Live in the Tampa Area? Watch Mrs. FIXIT on Bay News 9

You can catch Mrs. FIXIT on Bay News 9 in Tampa on Thursdays and Sundays at :53 past the hour from 5:53am through 4:53pm! If you'd like to meet Mrs. FIXIT come to the Tampa Convention Center this Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1:30 and 3:30 at Florida's Largest Home Show! It's just that simple!

Broom for Improvement

When you're sweeping a room, work from the outside edges in toward the center, this way you'll be sure to get all of the cracks and crevices around the perimeter.

1. : Before you use your dustpan, wipe it down with a used fabric softener sheet. Eliminating the static from the dustpan will help the dirt slide off easily into the garbage and not end up back on the floor or in the broom closet!

2. When you're finished clean your broom. Sound strange? Well, think about it, you would never not rinse a mop or a cloth so spend a minute on the broom. I keep an old comb in the broom closet for quick removal of dust bunnies and dirt. Once a week of so, rinse the bristles under cool water in a utility sink. This will keep the broom in better condition and help it to last.

3. Finally, never store your broom on its bristles, it will bend them and then they won't work as well. Hang the broom in storage to keep it in tip-top shape.

Live in Tampa? Tune In this Morning 970WFLA - 9am

Mrs. FIXIT will be talking to Jack Harris & Tedd Webb on AM Tampa Bay on 970WFLA Tampa! Tune in at 9am for all off her money saving tips and information on Florida’s Largest Home Show where she will be appearing this weekend!

Florida’s Largest Home Show
Tampa Convention Center
Labor Day Weekend – Friday Sept 2-Monday Sept 5
Opens at 11 each Day
Event Specifics @ www.bighomeshow.com

Wondering What's Coming Up on Mrs. FIXIT?

This week on Mrs. FIXIT –

DORM TOOL KIT: When you’re thinking of a dorm tool kit, think of multi-purpose! I have some items that your college student can use to make their year a little easier.

NAPKIN RINGS: We all have them, stashed in a drawer. They seem like a good idea, but how often do you use your napkin rings? Pull them out; I have some ideas for you.

Timesavers

If you have ever found yourself spending a lot more time on a project than you should, here are some easy time savers that will help you.

1. To mark the same measurement several times, wrap a rubberband around a yardstick.

2. Use a quarter to open a can of paint. Put it in the lip of the can and turn it.

3. To sharpen a dull utility knife, slide the blade back and forth along the strike panel on a matchbox! It will sharpen that knife in no time!

4. If you don't have a rubber mallet, cut a slit in an old tennis ball and put it on the head of any hammer. It will act as a buffer and protect your project.

5. If you stick a magnetic strip to the side of your hammer you'll be able to keep track of tiny nails while you're working.

6. Pull a saw through a bar of soap before you start using it and you won't have to keep stopping to clean the sawdust off of the blade!

Caring for Cane

Caning is beautiful, but not if you can't use it because the seat is sagging. If you don't want to go to the expense of re-caning it, you probably don't have to, you may be able to revive it, and put that chair back to use.

1. Put a kettle of water on to boil, and flip the chair upside down on your sink so that all of the caned area is over the basin. If the chair won't fit on the sink you can use any large basin to rest it on.

2. Spread a hand towel over the bottom part of the caned seat, and then go get the boiling water.

3. Very carefully pour the boiling water onto the towel and let it seep into the caning. Leave the wet towel on the chair for at least five minutes so that the water has a chance to seep into the reeds.

4. When the five minutes is up, take the towel off and wipe away any excess water. Let the chair air dry for about forty eight hours before you try sitting on it. You won't believe how the caning will shrink, and make that chair useable and beautiful once again.

Clean Awkward Spaces

Tight and awkward spaces can be hard to clean. Don't get frustrated. Here are some ideas.

1. If your ceiling is so high that it prevents you from reaching cobwebs, slip a tennis ball inside an old knee high. Gently toss the ball to the ceiling. It may take a few tries, but those cobwebs should come down in no time.

