Expert Tips to Using Stand Mixer for Making Cookies
Baking cookies is all fun and games until you start doing it for a living....
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The main benefits of increasing the value of your home
If you want to increase the value of your home and protect it from potential disputes, then hiring a party wall surveyor in Wimbledon is essential. A party wall surveyor can help you understand the rules that apply to property owners and neighbouring properties, so that you can maximise the value of your property whilst staying within the law. Here we have listed some of the key benefits of hiring a party wall surveyor wimbledon.
1. Prevent disputes
A party wall surveyor in Wimbledon will advise you on how best to prevent disputes between you and neighbouring homeowners before they arise. They can inspect all existing walls on both sides for damage or encroachment and advise on boundary regulations and rights under the Party Wall Act 1996. This means that any problems can be dealt with quickly before they become more serious, saving time and money for all concerned.
2. Ensuring compliance with building regulations
When carrying out building work close to neighbouring properties, both parties must comply with the building regulations set by their local council. A qualified party wall surveyor in Wimbledon will ensure that all the necessary paperwork is completed correctly and submitted on time, ensuring compliance with local authority legislation and avoiding costly fines or delays caused by submitting the wrong paperwork at the wrong time or place.
3. Save time and money
By using a professional party wall surveyor in Wimbledon you can avoid delays caused by ongoing disputes between you and your neighbours, which could otherwise escalate into expensive court proceedings if not resolved early enough. Using an experienced practitioner will ensure that any potential problems are identified quickly and efficiently before they become more serious – helping to save valuable time and money during the process, as well as preventing unnecessary stress for all parties involved in the dispute resolution process.
4. Increase property value
Using a qualified party wall surveyor in Wimbledon also has another benefit: increasing the value of your property! By ensuring that everything is done correctly from start to finish, this helps to add significant value to your home which could otherwise be lost due to poor planning or incorrect paperwork procedures up until completion day – meaning an added bonus for homeowners when it comes time to sell their home!
5 . Protect your rights & interests
Engaging a professional Party Wall Surveyor in Wimbledon is arguably one of the most important steps homeowners should take when considering undertaking construction work near neighbouring properties – not only will they provide impartial advice, but they will also help to protect your rights under UK law by ensuring that all legal requirements have been met prior to commencing work (ensuring maximum protection offered under The Party Wall Act 1996). This means that any disputes between you and your neighbours are much less likely to arise in the future, saving both parties a great deal of stress (not to mention the extra costs involved!).
6 . Easily resolve boundary disputes
Finally – having a qualified boundary expert on hand will prove useful if there are any boundary disputes between you and your neighbours regarding fences/walls/hedges etc., as these experts are experienced in dealing with such matters quickly & effectively without having to resort to costly court proceedings, as many other cases would first require going through lengthy arbitration processes before reaching an agreement over disputed boundaries – something which would take considerably longer if inexperienced individuals were to try their luck (not forgetting the additional costs!) Instead, having an expert already appointed makes life much easier for both parties involved!
7 . Accessible expert advice available 24/7
Party Wall Surveyors in Wimbledon offer accessible advice 24 hours a day should there be any queries arising after the completion date regarding either side’s rights & obligations under The Party Wall Act 1996 – allowing quick resolution timescales when compared to traditional solicitor based approaches often taken prior to reaching agreement on such matters! What’s more, thanks to modern technology, lines of communication are now open 24 hours a day, meaning that both homeowners & neighbours always know where they stand legally at all times – giving added peace of mind throughout the project’s duration until its successful completion!
8 . Professionalism counts for everything
Last but certainly not least – professionalism counts for everything when it comes to resolving potentially complicated matters involving multiple parties. As certified practitioners specialising solely in the field of construction related legalities; Party Wall Surveys possess intimate knowledge of the subject area enabling them to identify exactly what needs to be done, get the job done right first time round – meaning fewer opportunities for miscommunication, misunderstandings resulting in cost savings across the board along with higher levels of satisfaction for all concerned alike!
