Wallpaper Removal – A Quick and Easy How-To

A word of warning upfront, if you have a wallpaper removal task ahead of you’re your in for a bit of work.  Make sure you set aside a considerable amount of time for this project as you may run into tough spots and problem areas that will eat up a lot of time.  Removing wallpaper however, while not a fun task, can be done quickly and easily if you are prepared.

First get the room ready.  Remove everything from the room that can be removed.  This includes furniture and rugs where possible.  When the room is emptied cover the floor with a drop cloth in the area you will be working.  This will aid in cleanup later.

Now get all of your tools together:
• Goggles
• Mask
• Perforator
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Glue Dissolving Agent
• Blunt Scraper
• Sharp Scraper

Goggles and a mask are on the list first for a good reason.  You will have little pieces of who knows how old paper with who know what kind of glue on it flying and dripping all over the place.  Wear the goggles and the mask whenever you are doing the least bit of work.

I can’t underestimate the importance of the perforator.  They come in a couple styles and sizes.  Get the one that is most appropriate to the amount of paper you have to remove.  The perforator is pretty simple to use.  With a slight amount of pressure you roll it around the wall and it makes little divots into the paper.  Be careful not to press to hard as you do not want to dig into the wall itself.

Next is preparing your solution.  The commercial products work well, but I’ve had good results with warm water and vinegar.  If you are going to use the commercial products, be sure to follow their instructions as to mixture ratios.  For the vinegar solution, 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water is sufficient for most glues.  Add more vinegar if you are having difficulties.

Ok, so we’re ready to start soaking the walls.  Pick a spot, not to large, and get it thoroughly wet with your sponge and solution.  Some people like to use a sprayer as well, but I find the sponge and a little pressure works better.  Don’t be shy about wetting the wall.  Your solution needs to soak through the paper and loosen the glue.  You may have to repeat this step depending on your situation.

Now comes the scrapping.  Use a blunt scrapper or even a putty knife to start with.  You want to avoid nicking or gauging the wall underneath to save the trouble of spackling later on.  Use slow even strokes to remove the paper.  If it is loose enough it will simply melt off the wall.  If not, wet it again.  If you continue to have trouble, you may have to switch to the sharp scrapper.  Be very careful though, of both your fingers and the wall!

Once all the paper if off, you may have to repeat this process to remove extra paper layers or even a glue layer that may be left behind.  You want to get all the way down to the plaster or drywall.   Then, spackle any nicks or holes smooth, clean up the mess and paint to suit.  Oh, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Changing a Toilet Wax Ring

If there is water slowly leaking around the base of your toilet, or you constantly smell a foul odor in your bathroom chances are the toilet wax ring has begun to fail and it is time for it to be replaced.

A toilet wax ring is pretty much described by its name. It is a 1 to 2 inch thick ring of wax, frequently found surrounding a plastic funnel. The toilet wax ring works by forming a water/air tight seal between the base of the porcelain toilet base and the toilet flange (plastic or cast iron).

If a toilet rocks when it is sat upon, over time the toilet wax ring will breakdown and fail. This failure manifests itself in the formation of small water and odor leaks around the base of the toilet.  If left unchecked, damage could occur to the bathroom floor and unsafe sewer gasses may build up in the home.

A new toilet wax ring should also be replaced any time a toilet is removed (e.g. during the installation of a new bathroom floor).

Replacing a toilet wax ring is easy to do and can be done by the do it yourself homeowner with a little knowledge and some preparation.  Replacing a toilet wax ring can be done in about 1 hour assuming there are no extenuating circumstances.

The basic steps required to change a toilet wax ring begin with turning off the water supply line and emptying the tank and bowl of water. The supply line also needs to be disconnected from the toilet.

Next the anchor nuts, secured to the Hold-Down bolts, need to be unscrewed.

The toilet is then lifted off the toilet flange and turned over.

The old toilet wax ring can then be scraped and removed off the base of the toilet, and the floor can be cleaned of any old wax ring residue.

The new toilet wax ring is then pressed onto the base of the toilet and the toilet is then reseated onto the toilet flange.

The anchor nuts are then re-screwed back onto the Hold-down bolts and the supply line reconnected.

The water supply line to the toilet can then be turned back on and the toilet is back in business.

5 Tips For Spring Cleaning

With warmer months just around the corner, spring cleaning isn’t far away. Whether you want to clear some of the winter clutter or just feel like a change in scenery, spring cleaning can make it happen. Now is the perfect time to clean out the garage, basement and/or attic. If there are any items that you don’t plan to use, this article will tell you how to get rid of them while making money doing it. As we all know, this can take a lot of work but a few simple tips can make your spring cleaning experience a breeze.

Tip 1:
If you are storing away your winter clothes, consider using large plastic storage containers that feature snap-on lids. These can be found in the house wares department at most stores and are very inexpensive. Storage containers are very important to keeping your clothes dust and discoloration free, which may otherwise be a problem if they are left hanging in the closet from one season to the next.

Tip 2:
When packing your clothes, roll them instead of folding. This not only eliminates creases and wrinkles, but also saves a lot of space. You will be able to pack a lot more clothes with this technique.

Tip 3:
Label your clothing containers as ‘spring,’ ‘fall’ and ‘winter.’ This will help you to easily locate your wardrobe inside the closet.

Tip 3:
If you have any clothing that you don’t plan to wear or simply have outgrown, consider donating them to a local goodwill or other nonprofit organization. Rather than tossing them out, your clothes can provide revenue for a worthy cause and help the less-fortunate to be able to afford clothing that would otherwise be unattainable.

Tip 4:
If you are looking to clear out some knick knacks or perhaps even some Holiday decorations in order to make room for new ones, consider a trip to the local flea market. Everyone is looking for a bargain and they just may be looking for something that you no longer wish to own. A setup fee is usually required which, depending on the location, can be $10.00 to 20.00 per day. Otherwise, you can always sell items at internet auction sites, including Yahoo and eBay.

Tip 5:
With all of the changes that you’re making, it may be time to switch to a lightweight vacuum. This will save from lugging around a heavier model and will glide across the floor with ease. There’s no use in completely wearing yourself out during spring cleaning, so try to make it as easy as possible.