How to Clean and Maintain a Laminate Floor

Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.
Laminate flooring is a great choice for flooring. The surface is extremely hard and easy to care for.
The problem with laminate flooring is the composition of the fiberboard under the surface. Fiberboard will absorb water to cause swelling and warping. You do not want to use a wet mop to saturate a laminate floor with water. Water also leaves spots on laminate.

For day to day maintenance, you can keep your laminate looking great by sweeping or using a vacuum. If you use a vacuum, just use a soft brush head. A beater brush can scratch the surface. Next, use a microfiber mop to remove all light particles and debris. Microfiber will also wipe up water spots.

To clean a laminate floor, use a laminate cleaner rather than water. Using a microfiber mop, spray the head with the cleaner and mop your floor to remove dirt and stains.
For heavy stains, spray the stain with the cleaner and wait 5 minutes, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

You can make your own cleaner by mixing 1 part vinegar and 3 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Vinegar will remove almost every type of dirt and grime that ends up on your floor and it doesn't leave streaks or water spots.

Never clean your laminate with abrasives, scouring powder or abrasive pads. Never use a polish, varnish or wax.

Wipe up spills immediately. Protect your laminate from grit and particles, especially at an entry way. Use carpets protect from scratching.

How Do You Unclog a Drain

The number one reason for slow bath drains is hair. Hair gets caught on the crossbars at the opening of the tub drain and around the bracket that holds the stopper. By using a drain tool, you can unclog a tub with a simple push and twist motion. It's easy to use and you don't have to worry about dangerous chemicals.

Liquid drain openers don't work well at breaking down the hair that gets stuck at the opening of tub drains. They are designed to be heavier than water and go to the lowest point in a drain, so they pass right by the hair.

Try a drain tool like The Drain Claw for an effective way to unclog a drain.

The Best Ladder for Homeowners

Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.

I really like the 3 step platform ladder for homeowners. Each step is wide and secure. The top platform provides a stable work area that is easy to balance from for long periods.

I like the locking feature on most 3 step ladders. I would pick one with a top handle that adds security. I would also pick one that has a large shelf to hold tools and containers.

Review the weight limits on the model you are looking at to fit your needs.

Organic Pesticide and Natural Insect Control

Diatomaceous earth comes out of the container like a fine powder and feels a lot like talcum powder. For insects though, it has microscopic edges that act like razor blades. When insects crawl through the powder, it is drawn into their joints and cuts through their exoskeleton causing them to dehydrate and die. Safer adds a powerful bait formula to their diatomaceous earth that when ingested will also kill them from the inside.

How to Set a Mouse Trap and Where to Place a Mouse Trap

Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.
The house mouse is considered one of the most troublesome pests in the U.S. They can contaminate food and food prep areas with their feces, which causes food poisoning.

Mice have a keen sense of hearing and smell. They can jump 13" and slip through a crack the size of a pencil. They can produce 25-50 babies a year.

The number one food source in house for mice is bird seed and pet food.
The first step to eliminate a mouse problem is to remove any source of food or water. Store seed and pet food in air tight containers. The next step is to close off all access into the house. Seal any openings with expanding foam (such as Great Stuff) and steel wool which mice have a difficult time chewing through. You can also use caulk and steel wool to seal the openings. Plastic screen, wood, rubber or any gnaw-able material will not work.

If you have evidence of the mice such as gnaw marks and droppings, this will help guide you to their natural pathways and will help in your placement of traps and poisons.

Snap traps are simple, inexpensive and effective. Traps can be baited with peanut butter, chocolate or dried fruit. Use multiple traps.

Set the trap perpendicular to the wall and point the trigger toward the wall. Don't set the trap parallel to the wall. If the mouse comes from the back side of the trap, it will send it flying off of the trap.
Mice are very cautious, so baiting a trap that is unset will increase success. Set the trap after the bait has been taken once or twice.

Always wear disposable rubber or plastic gloves when dealing with mice.
Disinfect all areas contaminated by the rodents.
Place dead mice in a plastic bag and seal tightly.
Wash your hands thoroughly after any exposure to the rodents.

Install a Kitchen Sink

Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.
It is not hard to install a kitchen sink, but there is a lot of prep to do.

You will need to remove the drain pipe, turn off the shut off valves and disconnect the supply lines to the faucet. If you have a garbage disposal, you will have to disconnect the unit and the power supply.
Once everything is disconnected, the clamps holding the old sink in place need to be loosened. The old sink may have to be pried loose if silicone was used to seal it.

After the old sink is removed, you will clean off any old caulk, silicone or plumbers putty. For most kitchen sinks, you will put down a bead of silicone and lock it in place with clamps that are provided. Your sink will have specific instructions.

Primer for Paint

Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.
I show my favorite primer for paint. This is the product I suggest to my customers at the hardware store for most painting projects.

Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 is an all surface all purpose primer.  This water based primer dries quickly and can be painted over in just one hour. 

This primer works inside or outside.   It will stick to anything from drywall, wood, masonry and metal, to hard to stick to surfaces such as glossy paint, fiberglass, PVC, formica and even glass & tile.
Bulls Eye 123 is an amazing product that sticks without sanding the surface first (as you should do before applying most other primers).

For water stains, you should use oil based or shellac primer.  But for everything else, it's Bulls Eye 123.

You can use it in high humidity areas such as bathrooms or laundry rooms. 
 It is mold and mildew resistant.   It will also block out stains from crayons, graffiti, grease and tannins (the pigments that are responsible for a plant's color).

 For chalky surfaces like aluminum or previously painted siding, it will prime and seal the surface.   Bulls Eye 123 also inhibits rust on clean metal, eliminating a rust inhibitive primer.
You can also tint Bulls Eye 123. The best color to tint a primer is grey, no matter what color the top coat will be. Grey tricks the eye to blend with the top coat.

I suggest a primer for all painting projects to even out and fill the pores of the material being painted.   This gives a uniform appearance for the color and sheen of the finish coat.  
Primers are designed to adhere better to a variety of surfaces than paint.  Primers give paint a uniform easy to grab surface to stick to.