October 11, 2012, 10:42 am When my wife and I first moved into our house, we had great water pressure. I always looked forward to my morning shower and sometimes even had trouble getting out of it to start the rest of the day. But, we’ve been in our house for more than 15 years now. And while I haven’t aged a bit (wink), our shower started showing its age a few years ago. To unclog the showerhead and recapture our beloved water pressure, I used baking soda, vinegar and a plastic bag.I love that this method is all natural, too, because it keeps toxic chemicals out of my shower and away from my curious terrier. If this is a problem in your house, you may eventually have to replace your showerhead. But try this easy cleaning technique first. I bet it will do the trick. Just remember, you’re going to have to allow the mixture work its magic overnight, so don’t start this process until you’ve already grabbed your post-workout shower. 1. Find a strong plastic bag that’s large enough to fit around the showerhead.

I used a medium-sized garbage bag, which worked well. 2. Mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1 cup white vinegar in the bag. The baking soda will react with the vinegar, causing it to bubble, so I recommend mixing in the sink. This solution works because the acid in the vinegar reacts with the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda to form carbonic acid, which is a strong cleaning agent. 3. Secure the bag over your dirty showerhead with a rubber band. Make sure that the head is completely covered in the solution. 4. Leave the bag on the showerhead overnight. 5. In the morning, wipe down the showerhead with water until the solution is gone. Let your water run for a minute or so before you step in the shower, then enjoy your revitalized shower pressure! Allen Shulman is a veteran Colorado homebuilder, proud dad, and floor hockey enthusiast. He founded BrightNest, a Denver-based business that gives people the online tools, tips and motivation to keep their homes in great shape.

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Culligan Shower FiltersCulligan shower filtersshower head filters Rainshow'rRainshow'r shower filtersRainshow'r shower heads Use timers and thermostats to control space heating and thermostats to control water heating. Reducing your thermostat by just one or two degrees can have a significant effect. Block up unused chimneys, seal gaps in floors, doors and windows. Draughts account for a significant amount of energy loss. Install other insulators such as carpets and rugs and full-length thermal-lined curtains. You will quickly notice the difference, both in comfort and cost. Set your hot water cylinder to 50°C (the minimum recommended storage temperature). Insulating pipes and locating your hot water system as close as you can to hot water outlets (e.g. kitchen and bathroom) will make more energy efficient use of your hot water supply. Choosing the right heat pump and using it efficiently will make a big difference to your overall energy use. Use the correct size and type of heater for the room.

Over heating wastes energy, while undersized heating equipment will struggle even if running on maximum setting and may cost you more money than a larger heater. Low voltage halogen down lights and feature lights will often use as much energy as incandescent lamps. Replacing halogen and feature lights with LED lamps can be up to 10-times more efficient. Ensure doors and windows are well fitted and sealed for the cooler months. Open them up in summer to let a cool breeze refresh the air. Turn off your sound system and TV at the wall when not in use. Appliances left on standby still use energy. Turn off lights and heating when the room is not in use. Use microwave ovens or electric frypans where possible. Their smaller wattage and faster cooking times can use up to 70% less energy than other conventional methods. Where possible, use a single hotplate with a saucepan and stacking steamer with well-fitting lid. You can use the water in the saucepan to boil pasta and potatoes at the same time.

Ensure the door seal on your oven and fridge are in good condition and that the door seals tightly. When choosing a fridge or freezer, dishwasher or other kitchen appliance, choose an energy efficient model by comparing the star ratings. The more stars the better, 6 stars being best of all. Boiling water in an electric kettle is around 50% more efficient than using the stove. Fill only to the level you need (ensuring the water level is above the exposed element if it has one). Keep your fridge well-stocked or buy a fridge with a capacity to suit your needs. A fridge will use more power if it has to keep too much air space cool, and spills out more cold air when you open the door if it is not loaded to the optimum capacity. If going away for a long period, empty, clean and unplug your fridge and/or freezer. Use your dishwasher more efficiently. Keep the filters clean, use cold water to rinse dishes if necessary, only run when the load is full, and where possible use the “economy” setting.

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