2. To get the small space between the wall and the refrigerator, tape a feather duster to a yardstick. This extension handle will help you reach all the way back in there.

3. If you can't get the corners on a glass front cabinet clean, grab a cotton swab and dip it in your cleanser. The swab is small enough to get rid of all that dirt.

Come see Mrs. FIXIT in Tampa!

Mrs. FIXIT to Appear at Florida's Largest Home Show Come down to the Tampa Convention Center this Labor Day weekend and meet Mrs. FIXIT in person and find some great ideas for all of your home projects!

Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal makes kitchen clean up a whole lot easier, so take care of yours. Well, here are some easy maintenance tips to do just that!

1. To keep the disposal running well don't overfill it, run plenty of cold water while it is on and never put large bones, fruit pits, chicken skins, grease or any stringy items like celery down the drain.

2. If your disposal starts humming or buzzing or shuts off suddenly, turn the switch off, and look down the drain. If you can see what caused the jam use a pair of kitchen tongs to remove it.

3. If the problem was caused by an overload, wait five minutes and then push the reset button that is on the bottom of the machine. If you don't want to crawl around under the sink trying to find the button, place a mirror on the bottom of the cabinet so you can see the button easily. If your disposal doesn't have an automatic reset button, it likely has an internal mechanism that will automatically reset the unit in about five minutes.

What's up on Mrs. FIXIT?

If you’re wondering what do you do with excess tile from a home improvement project? Reuse it, I have some ideas and if the best way to clean and care for your leather is escaping you, I have some tips to help.

If you don't get Mrs. FIXIT on your local news station - call them up and tell them you want to see Mrs. FIXIT on TV - It's just that simple!

Glue Gun

Do you have a glue gun in your toolbox? No, well you might want to consider it; because it's a super versatile tool!

1. There are three basic types of glue guns, high melt, low melt and dual temperature. High melt guns are for more heavy-duty applications. A low melt is more for craft and floral projects, and the dual temp - you guessed it, for both. The only trick is to make sure that you use the right type of glue stick for your gun!

2. If you do a lot of projects on your own a glue gun can be an extra set of hands. Run it along wood or trim pieces and put them in place, it will set up in about five seconds and free up your hands to add a more permanent fastener while keeping your work in place.

3. A glue gun is the perfect tool for reattaching loose trim on upholstery and lampshades, or use it to add embellishments to a plain item.

4. I like to keep my glue gun on a cookie sheet or another metal tray. This way if it leaks or tips over you don't have to worry about something getting burned.

5. Another tip, if your glue sets up too fast and you need to reposition, aim your hairdryer at it for a few seconds. It will soften it up enough to move it where you need to!

Pete & Brenda on Facebook

Join my friends Pete & Brenda daily for their fun radio show. This husband-wife duo Pete & Brenda couldn't be more different. Living life & marriage out loud & laughing everyday!6-9am ET 93.5 LIFE-FM www.935lifefm.comComing Soon - "One Pete in a Pod & Brenda Too," The P&B Daily Podcast. I join them every week to share tips and tricks to make your life at home a little easier! It's just that simple!!

Dusting 1-0-1

Here it is dusting 101. My favorite ideas for getting dusting done in less time with better results

1. Put together a little dusting kit. First, the tools, include a dust mop that you won't use for floors, dust cloths, good choices are cotton socks, gloves, diapers or cheesecloth, paintbrushes for getting dust out of crevices and used dryer sheets for quick cleaning and cutting static

2. Then the cleaners, your favorite polish, some lemon oil, toothpaste for removing white moisture rings from wood before dusting, various shades of waxy shoe polish for covering scratches

3. : Off to work. Start from the top! Use your dust mop to clean dust and cobwebs from ceiling moldings, and the tops of doors.

4. Use a paintbrush for ceiling fixtures. Once all of the high areas have been hit, pull on the socks or gloves, or grab two cloths. Spray each with some polish and clean doors, casings, and furniture, working with both hands at once will get the job done quickly and you're less likely to miss a spot!