Conclusion
In summary, therefore, it is clear to see why appointing experienced Partwall Surveyor In Wimbledon adds great deal of additional security, peace of mind to anyone embarking on home improvement projects near areas owned by others – taking away the vast majority of potential headaches associated with same while simultaneously protecting the interests of those living in close proximity to each other too! So really no excuse not to invest wisely services such professionals next time decide to undertake construction works related type of order reap rewards mentioned above; aiding maximum possible return on investment made during course of action conclude satisfactory manner possible eventually leading to increased overall valuation of one’s own residence too!
Expert Tips to Using Stand Mixer for Making Cookies
Baking cookies is all fun and games until you start doing it for a living. Creaming several pounds of butter and sugar together, and mixing large batches of cookie dough day after day is a lot of work.
That’s why you need a quality stand mixer. Whether you are a pro baker or a home baker who makes a lot of cookies, using a stand mixer for the process is definitely going to save you a lot of precious time and effort.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Stand Mixer?
Using your stand mixer to the fullest while baking cookies can save you a hell lot of time, and also make your job convenient.
Baking is an art in itself, it requires the perfect proportion, delicate handling, perfect timing of processes, and procedural operation.
The more you strive for perfection, the better your baked edibles are. Using a stand mixer could help you get a step closer to perfection!
Expert Tips to Make the Perfect Cookies Using a Stand Mixer
1. Use Your Stand Mixer to Cream Your Sugar and Butter
Creaming your butter and sugar is a crucial step while baking cookies. Butter is a delicious ingredient that helps add a smooth texture to your cookies and also enhances the taste.
While mixing, pay good attention. Mixing your sugar and butter non-uniformly can severely affect the taste and texture of your cookies.
To mix these two elements perfectly, add the required quantity of butter to a mixing bowl. Mix the butter using the stand mixer for approximately 30 seconds.
By doing this, your butter would have been softened to perfection. After 30 seconds of mixing, start adding sugar, and continue mixing.
The butter will have a lustrous white glaze. That’s a perfect consistency and mix you must aim for. Using your stand mixer in the right way here would help you master the art of mixing.
Alternatively, you could also use a traditional hand mixer. However, this would require a lot of manual effort and time.
2. Use a Scraper with Your Stand Mixer
Scraper is an attachment that you can easily buy online. A recent innovation in stand mixers, the scraper makes the life of every baker much easier.
Ensure that you get the right size for your stand mixer, as there are multiple sizes available in the market.
A scraper would be a great accessory for your stand mixer as it saves the cleaning time( which undoubtedly is the most boring step of baking).
Normally, you’d need to use a spatula for cleaning the insides of your stand mixer. However, getting a scraper would do the same on the fly.
As you mix, the scraper would scrape off the mixture getting stuck to the insides of the stand mixer. This would save up a lot of cleaning time! The scraper is especially lifesaving when mixing a liquid substance like cake batter.
3. Take Your Chocolate-filled Cookies to the Next Level
Now chocolate-filled cookies need a lot of mixing. Especially because they are liquid, the chocolate needs to be mixed perfectly such that it does not leak out through the external cookie dough.
Thickening chocolate can be done by cooking or mixing. However, cooling your liquid chocolate is not the recommended method.
This is mainly because you cannot control the consistency of your chocolate while cooling. Hence, mixing is the best option.
While mixing, you need to pour your molten chocolate into a bowl. Then use your standing mixer to thicken the chocolate. Thickening the chocolate using a stand mixer also gives the chocolate breathing space, which in turn helps bring out the most delicious flavor of the chocolate.
The consistency of molten chocolate must be almost slimy. A little solidish consistency isn’t a problem since the chocolate-filled cookie would be baked inside the oven.
This would melt the chocolate again. However, ensure that the filling is not too liquidy to ensure that the chocolate does not leak.
4. Make the Perfect Cloud Cookies
Cloud cookies and cloud cakes have been trending lately. They’ve taken over social media and all the food vloggers have been vlogging about them. Cloud cookies are these fluffy cookies that have a stable balance between crunch and fluffiness. The fluffiness actually comes from beaten egg whites.
