In fact, certain tasks-- when performed regularly--may actually prevent things from breaking in the first place. But when things do go wrong (and it's inevitable that they do), we have some backup plans that you can try before you grab the phone to call for pro. Appliances and plumbing are the most frequent offenders, but they also often can be the simplest to care for. From the gutters to the living room carpet, there's a reliable method for keeping every part of your home clean, safe, and well maintained.Drain odors are making your kitchen an unpleasant place in which to spend time.Pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain, let it stand for 30 minutes, then rinse with hot water.You're right in the middle of preparing that big Thanksgiving feast, when your kitchen sink chokes on all the grease that you've been allowing to go down the drain.Use a heating pad wrapped around the drain trap (or a hair dryer if you're willing to hold it there) until the metal becomes hot. This will melt the grease and allow you to flush it away with a running stream of hot water.

The odors wafting out of your garbage disposal are more fitting for a sewer than a kitchen sink.Disposals can retain food bacteria in the blades, making for an olfactory nightmare. Clean out the unit with a cup of white vinegar followed by a flush of very hot water.5 simple steps to prevent drain clogs.Stopping clogs is a battle fought on two fronts. First, you should be careful about what goes down the drain. Second, you need to take regular action to clear small deposits that inevitably form in any drain.1. upright vacuum cleaner dysonUse drain screens to keep hair, soap scum, and other solids from making their way into the drain.2. vacuum cleaner hepa reviewsNever pour grease down the drain, and clean greasy pots and pans as thoroughly as possible with a paper towel before cleaning in hot water in the sink.3. eureka vacuum cleaner review

Never dump chemicals such as paint or paint thinners down a drain--even a shower drain or utility sink.4. Clean all your sink stoppers regularly.5. Once a week (make it a regular part of your weekly cleaning schedule) pour boiling hot water down your drains.Your bathroom sink is draining little but your patience.55 The handy plunger is one of the best tools for a slow-moving drain. Fill the sink with a few inches of water to provide a good seal around the plunger. Next, stuff a wet rag into the overflow opening of the sink. Try to completely fill the opening so that you get a good seal. By blocking the opening, no air can reach the drain, which greatly increases the effectiveness of the plunger. Your drain won't--and the plunger you have isn't strong enough.In an emergency, you can use a wet/dry shop vacuum to help clear a clog. Put the mouth of the vacuum hose over the drain opening and seal around it with a wet cloth (also plug up any overflow holes). Turn the vacuum on and off quickly until the clog clears.

Soap scum and the residue of other body and hair products have packed your shower drain to capacity.If simple plunging, hot water, or chemical drain cleaners don't work, you may need a more powerful ally. Run a garden hose in through a nearby window and secure it in the opening of the drain (drying the shower floor thoroughly and duct taping the hose securely in place is a good option). Once you're certain the hose has been sealed in the drain, turn on the spigot full force and it should blast the clog free.Dangerous Additions: How not to unclog a toilet.Trust us, nobody likes to plunge a toilet. But the frustration that comes from having a clog can lead to some inadvisable home remedies. Never put boiling water down a toilet. Although it seems like this might break up a clog, the water in your toilet is cold (in winter, it may be very cold) and the difference in temperature can lead to damage to your toilet or pipes. If for any reason you put bleach into the toilet, do not combine it with any other cleaner or chemical clog remover.

The combination could create deadly chlorine gas. For most toilet clogs, the best answer is usually a mechanical one, such as a snake or-- sadly--the old-time plunger.A big rain has flooded your basement. And since it knocked out the power too, your usually reliable sump pump won't pump.If you live on a slope, try making a siphon. First, fill a garden hose with water from the outside spigot. Seal one end with your thumb and have a friend seal the other. Place one end through the cellar window and into the standing water. Then, have your friend carry the other end as far downhill as possible (the outlet has to be below the intake). Release your thumbs and let gravity do the rest.The water in the trap of your basementfloor drain dried up, and now your cellar smells vaguely of nasty, nasty things.Pour nontoxic plumbing antifreeze down the drain to fill the trap. You can use water in a pinch, but it evaporates faster than antifreeze, so you'll need to repeat the process more often. If you have pets in your home, make sure to block access to the area.

There’s nothing better than waking up on a Monday morning feeling oddly refreshed, and with the sun shining, birds singing and a basement flood. There are a million things better than that! But unfortunately, this was exactly how my Monday morning went last week. Because I don’t live in a flood area of Michigan, I’ve never really had to deal with major water damage let alone a basement flood. Sure, I’ve had the occasional back-up of water here and there (thanks to those pesky tree roots) but nothing that would fit the word “flood.” But due to the high amounts of rain we’ve had recently, what I woke up to that beautiful Monday morning was definitely worthy of the term. After assessing the situation and making sure that there were no broken or leaking pipes and the sump pump was still working, we got to work cleaning out the floor drains to help clear any blockages that might have helped contribute to the standing water. Then I took to the Internet to find out the best way to clean up the basement after a flood – and fast.

The sheer amount of information out there is overwhelming, so I compiled a list of what I found to be the most effective and helpful tips for cleaning up after a basement flood. Keep in mind, a flood can be anywhere from 2 inches to 2 feet (or more) of water, and that water can be sewage backup or rainwater (or a combination of the two). I’ve tried to pare down the information so that it’s applicable in any flood-type situation. First things first – protect yourself. You don’t’ know what is in this water that’s flooding your basement. It could be water pouring out of the hot water heater or it could be nasty water full of things like E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis…. Wear gloves, wear waterproof boots. If necessary, wear a mask or goggles. You may feel silly, but wouldn’t you rather be silly than sick? Next, disconnect the main electricity to the basement. Even if you have only 1 inch of standing water, there could have been a short, or some other electrical issue.

Do not be the person to get electrocuted in 1 inch of water. Determine the cause of the flood.  If the flood is a result of a broken pipe, turn off the water at the shut-off valve. If it’s a backup from a blocked drain, do your best to unblock the drain – rent an auger, remove any visible blockages, anything to get water flowing OUT. Open any available windows or doors to let fresh air in. You may need it if your flood was caused by a block in the septic line. Now, get the water out. If you have only a few inches, you should be able to remove the water yourself. If you have to wear a life jacket just to assess the damage, then call a professional immediately. Depending on how often you have to worry about floods, you may want to invest in a submersible water pump. They come in a variety of sizes and prices, and they work really well to remove water quickly. Otherwise, grab your towels and wet vac and elbow grease cos you’re in for some water haulin! Run a dehumidifier and fans.

This is the best thing to do once the bulk of the water is removed, and you have determined that there are no electrical issues. A dehumidifier helps prevent mold formation and removes the moisture out of the air. The dryer the air, the less water-damage restoration you’ll have to do later. A good tip to remember – shut the windows when you’re running the dehumidifier. You’ll be working against the great outdoors, and ultimately yourself, if you forget this step. By this point, most of the water is gone and thus, the wet stagnant stink. Carpeting is a problem. If you have nice carpet with padding, I hate to say it, but chances are you’re going to have to rip it up and replace it. Getting the water out of the padding and subflooring is tricky but possible. There are plenty of resources available to help with this. Additionally, a professional restoration company may be able to salvage your carpeting, but it may be cheaper to just replace it. If you have just simple berber carpeting with no padding, like I do, then you can dry it out successfully if you move fast during cleanup and employ the use of a lot of fans and dehumidifiers.

If possible see if you can lift the carpet to dry underneath. That will help considerably. Your electric bill won’t thank you but your lungs will. The thing you’re looking to avoid is mold. Remove any damaged drywall. Drywall acts like a sponge when it’s wet – soaks it up and hangs onto it for dear life.  Plaster walls can be saved, but you need to get some air behind the wall to the dry the studs. If you do get mold, most resources tell you that you can use a combination of bleach and water to kill it. While this may work if you have concentrated chlorine type bleach, most of the bleach we have on hand is diluted pre-purchase. So by mixing it with water, you’re further diluting it and it becomes even less effective on mold on porous materials. YOU CAN, however, use this bleach/water mix on most hard surfaces like plastic toys, ceramics, glass, stainless steel, etc.  The best thing to use on any porous material is a fungicidal spray directly on the affected area. The most important thing of all is to disinfect every surface.

Every single thing that touched water needs cleaning. Hot water, heavy-duty cleaner and a scrub brush. This is the worst part, but it’s 100% required. I worked in a grid throughout my basement, taking each section in a small square, slowly making my way through the entire area. Then, when I was done surface scrubbing, and the floor was nearly dry, I rented a carpet steam cleaner and scrubbed with that. You definitely don’t want to take chances with any sort of bacteria or contamination thinking it’s ok to just crash in your basement for a while. It’s the roommate who never pays rent, eats all your food and leaves the toilet seat up. In other words – the worst kind there is. Finally, when in doubt throw it out. I had to throw away dozens of boxes and clothes. At one point, I just stopped opening boxes and started throwing them out. Even though I was sad to have to get rid of some things I cared about – a ton of books! – I felt physically lighter knowing that all of that STUFF was gone.

I could have saved some things, sure. There are ways to dry out books, paper, clothes, things. But you have to consider if it’s worth the time and the work you need to invest to avoid getting sick. Some sources tell you to throw away any pillows, stuffed animals or other plush-type materials immediately. Others tell you they can be cleaned. I think the takeaway here is that it depends on the level of water damage and for how long it’s been exposed to the water. In my case, we had about 4 inches and the water had only been there for a couple of hours at most. The blankets and pillows were wet, but not soaked, and weren’t completely gross. We took them to the industrial washer/dryers at the laundromat and they managed to clean up just fine. Use your best judgment. If it looks unsalvageable, it probably is. But remember, the most important thing when cleaning up a basement flood is getting rid of the water. While that may seem the most obvious, sometimes, people go through boxes, sort through things that can be saved, or wait to decide if they can do the cleanup themselves or hire a contractor.