Why go and spend a fortune at the nursery on new tools, when there is probably a wealth of unused stuff tucked away unused in your own kitchen, or someone you knows kitchen that will more than adequately do the exact job you want, without having to spend a cent.

Just make sure that anything taken from the kitchen really is not wanted there. As well as the fact that such stuff is on a one way permanent trip out to the garden shed.

Here are just a few suggestions of stuff that are useful kitchen refugees,

Old dinner knife for digging weeds out from between concrete sections or pavers.

Old kitchen fork for light weeding in around tight places or where you do not want to disturb root systems that are close to the surface.

Good sharp kitchen knife or a pair of kitchen scissors are great fro dividing up clumps of plants, or for taking cuttings off of a branch.

Kitchen tongs can be used to pick up thorny cuttings or to help you repotting thorny plants like cacti.

Serving tray or placemats to keep things organised or for carrying produce, cuttings or even weeds.

Potato Masher for pushing past a thorny plant or rose.

BBQ or Carving Forks for digging out stubborn rooted weeds and root vegies.

Kitchen funnels for pouring various liquids into containers or for accurate pouring around plants. or to get seed or even small screws & nails into storage packets or bottles.

Chopsticks make great little pot stakes (metal and wooden skewers work too), or construction sets even for some jobs.

I’ve seen bamboo placemats and chopsticks cut down to make scenery pieces for bonsai planters, along with old aquarium ornaments.

Set of measuring cups and measuring spoons are great as scoops for fertilizers and potting mixes.

Icecream or soup scoops for measuring and scooping potting mix in around new potplants.

Egg rings and biscuit cutters for shaping growing fruit just for fun, or as a simple handheld hoe for light weeding in around plants.

So theres a few things which can obtain a second life out in the gardenshed and garden, nstead of being stored for years in a drawer, or being thrown out or passed on to a charity store.

The capacity of man to invent and create even in times of distress is truly amazing, in fact, this is how the antique hooked rug was born; from the hands of women who wanted to discover beauty and made extraordinary carpets out of ordinary rags. In those times they were used primarily to decorate humble homes of numerous families with hard-working parents and lots of children. Today they can be found even in the most select houses, as they represent the imagination, skill and craftsmanship of the grassroots American people.

The story of the antique hooked rug starts somewhere at the beginning of the 1800′s, in North America, some say that it was in Maine, out of the desire of women to save money as times were rough, but at the same time to spend their little spare time doing something useful and beautiful. They started to collect strips of disused rags, sturdy yarns or whatever textile material seemed suitable for creating a carpet which could warm the winter freezing floors. The timing couldn’t be better as in the middle of the century, some trade restrictions were abolished so there was a myriad of burlap sacks used to transport all kinds of merchandise like tea, corn, wheat or coffee. This burlap cloth could be easily torn into thin strips that could later be pulled through the back of a large piece of burlap, in order to make tiny loops.

In the beginning there were no patterns or specific designs so women hooked what they saw; animals, flowers, geometric shapes, sometimes even patriotic themes, nonetheless, the result was amazing. These improvisations quickly developed into a form of art, where the only materials needed for the hooked rug were a frame made of four boards and a hook which could be a bent nail or a wooden crochet, sometimes even whale bones which could penetrate the cloth and pull or push the strings.

By the end of the century this newborn art seemed to have had a very short life as factory-made carpets became ever more popular, however the 20′s and 30′s saw a revival of this folk way of expression. The majority of the so very fashionable clothes in pale tones which were all the rage at the turn of the century ended up a few decades later in exquisitely designed folk hooked rugs. Again, the timing couldn’t be better as the Depression era started to leave marks on the financial possibilities of middle-class families and these cheap but gorgeous hooked rugs were the perfect compromise.

The antique hooked rug is now revered as a slice of American history and because of it’s charm and vintage aspect, is worth much more than their creators could ever dream of. These pieces of art which were derived from poverty and necessity are sold along with other antiquities at high prices. Time has proved that they are also durable and sturdy, however, there are few chances that you will ever find an antique hooked rug laid on the floor in the 21st century as their value demands that you will most certainly find them hanging on the wall.

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Mold is a fungus that occurs naturally in the environment and it enters your home as tiny spores. The spores need moisture to begin growing, digesting and destroying and you will find they start in damp or moist areas. Mold can digest what it grows on and can do some serious damage in our homes. It can eat into paper, cloth, carpet, rugs, and even our walls and ceilings. The mold grows best when there is lots of moisture from a leaky roof, high humidity, or carpets and furnishings that stay wet too long. There is no way to get rid of all molds and mold spores from your home but you can control mold growth by keeping your home dry.

