Shell Busey explores home maintenance

Want to conserve water, obliterate ants and pesky weeds? Vancouver’s home improvement expert Shell Busey explores maintenance on the cheap side.

Shell Busey, host of the Home Discovery Radio Program broadcast on the Corus Radio Network throughout Western Canada, is one of Canada’s best known experts on home improvement. Shell also leads the HouseSmart Home Services Referral Network, a free service he created to help homeowners find qualified and reliable tradespeople, suppliers and products for their home improvement projects. For more information visit thehousesmart.com.

5 “free, cheap, or worth it” ways to maintain your home in Vancouver

SAVE water easily. One way to conserve water is to install a water-saving device in your toilet such as the Water Wizard. It’s easy to install and saves one gallon of water per flush. Another is the HydroRight, which converts any toilet to a dual flush toilet using up to 70% less water per flush.

OBLITERATE ants. Mix 1 cup icing sugar and 2 tablespoons of borax. Place the mixture in a small pie pan and place in a location where you see ants entering your home. Refresh mixture every couple of days. Make sure to keep away from children and pets.

CLEANSE mucky drains. Sprinkle a half cup baking soda down the drain, followed by a half cup of white vinegar. Do not mix together before placing in the drain. Close the drain and leave for at least 8 hours before allowing any water into the drain.

ELIMINATE pesky weeds: Mix the following ingredients together: 4 cups (1 litre) of white vinegar, 1/4 cup (50 ml) of table salt, 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of liquid dish soap. Put this mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on your weeds when it’s bright and sunny outside. Only spray it on weeds because it kills grass as well.

CLEAN dirty siding. Start at the bottom and work up to the top, rinsing as you move upward cleaning 2-3 rows at a time using a round type brush on a long pole. Use my Home Cleaning Formula and follow the directions on the bottle. DO NOT use on windows or any type of glass. Clean windows using CV9 Window Cleaner.

Five On A Dime is produced by Belinda Bruce. She has been working in editorial and desktop publishing for 15 years, creating everything from magazines and newsletters to websites and radio scripts. She has operated her own boutique communications company, Blurb, for five years.

Photo: Courtesy Shell Busey