Category: houseKeep`

houseKeeping

disposable batt: family mindless buy`#winUp #todo

Posted on by tiger40490

This is another WinUp type of problem… AA) recurring BB) without solution CC) irritating

— The main problem: I suspect the “easy and lazy” practice of many people (esp. spoilt kids) is to use exclusively-new batteries. Therefore, once they put a new battery into an apparatus, they won’t ever bother to save it in a stash for reuse somewhere else, even if the apparatus is used only that one time, and the new battery in it is only used for 5 minutes /from cradle to grave/. Saving it in a stash requires sys2 effort [/organization/, discipline, compliance…. ]

I find this habit unacceptable esp. in my family. If my kids gets into this habit, I become upset.

The subsequent problem:  Sometimes, they buy a pack of 8 batteries, use 3 then mix the remaining 5 with other batteries including used ones. Then they don’t know which batteries are new. So they end up buying another pack of 8.

— problem: many batteries expire after 3Y (alkaline up to 10Y) even if unused, so they can appear like half-used.
To preserve new batteries, store them separately from old batteries.

— problem: batteries are heavy, so we tend to throw away when we have too many new ones.

— sugg: buy 16-pack and split it into 2-packs. Shrink-Wrap each.
~ how about  stapler on my tiny zipbag?
~ how about transparent sticky tape-wrap? You can write  “NEW” on the tape.

— sugg: buy cheap throw-away batteries in many small (original) packs like doubles
Goal is to discourage them buying expensive “regular price” batteries.

— sugg: after 3 batteries are shown to “fail” once, feel free to discard without guilt, even though one of those batteries could be good.

— sugg: keep new batteries segregated from used battery, so I could use the “old” batteries
Rationale: when a battery fails to work in some apparatus, we really need to try a new battery to be sure. Therefore, new batteries are valuable.

The total cost of this “segregation” is a bit too high

Compliance — family tend to ignore it.

— sugg: battery tester ….. to reduce the effort of separating used vs new batteries. However they are not always accurate. I think tester will get misplaced, and disappear due to disuse.

— sugg: rechargeable ….. as a solution to the mindless buying and excessive storage cost: doesn’t work in my family, as other family members lose the rechargeable batteries
I will keep a pocket-size single-charger.

power strip: how to store #to tidy up

Posted on by tiger40490

k_classify_objects

— sugg: for each unit, find a zipper of a suitable size… less stringent about cable tidy-up

— sugg: snake around the bar with the cable, then …

… wrap in clear sheet [better for the rarely used]

— sugg on classifying.. I keep the small power devices including batteries in store room. Note batteries have no reason to live with the power extensions, but both are frequently accessed by family members

water metered usage: 4~10 cubic meter/M/head #bidet

Posted on by tiger40490

— before taking vacation, turn off all bidets.  Better turn off main water supply.

In fact, this type of bidets are a clear risk in terms of water pipe break.

— water usage

  • 6-resident: mid-Apr to mid-Jun, we used 37.3 cubic meter per month, based on actual reading.
  • 4-resident: After mid-Jun, for two months, we used 32 cubic meters per month, based on actual reading.

Typical usage in Singapore is 4 to 10 cubic meters/M/person, so our usage (8) is within range but on the high side.

— full-load machine wash is more water-efficient

— Dripping tap may contribute a lot — amount of wastage is hard to estimate.

After the plumber fixes everything, just observe the meter. Should NOT move at all.

 

[16]bedbug heuristics:where, how many, spreading speed

Posted on by tiger40490

k_bedBug_wisdom

See also staggering marginal ROI

Some people think a single sighting implies they must treat everything in the entire building, and stay in hotel for a few days. Even after treatment , they fear the bedbugs could come back from neighbors. So every family in the neighborhood has to move out to hotels 3 times a year (carrying bedbugs)? Well, germs (and covid viruses) are around us everywhere except clean rooms, so we humans have to live with them.

I read that “Since they prefer to nest within about 15 feet (5m) of their host, you’ll probably find them hiding in tight spaces near your bed.”

Q: if you find up to 3 bedbug on your bed and nowhere else, do you need to treat entire house? It’s a touch chocie of cost vs risk.

  • If you opt for higher (not 100% permanent) protection, then move to hotel, treat entire house, move back and clean everything. Tcost would be many hours, far heavier than the $cost. Unfortunately, I won’t believe any guarantee by anyone that the bedbugs will not come back within a month. Note bedbugs can come from neighbor or carried by a host including visitors. So this is a super-high-cost, lower-risk, 99% reliable option.
  • If you opt for pragmatic living, then you can choose to treat (or replace) the mattress and observe. If bedbugs /resurface/ in a month, then they probably have a nest outside the mattress (unless the professional treatment was incomplete.. unlikely) so you may need to treat or replace the bed. If bedbugs only come back afer a year, then you may consider using cheaper mattress from now on, so you can replace them easily. This is a low-cost, higher-risk option.

— https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs hints that bed bugs mostly hide on the bed, and in other parts of home only if heavily infested.

— https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&hl=en-GB&v=EVk3xFClDQA video says Infestation takes months. In the beginning, they only stay on your bed.

Weekly check.

