Home &

Garden

A supplement to the Delphos Herald April 2011

2 • The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011
How to avoid five common landscaping and patio mistakes
ARA — Building your own outdoor
paradise can be a daunting, yet rewarding
project. Before you invest your time and
money, it’s a good idea to consider the
components of a successful landscape or
patio project.
A great place to start is to look for profes-
sional landscaping design ideas on the web.
Web sites like www.landscapingnetwork.
com offer design tips from professionals to
help you get your project off the ground.
“Building a poorly designed landscape
can cost just as much as building a well
designed one,” says landscape design expert
Maureen Gilmer. “When you’re forking
over big bucks to create the outdoor living
space or garden of your dreams, it pays to
get the design just right.”
Gilmer offers the following tips on how
to avoid five common landscape design
mistakes:
Common mistake: Choosing the wrong
size for your patio
How to avoid it: Of all patio sizing
tips, making sure your patio’s dimensions
work with your concept for patio furni-
ture arrangements may be the most impor-
tant. For example, your patio should be at
least 10-by-10 feet to accommodate chairs
around a table with a 5-foot diameter. If
you’re crunched for space, consider differ-
ent furniture options, or creatively adjust
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your surfaces to add space behind the areas
where chairs will be placed.
Common mistake: Creating a discon-
nect between indoors and outdoors
How to avoid it: Consistent use of col-
ors, materials and even plants between your
patio and adjacent indoor space can make
your patio seem like an extension of your
home. Design consistency makes each place
seem bigger and more useful when your
patio doors are open.
Common mistake: Inconsistent outdoor
2011 Soil Amendments & Liming Products
design
How to avoid it: Piecemeal design can
occur when you take on one project without
thinking about its long-term impact on your
outdoor space as a whole. For this reason,
it can be helpful to sit down and develop a
flexible master plan for your outdoor space,
which will allow you to complete your ulti-
mate design goals in phases without com-
promising the look and feel of your yard.
Consulting with a professional landscape
designer may be helpful when developing
this plan.
Common mistake: Plants that don’t fit
your space
How to avoid it: Choosing plants that
will fit in a designated space when they
reach maturity can help ensure your yard to be less than what you had hoped for. If
you don’t have the time to learn the basics
and patio don’t become overgrown. Plants
that need to be sheered to fit their spaces of landscape design yourself, it might be
a good idea to hire a professional. A good
often don’t look as beautiful as a plant that’s
allowed to flower and flourish. Choosing designer should be able to show you a port-
folio of projects he or she has worked on so
plants that survive well in your climate will
also save you time and effort when it comes you can get an idea of whether their work is
compatible with your desires. If you need
to lawn maintenance.
help finding a landscape designer in your
area, check out the directory at www.land-
Common mistake: Misunderstanding
the importance of good design scapingnetwork.com.
For additional resources, visit the
It’s exciting to tackle an outdoor project,
but when you forget to think about the big Association of Professional Landscape
Designer’s (APLD) web site.
picture, the project can sometimes turn out
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 The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011 • 3

