Ron Martin Team

Preventing Mildew

Mildew is a thin, black, or sometimes white, growth produced by mold. Molds are plants belonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always present in the air, that will cause mildew need moisture and certain temperatures to grow.

Mold will grow on anything and mildew will flourish wherever it is damp, warm, poorly lighted and/or where air is not circulated. Wine cellars, basements, crawl spaces and even clothing closets should be watched closely for growth. Mildew can also be found on draperies and rugs in basement recreation rooms, on shower curtains and on damp clothes rolled up for ironing. As the molds grow, they cause considerable damage. They leave a musty odor; they discolor fabrics, including leather; and sometimes they eat into them until the fabrics rot and fall to pieces.

Things that can cause mildew:

1. Environments that contain warm temperatures and high humidity levels are ideal for mildew growth.

2. Soil on dirty articles, including clothing, can supply enough food for mildew to start growing when moisture and temperature are right.

3. Greasy films, such as those that form on kitchen walls, also contain many nutrients for mildew-causing molds.

Preventing Mildew

1. Keep places in your home, where mildew is likely to grow, as clean as possible.

2. Excessive moisture may indicate that repairs or additional insulation are needed. Replace cracked or defective mortar. Some basements are continually wet from water leaking through crevices in the wall. Make sure outside drainage is adequate.

3. Take proper waterproofing measures.

4. If your clothes dryer is equipped with a vent, have it exhausted to the outside to remove moist air.

5. Heat. Get rid of dampness by heating the house for a short time. Then open doors and windows to let out the moisture-laden air. An exhaust fan may be used to force it out.

6. Cool air holds less moisture than warm air. Properly installed air-conditioning systems remove moisture from the air by taking up warm air, cooling it and circulating the cool, dry air back into the room.

7. Air movement and good ventilation are excellent at removing moisture. When the air outside is drier than that inside, ventilation allows the dry air to enter, take up excess moisture and then be carried outside.

8. Never let clothing or other fabric articles lie around damp or wet. Stretch out wet shower curtains. Dry washed garments and fabrics thoroughly and quickly. Fabrics dried slowly may get sour and musty smelling-a sign of mold growth.

Odor

Tip: Musty odors, which indicate mold growth, are sometimes noticeable in basements and shower stalls. Take special precautions to get rid of musty odors as soon as possible to prevent further objectionable and damaging mold growth. Usually musty odors disappear if the area is well heated and dried.

Mildew is a thin, black, or sometimes white, growth produced by mold. Molds are plants belonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always present in the air, those that cause mildew need moisture and certain temperatures to grow. Keep your house dry at all times, mold loves damp and warm areas. Preventing mildew topics to come.

1. Make sure you get the right loan for you.
You've found your dream house and now all you need is a loan. Hold everything, even if you've been through this drill before. Make sure you get a loan that's appropriate for your needs.

2. You can bargain for a better rate.
"Most consumers know enough to shop around," "Lender A tells them 10.25% and Lender B says 10%. But they don't know that Lender B can go down to 9.75% because they don't bother to ask."

3. APR may not mean what you think it does.
When lenders advertise their loans, they use annual percentage rates, or APRs. The APR is supposed to help you compare loans on equal terms by combining the fees and points with a year of interest charges to give a loan's true annual cost.

4. Be ruthless when examining the costs on your mortgage.
Lenders are required by Respa, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, to give you a good-faith estimate of your closing costs when you hand in your application, and extra charges are a violation of the law.

5. Understand the terms of your mortgage insurance obligations.
You need to buy mortgage insurance because you can afford only 15% of your down payment, but your lender assures you it's no big deal. Once your equity grows to 20%, he says, you can bag the insurance payments. Not necessarily

6. Being "prequalified" doesn't mean that much.
Lenders will tell you that prequalified borrowers practically have their mortgage in the bag. Sometimes they will pre-approve you based on what you have written or verbally stated with no verification. These are called "wastebasket" approvals. When it comes to actually getting a mortgage, they don't mean anything.

Taking your workout outdoors is exciting and is a great way to motivate yourself to stay with an exercise plan. Consider these suggestions for protecting yourself on your outdoor workout.

• Avoid wearing headphones. It makes it more difficult to hear traffic or potential attackers and also takes the focus off your workout technique. If you must wear headphones, keep the volume low and pay attention to your surroundings.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Stay in familiar, well-lit areas.
• Work out with a partner or your dog, and if you will be alone let someone know when you expect to be back from your workout and your expected route.
• Always run facing oncoming traffic.
• Make eye contact with drivers of vehicles when at crossroads, traffic lights, etc so you know they see you.
• Carry a cell phone or change for a pay phone in case of emergencies.
• Always carry identification or write your name and phone number on your shoes in case of emergency.
• Wear light reflective clothing.

With tips like these, you will not just enjoy the workout but you will enjoy the scenery and be safe as well.

Fall camping can be a great experience, even for novices.

Fewer people camp in cooler weather, so you'll find less commotion and more wildlife. Autumn colors are another bonus, and generally there are fewer fire restrictions in the fall. Stargazing is top-notch this time of year. The main challenge for fall camping is keeping your body warm. About 90 percent of your body heat radiates from your head, so wearing a hat makes a remarkable difference.

Use a cold weather rated sleeping bag with a barrier between the ground and sleeping bag. You may need more than one barrier layer - a foam mat with an air mattress would be great to use.

Consider using a tent heater, which operate on propane or electricity. Remember that an electric heater will only be useful at a campsite with an outlet. Propane heaters need ventilation as they give off deadly carbon monoxide gas, and should never be run while sleeping.

To stay warm when you're outside your tent, wear water resistant, breathable clothing in layers. Air trapped between layers reduces heat loss, and you can remove or add layers as the temperature changes during the day. Cover your extremities - wear a head covering, scarf and gloves, and two layers of socks with waterproof boots. Then, stay active! Hiking and other activities will keep you warm.