Canux : Home Sweet Home

Archive for April, 2010

Microwave convection ovens have both microwave and convection facilities. Microwave ovens cook the food with amazing speed by heating the food only and nothing else. The convection facility provides fans and a certain ‘airflow’ circulation that cooks the food by using much less electricity. The microwave convection ovens bake, broil, cook, re-thermalize and warm the food effectively. Thus the microwave convection ovens are the best ovens available in the market that provides the users with delicious, tasty and fast cooked foods.

Special Features of Microwave Convection Ovens

The microwave convection oven is a wonderful creation. It provides the couple advantages of microwave and convection methods. There are some other features too that make this oven so special.

Baking [convection] features – During baking, a heating element raises the temperature inside the oven. So, it can operate temperatures from 225- 450

Queen Bed Headboards are a vital component of any bedroom and choosing the right one can be a difficult and worrying time. If you make a bad decision it can make your bedroom look worse rather than better than it does now.

So what material and design should you opt for?

Wooden or metal queen bed headboards shouldn’t be your choice if you regularly read or watch TV in bed because you will find that your starts to ache and you’ll need pillows to prop yourself up.

Upholstered headboards are built for comfort and can make a fantastic difference to a bedroom if they are upholstered in a checked fabric. This design is still very popular with people in their middle ages.

Leather headboards are loved by younger people who crave a more contemporary look in the bedroom. Fine superior leather queen bed headboards will last just as long as wooden ones before they start to show traces of aging. To keep the leather in top condition you will need to treat the headboard every year.

Wooden headboards are classical and provide undated class. Oak, ash, pine and beech headboards have their own unique characteristics and are often viewed as a no risk choice. Wood needs no looking after and will maintain its look for years to come.

Queen bed boutique headboards are very fashionable at the moment and can be bought in very bright materials that give a bold statement about the person. It is a great idea to remember your partner before buying one of these as he may not be overjoyed to have to sleep in a bedroom that is a little on the feminine side.

Suede queen bed headboards add a great deal of panache to bedrooms but are known for being very hard to keep clean. Always go for a darker shade to keep staining to a minimum.

A better alternative is faux suede headboards as they are made from polyester micro fibers that give a suede look and feel without the problems real suede offers.

RV refrigerators, for the most part, are efficient. In many cases it is something the owner does that makes the refrigerator less efficient.

There are several things we can do to help the refrigerator do its job more efficiently. First and foremost the RV must be fairly level for the refrigerator to operate properly. Older RV refrigerators required more precise leveling, but even the newer models need to be close to level for optimum performance. Over time a cooling unit operated out of level will be permanently damaged. Traveling with the refrigerator on will not cause problems because the liquids and gases in the cooling unit are constantly moving around. They don’t collect and stay in areas of the cooling unit like they can in a stationary, out of level refrigerator.

The initial cool down process can take four to six hours. You should turn the refrigerator on the day before you plan to leave, and before you put any food in it. When you do load the refrigerator the food you put in should already be cold, and the food put in the freezer should already be frozen. Putting cold food in the refrigerator, rather than adding warm food, lets the refrigerator work less to cool down. One common mistake made is to over pack the refrigerator. There has to be space between the foods to allow for air to circulate throughout the compartment. In most situations you will have access to a store where you can buy food. A two to three day supply should be enough.

To assist with air circulation you can purchase an inexpensive, battery operated refrigerator fan. Put the batteries in and place the fan in the front of the refrigerator compartment blowing up. Cold air drops and warm air rises. The fan will improve the efficiency by circulating the air and it will reduce the initial cool down time by 50%.

The heat created by the cooling process is vented behind the refrigerator. Air enters through the outside lower refrigerator vent and helps to draft the hot air out through the roof vent. Periodically inspect the back of the refrigerator and the roof vent for any obstructions like bird nests, leaves or other debris that might prevent the heat from escaping.

To keep the refrigerator operating efficiently in the LP gas mode there is some routine maintenance you can perform. Remove the outside lower vent cover to access the back of the refrigerator. With the refrigerator turned off ensure all connections are clean and tight. Turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode and a look at the flame. If the flame is burning poorly, a yellow colored flame, or if the refrigerator isn’t operating properly in the gas mode it’s possible that the baffle inside the flue is covered with soot. Soot, rust and other debris can fall down and obstruct the burner assembly. When this happens it will be necessary to clean the flue and the burner assembly. Turn the refrigerator off again and locate the burner. Directly above the burner is the flue. The baffle is inside the flue. Wear a pair of safety glasses and use an air compressor to blow air up into the flue. After the flue is clean use the compressed air to remove any debris from the outside refrigerator compartment. Now, turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode to make sure it is working properly. Look for the bright blue flame. For a thorough cleaning of the flue and baffle it will be necessary to have your RV dealer do it for you. While it’s there have them to do an LP gas pressure test too.

