Top Selling Family Clothesline and Laundry Lines in USA Posted by Rachel G → February 14, 2011 at 7:49 PM under Home Living Tips This website has a huge range of products all designed to help run your home more easily and efficiently Listed you will find the top selling family clothesline models for families in the USA and Canada. We have included large capacity clotheslines that are quality products that won’t let you down even with the biggest family wash. We have based our recommendations on a number of key points which include country of manufacture, value for money, guarantee and usable line space. To see the full range of useful products we can offer go to: http://www.urbanclotheslines.com/ 0 Comments
Obama wants more electric cars by 2015 Posted by Victor M → February 13, 2011 at 7:42 PM under Alternative Energy Environment It will be interesting to see what happens with this. Will the large oil companies block this initiative? Eight years ago, President George W. Bush proposed a $1.2 billion program to help develop fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen storage systems. Now, in 2011, the U.S. still has no hydrogen fuel cell cars in commercial production. At the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama stated that his goal is to make the United States the first country with one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. According to Michael Omotoso, director of global powertrain forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates in Troy, Mich., the limited market for short-range compact cars and the high cost of batteries could be real obstacles to reaching Obama’s goal. The first vehicles planned to be on the road will be the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. General Motors wants to expand its production to 120,000 Volt units by 2012. So far, a total of 19 Leafs and 326 Volts have been sold in the U.S. As the Energy Information Administration claims, automakers will sell about 281,000 light trucks and electric vehicles from 2011 through 2015. 0 Comments
Safety tips for clothes Dryers Posted by Nigel M → February 12, 2011 at 7:37 PM under Home Living Tips Used correctly, your clothes dryers is a great help. However it can also be a dangerous appliance if not used properly. Always clean the lint filter before use. Even if it looks lint free, this is a good habit to get into. Spin your washing as dry as possible to reduce time in the clothes dryer. Never leave the dryer on when you leave the house. Built up lint outside the drum can ignite. Don’t overload the dryer. Washing will dry better with a lighter load. Install a smoke alarm in your home and test it regularly to ensure that it is working. Only use the dryer when you really need to. Use the clothesline to save power and money. 0 Comments
The choice – top or front loader? Posted by Janine P → February 11, 2011 at 12:16 AM under Clotheslines and Laundry While front load washing machines are becoming more popular, each machine type has its pros and cons. If you’re shopping for a washing machine, here is a list of things to consider for both kinds of washer. Water leakage Top loading machines are less prone to leakage. Front loading machines require a seal on the front door, and similarly the front door must be latched during operation to prevent opening, lest large amounts of water spill out. This seal may leak or require replacement. Many current front-loaders, though, can be stopped and added to or removed from, by way of keeping the water level in the horizontal tub below the door level. Energy usage Front loaders use less energy, water and detergent and clean more effectively than the best top loaders. Water usage Front loaders generally use less water than top-loading residential clothes washers. Estimates are front loaders use anywhere from about one third ) to one half as much as top loaders. Needing less water means that front loaders use far less soap, too. Compactness Front loading machines may be installed underneath counters. A front loading washing machine, in a fully-fitted kitchen, may even be disguised as an ordinary base cabinet/unit. They may also be convenient in homes with limited floor area, since the dryer may be installed directly above the washer. Clothing lifespan With their lack of an agitator, front loaders are less likely to damage clothing in a variety of ways. They are less likely to stretch, shrink or felt knits. They can also be less damaging to decals on T-shirts, though it is always a good idea to take precautions like separating and turning them inside out. Even less delicate clothes will last longer with gentle treatment. Spin-dry effectiveness Front loaders also offer much higher spin drying speeds of up to 2000 RPM. This makes it possible to dry clothes very quickly by hanging them on washing lines or airing racks or can substantially reduce the length of time required in a tumble dryer. Noise Front loaders tend to operate more quietly than top loaders, since there is less of a tendency to imbalance. Accessibility and Ergonomics Front loaders are more convenient for little people and those in wheelchairs, as the controls are front-mounted and the horizontal drum eliminates the need for standing and/or climbing. For people who are sufficiently tall and can stand, top-loaders may be easier to load and unload, since reaching into the tub does not require stooping. However, this issue can be mitigated due to the offering of risers (usually with storage drawers underneath) to raise the front loader door opening closer to the user’s level. Each type of washing machine has advantages and disadvantages. We hope we have helped you choose the right washing machine for your home. 0 Comments
THE HUMBLE HAMPER Posted by Andrew T → February 10, 2011 at 9:18 PM under Clotheslines and Laundry Here are some interesting facts about something we all take for granted. A hamper is a primarily British term for a wicker basket, usually large, that is used for the transport of items, often food. In North America, the term generally refers to a household receptacle for dirty clothing, regardless of its composition, i.e. “a laundry hamper“. In agricultural use, a hamper is a wide-mouthed container of basketwork that may often be carried on the back during the harvesting of fruit or vegetables by hand by workers in the field. The contents of the hamper may be decanted regularly into larger containers or a cart, wagon, or truck. The open ventilation and the sturdiness offered by a hamper has made it suitable for the transport of food, hence the use of the picnic hamper. At one time it was common for laundry services to leave a large basketwork container with a lid which is now commonly referred to as a clothes hamper. The same type of container would be used to return clean clothing, which would be put away by the laundry service and the empty container left in place of the full container for later pickup. This type of daily or bi-daily hamper service was most common with Chinese laundry services in 19th century England and America. 0 Comments
