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Household Hints

This category contains questions relating to all the odd or unusual problems that occur during everyday life. These are primarily how-to's or fix it issues pertaining to household tasks.

500 Questions

How do you stop a rug from slipping on a carpet?

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Asked by Wiki User

To prevent a rug from slipping on a carpet, you can use various non-slip solutions and accessories. Here are several methods to help keep your rug in place:

Rug Gripper or Rug Pad:

Use a rug gripper or rug pad designed for this purpose. These are non-slip materials that go underneath the rug to provide traction and prevent slipping. Choose a pad specifically designed for use on carpeted surfaces.

Double-Sided Carpet Tape:

Apply double-sided carpet tape to the back of the rug. Place the tape along the edges and corners, ensuring it adheres to both the rug and the carpet beneath. This can provide additional grip and prevent slipping.

Velcro Strips:

Use Velcro strips on the back of the rug and the carpet. Attach one side of the Velcro to the rug and the corresponding side to the carpet. This can help anchor the rug securely in place.

Rubber or Silicone Matting:

Place a rubber or silicone mat underneath the rug. These materials provide traction and grip well on carpeted surfaces, helping to prevent the rug from sliding.

DIY Non-Slip Coating:

Mix a solution of equal parts water and clear acrylic caulk. Apply this mixture to the back of the rug in a crisscross pattern using a caulk gun. Allow it to dry completely before placing the rug back on the carpet.

Non-Slip Rug Corners:

Consider using non-slip rug corners or rug pads with adhesive corners. These are designed to anchor the corners of the rug and prevent curling or slipping.

Furniture Weight:

Arrange heavy furniture on the edges or corners of the rug. The weight of the furniture can help keep the rug in place.

Check the Carpet Pile Direction:

Ensure that the pile direction of the rug and the carpet are the same. Placing the rug in the opposite direction may contribute to slipping.

Regularly Adjust and Inspect:

Periodically check and adjust the rug to ensure it hasn't shifted. Regularly inspect the non-slip solution or accessory you've used to make sure it's still effective.

When choosing a method, consider the specific type of rug, the carpet it's placed on, and the overall aesthetics of the space. Additionally, be cautious with methods that involve adhesives, as they may leave residue on the carpet or rug. Always test any solution in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won't damage the surfaces.

Do pest repellers work?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, pest repellers do not work beyond a narrowly defined target area but yes, they do work within their identified range. They nevertheless will be particularly effective in conjunction with row covers and sticky traps.

What are the advantages of weed killers?

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Asked by Wiki User

Kills weeds, obviously. Most herbicides that are sold to gardeners are non-specific herbicides--in other words, the chemical solution in the jug or bottle will kill any plant that comes in contact to the chemical, no matter if it's a plant you don't consider a weed or not. It also means that it doesn't target specific types of plants (like broad-leaved plants and/or grasses), but a wide variety.

How herbicides work depends on what type you are using. There are two different types; contact herbicides and systemic herbicides, both kill plants in the same basic way they either stop the plant from "breathing" or "eating". Contact ones hit the plant and kill whatever is growing above ground and systemic herbicides get sucked in by the plant, travel down to the roots and kill the plant from there.

Can you kill stink bugs with hot water and soap?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, a soap and water spray does not control stink bugs.

Stink bugs also may be called shield bugs. Specifically, a hardened outer set of wings covers the lighter wings that are used for the bugs' brief, clumsy flights. The homemade soap-and-water spray and the store-bought insecticidal soap may be effective controls of soft-bodied pests, but cannot penetrate the bugs' outer body.

Vacuuming up stink bug bodies and burning or immediately disposing the sealed vacuum bag are among the organic controls inside the house.

Can dog urine damage vinyl siding?

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Asked by Wiki User

It can leave a stain, which caught soon enough can be removed easily, usually by using a pet stain remover, being careful that a particular cleaner will not damage the material you're cleaning by checking the label. Dog Urine can also increase the fading of some types of siding, and in a case where this happens, the questionable area will need to be repaired by new siding.

How does insecticide kill?

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Asked by Wiki User

They don't all works the same way. Most baits are stomach poisons & ingested when they eat it, Some dusts are the same & are ingested when they groom, some act on their nervous systems, some weaken & dry out exoskeletons (dessicants), some also clog up breathing tubes & some simply absorbed through their bodies.

What household products kill weeds?

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Asked by Wiki User

There are any number of herbicides that will kill dandelions. The trick is finding one that will not kill the good grass around the dandelions. The oldest and most reliable one is called 2,4D. Some people will tell you that 2,4D is "Agent Orange" of Vietnam infamy. Not quite. "Agent Orange" was a chemical mixture called "2,4D with Silvex", and is not available to homeowners.

Properly used, 2,4D has a very long track record of safety and effectiveness. It is the "plus 2" in the granular lawn product "Turf Builder plus 2".

What causes fly infestations?

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Asked by Wiki User

Easy access and inadequate circulation and sanitation can be reasons for a fly infestation in the garage.

Specifically, some residents unwittingly encourage pests such as flies by not closing doors and windows. Other residents may keep the garage so tightly shut that circulation of air is inadequate and welcomes the flies that manage to enter during the few moments of open access. Either way, flies will congregate in a garage which has cracked ceilings, floors and walls or dirt surfaces. They also will cluster in garages where animals can enter and propagate before dying or which have loosely covered or uncovered garbage cans and plumbing facilities in which bacteria grows.

Control and prevention include:

  • Application of permethrin-based insecticides;

  • Cleaning and repair of garage interiors;

  • Removal of dead wildlife;

  • Rinses of sinks and trash cans monthly with bleach;

  • Seals on waste receptacles;

  • Window screens so that glass can be regularly raised and shut during daylight hours

What is the smell coming from under the house like body odor?

