Cleaning the Electric Iron

So last week I lend my electric iron to Camini, and this week she brings it back -- with black gunk melted on the soleplate!!  I felt sorry for her poor synthetic dress...

Anyway, time to clean my iron.

For this task I always use Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner -- the one in the little red, white, and blue tube.

All you do is find a scrap of old cotton terry towel, heat up the iron, squirt some cleaner on the towel, and press the iron down as if you're ironing the towel.  With a little effort, the gunk will transfer to the towel.  If you didn't get all the gunk off, find a clean piece of the towel and repeat!

----------------------------------------------- My Alexa Joke of the day -------------------------------------------

I recently decided to sell my Vacuum cleaner?

....All it does is gather dust !

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Environmentally friendly cleaner

If you're not down with using all those chemical-laced cleaners from the store, that are over advertised and damaging to the environment, then here's a tip for you:

Get an empty spray bottle, like an empty one you were going to discard (make sure to rinse it well! and then rinse it one more time after that!) Or you can usually find trial-sized ones in the travel section of the pharmacy.

Pour in equal amounts of white vinegar and tap water. Now spray on grout between your tiles, or on your tiled surfaces.  Let sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a scrubby or an old toothbrush.  

Rinse and voila!  Sparking new surfaces!

----------------------------------------------- My Alexa Joke of the day -------------------------------------------

Why did the bubblegum cross the road? 

.... Because it was stuck to the chicken's foot !

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Awning Installation - Try a planet saving solution today

Camini's Karat Roof

I worked on my backyard garden this week. It certainly was very hot!. But it got me thinking about the benefits of an awning. Long ago I thought of these as granny solutions. You know the carrot roof at the front or side of the house. But in trying to do my part for climate change, I might go back to some of the old time ways of doing things. My neighbour Camini certainly did. She has a karat roof on her deck.

I still don't know about the karat roof, maintenance is not one of my strong points, but I think a nice cute retractable awning might do wonders in my backyard. I tried doing it, and use a bit of trapulin on some stilts. But the wind blew everything down before I could get a good picture. This was a job for a professional.

I got on the phone called by TriniHandyman, Russel, who came over the next day with the materials to build me a nice retractable awning. I tool the cheap solution, because we were also on a budget, but the work looked good and in the end I now have a little place I can sit on mornings and watch my garden while sipping a hot cup of coffee. 

Call a handyman today and get a solution that can improve the quality of your days! Or send me some pics of your awnings to feature here.

----------------------------------------------- My Alexa Joke of the day -------------------------------------------

How much do dead batteries cost? 

Nothing they are free of charge!

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Preventing the Spread of the Zika Virus - DIY Handyman Solutions

Handyman solutions to every day problems.

The Zika Virus is on everyone's mind these days and we all need to be vigilant when battling it. As a head of a household I've complied a list of things that we can do, to help reduce the spread of the virus. 

1)  Keep drains clear and free of rubbish. Stagnant water is the breeding ground of mosquitoes which carry the virus.

2)  Eliminate any breeding sites you find.

3)  Cover household water tanks/barrels/ and containers.

5) Use insect repellents.
6) Wear long sleeves (where  possible).
7) Use insecticide-treated mosquito screens or curtains.

As I continue to develop my handyman skills, I decided to put in some window screens to prevent mosquito from entering the house. I was very proud of myself! 

INSTALLING INSECT SCREENS
Insect screens are generally designed to easily cover windows, which makes the installation procedure very simple. The easiest one to install is the mesh type that comes in a roll. You can buy from your favourite local hardware store. It comes at an affordable price of about $12.00/yard. While you are there, get some extra Velcro tape.

For a fast installation
1) Tack/Nail or stick in the Velcro the the area you want to apply the screen to.
2) Cut out the mesh to the size of the area you want to protect.
3) Stitch in the other side of the Velcro to the mesh wire, and Voila! You can enjoy the outside air while being protected from the mosquitoes!

If you want some help to do this, or clean up the yard check out the General Handymen on the SkilledHandyMan page. Until next time ....Keep your Flashlight close and Duct tape in the cupboard!

----------------------------------------------- My Alexa Joke of the day -------------------------------------------

A jumper cable walks into a bar and asks for a beer, 

The bartender says, "OK! but don't start anything!"

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A new beginning ......

Hi...Hi !!!

Whenever you are in a hurry it is best to slow down, because luck can be a money's uncle at times! And so my day begins... The sink clogged, the fence needed mending and the lawn was getting overgrown. I tried hopelessly to find a handyman or woman, but have you noticed how the phone book is only filled with companies that offer these services at close to premium prices!

Well I certainly have, and with eyes wide open I paid a premium for someone who came in and gave me less than perfect work. He came late, did not call ahead, and made a mess before he left.  It dawned on me, that many people might be experiencing this, So I decided to create a blog that would help others like me. I will list various handymen and women who can do various projects, and reviews of their services can be posted online to help others select the right individual for their job.

I see this blog as a win-win for handymen and women, as well as a nudge on improving their customer service skills :-)

A new day ...

My Alexa Joke of the Day: Why wasn't the turkey hungry on Thanksgiving? Because he was already stuffed!