Sunday, September 05, 2004
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In This Issue...
* UNFORESEEN SIDE EFFECTS OF VERY COMMON DRUGS
* GIVE YOUR HOME A FACE-LIFT
* THE ULTIMATE SECRET FOR MAKING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE... THE BEST
YEARS OF YOUR LIFE!
* SAFE WAYS TO KILL DEADLY GERMS
* CHANGE YOUR WORLD WITH POCKET CHANGE
* DISTURBING NECK NOISES
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Dear Friend,
Ahhh, September. Now that the slower days of summer are
fading, my "to do" list is growing. No time to waste on
getting things done and no time to get sick.
We spoke with an expert in home renovations for some ideas
on do-it-yourself projects that can increase the value and
beauty of your home.
We also discovered better ways to avoid nasty germs that can
get you sick this fall. Our findings may surprise you...
Jessica Kent
Editor
BottomLineSecrets.com
PS: Happy Labor Day!
Special Offer
******* UNFORESEEN SIDE EFFECTS OF VERY COMMON DRUGS *******
Over-the-counter medications are safe, right? Same, too,
with natural remedies? Maybe so, unless... they are taken
in the wrong way, at the wrong time, or in the wrong
combination. How will you know what's right and what's
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Read on...
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PROTECTED]&sid=E090504A1A
*************************************************************
Give Your Home a Face-Lift
Fuad Reveiz
Weekend Remodeling
Special from Bottom Line/Personal
Home renovations and repairs don't always require expert skill. Here
are a few of my favorite projects that can be completed in an
afternoon or a weekend. Ask for help at your local hardware or
home-supply store if you have questions.
1. HANDSOME WALLS
Beadboard -- grooved wood paneling that covers the lower half of a
room's walls -- adds quality detail to a bathroom, hallway or
bedroom. Its durability makes it ideal for high-traffic areas or
kids' rooms. Here's how to do the job right...
Draw a level line 32 to 36 inches above the floor to serve as an
upper guide for your paneling.
Saw your beadboard to fit. Take into account windows, electrical
outlets, uneven floors and other obstacles.
Attach beadboard with construction adhesive. Also nail the top and
bottom of the boards into wall studs. Sink the nails below the
surface of the board, then fill the holes with putty.
Smart: After you locate one wall stud, measure every 16 inches along
the wall. In most homes, you will hit another stud. If that doesn't
work, try 24 inches. You also can buy a stud finder.
Top the beadboard with chair-rail molding for a finished look. Paint
or stain.
Time: 32 square feet in one hour.
2. CEILING DETAIL
Crown molding adds charm and draws attention away from ceiling
imperfections. A lumber store should have a range of crown molding
options to suit formal and informal spaces.
Smart: Practice with scrap before sawing your molding. Cutting tight
joints to fit corners can be tricky at first.
Avoid joining two pieces of molding over a room's focal point -- a
fireplace or television. Joints can be a visual distraction. When you
attach the molding, be sure to sink the nails into wall studs.
Time: 16 feet in 45 minutes.
3. IMPROVED CLOSET STORAGE
Install kitchen cabinets in large closets for more efficient storage
space. Prebuilt cabinets are easy to mount and sturdy. Look for
inexpensive ones at closeout or yard sales. Paint them to blend into
the surrounding decor. It doesn't have to be perfect because it is in
the closet.
Install cabinets low on the wall so that the top can be used as a
shelf. For a larger workspace, add a shelf that extends past the edge
of the cabinet. Mount the shelf on a hinge so that it can be folded
out of the way when not in use.
Time: One hour to install.
4. MODERNIZED KITCHEN
Stainless steel is one of the hottest trends in kitchen d�cor. A
stainless-steel backsplash -- covering the wall space above your
countertops and below hanging cabinets -- creates a stunning look
that is easy to clean.
Measure the area carefully. Then get a local heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning (HVAC) supplier to cut to your specifications a
piece of sheet metal that is used for ductwork. Include cutouts for
switches or electrical outlets. If the area is asymmetrical, make a
paper template and mark it so that the shiny side of the sheet metal
faces out.
