Hmmmm... which project to tackle? In the past few
weeks we have shown you a
couple of projects, like fixing a hole in your wall and installing a
faucet.
This week we have a couple of other stories to help you on your way to
project success. The first is a story on the basic tools that everyone
should have in their home and the second story is about dealing with a
clogged drain. We have already used the tips on the drain and they
worked!
Isn't it amazing? Once we feature a story, then I notice the project
that
needs to be done! Stay tuned for more projects in the coming weeks!
Quick Tip - Hostess Hand
Towels
If you have been invited to a party and are looking for the
perfect hostess gift, a bottle of wine may not cut it. We stopped by
Ste.
Maine (503-232-1880) to
see if they had any other ideas for that perfect gift. Elizabeth took
us
over to a rack of towels, but these are not just any towels. These are
monogrammed guest towels. These are very elegant and very hygienic.
Your
hostess will be impressed and those future guests will be happy to not
have
a drippy hand towel to share in the bathroom.
East India Grilled
Mushrooms
Does the thought of Indian food scare you? A lot of people
think that cuisine from India means a lot of curry, and for people who
don't
like that spice it means that all facets of this wonderful food is
off-limits. We learned that true Indian food can be full of flavor and
not
have any curry powder in it! Chef Pradeep Chandrana, who is the
culinary
director at the East India Company Grill and Bar
(503-227-8815), shared a grilled mushroom recipe
with us that was incredible. He started with the marinate which has 5
different greens; green chilies, green onions, green bell peppers,
cilantro
and some fresh mint. To this he also added ginger root and oil, lemon
juice, white pepper, a spice blend. He then blended it into a tasty
sauce,
with no curry powder at all! The mushrooms are put into this marinade
and
left to set for a time, sometimes overnight. Then the mushrooms are
placed
on a skewer and placed in a charcoal fired Tandoor oven. This oven is
like
a large clay vase and once the skewer is placed inside it cooks the
mushrooms inside and out at the same time. The heat from the oven cooks
the
outside and the skewer heats up and cooks them from the inside as well.
If you want to try the recipe for yourself, you can
click
here.
You can also enjoy this recipe and many others by visiting the East
India
Grill and Bar in Downtown Portland!
Basic Tools
Chris Erskine joined us at the
Parr (503-531-7277) store in Hillsboro to cover some
'must have' tools. First we covered screwdrivers. Chris brought out a
power screwdriver which, if used right will help speed up the jobs you
are
tackling, but if that seems a little overkill then you will want the
15-in-one screwdriver. A multiple head tool like this is good for
dealing
with any style of screw that you may encounter in your home and
everything
is right in your hand! Next we looked at gloves. A good set of gloves
will
protect your hands from getting hurt and it will also help keep them
clean.
Safety glasses go along with the gloves and should be in everyone's
tools
chest. What good is a project if you injure yourself and can't enjoy
it?
We moved to the hammers next. Chris recommended a medium weight hammer
(so
you don't get tired) with a smooth head. The ones with a scored face
are
for framing and they will leave marks on your wall or trim if you are
doing
finishing work. The next tool was a channel lock pliers. This is an
adjustable pliers and it is good for nuts, bolts and even plumbing
fixtures.
Another great tool is a needle nose plier. This is a small narrow nose
pliers that is good for tight places and fine work like fixing jewelry.
Next we found a tape measure. You will need one that can
extend
without folding. The one we saw also has fractional measurements on the
tape so there is no guesswork when you are measuring. A good length for
a
tape measure is 25 feet or slightly longer. The next tool was a utility
knife. This will help you cut anything from fine wires to sheetrock. Make
sure you get one with a retracting, replaceable blade for safety
reasons. A
level is next and is a must if you want things straight. Have you ever
hung
a picture and wished you had one of these? Finally, you will want a
good
tool box or carrier to put all these tools in. A good carrier will
protect
your tool investment and it also makes sure they are in one place when
you
need them.
Unplugging Your Drains
A plugged drain is never convenient! Drains always seem to
get
plugged during those big events like dinner parties. To learn about
un-plugging we stopped by
George Morlan (503-224-7000) and talked with Dave Charvet.
We started with the simple stuff, like the 'drain stick'. The drain
stick
is a little stick with little barbs of the end of it to catch those
pesky
hair clogs and pull them up from your drain. Then we stepped it up a
notch
with Hair Away, an alkaline liquid that you pour on the drain and it
dissolves the clog. If you have a clog in your kitchen sink it may be
tougher because of grease or other kitchen goodies. For that you will
want
to use Clobber, which is an acid that will take care of the tougher
stuff.
Remember to follow the instructions when you use these two chemicals and
to
wear protective clothing! If you are looking for a non-chemical method
you
can use water pressure to release the clog. There are specially
designed
hoses that will use high pressure to 'blow' the clog away. If you are
having problems with a clog in your toilet you have a couple of choices.
First is the plunger! This is the old stand-by and it can work wonders
if
you just have a paper clog. If there is some other object in the toilet
you
may need a closet auger. This tool can push a clog out or you can grab
it
and pull the clog free. Obviously, there are other tools and techniques
that you can use. To get all the help you need you can stop by any
location
of George Morlan!
Yeast in your Toilet
This little quick tip is one that been around for many years
and
is supposed to help extend the life of your septic system. The tip is
to
add a tablespoon of brewers yeast to your toilet once a month. The
yeast
will help the bacteria in your tank and drain field break down the
waste.
Of course, the best way to promote a healthy septic system is to not add
any
non-biodegradable materials or caustic chemicals to your system.
Closet
Organizing
Are you getting the most use out of your closet space?
Natalie
Lamar of The Container Store
(503-620-5700)
in Bridgeport Village showed us how to get the most out of your closets,
no
matter what size they are. The first step is to separate your items
into
two piles: "donate" and "keep." By getting rid of clothes you seldom
use,
it will create more space for the items you use regularly. Use the
'two-year'
rule when cleaning out your closet. If you haven't used it in 2 years,
dump
it (or donate it). Natalie told us that closet space falls into six
different categories: Long-hang, short-hang, shelf space, shoe space,
drawer
space, and accessories.
Long Hang: Dresses, long coats, pants hanging from the waist or cuffs.
Short Hang: Blouses, shirts, pants folded over a hanger. This is what
most
people will have, and you can do one or two levels of short-hang space.
Shelf Space: Often up above the other areas, this is a great place to
store
seasonal clothes, tax records or things you don't need access to on a
regular basis.
Shoe Storage: Natalie demonstrated a rack that holds nine pairs of shoes
and
glides out for easy access. If you don't want your shoes out, you can
store
them on shelves or in clear boxes, which make it easy to find the shoes
you
want.
Drawer Space: Sweaters, t-shirts, socks, undergarments. Anything that
has a
tendency to fall over on a shelf or take up room in a dresser can be
neatly
contained in a drawer in your closet.
Accessory Space: Purses, hats and jewelry. Boxes on a shelf work great
for
this. Also, there is a "jewelry box" that holds your small accessories
and
organizes them and makes them easy to access.
The system demonstrated by Natalie is interchangeable, and
allows you to tailor your closet to fit your needs. And, while there is
no
formula for how much of each type of space you should have (it all
depends
on the makeup of your wardrobe), one thing that will increase your
closet
space is to use the same type of hanger for all your clothes. Stop by
the
Container Store and get these tips and many more to help you with your
closet organizing.
hers
you
can stop by Cornell Farm and talk to their staff.