Stay safe in the Big Freeze! Posted by Gary Nickless → February 09, 2011 at 5:26 PM under Environment STAY SAFE IN THE BIG FREEZE! Tips for Staying Warm •Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head. •Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth. •Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside. •Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it. For Motorists: If you must drive a vehicle, monitor weather and traffic reports for the latest road conditions. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible as these roadways will be cleared first. Drive slowly. Vehicles, including those with 4-wheel drive, take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement. Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in the snow. If you get stuck on the road stay with your car and contact a towing company. For Pedestrians: Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces. Wear layers including a hat, gloves and scarf to stay protected from the cold. And, keep clothes and shoes dry. Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections. 0 Comments
Washing & drying clothes Posted by Gary Nickless → February 08, 2011 at 10:44 PM under Home Living Tips Here are some handy hints to help with your laundry: Sort and Separate Even though automatic washers and dryers have taken the work out of the task, you still need to sort your laundry before washing. You not only need to pay attention to the colors of the clothing, but also the fabric. Sort By Color Separate white articles from the laundry basket or hamper. This includes underwear, socks, towels, linens, all white or very light colored articles. Put them in a pile. Separate lightly colored articles – put them in their own pile Separate dark colored clothing or other articles – towels, jeans, socks, sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. Put them all in a pile. Sort By Manufacturers Instructions Ignoring the manufacturer’s recommendations for laundry care is not smart. Don’t learn the hard way by ruining that blouse you just bought for $65.00 and wore once. Go through each pile separately. Look at each article and read the recommended washing instructions. Some recommend hand washing in cold water only and laying flat to dry, or line dry. Some tell you to wash with like items, hot temperature and dry in automatic drier at medium heat temperature. Some say no chlorine bleach; some say tumble dry, with low or no heat. Washing Set the water temperature. use hot water for whites, warm water for all other loads. Cold water can be used with detergent specifically made for washing in cold water. Check for stains and pretreat them before washing. Concentrated laundry detergent might also help to pretreat. Set the washing cycle. Consider the clothing you are washing to set either normal, permanent press or a gentle cycle. Most clothes can use a normal cycle. Add your laundry detergent. Check the instructions for the proper amount as some detergents are more concentrated than others. Add the clothes. Do not overfill the machine. Overloading the washing machine will cause your clothes not to wash properly and will not rinse completely. Add any additional liquids to the machine, such as bleach or fabric softener Close the lid, and now the washing has begun! 0 Comments
Climate change and Brazil Posted by Gary H → February 07, 2011 at 10:31 PM under Environment This is an interesting article: At a time when economic growth remains elusive for the United States and many other major world economies, Brazil is attracting attention from the global business community because of its strong growth prospects. The Brazilian economy, the largest in Latin America, is expected to grow by 5% in 2010, according to the country’s central bank. That is almost twice the rate expected in the United States — estimated at 2.6% for 2010 and 2011 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). One of the issues companies will need to consider before making any major investments in Brazil, however, is the impact of climate change on future operations. For full article, visit: http://www.rmmag.com/MGTemplate.cfm?Section=RMMagazine&NavMenuID= 128&template=/Magazine/DisplayMagazines.cfm&IssueID=351&AID=4225&Volume=57&ShowArticle=1 0 Comments
3 Steps to a Greener Kitchen Posted by Gary H → February 06, 2011 at 10:22 PM under Home Living Tips Restaurants around the country are greening themselves in hopes of attracting clients, saving money, and at the very least, staying afloat. While commercial kitchens use vast amounts of energy to regulate temperatures, power appliances, and light surfaces, residential kitchens can take advantage of some of the same techniques and a few others, allowing homeowners to protect the environment and save money through new design features and conscientious choices. Every day new appliances that use less energy and water are hitting the market. Investing in some of this equipment can save money, but it’s important not to get lost in the hype. Make sure to research the models and find the ones that will provide energy savings without sacrificing features you want. Remember, bigger isn’t always better. Upgrading to an energy efficient model that is larger than what you need may not provide a great deal of savings. Energy Star rated appliances are a good place to start looking. Stoves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and microwaves are all available with this rating. However, if you cannot afford to invest in new appliances throughout the kitchen, start with the refrigerator. As one of the highest energy-use appliances, making the switch to an Energy Star rated fridge can save several hundred dollars within a year’s time. The Energy Star website offers a savings calculator to determine how much money you would save by trading that old fridge for a new energy-efficient model. Read full story: http://www.worldgreen.org/home/wg-feature-articles/5176-3-steps-to-a-greener-kitchen.html 0 Comments
The humble Hamper Posted by Andrew T → February 06, 2011 at 9:21 PM under Clotheslines and Laundry A hamper is a primarily British term for a wicker basket, usually large, that is used for the transport of items, often food. In North America, the term generally refers to a household receptacle for dirty clothing, regardless of its composition, i.e. “a laundry hamper“. In agricultural use, a hamper is a wide-mouthed container of basketwork that may often be carried on the back during the harvesting of fruit or vegetables by hand by workers in the field. The contents of the hamper may be decanted regularly into larger containers or a cart, wagon, or truck. The open ventilation and the sturdiness offered by a hamper has made it suitable for the transport of food, hence the use of the picnic hamper. At one time it was common for laundry services to leave a large basketwork container with a lid which is now commonly referred to as a clothes hamper. The same type of container would be used to return clean clothing, which would be put away by the laundry service and the empty container left in place of the full container for later pickup. This type of daily or bi-daily hamper service was most common with Chinese laundry services in 19th century England and America. 0 Comments
