• Is Your Bathroom Scary
• Do Your Appliances Groan
• Ward Off Scary Auto Expenses
• Bad Concrete
• Special Announcements
• New Company & Category Additions

What is scarier than mold? Bathrooms are regularly filled with moist air, making it the perfect environment for mold growth. The best way to prevent mold from turning your bathroom into a spooky room is to practice regular preventative maintenance to keep the bathroom as dry as possible in between showers and baths. Once mold manifests its ugly face it may discolor or stain bathroom surfaces, especially the grout between tiles, so practicing mold prevention in the bathroom is definitely worth your effort. If your bathroom is just too scary and past the point of no return, or just out dated, there are many great ways to take away that spooky look.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Be sure to turn the bathroom exhaust fan on while you're taking a bath or shower, leave it on for 10 minutes after you are done showering.
• Open windows and doors after you take a shower, if at all possible.
• Stretch the shower curtain out across the length of the shower rod after use. This gives it a chance to dry out completely.
• Wipe down your shower walls, including the grout between tiles.

If your bathroom is just too scary and past the point of no return, or just out dated, there are many great ways to take away that spooky look.

• If it's time to repaint your bathroom walls, use a semi-gloss paint. This creates a hard surface that is difficult for mold to grow on. This is an inexpensive way to get a new look.
• The newer materials used for showers are made to resist mold; porcelain tile is an excellent material that will last for years.
• Most of the grouts used now are also mold resistant.
• New counter tops in granite or quarts will definitely make a positive impact on the look of your bathroom. Granite is stunning and beautiful, and quartz is available in many striking colors.
• Granite slabs can even be used on shower walls making an almost seamless application with no grout to take care of!

The proper application is often the key to your bathroom shower and other products lasting a long time while staying mold free. Be sure to use an experienced licensed contractor that will install your materials correctly and scare away that spooky look and bring it back to life with a gorgeous new look. ToFixIt has experts at spook busting bathrooms, so who are you going to call?

Article submitted by Bathrooms Plus Kitchens. Contact ToFixIt! today at 602-863-4948 or visit their website at http://www.tofixit.com/phoenix/index.php/bathroom-remodeling-services/

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When you hear moans, groans, squeals, rattles, crackling, or bumps & thumps from your appliances, chances are it's not a ghost (could be a gremlin, though). Spooky sounds from your refrigerator, ice maker, cook top, oven, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposer, etc. can be pretty scary if ignored. You could have trouble with any of your appliances in the middle of holiday baking, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or your annual Holiday party. Here's what you should do –

Your oven is center stage. You, like many of our customers, might be concerned about your oven temperature. You're more likely to have a problem with the oven after you have used the self-clean feature. So, if you intend to use the self-clean feature before the holidays, you should do so 2 weeks in advance. That way there should be adequate time to respond to a problem, if one occurs. What would you do if the door won't open, for instance? It happens & it's scary!

You certainly want your refrigerator to be in top condition, as well. Most frost-free refrigerators have a set of coils underneath (on top on some models) called condenser coils. These must remain clean for efficient cooling. You should vacuum them at least once a year. Be careful. If you puncture the coils, you will have "toil & trouble".

Take some precautions to avoid nasty odors. To reduce refrigerator odors, cover all foods well and put onions and garlic in sealed bags. Use baking soda, or a high-quality activated charcoal air filter, to absorb those unpleasant smells. Then, dump that old baking soda container you had in the refrigerator down the disposer to "freshen" it up, as well.

Rusty or spotted silverware can be ugly! Customers complain more about the performance of their dishwasher than with any other appliance. With these simple steps you can keep your dishwasher functioning at peak performance and avoid embarrassing results:

• Only use dishwasher soap in the dishwasher.
• Clean the debris off your dishes.
• Make sure your hot water is set to 130 degrees.
• Run hot water at the tap 'til it reaches maximum temperature before starting your dishwasher.
• Clean any filters your dishwasher may have monthly.
• Monthly, use a cleanser, such as, one cup of vinegar, Dishwasher Magic, Affresh or Glass Magic.

One other thing – check your manufacturer's recommendations. For instance, some silverware companies specifically warrant their product only if you do not use dishwasher soap containing lemon.

Don't wait 'til it's too late. Or, if you've been putting off a repair now's the time to get it done.

Article submitted by: Accredited Appliances of Phoenix, Inc.

Be sure to visit the Coupon/Promotion section for this newsletter to view a special discount offer.

Contact ToFixIt! today at 602-863-4948 or visit their website at: http://www.tofixit.com/phoenix/index.php/appliance-repair/ to find the experts that can help you get you appliances in tip top shape.

Can you feel it? Fall has finally set in on the great state of Arizona and there's no better time to get out and hit the open road. Autumn leaves, pumpkin festivals and beautiful scenery await. But before you hit the trail, now is a great time step back and take inventory of your vehicle. The side of the road is not the greatest way to enjoy autumn, checking a few basic things will help make sure you're fall adventure is memorable in the best of ways. Here are a few simple, easy-to-remember tips that you can do yourself.