Expect to pay $150 to $200 for a typical two-foot-by-four-foot
backsplash. Attach with construction adhesive for a seamless
appearance.
Time: 40 minutes to install.
5. BETTER SHOWERHEAD
Handheld showerheads allow for easier washing. To prevent leaks,
apply silicone plumber's tape around the connecting threads of the
shower pipe before screwing on the new unit. Wrap the tape in the
direction in which the fixture will be tightened to avoid pulling it
loose when the unit is attached.
Smart: Put several pieces of electrical or duct tape over the jaws of
your pliers before tightening the connection. The tape will protect
the chrome from scratches.
Time: Less than 20 minutes.
6. PAINT THE WALLS
Interior painting is one of the most popular do-it-yourself projects.
To save time and ensure good results...
Prepare your walls. As homes age, nails often push out from the
drywall, leaving nail heads visible or causing lumps under the paint.
Pushing the nails back into place won't fix the problem permanently.
Instead, sink a drywall screw into the stud about two inches above
the offending nail. The screw threads will secure the drywall against
the stud behind it. (Be gentle so you don't tear the thin paper on
the drywall's surface.) Tap the nail back in. Putty over the nail and
the screw, then sand and repaint.
Time: Two to three minutes each.
Don't use masking tape to protect doors, windows, moldings and
ceilings.
Instead, use a three-foot-by-six-inch strip of thin, rigid plastic.
Angle the plastic shield against anything you want to keep
paint-free, and use a brush to paint the area up to the plastic.
You'll get a straighter line in less time and can move the shield
quickly as you paint. Wipe the plastic shield clean frequently to
prevent excess paint from coming into contact with areas that you
don't want painted. Plastic shields are available in paint supply
stores. If you still want to use tape, painter's tape is more
effective than masking tape.
Make long, vertical strokes that partially overlap as you paint with
a roller across a wall. The paint will look more even than if you
lift the roller from the wall after each stroke and return to the top
for the next pass. You also will save time.
Buy a paint-stirring drill bit for your electric drill. These cost
less than $10 and dramatically reduce mixing time. Warning: Don't
remove the drill bit from the paint before it has stopped spinning or
you'll spray the room.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Fuad Reveiz, host of Do It Yourself
Network's Weekend Remodeling. http://www.diynetwork.com. The former NFL
All-Pro kicker is president of Reveiz Custom Homes in Lenoir City,
Tennessee.
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*************************************************************
Safe Ways to Kill Deadly Germs
Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD
Harvard University School of Public Health
Special from Bottom Line/Health
The infectious diseases that make the headlines, such as severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pose very little risk to most
Americans. You're far more likely to get sick from microbes that
already live in your own home.
Examples: A kitchen sponge can harbor 7 billion organisms... and a
"clean" cutting board might have 62,000 bacteria per square inch.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that
food-borne microbes alone cause 76 million illnesses a year. We can't
even begin to estimate how many people get sick -- or die -- from
bacteria and viruses found in the home.
Many families automatically reach for antibacterial products or
heavy-duty cleaners. But don't overdo it. Antibacterial products can
weaken your resistance to harmful bacteria, which may ultimately
increase your risk of getting sick.
Smart idea: Use an antibacterial soap after handling raw meat --
probably the most common source of household infection -- or if
someone in your home is sick or living with a compromised immune
system due to chronic illness.
Otherwise, plain soap and water are fine for handwashing, and
homemade natural cleaners can be just as effective as cleaning
products that contain harmful chemicals.
KITCHEN
The sink is the most germ-ridden space in the house -- and often
contains more fecal matter (from washing meats) and E. coli bacteria
than the average toilet.
Rinse the sink with hot water after every use. Clean it twice a week
with a scouring powder, such as Ajax or Comet. Disinfect it weekly
with a mild bleach solution -- one tablespoon of bleach mixed with
one cup of hot water. Also...
* Replace sponges once or twice a month -- and run them through the
dishwasher each time you use it. They're a perfect breeding ground
for harmful germs.
* Stock up on dishtowels... and change them every other day to
prevent germs from passing among members of the family. Washing them
in hot water -- and running them through the clothes drier -- will
kill bacteria as well as viruses.
