For some reason, most of us associate tool belts with guys. And more specifically, construction workers. But did you know its origin is actually as a piece of female jewelry? Even back in the times of Ancient Rome, it was a piece of jewelry that served a purpose. And ladies, you can take a cue from Fendi and make it a fashion statement!
And we’re lucky enough to have Jon DeGraaf, Owner and President of Jon DeGraaf Painting, sit down and discuss steps we should take when hiring a contractor. Now, we talk about a painting contractor, but this information is good for ANY type of contractor you hire!
And, if you happen to be looking for a painting contractor, we can help! Call any RepcoLite or Port City Paints or stop in. You can also fill out the form on our webpage and we’ll email the names and contact information of painters in your area who would be PERFECT for your project!
And last, but certainly not least, is a segment dedicated to the super hero in your kitchen cabinet: baking soda! It has tons of cleaning and deodorizing uses, but it will also go a long ways to keeping your stomach in check with certain foods and drinks. It really should be wearing a cape!
During the holidays a lot of people go to the movies. We get sucked in by the action and suspense. But watch closely. If you do, you may notice that some integral parts of tools are missing. What good is an air nailer without a hose and air source? We’ve watched the movies and now we’re going to pick them apart.
And, with the new year approaching, you might be thinking it’s the year to sell your home. That’s why we’ve invited Karla Huitsing, owner of Keller Williams Rivertown, to share with us some of the best projects that will pay you back in the end.
And finally, we took a questions from a listener (and a guest on our show) about painting paneling. The catch is, it’s not just any paneling. It’s paneling in a cottage up north that is only occupied on weekends. Is it ok to do different painting steps weeks apart when the temperature can get so cold inside? We’ll give you the answer in our last segment!
We recently had a customer who really had a strange paint color problem. In the can, the color looked right. On the wall, it was remarkably different. She was frustrated and confused: What was going on? More importantly, what should she do? We tackle that paint question and many others on today’s Home Improvement Show.
Jan Meeuwsen from De Bruyn Seed Company in Zeeland joins us in the studio for two segments. She covers everything from what to do about dead patches on your lawn to how to fix a mossy backyard.
We go over a question we received from a listener that is a real head-scratcher! The color looks one way IN the can, but completely different on the WALL! Confusing, yes. But we've got answers!
This segment focuses on a number of wide-ranging paint questions. We talk about how to clean composite decks and shift right into how to clean and repaint your aluminum awnings!
When we think of gardening, we think of things like container gardening, pest resistance gardening, and vegetable gardening. We don’t necessarily think of gardening with and for our kids. But why not?! It gets them interested at an early age and it gets them out in the fresh air. It will be something they look forward to every year. And they will be able to see the fruits of their labor.
This past week has been filled with BEAUTIFUL weather! It's been warm and sunny and we even got some much needed rain. Spring has finally graced us with its presence.
Because spring seems to be a little late this year, people are frantically working outside to get spring projects done. And often, those projects involve paint. We got a question from a listener wondering what the temperature needs to be for her to paint outside. Is it warm enough just because the calendar says May? Find out!
With the arrival of spring, many of use are thinking about planting flowers and vegetables. What we might not be thinking about is including our kids. It's a confidence boost when they see something they planted grow from a tiny seed into a great plant.
We are thrilled to have Ian Warnock, Lead Horticulturist from Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in the studio with us. Ian has worked at the Gardens for over 20 years and has spent much of his time designing and maintaining the Children's Gardens. He involves young visitors to the garden in as many ways as possible. He'll even let them mow the grass!
Photos courtesy of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
How many of us watch those shows in TV or Netflix where people take a junk piece of furniture and turn it into something that everyone is clamoring to buy? How many of us want to be able to do that?
We like those shows as much as anyone, so we decided to try it. We learned a few lessons and have decided to share them. The effort was definitely worth it.
We all think that because we live in a quiet neighborhood, our home is safe. But there are always a few things we can do to make it just a bit safer. Besides, a fire doesn’t care what neighborhood you live in. And breaking into a house just might be easier on a quiet street than a busy one. Joe Kuhns will help make our homes more safe and make us more confident.
How do you keep your home safe? Do you have a security system? A really big, mean dog? Or do you live in a good neighborhood so you think you are safe?
Home security is not always something we stop to think about and that's why we've invited Joe Kuhns of CoverDown Consulting into the studio. Joe's 26 year history with the Navy SEALs give him a unique perspective on what we can do to stay safe. It doesn't matter how safe you think your home is, there is always just a little bit more you can do.
It's time, once again, to Ask RepcoLite! We have chosen another question from our Facebook page to answer on air.
This week we are going to talk about that dated, 70's paneling that has the homeowner feeling like they are in a time warp!
Ok, let's be honest, even those of us who love the snow get tired of winter at some point....and we are reaching that point. The weather teases us with a slightly warmer, sunny day, only to force us back inside with frigid temps and snow.
If the winter blues have you feeling down, we have a few suggestions to fight these feelings. Some projects will have you feeling accomplished. Some projects will boost your mood with color and life. And some projects will have you feeling creative after buying new tools!
We think the Dremel Rotary Tool will open up all kinds of new creative avenues! Besides having all the tools, the website also gives you GREAT project ideas for using your Dremel. It's definitely worth a look.
And if that isn't quite your thing, maybe try a Cricut cutter. We bought one to make invites for an event and LOVE it! It is very versatile and the computer program allows you to create anything you can dream up. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, there is a chart comparing all of the different machines. Release your creativity and explore!
