Some weeks are busier than others! This week we just had too much going and were unable to get to the studio to crank out a new episode. So, instead, we’ve put together Volume 1 of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show Greatest Hits! On this episode, we revisit some of our favorite segments from the past 48 weeks!
Listen here:
Show notes for episode 049:
Well, this segment has been 41 weeks in the making! When we started this Home Improvement Show, we interviewed Mark DeVisser from the Plumber is Here about another topic. After that interview, and off the record, Mark, launched into one of the most hilariously frank discussions about bidets we've ever encountered. We knew we wanted to re-do that discussion on the radio . . . but we also knew we needed to establish ourselves a bit before we launched into a bidet talk!
Well, that moment has now arrived. And today we aired our favorite segment to date! It's funny AND informative. Check it out!
When it comes to starting a paint project, a lot of people find themselves wondering: where do I start? What should I paint first? Walls? Ceiling? What next?
If you've ever wondered that, we've got the system the pro's use to get beautiful results everytime!
We also deal with another common question we hear all the time at RepcoLite: "Do I really need to prime EVERYTIME I paint?"
Many of us dread washing windows because it takes so long and it's so hard to get them streak and spot free. As soon as the sun is at just the right angle, we can see (very clearly!) every swipe of the rag we made.
We tried the top three window cleaning solutions we found on the internet, and this is the one we thought worked the best.Magic Cleaner #1
1/2 gal. warm water
1 Tbsp. Jet Dry
2-3 Tbsp. Dawn
The other solutions we tried were:Magic Cleaner #2
1/2 bottle Jet Dry
4 Tbsp. Alcohol
1/4 c. ammonia
1 handful powdered dishwasher soap
2 gal. hot water
Magic Cleaner #3
2 c. water
1/4 c. vinegar
1/2 tsp Dawn
This is easily one of our favorite segments of all time! It's a historical look at a crazy chapter in the world of decorating...
To summarize (without giving the whole fun story away), in the 19th Century arsenic was used to create vivid pigments that were then used in dyes and inks, on clothing, in paint, on food, and on wallpaper! Turns out, installing arsenic-laced wallpaper was actually a poor decision when it came to the health of you and your family! (Who would have thought!)
It's an interesting segment and is definitely worth a listen!
Shadows from the Walls of Death!
On the show, we talked about a rare book that you can view in the rare book collection at MSU. There were 100 copies produced in 1874 and now, only a handful remain. One of them is at MSU. Another is at the U of M. At any rate, the book actually contains actual arsenic-laced samples of the wallpapers that were common in the early to late 19th Century. It is a piece of bizarre decorating history you can hold in your hands! (And the pages are now encapsulated in plastic, so you're safe!) However, if you're not up for a road trip, here's a link to a beautiful full-color scan of the book! Check it out!