The key to a good cloud cookie is a stable meringue. To create meringue, you need to beat egg whites at high speed until it turns foamy and fluffy.
Making meringue with a hand mixer is certainly possible but not convenient because it takes a lot of time. Here’s where stand mixers come into the picture.
With a stand mixer, you can just let the machine do its thing while you focus on other things. It can help you achieve the fluffy texture within 2 minutes of consistent fast mixing.
Why Choose a Stand Mixer Over a Hand Mixer for Making Cookies?
1. To Process Large Batches of Cookie Dough
A hand mixer can do pretty much everything a stand mixer does, but a lot more slowly. If you are a professional baker, you definitely need to invest in a quality stand mixer to make large batches of fresh cookies every single day.
The same goes for home bakers who bake frequently. A hand mixer will get the job done, but not as good or easily as a stand mixer.
2. To Saves Time and Energy
Stand mixers are mechanized and you needn’t mix your mixture manually. Mixing manually would take too long and would also require too much effort. Baking with the help of a stand mixer could hence be draining.
3. To Avoid Over/Undermixing
Baking requires perfection. Compromising with the mixing, or beating eggs would spoil the entire texture of the cookie.
The texture is a crucial aspect of baking and hence using a stand mixer while baking over a hand mixer would help you make near-perfect cookies, if not perfect ones!
Best Stand Mixer Attachments for Cookies
There are several stand mixer attachments for cookies that you could use to speed up the process.
Here are the attachments we recommend using to catalyze the process of making cookie dough:
- Wire whip
- Flat beater
- Dough hook
- Flex Edge
- Scraper
Each of the above listed attachments has a unique use. They could be your best friends while baking and save up time and energy!
A Final Note
Baking cookies is testing even for the most experienced bakers. It requires the usage of ingredients in the right proportion and perfection.
Using a stand mixer while baking could help you get closer to perfection and bake the most delicious cookies. So, try out these expert tips and let us know if the cookies tasted like they were straight out of heaven’s oven!
5 Decor Ideas That Can Make Your Tiny House Stand Out
With the cost of natural resources shooting up like crazy and the negative environmental impact of big houses, tiny homes are gaining traction even among the economically affluent.
There are a lot of benefits to having a tiny house. Research has shown that having less clutter around you increases productivity. A tiny house takes less space which leads to less waste. Lastly, it makes sense to have a cozy place to come and relax.
However, one of the downsides to having a tiny house is that you will have less space (duh!) to decorate and make it yours. That doesn’t mean you have to adjust to the look and feel. In this post, we look at five decor ideas that can make your tiny house stand out.
- Use light colors
There is a reason why even in big houses, people are advised to go for light shades in areas like living rooms and dining rooms. Light colors make the space look bigger. There is certainly no shame in opting for a tiny house, but if you go for a variety of bright or dark colors, it will make the house look even tinier.
Apart from this, it makes sense to use a single color throughout the house so that as people move from one room to another, it feels like a wave, and there is no break in between. This will give the impression that the house is not as tiny as it might seem at first glance.
- Go big on using vertical space
In fashion, there is a piece of generic advice that has been going around for decades – short men should wear vertical stripes – so that they appear to look taller—the same works for a tiny house.
If you do not have a lot of space horizontally or width-wise, it is essential that you utilize the vertical space to project a homely feel. This can be done in multiple ways. Vertical indoor gardens are trendy these days. In the kitchen, vertical storage space can be used pretty efficiently. The simplest thing to do for the living room is to mount the television at a height to save space on the floor. Also, you can check RidingTiny.com for amazing ideas and hacks that you can try as you re-design your tiny house.
- Use the floor to segregate space
A tiny house is, well, tiny. If a lot of walls are used in less space, then the ratios get disturbed, and it looks very congested. If you do not want that, then the floor can be used in twin ways to create a partition between different sections of the house.
For instance, the kitchen area can have slightly funky tiles in order to bring some attention. The same goes for the bathroom. In the living and dining area, colorful rugs can be used to add some spark to the house with otherwise light-colored walls.
