Using WD-40 Around Your Home: Practical and Cheap

There are numerous alternative uses for everyday products in your home right now. The common household product called WD-40 (a lubricant, penetrating oil and water-displacing spray) is readily available and fairly inexpensive compared to other chemical products and is much more versatile. Here are some of the uses of WD-40 for homeowners to use around the house:

Have a baby Picasso who loves to draw with crayon?  WD-40 removes crayon from most surfaces: wallpaper, compressed wood furniture, plastics, shoes, toys, chalk boards, inside clothes dryers, carpet, glass, screen doors, rock walls, television screens, and place mats.

From sticky substances to scuff marks, WD-40 can remove: scuff marks from ceramic tile flooring, marks from floors left by chairs, coffee stains from floors, black streaks from hardwood floors, paint from tile flooring, rust stains from floors after mopping, mascara from tile floors, rollerblade and skateboard marks from floors, sticker residue from clothes, permanent ink from most items, grime from grout on bathroom floors, tile adhesive from new no-wax floors, nail polish from hardwood floors, glue deposits from linoleum, stickers from credit cards, melted tape on tables, marks on running boards, marking pen from glass, gum, grease, grime, and to clean piano keys.

Along with removing a plethora of sticky or greasy things, WD-40 will also lubricate any moving metal objects around the house, like sticky drawers, door hinges, zippers, and even frees those Lego blocks your kids can’t get unstuck. It protects metal from corrosion and rust. Dad would love to keep his tools nice and shiny and new looking right? With just a light coat of WD-40 on them, they won’t rust and will stay nice in good-as-new condition for years to come.

Specialized Outsource Solutions supports homeowners, and continues to give helpful DIY advice. When you need a reliable contractor, call us for referrals at 1-888-589-1868.

Rely on SOS’ referral of reputable companies for home projects you can’t do on your own, such as: 

• Remodeling 
• Plumbing 
• Water Restoration Services 
• Contents Pack-Out and Storage
• Lab Testing for Bacteria, Mold, Lead, and Asbestos
• Mold Remediation 
• Asbestos Abatement 
• Lead Renovation 
• Duct Cleaning 
• Exterminating Bed Bugs and Mites 
• Clean personal property and buildings damaged by fire 

SOS has a network of certified contractors to address repairs to your home or building. Call 24/7 at 1-888-589-1868.

About Asbestos: Facts and Dangers

Although the amount of asbestos found in our communities today is becoming scarce due to laws and regulations, it still remains a hazardous material when encountered. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Most exposure today comes when old insulation or tiling is disturbed during construction projects… and proper precautions are not taken to avoid breathing in dust.”

This is why hiring a certified contractor for home remodels, projects, and emergencies is essential. Here are some facts from the California Department of Health Services that homeowners should know about asbestos:

• Asbestos is a mineral fiber with qualities that make it useful for electrical and thermal insulation.
• Because of its high-insulation characteristic, it was often added to building materials.
• California’s most commonly-reported asbestos material is “popcorn” or “cottage cheese” ceiling known as “acoustic ceiling materials.”
• Asbestos can be found in vinyl floor tiles and floor mastic used in its installation; drywall or drywall patching compound; wall or ceiling textures; insulation for furnaces, stoves, pipes and electrical; some roofing shingles and mastic, as well as siding materials. 
• Asbestos-containing materials are generally found in materials that were manufactured prior to 1985, however, some of the manufactured materials were still being sold for several years after this. 
• If your home or building was built prior to 1988, you may want to have your home tested for asbestos-containing materials prior to removal of wall, ceiling, floor or roof materials.
• Your health may be compromised when inhaling asbestos fibers.
• Most people do not develop health problems when exposed to small amounts of asbestos.
• A combination of smoking and asbestos inhalation is found to be particularly hazardous.
• Asbestos can only be identified by a trained professional with special laboratory equipment.
• If you have asbestos in your home, you can remove it, contain it or live with it.
• The only way asbestos can affect your health is if the fibers are disturbed, become airborne and are inhaled. 
• Removing and disposing of asbestos should only be done by a certified professional.

