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"  Home maintenance isn&amp;#039;t restricted to repairs. In fact, certain tasks-- when performed regularly--may actually prevent things from breaking in the first place. But when things do go wrong (and it&amp;#039;s inevitable that they do), we have some backup plans that you can try before you grab the phone to call for pro. Appliances and plumbing are the most frequent offenders, but they also often can be the simplest to care for. From the gutters to the living room carpet, there&amp;#039;s a reliable method for keeping every part of your home clean, safe, and well maintained.  2:28 || MOLD BREAKER:  That pungent smell of bathroom mildew might bring back fond memories of high-school locker rooms and football glory days, but it&amp;#039;s not a pretty odor in your house. THE QUICK FIX Don&amp;#039;t bother with the over-thecounter bathroom leaners--make your own cheaper and more efficient version by mixing about a cup of bleach in a gallon of hot water. Wearing rubber gloves, carefully wash the walls, working from the top down. Let the mixture sit, than rinse the surface well with the hottest water you can get out of the tap (a handheld showerhead works well for this).   2:29 || ROOF GROWTH:  Mold isn&amp;#039;t just a bathroom menace-- that green growth on your roof is helping deteriorate the surface. THE QUICK FIX Remove mold as soon as you notice it--and before it has a chance to form a new roof covering--with a solution of one cup bleach to one gallon warm water. Zinc strips nailed to the roof can prevent mold from returning. Mold grows in dark damp conditions, so cutting back overhanging shade trees can also help alleviate recurring mold problems.   2:30 || WHITE KNIGHT:     The grout between the tiles in your bathroom is the color of asphalt. THE QUICK FIX Contractors often clean up stained grout lines with a Dremel rotary tool, but you can do a simple fix using hydrogen peroxide and a toothbrush. Saturate the brush in a glass of the peroxide, then dip and scrub to clean the grout lines.   SAFE AND SOUND:  Recognizing Toxic Mold THE QUICK FIX &amp;quot;Toxic&amp;quot; black mold is a serious problem that can cause severe health problems and surface damage that can lead to expensive repairs. The first signs of mold are usually conditions that permit it to flourish. Kevin Roberts, president of the Mold Help Organization, points out that mold needs abundant moisture to grow, so if your part of the country experiences consistently high humidity, you need to be especially watchful. For the same reasons, he suggests keeping an eye out for: * Recurrent leaks in walls, which leave residual moisture. * Excessive condensation on pipes that run through confined areas with little air ventilation. * HVAC systems that experience severe fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels, or HVAC systems that leak. * A chronically leaky roof. * Flooding. If mold has made a home in yours, it&amp;#039;s likely the first sign will be a telltale &amp;quot;mildew&amp;quot; odor that doesn&amp;#039;t go away. Other signs will be more blatant: * Cracked or peeling paint on walls. * Buckling wall surfaces that are moist to the touch. * Discoloration (especially yellowing or darkening to black) of wall or ceiling surfaces. * Drywall tape coming loose. * Chronic and unexplained &amp;quot;allergic&amp;quot; symptoms in members of the household, with no apparent stimuli, or chronic sinus infections. * Visible mold growth on walls or ceilings. * Clogged vents or air ducts. * Cracked or disconnected hoses behind refrigerators from automatic ice makers/water dispensers or dishwashers. The first step to alleviating a mold problem is assessing its severity, which is often best done by a qualified testing company. Confined cases of mold can often be treated with removal of the affected nonporous area and use of simple treatments such as soap and water. Where the mold is pervasive--such as when it is growing throughout the home&amp;#039;s HVAC system or inside of walls--you&amp;#039;ll need to use a certified abatement professional. In addition to whatever action is taken to remove the mold, the conditions that caused it to appear in the first place must also be remedied.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/a3716/4290870/>