- Hero the natural lighting
As we have already stated, the use of light colors like off-white makes the space appear larger than it is. With natural light, the effect is even more pronounced. This means the windows must be big and be covered with very light curtains so that even when they are shut, there is some natural light seeping into the room at all times.
- Focus on storage
Yes, you might follow a minimalist lifestyle, but every house needs enough storage for the basic stuff. This can be taken care of even in a tiny house. There are numerous decor ideas that you will be pleased to find on Pinterest, which are not only spacious but unbelievably cute.
Storage under the bed, under the stairs, corner cupboards all over the house, and hanging planters are some of the decor ideas that have been trending recently. You do not have to follow the trend, just go with what meets your needs and adds to the look of the house.
- Spend on customized furniture
More often than not, this becomes a necessary expense rather than a choice because most standard furniture is made for middle-sized or big houses. Anything besides that needs to be custom-built. But the overall savings from having a small house will more than cover this cost.
Furniture which is custom built always gives a better finish to the whole house and can incorporate a lot of your small needs like having a sofa cum bed will mean that you do not need to invest in a guest room.
Lighting and furniture are huge aspects that can make a difference, but ultimately it is your warmth and exuberance that will make the house shine.
How to Grow Masdevallia Orchids
Masdevallia is a huge genera which contains many species with a wide diversity of flowers. They are all native to the Americas, the majority found at high altitudes in the coastal range of mountains in Brazil or in the Andes, and as far north as the rainforests of Mexico.
They are generally small, tufted plants without pseudobulbs and each season’s growth consists of a single leaf. Many growths are produced at a time and the result is a large tuft of pale or dark green leaves. Without a pseudobulb to sustain the plant during periods of drought, the leaves have become very thick and can store moisture in great quantities. This conserves the orchid for short periods without rain. In nature, these plants are often found on moss-covered tree branches, where their fine root system can grip and find enough moisture and nourishment to sustain the plant. They will be equally at home on mossy rocks or on the ground where the drainage suits them and the competition from other plants is not too great.
The flowers are borne on a single stem and can be solitary or numerous. The sepals are the largest and most dominant part of the bloom, with the petals and labellum so diminutive that they are hardly noticeable. The edges of the sepals are often fused, giving the appearance of a triangular or kite-shaped flower. The colours are highly variable, from pure whites, yellows and browns, spotted and patterned, to brilliant oranges, purples and mauves.
There are many hundreds of species, most requiring no more than a small flower pot the size of a coffee cup; a great many plants can be accommodated in a small greenhouse. As they are high-altitude plants, they enjoy cool, moist conditions all year. It is as important to ensure that they do not overheat on a hot summer’s day as to make sure that they don’t get too cold on a severe winter’s night. In the wild, they are not subjected to long droughts so do not need resting periods.
Considerable hybridizing has been done within this group and there is plenty of scope for more. With many species to choose from, combined with their readiness to breed, the chances for hybridizing are great. Once the seedlings are established, they grow quickly and will bloom in a short time from sowing.
A large group of other genera are related to the masdevallias, including the draculas whose flowers are huge compared to the plant. Large, triangular blooms with long, thin, pointed tips are produced in sequence from the same stem, and although short-lived, they have a curious attraction with their lip structure.
Dryadella, a genus of small, compact orchids, is also closely related and has stemless flowers nestling around the base of the plant, giving it the common name of pheasant in the grass.
An even larger group than Masdevallia is Pleurothallis. Most of these plants have very small, insignificant blooms but are still worth growing by the amateur who likes to possess something different. These genera grow well together in a cool, well-shaded greenhouse.
How To Make A Vertical Flower Garden On Poles
Before you begin you should know that this should take you around an hour to do. So, if you are considering taking some pots and painting them first to add even more color, you should paint them the day before so they will be dry when you need them. By the way you can make these vertical gardens as tall or as short as you want and you can make as many of them as you need. It’s also a great project the kids can help with.
