up. So I bought a new one but now faced with all this tree mess in the house don't want to use it? Shall I sweep most it up with a brush and then use my new hoover or risk it? Will it block it up?

2007-01-07 04:13:10 · 20 answers · asked by Isabelle 3 in Cleaning & Laundry

non-square meaning - oval, triangluar or something unique like a flame design.

Wall hangings I mean pictures,

Everywhere I look offer square of rectangular ones :<

2007-01-07 04:13:08 · 3 answers · asked by hsduk101 1 in Decorating & Remodeling

I have six blue bird boxes at my home in Connecticut. Each winter the boxes are taken over by a families of field mice that I clean out each spring. When I clean them they are pretty disgusting and smell like urine. Since the mice have started adopting the bird houses for their winter homes, I have had very few blue birds or other birds choosing to use the boxes. Does the use by the mice keep the birds away? Any suggestion on how to keep the mice out? Should I prop the boxes open for the winter so they are less attractive to the mice? Thanks

2007-01-07 04:11:04 · 6 answers · asked by ctatty 1 in Garden & Landscape

We need to update the look of our kitchen on a very limited budget.We have white vinyl flooring with small black diamonds. It has to stay.
Our black refrigerator has to stay. Our stove and dishwasher are cream colored. There is crown molding & a chair rail in the kitchen that are stained what I believe could best be described as a pecan color.
The major updates we want to make are to our countertops (not granite because of $$ ) & our cabinets. The cabinets are in fine condition & are stained the same color as the molding.
They are typical 80's style cabinets with a curved routed pattern on the outside edge of each door. We were thinking of using a think trip molding to cover the routing & then paint the cabinets. What color? We don't know.
Can we strip the stain off of the cabinet doors & then stain a darker color? I thought cherry might look nice, but then I have to do all of the crown molding & chair rail in the room too.

We need a decorator! Anyone out there?

2007-01-07 04:08:25 · 7 answers · asked by SuzieQ92 3 in Decorating & Remodeling

How do you remove oil stains from your driveway? I have tried several degreasers and even have used muratic acid. The problem with muratic is that is leaves white spots in the concrete which looks worse than the oil. Some of the degreasers that I have used just dont do the job.

2007-01-07 04:06:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Do It Yourself (DIY)

I have the outside unit,line sets,and thermostat and will be using it in conjunction with my oil fired forced hot air furnace. Do I need coils for my furnace? I will also be using it for AC in the summer.

2007-01-07 04:05:15 · 4 answers · asked by gary r 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

The rug is 6' x 8'

2007-01-07 04:03:16 · 3 answers · asked by Jeni and d 1 in Maintenance & Repairs

Does anybody know about the planning requirements for poly tunnels.I know there has been something in the news recently.
I am thinking of putting one on my field not in the garden.

2007-01-07 04:02:55 · 3 answers · asked by tizer 2 in Garden & Landscape

My daughter was coloring and acidentally got red marker on our carpet.

Are there any home remedys to get this out of my carpet?

I have short blue carpet.

I would rather not get a carpet cleaner if possable.

Thank You.

2007-01-07 04:01:56 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cleaning & Laundry

This couch is new and our little kitten has put scratches on the couch, any ideas would be greatly appreciated !! The color is black , if that makes a difference .

2007-01-07 03:55:04 · 6 answers · asked by ssmithblueskies 2 in Decorating & Remodeling

I gave a girl flowers that look like this, and its close to our anniversary so I want to know the name of it. I figure I should find out to just impress her. Anything will help, thank you. Here is the link to the picture of the flower:
http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/wpy1IgJxJg2Y/__sr_/6c8d.jpg?tkn=phgUToFB12cQEEol&saveas=Out+of+a+Sea+of+Roses...

2007-01-07 03:51:15 · 6 answers · asked by airdoc2be 1 in Garden & Landscape

I have no hot water or C\H, the boiler I have is an Elan 2 which is in my garage..I have tried the reset instructions on the boiler to light the pilot light to no avail.There is power going the boiler but the pilot light will not come on. The tank upstairs in the cupboard is full but cold but has power.Is there an easy solution

2007-01-07 03:49:22 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

The cable that runs from the shower to fuse box is 8mm thick and15metres to the fuse box,would the 8mm cable be o.k or would i have to upgrade it to 10mm cable?

2007-01-07 03:44:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

I know it uses less water, but can you put more clothes in a front loading washer?

2007-01-07 03:44:10 · 7 answers · asked by quortnie11 3 in Cleaning & Laundry

2007-01-07 03:40:37 · 2 answers · asked by rebecca d 1 in Cleaning & Laundry

A few years ago I put Pergo Red Oak floors in my kitchen. Now I'd like to continue it from the kitchen into my dining room. The problem is that Pergo no longer makes this particular color/style and none can be found anywhere on the internet (eBay, Craigslist, Bob Villa, etc). Pergo does make a similar product that they say is compatible in color/style (close but not exact match). So my question is - should I continue with the red oak that is now available, or do I go with a different style/color - like Mahogony, Cherry, Birch, Ash, etc? What would be less dorky - different shade of oak, or different wood completely?

I'll add that there is only a 30" passage between the kitchen and dining room, so it's really two separate rooms - not like one room opens into another (like a great room).

2007-01-07 03:36:08 · 7 answers · asked by Jim C 5 in Do It Yourself (DIY)