eSpares

Dog proof your lawn

Right, so you're off to a great start in getting your lawn looking gloriously green ahead of the summer. Nothing must get in the way of your progress, not even your loyal pal Rover.

If you have a pet dog you might have noticed their urine leaves unsightly, yellow patches on your beautiful green lawn. This is not okay.

"Dog Rocks" are a 100% all natural cure to eliminating burn patches left from your dog's urine.

To use: place a few of the rocks into your dog's water dish. The active components of the rocks purify the water by removing harmful trace elements. This gives your dog a cleaner source of water by lowering the nitrates and thus will eliminate burn marks to your grass when they expel their urine.

A few colleagues have tried these with their dogs and confirm they really work!

Have a look at the product website and see what you think.

http://www.dogrocksus.com/ 

 

Choosing the right mower

Choosing the right mower for your lawn is key to getting it looking great. With so many different options, it can be tricky to figure out which one will work best for you.

There are some things for you to consider when choosing your mower. Once you have answered the following questions, you can proceed to deciding which type of mower will work best for your lawn.

• What sort of access do you have to your garden?
• Do you have flower beds or other obstacles to cut around?
• How often does your lawn require cutting?
• Do you fancy a striped effect in your grass?
• How big is your lawn?
• Is your lawn flat or sloped?
• Does your lawn have an uneven surface, hollows or any sharp bumps?

 

Rotary Mowers

Rotary mowers are a popular choice for domestic use. They are simple in design, using only one blade which cuts horizontally. If you’ve got an uneven lawn with long grass a rotary mower will work best. The grass clippings can be collected in a removable box or left to fly if they are dry.

For a striping effect a rotary mower with a rear roller will work.

Rotary mowers also come in ride-on versions for cutting larger areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cylinder Mowers

Unlike rotary mowers, cylinder mowers cut grass in a scissor like way. There is one fixed blade whilst a cylinder of 5-10 blades rotate at high speed and the grass is cut between the two.

Cylinder mowers are ideal for fine grass that needs to be cut frequently. They are not suitable for rough or uneven lawns with longer grass.

A rear roller attachment will allow for cylinder mowers to create the striped effect.

Cylinder mowers also tend to be self-propelled which can make the process a bit easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hover Mowers

A hover mower is a variation on the rotary. Its rotating blade produces a cushion of air, which the mower rides on versus wheels.

A hover mower will prove useful if you’ve got an uneven lawn with difficult corners or angles.

Keep in mind that once a hoover mower is off it will need to be carried, rather than rolled to be stored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, depending on what type of lawn you have, this should help you decide which mower will work best for you this summer. You can also take a look at our how-to video where Matt offers tips for a healthy looking lawn and our 5 steps to a vibrant Garden and Home Exterior article for some extra guidance. After all, a happy lawn is the key to a happy home (Or at least it's a good start)

If you've already equipped with a trusty mower and you're after any spares or accessories for it, they can be found here.

Helpful household tips

 

Right, so here is a list of rather random yet, very useful tips & tricks for you to try in and around your home.

• Don't keep medicine in your bathroom cabinet. The moisture created from the shower will cause the meds to go off sooner than they should, reducing them to a placebo-like state. Instead store in a cool, dry place like a bedroom wardrobe or cabinet in your kitchen. Keep out of reach of children of course!

• To peel a kiwi, cut off the top and bottom, then slip a spoon in between the skin and the flesh. Twist the spoon round and then pop the skin off.

• Use a fishing tackle box to organise a first aid kit for your home.

• Put rolled up newspapers inside tall boots to keep them from flopping over when stored. This will prevent unwanted creases from forming in them.

• Chuck small items such as baby spoons, dummies, bottle caps etc. inside a small mesh bag and place in dishwasher. This will prevent them from falling through to the bottom of the machine.

• Divide homemade soup or stews into muffin tins to freeze. Two of these will make perfect individually-sized portions.

