If you have tile in your home, chances are you’ve spent some time cleaning grout.
It’s impossible not to end up with dirty grout. Everyday foot traffic and occasionally spills leave behind stains that can be hard to clean.
And while there are several grout cleaning products on the market, you might have something in your home right now that works just as well — toilet bowl cleaner.
That’s right — regular old toilet bowl cleaner that comes in a squeeze bottle can clean grout!
Toilet bowl cleaner contains bleach, so it will not only lighten grout stains, but it will also kill any mold or mildew. Plus, toilet bowl cleaner is a lot cheaper than grout cleaner.
Toilet bowl cleaner is perfect for cleaning grout because of its small spout and thick gel consistency. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Just squeeze it directly into the grout joints. Because it has a gel consistency, it fills up the joint lines and stays put.
Once the lines are saturated in toilet bowl cleaner, let it set for a good 30 to 40 minutes or so. Then, scrub them with a stiff-bristled.
Want to use less elbow grease? Convert a standard hand scrub brush into a power attachment for your drill! Just watch How to Clean Tiles Faster Than Ever to learn how.
After you’re done scrubbing, wipe the surface clean with a microfiber cloth to absorb the cleaner. You can come back later with a little water to clean up the excess toilet bowl cleaner.
Once you’ve cleaned it to your liking, seal the grout lines to keep them cleaner for longer.
This week, hear our advice for preventing slips on ice and space heater safety tips. (victorass88/-aniaostudio-, Getty Images)
Hour 1
Listen to hear our space heater safety tips, advice for preventing slips on ice, how to fill in a gravel pothole, and more.
Space Heater Safety Tips
Never leave a space heater running unattended or while you’re asleep. (-aniaostudio-, Getty Images)
As the cold weather starts to intensify, many homeowners are looking for ways to supplement their heating systems. A space heater may be a good way to do that, but you have to make safety a priority anytime you use one of these things.
First of all, a space heater should be set up on a flat, level surface that isn’t within three feet of bedding, drapes, or other flammable materials. Also, never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
It should have a thermostat, so you don’t run the risk of overheating a room, and a “tip switch” to turn the unit off if it accidentally gets turned over.
Finally, don’t let children or pets play around the heater. And never leave it running when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Preventing Slippery Ice
Slippery ice on wooden steps poses a real hazard to homeowners. (victorass88, Getty Images)
Ice that forms on walkways, driveways, and decks following a winter storm poses a real hazard to homeowners and passersby, causing slips and falls.
Before the next big freeze comes, do this to prevent slippery ice outside your home.
Apply an ice pretreatment to surfaces up to 48 hours before it snows. Sodium chloride (salt), magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate and potassium acetate are the chemicals used to prevent and remove snow and ice. Once applied to the surface, these chemicals prevent the ice and snow from sticking, so you can easily wipe it off.
Lay down abrasive tape on steps. This adds an extra layer of grip once the snow is melted. Simply dry the surface well and stick the tape to the edges of the steps to create more traction.
Reinforce handrails. Not only do you need to have handrails along steps, but you also need to make sure they are sturdy enough to hold the weight of a person in case of a slip.
Filling Potholes in a Gravel Driveway
You don’t have to buy extra gravel to fill potholes. (Sandra Sapp, Getty Images)
Joyce in Alabama has a gravel driveway with several potholes.
She asks, “Is there a product that I can use to fill in those holes?”
As far as potholes on a gravel driveway, you can rake the gravel back to fill in the holes, but over time it will compact down and create a new indention.
You can mix up some concrete and fill in the holes, so there’s a hard surface for the gravel to rest upon. However, this could create the opposite problem in the future. Erosion could lead to the concrete spot protruding from the gravel driveway.
A third option is to use Pavestone Paver Base. This will build up the foundation under the gravel driveway and also match the surrounding dirt texture. Simply tamp down the crushed stone and concrete mixture, then cover with gravel.
Hour 2
Listen to hear some fall front porch decorating tips, what’s causing dust to be blown through a furnace, and more.
