Eight easy ways to organize - and maximize - a small bath

(BPT) - The bath serves a variety of uses, from a functional room to a serene sanctuary, a storage facility to a salon. And, whether you enjoy it yourself or share with the family, every bathroom is in need of one major thing - organization. To help keep your bath feeling more serene and less insane, follow these eight ideas to help improve your organization, maximize space and even add a bit of style.



1.Supersize your shower. You don't need to remodel - or even use a tool - to increase the size of your shower space. Simply swap your straight shower rod with a curved version. Moen offers a variety of curved shower rod options, including a new Tension Curved Shower Rod that adds up to 5 1/2 inches of elbow room without using any elbow grease for installation. The no-tool, no-drill feature makes it ideal for showers featuring ceramic tile. For more space and functionality, Moen's Double Curved Shower Rod adds up to 7 inches of elbow room, with two rods to hang multiple shower curtains or towels.



2.Take back the tub. From shampoo and shower gel, duckies and boats, the bathtub often needs to store a variety of items. While shower caddies or shelves are great solutions, you can also make your own. Reuse your straight shower rod - but install it across the back wall of the tub. Next, use shower rod hooks to hang a variety of plastic baskets, creating instant storage for each member of the family.



3. Maximize with dual-function. Dual-function products are perfect for smaller baths, since they offer added benefits without taking up more space. Update your current toilet paper holder, towel bars and in-shower shelves with newer versions that integrate grab bars. Moen offers stylish grab bars that feature paper holders, towel bars and two shelf designs - all in a variety of finishes to help you update these bathroom basics while adding storage, safety and style.



4. Clean closets. If you have a closet in your bathroom, fully utilize its storage potential. Use labeled - and preferably see-through - bins on the floor and for higher-up shelves to keep smaller items neat, organized and easily accessible. Designate the middle shelves for frequently used linens. Finally, the inside of the closet door can be a potential location for added storage space. Hang a shoe rack and you'll instantly have a dozen pouches to hold smaller items.



5. Hidden helpers. While space underneath the vanity offers room for storage, this area is a glutton for disorganization. Remove everything and toss any items you don't need. Next, use baskets or bins to create places for everything. Don't forget that the back of the doors can also be added locations to install hooks or shelves



6. Shelves for storage. Don't limit the vertical surfaces of your bathroom for mirrors and decor (especially if you don't have a closet) - try installing wall shelves. Choose from a variety of options - from smaller, decorative shelves that can hold perfume and toiletries - to larger hotel shelves that provide the perfect storage location for towels.-



7. Get hooked. It's one of the major pet peeves in the bathroom: towels and clothes on the floor. Solve this problem by installing robe hooks. They are inexpensive, easy to install and come in a variety of styles and finishes to match your bathroom. If you share your bath with children, be sure to install a few lower on the wall, within reach of little hands.



8. Hotel inspiration. The next time you're staying in a hotel, take note of the amenities offered - and incorporate them into your bathroom for added functionality and organization. Did you love using the wall-mounted, magnifying mirror? Enjoy the convenience of storing the hair dryer on the wall? These same bath accessories are available for your home - so install and enjoy.



With a few simple projects, your bathroom can achieve maximum organization, use of space and style. For more information on Moen bathroom accessories, visit www.moen.com.

Ideas for flooring in your home

Your home is your paradise and if you are planning to renovate your home, go for the changes that are not only eye-catching but also comfortable for you and your family. If you are going to change the flooring in your home, here are some tips for flooring the different parts of your house.



Bedroom flooring:



There are plenty options when it comes to flooring in your bedroom. Being the most private and personalized part of your home, your bedroom is the place which grabs a big part of your budget whenever you are remodeling. You can use carpet, tile, hardwood, bamboo, cork or laminate. Play with different materials in different rooms. You can opt for striped light and dark shades in your boy's room so that if your son is going to create mess, which is unavoidable, the flooring can withstand the burden. Also the flooring can bear heavy traffic of the folks coming in the bedroom. For more powerful scratch and water resistant flooring you can choose laminate.



Living room flooring:



It is the most used area and withstands most of the traffic coming in and out of the house. It is highly recommended that the flooring should be strong enough that it can endure all such amendments done with your furniture or to the increasing and decreasing ratio of visitors. For this purpose you can opt for hardwood flooring. Being classy and sophisticated in look it is the perfect choice for your living room whenever you are remodeling your home.