• When packing liquids for your next trip, remove the lids and put a piece of cling film over the top, then replace the lid. This will add extra, spill-proof protection.

• Before you grill your amazing homemade burgers, press a hole in the middle of each patty. The hole will disappear as the burger cooks and this will minimise shrinking. Plus you won't have to worry about them being under-cooked in the middle.

• Hard water spots in and around your sink? Soak a cloth in vinegar and lay over the spots for a few minutes. The spots will come right off!

• Rub butter over a cut edge of cheese to stop it from going mouldy.

• Use a tab from a fizzy drink can to hang a picture on a wall.

• Relieve sunburn with Earl Grey tea. Soak a couple of bags in water until the tea is dark black. Dip a cloth into the tea and dab on the sunburnt skin. Continue to reapply and leave the tea to dry overnight. The sunburn should be almost gone come morning.

• If you need to light a hard-to-reach candle, but don't have any long matches you can use a piece of dry spaghetti to light it.

• When cooking with oil, place a pop corn kernel in it. You'll know the oil is hot enough when the kernel pops.

• Out of AA batteries? Use AAA and fill the gap with a wad of aluminium foil on the positive end.

• Pour water into a jam jar and add a glow stick, then place outside for a sweet glow in your garden for evening entertaining.

Have a go of any of these tips this weekend. You've got an extra day, afterall to try them out!

 

Got yellow grass?

If your once lovely, green grass has turned a rather interesting shade of yellow there are some things you can do to help restore it to its former glory.

• Water your lawn. Obvious much? But if you water early in the morning (preferably before 8am) this will help set your lawn up for the day. 
• Try to water intermittently, in short bursts, rather than one length of time.
• Avoid watering when it's hot or windy outside
• Make your own fertiliser. Dedicate a small corner of your garden to collecting household compost scraps and other organic waste. This can be used to help fertilise your lawn.
• Naturally spot treat weeds on your lawn using a homemade vinegar solution. Do be careful that the vinegar doesn't come in contact with the grass and only hits the nasty weeds!
• Cut your lawn short to allow for extra time between cuts. During times of slower growth use a higher setting.
• Depending on where you live you should be able to purchase an appropriate grass that will require the least amount of maintenance whilst still producing healthy, green growth. Apply your fertiliser and water as per the instructions for your chosen grass.

If you follow the above steps you should see your lawn return to a lush green colour. You can also try other products to help encourage growth and get rid of weeds. This Evergreen 4-in-1 Lawn Feed will help restore your lawn.

You can also watch Matt explain how to get a great looking lawn and we've got an extensive list of garden spares and accessories that will help you get your lovely lawn sorted, ahead of the warmer months.

Hotpoint Dishwasher Recall

Which? magazine recently published an article advising that Hotpoint is recalling some of its dishwashers due to a potential fire risk.

 

Affected dishwashers

The dishwashers affected were manufactured between June 2006 and March 2007 and include models: FDW201, FDW601 and FDW65A.

To check if you own one of these potentially faulty dishwashers, check the model and serial number by looking at the sticker on the inside of the dishwasher door. The serial numbers of the models are nine digits long, with the first five digits containing numbers between 60601 and 70331.

If you discover that you own one of the models affected, call Hotpoint's customer service line on 08448 910094 or email fdw@hotpoint.co.uk. Hotpoint says that it will repair affected dishwashers free of charge in your home.

You can also check if your dishwasher is affected by using the Electric Safety Council's online tool.

Read the full Which? article here.

Remove dents from wood

Try this helpful tip if you've got any dents in wood floor/ furniture in your home. It will work best on 'new' dents but can help get rid of older dents as well.