Mulch 101: Get to know the unsung hero of the garden

ARA — Gardeners know that mulch is a
great-looking layer of topping on the soil in
gardens and landscapes, but mulch is so much
more than just a decorative cover. Mirroring
the leaf layer found on a forest floor, mulch
covering can benefit both plants and soil.
There are many different types of mulch
to consider. Some mulch contains leaves and
bark that decompose and break down over
time, while others contain things like pebbles
and shredded tires.
Mulch’s benefits run much deeper than
beauty.
• A mulch layer can moderate the soil
temperature reducing the effects of extreme
heat or cold.
• Soil condition may be improved by the
decomposing matter from mulch that pro-
vides plants with added nutrition.
• Mulching a garden creates the ideal
environment for earthworms and beneficial
organisms.
• If heavy rains or soil erosion is an issue,
mulch can help reduce these effects. Weeds
will find it difficult to become established
and grow in a mulched area.
Using mulch in the flower and vegetable
garden is always a good idea. Not only does
it “finish” a bed, but it also creates a path
through the garden, even during wet condi-
tions. Use mulch to create trails through
planting areas or even non-planted areas,
such as under a swing set to prevent erosion,
or around a bird feeder to prevent fallen
seeds from germinating. Mulch is not just
for gardens and landscaping anymore. Use a
two-inch layer of mulch at the top of indoor
plant containers to help cover unsightly soil,
conserve water and keep them looking great.
Available varieties of mulching materials
are diverse and nearly limitless. Most prefer-
able however, are mulches that break down
over time and add to the nutritional make-up,
or tilth, of soil. Most commonly used mulch-
ing materials are: bark or wood chips, leaves,
grass clippings, straw or hay, newspaper,
pine needles, cocoa shells and compost. Each
offers unique benefits, depending on use.
• Wood chip or bark mulches offer
a nice “finished” look, while providing
numerous benefits and requiring very little
upkeep. These types of mulch are also
readily available nationwide. Scotts Nature
Scapes Advanced Mulch provides even
more benefits than the average wood mulch.
Although most bark-based mulches lose
color and fade to gray after a few weeks,
Nature Scapes mulch has a one-year color
guarantee. So, if new mulch is added to your
landscaping more than once a year, Nature
Scapes can help to save time and money. In
addition, the Water Smart technology used
in this product has a water-channeling prop-
erty that prevents over watering in flowers
and produces beds by channeling water
directly to the roots. This helps use up to 30
percent less water.
• Leaves and grass clippings have the
added bonus of being free. However, leaves
will need to be chopped up with a mower
first and left to compost over the winter for
the best value to the garden. Grass clippings
decompose quickly and are not as attractive
as some other forms of mulch. Both of these
materials are better capitalized on if simply
chopped up and left on the lawn for a layer
of mulch added directly to grass.
• Straw or hay is inexpensive, but may
contain seeds that will germinate in the gar-
den.
• Newspaper is also cheap, but will need
to be wet down first, and then covered with
another type of mulch to prevent it from
blowing away.
• Pine needles may drastically increase the
soil acidity and are best limited to mulching
around acid-loving plants such as blueberries
and rhododendrons.
• Cocoa shells are becoming popular in
many areas because of the unique look, but
this is not advisable for pet owners. When
ingested by pets, the cocoa shells may cause
illness. such as wood chips or bark.
• Compost is always a great idea because Mulch may not get the glory in the garden
it not only adds nutritional value to the soil, or landscape it deserves, but this often-over-
but also is an excellent way to recycle waste. looked cousin of soil has a lot to offer. Even
For maximum effect, a 3- to 4-inch layer if you just use mulch for its neat appearance,
of compost is required. This is often used you will still reap all of its wonderful ben-
in conjunction with another form of mulch, efits.

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 NEWSPAPER REPRODUCTION NOTE:
133LPI minimum required, 150LPI recommended.
4 • The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011 Please pay special attention as to how to build the

Shortcuts to make yard work easier

add using the snipes and disclaimers.

NEWSPAPER REPRODUCTION NOTE:

The way to a beautiful lawn.
visit www.simplicitymfg.com
The way to a beautiful lawn.
visit www.simplicitymfg.com
133LPI minimum required, 150LPI recommended.
Please pay special attention as to how to build the
(StatePoint) Spring
add using isand
the snipes indisclaimers.
the air — a time Hone your focus
for rejuvenation and renewal... and for get- “Most people immediately
ting your yard back in shape. think of their lawns when they
If you’re like most Americans, you love think of seasonal yard work” says
your garden and the budding trees of the Chris Seigneur, Senior Product
new season, but don’t want to spend all your Development Engineer for Blount,
precious weekends toiling away at yard the makers of PowerSharp. “But
work and lawn care. trimming dead branches from
Here are some easy shortcuts for getting your trees and shrubs will ensure
yard work done in less time and with less their health and add to the beauty
effort this season: of your home.”
The easy way out You should also clear plant
When doing yard work, it’s easiest to beds of dead foliage, which can
stand — constant kneeling and crouching smother budding greenery and

