Bethany Obrecht of Found My Animal has a lovely kitchen. It's very small, but it's bright and well organized, which makes it feel larger!
• Cure Clock: 6.5 weeks to go!
• Assignment: Read Week Two, pp. 70-99
• Clean your kitchen, buy a water filter, and cook one meal at home
• Fix one thing yourself
• Run your hands over every wall in your space
• Be a responsible shopper
• Members: 1,647
Congratulations on making it (almost) through Week 2. This week I've been completely slammed helping Maxwell with last minute edits for Apartment Therapy's upcoming book (to be released in Spring 2010 - look for it!), so I'll admit I've gotten a bit behind on my own cure! I'm looking to you for inspiration as I head into a busy weekend of cleaning and clearing out. First on my list: buying fresh flowers. Second on my list: regrouting the shower...
Jump below for a list of Household Fixing How-To's and a few of our recommended water filters!
Cure member Catcam sent us these photos of her fall flower arrangements. So bright and cheery. She also offered these Cure tips: "Clear all horizontal spaces (tabletops, counters, etc.) of clutter. File what needs to be filed, recycle anything recyclable, throw away the rest. Dust your space, add some simple color."This second task will be my "fix it yourself" task for the week. What needs to be fixed in your apartment? If you're looking for instructions — from sealing drafty windows to fixing some common bathroom issues — we've got a list to help get you started:
How To's, Tips & Tricks For Household Fixes
• Small Space Checklist: Toolbox Basics
• How To: Fix Those Drafty Windows
• How To: Fix a Slow Draining Sink
• DIY Fixes for 5 Common Bathroom Issues
• How To: Repair a Broken Dresser Handle
• How To: Fix a Broken Toilet Using Zip Ties and a Key Ring
• How To: Fix a Sagging Mattress
• 5 Quick Fixes: Easy Door Repair
• How To: Repair Bamboo Floors
• Easy Squeaky Stair Repair
• How To: Change a Light Fixture
Flickr member Purple Plum shared with us her "small but functional" kitchen, which she says "needs some good cleaning and maybe a few colorful things."The other thing we'd encourage you to do this week is get and install a water filter. They can be very affordable (depending on the type you get), easy to install, and infinitely better than bottled water (which, if you can believe it, requires even fewer regulations than city tap water). I've had experience with two faucet water filters so far: the PUR Vertical Faucet Mount Filter and the Culligan Faucet Filter. The PUR filter worked great for the first couple months, and then it started leaking and spraying all over... not so great. I've had the Culligan water faucet filter for the last two months, and it's worked well. However, it seems these faucet filters slow down dramatically over time, even before you should have to change the filter. One commenter in this post recommends soaking the filter in vinegar once a month to remove hard water deposits from the casing and screen. We've never tried this personally. Anyone have experience with this?
If you're looking to make more of an investment, I completely love Aquaovo's Ovopur Water Filter ($650). The beautiful design makes use of gravity to dispense water, so it doesn't require any electricity. Crafted from porcelain, glass and metal, its filter cartridge leverages activated carbon, KDF55, micro-porous bioceramics, and quartz crystal to help remove impurities. It holds up to 11 liters of fresh water, and would look stunning sitting on your counter. Filter cartridges need to be replaced three time a year, but you can return used filter cartridges to Aquaovo for recycling (which unfortunately cannot be said about most other filters on the market nowadays).
The Aquaovo Ovopur Water FilterFor a beautiful yet more affordable option, try a charcoal water purifier (it looks black, but it's actually made of white charcoal) like this one, available in packs of three for $25 at DWR. Just place one of these sticks in a jug of water, and it will absorb chlorine and unpleasant tastes and odors while infusing your water with natural minerals. One stick lasts about 3 months and is completely biodegradable. Simply crush it and mix it in with your plant soil.
The Binchotan Coal Water Purifier by Sort of CoalNeed more insight on which water filter is best for your home? See these posts:
• Best Product: Brita Faucet Mount Water Filter
• Water Filter Comparisons.net
• Good Question: What's the Best Water Filter Solution?
• What Type of Water Do You Drink?
