How To Catch A Mouse Naturally
There are loads of methods on how to catch a mouse, but there are some natural remedies to catch some mice without using a trap. These natural methods will avoid you the pain of disposing the live or dead mice that you have caught using the traps. Consider the following natural suggestions:
Peppermint oil: it has been proven that mice like sweet, luring scent of food and that’s why they come and invade your home. Peppermint oil has a strong smell as we all know and it not only masks the smell of food but also keeps away any lurking mice as they hate the smell.
Mint: similar to the peppermint oil, mint is also known to repel mice. Just sprinkle some fresh mint leaves in the areas you know the mice like to frequent and you’re done. But make sure that you replace the old leaves with fresh ones on a regular basis.
Mothballs: mice usually look for comfortable hiding spots. You might find them in the boxes where you keep winter clothes, or in any old furniture. Just place some mothballs wrapped in tissue paper and place them in those areas. Mice will keep away as they hate the smell of it.
Seal of entry points: when you were not looking, the mice would have got in your house, but now that they have, make sure others don’t follow. Find out the potential entry spots of the mice and seal them using steel wool. They are way more effective than conventional wood or newspaper.
Onions: onions as we know have a very pungent smell and can deter mice from frequenting if placed strategically all over the house.
Flour or baby powder: these are useful when you’re tying to find out the access points and the most frequented areas around the house. Just sprinkle some around the suspected areas and look for signs of mice tracks.
Ammonia: along with peppermint oil, mint and onions, ammonia is supposed to be really strong and is known to cause irritation to even us. So all you have to do is take some, dilute in water and place it all around the house. But be very careful if you have pets or small children in your house. In that case try to avoid this method.
Remove food supplies: as we all know prevention is better than cure, so remove the top reason of the mouse’s to do list which is food. Once they don’t find things to eat they will look for other sources. So make sure you remove all the edible food items from scurrying places and keep them out of reach.
You will know that you are living in an area where there have been mouse sightings, to make sure they don’t pay a visit to your house, keep these remedies in mind and learn how to catch a mouse without complications, traps and maybe an army of exterminators.
Solar Power – The Pros
Advantages of using flexible solar panels
Solar power is a source of energy that is all around us. It is free to use and of course it is the ultimate in green energy. Solar energy is its own unique source of power, and these solar panels utilize that energy to power all of your portable electronics. Flexible solar panels allow us to use this source of energy in our daily lives. You can charge your Kindle or I-phone whether you are at home or traveling on vacation.
These panels have been designed to be folded or rolled up for ease of storage and transport. The thin film technology used to produce them uses slim layers of silicon which makes them flexible. They are lightweight for easy use during camping, hiking, and travel. With the new designs and advances in solar technology these thin film solar panels are more efficient than before.
These panels are designed to work in low light conditions such as in hiking in the woods. You will not have to find an open meadow or break in the trees to recharge you GPS or walkie talkie’s.
They can be rolled up and stored in your back pack when not in use, and then be carried wherever a source of low voltage power is required.
These solar panels come in a variety of power levels. They range from 5w-12v to 25w-12v.
Another big plus is that you can use these panels to recharge your marine batteries. This eliminates the concern of not having a fully charged battery when a storm is looming on the horizon. This is good insurance for you peace of mind when you are on your boat a long way from shore.
They provide an ideal solution for charging and powering walkie talkies, GPS systems, your portable web camera, and other small electronics when there is no conventional power source available. This type of solar panel provides a portable source of low voltage alternative energy. The newer versions of these panels are much more durable the earlier models.
These flexible panels have their own types of advantages over the traditional and more familiar solar panels. Portability and mobility are the major advantages over the traditional panels. They can be set up where and when we need them.
It is not necessary to have a flat surface to mount or use flexible solar panel absorb sunlight for power. The panel can be laid across a boulder of on top of your SUV. This type of solar panel provides is adaptable power source with many outdoor applications. Flexible panels will fit into clothes or a back pack.
Going Green With Junk Mail
Going green is both good for the environment and if approached correctly, it can save you money. Some of the tips I like to share are the green tips that don’t cost you money. The notion of recycling is one that is easy to implement in our daily lives, but how much thought have you put into the notion of recycling your junk mail? My practice is usually to go through my junk mail by standing right next to the recycling bin, and I just toss the junk mail into the bin as I am sorting it. However, there is a way to not only sort it, but recycle some of this junk mail for your own immediate use.
Here are some tips that will help you get some use out of all that junk mail that you receive, and how this can save you money at the same time.
Many people are in the habit of making “To Do” lists during their busy week, such as errands that need to be run, items that need to be picked up from the grocery store, calls that have to be made, etc. There is an entire industry built around the creation and sale of small memo pads at the office supply stores. They’re just handy to have. It’s easier to quickly jot your list of items down on a piece of paper than using those tiny little buttons on your smart phone. They’re portable and disposable, lightweight and require no recharging.
Instead of paying money for memo pads recycle your junk mail in this fashion:
Open each envelope of junk mail.
Then, sort the papers by size.
Create a separate pile of non-reusable paper, such as pieces that are completely covered in writing on both sides or the glossy finish type of paper that doesn’t take to handwriting well. Toss this pile into your paper recycling bin.
