Show Notes for November 7, 2009

What the Carey Bros. & Rebecca Cole are Talking About:
On this week’s edition of On The House, the Carey Brothers and Rebecca Cole answered questions from around the country and gave away great gifts to some lucky callers. Some of the problems the trio help solved included removing grease stains from concrete and how to clean a dishwasher. They also had advice on insulation, water softening systems, and leaking faucets. When you’re in the middle of a project and wish you weren’t, check out On The House!

Also:
SIMPLE WAY TO CLEAN DISHWASHER
You should put Tang in your dishwasher to clean it. Citric acid is good for cleaning a dishwasher. The mild ascorbic acid, i.e. citric acid in fruits like lemons and in drinks with lots of vitamin C, like “Tang,” is ideal for cutting through soap buildup that results from putting in too much detergent. It keeps the pump from working too hard and the dishwasher from breaking down prematurely. Use it as you would regular dishwashing powder soap and set it to the “pots/pans” cycle.


CLEAN GREASE STAINS OFF CONCRETE
If your concrete driveway, carport or garage floor looks like an Indy-500 pit stop, we have a cleaning recipe for you. First, soak up the grease with some cat litter. Cover the area with a generous amount and grind it in with the soles of your shoes. Sweep it up and properly dispose of the soiled material. Next, saturate the area with a cola beverage working it into the concrete with a stiff bristle broom -- but not allowing it to dry. Once the cola has stopped fizzing, flush the area with clean fresh water. Whiten the gray stain that remains with a solution of one cup of powdered laundry detergent and one cup of liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of very hot water. Finish the job with a final rinse.


CLEARING CLOGGED DRAINS
An easy way to clear a clogged drain is to pour a half-cup of salt, a half-cup of baking soda and a half-cup of vinegar down the drain. Follow this concoction with at least two quarts of boiling water. That should do the trick!

More Information:
• One2flush - The leader in Water-saving dual flush conversion with flush valves to fit every toilet - standard 2 piece toilets with tank and bowl, the giant 3" flush versions and the newer 1 piece, low profile toilets.

• White Lightning caulks & sealants - Protect, beautify, and save energy with all the lines of their premium caulking.

• Premier Care in Bathing - Find out more bout the best walk-in bathtub/showers available.

• Lam-Hammer - a new tool that’s been developed for installing interlocking laminate flooring.

• Chef Jamie Gwen - Check out Chef Jamie’s website for great recipe ideas.

• Nuheat.com - One of the leading radiant electric floor heating system manufacturer.

• Affresh - Odor remover for dishwashers and washing machines.

• World Floor Covering Association - How to choose and buy floors for your home.

• Green Tip of the Week - A weekly series featuring easy tips to “green” your home.

• Home Maintenance For Dummies, 2nd Edition - A hands-on, step-by-step guide to properly maintaining your home, written by the Carey Brothers.

• Facebook - Become a Fan of On The House.

• Twitter - Follow On The House via Twitter.

• Recall of the Week - Samsung™ Over-the-Range Microwaves Recalled Due to Shock Hazard.

If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us or post on our new Home Improvement Forum and we'll try to help you find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!