Kitchen flooring:



Design the floor of your kitchen in such a way that it not only looks pretty but also gives a practical impression. You can choose from vinyl, tile, natural stone, wood, cork or laminate. A floor covering that is water resistant and durable such as tile is a best choice to protect against potential water damage. Make sure when you choose your floor to order a little extra of the product in the event that you drop something like a pot on your floor. If the flooring material is damaged, you will be sure to have enough to repair the floor because often floor manufacturers have high turnover of their products to insure a continual buying cycle. Most flooring contractors add 5-10% additional square footage of the flooring product to their purchase order to insure they have enough for the project and to provide the client with a little extra flooring for future use.



by: Builder Brian

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7342.shtml

Use gravity to grow with kids

Gardening creates fun and learning experiences through planting and cultivating seeds for small children who are inquisitive about everything. Feed their curiosity by growing with gravity.



Gardening does not have to be just a row of carrots in the garden any more. Many of the plants we love to grow in gardens actually do very well in hanging baskets. Tomatoes are just one of these plants and their sweet, juicy fruit is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of eating their own freshly grown produce.

Who does not love fresh salsa or a simple spaghetti sauce made from home grown tomatoes? Start easy with the Miracle-Gro Kids Gravity Gro Station, a hanging tomato planter complete with seeds, soil and growing instructions. This outdoor planter is designed to grow the tomatoes upside down, which keeps the vines and fruits within reach of smaller children. It is also a learning opportunity, showing how plants respond both to light (by growing up toward the sun) and gravity. This project also works for families who do not have a backyard in which to plant vegetables, because the pot can hang from a deck overhang.

Even in a small yard or balcony space, kids can still get a garden growing. Consider using containers and trellises for a vegetable garden. Plants that normally take a lot of space like squash, cucumbers, zucchini and melons actually do very well when grown up a trellis or fence. You have been educating your kids about eating healthy, getting enough sleep and being active in playtime, help them to see that other living things need similar treatment. Give plants a head start by planting them in a high-quality potting mix and keep them growing strong by watering regularly and feeding every two weeks with Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food. Start a growth chart and document the upward growth of your plants, just like you do your kids. Have children measure the plants and see which varieties grow tallest. Kids will also enjoy weighing their harvest. Weigh each fruit or vegetable picked and add up the total at the end of the growing season. How many pounds of fresh produce did you grow?

The Miracle-Gro Root Viewer is the perfect project for little kids, and can also be planted at any time of year. This kit comes with Miracle-Gro Gro Mix, onion, carrot and radish seeds and instructions to help the vegetables successfully grow. This kit is designed to provide the curious gardener with an up-close view of their plant's growth, above and below the soil. Roots grow down in full view, as the leaves and stems grow up. This is a great way to teach children about what is happening below the surface with all plants. Ask questions and work together to find the answers. What do roots do? If the roots for a carrot are this big, then how big are the roots for a tree?

Eating vegetables and fruits is a natural part of a healthy diet. Take a look at each meal you and your kids eat together. Talk about which items on your plate could be grown in your garden, and which cannot. Search for new recipes that incorporate the fruits and veggies you are growing. When harvesting produce this summer, ask children which recipes they would like to make for a tasty meal. Try making pizzas topped with basil, tomato slices and fresh mozzarella. Or, a simple salsa with tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and onion. Be sure to taste it all and share the extras with friends or family. You may be surprised at how much produce you can grow in a small area.

To find additional ideas, tips or recipes, visit Scotts MiracleGro.

Avoiding five mistakes that even good homeowners make

But next time, you might not get so lucky. A simple "uh oh" could lead to thousands of dollars in damage to your home.

"We recommend homeowners adopt a mindset of thinking about the consequences of things, of what could go wrong," says Dr. Tim Reinhold, senior vice president of research and chief engineer for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Here are five tips to avoid common homeowner mistakes:

Tip 1: Clean out the filter on your clothes dryer

Why? Fire. Those wads of lint that get caught in your dryer's filter can pose a major fire hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that dryers cause more than 15,000 fires a year.

Your strategy: Be sure to completely empty the lint trap every time you use your dryer. Also, make sure your dryer ducts are metal, since they're less likely to sag and allow lint to build up.

Tip 2: Trim tree branches that hang close to your home

Why? Roof or other property damage. A storm or high winds could sweep through your neighborhood and knock those branches onto your roof, causing serious damage.

Your strategy: Consult an arborist or tree surgeon about any trees in your yard that might present a hazard.

Tip 3: Don't put cardboard boxes from recent big-ticket purchases out on the curb with the garbage

Why? Theft. By placing boxes in a visible location, you're sending a signal to burglars that you have valuable items in your home.

