Clean the Kitchen Faucet Pull Down Sprayer:

I like to think I keep my house pretty clean, but at the risk of grossing you out, I’ll admit that I forget to clean the underside of my kitchen faucet pull down sprayer for longer periods than I should. Because of this, I am hoping someone else out there also forgets and will get some use out of this reminder! Go take a look at the underside of yours, and please let me know how it looks! If it looks anything like mine did in picture 1, then I’m glad to know I’m not alone. Soak the head of the sprayer in a vinegar/water solution for at least 30 minutes as in picture 2, this will help break up any build-up. Then, use a soft bristled brush to gently scrub away the build-up and it should look like picture 3. Repeat this as often as needed. Keep following for more ways to view your home with a fresh perspective!

A reminder- Disconnect your Garden Hose

Cold weather has come to the south! Many years ago, I was working in a community during the winter. An occupied home had water pouring out of it, reminding me of the scene with the Wet Bandits in Home Alone. The homeowners were out of town, the weather had turned cold, they had a hose connected and turned on, and the line in the wall froze and burst the pipe. That scene was enough to make me remember to disconnect my outside hoses before freezing temperatures arrive. Don’t forget to disconnect yours!

Avoid a Clogged Garbage Disposal!

Garbage disposals are not meant to be used as a trash can, and there is a list of foods that you should avoid putting in them. Some of the top items include rice, cooked pasta, egg shells, celery, any kind of animal bones, onion peels, potato skins, grease or oils, nuts, seeds, pits, and coffee grounds. If there is a clanking or odd sound coming from your disposal, it means that something has wound up in there that should not be. I spent about 45 minutes one holiday removing a shattered shot glass from a disposal, the sound was awful and the glass shards were sharp! Contrary to belief though, the “blades” of the disposal are not sharp to the touch. With the disposal powered off (via the switch and/or unplugged) and a pair of rubber gloves, you can reach into the disposal to remove the object. If you happen to clog your disposal, it will sound like the motor is trying to run, but only hums. In this instance, you can use your Allen wrench in picture 1 to manually rotate the blades to dislodge the item. The Allen wrench will fit into the hole right in the middle of the bottom of the disposal and then just rotate it back and forth to manually move the blades as in picture 2. After this, push the small red reset button shown in picture 3. If you do not have an Allen wrench for your disposal, you can purchase one at a hardware store in the plumbing section very inexpensively. To keep your disposal running well, put a cupful of ice cubes down it while running a small stream of water once a month and turn it on. The ice will help break up any small lodged food particles or gunk on the blades. Let me know if you have ever had an item clog the disposal that surprised you! Keep following for more ways to view your home with a fresh perspective!