hBook can help you downsize your stuff

hBook can help youdownsize your stuff
Some people need to pare their possessions before moving to a smaller space. Some need to do it so they can live more comfortably where they already are.
In either case, "Scaling Down: Living Large in a Smaller Space" can help.
Despite its title, "Scaling Down" isn't just a book for people who are moving. It's for anyone who wants to unclutter a home, although it does address specific downsizing situations, such as clearing out a family home and combining two households.
Authors Judi Culbertson and Marj Decker help readers start the process by developing a mission statement, which allows them to focus their efforts and overcome their anxieties. The book then helps readers work through the emotional issues connected with getting rid of possessions and also gives practical ideas for sorting and disposing of things. There's even a chapter devoted to excessive shopping.
"Scaling Down" is published by Rodale and sells for $15.95 in softcover.
Insulation, fanscan cut joist stains
Do you have mysterious lines on your cathedral ceiling? Dark streaks that appear for no apparent reason?
Dark stains that run along cathedral ceiling joists are called "ghosting." Ghosting is a phenomenon caused by temperature differences between the underside of the joist, which is cooler, and the open space between them, which is warmer because it is insulated. The result is a tiny bit of condensation on the drywall just below the joists that grabs dust and airborne particulates. From things such as candles, cigarettes and cooking -- over time -- it darkens, and lines begin to appear.
The solution? Add more ceiling insulation (which isn't easy in cathedral-type ceilings), or improve warm-air circulation with a ceiling fan. Reducing dust and soot helps, too.
Give gravity a try
Work from top to bottom. Dust a plant, then the table, then finish with the floor. Gravity is on your side when cleaning, so dust in straight lines to the edge so that dust falls directly on the floor.