Refer to the California Department of Health Services worksheet for additional information, useful phone numbers and informative websites: Click Here.

For asbestos-related issues in your home, call Specialized Outsource Solutions immediately. We take calls 24/7 and will refer local, certified contractors to remove and properly dispose of asbestos-containing materials. Call 1.888.589.1868 or click on our “Request Services” button from our website at www.sos-crnetwork.com.

California Department of Health Services. Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet, Asbestos in the Home and Workplace. March 2000. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/IAQ/Documents/IAQ_Asbestos_2000-03.pdf

Searcey, Dionne. The Wall Street Journal. “Q&A: What’s the Asbestos Risk Today?”. March 10, 2013.

Helping All Kinds of People Connect with Contractors

As a referral network, Specialized Outsource Solutions lends it's services to a wide range of people. Our main goal is to help our clients avoid the dread of researching a home contractor by providing referrals to reputable, certified, and reliable local home contractors. No matter who calls for a referral, they can always count on time and cost savings, too. Here’s a summary of what SOS can do for our all kinds of people who need to connect with a qualified contractor:

Homeowners: 

When it comes to home repairs or remodeling, there are certain tasks that homeowners can achieve on their own. However, when an emergency situation arises or a project becomes big enough, a certified contractor needs to step in. The process of researching and hiring the right home contractor can be tedious and time consuming. That’s where SOS comes in handy – homeowners get 24/7 access to our referral network when they contact us.

Building Owners:

When vendors and contractors become unreliable or perform sub-par work, it is essential for building owners to replace them as soon as possible. Not doing so can mean loss of rental income and result in disgruntled tenants or ultimately in legal proceedings. If reliable contractors are not in place when an emergency disaster occurs, such as fire damage or major plumbing problems, taking the time to evaluate and hire the right contractors prolongs the job completion. Calling SOS is the perfect solution to maintaining a healthy property and keeping tenants happy. One call is all it takes to get 24/7 referrals to professional contractors from our vast database who are licensed, bonded, and insured.

Property Managers:

Managing multiple properties, along with the ongoing list of property repairs and the occasional emergency service, is time consuming and ever-changing. Having a one-call referral network helps property managers access the right contractors for all types of jobs, from plumbing leaks to asphalt repairs. Getting referrals any time of day is efficient, and SOS only refers certified, licensed, and bonded contractors.

Realtors and Lenders:

In order for a property to sell, repairs may need to be addressed which can often prolong the escrow process. Realtors and lenders should have certified, qualified, and reliable contractors to quickly make repairs. SOS is a one-call solution to finding referrals to local, certified contractors for nearly every home repair service. With 24/7 access to the SOS referral network, real estate professionals can call when unexpected events occur, such as overnight pipe bursts that can result in serious water damage.

Agents and Brokers:

The relationship that is built and fostered between agents, brokers, and their clients is important, especially when these clients rely on their trusted expert opinions in times when they have home repair needs. SOS prides itself on continuing the same exceptional customer service when we provide quality referrals to local contractors needed to complete specific jobs.

Insurance Companies:

Quality and efficiency are key when it comes to property insurance professionals and the handling of property claims. Thankfully, SOS has access to a database of qualified contractors for nearly every type of home service, and our referrals are available 24/7. The contractors in our network are local and certified. All of this adds up to a one-call solution to getting referrals to contractors who keep the job on a tight timeline with quality outcomes and customer satisfaction.

Condo- and Home-Owner Associations:

Getting reputable contractors can be a daunting task, even for some property managers. Occasionally, board members will rely on their own research to integrate a new contractor into home repair services when they need to replace a bad contractor. SOS recommends putting a plan in place before plumbing repairs or fire or water restoration services are needed. When this situation arises, SOS will work with association board members and refer certified, licensed contractors who are local and can get the job done right the first time.

Learn how SOS can help YOU find a solution to finding a quality contractor. Contact us at 1-888-589-1868 or fill out our online service request form today for referrals to contractors who will get the job done right.