|
MORE TIPS
Quick cleaners
Here's a secret. Some soaps & detergents meant to clean dirty dishes & soiled laundry work great on
bathroom fixtures such as toilets & sinks. Ex: liquid dishwashing soap is an effective general cleaner for vitreous chinaware,
porcelain enamel & acrylic surfaces & laundry detergent can tidy up bath fixtures in a snap, particularly in areas
exposed to hard water. Non-abrasive cleaners such as Spic-N-Span, Mr. Clean All-Purpose & Bon Ami help w/ downright dirty
stains.
Virtual Vinegar
Soapy gunk loves to settle on faucet spouts & handles. A quick trick for chrome faucets & fixtures is
white wine vinegar. Soak a paper towel in the vinegar & squeeze out the excess. Wrap it around the chrome fixture &
wait 10 minutes. Take off the wet towel & buff the chrome w/ a dry one. Be sure NOT to use this method on brass or colored
fixtures. While you have the vinegar out, it also works to unclog sink drains mucked up w/ soap residue & it's safer than
chemical drain openers.
High Water Bills
There are several ways to find out if your water bills are higher than
they need to be.
Check faucets for dripping water. Fix a leaky faucet promptly. Be sure
to check under sinks for moisture or leaks.
Periodically check your toilets for leaks:
Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank - not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl
has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper and valve seat may need to be replaced.
GAS WATER HEATERS
Your water heater consumes energy! If your water heater is larger than you need, you may be spending more money on gas
than necessary. But of course if your water heater is too small, you may run out of hot water during peak use periods.
The following chart will help you to determine the size of the water heater you need in your home. Simply estimate how
many gallons of hot water you will need during the course of the hour when there is maximum demand for hot water in your home:
Shower 10 - 15 Gallons
Bath 15 - 25 Gallons
Shaving 2 Gallons
Washing Hair 4 Gallons
Washing Hands and Face 2 Gallons
Preparing a Meal 5 Gallons
Washing Dishes in Automatic Dishwasher 12 - 15 Gallons
Washing Dishes by Hand 4 Gallons
Washing Clothes (Warm Wash / Cold Rinse) 10 - 12 Gallons
|
 |
Drains
Unclog a drain mechanically rather than chemically when possible.
- Place a strainer over kitchen and bathroom drains
if they do not already have one; this will prevent hair, pieces of soap, and other debris from clogging drains. Clean the
strainer as needed.
If the drain is sluggish but not completely clogged, turn on the hot
water tap for 5 to 10 minutes. This sometimes opens the drain.
- Use chemical drain cleaners sparingly, especially
if your pipes or traps are brass, steel, or cast-iron; some chemicals may corrode metal pipes. Try this instead: pour a cup
of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down your drain every month.
- The drains in showers and in bathroom sinks typically need extra care;
pour two or three gallons of boiling water down each bathroom drain about once a month to clear out hair and greasy particles.
|
