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Front Steps

Quick tips and helpful hints for improving your home

By Staff

Front Steps
Cans for cash
The Northwest suburb of Des Plaines took first place in  their division at the fourth annual
Cans for Cash:

City Recycling Challenge. During  October 2007, more than 50 cities (categorized by population in four divisions) collected more than 191 million used beverage cans for this challenge. Des Plaines mayor Anthony Arredia accepted the $5,000 first-place award at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. in January.

Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors, Novelis Inc. and Keep America Beautiful Inc.

Storm damage control
Known as the "paramedics of property damage," companies like McHenry county's Puroclean are called by insurance companies to the scene of a damage claim to help control problems and prevent further damage. Just in time for storm season, Puroclean offers the following tips for homeowners in a property damage situation:

  • Call your insurance agent, take photographs of all damage, and keep receipts from repairs, hotel stays, etc.

  • If your roof is missing only a few shingles after a storm, try to cover the area with a garbage bag.

  • Don't take pets into a flooded area, and never let them drink standing flood water.

  • Turn off the breaker before unplugging appliances affected by property damage.

  • If a fallen limb touches your property, it becomes your responsibility. However, do not attempt to clear limbs, as they may be tangled in power lines. Call an electrician.

  • If sewage is backing up in the shower or under the toilet, the entire system is backed up. Call a professional and avoid using any sinks or toilets.

Dryer sheet sense
Fabric-softening dryer sheets have multiple functions, including:

  • Keeping bees and mosquitos away
  • Repelling ants and mice
  • Taking the odor out of rarely opened books and photo albums\
  • Eliminating static electricity from your television or computer screen
  • Dissolving soap scum from shower doors

Source: The De-Clutter Box

Editorial Resources

The De-Clutter Box, (630) 968-7557, www.declutterbox.com. Keep America Beautiful Inc., 1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06901, (203) 323-8987, www.kab.org. Novelis inc., 3399 Peachtree Road N.E., Ste. 1500, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 814-4200, www.novelis.com. Puroclean, (800) 775-7876, www.puroclean.com. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620 I St., N.W., Washington, DC 20006, (202) 293-7330, www.usmayors.org.

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