Another good idea is to install a 12 volt, thermostatically controlled refrigerator vent fan at the back of the refrigerator, or at the top of the roof vent, to assist with drafting the hot air away from the refrigerator. If you are mechanically inclined these fans are fairly easy to install, or you can have your RV dealer install one for you. Either way it’s worth it. The fan removes the heat built up behind the refrigerator improving the refrigerators performance by up to 40%.

The outside temperature also affects the operation and efficiency of your RV refrigerator. When it’s cold out you can lower the temperature setting and when it’s hot out you can raise the setting. Some refrigerators are preset by the manufacturer. Extremely hot weather will directly affect the refrigerators efficiency. When it’s really hot outside try parking your RV with the side the refrigerator is on in the shade. Periodically inspect and clean the refrigerator door gaskets. Check them for a good seal. Place a dollar bill behind the seal and close the door. It should stay there and not drop. When you try to pull it out there should be some resistance felt. Do this in several different places and have any damaged seals replaced.

Try to limit the amount of times you open the refrigerator or freezer doors and the length of time you leave the doors open. Every time the door is opened it loses a few degrees of heat. On a hot summer day it won’t take long to lose all of its cooling capacity. Last but not least you should always have a thermostat in the food compartment. Food will begin to spoil at temperatures above 40 degrees.

RV absorption refrigerators do a great job for RVers. They will do an even better job, and last longer, if we apply these simple tips to make their job easier and less demanding.

Happy Camping,

Mark

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

I have always been a fan of anything that carries the Tommy Bahama name. Not only is my closet full of great looking Tommy Bahama clothing, but my home is quickly becoming a testament to the incredible line of their home furnishings. If you have never nestled into a bed made up with Tommy Bahama bedding, I urge you to find the nearest merchant that carries this leading home furnisher’s bedding collection. It’s no secret, once you sleep with these linens, you never go back!

I discovered my passion for Tommy Bahama quite innocently while shopping for new bed linens. After sharing the bed with three kids, two dogs and a cat for more years than I care to admit, I decided the bed needed a complete redo on everything from the mattress pad to the pillows. Since shopping online is really the only way to shop, I turned to my laptop and my favorite designer name. It wasn’t long before I found exactly what I had been dreaming about. The bedding basics, as well as the blankets and decorative bedding, I ordered did not disappoint.

One of my most favorite bedding items I purchased has to be the cool through the night pillow. The name alone had me immediately hooked, as I live in a very humid climate and anything that evokes the image of cool gets my attention. This 400-thread count, primaloft filled pillow is made with Tencel Lyocell fabric, which is silky, smooth and specifically designed to wick away moisture. No more having to turn the pillow over in the middle of hot summer nights searching for a cool spot to lay one’s head. This wondrous pillow is the answer to sweet dreams forever more.

Possibly one of the best things about these ingenious pillows is the fact they are hypoallergenic and can be machine washed and dried. The primaloft filler is anti-bacterial, designed to repel moisture, thus allowing your body to stay dry and your bedding to stay clean. This medium density, durable pillow is made in the USA and the workmanship says it all. My Tommy Bahama bed pillows really do look as good as the day I received them, and I have since invested in the same cool through the night pillows for the kids’ beds. The guest room is next in line for a complete update on bedding and I know my guests will love the linens and pillows I have chosen.

It has been said the bed pillow is one of our best friends; it listens to secrets, bears witness to dreams and wipes away occasional tears. Tommy Bahama cool through the night pillows will allow you to drift peacefully in to slumber and keep your dreams sweet throughout the night. When your bed is outfitted with the perfect pillows and linens, you will wonder why you didn’t shop for this bedding sooner. Do not hesitate to start your shopping trip with Tommy Bahama at the top of your list. Your dreams await you!

You cannot retrofit a money generator to your bank account so you might as well have a direct go at a source of rising fuel prices where you have some control. Your gas guzzling car.

Of course, there’s no more cheap gas to be had. No free gas anywhere!

But you do have some exciting options of increasing your mileage by 25 to 50%. It can be done with a supplemental hydrogen gas generator retrofitted to your car. It is about water fuel.

In the middle of that range, with the average car getting 25 miles a gallon from a 20 gallon tank, that will get you an extra 175 miles. That’s about a $21 saving every time you fill up. At 50% mileage increase with a supplemental hydrogen gas generator that would be $30 a time.

A hydrogen gas generator is based on ‘old’ proven technology. It works. It’s inexpensive and you can access it. No big car company secrets here that stand between you and real, cheap gas savings.

There are three options on how to achieve this.

Obtain an instruction guide to build the kit yourself.

Buy a hydrogen gas generator kit, assemble and install it yourself.

Or

Buy an already assembled kit, install it yourself, or get your mechanic to do it.

How does it work?

Hydrogen is a very clean fuel. It’s source is water and no CO2 is produced in burning it. Just water!

It is a very powerful energy carrier. It carries rockets into space. Obviously you need to take care with this stuff.