Fall Front Porch Decor
This festive sunflower and pinecone wreath adds interest to your fall porch décor and extends an inviting welcome to your guests. (The Home Depot)
With the change of the seasons upon us, it is officially time for sweaters, pumpkin-flavored everything and, of course, updating your fall decorating ideas for both the inside and outside of your home.
Your front porch is the first spot your guests will see, so make sure it’s ready for fall with these easy fall DIY ideas from The Home Depot.
Create a warm, inviting space by incorporating browns and shades of green, yellow and red to bring together your harvest-inspired fall look.
Door decorations are statement accessories. They add interest to your fall porch décor and extend an inviting welcome to your guests. This festive sunflower and pinecone wreath that is set on a rich brown twig base is a great stylish accent for a wall, window or front door. If you’d prefer to create your own wreath that lasts throughout the seasons, purchase one with a neutral base. Burlap, moss, vine and plain fabric wreaths are all good choices. Then, all you have to do is add decorative accents to reflect each season. Dried or faux flowers and leaves look nice in the fall. You can also add decorative wood monogram letters for a personal touch.
Welcome fall into your home with a visually appealing doormat that not only keeps dirt from being traipsed into your home but also can function as a nice welcome to your home for all your guests. This pumpkin-inspired one is perfect for welcoming the new autumn season!
Outdoor lighting takes fall porch decor to a whole new dimension and is an important consideration you don’t want to miss. If you have the space, string porch lights around the perimeter of your porch or zigzag them between columns. These LED Hampton Bay Edison-style bulbs are the perfect accent to any patio deck, or pergola, as well.
Furnace Blowing Dust
If dust is blowing from your furnace vents even after you’ve changed the air filter, call an HVAC technician ASAP. (BanksPhotos, Getty Images Signature)
Martin in Missouri has an ongoing problem with his furnace blowing dust throughout the house.
“I have changed the filter and put plastic down in the crawl space. But dust is still being sucked into the furnace and then blown through the vents and in the home. What do you suggest I do next?” he asks.
This sounds like there’s a breach in the return air that’s pulling dust into the return air plenum before it passes through the filter.
Call an HVAC technician immediately, because the furnace unit will not last long operating like that.
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Simple Solutions
Sanding the caulk tube tip inside the wood joint alters the angle to fit perfectly in the joint. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
How to Apply Caulk Like a Pro — Applying caulk to a 90-degree joint can be challenging because it’s easy to squeeze out too much caulk, which is wasteful and creates a mess to clean up. Here’s how to produce perfect caulk beads:
Snip off the tip of the caulking tube to a 45-degree angle, as you normally would.
Fold a piece of 120-grit sandpaper in half and crease it very tightly. Then, place it into the corner of the 90-degree joint that you’re about to caulk; be sure the abrasive surface is facing out.
Rub the tip of the caulking tube back and forth right against the sandpaper. Sanding the tip alters the angle, so that it’s not just cut at 45 degrees, but it’s also beveled back at 90 degrees to fit perfectly into the joint.
Now, just draw the caulk with steady, even pressure all the way across the joint and you’ll get a nice neat bead with no wasted caulk.
Want to reduce your home’s utility bills and its carbon footprint? Switch your heating and cooling system to a heat pump!
This energy-efficient system provides up to three times more heat than the energy they use. They also can reduce electricity use for heating by about 50 percent compared to electric furnaces or electric baseboard heaters, according to Energy Saver.
Plus, with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, you can actually get money back when you install one.
Right now, you can receive a $300 tax credit for purchasing efficient heating and cooling equipment. And beginning in 2023, all households will be eligible for rebates up to $4,000, while low-income households could receive up to $8,000 for home efficiency. (For the tax credit program, the incentives apply to equipment installed on Jan. 1, 2023, or later.)
Read on to learn more and determine if this energy-efficient HVAC system is right for you.
Platinum 19 Low Profile Variable Speed Heat Pump close up on logo
What is a Heat Pump?
Don’t let the name fool you — heat pumps both heat and cool your home.
This HVAC system heats your home by collecting heat from the air, water, or ground outside and concentrating it for use inside. It does double duty as a central air conditioner by collecting the heat inside your house and pumping it outside.