Things you will need to make your vertical flower garden: Wooden pole or poles/dowels. Make sure they are at least an inch across because they need to hold up under the weight of the flower pots. You can find these at any home and garden center.
4 clay pots for each pole (the amount depends upon how many little vertical gardens you want to make). The hole in the bottom of the pots need to be bigger than the poles.
A minimum of 10 zip ties, this is extremely important.
- Flowers of your choice.
- Good potting soil.
Paint if you are going to make the pots more colorful.
The instructions here are for a porch with a railing so the pots and poles can be secured. However you can do this on the side of your house or you can have a big pole and put it in the ground and build up from it. It’s all up to what effect you are looking for. You also can paint your pole or poles and zip ties to match the color of your pots.
Take your pole and measure and cut it to fit nice and snug under your railing if putting on a porch. You can do this by putting the poles between the slats of the porch if you don’t have any space in front of them.
Next take two zip ties and attach them very tightly to your pole or poles at the bottom around an inch up from the bottom of the pole. The ties need to be very tight so they don’t slip down the pole when the flower pot is resting on the ties. After you have them in place you can then take your first pot and push it down to where the zip ties are and then tilt the pot just slightly to your left. Don’t cut the ties yet, that’s done at the end. Don’t let the pot slip out of position before you get the dirt in it. It is easier to position things before the dirt.
Now put the soil in the first pot and then add your first flower. Make sure the soil is packed down tight around your flower. Make sure to put the flower in the soil at the same angle that the pot is tilted. You don’t want to plant it pointing straight up in the air.
Next you will put two more zip ties right above the first bottom pot. This first tie is going to anchor the lip of the bottom pot and the second zip tie will anchor the next pot you put on the pole. Now you are ready to add the next pot and make sure that it rests on your highest zip tie and then tilt this pot in the opposite direction of your first pot. This one isn’t going to be as sturdy as the first one until you get your soil in so hold it in place. It’s a good idea to ask someone to help if you think you need help while you are filling it with soil. Once you’ve done this you can put in the next flower and continue on up the pole adding more pots, soil and flowers to whatever height you have chosen, alternating each pot as you go along.
Once you have finished adding all the pots and flowers that you want on your pole or poles you can then cut all the ties on the pole so they don’t stick out because this would be unattractive. Put a little bit of wood glue for extra support on each tie if you feel more secure about it.
Now that spring is here and you are ready to go out and do some gardening, here is a way you can go out and kind of spruce up some of your outdoor space with a really cute vertical flower garden that is put on wooden poles or dowels. This is a really neat way in which you can add some great floral accents to your garden area without using a bunch of space with those big pots or big flower boxes. This is a great way to utilize small spaces as well. This technique can be used well for even a small front or back porch where you don’t have much space but what to have a little bit of a garden. Before you begin you should know that this should take you around an hour to do. So, if you are considering taking some pots and painting them first to add even more color, you should paint them the day before so they will be dry when you need them. By the way you can make these vertical gardens as tall or as short as you want and you can make as many of them as you need. It’s also a great project the kids can help with. Things you will need to make your vertical flower garden:
The instructions here are for a porch with a railing so the pots and poles can be secured. However you can do this on the side of your house or you can have a big pole and put it in the ground and build up from it. It’s all up to what effect you are looking for. You also can paint your pole or poles and zip ties to match the color of your pots.
Take your pole and measure and cut it to fit nice and snug under your railing if putting on a porch. You can do this by putting the poles between the slats of the porch if you don’t have any space in front of them.
Next take two zip ties and attach them very tightly to your pole or poles at the bottom around an inch up from the bottom of the pole. The ties need to be very tight so they don’t slip down the pole when the flower pot is resting on the ties. After you have them in place you can then take your first pot and push it down to where the zip ties are and then tilt the pot just slightly to your left. Don’t cut the ties yet, that’s done at the end. Don’t let the pot slip out of position before you get the dirt in it. It is easier to position things before the dirt.
Now put the soil in the first pot and then add your first flower. Make sure the soil is packed down tight around your flower. Make sure to put the flower in the soil at the same angle that the pot is tilted. You don’t want to plant it pointing straight up in the air.
