Articles written by Mona Gallagher in Home & Garden

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About me - Mona Gallagher

Hello, I'm glad you stopped by my little corner of Helium.

People write for different reasons. I write because if I didn't, I think I might burst with stored up passion for life events past and those up ahead and around the corner. We're living in a most

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Home & Garden > Furniture What to consider when buying couches: 7 of 23
A well-planned room with a comfortable couch is a welcome invitation to guests when they enter your home. Whether you opt for warm neutral colors that are coordinated with existing furniture or vibrant colors that enhance your personal style, there's no right or wrong way to put your ensemble together as long as you follow a... More..
Home & Garden > Architecture Deciding if your new house can benefit from a radiant heating system: 2 of 6
Radiant heating systems apply heat through the floor or panels via a piping system. For me, its not a matter of 'if' I will invest in this type of heating as much as 'when' I will go to this type of system. The motivation for changing to radiant heat is in the efficiency, the lowered use of energy and cost of operating. Radi... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Battling bean beetles: 3 of 6
While I was waiting to harvest my garden last year, my beans in particular were showing signs of being harvested by someone else. This was the first garden I had planted in over 20 years, so I was hesitant to blame it on that little bug that looked similar to a lady bug. The Mexican Bean Beetle, I later learned, is common th... More..
Home & Garden > Real Estate (Other) A Chicago, Illinois, real estate guide: 1 of 2
Chicago is a large city, though not densely populated like New York City, and has hundreds of neighborhoods nestled within Chicago's boundaries. Architecture in and around Chicago neighborhoods is varied but you find many old brownstones, greystones and old Victorian homes. Though the general real estate market is slow and i... More..
Home & Garden > Cleaning (Other) How to clean a bathtub with little effort: 1 of 2
Cleaning your bathtub doesn't have to be a big project, even if you have kids that leave it "unsightly". The trick is to prepare the tub and tile before you clean it. Spray the tub tile area with a glass cleaner. Then run about two inches of water in the tub and add your favorite cleaner. I use Lysol cleaner in liquid form. ... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Preparing your family to move to a new home: 16 of 31
Moving shares the list as one of the most stress producing events in our lives. There are multiple tasks involved and it is often one person who organizes and coordinates the packing and staging of the cartons prior to the big moving day. A checklist with a timeline will help you to stay on track. Movers: When selecting a lo... More..
Home & Garden > Furniture Weighing quality and cost when buying living room furniture: 4 of 7
When buying living room furniture, cost is one of the first considerations on the mind of those living on a budget. We must think about paying for our purchase and the service we expect in return from the furniture, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we could choose exactly the furniture we wanted without having to think about ... More..
Home & Garden > Home Interior How carpet is made: 5 of 8
Most of us don't think about how carpets are made when we walk into a showroom to look at carpets, but there are advantages to understanding the fibers and the processes involved in carpet manufacturing. Armed with that knowledge, we can make wiser choices on carpets that retain their color and durability and what we can exp... More..
Home & Garden > Cleaning Products Why Arm & Hammer baking soda is not just for cooking: 14 of 22
Baking soda has come a long way since my grandmother used it in her baking, but even then it was known for it's cleaning powers in the laundry department. Times have changed and the role of ARM & HAMMER is all but reversed. Not many of us bake everyday, but we do clean hundreds of items. My ARM & HAMMER box can be found in m... More..
Home & Garden > Lawn A guide to basic tools for lawn care: 8 of 12
Is there such a thing as a resistant lawn? I'm sure that's what I have because it fights me all summer long. I inherited the dandelions from the previous owner and now my lawn shows a decided preference for them. In the springtime, it's good practice to assemble the tools that are used for lawn maintenance and assess the con... More..