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the grass to grow.
And give obtainyour body
finance a break
to insert)by trans- Lastly, some more permanent
PRE-SEASON always advisable since insects and spiders
38˝, 44˝ or 46˝ Free Floating™ the current snipes
mower decks
porting all your tools in a kiddie wagon. can lay dormant in dead foliage and debris. fixtures can save you time and effort in the
SERVICE
Tight 14˝ turning radius reduces
trimming Or you can use a collapsible wheelbarrow Consider using add-ons to your cur- long run. Native plants and flowers will
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regent
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are available(Pleaseatseehome improvement
Current Promotions stores
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& Recreation and online.topromotion) on the saw, on the job, in seconds. This thought.
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Mowing tips that will keep your lawn looking good all year
ARA — Every homeowner dreams of
that perfect lawn, but the fact is maintain-
ing a green and lush carpet of grass takes
some work. One of the easiest ways to
keep up the appearance of your lawn is
to mow it in a way that promotes optimal
lawn health.
In fact, mowing frequently is one of
the best ways to maintain the health of
your lawn according to the U.S. Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Ideally,
you should own a mower that allows you
to mow frequently and efficiently.
If you have a smaller yard, a walking
mower may do the trick, especially if
you can get the job done in a half hour or
less. If you measure your lawn in acres,
as opposed to square feet, a riding mower
is probably more appropriate. But most
people have a lawn that fits somewhere
in between, in which case, there’s another
option.
Cross mowers are smaller riding mow-
ers that are designed for yards up to one
acre. With a compact design, these mowers
offer increased maneuverability, as well as
easy storage. Among the companies offer-
ing cross mowers is Weed Eater, which
features a SmartCut model.
Whether now is the time to rightsize
your mower or not, here are some other
mowing tips to keep your lawn looking
good all year:
• Keep your blade sharp. A dull blade
can damage your grass, hampering healthy
and even growth. Mower blades should
typically be sharpened once at the begin-
ning of spring and once in the summer.
Examining your grass after you mow can
help determine whether your blade is pro-
ducing a clean and even cut.
• Spread clippings evenly throughout
The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011 • 5
your yard. Grass clippings are your best
form of fertilizer — and they’re free.
Throughout the year, your clippings will
provide the equivalent of one or two
applications of fertilizer, according to the
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
If your mower discharges clippings to
the side, mow the outer edge so clippings
are thrown toward the middle of your yard,
and as you move toward the center, change
your direction so they are thrown outward.
Sweeping any clippings that ended up on
your driveway or sidewalks back onto
the lawn both promotes the health of your
lawn and prevents them from entering
local waterways — grass clippings can
contribute to toxic levels of phosphorus in
lakes and rivers.
• Don’t mow in the same direction every
time. Mowing in different directions will tion, never remove more than one third of
prevent your grass from becoming matted your lawn’s length during one mowing
down and instead keep it growing upward, session.
where it can receive the most sunlight.
• Mow only when your grass is dry.
• Cut your grass between 2 and 3 Mowing when your yard is wet can cause
inches. Keeping it longer than 2 inches your mower to leave tracks. It can also
can help prevent weeds from receiving the cause your discarded clippings to clump
necessary sunlight to take hold. It also can together, providing an ideal breeding
prevent scorching during warm and dry ground for bacteria that can cause disease
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6 • The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011

Get a head start on your garden

(StatePoint) What can keep you fit, give
you peace of mind, save you money on gro-
ceries and add flavor to your dinner plate?
Gardening!
And whether you have a green thumb or
just a sprouting interest in gardening, start-
ing your seedlings early is a great way to
get a head start on your spring and summer
blossoms.
Here’s what you need to know to get a
jump on your favorite gardening activities:
Plan your garden
When deciding what seedlings to grow for
your garden, consider how the sunlight falls
in your yard. Some flowers and vegetables
need constant sunshine, while others need a
shady nook. Consult a gardening book or a
local gardening expert for guidance.
Also, make sure to select plants that can
successfully grow in the climate. Just because
seeds for almost every variety of plant are
now available online or at the local nursery,
it doesn’t mean you can grow it in your back-
yard. Some of the easiest vegetables to grow

