Tag Archives: Kitchen

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  Solstice House Check Up

  Posted on December 30, 2022 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Essential House Maintenance Chores Repeated every December and June The summer and winter solstice are great times to perform needed house maintenance so let this article be a “maintenance needed” dash light to gently prod you toward some simple house care. Addressing these tasks will make you familiar with possible repairs, alleviate the worry of […]

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  Garbage disposals are not garbage disposals

  Posted on February 10, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I have a complicated relationship with garbage disposals. These small appliances installed in kitchen sink drains are a helpful aid to those of us frequently on dish duty, but they often leak and can cause dishwasher issues. Hopefully this will help clear up a few misunderstandings about how to use them. First, garbage disposals are […]

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  Second thoughts about tea-in-seconds

  Posted on March 10, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I remember my parents getting our first microwave. One of the coolest features was setting the mug of cold water in the compartment and two minutes later pulling it out boiling hot and ready for a tea bag. In those days the “microwave culture” was born in my family, and that was about as far […]

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  Slap a little grease on it!

  Posted on February 28, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Do you know why we have hoods over our cooktop ranges? It is because of all the moisture and grease that comes off cooking. Physics dictates that heat rises and these vapors rise from cooking. Where do they go? They collect as micro-dots that grow into larger bodies of grease and promote organic growth. We […]

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  Clean the screen!

  Posted on October 30, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Where does the water go as you boil the pot and see the water level decrease? What happens when you reduce juicy tomatoes to a thick, rich marinara sauce? How come your neighbors smell your dinner when they walk by your house? The answers to these questions can be found with the ventilation fume hood […]

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  You might have dirty clean dishes

  Posted on September 26, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Ever wondered what that little cylinder is for next to the kitchen faucet? Are you wondering about it because you don’t have one of these little decorations? This is called an air gap and it is associated with the proper plumbing for your dishwasher. Quite often dishwasher drain lines are connected directly to your garbage […]

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  Water nightmare – Episode II

  Posted on December 28, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  What’s the number one enemy of the Pacific Northwest home? Water. Another story about my next-door neighbor who lives in our duplex. They have been an incredible source of good Fix It and Use It stories. “I’m on a crusade against rubber supply lines on washing machines!” Realtors and clients have heard me recite that line again and again. […]

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  Cleaning Drains is Disgusting

  Posted on December 11, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  My two teenage daughters and wife have long beautiful hair that regularly cause our sinks and tubs draining slowly. Now I love their hair but I must say that cleaning it from behind the stoppers is disgusting. I have found a nifty and inexpensive tool that can make this job a breeze. I found it […]

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  What to change this time change

  Posted on October 19, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Sticky notes, white boards, iPhone reminders, and my wife all help me to remember the important things I need to do. Well this is a quick reminder of what we need to do around our homes as we prepare to “fall” back one hour. These are all simple tasks that could all be accomplished in less than 30 minutes and […]

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  Give the fan 30 minutes

  Posted on October 14, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I’m constantly going through my house and turning off lights after people. With four kids this is a never ending challenge. Hallways, bedrooms, lamps, fume hood, etc. My kiddos don’t seem to appreciate that I’m paying for the power all the hours things are left on while they are at school. But there is one […]

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