Flickr member Jenicra 84 took this week's task to heart — cleaning your kitchen from top to bottom — and showed off a Before & After of her pantry. Well done!Coming Up:
Check back tomorrow as I continue to update this post. How's your progress going? Send us pictures and they might end up here!
TODAY'S COMMENT QUESTION
What's been the most difficult thing about the Cure so far? What's been the best thing?
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
What needs fixing in your house?
POST INDEX
• Week 2 - Getting To Know Your Home
• Week 1.5 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 1 - Setting Your Intention
CURE INFO
• Main Cure Page - Fall 2009
• Sign-Up Here
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JOIN THE GREEN CURE DISCUSSION:
Happily, our water is well filtered already! I've been working on the kitchen--loving the encouragement to bake more. We have some great teak rockers in the backyard which are on my fix-it list: oil and make new seats.
posting progress here: evenhoward.wordpress.com
view evenkhoward's profile
I've been having the worst time finding time--I chose to do the cure now because I was slated for some downtime at work and that fell through and I'm on some tight deadlines now. Plus, when I do have time, I spend a lot of it convincing my husband to stay with the Cure--that we shouldn't put off working on each room until the nebulous "someday" or even "soon". It makes the tasks feel more overwhelming.
Also, it's tough getting him to buy into the "something in equals something else out" philosopy. He's happy to upgrade some items (such as getting a larger, sturdier dining table), but not so hot on removing items to make room. I want to make a room feel as spacious as possible and he's fine with having to squeeze between pieces of furniture.
view harlie's profile
We cooked in tonite and I am planning a yummy stirfry with rice noodles sometime this weekend. We did realize how dirty walls can get and hopefully will be done with the living room kitchen and bedroom this weekend, whic leaves just the bathroom and computer/tv room. I have decluttered and am getting some baking soda and vinegar add in some rose water to clean everything else without harshness. lucky our water is filtered fine too. Although I do have a water pitcher anyway.
view Ashasage's profile
Time has been my difficulty as well this week. We have an out-of-town guest, and I've spent the week having fun instead of working. Part of the fun was shopping, and I found the perfect dining room chairs for our combo living/dining area! Mid-Century bent plywood (black), with vinyl seats. Also, some wonderful glasses to go with them. Now I have to get busy and paint our dining room table black.
Shopping is easy, but it does feel like progress. This weekend I'll do some actual work, I hope.
view scantron3's profile
I should add that it feels good to have found used items that are just what we needed. The less we have to buy new, the happier I will be.
view scantron3's profile
my challenge is also finding the time to put in, but that will be no problem this weekend! i'm excited. i actually enjoy cleaning (although you'd never know from the way my house looks).
the best thing about the cure is the motivation is provides for me. i like having structure, i like the buddy system. even if i don't do exactly everything i'm supposed to, it's much better than if i weren't doing it at all. things are happening at my house and i'm very happy about that.
view doubledutch's profile
I cleaned out TWO garages!! Craigslist-selling, four giant bags of garbaging, sweeping, shopvac-ing, trim painting, the works. Also have 3 big boxes of clothes and bags sorted and ready to consign and donate. Dealing with a few shoe boxes full of paperwork was also on the list, but will have to wait until next week. Feeling great!!
view NorNor's profile
My home looks worse but feels better. My outbox is running out of space!
So far I've cleared out:
One giant suitcase and three garbage bags of clothes
One full set of 15 place settings of old dishes, cups, saucers, etc. that we don't use (We already have an everyday set and two sets of china)
I've cleaned out most of the kitchen and pantry, but need to do the deep scrubbing tonight.
I've cleared out a lot of our bedroom and the living room.
The thing I'm having trouble with is also finding time. I have three hours of commuting a day, so the little time I get at home makes it difficult to stay on top of this. I need to post some photos so I'll get more motivated.
view GlamGhetto's profile
Hey! What's the style of the chair in the first picture on the top right? It has a wicker type back and fabric seat cushion.
view meow24mi's profile
I need to fix a piece of veneer on my kitchen cupboard that's peeling, and another piece that has come off. I'm also caulking around my tub, and attaching a piece of vinyl stripping. This list goes on, but those are my first two.
I'm having trouble managing my time to get everything done - I'm a bit behind, but I'm hoping to do some catch-up on Thursday. Wish me luck!
view jenc's profile