Tire pressure
You should check your tire pressure at least once a month to ensure tires are not under- or over-inflated. Low pressure in the tires can increase wear and fuel consumption, while having too much pressure may reduce traction. Keeping tires properly aligned will also help assure longer tire life and improve fuel economy.

New Tires
Summer wreaks havoc on tires and the heat may have tipped your treads over the edge. Check for cracks or worn edges.

Engine oil
Dirty oil will increase engine wear, while low oil levels can lead to overheating. If the oil level drops too low, lubrication will be lost and severe engine damage can result. Regular oil changes will add longevity to your engine.

Brakes
Ignoring the signs of bad brakes is a huge mistake. We've all heard that squealing or grinding sound and said "I'll get it looked at next week", but the longer you wait the more you can risk serious damage to your car. When your brakes are making noise think of it as a baby crying out to its mother, don't ignore it!

The good news is that you can stop all of these problems from ever occurring with regularly scheduled maintenance. Just like our own health, the key to longevity is routine checkups and early detection. Also, use your senses of sight, sound and smell to keep tabs on your car. Most of the problems you will have start with a "weird sound", "funny smell", or everyone's favorite, the check engine light. So why not get a checkup today, and make sure your ride is ready for that great fall journey?

Article submitted by: Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair

Be sure to visit the Coupon/Promotion section for this newsletter to view a special discount offer.

Contact ToFixIt! today at 602-863-4948 or visit their website at: http://www.tofixit.com/phoenix/index.php/repair/ to find the experts that can help you take care of your automobile.

No matter how much we spend fixing up our homes and or businesses nothing really seems complete when we have bad concrete. Bad concrete can mean bad curb appeal. What is bad concrete? Well that can apply to many issues from stains to cracks to slip/trip hazards or deteriorated concrete.

Let's take a look at these issues.

Stains
These can come from rust, oil, crayons, vandals, and nature. There are many products available today at your local hardware and home improvement stores. Selecting the best product for your problem can be a problem. Be prepared to explain the source of the problem to the service representative so that the best product can be recommended. Remember that some of these products are very aggressive and may permanently damage the concrete. For severe stains we recommend contacting a professional that can provide you with the best advice.

Cracks
These are a natural occurrence in concrete. It is often said that there are two kinds of concrete.

• concrete that is cracked
• concrete that is going to crack

The proper design and layout of control joints can remedy many of these issues. Most cracked concrete will require professional help to repair however there are some products available at your local hardware or home improvement store. Remember that most repairs to cracks will not eliminate the physical appearance but will make it easier to clean the surface and reduce the trip hazard potential. A frequently overlooked cause of cracked concrete is tree roots. When planning your landscape layout make sure to keep trees away from the concrete.

Slip or trip hazards
These can be anything that creates a dangerous situation for you and/or visitors to your property. These problems can lead to serious injury and potentially to an unwelcomed lawsuit. Slip/trip hazards are things like uneven concrete, excessively smooth and slippery concrete, wet conditions, oil and grease spills, and also concrete coatings that are not installed with proper non-skid incorporated into the finish. Avoid unnecessary slopes or steps where possible. Provide some type of cautionary indicator at these areas. Change the color of a decorative coating; by providing a yellow hazard stripe at steps are things that can help prevent injury and lawsuits. If you have concrete that is not properly pitched contact a licensed contractor that can re-slope your slab often in one day as opposed to replacing the entire slab.

Deteriorated concrete
Soil conditions, proper drainage, quality materials all play a factor in how your concrete will perform. Irrigation sprinklers are a major problem here in the Desert because of our alkaline water. Creating an aggregate border against you concrete to create a buffer from excessive water is one solution to not only damage to the concrete but also to coatings you may elect to put on the concrete. Another problem we have experienced is the backwash water from a water softener being discharged near the house foundation causing extensive damage to the concrete.
Before making costly mistakes in concrete repairs or concrete additions talk to a qualified ToFixIt contractor. Services include removal of damaged concrete, repairs to cracked concrete, pouring of new concrete for patios, driveways, walkways. The qualified contractor will also offer many options for resurfacing of your concrete both outside of your facility and also for new exciting decorative interior coatings and color dye options.

Article submitted by: Building Specialist call, at or visit their website at: http://www.tofixit.com/phoenix/index.php/concrete-coatings/ to learn about some great solutions that fit in your budget.

Be sure to visit the Coupon/Promotion section for this newsletter to view a special discount offer.

We have exciting news to share with you. Please join us in congratulating Terri O., her show "Super Simple with Terri O". has been nominated for an Emmy. View her show on Saturdays at 8:30 A.M. on channel 8.

Congratulations to Community Tire Pros and Auto Repair, for the great article published in the Arizona Business Gazette, on their different approach with customers. Read more!