5. Dust electronics with used dryer sheets, the static cutters will help repel dust and keep those items cleaner, longer.

6. Pay attention to areas that are often missed while you're cleaning, like light bulbs, lampshades, baseboards, and pictures. Dusting 1-0-1!

Wash Day Wonders

Does it seem like laundry is a never-ending chore? Well, I have some tips to make your washday woes disappear!

1. When washing a brightly colored item for the first time, add a teaspoon of Epsom salts to the water to keep the material from fading or running.

2. No epsom salts? Soak brightly colored clothes in cold salt water before washing them, it will help set the colors and keep them brighter.

3. When you're washing whites and you run out of bleach, add three tablespoons of peroxide in its place.

4. Peroxide will also remove blood stains on white clothing. Just use a cotton swab to dab some on the stain, wait for it to fizz up and then launder it as you usually do. The stains will disappear.

5. Accidentally wash a wool sweater or blanket? No problem. Soak it in lukewarm water and hair conditioner. A tablespoon of hair conditioner per gallon will loosen those fibers so you can reshape the item.

6. Washing shower curtains or vinyl tablecloths? Add a cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle will keep the plastic pliable and lasting longer.

Looking for Granite?

Visit my friends at Vallar's Tile & Marble in Syracuse - they'll always point you in the right direction!! It's just that simple!!

Mirror Care

Does your mirror reflect the fact that you're not really sure how to keep it shiny and clean. If so here are the ideas that you need.

1. Keep some baking soda in your medicine cabinet. A little on a dry cloth will buff those water spots away without a trace.

2. To clean your mirror, try a little cold tea. Just dip a lint free cloth into the tea and scrub the surface. Then wipe dry for a sparkling reflection!

3. One of the biggest problems with the bathroom mirror is that it gets all fogged up. For a quick de-fogging, aim your hair dryer at the glass. The dry heat will clear the fog in no time. To prevent the haze from coming back, take a cloth and rub a layer of shaving cream all over the surface. Keep rubbing it until the cream has disappeared. You'll have a fog free mirror for a few weeks.

Shower Head Clog

Do you barely have a trickle left in your shower because of mineral deposits and soap scum? Well, I can show you how to get rid of that build-up with products you probably already have in your home.

1. Remove the showerhead and put it in a bowl of undiluted vinegar. Let the fixture soak for a couple of hours. When you take it out of the vinegar, if there are some stubborn spots, just brush them with an old toothbrush until all of the scaling is gone.

2. If you cant get your shower head apart - don't worry, just fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it to the shower head with some heavy duty tape or string. Then let the bag soak overnight. In the morning the showerhead will be clean and deposit free. Just remember never to use vinegar on brass or brass plate.

3. For a faster clean up, in a small bowl mix together 1 teaspoon of alum and a quarter of a cup of lemon juice. Saturate a rag with the mixture and scrub the fixture the deposits will literally disappear.

Smart & Simple Ideas!

Necessity is the mother of invention, and that is exactly where these tips came from. I have some simple and easy solutions to some common problems.

1. Everyone knows that window blind cords are a chocking hazard for kids, but what do you do if you're traveling or renting and their not tied up. A couple of suction hooks is all you need. Stick them to the window and wind the cord up and out of the reach of the kids. (These hooks are also great for organizing necklaces so they don't get all knotted up in the jewelry box. Just hang them inside your closet door and drape the chains over the hooks).

2. If you need a temporary place for organizing guests to hang extra towels, try a wreath hanger. It fits neatly over the door to hold the towels and it can be stashed away when you don't need it.

3. If your mattress slips and slides all over the place a length of non-skid rug padding can help. Slip it between the mattress and a box spring. Problem solved.

4. Throw rugs can be slippery too, but because they're so light sometimes rug pads won't work, the fabric doesn't hold like it should. Flip the rug over and apply rows of clear acrylic latex cover to the underside of the rug. Let it dry and flip the rug back over,. It will give you a non-skid surface that has a real grip!

