Emergency Surprises - Are You Prepared?

KNOW WHERE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IS!
KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF THE MAIN WATER SUPPLY!
KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF THE GAS!

Look in the utility section of the website

*******************************************************************************************************************************
WATER TIPS that may prevent WATER DAMAGE

From broken and frozen pipes to leaking appliances, water damage can wreak havoc, destroying floors, walls, furniture and family heirlooms. The devastation is not limited to the laundry and the bathroom. Leaking roofs and backed-up sewers or drains can ruin bedrooms, family rooms and storage areas.

Here are a few tips for preventing water damage to your property:

● KNOW YOUR ENEMY. The hot water that’ll banish berry stains will “cook” the protein in blood, making it impossible to remove.

● SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE. The longer you wait, the tougher it is to remove.

● WHEN IN DOUBT, PATCH TEST. If you’ve never used a particular remedy, put a little of it on an inconspicuous corner of the item to be sure it doesn’t damage it.

● READ THE CARE LABEL. If it says, dry-clean only, do just that. You’ll likely create more of a mess trying to solve the problem yourself.

● TAKE IT EASY. Rubbing can spread the stain and possibly damage the item.

Stain	On What	What to Use
Ballpoint Pen	Cotton Shirt	Milk --- saturate the spot with milk (whole or low fat) and let rest for about two hours. The enzymes in milk do the trick, says Stephanie Zia, author of Stain Removal: Your Really Useful Guide to Getting Rid of Stains (Hamlyn). Rinse the area with cool water and launder.
Crayon	Painted Wall	Nongel Toothpaste --- squeeze the toothpaste over the markings, and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub the wall gently with an old toothbrush. The mild abrasive in nongel toothpaste will gently remove the crayon mark. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth.
Berry Juice	T-Shirt	Boiling Water --- stretch the stained area over a bowl set in the sink, and secure with a rubber band. Carefully pour boiling water onto the spot, using a teakettle that you’re holding at a height of about two feet above the counter (and make sure no one else is nearby) The water’s force and heat will push the stain through the fabric according to Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain and Simple (Storey Publishing). Launder as usual.
Red Wine	Linen Tablecloth	White Wine --- blot the spill with a paper towel. Pour white wine over the red stain to neutralize it. Blot; repeat the procedure as necessary. Flush the area with cool water, and wash the tablecloth according to care label instructions.
Makeup	Cotton Shirt	Shaving Cream --- squirt a dab of shaving cream on the spots, and gently rub with an old toothbrush. Shaving cream is basically a whipped soap. Just remember, a little goes a long way, according to Stephanie Zia, author of Stain Removal: Your Really Useful Guide to Getting Rid of Stains (Hamlyn). Machine wash as usual.
Grass	Khakis	Rubbing Alcohol --- using a cotton ball or sponge, dab the marks with rubbing alcohol, repeating several times. If the stains persist, sponge with white vinegar. Rinse again with cool water and wash as usual.
Blood	Cotton Towel	Hydrogen Peroxide and Meat Tenderizer --- saturate the spot with hydrogen peroxide and sprinkle with unseasoned meat tenderizer. Tenderizer breaks down protein in blood, making removal easier, according to Linda Cobb author of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean (Pocket Books). Leave on for 30 minutes. If spot persists, add more peroxide and continue soaking. Launder as usual.
Mud	Jeans	Potato --- let the mud dry, then brush off what you can with an old toothbrush. Cut a potato in half and rub it over the stain for a few minutes. The enzymes in the potato help lift the stain out according to Stephanie Zia, author of Stain Removal: Your Really Useful Guide to Getting Rid of Stains (Hamlyn). Launder as usual.
Urine	Wool or Nylon Carpet	White Vinegar --- Blot the puddle. Depending on the size of the stain, make one or two cups of a mixture that’s one third white vinegar and two thirds cool water, advises Linda Cobb author of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean (Pocket Books). Pour the solution on the splotch and blot some more. Place a few layers of paper towels over the wet mark, and step on them to soak up the liquid. Rinse with water until vinegar odor disappears; blot again. A fan can help speed drying.
Mildew	On laundry	You can remove mildew from clothes by rubbing the affected area with half a lemon that has been dipped in salt. Then wash clothing as usual.
Red wine	On carpet	Sprinkle salt over the wine until most of it is absorbed. Wash the area in cold water with a regular detergent. If the stain persists, try dabbing some hydrogen peroxide on the stain and wash the area in cold water with a regular detergent.
ink	clothing	You can try dabbing rubbing alcohol on the stain to lift it right out. OR Hair spray can also be helpful in taking ink out of your clothing.
Heat Marks & Water Marks	On furniture	Mix equal parts of baking soda and regular white, non-gel toothpaste. Dampen the corner of a clean, soft white cloth with water and dip into the paste. With circular motion, gently buff the marks for a few minutes.
Candle Wax	tablecloth	Candle wax can be easily removed from fabric. Simply place two pieces of paper towels on either side of the stain. Then use a warm iron to run over the paper, which should absorb the wax from the cloth.