* Use separate cutting boards for meats, poultry and seafood -- and
scrub them with dish detergent, such as Joy or Dawn, and hot water
after each use. Clean plastic cutting boards in the dishwasher.
BATHROOM
Even if you wear gloves when cleaning the toilet or tub, it's a good
idea to wash your hands afterward. This eliminates bacteria from
water that may get on your hands as you take off the gloves. Also...
* Clean the bathtub at least once weekly with scouring powder or a
solution made with one-half cup of bleach and one gallon of water.
* Sweep the bathroom floor at least once weekly and clean with a
basic cleaner, such as Lysol, or a solution made with one gallon of
hot water... two tablespoons of borax... one teaspoon of dish
detergent... and five drops each of patchouli and lavender essential
oils. These oils contain effective natural disinfectants.
* Wipe the bathroom sink and counters after every use. Once a week,
use a disinfectant made with one-quarter cup distilled white vinegar
and one-half teaspoon of dish detergent in two cups of warm water.
The bathroom sink is a bacterial hot spot because germs on your hands
can spread to faucets.
* Disinfect the toilet bowl, seat and outer surfaces weekly with a
commercial cleaner or with a solution made with one-half cup of
baking soda... one-half cup of borax... one-quarter cup of distilled
white vinegar... one teaspoon of dish detergent... three drops of
sweet orange essential oil... and two drops of patchouli essential
oil. Let it soak for an hour, scrub then flush.
Wipe and disinfect the handle daily because it's frequently touched
by unwashed hands.
* Close the toilet lid when you flush. During flushing, bacteria
disperse into the air and can land on any surface within six feet --
including toothbrushes.
WASHING MACHINE
If there are young children in your household, every time you wash
dirty underwear, millions of fecal bacteria are deposited on the
inner surfaces of the washing machine -- and can spread to the next
load. Every few weeks, disinfect the machine by running it empty,
using hot water and adding one-half cup of bleach.
TELEPHONES
Many bacterial illnesses are transmitted by touching the telephone
and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Wipe all phone surfaces
every two weeks with a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol or
spray with a natural antibacterial. To make: Combine one tablespoon
of borax... one cup of hot water... one cup of distilled white
vinegar... one-half teaspoon of dish detergent... one-half teaspoon
of sweet orange essential oil... and one-quarter teaspoon each of
rosemary and lavender essential oils.
DOORKNOBS
Disinfect them at least once a month with rubbing alcohol or the
natural antibacterial spray described above. Wipe them daily if
someone in your family is sick with a cold or flu. Doorknobs are
great locations for bacteria to be transferred from the hands of a
sick person to other members of the family.
Other spots to disinfect frequently: Refrigerator handles, light
switches and bannisters.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line/Health interviewed Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD, associate
professor of risk analysis and decision science at Harvard University
School of Public Health in Boston. She is coauthor of Overkill -- How
Our Nation's Abuse of Antibiotics and Other Germ Killers Is Hurting
Your Health and What You Can Do About It (Rodale).
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*********** CHANGE YOUR WORLD WITH POCKET CHANGE ***********
Money is like a mighty river that flows from our homes out
into the world... We scrimp and do without so we don't run
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money flows back to you...
And the cash floods in much faster than you can spend it?
What if you could turn your pocket change into a
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Read on...
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PROTECTED]&sid=E090504A3A
*************************************************************
Answers to your questions from Bottom Line Experts...
Sometimes when I turn my head, my neck makes a cracking
noise. Why does this happen?
Answer from John H. Klippel, MD: Muscle spasm in your
neck due to extreme stress or improper posture can cause
a cracking noise when you turn your head.
To gently stretch tense muscles: Drop your chin to your
chest, then turn, pointing your chin to the right shoulder
and then to the left shoulder. Repeat five times. Return
your head to the upright position, then tilt it to the
right, first reaching your right ear to right shoulder,
then your left ear to left shoulder. Repeat five times.
Caution: If the noises are accompanied by sharp pain, see
your doctor. Occasionally, a noisy neck is an early sign
of osteoarthritis.
Our inside source: John H. Klippel, MD, president and CEO,
Arthritis Foundation, Atlanta.
*************************************************************
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