Your strategy: Cut boxes up and put them into the garbage or recycling bin.

Tip 4: Make your house look occupied when you're on vacation

Why? Theft. An empty home can be an easy target for thieves.

Your strategy. Have your mail and newspaper deliveries suspended or have a trusted neighbor retrieve and safeguard them until your return. "Not only do piles of mail signal that a house is vacant, but thieves can sift through letters to steal your identity," says Joe Vahey, vice president at Erie Insurance. "You also may want to arrange for someone to maintain your lawn if you'll be gone for more than a few days, and consider installing central alarms, motion detectors, or timed lights that will illuminate the area around your house at night."

Tip 5. Check appliance water hoses

Why: Water damage. Hoses for washers and refrigerators wear out and need to be replaced before they spring a leak. The water supply line to the icemaker can also be a water leak waiting to happen.

Your strategy: Replace washing machine hoses every five years. If you see the plastic line along the back of the refrigerator becoming discolored (yellow or brown), have an appliance repair expert check it out.

Despite your best efforts to properly maintain and protect your home, accidents and mishaps still happen, which is why it's also important to know what your homeowners insurance does, and doesn't, cover. For example, no homeowners insurance will cover flood damage from natural disasters, so you may want to seek federal flood insurance if you live in an area prone to flooding. In addition, check to see if yours is a guaranteed replacement cost policy, which would pay to rebuild your home if it's severely damaged or destroyed. The coverage is rare, but some companies like Erie Insurance include it in their standard homeowners policies.



For more information on homeowners insurance, visit www.erieinsurance.com/homeowners.

Five tips for conserving water during warm-weather months

Water and the summer months tend to go hand-in-hand - water skiing or fishing at a lake, taking a dip in a swimming pool and watering home-grown plants with a garden hose are among the season's most popular activities. Recent summers have also been some of the driest on record, prompting grass fires, drastically low lake levels and water utilities having to implement water restrictions on their customers.

The National Weather Service has predicted that states from Georgia to Texas to California and even the Hawaiian islands will see drought conditions this summer. In addition to local droughts, water scarcity is a global issue. According to the United Nations' Water for Life campaign, around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world's population, live in parts of the world where access to clean water sources is extremely difficult. Additionally, water around the world is unevenly distributed, taken for granted and wasted, polluted or unsustainably managed.

"Water scarcity and access to clean water are issues in the U.S. and around the world, but the good news is that we can all make a positive difference when it comes to saving water," says Caitlin Feehan, environmental engineer with MWH Global, a water-focused engineering consulting firm. "While climate change, population growth and tendency to waste resources are impacting the world's water, there are small steps each of us can take to conserve water every day."

So how can you positively impact water usage inside and outside your home? Here are five simple tips for the summer months:

* Start with smart landscaping decisions. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting - longer grass shades the root systems and holds moisture in soil better than shorter grass. Also, consider composting kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and garden waste to retain more water, reduce erosion and even decrease weed growth.

* Water your yard responsibly. When summer temperatures heat up, water your lawn in the mornings to reduce water loss from evaporation. You can also set your sprinklers to a lower pressure. Why? Higher pressure creates a fine mist that evaporates faster or will blow away, thus wasting water.

* Start your day by showering with a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads limit the water flow to around three gallons per minute as compared to twice that for a normal showerhead. Pick one up at a local home improvement or hardware store. If you're remodeling a bathroom, you can look at other water- and energy-saving gadgets like tank-less water heaters or low-volume flush toilets.

* Reduce the amount of water that runs down drains. It's estimated that 95 percent of water that flows through a home runs down the drain, but simple steps like turning off the running water while brushing teeth or washing hands until it's time to rinse decreases water waste. Consider collecting some of this water when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant. Also, rather than running cold water from the tap until it's cold enough to quench your summer thirst, refill and store a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.

* Save water and energy in the laundry room. Reduce water waste by running a washer only when it's full. Using cold water also reduces the amount of energy used and conserves hot water for other household needs that require it. Need a new washer? According to ENERGY STAR, the average American family washes almost 300 loads of laundry each year, but can significantly reduce energy and water usage by purchasing ENERGY STAR-qualified products. For example, a full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washer uses 14 gallons of water per load, nearly 50 percent less water than a standard machine.

"Summer is the perfect time to evaluate how we use water as part of our daily routine," says Feehan. "Water is our planet's most precious resource that we can all conserve for future generations by taking smart, simple steps today."