 

Important things to note:

• This will only work where the wood has been compacted or compressed, not where it's been removed completely
• If the wood has a finish or been painted (which most probably will) we do recommend you test in a hidden spot to make sure the finish won't come away

 

You'll need

A clean damp cloth or paper towel and an iron with a steam function

Method

1. Wet the dent
2. Apply a wet cloth or paper towel to the area
3. With the iron on High apply to the wet towel or cloth and make a circular motion. Be sure to keep the iron moving so as not to burn the towel
4. Make sure there is a lot of steam being generated and keep doing this for 3-5 minutes
5. Check your results!

 

For deeper and older dents you might find a bit of dirt rises to the surface, leaving a bit of a mark. If this is the case, you can try to gently sand the area and then apply some oil or finish to match the wood.

 

Good luck and happy fixing!

 

Universal vs Genuine

At eSpares we’re constantly promoting a “make do and mend” attitude. It’s really refreshing to hear about how many people are adopting the same and discovering just how easy it is to carry out home repairs and restore your appliances to their full working glory, for a fraction of the cost of replacing them.

Household appliances should be built to last and it’s unacceptable to think that even when used properly and taken care of, they might give up the ghost after only a couple years. Sure, as to be expected with any machine, individual components will endure wear and tear from usage but this is where you can grab the Bull by the horns, identify the problem, find a solution and fix it yourself!  

One thing that is a constant source of debate amongst our customers is whether or not to replace with a genuine part or its universal equivalent. In some cases there might only be a genuine (or universal) replacement option but certainly at eSpares we’ve tried to include both wherever possible to offer more choice to our customers.    

Presumably a manufacturer would not attach its name to any part that is not of top quality and thus we’ve come to trust anything that is branded or genuine. So whilst some will argue that the genuine part will be the safer, more trusted route others might argue that universal parts will work just as well as their genuine counterpart and usually at a fraction of the cost. There are certainly enough examples to support both sides when considering your position.

 

Universal 2500 Watt Fan Oven Element

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genuine 2500 Watt Fan Oven Element

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Universal Vacuum Cleaner Bags 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genuine Vacuum Cleaner Bags

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Universal Cutlery Basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genuine Cutlery Basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right, so you can see there is a bit of a trend in terms of customer’s feelings towards universal vs genuine parts. There is definitely an inherent sense of apprehension when it comes to ordering universal parts but at the same time the outcome is predominantly a positive one. There are those who will always argue that the genuine part is not to be replaced by a presumably “inferior” universal and that’s okay. Likewise customers who have decided to go ahead and purchase a universal part have, the majority of the time not been let down despite taking a “risk”

Of course it is necessary to proceed with some caution in knowing that “universal” does not guarantee a proper fit for every make and model and in some cases the genuine will be the only option. At times one might not be gifted with an option and only one of either a genuine or universal replacement might exist.

I think it goes without saying that whichever route you chose your machine’s performance must be restored and improved. So whether you go universal or genuine is up to you. The debate continues……………….

Tumble dryer quick fixes

Get the most from your tumble dryer and help to keep it working in top condition by carrying out regular maintenance on it.

Now is as good a time as any to give your tumble dryer a once over. Especially with the extended cool spell we're experiencing, it's important to make sure you're getting the most from your machine and also ensuring it's as energy efficient as possible.

A few things you can check to help your tumble dryer perform its best.

Clean the filter

The filter should be cleaned every time you use your tumble dryer. A clogged filter won't allow the air to flow freely in the machine and thus causing it work harder to dry your clothes. Working harder = higher cost to you.

Clean the heat exchanger

Steam is extracted from the drum of a condenser tumble dryer and is then turned into water via the heat exchanger. This should be cleaned regularly by removing it from the machine and running under water to get rid of any built-up dirt and debris.

Clean the sensor

If your tumble dryer uses a sensor make sure you wipe the drum every few months with white vinegar or stainless steel cleaner.

Empty the reservoir

If using a condenser dryer, remove and empty the water reservoir after each load. This way, if you’re drying a particularly large load, you won’t have to stop the operation mid-cycle to empty.