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Asked by Wiki User

It is probably a dead shark. I had this problem so i went under my house and found a rotting bees nest. If you have ever been to hanmer springs in new zealand, there are hot springs there which have a strong sulphuric smell. There are also thousands of bees there. While the bees do not cause the smell, they certainly make it worse. Look for any traces of bees under and around your house and spray contaminated area/s with water and sodium bicarbonate, which will neutralise the smell.

How do you keep birds away from your balcony?

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Asked by Wiki User

A model of a cat may intimidate birds. A real cat would be even better.

What common household remedies get rid of aphids?

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Asked by Wiki User

Use a mild soap water solution to wash them off of the leaves of your plants. Be sure to reach both the tops and the bottoms of the leaves. Also, there is a systemic fertilizer that includes insect control that you can periodically feed your plants.

How do you stop birds pooping on your balcony?

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Asked by Wiki User

You don't.

The good part is that if they do simply wet it, wait a couple minutes and wipe it off easily.


Reference:

Cleaning bird poop off my floor every day from my pet birds.

How do you rid your kitchen of aphids?

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Asked by Wiki User

Home-made -- as 1 part dish soap to 2 parts water -- or store-bought insecticidal soap allows household members to rid a kitchen of aphids. The insect pest in question (Aphidoideasuperfamily) will do the equivalent of drowning or suffocating when sprayed with the effective, environmentally friendly, quick, safe treatment.

Is bug spray toxic?

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Asked by Wiki User

Bug spray contains pyrethrin, which is created by the chrysanthemum flower. It's normally considered un-toxic but can cause breathing problems. If you end up inhaling or swallowing or spraying into your mouth bug spray, you should contact 911 since it can harm your inner body.

Is there a home remedy that will neutralize cat urine?

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Asked by Wiki User

First make sure your cat has a nice clean cat box to use for potty time. Cats tend not to want to use a dirty cat box.

To try to clean up cat urine, try using straight vinegar. There is also another commercial product on the market that I cannot think of the name of right now, that is suppose to cut all odors. It can be found in pet stores. Just ask the sales person.

Can rock salt kill a tree stump?

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Asked by Wiki User

If tree roots are in your septic system, you really need to seek professional help. Rock salt will kill tree roots but they will still need to be removed.

What kind of moth balls deter bats?

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Asked by Wiki User

Fresh is the kind of moth balls which deter bats. The mammal in question has a strong repulsion to the pervasive odor of just about any kind of moth ball so long it is fresh and replaced as soon as the smell begins to diminish.

How do you get rid of a fly infestation in your home if the cause is unknown?

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Asked by Wiki User

Prevention is the first step. Make sure that all surfaces in your house are clean and that there is no place for larvae to grow. Bleach the kitchen surfaces, sink overflows and areas where pets eat and rest as well as bathroom areas. Vacuum every room every day and throw out the vacuum bag to remove larvae. Garbage should be taken outside daily and should be in a covered container. Outside, clean the porch area around the doors and windows. Remove any garbage or open pet food. Windows should have screens.

Fly tape may help as will leaving a trap to attract the flies. I place a banana peel out and wait. In an hour or so, the flies will have found the peel and I squirt them with a spray bottle with some dish soap in it. This makes their wings stick to their body and glues them in place. Flyswatters will help you eliminate those around the house, but they should become fewer as you put other steps in place.

Do bedbugs die after so many days?

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Asked by Wiki User

no they do not bed bugs are something that has to be specially treated

What is in home-made weed-killer?

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Asked by Wiki User

Salt and vinegar are what is in homemade weed-killers. Salt deprives weeds of moistures and puts uncomfortable crystals in the ground whereas white distilled vinegar's acetic acid makes the ground far too acidic for weeds to survive.

How does citric acid serve as a cleaning agent?

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Asked by Wiki User

Citric acid has a chemical property called chelation that allows it to bind easily to minerals and metals. Using this property, minerals can be removed when cleaning.

Source: http:/www.wisegeek.com/what-is-citric-acid.htm

What sponge do I use to clean?

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Asked by Wiki User

There are no rules, use whatever you find easiest. Most people use synthetic sponges for cleaning tasks. Washing the body may be done with either a synthetic or a natural sponge. A sponge with a scourer attached is useful for many jobs including dish washing.

How do you get rid of a bad smell inside dishwasher?

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Asked by Wiki User

In most grocery stores, and even in Wal-Mart, where they sell the dishwasher soap, they sell small bottles of dishwasher cleaner. You put the bottle of cleaner in the dishwasher, without the cap, open side down. And you run the dishwasher the way you normally would, but with nothing else in it. When the cycle is done, your dishwasher should be clean and not have any bad odors.

I saw this answer and wanted to post a suggestion. We found that doing this and lots of all the other things wouldn't take the smell away for long. Its always came back. Then I remembered that the inspector had said something about the hose under the sink when we bought our new house. I got out the book and sure enough he noted that the hose between the dishwasher and disposal needed a loop in it 6in higher than the bottom of the sink because we didn't have the vent on top of the sink. So we were getting the smells from the disposal coming into the dishwasher. My husband pulled out the dishwasher and was able to find enough hose to do this and WOW no more smell! Hope you check this out and that its fixes your problem as well.

How do you get melted plastic off a shirt?

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Asked by Wiki User

It is history. The paper bag and iron is for wax. If you did that first, you just melted more plastic into the fabric. It will not come out. If you had froze it first, it might have popped off, or it may have already been into the fabric.