During the heating season, a heat pump moves heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house. Then, during the cooling season, it moves heat from your house into the outdoors.
Because these systems transfer heat rather than generate heat, they can efficiently provide comfortable temperatures for your home.
A ductless mini-split system heats and cools a small space. (Deposit Photos)
Types of Heat Pumps
The three main types of heat pumps are air-to-air, geothermal and water source, according to Energy Saver.
Air-to-Air
Air-source heat pumps transfer heat between your house and the outside air. These are the most common type and can be used in all climates. There are also cold-climate air-source heatpumps designed specifically for cold climates.
Ductless mini-split systems are air-source heat pumps that can be installed in homes or additions without ducts. They’re small and offer flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms.
Geothermal
Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps transfer heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Because they move heat that already exists in the ground, they are among the most energy-efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies available.
Water Source
Absorption heat pumps are driven by a heat source such as natural gas, propane, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water. They usually only make sense in homes without an electricity source.
If you live in an area with below-freezing temperatures in the winter, a heat pump alone will not be enough to keep you comfortable. (Willoxpix, Getty Images Signature)
How Do I Know If My Home Needs a Heat Pump?
Every home and homeowner has unique needs, but generally, a heat pump is right for you if your winters are mild — rarely dipping below freezing. For instance, it’s ideal for a climate like the Southeast, which has mild winters.
Also, if you live in an area with low electric rates, then you’re a prime candidate for one.
What’s the Difference Between a Heat Pump and a Furnace?
A furnace converts fuel (either gas or oil) into heat that’s then delivered throughout your home.
Heat pumps, on the other hand, don’t burn fuel like a furnace — they run on electricity and circulate outside air to warm your home during the winter.
And because they don’t have to be matched with a separate heating or cooling system, they can be a less expensive option over time.
Pairing a heat pump with a gas furnace capitalizes on both systems’ strengths. (3 Echoes Content Studio/AdobeStock)
What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Heating?
One of the best ways to improve a heat pump’s efficiency is to pair it with a gas furnace. This dual-fuel system is also called hybrid heating. Here’s how it works:
During milder temperatures, the heat pump operates because it’s more efficient. As the outdoor temperature gets colder, the system will automatically switch over to the gas furnace.
This switching back and forth means the most efficient heating method is always used, which in turn saves on your utility bills.
American Standard’s heat pumps run at lower speeds for longer periods than conventional systems. They have reduced noise and result in lower electricity bills. (American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning)
American Standard heat pumps operate quietly, have customizable heating and humidity controls, and they offer a variety of models to best suit your needs.
If efficiency is your top priority, then you’ll want the AccuComfort Platinum 20 Variable Speed. It comes with AccuComfort technology that allows the multi-stage heating and cooling system to consistently adjust to run at a more efficient speed to maintain your personal level of comfort. Plus, with up to 20.00 SEER and 10HSPF, it’s both efficient and quiet.
Is noise your main concern? The AccuComfort Platinum 19 Low Profile is American Standard’s most efficient and quiet to date. It’s specially designed to meet the noise requirements of some cities and is perfect for installations near bedrooms and outdoor living spaces.
Learn more about these heat pump models and discover more options at americanstandardair.com.
Pairing a heat pump with a gas furnace capitalizes on both systems’ strengths. (3 Echoes Content Studio/AdobeStock)
What is Hybrid Heating?
Essentially, hybrid heating gives you the best of both worlds, pairing an electric heat pump with a gas furnace to efficiently control your home’s climate during every season.
During hot summer weather, the heat pump works like a central air conditioner, transferring hot air out of your home.
In moderately cold temperatures during the spring and fall, a heat pump provides adequate and cost-effective heating. However, as outdoor temperatures dip further, the average heat pump decreases in heating capacity and efficiency.
When temperatures get below 40, the gas furnace takes over to quickly heat the house.
The system is designed to automatically switch between the heat pump and furnace, depending on your home’s temperature conditions. Allowing your home to heat up or cool down without you having to do a thing.
With a system that chooses the optimal heating type — electric or gas — you save energy and maintain home comfort.
And because each component only works when conditions are ideal for it to operate, hybrid systems have a longer life expectancy — from 20 to 25 years.
A dual-fuel heat pump switches between a furnace and heat pump, saving you energy, time and money. (Maksim Shchur, Getty Images)
Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Energy Savings
A hybrid heating system saves you energy, time and money because it can switch between a furnace and heat pump to efficiently warm your home.
You don’t need a furnace, which produces heat, in hot temperatures, and a heat pump works overtime in extremely cold temperatures.
Instead of letting a regular heat pump do extra work in the winter, a dual-fuel system lets the furnace do the heavy lifting. This means the heat pump isn’t using unnecessary energy.
On the flip side, a heat pump can warm your home more efficiently than a furnace when it’s just cool — typically above 40 degrees — outside.
All this switching between functions doesn’t only save energy — it also saves time and money. By allowing the best device to heat or cool your home at the best time, a dual-fuel system gets your home to the desired temperature faster.
A dual-fuel heat pump system coupled with a smart thermostat, like American Standard’s AccuLink Platinum 1050 Control, can save you even more on utility bills. Program it to optimize which fuel to use based on your electric utility rate. (They never run at the same time.)
And, of course, a smart thermostat allows you to control your heating from anywhere as well as to set energy-saving heating schedules — ensuring cozy comfort no matter what the weather’s like outside.
Dual-fuel heat pumps are best for places that experience varying temperatures. (DAKphoto, Getty Images)
Is a Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Right for You?
If you live in an area that sees temperatures at both ends of the spectrum, a dual-fuel heat pump system may be for you.
A furnace only heats, so if you live through changing climates, you’ll need to invest in another HVAC system to meet your needs.
And while heat pumps both heat and cool your home, they have to work overtime at extremely low temperatures, which isn’t always the most cost or energy-effective solution.
Dual fuel heat pumps take the best qualities of both systems to tackle whatever climate you may wake up to.
You can create a dual-heat pump system in your home by pairing a heat pump like this one with a furnace or installing a single unit with both components. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Dual-Fuel Heat Pump System Installation
If you’re interested in dual heating, there are two basic options:
• Installing a split system with separate heat pump and furnace components. A heat pump and furnace can be paired to create a dual-fuel or hybrid system. Not all HVAC systems are created equal. Some are louder than others, and some operate on full blast, reach the desired temperature and immediately cut off — meaning you can expect a lot of warm and cold cycles in your home. American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning’s AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump has variable speeds that provide even heating throughout the home. Coupled with a high-performing furnace like American Standard’s Platinum 95 Gas Furnace, this dual-fuel system will thoroughly and efficiently heat your home throughout winter.
Happy Veterans Day! In this episode of “The Ask Danny Podcast,” I’m taking a break from giving home improvement advice and information to honor my Uncle Rex O’Dell, a World War II veteran who just turned 100.
Uncle Rex joined the United States Navy in 1942 and served aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. Watch the video above as he shares his memories, war stories, and wisdom in this special podcast that honors his service and all our veterans.
Here’s a preview of the podcast.
On the left is Rex with his wife Jean, and on the right is Rex when he first joined the Navy. (Photos courtesy Peggy O’Dell)
Growing Up in West Virginia
Danny: Hello, everybody, and welcome to this “Ask Danny” podcast. This is a very special one because, how often are you able to sit and talk with someone who’s 100 years old? I recently was able to celebrate my Uncle Rex’s 100th birthday with him. Welcome to “The Ask Danny Podcast.”
Rex: Thank you.
Danny: First, Happy Veterans Day! We really appreciate all veterans and your service, but let’s go back a little chronologically here. Why don’t you start by telling us where you were born?
Rex: I was born in a little town in West Virginia called Middle Creek. From there, we moved to Ronda, West Virginia. Father got injured real bad in a coal mine accident and he was never able to go back to coal mining. We moved to a little town called East Bank. I went to grade school, high school and was in the Navy in 1942.
Danny: I remember you telling me a story about helping your father build the house that I’ve visited many times, but tell me a little bit about the house.
Rex: We were a real poor family, and Dad negotiated with the coal company. He bought two coal company houses. We tore them down, took all the nails out of them, and loaded them up and brought them back to East Bank, where he had purchased a 50-by-100 lot. And he used this lumber to frame the house. Of course, he had to buy siding to put on it and make it halfway livable. We built that house in the wintertime and we lived in tents (during construction).
Danny: Wow, and it gets cold in West Virginia!
Rex: Yeah, and we didn’t have heat in the tents we slept in at night! That’s a house that the rest of the kids were born in.
Rex was stationed on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard during World War II. (U.S. Navy photo)
Enlisting — and a ‘Shakedown’
Danny: Moving on to the Navy — what made you decide to get into the Navy?
Rex: Well, so many of my friends were drafted, and I wouldn’t have had to go because I helped my mom raise the kids, but I went to Charleston and signed up. In two weeks, I was on the way! I got on a train in Charleston, rode the train to Cincinnati, and changed trains to take my training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Then we went to a little town called Lake City, where they were building a new air base. I was there for about a year and then went aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. We (were) there for about five months before we went to sea. The ship wasn’t completely built at the time, and we were outfitting it.
When we were going for a shake-down cruise (to test the ship’s performance), we went out on the river and learned that we miscalculated the height of the carrier and the Brooklyn Bridge! The ship wouldn’t fit underneath that.
So, we had to take the superstructure (the portion above the hull and deck) off the top, and wait until completely low tide to get that ship underneath that bridge. Then, we had to go over across the bay to New Jersey to put the superstructure back on.
During that shakedown cruise, they got that thing going as fast as it can go and put it in reverse just as fast. They were trying to tear it up to see if it was built right!
You could hear both popping and cracking, which wasn’t very good, and they had to, of course, fix it again when it come back from the shakedown cruise.
Rex, far right, poses with his shipmates. (Photo courtesy Peggy O’Dell)
A Secret Mission
Danny: I was on (a battleship) recently at the USS Midway out in San Diego and you just have no idea how big that structure is until you walk from one end to the other. It’s quite a structure.
Rex: Ours was the biggest they made at that time. It was an Essex-class ship, and they built several of them before the war was over.
Danny: So, where did you go from there?
Rex: From there, we went through the Panama Canal. And then we picked up some recruits in San Diego to take to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I think we took about 2,000 recruits there.
When we got them to Honolulu, that’s where we picked up our Air Group. I don’t remember exactly how long we were there, not more than probably a day or two, maybe three. Then we were heading out to the battle area with our fight crew with actual fighter planes and bombers.
Danny: So, everything was fully equipped and all the airplanes, personnel and the good gourmet food that you got to eat — that was ready to go?
Rex: Oh, yeah, and we then went out and joined the Third Fleet. “Bull” Halsey, Adm. (William Frederick) Halsey (Jr.), was in charge of the Third Fleet.
Danny: Where was the fleet headed?
Rex: Well, that was all secret. The fleet commanders knew all that stuff. All we did was man the guns and stop any bullets heading our way.
Pictured is a 40-mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun, similar to what Rex worked with during World War II. (Pixabay)
Doing Damage Control
Danny: What was the thing that was just the most uncomfortable, other than, you know, the unknown?
Rex: There were about 5,000 men on that ship — that’s as big as a lot of cities. There were a lot of seasoned Sailors that had already been in combat and were training us.
My first job when I went on there was what you call damage control. I was down below decks, and if there was any damage, we were to repair it. I didn’t like being down there, with all the shooting going on up above, because I wanted to be up where all the action was. Back then, I was young and wasn’t scared of nothing.
They finally put me on an anti-aircraft gun — what they call a Quad 40. We didn’t shoot the guns. All we did was load them. Every fifth shell was a tracer, so you could tell where you were hitting the plane or how close you hit the plane and how much adjustment you had to make.
One time, the fighting was so intense and we were firing so much that the barrels just went over and melted.
Above is a split photo of Rex in both of his Navy uniforms. (Photo courtesy Peggy O’Dell)
Always on Call and on Alert
Danny: Wow. So you were kind of on call the whole time. You never knew if at 1:00 in the morning or 1:00 in the afternoon you’d have to man that gun in a hurry.
Rex: They had what you call an “alert.” When you got your alert, they’d ring a bell in general quarters. When that bell rang you had to GET. We were down probably about four decks and had to come up through little holes, like your whole body when it goes through, up to the top of the ship where the gun station was.
Danny: History tells us how everything ended up, thank goodness. And fortunately, you were able to make it through. I know a lot of your friends and fellow servicemen didn’t make it. As the years went along, were you able to communicate very much with your family?
Rex: Well, yes, we had what they called airmail. You could send regular letters, and they were free. It took forever for them to get there, because they had to take it off our ship then on to another ship and another ship, and then to the states.
Rex, right, dons a hula skirt in this photo with a fellow sailor. (Photo courtesy Peggy O’Dell)
The War Ends — and Celebration Begins
Danny: So, when you found out things were going in a good direction for America, tell us about when you did finally get that word that the surrender had taken place and that you guys would be headed back to the States. How was that?
Rex: Well, buddy. That was a great thing! That was after the atomic bomb, of course. Two of them were dropped not a day apart. They had an announcer, he wasn’t a Navy person but he got all his information from chiefs of the Navy.
Right after they dropped it, it was explained how devastating it was, and how many people estimated were killed. We knew then that the war was about over. It wasn’t even announced then because before that the fighting had kind of eased because they were running out of people and were running out of ammunition.
I was also there on the ship when they signed the peace treaty, too. They signed it on the Missouri, and we were right beside it when it was signed. It was a wonderful feeling, I’ll tell you that.
Danny: So they turned the ship around and you headed back to the states, where I know you were welcomed warmly.
Rex: We came into the States at Alameda, California. We even got to come in underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. They estimated 100,000 people on that bridge — they had horns and firecrackers that sounded like bombs. They had big bands playing and people screaming. We came underneath that bridge and it wasn’t too far from there to Alameda where we docked.
Here’s Rex at the 2022 USS Bon Homme Richard Shipmates Reunion in St. Louis. (Photo courtesy Peggy O’Dell)
Reunited and It Feels So Good
Danny: You’re in St. Louis, Mo., right now. Tell us about the special event (a USS Bon Homme Richard Shipmates Reunion) you attended.
Rex: You wouldn’t believe how nice they have been. (emotionally) It’s really wonderful.
Danny: Well, I heard they treated you like a superstar yesterday. And you’ve never been shy about putting your arm around a girl and getting your picture taken.
Rex: Oh, no, no. I even turned my cheek (for a kiss). I got another cheek, to make me get both of them! You get to my age, you don’t turn down things like that, you know.
You will not believe it, they put me in front of the chow line and introduced me. The people clapped real, real loud! Makes you feel really good.
Watch the full podcast in the video above this article! Uncle Rex and I love each other, and we certainly love our country.
And this podcast is our gift to you — Happy Veterans Day!
Board and batten adds a geometric, layered look to both interior and exterior walls.
This siding and paneling style uses thin strips of wood — or battens — placed over the seams of wide boards.
You can mimic the look of board and batten on an accent wall without installing wide wood boards. Here’s how:
Because we wanted custom-sized battens, we had to cut them down from larger boards. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
For the battens, rip half-inch by 6-inch pine siding along its length to create battens that are about 2¾-inch wide.
We use the same wood for the baseboard but cut it slightly wider to match the existing baseboards. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Use the same pine siding to frame the top and bottom of the wall. Cut the bottom piece slightly wider — at 3¼ inch — to match the height of the existing baseboards.
By using an oscillating saw, we don’t have to remove the baseboard to cut it. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Use an oscillating saw to cut the baseboards on the adjacent walls back a half inch so the pine siding can slide in. Then, attach battens in each corner.
We’re spacing the battens 16 inches apart because that’s the typical spacing of wall studs. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
The remaining battens should be spaced on 16-inch centers. Before installing them, mark those dimensions on the wall with a pencil to be sure the spacing works before installing them.
Applying construction adhesive ensures the board will stay put in case the finishing nails don’t penetrate a stud. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Since we can’t be sure we’ll hit studs with every batten, coat the back of each batten with construction adhesive before tacking them in place with 2-inch finish nails.
