| |
| |
|
Renovating Houses and Condos |
|
|
|
Spring Chores at the Cabin
Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's been closed up for the winter, it's time for spring cleaning. It's hard to get motivated. We'd all rather be out playing in the sun and enjoying the spring after the long cold winter. I thought I would share my "to do" list and some helpful tips to get you started so we can both get the chores done. I like to start with my fireplace. Hiring a local chimney sweep is not always possible in very rural areas such as we live. I have a heavy 25' chain that works very well. From the roof I remove the spark arrester then slowly drop one end of the chain down the chimney, holding onto the other end. Slowly rotate the chain so it rubs firmly against the inside of the chimney. Keep swirling the chain for several minutes, pull out the chain, clean the spark arrester with a soft brush and replace the arrester. Keep in mind 2 things: 1. make sure the pitch of your roof is safe to stand on and 2. Your chimney must be straight with no elbows for this technique to work. If the pipe has an elbow use the chain technique then disconnect the pipe at the elbow to clean it with a wire brush and remove the ash and pitch. Reattach the pipe. All that's left is to clean the inside of the fireplace or wood stove, remove all the ash and pitch residue that has dropped from the chimney cleaning. I use oven cleaner, a Teflon scrubby then window cleaner on the heat tempered glass when the pitch has built up that awful amber film. My wood stove gets a new coat of black stove polish too. Now that the fireplace and wood stove are clean and all the ash has settled I dust and vacuum the entire cabin thoroughly. I use lemon oil on my log walls and a small pan of water stays on my wood stove to put some moisture back into the dry air from wood heat. Next I tackle the windows. Okay, so everyone knows how to clean the windows but don't forget the window runners, check for any leaking that may have occurred during the winter and clean all the window treatments. Drapes, curtains, louvered blinds, cornices, screens and sunscreens all get a thorough cleaning. It's a good days work just on windows but it's worth it as I love to open my blinds and enjoy the beautiful spring sunshine and blooming flowers. Something I always do as part of my spring cleaning is bug control. Our local feed store sells a battery operated fly spray dispenser. Every spring and fall I change batteries and replace the canister as needed. We still have open range in parts of Arizona and when the cattle come in they bring flies right along with them. I have found the fly spray dispenser helps a great deal and it has a fresh scent as well. I have one by my front door and one by the back door which helps keep them out of my cabin. Spraying pest spray inside and out is a must. Hire a pest control company or do it yourself but do spray. A very important part of my spring chores is outside! All dry material is hauled to the dump. Keeping weeds, leaves, pine needles and grasses under control is very important to help keep your cabin safer against forest fires and helps keep snakes and small varmints away from the cabin too. We also keep trees away from the cabin for the same reason. This is also a good time to check all the fire extinguishers and have them recharged if necessary. Make sure your garden hose is in good shape and attached to the outside spigot. Yes, I am forest fire paranoid! I have a log home with all wood heat in the middle of the forest; fire safety is always on my mind. My husband doesn't get out of spring chores either. Tuning up the chain saw, boat and quads are on his list as well as outside furniture cleaning and the grill but I keep finding him admiring his fishing poles. "Don't let spring fever sidetrack your chores, get the work out of the way!" As I throw out my dusting cloth and bait up my hook ready for friends and family to enjoy spring at our cabin. Elly Kendall resides in Arizona and writes for Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor http://cabinfevergifts.com. Stop by to enter our Free Gift Drawing! You are welcome to share this article as long as you keep it intact and include the resource box and credits. You are welcome to link to our site. Copyright © 2005 Log Cabin Fever Gifts - All Rights Reserved.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Swim Spas Make a Big Splash with Baby Boomers If you are an aging baby boomer like I am, you may be looking for a fun form of water recreation where you can get some relief from aching muscles and joints, be able to exercise or just relax, have a place for the grand kids to play and better yet, all of this occurs in one place from the comfort and convenience of your own home.Many of the potential swimming pool buyers are looking into swim spas as an alternative to installing a fiberglass swimming pool or above ground pool. Swimming Pools - Lets Get Wet "Beverly Hills. Swimming pools. Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2 This week we are going to continue our series on single pane window glass repair. Let's talk about broken glass in a fixed window, usually referred to as a picture window. From Savu to Infrared - The History and Health Benefits of Saunas The health benefits of saunas are not a recent discovery. The use of steam or smoke baths to cleanse the body and reduce stress has been a part of religious, social, and family traditions in numerous cultures for thousands of years. Contractor Referral "As a contractor with 16 years of experience and speaking on behalf of professional contractors. I want people to be aware of the warning signs that they may be dealing with the wrong contractor. Use Ladders Safely The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year more than 511,000 people are treated for cuts, bruises and fractured bones from improper use of ladders. More than 300 people a year die from ladder related injuries. Choosing Your Builder: Cheapest Quote Wins? You have your 3 quotes from each potential builder so choosing the one you are going to trust with your re-modelling, new garage, extension etc. should be easy, shouldn't it? Unfortunately most homeowners would consider this the end of their search for a builder when in fact what you should be doing next is the second most important if your home improvement project is to run smoothly (what's the most important? You will find the answer at the end of this article). How To Clean Your Air Conditioner Like A Pro Jack Frost is nipping at our nose and Santa Clause has just left. The eastern seaboard has just received their third blizzard for a total of over 125 cm (56 inches) of snow in one week. Make Your Hardwood Floors Shine You have just installed hardwood flooring in your home. Now what? How do you keep your hardwood floors clean and shiny? Read the following Q&A in which two hardwood floor owners are asking just that. Why Not Add a Shower To Your Bathroom? If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing or adding showers to them, consider all of your choices. The age we live in has allowed us many choices in what we want in our homes. Choosing a Vinyl Replacement Window Contractor Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the do-it-yourself homeowner to help them save some money on the high cost of labor these days. This article is for the "not so handy" homeowner who wants to have new vinyl windows installed in their home. Bathroom Remodel - The Plan Planning a bathroom remodel? Each home project of this nature can be broken down into 5 distinct steps. Following through each step will help this often confusing process make more sense and produce a better outcome. The Cost of Remodeling a Bathroom Before beginning any bathroom remodeling, you should create a budget. Pick an amount of money you can reasonably afford, and then check the costs of supplies to estimate what you can do in your remodeling project. Basement Dehumidifiers Basements are the most common location for dehumidifiers. Because of their low elevation and lack of air circulation, the air can moisten and stay moist for a long period of time. Single hung aluminum window glass repair Let's talk about repairing broken glass in an aluminum frame single hung window. If it's the lower sash pane that is broken, it must be removed from the inside. Spring Deck Prep Tips It's finally spring! Time to move out the patio furniture and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors.But, before you do, make sure you clean, restore and protect your deck so you can get the most out of it during the spring and summer months ahead. New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new development in the legion of Thickening Agents & Colloidal stabilizer for Aqueous Latex Paints. So far most of the companies producing aqueous Paint emulsions, the most preferred thickening agent was Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC). Modern Rugs Add Color, Texture, Interest and Space Definition To Your Room Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and geometric lines. As the look for contemporary design is escalating so is the demand for modern home décor accessories. House Plans - Where To Start You have found the perfect lot on which to build your new home. Now you have an abundance of decisions to make. A Guide to Portable Dehumidifiers The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. That's just one reason to invest in a portable dehumidifier.
|
|
Home | Forums | Blog | Site Map
|
