Notepad Corner

Water is one of  the most important basic needs in human life.  Water is involved not only for our bodies to function but also needed to produce agricultural products, home cleaning, cooking, doing the laundry, and many more.  With the El Niño phenomenon dry spell looming this first quarter of 2019 in the Philippines, more and more areas all over the country are struggling with droughts. Dams and river basins are now beginning to go below the water level that is why conserving water is more important than ever. Cutting back on water use will help conserve a precious resource and lower your water bill as well. Lately, one of Metro Manila’s water concessionaires is already limiting its water supply, resulting in less or no water at all to some areas. So, here are top tips to save water at home. 1. Make sure to store your water in clean water containers with close lids. Position them where you can easily access when needed, like the comfort room and n...

Termites are one of the most destructive pests in the world, costing homeowners in the Unites States over $5 billion annually. These devastating insects run havoc on your home and literally eat the floorboards under your feet. You must act quickly and stop the destruction before the structure of your home becomes weak and uninhabitable. There are several forms of termiticide sold in stores that will create a protective barrier around the vulnerable areas of your house. Many of these insecticides will also control tick , spider, and cockroach infestations. Any insect that touches the poison will die, or better yet, ingest the poison and excrete it at the colony where other insects are poisoned. The best do-it-yourself approach is to used termite bait and place it in strategic locations near the infestation. To understand how to properly bait your home, you need to know what termite bait is, where to place the bait, and how successful these products are at eradicating an infestation. ...

When the intense heat of summer arrives, your home can start to feel uncomfortable if you have not prepared it properly. It is important that you take steps now to ensure that your home is ready to face the full intensity of the summer sun. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to ensure that your home is cool all summer long. To help you get your home ready for the hottest months of the year, follow these seven steps to ensure that your home is a comfortable sanctuary during the coming warm weather. 1. Install a Ceiling Fan One of the best ways to get your home ready for summer is to install a ceiling fan or two. Ceiling fans help to keep your home cool all summer long. If it is not too hot out, they can keep your home cool even if you do not have the air conditioner turned on. If your air conditioner is turned on, running a ceiling fan will allow it to cool your home more efficiently. 2. Upgrade Your Windows If you have older windows, you should upgrade them wit...

Sun worshipers would do anything to extend summer days. Summer connote fun, carefree days for both adult and children, this why many homeowners are keen on decorating their homes as if it is always summer. Whether it’s preparing your home for the upcoming summer months, or you simply want to have that refreshing summer vibe at home, these tips can help you out. Getting a fresh and airy feel is essential in bringing in that summer atmosphere indoors. Net curtains in pastel colors can easily brighten up your room pair up with your trusty dehumidifier then you have a fresh and clean air indoors all day through. Get some rustic rope or twine and wound it up on those old bottles and you can have instant rustic and summery flower vases to hold your blooms around the house. Kitchens can be wonderfully made up for the summer season with blooms such as sunflowers and daisies. Fruity touches such as apples and watermelons can also lend that refreshing feel while you prepare barbe...

Cleaning is not an activity that many people prefer. It is highly unlikely to hear someone tell you “Cleaning is my favorite thing!” It is much more likely to hear people complain of cleaning, thinking of it as a tiresome work that they do just because they have to, not because they like it. And while it is true that cleaning should be done because it is the only way to provide a healthy environment and proper living conditions, it can in fact turn into a fun activity. Do not frown on this thought just yet. Cleaning, just like any job, can be made easier and more interesting in various ways. You will hardly want to clean everything by yourself, since hiring a cleaning company is always an option, but if you follow some of the following suggestions you might just feel more inclined to do some cleaning service in your home. Develop a cleaning routine  – cleaning is often times deemed difficult and tiring, simply because there is so much you have to deal with all at once. ...

A drain clog is perhaps one of the most common plumbing issues. There is no sure-fire thing you can do to prevent your drains from getting clogged. However, you may be able to unclog your drains yourself. Below is a list of things, courtesy of Amyotte's Plumbing & Heating Ltd. , you can use to unclog your drain: Baking Soda And Vinegar Baking soda and vinegar are two natural remedies you can use to unclog the drain. The first thing you will need to do is boil some hot water and then pour it down the drain. After that, you will need to pour 1/3 cup of baking soda down the drain. Allow it to sit for five minutes. After that, add vinegar to the drain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Pour some boiling water down the drain to remove the vinegar and baking soda. Salt And Baking Soda You will need a 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 table salt. Pour it down the drain and allow it sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Pour the boiling water after 20 minutes. The chemical reaction f...

Maintaining a clean home each day without spending a fortune can quickly become overwhelming without the proper planning and supplies. Using a few tips and tricks can ensure your home remains bacteria-free and an enjoyable living space for both you and your guests. image credits to: photostock - freedigitalphotos.net Clean Up and Sweep Daily Cleaning each room by picking up clutter and sweeping or vacuuming daily is a way to avoid deep-cleaning needs less often. Simply taking the time to wipe counters, toilets and other surrounding appliances rids larger messes that require more time to clean entirely. Invest in cleaning wipes and sweeping products that allow you to quickly sweep and mop with minimal effort, keeping spills at bay while allowing you to ensure your home is clean and safe for children and pets at all times. Rid Clutter and Excess Items Rid the clutter from your home and living areas to create a more serene and enjoyable living environment. Thro...

