Providing a dedicated space for homework encourages children to keep their school assignments organized and completed on time. Finding that notebook or assignment sheet is easier if there is a desk with an inbox waiting for those papers. A bookshelf holding a dictionary and those book-report books eliminates excuses about misplacing either. Hanging a calendar with a schedule of assignments and other appointments helps eliminate or at least reduce the cries of “I forgot.”

When you start planning the space – look for somewhere quiet and free of distractions such as TV, games or phones. A corner of a child’s room or any other quiet spot will work. If there are hard surface floors in the room and you need a little more noise control, consider using an area rug to help. Furniture can be a simple desk and shelf, or even a table. Be sure to include office supplies such as paper clips and a stapler. Many office items are available in fun colors and shapes to make the space more inviting. Provide some storage – boxes, bins or files – for past projects. With good lighting, the space is ready for your student.

Of course, creating the space is only the start. There is no guarantee that it will make the difference you hope for, but it’s a start toward helping your child or children learn to organize their responsibilities and discover the benefits of a work environment designed just for them.

For most, the thought of “training” might evoke images of foam cups of coffee, legal pads – and possibly a lengthy presentation projected onto a giant screen.

But for the four-legged officers with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), it couldn’t be more different.

Tuesday morning, the Yuma Sun watched as six officers and their canine partners used local business Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet for a training exercise, drawing some extra attention from the public.

Supervisory CBP Officer James McIntyre was one of the trainers involved in the exercise Tuesday morning.

The group is based at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz.

He said they do a different exercise once a week in a different location to help the dogs participate in real-world situations.

In the past, McIntyre said they’ve used locations such as the airport and other businesses around town.

“It keeps the dogs proficient,” he said. “And it allows us to control the environment.”

Trainers help place indicators, said Supervisor Teresa Small, spokeswomen with the CBP.

The dogs involved in the exercise Tuesday are narcotics dogs, McIntyre said. That means they are trained to find marijuana, hash, cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine and ecstasy.

Small said from October 2009 to July 2010, the officers have helped seize about 2,600 pounds of cocaine; almost 700 pounds of meth; just more than 200 pounds of heroin and 107,646 pounds of marijuana.

For more information about the Customs and Border Protection, visit http://www.cbp.gov/.

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.comor 539-6857.

Steam cleaning, when it is done properly is probably the best choice.

It is also the method most often recommended by carpet manufacturers.

“Done properly” means that the technician has training appropriate to your type of carpet, the water is hot enough and the equipment is in good working order. The vacuum is especially important; when operating correctly, a truck-mounted vacuum will remove up to 95% of the water used to clean your carpet. This has a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of the cleaning and the time it takes to dry.

It is probably best not to attempt steam cleaning on your own. Most of the tools or equipment available for personal use just don’t have the power to sufficiently heat the water or the ability to reclaim enough water from your carpets. They can be great for spot-cleaning, but for true, deep extraction cleaning, its better to invest in a professional cleaner, using a truck-mounted steam unit. Remember that water temperature has to reach around 250 degrees at the machine in order for steam to reach your carpet!

Remember too, that all cleaning materials must be rinsed and removed well; make sure also that your carpet doesn’t get too wet. Overwetting can cause backing separation or wrinkles, and cleaner residues left unrinsed  can accelerate soiling in the future.

Making design decisions for your home can be challenging. You have to take a small sample and visualize a complete floor, countertop or backsplash. One simple trick can take your samples a bit further along the path to the final product and make your decisions easier. Position your samples at the height and angle they will be when installed.

The most valuable use of this technique is for choosing flooring. Put a sample of carpet, wood or tile on the floor and it can look completely different than it does on a table or a sample display. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, take a few minutes to look at them on the floor. This also helps if you’re having trouble picking a grout color. The contrast and tone is much easier to visualize if you can see the grout samples between two tiles on the floor.

If a new kitchen or bath is in your future, the process is more elaborate but equally valuable. You may need to elicit some help, but by positioning your cabinet, countertop, and backsplash choice together at the right angles, the more complete visual image of everything together can make a final decision easier.

Ready to make your choices? Try a new angle to make it both simpler and more fun.

Whats the best way to remove grout and replace? We remodeled our shower, but due to foundation movement, the corners have cracked and now water seeps in. I am assuming i need to remove the old grout and redo. Anysuggestions or insight? – Daniel

Answer:

Grout replacement is one of the methods that can be used to correct minor moisture issues in a shower depending on the leak’s physical location within the shower itself.  If there is grout cracking on the walls or in the vertical corners at a level of 4 foot or higher, a small hand sized grout saw can be used to carefully saw out the joints to remove the old grout.  Thoroughly clean out the cavity with a shop-vac to remove any debris and reinstall grout where needed. On the other hand, when you have moisture seeping into adjacent rooms at levels lower than 4 foot high, this could be a sign of a much larger issue in the shower’s waterproofing system and should not be ignored.   If this is the case, I suggest that an appointment is made with a professional to inspect and address for corrective measures. - Ernie Nogales, Installation Manager

What do you do if you can’t narrow your choices far enough to really compare them easily? If you are sitting on more than five or six options, it’s almost impossible to really evaluate each one. This is the time to use the divide and decide approach. Group all your options in sets of two, and for each set choose the one you like the best. When you’re only comparing two, it’s much easier to make a selection. Make those decisions and suddenly you’ve cut your possibles in half. Just make sure to ask your salesperson to whip those eliminated options out of your sight so you don’t start second-guessing yourself.

