Make your own window cleaner

From the NC Cooperative Extension are two recipes to make your own window cleaner:

1. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to 1 quart of water. Polish with a wadded-up newspaper.
2. Mix 3 tablespoons ammonia, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 3/4 cup water in a clean spray bottle.

When cleaning windows, rub the inside in one direction and the outside in another so you will be able to determine which side the streak is on. Never clean windows on a sunny day.

Well Water: What do you need to know?

People who are new to purchasing or building a home that has or will have a well for its water supply often feel vaguely uneasy about it. If they were used to being hooked up to the public system and never having to worry about water; where it's coming from, if there will always be enough of it, concerns about pollutants, it can help to take a little time to understand well systems, the importance of placement, and how to maintain them. With just a bit of planning and maintenance the well owner can relax. This publication from NC State University Dept of Soil Science can answer your questions about protecting your well water supply. http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/assist/homeassist/water/

Septic systems in North Carolina

Many relocators to western North Carolina from cities and suburbs are faced for the first time with the prospect of having a septic system. Septic systems are used in every county in North Carolina: more than 50 percent of the homes have them, and new systems are being installed at a rate of 40,000 per year. This publication from the department of Soil Science at NC State University answers typical questions about septic systems and their maintenance.

http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-13/