Your plumbing is one of the most important components in your home. You want to keep it working at all times, and you want to prolong its lifespan as long as possible. If you want to keep your plumbing in good shape for years to come, follow these five tips to take care of it and prevent it from breaking down. image source: http://www.sgiordanopandh.com/ _images/pl3.jpg 1. Don’t Flush the Wrong Things One of the most common ways that people damage their plumbing is by flushing things they shouldn’t down their toilets. Don’t flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper down your toilet. You especially need to avoid flushing things like paper towels, sanitary napkins and baby wipes. 2. Fix Clogs Right Away According to Always Plumbing & Heating , one of the most common ways that people damage their plumbing is by letting clogs fester for too long. If you have a clog that keeps coming back, you need to get professional help to get rid of it for...

When you live in a flat or apartment, the idea of having more space can seem ridiculous. Everyone who lives in an apartment knows that space is something you don’t have. But, there are some brilliant space saving tips that you can utilise in your flat. A small flat and the problem of having enough space can be something of a nightmare. But, you don’t have to suffer the indignity of a lack of space any longer. On the contrary, you can have as much space as you desire for your home. It’s all about adopting smart tricks for the illusion of space. You can ensure that you have a calm and spacious home with these clever hacks.  image source: ღ ℂℏ ℟ ḯʂ ღ , on Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/ddtN6C Wall Mounted Furniture Wall mounted furniture is an excellent way to be inventive with your spacing problems. Having a set of drawers that mount the wall means that you don’t lose out on valuable floor space. Wall mounted furniture comes in a wide range of solutions. You ca...

Having an air conditioner in your home is a commodity that facilitate a lot your life. You can easily make your room warmer or colder, with a click on the button. The advancement of the technologies has allowed us to take advantage of more and more modern gadgets and the air conditioner is definitely one of the best inventions of the century. However, the everyday use of this machine is inevitably contributed by some problems that you will experience if you have at least one air conditioner in your home. One of the most common problems is the bad smell that often comes from the air conditioners due to variety of reasons. If you wonder why this happens and how to manage with this problem, read the following tips that will help you to win the battle against the nasty odours coming from your air conditioner. Image credits to Amy Watson on Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/71Gddk If you take into account the advice that we will offer, you will enjoy the cosiness of the home environment...

Most of us hate cleaning because it’s tedious and sometimes, it consumes most of our time in a day. It gets really insane to do things in a fast-paced manner without compromising our other household chores. But worry not, we’ve got you covered as we are about to spill genius hacks that will forever change how you clean your house. 1. Blender Cleaner It’s actually easy peasy to clean the blender. Simply fill it up with warm water and drop little amount of dish soap. Turn it on and blend for a few seconds and then dump, rinse with clean water, and dry it. 2. Dishwasher Deep Cleaner Image credits to Paul Flint & Company on Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/9YvwwP Run your dishwasher on the highest temperature with a cup of vinegar on the top shelf. Afterwards, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom and run it again. Now, your dishwasher is immaculately clean! 3. Mattress Pour some vodka into an empty spray bottle, spritz lightly ac...

It is not just about having enough time to clean. Interior experts say that one of the reasons why households remain cluttered is because of the lack of organization and firm decisions. This is especially true for sentimental people who always find one reason or another no hold on to old stuff. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but these are the sort of items that usually stay in disorganized piles or in the back of your closet. Leading property portal Lamudi suggests five ways to declutter your home, freeing up space in your house to make your living more comfortable, and your environment more breathable. 1.        THE FOUR BOX METHOD © Monique Popp / Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mpopp / Get four boxes and label them the following: Put Away, Give Away/Sell, Storage, and Trash. This is the easiest way to organize your things, especially for those who need a little push in decision-making. Put Away are the stuff you n...

The carpet is like the middle of the ocean. It may look clean and beautiful on the surface, but deep down lies a village of mysterious creatures named dirt and grime. And when food and drink stains hit the surface? You might as well play the Jaws instrumental while you try to furiously clean and scrub. But over-the-top analogies aside, maintaining and caring for your carpet isn’t a sink or swim situation after all. With most problems, come a series of pretty smart solutions. But what are they? Read on and find out! image credit: kropekk_pl - pixabay.com Preventing Dirty Dramas Averting a potential cleaning dilemma before it occurs will not only save you time, but money. As they say, prevention is the most effective cleaning method. But how can you prevent this? With a dependable vacuum cleaner! While vacuuming, concentrate your time on areas that are close to entryways, outdoor areas and different corners of the room. These regions have high tendencies of accumulating dust, h...

Most homeowners go a long way in ensuring their homes look good physically. But of course, there are specific points that should be given more weight if you want to keep your family healthy and safe from indoor air contaminants. While we spend most of our time indoors, the air inside your home tends to become stale and polluted more than the air outside. Here are some tips to help keep the air you breathe clean and safe. Keep your floors clean Germs and bacteria gets into your home carried by your feet. Clean your mat at the entrance regularly to prevent build-up of dirt and keep germs from spreading and multiplying. Mop floors on a daily basis and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to ensure that all particles are trapped in the filter.  Have an Air Duct cleaning service A home’s HVAC system is coiled around the entire home and it recirculates air from one room to another several times a day. It gives a lot of potential for mold particles to spread and cause c...