If you’re down to three or four options and find yourself stuck, use the reverse decision tactic. Instead of deciding on the one you want, pick one to eliminate. By reversing your thinking to consider the choices you like the least, you end up with more insight into what you really want. When you discover which one you really can’t let go of – that’s your best choice!

For part 1 this series, click here.

First, if possible narrow your choices before you start shopping. Do you feel you have enough information to decide whether you want tile, wood or carpet in the various areas of your home? If so, make those choices and determine a preliminary budget before you start shopping. Just like shopping for a pair of black pants rather than just wandering through a clothing store, the more defined your mission the easier it is to make just the right choice.

If you don’t feel you have the information you need, start your shopping expedition by sitting down with your salesperson and figuring out what you want, drawing on our knowledge of each type of flooring. With that and your budget, you can quickly eliminate most of the options and focus on those that fit your profile.

Finally, don’t get drawn away from your efforts by other items on display. With the wealth of choices available today, it’s easy to get distracted by other options. However, you will have a better experience if you focus on your goals. There will be plenty of wonderful choices for you within your parameters.

Are you ready to take a chance and consider a dramatic shift in your home but don’t know where to start? Well, it’s difficult to make a change when faced with all of your old decisions in a room. Let’s clear out most of your old choices to leave the door open for new ones.

Start by removing all the accessories from the room. Lamps, small tables and chairs go next. Are there larger pieces that you are ready, or almost ready, to replace? Cover them with white sheets. Now you’ve created your own version of a white room. You’re down to the room’s bones, without any distracting elements taking your attention away from the possibilities of the room itself.

Now that you’ve cleared the space, take a walk through it, considering every angle. Are there features you almost forgot were there? Are there wonderful windows, or possibly an appealing fireplace to warm the space? Play with any photos you may have saved of flooring from magazines, or lay out any samples you have. Picture light and darker floors, and consider what appeals to you most.

Next, take pictures of the room from every angle, and bring them with you to the store when you select your new flooring. It will be so much easier to imagine the floor with those photos in your hand. Keep the accessories packed up until your new floor is installed, then replace each item, considering whether you want to keep it, and where to put everything. In some ways by doing this you actually get to start over, with your own white box to decorate any way you want.

If you aren’t ready to do heavy lifting, you could always try out virtual room designer, here!.

It is actually pretty easy to protect your new carpet. Start by checking the manufacturer’s warranty to see what they require. Some manufacturers now demand periodic, regular professional steam extraction to maintain their warranty in force.

According to maintenance studies, up to 80% of soil that reaches your floors arrives with the first 4-6 steps from outside. Equipping each entry with appropriate walkoff mats or entry rugs will dramatically reduce the amount of soil.

Everyone hates vacuuming, but it is your top line of defense in keeping carpet looking its best. Vacuuming needs to be done regularly, with high traffic areas vacuumed daily. Dirt particles have sharp edges that can cut and abrade the carpet’s fibers, ultimately leading to a crushed and matted appearance. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has strong beater bars and good suction. If it has bags, change them often.

Even with regular vacuuming, every carpet should receive a periodic, professional deep clean with hot water extraction. Home models are typically ineffective at removing enough water and cleaning solution, so use a professional!

Spills and spots must be addressed immediately. Blot the spill with a clean, absorbent cloth, working from the outside to the center. Use a neutral pH cleaner and rinse with clean water to remove all the residues. Dry well and vacuum before walking on the spill area.

Cover any oil-based stains completely with baking soda, baby powder or cornstarch, allowing it to sit overnight. Vacuum well in the morning and if there is residual staining, repeat this process and then follow the routine outlined above for water-based stains.

We hope this helps you feel more comfortable about how to maintain nylon carpet!

Choose carefully. The friend that is so fun to run around with may not be your best choice when making a flooring decision. Does your friend have taste in home décor you admire? Will he/she help you make a good decision or want to take over the decision-making process? Do they help you make decisions or are they more likely to distract you?

Set ground rules. This is your home, not theirs. You want to end up with your own flooring choices. Let them know why you are bringing them along. A friend can help you remember certain characteristics you want that you may forget in the excitement of picking flooring (a reminder that you have children and dogs is helpful when you are drooling over that white carpet). Pick a friend who helps you think through decisions by asking the right questions.

Be prepared. If your friend is proving to be a distracting rather than a helpful element, let yourself either ask your friend to help you focus, or stop the process and come again later by yourself.

Consider a non-friend. Maybe your best helper is not a friend at all. How about your cousin Rita whose home always looks so beautiful? A spouse can be a real help or a challenge – consider past shopping trips when making that decision. How about your mom? Even consider someone you don’t know well, but you know loves home decorating. You may be surprised to find out that they would love to join you. Having finished their home, they may want to have the fun of helping you with yours!