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When you want to remodel your bathroom and have gasped at the thought of “gardening.”
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bath remodeling. moved to your garden as the weather warms.
They can be started in almost anything, from
Midwest Re-Bath can replace your bathtub with a walk-in shower with an cardboard egg cartons to washed yogurt
acrylic shower base designed specifically to fit in the same space your existing containers. Just make sure to use sterile seed
bathtub now occupies. Your old bathtub is removed, a new shower base is starting mix and poke enough holes in the
installed and the drain is connected. bottom of each container for drainage.
Or you can grow a variety of seedlings
The wall area is then repaired and a new acrylic wall surround is installed from in a proper seedling tray. For example,
AeroGarden, an indoor growing system, has
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complete the installation. The work area is cleaned and all of the rubbish lings in ready-to-transplant growing sponges.
removed. The lack of soil keeps your home neater,
while the system’s grow lights and auto-
Midwest Re-Bath offers a variety of wall colors and the most tile patterns in mated delivery of water and liquid nutrients
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your garden when the weather is right.
Re-Bath is the only tubliner company in the United States with DuraBath SSP. Just make sure you time your seedlings so
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Extend your home’s
living spaces outdoors
Innovative additions can make your backyard more inviting.
(StatePoint) As the weather warms,
Americans spend more time in their back-
yards and gardens, taking advantage of their
outdoor living and dining space.
Recent decorating trends are helping
homeowners create inviting outdoor spaces.
It’s no longer about simple picnic tables on
patios or decks. There now are many new
ways to create welcoming ambience.
More homeowners are using innovative
products for the backyard and garden made
with recycled materials -- a small way to
make a big difference. For example, recy-
cled plastics are being used in functional
yet stylish decking, vertical gardens, flower
pots, bird houses, furniture and more, divert-
ing this valuable material from landfills.
“Consumers have many options today
to create beautiful backyards and other
home spaces with recycled products,” says
Steve Russell, vice president of plastics
for the American Chemistry Council. “For
instance, recycled plastics can be used to
create all sorts of functional and fashionable
products, from modern lawn chairs to chic
accessories to long lasting fences.”
Here are some great tweaks for your out-
door spaces this season:
• Divine decking
To create decks, gazebos and other out-
door structures, many builders are now
using composite lumber, some of which is
made with recycled plastic shopping bags.
These composites are typically stain- and
water-resistant and don’t attract those pesky
backyard bugs that enjoy wood.
The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011 • 7
AAA Stump
Removal
• Maneuverable
yard friendly
equipment
• Front/backyard
• Tree removal
• Re-landscaping
• Clean up
• Light it up
When entertaining outdoors at night, the
right lighting adds ambience while illumi-
nating pathways for safety. You can up-light
trees for dramatic effect. Energy-efficient
solar lighting is a great choice, as you avoid
dealing with cords in or under your yard and
save electricity in the process.
• Feel-good furniture
Homeowners nowadays can lounge on
brightly colored chairs and benches and dine
on stylish tables made with recycled plas-
tics and other innovative materials. Green • Free
estimates
minded consumers can choose furniture
made from post-consumer containers, such
as plastic milk jugs, detergent containers
and margarine tubs. And best of all, you’ll
save time and money by not having to stain
• Fully
or weatherproof this second generation fur-
niture. insured
• Grow-up
Short on space in your yard? Vertical gar- • Most
dens are a conservationist’s dream, allow-
ing plant lovers to create hanging gardens stumps
$50 or less
in even the smallest corners, indoors and
out. Vertical gardens often are made with
recycled plastics, and can create a flower
or vegetable source on just about any type
of wall. They help turn even the smallest
Call Ron Roberts
studio apartment or backyard deck into a
green oasis.
For more tips on how you can help “close
419-230-0130
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ucts to create a greener sanctuary for your
home and garden, visit www.plasticsmakeit-
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8 • The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011

Get your deck ready for spring and summer

(StatePoint) As the days get longer,
there’s nothing like barbecuing and enter-
taining friends on your deck. But before you
pass out those invitations, make sure your
deck has weathered the winter and is ready
for its seasonal duty.
The abuse a deck surface takes from the
weather, foot traffic, barbecues, and food
and drink spills can create both surface and
structural problems.
“To make your deck last, clean it thor-
oughly every one to two years and re-stain
every two to four years,” says Mark Clement,
host of the radio program “MyFixitUpLife.”
“It also helps if your deck is made from a
natural, durable wood, such as Western Red
Cedar, which holds oil based finishes for an
extended period of time.”
Here’s how to get your deck ready for
use:
• Clear out
Clear all furniture and potted plants off
the deck. Then inspect the deck for dirt and
pollen buildup. Sweep it clean of debris that
may have fallen during winter. For safety’s
sake, make sure there are no nails sticking
up from the deck or from any posts.
• Floss between planks
Clean between the planks and boards of
any horizontal surfaces so rain can drain
and air can flow between them. Reducing
standing water and increasing airflow will
limit the amount of moisture that can collect
and stay on the surface of the plank, thereby
making your deck last longer.
• Keep the finish sharp
Application of a quality wood stain or
finish and periodic retreatment over time
will prevent discoloration and degrada-
tion of your deck and extend the wood’s
lifespan. Keep in mind that natural woods
that are sustainable and durable, such as real
cedar, can take and retain a variety of stains
and finishes for more extended periods.
Such woods are natural looking, as opposed
to the faux finishes used on man-made com-
posite products.
• Elevate planters
Direct contact between planter boxes
and wooden surfaces can trap moisture
and leave stains. Elevating them or placing
them on rollers will release the moisture and
make them easier to rearrange.
• Beware of welcome mats your deck, so place it in an inconspicuous maintenance and care just like your lawn or
Mats can collect moisture and dry out spot with a hard rubber door mat underneath roof,” says Clement “By performing routine
too slowly, which can lead to water dam- it to keep your deck free of stains. If grease checks and taking care of the warning signs,
age and/or wood rot. After precipitation, be drips onto your deck, use a household homeowners can extend the life of their
sure to dry out the mat and allow the deck cleaner to wipe it clean. decks so they can be enjoyed for years to
to dry. For more advice on caring for decks, come.”
• Watch out for your grill visit www.wrcla.org. Make sure your deck is clean and safe
Grease from your grill is hazardous to “It’s easy to forget that decks need before entertaining.