—http://bedbugscrusher.com/how-to-search-for-bed-bugs/
But the good news is there are very common areas that will usually be heavily infested prior to them spreading to these tiny little hiding spots that may be more difficult to uncover. So if you start with these areas and find the problem has just begun and the infestation has not become severe yet, it is possible to get rid of the problem on your own without the need for expensive professional help. It is still a LOT of work, but many people in recent years have been able to completely rid their homes of bed bugs all by themselves.

If you checked your entire bed and haven’t seen one little 1/4th inch size bug running away from you when he’s been exposed, then you probably don’t have any bed bugs in your home. They would not build a nest 10 feet away from their food if there is still tons of real estate available within a foot or two of their food.

Now if you have confirmed bed bugs, even if it’s just a handful, you need to treat your entire house.

termite prevention

Posted on by tiger40490
  • Fix any leaking pipes and taps and keep structures dry. Termites depend on moisture to survive.
  • Seal cracks around utility and water pipes to keep them from crawling through to search for food.
  • Termites’ sources of food include unused timber, stumps or debris from your premises. Remove all of them.

— another article

Inside your home

  1. If you have a backyard, it is always wise to seal your windows and doors as it is always possible that the termites might enter your house when you are not around.
  2. Always clear any debris, wood that are damp from the soil and around it. These are perfect for termites to live in and strive. Soil sub-floor provide for a perfect nesting and food source for the termites. As such, if you have any timber or wood that are lying around your house, then it will create an avenue for termites to build their colony.
  3. Be sure to clean up and fix any leaky pipe or taps. As mentioned earlier, damp places are a good nesting spot for termites. Kitchens and your bathrooms are common areas in which you will usually spot the termites because of the presence of pipes and taps. As such, do make it an effort to constantly inspect for any leaky pipes or taps to better prevent against the termites.
  4. Have good ventilation and vapour barrier. This is to help reduce and minimise moisture from reaching your floor cracks. Moisture will be one of the biggest setups in ensuring and creating an ideal living space for termites. Thus, to prevent termites, it is best to destroy and not have any suitable space for them to breed and live.

Outside your home

  1. Remove woodpiles

Leaving wood stacks near your home will eventually invite termites as these stumps will become damp and rotten, becoming the perfect nest for termites to build their colony.

  1. Use termite treated timber for your garden beds walls and fences

Using termite treated timber is one of the preventive measures to better prevent against termite. Using these termite treated timbers, you can be more at ease that your wood is better protected against being a nesting ground for these insects.

safe-keep original (immigration++)doc during relocation

Posted on by tiger40490

k_classify_objects

Tip: classify the docs according the cost of re-issue

  1. Not sure if we could get a replacement — birth certs from China; past h1b papers; old passport
  2. a few weeks of wait — Singapore gov documents

Tip: paper folders — favor center-loading rather than “top-loading” paper folders. Papers could fall out.

Passport and cards are harder to keep in folders. 1) During a move, put all the papers, passports, cards in one zipper bag 2) after settle-down, separate them for easy access.

Tip: put the import docs into luggage in the last moment. Until then, they stay with passport and money in one drawer or something like that

Tip: during a physical move, always put all important docs in one bag and don’t check-in.

##home repair training in SG for U.S.

Posted on by tiger40490

http://www.fondacoretrade.com.sg/Institute.html provides many BCA courses such as door/window installation; electrical wiring;

–plumbing
residential plumbing — https://www.getcet.sg/courses/CourseDetails.aspx?cid=62
ITE
6M part time

https://www.ite.edu.sg/wps/wcm/connect/09275d0041e8ff14a63cb6b9cc0c1566/Plumbing+Maintenance.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
ITE
7 sessions

–woodwork
wood joinery — https://lessonsgowhere.com.sg/carpentry-workshop/level-1b-woodworking-joinery#.VzrJSa0mGng
probably too short

bedbug 2nd spray logbook – 7 May

Posted on by tiger40490

Chemicals — VIC 80 SC (spray); (gas) Newhunt total release aerosol

The visual inspection was 1 hour +/-. The inspector checked all mattresses, bamboo mat (not bed sheet). He checked behind the queen bed. He checked my empty backpacks in the wardrobe close to the infested queen bed. He checked curtains in the same room. He checked the wire casing.

Each time, he examined only (what I call) strategic location. Since he didn’t find any trace of bugs, presumably he didn’t go in deeper.

He also checked the other bedrooms but not the living room. He didn’t check any furniture, electronics, books or toys.

Q: what if another light infestation (a few bugs found, only on bed)? A: if you don’t want to engage a professional firm, then yes you can try some spray from your friend at the furniture shop.

bedbug task plan 7 May

Posted on by tiger40490

–night before:
* luggage esp. the one below the queen bed
Action: bring down and open up for treatment, but the storeroom is really too far from beds to worry about.

— the morning:
* pillow and bedding — Action: wrap up. Can hot-dry later.
* bamboo mats — Action: big one spray. Small ones move out. Soft one hot-dry
* all other beds — Action: move in
* food items — Action: hide
* dish rack and open compartments around oven — empty
* things below queen bed
Action: spray
* wardrobe in room 1
Action: seal up if possible

So (For Monday) the only things “contaminated” are the beds, mattresses, big bamboo mat. Also, the floor, wall, window etc.