So how can it be safely used in a car’s internal combustion engine without rocketing you into space?

Electrolysis. Basically this means that the electricity from your car’s battery is used to separate hydrogen and oxygen in distilled water as you drive. Hydrogen is added to the fuel as you go and combustion efficiency is greatly increased. Only as much hydrogen is created as you need as you drive, so no rocket blasting!

Hydrogen is ordinarily no cheap gas. But generating it this way, it is.

What are the benefits of a supplemental hydrogen gas generator?

Well, I’ve mentioned the savings every time you connect your wallet straight to the bowser.

But cheap gas is only the beginning.You will also make an immediate contribution to reducing green house gas emissions. Your hydrogen generator works by causing gas to be burned much more efficiently. Fewer harmful emissions get spewed out your exhaust pipe.

Your car engine’s performance will increase and its life is extended as it burns cleaner, resulting in a much reduced internal carbon build-up.

Did you know that the world uses something like an Olympic swimming pool-full of oil every 15 seconds? It is going to run out some day and your retrofitted fuel saver can be your bridge between rising gas prices and the day that you can buy an affordable alternative fuel car. And, of course there will never be such thing as free gas on our limited planet.

And…

You can further leverage your cheap gas advantage from your on-board hydrogen generator by using bio fuels, or liquid petroleum gas. Almost free gas, you could say.

OK, you can also use magnetic resonance devices to get good fuel savings but you need a qualified mechanic to install them. By contrast, the hydrogen generator is real “people technology.”

Here’s how to create containers of show stopping blooms for your patio, deck and porch.

Plant Containers can be created from things you would otherwise throw away and this activity therefore has the double appeal of creating an attractive flower display while at the same time going green!

I have found that planting in old ice buckets or flour or sugar containers or pots and pans or even old boots or children’s toys like wagons and doll cribs, produces an amazing effect. I love to put these out on the front of the house and see the number of adults and children that smile and comment to their friends as they pass. The fun is in the looking.

Sometimes the plant may be a little top heavy and unstable depending on the plant variety, but most of the time there is no problem. In fact when I first started I was disappointed to find that midway through the flowering season the plants lost their vigor. I gardening friend soon pointed out to me that I was not fertilizing. Plants in containers won’t thrive if you don’t fertilize. If you find this job too time-consuming, there’s an easy way to do it: just mix slow-release fertilizer pellets into the top layer of potting soil.

You can also create wonderful multi-layered flow display by putting additional planting in hanging containers or by raising the containers to allow drainage on forms and tables. Just make sure that you have devised a watering access strategy for the higher hanging baskets though or you will strain your arms stretching up to water, and quite possibly make yourself wet while doing it to the bargain!

If you don’t have containers that you can recycle, any type of clay planter pots that have drainage holes in the bottom and “saucers” to keep the soil from washing away, will work just fine; pick a size that fits the area you intend to grow your display blooms and how many containers you have. My local garden centre sells a 2O Inch Oval Planter is 6 1/2 inches tall from the bottom of the saucer and about 9 1/2 inches at the broadest point. It holds four or five annuals or small herbs or two large ones, and takes 2 gallons of soil. I have obtained outstanding results from plants growing in this manner.

Another tip is to make an arrangement of plants in your basket at the garden centre before you buy. You may see the other shoppers looking rather strangely at you, but why not? You’ll easily find out whether the combination of colors/leaf textures, and growth habits, plus blooms will work together. Remember, if you cannot make up your mind on what pot would suit the plant, experiment, and don’t be afraid to try something original. You can always re-pot the following year into a more preferred style. I find that a wide-based and tall container can be placed as a contrast, with larger plants to be a focus rather than a background.

In situations where my house plants have obviously had the attention of some leaf munchers, I isolate them in a plastic bag with a no-pest strip overnight. That procedure usually works quite well for me.

If you experiment you will learn how to do intensive gardening in small areas. Moveable containers such as pots and tubs rally are so flexible that all the year round your display can look neat and trim.

In dim areas, or near entryways, try using warm colors (reds and oranges). They grab attention and can be seen from farther away. When planting in exposed or public areas, heavy concrete tubs have the added advantage of discouraging anyone from “accidentally” walking off with your prized plants or pots. Concrete planters can be left outside over the winter in frost prone areas without harm, which is good since you’re probably not going to want to move them. Take care with clay though as one sharp and intense frost can cause many of the unglazed types to fall apart within 3 months.

Wood containers are also suitable. I do not recommend wine or whiskey barrels as they are too shallow and fall apart with the first transplant. Traditional cottage style wooden planters are some of my favorites. Some garden centers sell faux lead containers, and reformed granite planters, some of which offer simple antique rustic looks, and others have period style sophistication.

Planting flowers in containers adds immediate color and liveliness to your yard. They are great for adding color to a spot in a garden that ‘needs something,’ and they can be moved around for when you are entertaining in a certain area.