Stack the reusable papers so that the blank sides are facing up.
If the envelopes are blank on one side, consider reusing them for task and store lists.
Staple each stack of same-sized paper in the top left corner. Alternatively, you could also cut the papers down to a desired size (e.g. halve the 8 1/2 x 11″ papers, or cut them into quarters).
Now you have a scratch pad for quick memos!
Put one pad in your kitchen for grocery shopping lists.
Put one of them in your car so you have a pad ready to use when you are running around town. (Of course, do NOT write on your homemade memo pad when driving!)
Keep a junk mail scratch pad on your night stand to record ideas or things to do before going to bed.
For quick notes, stick one in your purse or briefcase so you have something to write on when you are on the go.
There you have it. With just a stapler and a sorting methodology, the world is now a greener place, and you’ll never have to spend money on a memo pad again.
Tips For Making Your Home Improvement Project An Easier One
There are so many projects that can be done around the house if you just have the right information to know how to do them. There are many tips to help you make the projects that you are considering come to life. Read carefully to gain as much knowledge as possible.
To create the appearance of depth in a narrow or otherwise constricted room, hang a large mirror on the wall. The mirror will reflect the wall across from it, providing the illusion of a deeper space. For an especially nice effect, hang the mirror across from a wall that is painted or papered in a coordinating-but-different color.
When you set up your vanity lights in your bathroom, pay close attention to the shadows they cast. You don’t want to have your vanity lights set up in such a way that it is difficult to see what you are doing or in such a way that you appear to be veiled in shadows when you look in the mirror. Your vanity lights should be positioned in a way that provides a clear, usable working light.
Make the entrance area to your home a useful and attractive space by adding these essential items: A table with a small tray for items like key chains. A larger tray for outbound mail and the like. A bench for removing wet/soiled shoes or boots. Coat hooks. A mirror for last minute appearance checks. Improve the organization of your home and life with feng shui tips
Make each room in your home look expensive by adding one high-end piece of furniture. Each room needs a focal point; otherwise, everything just blurs together and the room has no sparkle. Choose one special piece of furniture; a great armoire, a trompe l’oleil chest, an oversize mirror with an ornate frame or something else special and unique to dress up each room. Your friends will think you’ve hired a designer.
If you are renovating a small room, consider making use of built-in mirrors. The reflection from a carefully-positioned mirror will make a small room seem considerably more spacious. A mirror near the window can add more natural light to a dim room. Avoid overusing mirrors or placing them opposite of each other, however, as this can create strange lighting effects.
When remodeling your bathroom, make sure you add sufficient lighting. People tend to focus on fixtures when remodeling their bathroom, and forget that lighting is important. Find lights that you can add around your mirror or medicine cabinet, and add ceiling lights that can easily be replaced should the bulb die out.
When considering a bathroom remodel, think small. A small budget can still mean a big impact, that looks much more expensive than it actually was. Replace towel bars, toilet roll holders, the mirror, and your light fixture. Add a coat of paint to really spruce things up. Your bathroom will look modern and updated without leaving a dent in your pocketbook.
Use feng shui tips to help you complete the many possible projects around your house. Completing even the smallest project will not only improve your house, but it will make you feel great when you accomplish completing the project that you started. Try implementing some of the pointers and feng shui tips you learned in this article, and get started on increasing the value of your home.
Advice and Tips for Painting Your House
Painting your house is a fast and easy way to revitalize your home’s tired exterior or transform any room in your house. It can be quite a daunting task when deciding what type of paint color and finish to use when painting the exterior or interior of your home. Below, I’ve come up with several different paint colors and finishes that you may consider when painting your house, as well as descriptions highlighting each color’s best attributes.
Paint Finishes
Paint comes in a number of finishes, each suited to various purposes. You may want to consult a professional or a designer to find the right finish for every room of your home and bring out your home’s inner beauty.
Flat finish: This is typically used in bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms because it does not reflect light.
Gloss finish: This reflects light and is frequently used on areas of your home where you want to reflect light or accentuate parts of your home such as the trim
Satin/eggshell: This reflects a small amount of light and is typically great for hallways and common areas that you want to brighten up a little
Semi-gloss finish: A slightly less reflective gloss coating that is easy to clean. Often used in kitchens and bathrooms.
Paint Colors
Equally as important as the finish is the colors you would like to use. Again, if you’re not sure about which colors will work in various areas of your home, it might be helpful to consult a professional. In general, bright colors like red and orange will make rooms feel more cozy, whereas cooler colors like blue and green will tend to help open up a room.
White: Surprisingly, a bright white will help open up a room and make it feel a bit bigger. You can also use it as a backdrop or accent to other more dominant colors.
Red: This is a very bold color that can really brighten up a room especially if used in conjunction with other colors.
Blue: Tends to be a very soothing color that can help bring some calm to your bedroom, bathroom or other areas of the house intended to be quiet and relaxing.
Always remember, you can always paint over a wall if you don’t like its color or finish. You change your paint colors as often as you like and it’s a cheap, and home-improvement drastic overhaul for any room.