Thanksgiving is just days away and soon our homes will be filled with guests. For some people, this is no big deal; their homes are always clean. For others, panic is setting in as they realize their house is nowhere near ready for company and probably won’t be unless they pull some college type all nighters. But don’t worry! We’ve got some quick decluttering ideas that can be done in a weekend and some cleaning hacks that will have the house sparkling in no time.
Painting a stairwell is a daunting task for homeowners. How in the world do you paint the edge of where the wall meets the ceiling when it's 17 feet off the floor?
Well, there are a lot of "answers" out there. But some of those answers just don't cut it in our books!
For example, one solution given on the world wide web is to tape a paint brush to an extension pole. Or, better, to use an actual paint brush extender tool that's made for the job. In either case, you've got a brush on a pole that you're hoisting way over your head to cut a straight line between the wall and the ceiling . . . . Um. Right. For an experienced contractor, maybe. For a regular DIY'er, probably not.
Shur-Line Paint Edger
Instead, try the Shur-Line Edger. You can see it over there on the right. It's a weird little gadget that can make your day or make you so mad you'll want to toss it across a room.
There are all sorts of mixed opinions regarding this little tool. You could honestly start a mini-war in the paint store just by vocally denouncing it or praising it!
Still, for this job, it might be the perfect solution because you can put it on an extension pole and use it to edge right up to the ceiling. You'll get a straight line and be able to do all of it from the ground!
However, there's a reason this little tool can cause arguments: if you don't use it correctly, it can really cause trouble. And the most common way of using the tool the wrong way is to load it with paint incorrectly. Here's a video that demonstrates the right way to load it:
This segment is basically Part 2 of the Thanksgiving Survival Guide we started in the previous segment. With the Decluttering done, now it's time to talk cleaning. And we've got some great cleaning hacks to make your life easier and your cleaning quicker!
The Oven
For quick oven cleaning, mix baking soda, water, and vinegar in an oven safe bowl to make a paste. Dab the paste onto the messiest areas in your oven and then set the bowl with the remaining paste on the shelf in the oven and bake it for 45 minutes at 100 degrees. When that's over, wipe the oven clean with a sponge! It's quick and easy! Check out this video from cleverly.com to see the process:
The Microwave
To get all that gunk that's all over the inside of your microwave, try this quick fix: put water and lemon juice (or vinegar) in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for about 6 minutes or so and then let it sit and cool for a little while. Then, remove it and wipe the microwave clean. The steaming effect coupled with the vinegar or lemon juice will make clean up super easy! And the microwave will smell lemony fresh.
The Shower
For those overnight guests, it might be a good idea to give the shower a once over. And here's something simple: Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and Dawn Dish Soap. Spray it on, let it sit for a while (the dawn will keep the solution in place on the surface) and scrub clean. The soap scum and other gunk will wash away!
Another method is to put the same mixture in a dish wand--something with a scrubby on the end. Then, during your next shower, just use that and give it all a good scrubb!
Moldy Caulk
Moldy caulk around your tub or shower can be easily dealt with by wiping the caulk with a rag dampened with bleach. If the mold is surface mold, you'll be amazed how easily and quickly that terrible black caulk will turn white!
If the mold has established a bulkhead in your caulk, you could try a heavy gel toilet bowl cleaner that contains bleach. The heavy gel will keep the cleaner on the mold for longer, hopefully attacking the mold and whitening the caulk. After an appropriate period of time, rinse it off and measure your success!
Dusty Mini Blinds
Cleaning mini blinds is a pain. I hate pulling them down and tossing them in the bath tub and then trying to dry them off. I know I'm probably damaging the gears and mechanisms of the blinds, but I've always struggled to find a good way to get them clean. Well, here's the answer:
If they're dusty, simply use an old paint brush! Super fast! Super effective.
If they need a damp cleaner to remove other dirt, just mix vinegar and water. Then put a sock on your hand, dip it in the solution, and wipe over the blinds.
Ceiling Fan
Dusty ceiling fans are so messy! Sure there are little dusters that will go up there, but the problem is, you pull the dust off onto yourself or the surfaces below. Here's a Betsy-Approved method that will eliminate ALL of the mess:
Use an old pillow case. Just carefully slide the pillow case over the blade and then sandwich it top and bottom with your hands and pull. The dust comes off and stays in the pillow case! It's perfect!
Pet Hair on the Furniture
If you've got pet hair all over your furniture, there are a lot of different hacks out there to help you clean it off. Sure, you could use lint rollers and tape and all that, but here are a couple other options that are a little more unique:
The Squeegee. A regular window squeegee, when dragged across your furniture will actually pull the dog hair into little piles. It's really fun. It's almost relaxing. Until you actually look at the pile of fur you've scraped up and realize you've got enough to create another dog. Still, at least you've got it off your furniture!
It also works great on your carpet. And if you're not interested in crawling around on your hands and knees "squeegeeing" your carpets, consider a rubber carpet rake/squeegee! They're super inexpensive and very well-reviewed. Click here to view one on Amazon!
Decorating kids rooms can be an incredibly rewarding experience. And it can also be a train wreck! Here's how you can do involve the kids, get great results, and have limited conflict along the way!
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If you've got pet hair all over your furniture, there are a lot of different hacks out there to help you clean it off. Sure, you could use lint rollers and tape and all that, but here are a couple other options that are a little more unique: