Believe it or not, I do not really give wall clocks a whole lot of thought on any given day.  Sure, there are some very cool wall clocks out there, but it isn't something most people think about unless they are actively considering the decor of their home.

This past weekend, I had a bit of a freaky experience that made me think of a few decorative wall clocks from my youth.  It also got me thinking about some of the more contemporary wall clock offerings available today.

Considering Wall Clocks

One of my favorite weekend activities is hitting the local yard sales and estate sales.  I especially like checking out the estate sales because you can find tons of unusual things on any given weekend (usually at pretty good prices).  You have to  be willing to deal with the luck of the draw though.  You never really know what you'll find.  In the past, I've found some really great bedroom furniture, wall mirrors, a large sofa table... You name it.  My neighbor Phyllis heads out religiously every weekend, with her husband in tow, looking for decorative furniture that she can refurbish.  We often share our weekend shopping stories.  (More on this later)

Anyway, I stopped at one particular estate sale the other day, and felt like I stepped into a time machine.  Apparently the lady who passed away never updated anything after about 1975.  The neat thing was, it looked like she bought most of the stuff that was in my parents' house when I was growing up.  In particular, there were two large wall clocks that were exact matches for clocks I had learned to tell time with when I was growing up!  That's the freaky part.  One was a very large sunburst wall clock, that I remember having a really hard time reading, and the other was a basic square kitchen wall clock that had a silver background with different colored balls where all of the numbers should have been.  That one taught me to know where the numbers belong without seeing the actual numbers.  I bought them both.  I don't know if I'll ever put up that funky kitchen wall clock, but the sunburst one is going up in my game room for sure.

My Neighbor's Take on Wall Clocks

So this is where my neighbor, Phyllis, comes into the picture.  Apparently, she does think about wall clocks.  I told her my little tale and showed her my freshly purchased retro wall clocks.  She listened dutifully and admired them a bit.  Then she went on to tell me about how wonderful wall clocks are for decorating.  That is what I thought I'd share to make this more than just a post about my shopping adventures.

It seems that a lot of people like to use big wall clocks for more than just telling time.  They are becoming one of the more popular accessories around the house for sprucing up boring walls.  I can't argue with that, I suppose.  I was never a big fan of large, generic paintings created by people I don't know.  They are OK, but landscapes and bowls of fruit sort of bore me after a while.

Other popular options in time keeping devices include cuckoo clocks (I've always wanted one), neon wall clocks (had one in college, but broke it), and grandfather clocks.  I really do like grandfather clocks with a working pendulum.  I've never had one, but that is one oversized clock I'd love to add to the entryway of my house.  I can still remember the distinctive chime sounds that came from the antique grandfather clock in my Grandma's house when I was little.

This little foray into the world of timepieces has been a real walk down memory lane for me.  If you are looking for a way to add some interesting decorative elements to your boring walls, try thinking beyond those starving artist prints you've been using.  Along with the retro wall clocks I've been reminiscing about, there are also some very cool contemporary wall clocks available today.  If you are analog challenged, there are even digital wall clocks to help get you where you need to be on time.  So there you go.  I've now spent more time thinking about this subject than I have since I was little and learning how to tell time.  I think I've got it out of my system.  Now it's time for you to get yourself a couple of wall clocks for your own home!

Shown above are a few of the more interesting wall clocks I found selling on Amazon.

My Review of the Cuisinart Griddler

The Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler is a great kitchen addition. Click the image above to see more reviews and product details.

The Cuisinart Griddler has become a featured appliance on my kitchen countertop this year.  I came across it when I started searching for panini presses last year.  My kids fell in love with these sandwiches after a local restaurant started featuring them, and I figured I could make them at home for far less than the restaurant was charging.  The fact that the Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N acts as a griddle & panini press, just turned out to be a nifty bonus.

For years, Cuisinart has been known for making quality kitchen products.  They make outstanding cookware, and for that reason Cuisinart has become a name that is trusted and looked to when people want to purchase outstanding products for their own kitchen.  My first Cuisinart product was a food processor, and it lasted for years.  After seeing the quality provided by that handy kitchen product, Cuisinart became one of the first brand names I looked for when the time came to buy a blender, a stand mixer, and even a coffee maker.  I haven't been disappointed yet.  The Cuisinart Griddler continues the tradition of top quality products.

The Cuisinart Griddler as a Grill

My favorite way of cooking, personally, is on the grill.  There’s just something special about it, and I really enjoyed the whole experience.

Unfortunately, the weather where I live does not allow me to go out and cook on the grill for a good portion of the year.  I have found the Cuisinart Griddler to be a good tool for getting me through my days without access to the grill.  As you might guess, I like using the Cuisinart Griddler most as an indoor grill top.  That is only one of its many functions however.  This stainless steel countertop unit can also be used as a griddle (full or half) and as a very handy sandwich press.  It has helped to introduced me to the world of creating Panini sandwiches at home, and I may never eat a sandwich on the plain bread again.  This unit is very versatile, but it is not very big.  It measures only 11.5 x 13.5 x 7.1 inches.  For some people this might not be much of a consideration, but I have limited counter space, so I appreciate the fact that I do not have to clear everything out of the way to use this unit.  The fact that the Cuisinart Griddler has earned a regular spot on my rather small counter should speak for itself.  It gets put to use around here.

This may or may not matter to you, but this is a pretty nice looking addition to the countertop.  It has a hinged top and a very nifty Panini style handle.  Because of the way the machine is designed, the top will adjust to fit the thickness of whatever you are pressing.  If you like to see grill marks on your sandwich, you can use the grill plates included with the Cuisinart Griddler.  If you prefer not to see these marks, simply use the griddle plates instead.  Indicator lights at the bottom of the unit allow the user to know that the heat is at an appropriate level.  The unit also features two gauges that show temperature and a function selector.

Previously, I owned a Foreman grill.  I eventually stopped using it because I disliked cleaning it so much.  It worked well enough, but the hassle of cleaning that thing was enough to earn it a trip to the garage sale box after I used it less than ten times.  I'm happy to report that the Cuisinart Griddler poses no such cleaning issues.  The nonstick cleaning services can be removed and then washed.  This may or may not be a deal breaker for you, but I really like the convenience of this feature.  To make things even more convenient, the drip tray and plates can even be safely placed in the dishwasher.

Actually, because the Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N is so easy to use and easy to clean, I have felt motivated to experiment with cooking a variety of foods on it.  So far, in my experience, the only thing I don't think it would do well with, is cooking soup!  I used to cook in a restaurant back in the day, and the Griddler has motivated me to cook things that I have not felt like making in ages.  I have used it to make everything from steak to eggs.  It has really made cooking fun again for me.

I tend to cook by “feel”, but if you like more guidance, the adjustable temperature and easy to follow indicator lights will keep you on track.  The griddle tops out at the temperature of 400° F but it can be scaled down all the way to 200° F.  Health conscious cooks will probably be happy to see how much fat runs off of the food and collects in the drip tray when they use the Cuisinart Griddler.  This of course, is fat that will not be getting into your diet.  Note that some users have complained about the drip tray, so your mileage may vary.

So, to recap this little Cuisinart Griddler product review, I do like this unit.   It has easy to work with controls, it looks good, fits on my countertop and it will adjust itself to the thickness of whatever I am cooking.  There have been a couple of times that I wished that the temperature would go higher, but that is something that I can live with.

Overall, I would say that the Cuisinart GR-4N is a product well worth adding to your kitchen.  When I checked on Amazon, these were listed far below their suggested retail.  I would highly recommend checking the Amazon price even if you are thinking of buying it locally.  You can also read more customer reviews there.  If you have been looking for either a panini press or a griddle,  the Cuisinart Griddler can meet your needs and give you even more versatility than you expected!

I used to scour the local ad papers looking for cheap carpet cleaning deals.  Although I did find some decent deals from commercial carpet cleaning companies, it always bothered me that I could just be doing the work myself and saving a decent bit of money.  Whether it's in anticipation of approaching holidays or some other type of gathering or just because it appears to be time for it, sooner or later we all decide it's time for a carpet cleaning.  Particularly with the economy being in the tank for a long time, many people's thoughts will turn to the search for cheap carpet cleaning.

Finding Cheap Carpet Cleaning Services

There are a variety of options available when it comes to carpet cleaning services.  At the low end, cost wise, is going off to a local home center or super market and renting do it yourself equipment.

Do it yourself carpet cleaning is surely the number one choice when it comes to cheap carpet cleaning.  However, it seems unlikely that anyone would argue that it produces results that can be compared seriously to shelling out for professional carpet cleaning.

If your carpets are relatively new or otherwise have managed to avoid serious traffic (or pets!) and your goal is merely to freshen them up, do it yourself carpet cleaning may be a good option for you.

Be aware, though, that carpet cleaning is hard work.  In addition to having to move the furniture (you are going to move the furniture, aren't you?!), you'll have to schlep the equipment home and back to the store, set it up, supply it with hot water any number of times, and vigorously work the wand to do the cleaning and dirt extraction.

If you decide to do it yourself, consider whether you are going to have issues with significant staining.  While all carpet stain removers that you can find at the store claim that they'll remove all the stains, the truth is that some stains on some carpet fabrics are beyond their reach.  Think ahead about whether you'll actually be able to remove a particular stain before committing to be responsible for the result.

Commercial carpet cleaning services not only have superior equipment to do the job, but they are knowledgeable about stains- they deal with them day in and day out.  They know what issues particular carpet fabrics present.  Most importantly, they have access to cleaning solutions that the government thinks that the average Joe is too much of a dumbkopf to use safely.  When it comes to serious carpet stain removal, you may want to consider consulting the pros for some carpet cleaning quotes.  You certainly don't want to mess up and accidentally set the stain permanently.

The biggest advantage to using a professional carpet cleaning service is that they have powerful equipment that just can't be matched by the do it yourselfer.  Many commercial carpet cleaners make a very substantial investment in truck or trailer mounted units that supply a constant flow of hot water to where the work is.

In addition, they have incredibly powerful pumps to deliver the cleaning solution and suck it back up.  While all cleaning agents will leave some residue on your carpet, a professional cleaning system will suck far more of it back for disposal than you could hope to with a rental unit.

If your focus is on getting cheap carpet cleaning, you can often hire a professional to do it for less than you might think.  One important clue- don't wait for the approach of the holiday season.  This is their busiest time of year and they'll be working overtime to meet the demand.

The Hoover MaxExtract gets tons of rave reviews. Click the image above to see some of them and to get product details.

The Short Route to Cheap Carpet Cleaning

An idea that has worked out remarkably well for my family is sharing the cost of a decent carpet cleaner with relatives.  We split the purchase price of a Hoover MaxExtract Dual V Carpet Cleaner and have not had a single regret.  I was the one put in charge of research for the purchase and I read many carpet cleaner reviews.  The MaxExtract looked like one of the top models available without getting into commercial units.  It didn't take long to see that this machine stood out from many of the others with a comparable price.  It had excellent reviews and it looked powerful enough to handle what we would need it to do for us.  My wife and I split the purchase price with my wife's parents and her sister's family.  We all live within fifteen minutes of each other, so it is never really a problem getting the machine when we need it.  It cost us less than $75 for unlimited access to an excellent carpet cleaning machine.  Each of us bought our own cleaning chemicals.  That wasn't really planned, it just worked out that way, but the cost of those was pretty reasonable considering we have been using the machine and still have plenty of cleaner left.

Of course, if you decide to split the cost with family or friends, you're free to get whatever type of machine you like, but with the great performance this machine provides, I don't personally see any reason to pop for something more expensive.  Of course if you want a commercial machine, they are there for you, but I'm happy with this arrangement and I think the Hoover MaxExtract Carpet Cleaner is worthy of recommendation.  We've got two dogs and three kids and it's taking care of our carpeting just fine.  It also does a nice job on cleaning up the sofa in our living room using the hand attachment.  If you want cheap carpet cleaning, it is hard to beat paying what we did and being able to use the machine whenever we want it.  Considering how much even the best carpet cleaning prices were, I think we did very well on the deal.  We've already gotten our money's worth, without a doubt.

If you have an interest in a machine like this, I recommend checking out what is available on Amazon.  When I looked locally, I couldn't find this exact machine and to be honest, the prices I found locally did not really impress me too much.  Here are some images of the machine that you might want to check out.

If you end up getting this machine or some other one, please be sure to come back and leave a comment.  We used to hunt around for cheap carpet cleaning services, but now I'm pretty much sold on this approach.  If you read my post about the Shark Vac Then Steam, or the Troy Bilt Cultivator I bought, you probably already know that I really like helpful gadgets around the house.  Splitting the cost of these things  with close family is something I wish I'd started doing a long time ago!  It's a great way to make cheap carpet cleaning options even cheaper.

The Troy-Bilt Electric Garden Cultivator/Tiller does a great job for an electric model. Click the image above for more details and reviews.

Why I Bought a Garden Cultivator

I never thought I would end up owning an electric garden cultivator.  I've always been a bit of a gas powered machine snob.  I should start off by saying that although my gardening has fallen off in the past couple of years, I used to do quite a bit of it.  I also used to have a lawn care/landscaping business when I was going to college.  After I got out of that business, I sold off most of my commercial equipment and settled into just taking care of my own yard.  I quit buying equipment that was overkill for the most part, but I never lost my preference for gas powered tools.  In my opinion, electric garden cultivators were for people who couldn't handle the power of gas cultivators and tillers.  I admit it now... I was wrong.  Sometimes professional garden tools that cost four times as much are not really needed.

This spring I decided that I was going to resurrect my old backyard garden space that had grown over with grass during the past couple of summers.  My little boy is old enough to help out and enjoy it with me now, and I remember how much fun it was working in the garden with my two daughters when they were his age.  So anyway, the thing that was bothering me was the prospect of digging and turning all of that compacted clay soil by hand.  I enjoy working outside, but chopping up clay is simply not an enjoyable way to spend the weekend.  I’ve done it before and I was never really able to get the soil anything like “loose” using the shovel and chop method.  In past years I had borrowed a tiller from a neighbor, but his old machine finally bit the dust, so I was on my own.  The idea of buying a new garden cultivator was born.

I have toyed with the idea of buying a heavy duty tiller for a few years now.  Obviously it didn’t happen.  The idea of spending five or six hundred dollars for a piece of equipment that I might use three times a year at most, just seemed silly to me.  I did actually go so far as to rent one once, but after I got it home I found out that the rental place had the adjustment pin locked into place so that it could only till about three inches deep.  In other words, it was useless to me.  I took it back and got my money refunded for the day’s rental.

Back to this year…  I really wanted to get a garden going this season.  So I started reading a lot of reviews.  I looked up reviews for several garden cultivators and mini tillers.  I also poked around a bit checking out full size tillers that were much more expensive.  My wife was even on board with buying a gas powered machine that was selling for $399.  It was advertised in one of the Sunday paper inserts for Sears.   The reviews for it were not good though.  The thought of having a four hundred dollar paper weight sitting in the shed next year kept me looking at what people were recommending.  I finally followed a trail of four and five star ratings the the Troy-Bilt TB154.  Yes, it is an electric model, and that did give me pause.  As I said, I’m a big fan of gas powered machines.  The cost however was about a hundred dollars less than the gas model that seemed to have about the same size tines.  Also, as I mentioned the reviews were glowing.  Long story short, I bought the Troy-Bilt electric cultivator / tiller.  It is smaller than what I originally thought I would end up buying, but honestly, for what I need it to do, it is more than sufficient.

Now, when I bought this, the urge to break down and charge a gas powered machine would not stop nagging at me.  I recalled how much better my gas powered hedge trimmers, chain saw and string trimmers had always performed compared to electric models.  I kept remembering the reviews though.  I’m glad I did.  Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever in my life been impressed with an electric garden tool, but this one rocks!  As soon as I got it home, I wheeled it to the backyard and ran an extension cord to it.  As I expected, it did struggle a bit with unbroken ground covered in established grass, BUT, I spent about five minutes loosening the ground with a shovel and this machine went to town!  It broke down the clay soil into a very workable consistency with hardly any effort at all.  Seriously.

An Inexpensive and Efficient Garden Cultivator

So here is what I did and how long it took.  It was late afternoon and my wife wanted me to grill some food.  I got my handy dandy charcoal starter chimney out and fired it up.  It usually takes about half an hour to get the charcoal to the point of being ready.  While it was working, I spent about ten to fifteen minutes turning over the grass in one section of where the garden is going to be.  Understand, I was not chopping it up, just breaking it up a bit and flipping it so the machine could get a foothold.  The area I worked for this little test is about four feet wide by about twenty feet, so call it 80 square feet.

When I hit the area with the machine, it had no trouble at all tearing through it.  I got that whole section done with the machine just as the charcoals were getting done.  Elapsed time from start to finish was probably less than forty minutes.  Very nice.  I don’t even want to know how long that would have taken to get to the same condition working by hand.  I’m sure my back would be feeling it though.

After dinner, I came back and went after an area where some vines had become somewhat established.  The Troy-Bilt cut through them, but they did wind around the tines.  I was getting ready to spend some time trying to cut them out, when I realized that all I had to do was pull a pin on each side to remove the cutting tines along with the mess of vines.  Total time to remove four tines and replace them was under two minutes!  That earns another thumbs up from me.

Atlantic Giant Pumpkin

The little garden cultivator I bought only weighs about 35 pounds.  That is a plus for handling, but that does mean that you won’t be able to count on the weight of the machine to break new ground (but you knew that anyway).  I am truly impressed by not only the performance, but also the price.  I also want to mention that this garden cultivator / tiller starts just by pushing a button and squeezing the handle down.  There is a cutoff button that stops you from overloading your electrical box in the event you hit some major snag, but it resets just by pushing it.

This thing made getting the soil ready so easy that I decided to start another growing project with my son this season.  This week I’m getting another area ready and we are going to plant some giant pumpkin seeds.  I also did that with my daughters when they were little and ended up with a pumpkin that was about one hundred pounds.  That isn’t world record size, but it was still the biggest pumpkin on the block.  It would have been bigger if the vine hadn’t broken.  It should be fun.  If you have little kids, I recommend giving it a try.  I'll probably post about this little project soon.

Some final thoughts on the Troy-Bilt garden cultivator / tiller and similar machines…

• If you are looking to prepare an entire yard for seeding, this is not the machine for you.  You should look into something bigger and more powerful.  I've never tried to push any electric garden cultivators to their max, but they certainly aren't made for plowing up acres of land.  The larger Troy Bilt tillers got find reviews, but I didn't want to spend that much on garden equipment that would only receive light use.
• For an established garden, this machine is an excellent choice.  It makes light work of the chore of preparing the soil.  It just isn't made for sod busting.
• I still would not try anything cordless in the garden, unless it was running on gasoline.
• These garden cultivators do not guarantee weed free gardening.  My recommendation for easy weeding is to put down something like a layer of garden fabric after you have used your cultivator or tiller.  Then, stay on top of the weeding chores so that they never get a chance to establish themselves.
• I did consider a Mantis tiller because another of my neighbors owns one.  It was smaller than the garden cultivator I bought though, and cost about a hundred dollars more.
• Although the commercials make them look like a nice alternative to a powered garden cultivator, for me, smaller garden tools like the Garden Weasel just were not a real consideration.  The ground around here is just too tough for such a lightweight garden cultivator.  This would be a nice piece of garden equipment for working between the rows of an established garden though.  I'm all for weed free gardening, and it looks like a nifty little weeder if you've already got loose soil to work with in your garden.  (The same goes for the idea of a high wheel cultivator.)
• Honestly, I am very glad that I didn't spend the extra hundred dollars on the gas powered version.  I still have no interest in electric mowers or trimmers, but the Troy-Bilt TB154 electric garden cultivator truly impressed me with its performance.

Before I start this Shark Vac Then Steam review, I should say that I've always gotten a kick out of watching those "as seen on tv" commercials when they show up.  Infomercial products are shiny objects that fascinate me.  I'd love to try them all just to see if they really do what is promised.   The Shark Vac Then Steam is one of the products that caught my attention, even though the commercials are relatively short.  It is sold as a one piece solution to the hassle of sweeping and mopping.  One machine built to do both jobs efficiently.  Most times, I don't buy the things I see for sale on television. I'd have a garage filled with Magic Bullets and Bedazzlers if I didn't show some restraint. Now my mother-in-law on the other hand, LOVES to buy the stuff you see on TV. Maybe that is another reason why I usually don't pull the trigger on the purchase. I know that my wife's Mom will buy one of everything for me to try eventually!

Shark® 2-in-1 Vac Then Steam™ is a real time saver. Click the image above to read more reviews and to see product details.

So I found out that yet another Shark sweeper had joined the extended family. My in-laws already had a Shark Navigator upright vacuum, but the lure of steam cleaning home appliances was simply too much to resist. On our next visit I decided to ask if I could see a demonstration of the Vac Then Steam.  I normally don't have much interest in steam mops and cleaners, really, but I do like to check out the latest gadgets when they appear.

My Own Shark Vac Then Steam Commercial

I know this sounds goofy, but that's just how our family is around each other sometimes.  Believe it or not, I was given the honor of being allowed to dump pepper and sugar on the pristine tile floor in the kitchen.  That was pretty strange, and I half expected some fast talking infomercial guy to come busting out of the closet, but it still makes me laugh thinking about it.   The Shark Vac Then Steam made short work of the mess, and my mother-in-law looked pretty pleased. The demonstration of the new Shark vacuum wasn't done yet though.  Next, she pointed out some dirt near the door that her husband had tracked in earlier in the day. It was dried on to the tile and it was going to serve perfectly for her next demonstration. She made a very quick switch over to steam mode and let 'er rip. Sure enough, after just a few passes, the floor was sparkling. In the commercials they like to point out that the steaming hot tap water kills all kinds of nasty microscopic stuff. I can't confirm or deny that, but it looked good and there was no streaking left behind.  It was also dry almost instantly.  For people considering the Shark Steam Cleaner, I'd have to wonder why you wouldn't want the Shark Vac Then Steam that also includes the convenience of a vacuum.

Finding the Best Deals on the Shark Vac Then Steam

This all was good enough to convince me that the Shark Vac Then Steam would be a worthwhile addition for our home. We've got three kids and two dogs.  One of the dogs seems to have a life mission of making muddy paw prints on the kitchen floor. I figured that the money we'd save on Swiffer supplies in the long run might pay for the vacuum eventually. I was ready to just buy one locally, but I've gotten into the habit of checking for online deals over the past year or so. Most of the basic information was the same on the sites I checked, but I found that Amazon offered a little bit better deal than what I was finding anywhere else.   I found a couple of listings on Amazon when I looked, and it took me a minute to figure out why.  One deal offered a 30 foot cord instead of a 25 foot cord and it also included eight extra micro-fiber mop heads ($100 sold separately).  You can find that deal HERE.   I also like to deal with Amazon, because so far, every package I've received from them has arrived on time and containing the correct items.

So what about the product details?

The Shark Vac Then Steam is a member of the well know Shark vacuums family. They've gained sort of a cult following of faithful devotees. The major selling points/benefits of this model are that it will not only clean up the loose stuff on the the floor in vacuum mode, it can easily (flip a switch) be switched over to steamer mode. Using nothing but good old H2O, it uses steam to loosen stuck on messes from hard surfaces. I personally love this part because in the past we have flown through those throw away Swiffer pads trying to keep up with so many people tracking through our kitchen, entryway and the hardwood floors we have upstairs. For those concerned with weight (of the vacuum, not their own), the Shark Vac Then Steam is actually a very light and maneuverable unit. It weighs only 6.6 pounds.  The head on this vacuum is ten inches across, so it isn't really meant for getting into the tightest of spaces, but I still manage to move it around under the kitchen table.  The standard unit comes with a 25 foot cord, which is long enough for me, but some people might need an extension cord if the prospect of changing to a different outlet is too daunting.  This link will take you to the 30 foot cord listing details.  If you prefer the shorter cord and no extra pads, you can find that HERE at a lower price.

Wrapping Up

The Shark Vac Then Steam does what it is supposed to do very well. It sucks up little debris like sand, dirt and other similar spills with ease. It is not meant to pick up rocks or other, similarly sized floor debris, so if you routinely have gravel scattered across the kitchen floor, you'll be disappointed. Honestly, I usually pick those larger items up by hand anyway when I'm doing my initial pass through the room looking for small toys that have been left behind.

After vacuuming up the loose stuff, this Shark vacuum does a very nice job of using steam power to remove stuck on messes. I like this vacuum a lot because it seems to be made for the kind of cleaning we do around our house on a daily basis, and it makes short work of it. Some people have said that they were disappointed that the water tank needed filled after twenty minutes. I personally don't usually have to use the Shark Vac Then Steam for more than fifteen minutes, max, so it has never been a problem for me. If it did run out, I don't think that putting some more water in the tank would be anything I'd complain about, but that's just me.

Finally, although I haven't mentioned it yet, I do like the fact that the Shark Vac Then Steam gets the job done using nothing more than tap water. I'm not someone who rages against commercial cleaners or anything, but I do have two dogs who often feel the need to sniff and lick anything new they come across.  I've found that my floors dry very quickly after using the Shark Vac Then Steam, and there is nothing left over for the dogs to accidentally ingest.

The majority of the Shark Vac Then Steam reviews I found agreed with my assessment for the most part. This unit was easily assembled, is light weight, offers a reasonable price, and does what it is supposed to do. It looks like my mother-in-law picked a winner.  If you have an interest in vacuums & floor care, you can read more Shark reviews HERE.

In case you are interested, here are some of the other popular Shark vacuums that you can check out.

One of the options shown above will probably be perfect for your needs.  As I mentioned, my own preference is the Shark Vac Then Steam, mostly because I enjoy the whole 2 in 1 tool idea.

Who Needs Garage Storage Solutions?

There is a lot of unused space hidden overhead in most garages and that will play a huge role in finding garage storage solutions for many people.  It seems that garage plans are not on the top of the priority list for many home builders, or at least they weren't in the past.  Learning how to make the most of that potential storage space can free up other parts of your living area that receive heavier use and the bonus is, there are plenty of products to help you do this without spending a fortune.  This is what I've learned in my exploration of garage storage solutions.  What follows is a couple of garage ceiling storage ideas that can really help to open up space without spending a fortune on the project.

Before you go crazy trying to suspend everything you own from the ceiling, realize that sometimes the best thing you can do, as far as getting organized, is to simply get rid of some stuff so that you can see what your garage design has to offer. Take a look at what you have taking up room in your garage. Is there anything that you haven't really had a use for in the past couple of years? Guess what? You will most likely just push whatever it is from side to side indefinitely until you finally tire of the game. Sometimes you don't need a storage solution, you just need a nudge to get rid of some junk.

I decided recently that the time has come to look into some innovative storage solutions.  I used to sell alot of merchandise on eBay, and I also bought truckloads of estate sale merchandise that now take up way too much space.  I haven't been doing any selling recently, but I have too much invested in what I do have to simply throw it all away.  The idea of finding some type of garage storage units has been running through my mind for a while, and I finally decided to take some action.  I've been doing some research on the types of overhead storage systems that are available for purchase recently.  Some people like to build loft type structures themselves, but I'm not particularly handy when it comes to such things.  Besides, I like researching and learning new things!  What follows is what I have learned during my investigations of ceiling mounted storage.  There are many different styles and types of overhead storage systems.  Prices vary of course.  Most people will look for a storage solution that does the job right without costing a fortune.  I think that most people will mainly be considering these four things:

1. Price.  The cost of these units is relatively low as home improvement type items go.  I like to look around for the best prices both locally and online.  I'll be examining two storage units that are both available on Amazon at reasonable prices.  I really enjoy the convenience of having things delivered right to my door.

2. Material.  You will probably want to purchase an overhead storage system that is as sturdy as possible.  Metal is usually used in garage storage racks that are pre-fabricated, but some do it yourselfers prefer to work with lumber because it is easy for them to work with on their own for custom designs.  That rules me out.

3. Capacity.  The units I've narrowed it down to are both rated to hold 250 pounds, but you also have to consider how much space they actually save.  Some people mount these units toward the back of the garage so that they are completely out of the way of the garage door.  This allows you to get the most available storage space out of them as there is no need to worry about the garage door running into anything.

4. Accessibility.  If you are able to get up and down using a ladder and you have a helper to hand things off to, you can usually go with something that stays in a raised position.  Some people need to be able to raise and lower the storage unit for loading and unloading.  This is certainly more convenient, but this added mobility does add to the cost of the overhead storage unit.  Still, having a garage storage lift is very convenient if you have to put away large or cumbersome items by yourself.

Assuming that you have already done away with the things you don't really need, it is time to consider what to use to actually take advantage of all of that overhead storage space in the garage.  The good news is, you can get a very good system put up for a relatively low cost.  If you are a do it yourself type of person, you can build a rig of your own, but honestly, for what quality systems cost today compared to the cost of the raw materials you would have to buy, it might make more sense to go with a product that can be purchased.  I'll be mentioning two products that perform similar functions here.  The main difference is the ability to raise and lower the storage area for ease of access.  Both products are sturdy and made to handle up to 250 pounds according to the manufacturers.  I have narrowed the field down to these two units because they are both well constructed and relatively easy to install.

HyLoft 540 45-Inch by 45-Inch Overhead Storage System,

One great thing about the HyLoft 540 is that several of them can be used together to create massive amounts of storage space.

The HyLoft 540 system is one of the most popular overhead storage systems going.  More than 200 Amazon users felt compelled to come back and comment on its performance, and it still manages to keep a 4 1/2 star rating out of a possible 5.   That is pretty impressive when you consider that a lot of people are more likely to come back to complain rather than to pass along compliments.  There are a few reasons that people are so sold on this product.  First of all, it can hold a good bit of "stuff".  It is rated at 250 pounds.  It is also designed to accommodate several of the standard size storage totes that are so popular today among homeowners.  The number of totes (or other items) that it will hold depends on how you decide to set things up.  These units are adjustable.  How adjustable?  Well, you can adjust their height to go anywhere between sixteen inches and 28 inches.  That one foot of play can help out a lot depending on how high your ceilings are and how much space you want to be available over your head.  It also comes in very handy if you are installing the system in an area with a sloping ceiling (like an attic).

Many people like to use more than one Hyloft 540 unit in their garage to cover the entire width of the garage.  Each unit is 45 inches inches wide.  That is just under four feet, so if you are looking to have these span your entire garage, you could divide the entire width (in feet) by four to get an estimate of how many units you would need.  Of course how much actual storage space this will provide also depends on how high or low you set them to hang.  These are constructed of steel wire with a powder coating that is meant to keep it free from rust.  That certainly is something to consider if you have a damp garage, but most people are mainly interested in how much storage space they provide.

Installing the Best Garage Storage Solutions

Of course you should follow the manufacturers instructions when it comes to installing this, or any, unit.  Gravity is not a very forgiving force, so you'll want to make sure that everything is secure.  One of the advantages of this model is the ease of installation.  The maker touts it as a one person project, but of course a second set of hands never hurts.  The Hyloft storage system can be mounted from both finished and unfinished ceilings and it does include the hardware needed to complete the installation.  Before you roll your sleeves up on this project though (or any other ceiling storage project) make sure that you have a decent quality stud finder.  If you are going to suspend 200 plus pounds from the ceiling, you want it to be secure.  Some people are comfortable with finding their way around the edges of joists by driving in finishing nails, but I prefer making as few holes as possible.  Although this storage system is built to be a little bit forgiving on the measurements, you certainly wouldn't want to mess up on the main points where you are mounting it.

Analysis:  This is a very well designed garage storage solution that can be put up without a lot of muss and fuss.  With a rating of 250 pounds, it holds its own against the competition and these units lend themselves very well to multiple installations across the entire ceiling which really maximizes your storage space.  The price per unit is very reasonable.  At the time I'm writing this, Amazon has it for sale at well under list price.  You can click HERE to see the current price as well as over 200 user reviews.  The downside of this product for some people would be the fact that it is not designed to be raised up or lowered.  That is not a big consideration for some, but it could be the make or break point for others with personal mobility issues.  For a unit that is meant to go up and down, consider checking out the...

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack

Why not let the Racor PHL-1R do the heavy lifting for you?

As I mentioned above, this is a unit that IS designed to be raised up and lowered down to accommodate people who either don't want to climb ladders or who have other issues with lifting heavy items onto and off of the storage unit.  Because it does more (raising and lifting), this unit does cost more than the Hyloft model.  It also require more precise installation. With that said, it is still one of the most popular units of its kind. It can be raised and lowered by using an attachment that fits onto a drill.

The installation of this unit seems to be its major downside.  The joists need to be 48 inches apart or you could run into issues.  I don't usually start writing about something by focusing on the downside, but I wouldn't want anyone to buy this without realizing that they may have to have some knowledge and a bit of patience to get the job of installation done correctly.  Of course I suppose you could always pay for a professional installation, but I think that most people prefer being able to put things up themselves if at all possible.  You can read some reviews related specifically to installation HERE.

Now for the upside.  If you need an overhead storage unit that can be raised or lowered with relative ease, the initial installation may be worth any trouble it causes.  This is a four foot square platform that can be raised and lowered up to eight feet.  If you are not a math fan, that works out to 16 square feet of surface on which you can place up to 250 pounds.  That isn't a bad load size, but you are definitely paying for the raising and lowering ability.  The maker does not mention this, but it seems to me that this would also be nice for people who already have a loft area built in a large storage shed.  It would certainly make getting heavy boxes into place much easier.  I suppose that would be using it as an elevator of sorts.

Analysis:  As I'm looking at what I've written, I'm sure my personal leaning toward the Hyloft design comes through.  That is only because I am not in need of lifting and lowering capability though.  The Racor PHL-1R is actually a very capable and well rated unit.  It too has received multiple positive reviews on Amazon because it stands out among its peers.  The installation of this unit is more involved because of what it is able to do when the project is done.  It also has an overall Amazon rating of 4 1/2 stars out of a possible five with 183 people weighing in as of this writing.  That is pretty darn good. Learn more about it HERE.

The unit you will decide upon will definitely depend a lot upon your personal needs.  For me, the Hyloft 540 is a perfect fit.  For my neighbor who has some trouble getting around, it would require making calls to relatives or friends any time he needed to get something down.

Some General Information About Overhead Storage

When I very first started looking into the whole area of garage storage solutions, I asked an acquaintance of mine for some tips.  Their response is what follows.  You'll notice that they are more prone to do it yourself projects.  That is why I started doing my research.  I am much more interested in something that is going to make my home life easier, not give me another project to complete.

Some garage doors are almost flush with the ceiling but most are not. Overhead garage storage systems are the perfect solution to make this space available for storage.  Transforming this hidden space into usable storage is an easy DIY project that can be built from scratch or a kit.

To hang a bike from the garage ceiling, buy two large hooks from a local hardware supply store. Stand the bike on the ground and measure the distance between where the two wheels touch the ground.  Space the two hooks this distance apart in a ceiling beam.  Turn the bike upside down and hang it by the hooks from the wheels.  This method can be used to hang many things from the ceiling if space allows.  For heavy items like canoes, attach the hooks to a board and raise and lower the board with a pulley system.  This also works for tall ceilings.  Just remember to anchor the rope around a cleat or the items being stored will come right back down!

Other things that can be hung from hooks include garden tools, fishing rods and plumbing supplies.  Two hooks hung parallel will hold anything long and thin.  Hooks with rubber coating will protect the things in storage better than metal hooks.

To store large outdoor storage boxes or odd shaped items in the garage ceiling, build a suspended platform if you are handy enough.  Use 2x6 boards to build a frame.  Nail plywood or particle board over the frame.  Use slotted steel strips or install another pulley system to attach the platform to the garage ceiling.  The more weight on the platform the sturdier the support will have to be.

There are also storage kits available.  Some of these attach directly to overhead beams while others employ the pulley system.  Storage kits will cost bit more than things you build yourself but they will probably look more aesthetic.

If you are not really interested in doing any work yourself, then you may want to consider paying a company who will get you all set up with your overhead garage storage. Here is a video showing off some of the pre-fabricated garage storage solutions available to homeowners today.

Does Your Netgear Router Work with Your Nook?

My Netgear router and my Barnes and Noble Nook want nothing to do with each other.  I recently went through a bit of a pain in the neck ordeal and I thought I would take a minute to post what I learned.  I received a Barnes and Noble book reader (a Nook first generation) as a present recently.  I was very excited to put it to use and, following the directions that came with it, I sat down in front of my PC ready to download some books to read.

NOTE: Since writing this, I changed to a different brand of router and everything works perfectly with my Nook... go figure! I don't know if Netgear and Nook ever got things straightened out.

This is where I ran into my first problem.  After doing some research and talking to several people on the phone and in person at Barnes and Noble, I learned that there seems to be an issue with Nooks connecting via a Netgear router.  I spent quite a bit of time on the telephone with a nice lady from Barnes &Noble support, but her an advice basically boiled down to I would have to get in touch with Netgear to see if they could do anything on their end.  Whenever I tried to find support for my router, I learned that since it was no longer under warranty, I would have to try to make most of the information available in their forums.  Most of what I found there was simply people complaining about the same problem I was having.  Nobody seemed to have an actual answer about how to connect a Nook with a Netgear router.

I did not really have a problem with not being able to connect via WiFi except for the fact that it seems to be the only way you can register your Nook.  Until you register your Nook, it is basically an expensive paperweight.  I do not live near any Barnes and Noble stores, so making a quick trip to one was not anything I could have done conveniently.  I also was not crazy about doing my initial signup in a public place other than Barnes &Noble.

Today my family and I ventured out to a restaurant that my wife wanted to try for her birthday.  It just so happens that it was a bit of a drive, but it was also located near a Barnes &Noble store.  Realizing that, I took my Nook along with me.  I also made sure that I had signed up for an account at the Barnes and Noble website before we left.  Just as a note, when you do this, you have to give them a credit card number.  I explained my situation to a very nice lady who worked at Barnes and Noble.  She acknowledged that there was a problem with connecting via Netgear routers.  She then walked me through registering my Nook using the free Barnes and Noble WiFi in the store.  It was actually quite simple.  She also took my Nook into a mysterious back room and downloaded the latest Nook software onto it.

I was hoping that when I got home I would be able to connect using my router, but it still did not work.  Undaunted, I still purchased a Nookbook and downloaded it to my computer.  After looking around for a bit on the Internet, I found that you can do this and then, with the Nook connected by a USB cable, drag the book from your computer onto the Nook.  What confused me was that I assumed you would drag it to the folder for eBooks, but what you must do is drag your downloaded book to the My Documents folder on the Nook Drive.  Once you do this, you can find the book on the Nook and start reading.  I also learned today, that this is called side loading.  If you have a WiFi connection that works, you’ll probably never have to worry about this.

Now that I am actually able to see something on my Nook, I do think that it is a nifty little piece of equipment.  I sort of wish that it lit up, but it does not.  You need an external source of light to be able to read what is on the page.  Still, I like it and I’m sure I will give it plenty of use.  I should also note that the model I have is the first addition.  Barnes &Noble has since come out with new and improved models to keep pace with Kindle readers.

I know that this is nothing earth shaking, but I’m hoping that it can save some folks with Netgear routers a bit of wasted time.  There is not much information out there and no one seems to know any answers. Just go to a Barnes and Noble to register, and then side load books you want using a USB cable.  You could also do your registering and book downloading somewhere else with a WiFi connection.  The main point of this post was to let owners of Netgear routers know that they aren’t just imagining their connection difficulties when using a Nook.  Hopefully they will have this resolved in the near future, but for now, it seems to be an issue.

I should also mention that I am otherwise happy with the performance of both my router and the Nook.  They just don’t seem to play well together.

I Discover My Need for Wrapping Paper Storage

I never even considered the idea of wrapping paper storage for most of my life.  Honestly, I'd never even heard of a gift wrap storage container.  On the odd occasion that I would need gift wrap, I'd consult my own personal wrapping paper organizers (my wife and daughters). What finally got me thinking about the topic was when our current systems started to break down on us.

You see, we somehow got into the habit of using the empty space under the bed as a convenient place to keep those long unwieldy Christmas wrapping paper rolls that only got pressed into service once per year. For no reason in particular, it seems that our gift wrapping paper for birthdays and other non-Christmas occasions is almost always the kind that comes folded in packs.

Actually, there is a reason for the large collection of gift wrapping paper covered in Christmas designs. My wife loves to hit the after Christmas clearances when the cheap wrapping paper is at its cheapest. Anyway, suffice to say that we usually have multiple rolls stored away out of sight. The idea for purchasing and designating a wrapping paper storage container came during the wee hours of the night after someone had been doing some wrapping. A couple of the rolls had not been pushed all the way under the bed and, you guessed it, I wiped out as I was going into the first turn at the bottom of the bed. No major injuries occurred, but it’s no fun falling down in the dark when all you wanted to do was get a drink of water.

A Wrapping Paper Storage Solution

Now we have actually purchased a couple of different wrapping paper storage devices to hold all of the post holiday paper purchases. One is a long fabric bag that zippers shut. It has pockets built in for holding wrapping essentials like tape and scissors as well as plenty of space for the rolls themselves. We also got a long plastic paper storage bin built just for this purpose. Both work well and were pretty inexpensive. You can sometimes find these in stores, but it gets harder once the holidays are past because retailers want to use every bit of available space for getting hot selling items in front of shoppers.

I’m including links to a couple of the more popular wrapping paper storage devices available on Amazon. They do a good job of keeping the paper from being ruined from too much handling and they also keep those awkward rolls out of everyone’s way. I do recommend keeping tape and scissors with the stored paper. It makes it much easier and convenient when the next gift wrapping occasion comes up. You can check some of them out right here.  I've found that if you have kids, it is worth it to simply go ahead and invest in some extra scissors and tape.  The kids need them a lot for school projects or random creative expressions that involve cutting things up and then sticking them back together.

This Rubbermaid Wrapping Paper Storage Organizer is a very popular choice. Learn more about it by clicking on the image above.

The 40 inch Rubbermaid wrapping paper organizer that is shown here is a very popular choice and it gets great reviews. It has a low profile, so it can fit under the bed, but it is also sturdy enough to stand upright in a closet. That's great if you want to eliminate the possibility of finding it with your toes when you are getting into bed at night. I actually like this better than the plastic bin option for wrapping paper storage because of its ability to stand up and because there are no worries about a lid popping off and spilling the contents all over the floor.  Yes, I've been there and done that.

Now, since you are here, and you are looking for ways to store wrapping paper, I thought I'd also include a helpful little video about the actual wrapping of presents. I'm sure that some people out there received step by step instructions on how to wrap a gift when they were younger, but I wasn't one of them. I sort of figured it out on my own after wasting copious amounts of gift wrap and delivering many presents that looked like they were wrapped by a monkey with two broken thumbs. I hope that if you face a similar challenge, the video below will help. This is just for wrapping a basic box. Start with baby steps.:)
How To Wrap a Gift Video

Some final thoughts and tips on wrapping paper storage and home storage in general:

• When it comes to holiday storage and holiday organization in general, I was always sort of lax.  I finally forced myself to buy some plastic bins and other assorted organizers and spent a weekend getting things organized.  I highly recommend doing this.  It is a pain in the neck to do at first, but it makes things SO much easier the next time you need to find something.
• My wife also bought a craft storage rack recently that we use to keep all of our commonly used arts and crafts items together.  It was another good investment.  There is no longer a twenty minute search for essential craft items involved when a homework project calls for glue, scissors, yarn, and colored pencils.
• Consider buying holiday cards in bulk right after the holidays have ended and prices are dirt cheap.  Use these "generic" style cards for those acquaintances who are still on your holiday mailing list, but who don't require cards with a special message.  Get yourself a cheap greeting card storage device to keep them safe until next year, or put them into one of your other holiday organizers so that they are one of the first things you see next year when you start unpacking.
• Finally, when you are buying an organizer to help with wrapping paper storage, buy something that will meet your needs, not necessarily the cheapest thing available.

Looking for the Best Way to Catch a Mouse?

So, you want to know how to get rid of mice in your house? Well, it is little comfort to hear that the best strategy is to not let mice in your house to begin with, so I’ll save those tips until the end. If you are not used to dealing with these nasty little critters, seeing mice in the house for the first time can really freak you out.  Figuring out how to get rid of mice becomes a top priority in a hurry.  I remember the first time I saw one up close and personal. I was five or six years old and our house was next to woods. My older sister and I were watching TV in the game room when we saw a gray streak go sprinting across the floor. My sister about lost her mind right there. I didn’t know what it was until I heard her screaming MOUSE!


Anyway, if you’ve got mice in the house, you’ll want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. They are quite attracted to each other if you know what I mean. I’ve read that if you don't take steps quickly to get rid of mice, they can have up to twelve or thirteen litters over the course of a year. That means that they can quickly become more than a nuisance.  You can find yourself living in the middle of a full blown mouse control problem. Mice can spread some very nasty diseases, and they can get into just about anything. You want them gone. If you have been looking for a reason to get a cat, you're all set.

Here (directly below) is a small array showing some of the most popular products available today designed specifically for getting rid of mice.  These examples are available on Amazon for pretty good prices.  Clicking on any of them will show you details about each one.

How to Get Rid of Mice: Mouse Traps That Work

At this point some of you might be curling up in your chair feeling something like my sister did when she saw our little visitor. Now you have to decide on a course of action. You could go straight to calling a mouse exterminator, but that can be expensive. Depending on your situation, you might want to try taking care of things on your own first.  Whatever you decide to do, you need to take action quickly.

Spring Loaded Mouse Traps

Probably the most common solution that people go with, when it comes to mouse extermination, is a spring loaded mouse trap. Victor mouse traps are probably the ones most Americans are familiar with.  The Victor "V" is well known with experienced mouse hunters.  These mouse traps are efficient and cheap.  In my opinion, these are the best way to catch a mouse.  If you want to give these a shot, place them near where the mice hang out. If you know of a hole where they are living, place the mouse trap near it. If you just know a general area where you have seen mice, place it along the area where they run.  For these mouse traps to do any good, you will have to find the best mouse trap bait for the mouse in your house.  I have found that marshmallows with peanut butter smeared on top of them make a pretty good mouse trap bait.  It stays in place and does a good job of getting the attention of hungry mice.  You may want to secure the mouse bait in place by tying it down with a piece of dental floss (not mint flavored).  I’ve also heard of some people adding a drop of vanilla extract to the mouse bait just to make it a bit more irresistible to the mice. From what I’ve seen, baiting a mouse trap with cheese works a lot better in cartoons than it does in real life. You want something sticky that smells good to them. If you have other pets, make sure that their access to the trap area is blocked.  This tip about protecting other pets also applies to using poison pellets, mouse glue traps, and any other pest control products that could potentially harm them.  Mouse poison and dogs should be nowhere near each other.  Your pets may also go after baited mouse traps, so be sure to take precautions.

How to Set a Mouse Trap

One of the most daunting parts of the whole "how to catch a mouse" problem is how to set a mouse trap.  I'll bet that there are people who avoid these snap traps just because they don't want to whack themselves.  Fortunately, I was able to find a very handy video showing the right way to set a trap (along with what NOT to do).  Take a look.  A picture (or video) is worth a thousand words!

How to Get Rid of Mice with an Electronic Mouse trap

We’ve all heard the challenge of building a better mousetrap, and people keep on trying. There are electronic mouse traps that use battery power to deliver a lethal jolt.  You might also hear these referred to as electric mouse traps, but they do not plug in to a wall socket.  These are a good option for people who prefer to avoid the possible gore of a traditional trap. Once the mouse is dead, you just dump it out and dispose of it properly. There are also various no touch traps that work something like a traditional trap. I have found that the electronic traps are hard to find in my area, but I did find them on Amazon.  These run on standard batteries, but they build up a charge that is strong enough to take down these rodents.  Some people have managed to give themselves a zap while setting these, so be careful.  The Victor Electronic Mouse Trap
is shown here because when I think of mouse traps, I always think of that big "V".

Looking for a Humane Mouse Trap?

There are some people who don't want mice in the house, but who cannot bear the thought of causing suffering in another living creature.  For these people, there are humane mouse traps.  Now, the definition of humane can vary a bit here.  If you search for them, you will not always find live mouse traps.  Some people see anything that is not a spring loaded trap as humane, while others want a trap that will capture the mice in a living state so that they can be relocated to some nearby woods and live out their lives as country mice.  I'll assume for now that we are talking about live capture traps.  There are quite a few available.  You can see several of them right HERE.  My problem with trapping mice is that these traps are going to leave you stuck with a trapped animal that is not going to show you the proper appreciation for sparing its life.  I get the noble cause.  Honestly, I even carry spiders outside sometimes, but I personally am not interested in an accidental mouse bite as I try to do the right thing.  I switch into a different mode when I'm dealing with pest problems.

Probably the most popular and affordable humane traps around are Mice Cubes (cute name).  Mice cubes work on a pretty basic principal.  The door only opens one way.  When the mouse goes in, gravity closes the door behind it and then it is stuck.  At that point, you can drive it to your favorite wooded area and introduce it to its new home.  At the time of this writing, you can pick up a 12 pack of these for just over 20 bucks.  Smaller packs cost less.  Not a bad deal at all if you want to get your mouse problems handled as quickly as possible.

Glue Mouse Traps

I should also acknowledge that there are glue mouse traps available.  Seriously, the idea of these glue traps for mice gives me the heeby jeebies.  These allow you to capture a living mouse by getting it stuck to a board covered with glue.  Do you want to guess what kind of mood this critter will be when you find it?  Really, some people like these traps, but pretty much anything that goes by can get stuck to them, and like I said, you've got to deal with an angry rodent that is basically out in the open.  Surprisingly, I never saw this mentioned in other how to articles about mouse trapping or rat trapping.  I can't say that I recommend this method, but if you have a reason that you prefer them, please feel free to leave a comment explaining why.

Mouse Poison

Finally there is the mouse poison option. I’ve never actually tried any of these for two reasons. I have had dogs around for most of my life, and I don’t want the mice dying and rotting somewhere that I can’t find them. I may be paranoid, but I don’t like to leave poison out where kids or pets can get to it. Your situation may vary.  I happen to know that if I accidentally leave any type of bait stations out in the open,  at least one of my dogs will probably get curious enough to do itself some harm.

The Homemade Mouse Trap

OK.  You know that there are people who just have to try things on their own.  Honestly, my research on homemade mouse traps seems to indicate that most of them are a lot more trouble than they are worth.  Some were based on making the mouse drown, which I do see as rather cruel and unusual, or trapping them in something like a garbage can.  Considering how inexpensive traps actually are, these might make for a nice science fair project, but they hardly seem worth the time and effort involved.

What is the best mouse trap?

I suppose choosing the best mouse trap is something that depends a lot on your ethical position on killing mice.  If you are against it, go for one of the live release traps.  If you are only interested in how to kill mice efficiently, I personally lean toward the spring loaded traps or electronic traps.  I'd have to say that if I face the problem any time soon, I'll probably give the electronic traps a shot just because they don't really cost that much and I always feel like I'm going to snap myself when I set the spring traps.

No matter how you decide to go after the mice, don’t handle them without protecting yourself with heavy gloves. They really can carry some bad stuff. When I’ve caught them in the past, I drop them into double plastic bags, wrap them up and put them in the outside garbage. I have also heard that vacuums shouldn’t be used to clean up their droppings. Apparently they can release some of the bad stuff from the droppings into the air and you don’t want to breath it in. Spray it with a disinfectant spray containing bleach and then clean it up with disposable rags or paper towels. Have I made it clear that you don’t want to handle any of this stuff more than you have to?

How to Keep Mice Out of Your House

As for how to keep mice out of your house once you have done your Terminator thing, removing clutter is a good way to start. Trash and piles of wood are common things that attract mice. Keep them away from your house as much as possible. If you do keep wood for a fireplace, get it off of the ground where it would make an inviting home for Stuart Little’s bad seed cousins.

In addition, look for points around your house where mice might be gaining access and seal them. They can fit through incredibly tiny holes, so get yourself some caulking or other appropriate sealant and get busy.   They can chew through most of the materials used in building a house with the exception of metal, so if you can block entryways with something metallic, it is all the better.  Also, clean up anything that might be an attractive food source for these pests. Dog and cat food are notorious attractants. I remember when my brother found a nest of mice living under the hood of his 1979 Cougar RX7. He said that there was bunch of dog kibble stored in there along with the mice. I have also had mice raiding the dog food in past years, but they never got quite so creative with their accommodations.

Mice in the Walls

Not to spook you, but have you ever heard a mysterious scratching noise in the middle of the night, when the house was quiet?  Well, it could be mice in your walls.  Of course, it could also be squirrels or bats too, but that's another post.  Solutions for getting rid of mice in walls can be a bit more challenging.  They could be trapped, or they could just be using the area as part of their normal run.  If you can locate where they entered, setting a trap is probably your best bet.  Once they are gone, just be sure to seal things up tight so that no more visitors come calling.  If they are not willing to cooperate and get into the mouse trap for you, you do have some other options.  If you can find a place (in the attic maybe) where you can access the space between the walls, you could sprinkle some mouse poison in there for them.  The problem with that of course is that they might also die between the walls.  Some mouse poisons have a drying effect on the mouse's body, but you may still have to put up with some stink for several days.  Some people swear by doing the same thing with moth balls because the seem to repel mice.  I recently heard about using peppermint oil to repel mice.  I'd probably give that a try first, just because I the smell of moth balls might drive me out of the house before the mice left.  Some people are looking for ways to get rid of mice naturally.  Well, besides a cat, I guess one of these methods would be your best bet.  I cannot vouch for it yet, but I will be putting some peppermint oil soaked cotton balls around possible points of entry when the weather starts to turn cold.


EDIT: I came across this video and just had to share it. The still shot looks gruesome, I know, but if you've never seen this before, you've got to check it out!  Watch til the end.  It isn't what you think.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have found something that will help you as you deal with the problem of how to get rid of mice in your home as quickly and efficiently as possible.

What is the Best Cheap Mattress?

Everyone has their own feelings and preferences about what the perfect mattress is.  Some people like a firm mattress, while some like to fall into a soft mattress that engulfs them as they sleep.  For every person who loves sleeping on a water bed, there is at least one other person walking around like a bent stick who swears they will never go near one again.  It can be tough to choose the best mattress, and if you have a sleeping partner, things get even more complicated.  Add the cost of a mattress to the mix, and it is pretty easy to get confused about how to make the best choice.

I've been doing some research lately because the queen size mattress on my own bed was finally ready to be replaced.  It served us well for way more years than I'd like to admit, and it just wasn't springing back anymore after my wife and I got up in the morning.  A serious side effect for me was having a sore back for the first part of almost every day.  We visited mattress showrooms around where we live and I also looked online.  I've got to admit that I was a bit shocked at how expensive many of the mattresses being sold today cost.  Some looked and felt great, but they were simply out of the price range we were willing to spend.  After much consideration, I found a very nice mattress that I feel comfortable recommending.  If meets the requirement of being a relatively cheap mattress, but it also provides quality.

This is the Sleep Innovations 12-inch Sure Temp Memory Foam Mattress.  I chose this mattress to show off for a couple of reasons.  The first thing I liked about this, and what caught my eye the most as I scanned various advertisements, was the fact that it has received MANY positive reviews from people who have purchased it.  The other thing I liked was the fact that it is constructed with the same basic idea of those other brand name mattresses that can cost a few thousand dollars each.  At some point I may be comfortable paying that kind of money for a mattress, but this one came in at about 1/10 of that price and I think that will suit the needs of a lot more people who read this than the $3000 dollar mattress will.  It also comes with a very nice guarantee that made me feel a lot more confident about its quality.

Most people spend somewhere in the area of one third of their lives sleeping. That's based on eight hours per day, so your mileage may vary a bit.

Even if you sleep less than that though, you still will accumulate a lot of shut eye over the course of your life and most of that time is spent on a mattress and box spring in your own bedroom. Keeping that in mind, I'd like to say that if you are looking for cheap mattresses, you should still maintain a certain standard for yourself.

The word "cheap" is really very relative here. Most people are not in a position to just go ahead and order the most expensive, top of the line mattresses available, but that doesn't mean that you should accept any serious drop offs in quality either. The price you pay in the long run with lost sleep and an aching back just is not worth it.

One good thing about buying a mattress is that you can usually find plenty of user reviews for any mattress you might be considering. If you are buying at a local mattress warehouse type of store, you may need to do a bit more research. If you are looking for cheap mattresses online though, there are tons of reviews just a click away.

You might be surprised to see how many mattress sets are available online. Many of them are sold with shipping included, so it ends up just being a matter of straight up comparing the prices to what you can find locally. I’m not sure about where you live, but in my area, if I want to get to one of the mega mattress stores, it involves more driving than I’m inclined to do. Anymore, I much prefer having things delivered to my door if it doesn’t cost any extra. That is one of the things I like about shopping online.

Surprisingly, even those fancy memory foam mattresses that seemed to be quite pricey for a while don’t seem all that expensive now when I check for them online. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials for these and similar mattresses on television. Some of the more popular and reasonably priced ones are show below. They all received high ratings for quality and price. If you have been thinking about getting a memory foam bed but have been put off by the price, I strongly recommend checking out the Therapeutic Memory Foam Mattress (in the middle below). Considering the price difference between it and the name brand you have probably heard a lot more about, it could be one of the better cheap mattresses out there. Be sure to read the reviews.

The prices on mattresses can get pretty high. You've got to decide where to draw the line on price, but you've also got to put a certain value on your comfort. Just one or two sleepless nights and days spent hunched over with a sore back can make you wish that you had spent a few extra dollars for a better quality mattress.

Sarah Peyton 10-Inch Queen Memory Foam Firm Support Mattress with 2 Contour Pillows

Queen 12" Therapeutic Memory Foam Mattress with 5" 5LB Viscoelastic Memory Foam

13" Euro Top Spring Mattress & Bed Frame Set-Queen

As I have grown older, I have become more and more convinced that you usually get what you pay for in life. This isn't to say that you need to buy just the most expensive items available. It is more to say that you should consider the true value of an item before you hurry up and jump at an ultra low price tag. This applies to cheap mattresses and almost anything else you might ever want to buy for your home.