Children and also people with allergies, asthma or those whose immune systems are not so strong are susceptible to the diseases caused by some types of mold. Inhaling these mold spores can lead to serious health problems such as diarrhea, high fever and fatigue, difficulty in breathing, headaches, congestion, joint pain or skin rashes. Mold in nature can be very beneficial, but indoor mold can make life in our homes very dangerous.

You know you have mold when you smell the “musty” odor or see small black or white specks along your damp walls where warm moist air condenses on cooler wall surfaces. Inside cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and in closets where articles are stored against walls are some common areas to find mold. Some mold is hidden growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles. Even dry, dead mold can cause health problems, so always take precautions when you suspect mold. If you notice mold or know of water damaged areas in your home, it is time to take action to control its growth.

There are many ways in which to prevent mold growth in your home. Reduce the humidity in your home to between 30 and 60 percent by using a dehumidifier. Open windows and doors to increase air flow in your home, especially along the inside of exterior walls. Use a fan if there are no windows available. Install and use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms as well as ventilate and insulate attic and crawl spaces. Check around your windows for signs of condensation and water droplets. Wipe them up right away so mold can’t start to grow.

Use of a hepa filter helps reduce air born spores but once they are trapped deep into the fiber of the carpet or furniture they can be hard to remove. Vacuuming frequently with a vacuum that has a hepa filter is a good way to remove these spores. It is important to make sure that your carpets of furniture dry quickly after washing. Many rental carpet cleaners or some steam cleaning companies do a poor job at removing water from your carpeting, leaving them damp for too long. This is one of the main causes of mold growth.

When using a carpet cleaning company it is important to find one that uses a low moisture method of cleaning. Many of these methods achieve great results and your carpets or furniture dry quickly. This helps to prevent mold growth in your home. The biggest danger from too much water in your carpet cleaning method is getting the underpad wet. You can’t get enough air circulation under the carpet to dry it properly and as a result you are almost guaranteed to get mold. Following a few simple tips will greatly reduce any mold growth in your home and help to prevent any development of allergies, asthma or any other breathing problems as a result of wet carpets or furniture in your home.

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We’ve all had it happen — a mysterious spot that shows up in the middle of the carpet, yet no one knows how it got there. Or perhaps a child drops a marker, or an adult spills a glass of red wine on the carpet. Spots happen, and will remain a part of your carpet forever unless you know how some tips to help you remove the spot.

The Life Cycle of the Spot:

There are actually three different stages a substance takes to become a stain. If you spill your soda on the carpet and ignore it, you’ll see that it is first a spill, then a spot, and finally it will morph into a stain that is permanent.

The first step is the initial spill. The substance is still fresh on the carpet and hasn’t had time to soak in and attach to the pile. Reacting quickly to a spill is the best solution to avoid a terrible stain. You’ll want to blot the spill with a white towel, and be careful not to rub.

The second step is when the spill dries up and becomes a spot. Usually the substance has attached to the carpet pile and is very difficult to remove. You may have to call in a professional service to get the spot out for good. If you have an idea of what the spot is comprised of, you may be able to use a store product or home remedy to get it out.

Last, we have the stain. Stains are not good and tend to be permanent. However, if you have an expensive carpet you can rely on a professional dye specialist. They bleach out the stain then re-dye your carpet to the original color.

So how do you avoid this step at all costs?

Follow the tips below to learn how to save your carpet from the dreaded stain.

1) React quickly:

Your first instinct may be to wait until the party ends or until the kids go to bed to tackle that spill. At all costs, resist! Despite what the salesman told you when you bought the carpet, no carpet is stain-free. Acting quickly is the most important key to keeping the spill from becoming a permanent stain.

- It takes time for a spill to become a stain because the coloration must attach itself to the carpet pile. Most carpet these days is treated chemically to help resist stains, so some substances will take longer than others to set in and become permanent.

- Once the substance settles and soaks in, it may attach itself to the carpet backing. This is bad, since the stain on the backing spreads over a larger area. When moisture in the carpet evaporates, the stain is pulled from the backing back up into the pile, making a once-removed stain reappear!

2) Do not rub at the stain:

As tempting as it may be to scrub stains away, don’t. Scrubbing a stain brings about more problems and may make it so that the stain is impossible to get out of the carpet. Rubbing distorts the pile in your carpet and can set stains even deeper into the rug.

- Blot with dry cloth towels or paper towels until the area is dry.

- If you must rub the stain, use a brush and rub ten times in one direction, then rub ten times in an opposite direction to keep the pile from becoming distorted.

- Work from the outside of the stain and move inward. Apply the stain removal solution or water to a white towel and blot. Don’t put a solution or water straight onto the carpet because if you get the backing too wet, the backing sections may separate.