Carpet Stains

Kids, dogs, and company can lead to stains on your carpets, but with a few basic stain removal tricks some of the most common carpet stains shouldn't cause you problems anymore!

1. Act quickly, blot - don't wipe, as much as you can. If there are solids, scrape them away. As you treat the area work from the outside in so that you don't spread the stain.

2. For older stains, mix together a couple of teaspoons of dish detergent, 3 teaspoons of white vinegar and a quart of warm water. Use the solution and a clean sponge to gently blot the stain away.

3. For a fresh spill, quickly blot as much as you can. Spray some white shaving cream on a cloth and scrub the stain with that! When it's gone blot the area with a cloth and clean water. (If you don't have shaving cream, try powdered laundry detergent, warm water and a soft brush on the spot. Repeat until it disappears.

Baby, Baby!

My executive producer just had a new baby - If you have a new baby in the house you know how much work it can be. I thought I would repost these ideas to help you out!!

1. Forget expensive changing table covers, buy a set of king size pillowcases. They fit perfectly over the changing pad and you get two so you can have one on the table and one in the wash!

2. A standing silverware caddy is the perfect place to stash baby bath items. It will easily organize soaps, lotions and washcloths and it is portable so you can take everything you need with you wherever you are.

3. A pasta pot is a great tool for sterilizing all of those bottles and pacifiers. Just boil the water and pop in all of the baby stuff. Just pull the strainer insert out to drain water away. It's a lot faster than using tongs to pull out piece by piece.

4. In addition to all of your baby items, keep your favorite stain pre-treater in your diaper bag. This way, if you're baby gets messy while you're out you don't have to worry about those stains setting on those precious clothes.

5. A box of zip top plastic bags is also great to keep in the diaper bag, from messy clothes to dirty diapers to clean pacifiers the bags are indispensable. Just be sure to keep plastic bags away from the baby!

Care of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is a low maintenance alternative for the exterior of any home, but it can get dirty. All you need to do is clean it once or twice a year. I like to wash mine in the fall to spot any problem areas before winter and in the spring to freshen it for the season.

1. Before you clean your siding, take the time to cover any plants and shrubs with plastic tarps to protect them from excessive water.

2. Add a cup of white vinegar to a large bucket of lukewarm water.

3. Use a high-pressure attachment on your garden hose to spray away as much dirt, grime and cobwebs as possible.

4. : Reach high areas without climbing by using a car washing brush with an extension handle to scrub away any remaining dirt.

Car Cleaning Tips

Everybody wants their car to look great, here are some easy things that you can do to help.

1. To get tar and tree sap off of your car spread some boiled linseed oil on the tar and let it sit for a few minutes. Once the tar is softened you should be able to remove it with a paper towel. (You can also rub either tar or sap with mayonnaise to get rid of it.)

2. For bugs on your windshield and headlights, take an old nylon scrubber that you use in the shower and scrub with soap and water. If you don't have a shower puff you can use a bunch of old onion bags. The bugs will come right off.

3. Bumper stickers can be removed with nail polish remover on a soft cloth. Peel down a corner and run the cloth up and down the underside of the sticker while the goo loosens.

Refrigerator Maintennance

If you have dust bunnies residing under your refrigerator, and mystery smells lurking inside, here are a few quick ideas to keep that refrigerator in tip-top condition and smelling great!

1. To clean underneath the fridge, try covering a yardstick with the leg of an old pair of stockings, and run the yardstick under the appliance. The dust bunnies will grab a hold of the stockings for an easy clean-up.

2. To keep your fridge running efficiently, you should check the seal every so often. Do this by closing a dollar bill in the door, and then try to pull it out. If you feel a little tug then you have a good seal. Or, if the bill slides easily, it's time to get a new seal.

3. To keep the fridge smelling good, you can put a box of baking soda inside. Or keep it smelling sweet, just soak a paper towel with vanilla extract and wipe down the walls of the fridge.