Call us for a FREE QUOTE on any remodel or new installation job.

GROTHOUSE
PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.
Building,
Buying,
Or Just Fixing Up?
901 S. Main Street, Delphos, Ohio We’ve got the
Office: (419) 695-3081 Fax: (419) 692-6400 home loan for
PLUMBING • HEATING • You can feel the difference you!
AIR CONDITIONING • GEOTHERMAL
SEWERS • SEPTIC TANKS Delphos
• WATER TREATMENT 230 E. Second St.
RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT (419) 695-1055
SALES & SERVICE State Lics. #25576 #14379

YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

THE PROFESSIONALS

Spring Time Lawn & Garden Needs The Quality

•Lawn Fertilizer • Lawn Fertilizer with Crabgrass preventer Door Place
•Garden Fertilizer - to make your harvest bountiful
•Broadleaf Weed Killers for turf areas WINDOWS • ROOFING • SIDING • FENCING
• Garage Doors & Operators • Entrance & Storm Doors • Wood • Steel • Painting Available
11713A Spencerville-Delphos Rd. 23032 Road Q • Insulation • Aluminum Railing • Awnings • Rubber Roofing • Decks • Fence

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Delphos Ottoville 1034 Westwood Dr., Van Wert, Ohio 45891 419-238-9795 e1
419-695-1931 419-453-3319 Phone: (419) 238-9795
nc
Fax: (419) 238-9893 Toll Free: (800) 216-0041
Si

Spring clean your home’s exterior
(StatePoint) When spring cleaning
your home, it’s easy to focus on inte-
rior closets and drawers and forget the
first thing any visitor will see — your
home’s exterior. But outdoor surfaces
and fixtures need your attention, too.
“Outdoor furniture can collect grime
and rust during winter,” says Alison
Gutterman, President of Jelmar, manu-
facturer of CLR cleaning products. “It’s
important you clean them annually with
an effective yet safe cleaner that won’t
harm your lawn or garden.”
Make sure your spring cleaning
includes these outdoor dirt-magnets:
Siding and windows
Even if you’re not putting a fresh
coat of paint on your house this year,
it’s important you clean any facade
or siding that’s prone to grime. Use a
power washer and start at the highest
point to avoid washing dirt down onto
clean areas.
Pressure washers also make window
cleaning easier. But be careful using
them on wooden areas such as decks
and window frames. The force of the
Cleaning your gutters regularly will spray often damages the surface of
prevent roof damage.
KLIMA’S
CARPET CLEANING
Serving the Tri-County Area
for over 20 years.
FOR ALL OF YOUR CARPET
& UPHOLSTERY NEEDS
CALL TOLL FREE AT
1-888-872-1445
OTTOVILLE, OH
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SEE US AT
SUMMER SEALERS
FOR A GREAT JOB.
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STRIPING • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL
419-238-2266
porous materials like wood.
Outdoor furniture
Whether you conscientiously stored
your patio furniture for the winter, or
left it outside exposed to the elements,
it’s likely your outdoor table and chairs
need a once-over before they’re ready
for use. When choosing cleaning prod-
ucts, make sure they’re biodegradable
so they won’t harm your plants or lawn.
Then rinse the furniture and the grass
with your hose after cleaning.
You should also choose a cleaning
product that’s safe for furniture, such as
CLR Outdoor Furniture Cleaner, which
can be used on plastic, wicker, wood,
wrought iron, canvas and other outdoor
materials. Also look for UV protectants
to keep your furniture from fading in
bright sun.
Gutters
Clean gutters prevent flooding and
roof damage. The best way to check if
your gutters need cleaning is to look up
at the outside rim of the top of the gut-
ter. If there is discoloration, there likely
is buildup in the gutter making it diffi-
OTTOVILLE HARDWARE
Furniture • Appliance • Television • Floor Covering • Mattress Gallery
145 3rd St., Ottoville
Mon.-Thurs. 9:00-7:00; Fri. 9:00-6:00; Sat. 9:00-3:30
Nationwide.
But still very, very local.
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G A BROWN INS AGENCY INC
Greg Brown
346 E. Main St.
Ottawa, OH 45875
(419) 523-5527
20 W. Second St., Ft. Jennings
(419) 286-2660