Next you will put two more zip ties right above the first bottom pot. This first tie is going to anchor the lip of the bottom pot and the second zip tie will anchor the next pot you put on the pole. Now you are ready to add the next pot and make sure that it rests on your highest zip tie and then tilt this pot in the opposite direction of your first pot. This one isn’t going to be as sturdy as the first one until you get your soil in so hold it in place. It’s a good idea to ask someone to help if you think you need help while you are filling it with soil. Once you’ve done this you can put in the next flower and continue on up the pole adding more pots, soil and flowers to whatever height you have chosen, alternating each pot as you go along.
Once you have finished adding all the pots and flowers that you want on your pole or poles you can then cut all the ties on the pole so they don’t stick out because this would be unattractive. Put a little bit of wood glue for extra support on each tie if you feel more secure about it.
Some Facts About Carpet Cleaning Machines
I have found that, the steam cleaning machines are subject of confusion to some people. Some are seeing these machines as carpet extractors which is false. Carpet extractor would suggest, that the machine extract carpets. That is really confusing if you ask me. Other people refer to the machines as steam cleaners. But what are really in matter of fact? Are these are floor steamers or carpet extractors?
To enlighten the situation a bit, I shall tell you that carpet steam cleaning machines are basically carpet cleaners, despite that they are not using any steam over carpets, it is a common practice to call them steam cleaning machines from many people. Duo of that, a big confusion is already created.
Carpet shampooers & floor steamers. The first mentioned, are modestly powered machines for cleaning, which are utilized for cleaning mats, carpets, upholstery and other soft fabric surfaces. The pressure level on outgoing of these type of machines doesn’t go higher than 500psi and the temperature can not be more than 210°F. It is that, because these aren’t made for much output power.
One operating with it, would rely more on the cleaning agents applied on the surfaces that require cleaning. And moreover, the the agitation power is more important on the output temperature. The temperature on the output is added on later models, because, the developers had come to conclude, that it was increasing the cleaning speed and the efficiency as overall.
On the other hand, we have the floor steamers. They are more powerful cleaning tools, that are being used on hard surfaces. The output power can go up-to 390°F, but that depends on the model and the hard floor surface type. Simply you can not use full output power on wooden or vinyl floor like on tile surface. A high temperature could bring some damage to more vulnerable surface like wood.
What about the carpet steam cleaning machines, what place it takes in this? Calling it “steam carpet cleaner” or “carpet steam cleaner” is more like marketing trick. In short. With the fast developments of technologies, the old machines for cleaning rugs and carpets of course has been evolving too. The old models, does not have any heating elements nor such output power.
An important notice must be write down ! – The common carpet cleaning machine does not have any steam output at all. There are other more complex units that are mounted usually on truck and have much more capabilities. Thus, the hot-water-extraction service does not meet the steam range, as the steam could damage severely the pile and fibres of the rug, especially if it is authentic Persian one.
How To Thaw Frozen Pipes
During winter, water supply may be compromised by the frost. So don’t wonder, if you turn the faucet and only a trickle comes out. Most likely it is a frozen pipe. Here are some tips you may use to defrost them.
The most likely candidates from the pipes to freeze are the ones that run outside,along the exterior of your house, as well as where your water service enters your home at the foundation. Here is some advice about what you can do.
Keep the faucet open. As you treat the pipe and it will begin to defrost, water will begin to flow through it. Running water will facilitate the melting process within the pipe. Apply heat to the section of a pipe. This can be done by wrapping electric heating pads around the pipe, a hairdryer or a portable space heater. The last one is to be kept away from flammable materials. You may also wrap the pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Cleaners Westcombe Park prohibit using blowtorches, kerosine or propane heaters or any other flame device. A blowtorch can make the water boil within the pipes and they are very likely to explode.
If the freezing is the problem and not some sort of a clotting, apply the heat until the regular water flow is restored. If you are either unable to locate the frozen area, or unable to reach it, call a professional plummer. If you have noticed that one of the faucets runs badly – check the others as well. If one pipe has frozen so may have the others.