3) Do you know what substance is on your carpet?

Knowing what is spilled or spotting your carpet can help you remove it. Different spot compositions react in different ways to a variety of stain removal products or solutions.

The basic spot groups are: protein, oil and dye based.

Protein-based stains are ones like coffee, blood and milk.

Oil-based stains include furniture polish, candle wax and lipstick.

Dye-based stains come from substances such as Gatorade, soft drinks and pen or marker.

- The Carpet and Rug Institute (http://www.carpet-rug.com) has a spot removal computer to help ease your carpet stain woes. Simply select the stain type and you’ll be brought to a detailed section that tells you how to remove the stain, step by step.

- If you call in a professional, let him know what created the spot. They can bring the appropriate cleaning solutions to help clean up your carpet as good as new.

4) How do you remove a spill, stain or spot?

Knowing how to remove the spill or spot is very important. Below are general steps to follow to help you get your carpet clean after a spill disaster.

- Scrape up semi-solids with a spoon.

- If it’s a solid spill, break up and vacuum.

- As you read above, never rub the spill. Always blot with a white towel or paper towel.

- If you know what is on the carpet, use the appropriate solvent to remove it.

- Always pretest the carpet solvent or solution in an inconspicuous area, such as under the sofa or a chair.

- Use the solvent until the paper towel or linen towel comes away from the carpet clean and free of the spill.

- After the area is clean, rinse well. Have you ever wiped up a spot and found that it returned the next day? Chances are you didn’t rinse the solvent completely from the carpet. Some solvents will absorb dirt, resulting in a new spot in the exact same place as the old one.

- To help absorb the rinse water when finished, put a towel or thick wad of white paper towels over the wet area and weigh it down with something heavy. Change the towel and paper towel as they become wet. Do this until the carpet is dry.

5) Know when to call in a professional.

There are times when you just need to call a professional in to get your carpet back into shape. Some stains, such as blood, ink, rust and nail polish may need professional attention if you weren’t able to work on them promptly. Also, an occasional deep cleaning will help rejuvenate your carpet and add years to its life.

- Call a professional for a deep cleaning service if your carpet is looking soiled and dingy all over.

- Call a professional if you’ve tried to remove a spill or spot and have been unsuccessful. Remember to mention what substance made the spot in the first place.

- Have your carpet protection (i.e. Scotchguard) re-applied every 2-3 years to prolong the life of your carpet.

The dogs generally wish to jump on the furniture. In the undomesticated area one can see the wolves seeking for a lofty place with a rock wall at the back of it for safety. Dogs will generally be attracted to the smell of their owners.

The owner has to decide at the earliest about allowing the dog for sharing the furniture with or without himself. If the dog is allowed to use one of the furniture, then it is the invitation given to it for using all the other furniture available.

The dogs love to jump on the furniture due to various reasons. The dog uses the furniture as its priority. It considers the furniture as its place or territory. Even after several chasing of the dog from the furniture, it returns back to the furniture when it knows that the owner is not there to chuck it out.

It is not an easy task to teach the dog about the differences between the furniture like sofa, bed or a chair. When a dog is permitted to sleep with its owner, it will have the intention to jump on the other furniture available.

When the climate is cold or when the floor is cool, the dog will go in search for furniture to keep itself warm. When it hears any strange noise, it will jump on the furniture to gratify its curiosity.

You need some special kinds of furniture to cater to the needs of large dogs if you have them at home. Check it out http://largepet.info to find the right type of furniture for your pets since giving them some exclusive furniture may help keep them away from our living room furniture.

The dog has to be properly trained for not jumping on the furniture. The dog may be allowed to be on its own in the house. It has to be watched carefully without its knowledge. When the dog jumps on the furniture it has to be caught and jerk the dog by using the word “NO”. The tone should be firm in the case of the dogs that are stubborn and should be gentle for the shy dogs. The dog has to be appreciated for a positive response to the order.

The other way of stopping the dog from jumping on the furniture is to put some air filled balloons around the furniture it is fond of. When the dog try to access the furniture, the balloon will blast and this sound will make the dog to move away from the furniture.

Alternatively, aluminum foils can be spread across near the furniture. When the dog nears the furniture the crush of the aluminum foil by its foot press will create a noise which will make the dog to feel deterrent of the furniture.

The dog should not be allowed to play under the dining furniture. The smell of the food kept on the table will tempt the dog and this will make the owners to feed in scraps to the dog.

There is lot of furniture available now especially meant for dogs. When the owner provides separate furniture for the dog, then it will not come to the other furniture lying on the house as it will be happy with its comfortable furniture.