If you’re having any issues with your tumble dryer, do take a look at our Advice Centre for more tumble drying articles and how-to videos. As well as any spares and accessories you might be after to keep your tumble dryer working in tip top condition.

Last but certainly not least, do check that your tumble dryer is clear of anything that is alive before starting a cycle.

A cool Spring gardening

Spring is here…..no wait, it’s not. The cold weather has decided to out-stay its welcome and suddenly plans for the long Easter weekend might need to change. If you had planned to get in your garden, you can still do so, albeit you might need to take a different approach to tackling (and helping) your greenery.

I stumbled across an article featured on the BBC which is particularly useful in helping to explain how you can still get in your garden and help protect it against the looming cold (for those few days, weeks – hopefully not months – longer) 

Some features from the article include:

• Ensure that plants with tender flower buds or shoots are not planted in east-facing sites.
• Leave the old growth of tender plants un-pruned over the winter months. This will help protect the central crown of the plant and take the brunt of any frost damage. If plants are cut back hard in autumn, new growth could be damaged by frost.
• Cold air and frost always descend to the lowest point in a garden so avoid planting tender plants in obvious frost pockets.

 

If you've noticed plants are already damaged from the onslaught of frost there are things you can do to minimise any further damage.

• Cut back frosted growth in Spring to prevent further die back and encourage plants to produce fresh, new shoots.
• Dig up small, tender plants and take them indoors. Many will quickly produce new growth and recover, provided they are not subjected to prolonged periods of heavy frost, wet and cold.

 

Dealing with (deep breath) the snow.

• Shake excess snow from the branches of large trees, shrubs and hedges to prevent the structures from bending under the weight.
• Use lengths of string to support the branches of conifers and stop them being pulled out of shape. Branches that move away from the plant won't spring back into place when the snow melts.
• Avoid walking on snow-covered grass as it will damage the turf beneath and leave unsightly marks on the lawn. It can also encourage the growth of fungal diseases which thrive in the cool damp conditions.

You can see the full BBC article here.

We've also got loads of garden spares and accessories to help you tackle any outdoor space and get it in top shape for the Spring....when it eventually decides to show up.

Simple Spring cleaning tips

A few simple and cost-effective cleaning tips that will no doubt come in handy ahead of the big bad Spring clean. All the following tips involve using items commonly found in and around the home

 

Use Coca-Cola to clean your toilet

Pour the coke around the rim of your toilet bowl, so it flows over the stains and inside of the bowl. Let the coke sit for at least an hour. For worse stains, leave on overnight. If the stains are particularly stubborn, take a brush to the toilet and scrub as well. The phosphoric acid in the coke will help to break up the stains, leaving the bowl sparkling clean.

Now, there’s been a lot in the news lately about the negative effects of drinking fizzy drinks and even a proposal to remove them from schools. It’s pretty obvious why these drinks are less than beneficial for you, but in case you were wary about recent findings, surely the fact they can clean limescale and other stains from a toilet bowl will further help relay the message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use lemon to get rid of water stains

Simply cut a lemon in half and use it to get rid of even the most stubborn hard water stains left on your bathroom and kitchen fixtures. It’s that simple and it really works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use dryer sheets on glass

If you have limescale build up on shower glass, use dryer sheets to get rid of this. Sprinkle a few drops of water onto the sheet and rub over the glass. Simples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use coarse salt to clean cast iron

Use coarse salt and a soft sponge and gently scrub. This will absorb the oil and lift away bits of food without damaging the cast iron “seasoning”. Learn about how to properly “season” a cast iron pan in another blog here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use coffee filters to clean screens

Coffee filters are great to clean dust and dirt from TV screens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use a damp rubber glove to remove pet hair from upholstery

Pretty self-explanatory this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use vanilla extract to deodorise your freezer

Sprinkle some vanilla extract on a cloth and wipe down the inside of your freezer for a fresher smell.