If you wish to prevent this in the future, you may consider relocating exposed pipes. It can be done by a professional if the home is remodeled. Also adding insulation to the attic and the basements, as well as the crawl spaces can maintain higher temperatures in those areas, thus keeping the pipes warm.
For advice on unclothing the pipes contact cleaners Westcombe Park. They are excellent experts, and will deal with the problem in no time.
Gardening Tips
Nothing can be rewarding as a day working in the garden-it is a chance to be in touch with nature, to work with your hands and to see the fruits of your labor blooming and ripening before your very eyes. Here are 11 helpful gardening tips for pocket, windowsill, full-scale, or any-sized gardens.
• Cutting tips.
Before cutting tall, damp grass, spray the cutting blade of the lawn mower with vegetable oil spray, so wet grass won’t stick. Be sure blades are sharp. Dull blades will rip rather than clip the grass and cause leaf tips to turn brown. Great State push-reel mower and Rust-resistant Hedge Shear are both ideal for small lawns since they are lightweight and easy to use.
• Organize.
Hang a removable tote basket from the handle of the mower. You can either fill this with debris as you go along or use it as storage for your garden tools, so you save time and effort while mowing.
• Say goodbye to grass and weeds.
A more practical solution than an afternoon of mowing and weeding is to sprinkle salted boiling water on unwanted weeds. This effectively kills grass or weeds growing between sections of cement walk.
• Nuisance control.
To keep screws from loosening and vibrating noisily on power motors, apply some weather strip-sealer to the ends of screws. The screws will hold tight, but may easily be removed when necessary.
• The right way to water.
When it comes to watering your lawn, bear in mind that a little water is worse than none at all. So don’t even start the job unless the ground is going to be drenched and the soil is wet at least an inch below the surface. The reason? Light watering causes the roots of grass to turn up and become shallow. A thorough watering once a week does a lot of good, while light watering every few days a lot of harm.
• New tricks for old hoses.
Punch a few more holes in it and turn it into a “lawn soaker” or an instant sprinkler.
• Easier toting.
Keep your garden hose coiled in a stackable storage cart. It will be easier to carry around, and you can store the hose in it too.
• Marked to measure.
Inches marked off on your garden trowel with red paint or nail polish conveniently shows proper depth for planting seeds and bulbs.
• Easy handling.
Paint the handles of all your garden tools in a bright color so you can easily se them. If anyone borrows your tools, the color will be also a reminder for them to return it to you.
• Keep your tools in tip-top shape.
Tools won’t rust easily if you leave them in a box of sand mixed with old motor oil. Better yet, always clean, sharpen and oil your most-used gardening tools before storing.
• For pocket gardens.
When repotting plants, always choose a pot that is not more than two inches larger in diameter than the old pot. Blooming plants should be repotted after they have blossomed, not before.
To help reduce the shock of repotting plants, give the new soil a thorough watering. Clay pots should be soaked in water for a few minutes before using. This prevents for the clay from absorbing moisture from the potting soil.
Best Wall Air Conditioners
Wall air conditioners are a great alternative to portable or window units, especially if you haven’t a window in the space you need cooled. Sometimes wall units are the only option. There are so many different brands and models available that it can get rather overwhelming shopping for one. If a wall unit is what you need, here is a list of the 4 best wall air conditioners available to purchase.
Friedrich Kuhl SS08M10
It is no surprise that Friedrich’s Kuhl Series has one of the best wall air conditioners available. This model has 7900 BTU and is Energy Star qualified for it higher EER rating. It has an EER of 11.7. It also is environmentally sound using R410A refrigerant and is loaded with amazing features. It has 4 fan and cooling speeds, a timer, and a remote control. It is also known to operate extremely quietly due to its commercial grade design. This unit has received phenomenal reviews from its customers. The only complaint seen was about its weight, seeing as it weighs nearly 100lbs.
Kenmore 70051
This unit is intended for smaller rooms with only 5200 BTU. Many people enjoy its quiet operation, high efficiency rating, and how inexpensive it was. It also has many great features, such as a 24 hour timer, a sleep mode, 8-way air direction, and it uses R410A refrigerant.
Frigidaire FRA256ST2
The Frigidaire FRA256ST2 has an extremely high cooling capacity. It has 25000 BTU and an EER of 9.4. It is Energy Star compliant because of its higher efficiency for this amount of BTU. Its features consist of a remote control, a 24 hour timer, an anti-microbial filter, 3 fan and cooling speeds, an auto restart function, and a sleep mode. It is also decently priced seeing as it has such a large capacity.
Soleus SG-TTW-10HC
This Soleus model is able to heat and cool a room with its 10000 BTU capacity, making it great for year round usage. It receives many great reviews and doesn’t tend to cost a lot. It has 4 fan speeds, a 24 hour timer, an energy saver mode, a dehumidifier function, a remote control, and a reusable filter. The reviews on this unit tend to favor how well it can cool and heat a space. The con of it being that it is rather loud while operating.
There are many good wall air conditioner models out there but these are some of the best. While the capacity you need may not be on this list, you can simply look at other models offered by the same brands listed above. In most cases, a reputable brand such as the ones listed, have more than one model that receives great reviews from its customers. Just know what you need and want out of a through wall air conditioner. Finding the best wall air conditioners doesn’t have to be hard and hopefully it’s as easy as choosing one of the units above.
Best Portable Air Conditioner
The best portable air conditioner can be hard to distinguish because of the long list of available models in the market. However, we’ve scoured the landscape and narrowed the field down to 4 of the most ideal and cutting-edge portable air conditioners that you can get.
Soleus Air PE2-08R-62
This model has a cooling capacity of 8,000 BTU, which makes it perfect for small to medium-size rooms. It uses the latest evaporative technology which allows the moisture in the system to be recycled, thereby eliminating the need for an exhaust hose. It has an adjustable thermostat and an auto mode which provides optimal comfort because of its automatic temperature adjustment system. The model has a 24-hour timer for maximum control as well as a remote control unit for easy operation. It also has a multicolor LCD display that keeps data easy to read, and a three-speed fan with oscillation for proper air distribution.
Frigidaire FRA093PT1
This model has a cooling capacity of 9,000 BTU. It’s more powerful and it can cool bigger spaces up to 425 square feet of land area, so you can use it to cool your entire studio apartment unit. It has an EER rating of 8.9 and a sleep mode quiet operation which keeps the device at low sound levels during the night. It has a remote control for easy operation and it features Effortless Temperature Control for a well-maintained room temperature, Effortless Air Filter which is an antimicrobial filter that cleans the circulating air, and Effortless Restart which automatically restores previous settings after a power outage. The device has three fan speeds for the best cooling comfort possible.
Friedrich ZoneAir
The ZoneAir line of portable air conditioner products of Friedrich varies from model to model. The range of the models is from 9,300 BTU to 11,600 BTU. The models have an EER rating of up to 9.4. The common features of the models include a 3-in-1 system composed of an air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan; dual hoses which promote optimal air circulation, thus better cooling; evaporative system which eliminates the need for an exhaust; 24-hour timer; 3 fan speeds; washable antimicrobial air filter; automatic restart after power outage; and compact design that allows you to keep the device in any closet.
Danby DPAC12011BL
This model is capable of producing a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU, which is enough to cover a floor area of 500 square feet. This model is also very aesthetically pleasing, with a modern stylish design. It even comes in two colors for personalization: black and light gray. This model uses the environment friendly R410A refrigerant and it has dual hoses for optimal air circulation and filtration. The device has an easy to use electronic control system with a remote control unit and an LED display. It has 3 fan speeds for optimal temperature control and it has an automatic timed on and off function which no longer requires you to turn the device on and off when you want to.
Conclusion
Portable air conditioners come in many different models, but the best one can be hard to find. Whether you’re just starting your search for the best portable air conditioner or you’re ready to make a decision, stick with one of these four models and you can’t go wrong. Good luck!