For more information on water savings tips this summer and information on incentives or rebates in your area, check with your local water utility.

Bathroom remodeling should start at the studs

Some do-it-yourself experts recommend a fresh coat of paint, new tile, a shiny new sink and great cabinets to transform an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary spa - but that's just what the eye can see. Yes, your refinished bathroom will look different but will it hold its value? Not unless you think first of what's behind the paint and tile and consider how to protect it from the greatest threat in a bathroom: moisture, mold and mildew.



Upgrading your walls, ceilings and subfloors before you paint, install tile or hang a fancy new mirror can ensure your new bathroom will stand up to everyday splashes, showers and relaxing tub soaks, as well as dreaded mold and mildew that can come from these steamy, wet environments.



Anitra Mecadon, host of DIY Network's "Mega Dens" and spokesperson for National Gypsum, is on a mission to prevent major mold and mildew problems by recommending homeowners start at the studs. Here's her advice when it comes to the No. 1 room people remodel in their homes - bathrooms:



Look for ideas



Popular upgrades include decorative tile or stone in the tub and shower areas. You can also consider multiple showerheads or steam enclosures to give your bathroom "spa appeal" without the worry.



Budget and plan



* The average cost of a bathroom remodel is around $16,000, so create a budget so you know how much you can comfortably spend.



* If you plan to have someone do it for you, get an estimate from a contractor before you start.



* Shop on your own, with a contractor or interior designer to select building materials, fixtures and appliances.



* Remember that bathrooms require two kinds of materials to help protect walls and floors: mold- and moisture-resistant drywall for areas behind mirrors, sinks or vanities, and cement board for the critically wet areas, such as tubs and showers.



Be careful



* Prepare for a demolition phase to tear out the tub, sink, tile, walls and flooring.



* Be careful of pipes, air ducts and electrical wires behind the walls, ceilings and under the floors.



* Measure twice, cut once.



* You can never be too safe - use appropriate safety gear.



Add value with walls and floors



* After adding insulation, install mold- and moisture-resistant drywall in your bathroom.



* For a strong base that stands behind every great finish - like tile, slate or marble - use one cement board in critically wet areas around tubs and showers.



Other notes to consider



* Ask a friend to help for easier installation.



* Forget traditional green board because it's no longer approved by most building codes.



* Seal areas around the tub and sink with mildew-resistant caulk and grout to discourage discoloration.



* Paint walls with mildew-resistant primer and paint, which can cut down on future maintenance.



* Add an exhaust fan for additional moisture control.

.

Can internet marketing be a long term business?

Here is the honest truth: most people get into Internet Marketing because they are convinced it is an easy way to earn quick money. Their approach is to make a fast website, put up some advertising and a few affiliate links, then sit back and watch while they earn real cash. There are a large amount of individuals who do this and also earn lots of money on the internet. But what if you want more than some extra or even quick cash? Can Internet Marketing really be leveraged to produce a worthwhile and long term career?



The quick and dirty answer is that yes, you are able to make Internet Marketing your long term and sustainable career. You only need to take on the project properly. The procedures and programs you use to build something to earn fast money are not all that different than the methods and systems you will use to build long term profits. So what would you do if you need to develop a sustainable career on the internet?



It is very important that the first thing you do, in order to earn long term money online, is accept the fact that you are going to have to do real work. You will have to do actual and real work on a daily basis. You will have days when you feel fantastic about what you do and days when you wish you could find something else to take on. This means it's just about like every other occupation out there. If you want to produce lasting cash flow by working a lot right now and not at all later on then you are going to be in for a rude awakening. So be ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work.



There are a few ventures that lend themselves much better to a long term career than others. Affiliate marketing, to use one example, is a great job for someone who wants to earn money on a part time basis or to supplement your already existent income. Is it truly possible to earn a full time income in this manner? You could if you pick out only the right products and then work like crazy to promote them. A far better approach, nevertheless, is to create your own products or websites and then promote those. This gives you full control over the projects you take on and how you accomplish them. And you will end up more likely to stick with it in the long run. If you want to give a service on the web, this works much the same way. Writers, for example, need to create websites for themselves and create portfolios that they can point to as examples of their work.



Finally, perhaps the most significant thing that you need to recognize is that, when you want to build a long term and reliable income on the internet, you need to truly dedicate yourself to your task. You might have fun and feel rewarded by your efforts, but first you should tell yourself "yes, I really want to do this." Making a half-hearted effort is not about to get you anywhere.



by: Tanaka Ara



Article Source:

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/marketing/article_6729.shtml