The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011 • 9
cult for water to flow.
When cleaning gutters by hand, you
can create a “gutter scoop” by cutting
the bottom half off a plastic gallon jug
with a box knife. Then, after removing
any leaves, twigs or debris, flush the
gutters with water to clean them prop-
erly.
Screens and filters
The best way to clean window
screens is to lay them flat on a cloth or
soft surface outdoors to keep the frames
from getting scratched. Then, hose them
down and scrub gently with an all-pur-
pose cleaner. Finally, rinse the screens
again and tap off any excess water.
Air conditioning filters should also be
changed as part of your spring cleaning,
especially if anyone in your family has
allergies. Always refer to the owner’s
manual to determine the location of the
filter and the size needed to ensure the
proper fit.
For more spring cleaning tips, visit
www.jelmar.com.
Remember, keeping your home’s
exterior clean makes a big difference.
419-453-3338
10 • The Herald Spring Home & Garden • April 2011

4 overlooked spots to spring clean

(StatePoint) Is your spring cleaning routine sufficient? In the laundry room
Or do you suspect dirt may be lurking in places you’ve Have you noticed an unusual funk coming from your
never even put on your to-do list? washing machine? This may be because the new, high-
If you’re like most Americans, chances are you forgot efficiency washers use less water than traditional ones,
some of these often overlooked spots while spring clean- causing residue buildup from dirty clothes, detergent and
ing: hard water minerals. If so, it’s time to clean your machine.
In the kitchen Something as simple as Tide’s Washing Machine Cleaner,
Most people hit the stove, fridge and the microwave. which comes in a small packet you drop into a normal cycle
But there are more places in the kitchen needing your atten- without clothes, can keep your machine smelling fresh.
tion. All cupboards and pantries should be cleared and re- Once you’ve got your washing machine clean, next
stocked at least once yearly to dispose of expired food and focus on what you put in it. With spring and summer whites
guard against insects and rodents. sure to be washed this time of year, consider switching to
Also make sure you clean your can opener! This often a detergent with both stain fighting and whitening power.
used, rarely cleaned tool can be a trap for bacteria and And look for a new concentrated version, which not only
spores. Use Q-Tips and soapy water to wipe down every gives you the same cleaning with 1/3 less detergent, but
nook and cranny,
Columbus;Reliable including the gears.
Plgb & Htg;A00238;3.42x7 helps save you space and helps save the planet by reducing
packaging.
In the bedroom
Spring cleaning usually involves a change of bedding,
but how about those decorative pillows or stuffed animals
in children’s rooms? Because of their soft, uneven surfaces,
they’re prime locations for dust and allergens. Sticking
them in plastic bags and then in the freezer for four hours
will kill dust mites. Then use a vacuum to suck up dead
carcasses.
You should also pay attention to ceiling fans, crown
moldings and even the walls. It’s best to use a damp cloth
to wipe down all surfaces. Dry feather dusters tend to kick
up dust and allergens, which settle back down in the same
place.
In the living room
205 West Second St. Window treatments and lampshades attract dust and
Delphos, OH 45833
germs as much as any other home surface, but are easily
www.reliablePandH.com cleaned using removable vacuum attachments, such as a Dirt and odors can lurk in your washing machine.
Reliable Plumbing & Heating. Our name says it all. combo brush or crevice tool extension. Of course, regular cleaning is the best way to minimize
And don’t skip floor vents, door jams, and window sills. your spring cleaning. To find products that can help make
These areas are often overlooked and can collect years of cleaning less of a chore, visit www.tide.com.
grime. Then get to it! After all, a clean home is a happy home.

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