DIY Life

Here's a noteworthy story I just spotted on the Reuters website, titled "Man blows up apartment spraying for bugs?" The New York Daily News originally reported the story about a New Jersey man who, while spraying insects in his apartment, somehow let the contents of the spray can ignite. (Spraying near a lit gas burner, perhaps?)

The mishap caused an immense blast that blew the windows out of the unfortunate man's kitchen. The explosion then started a fire that destroyed eighty percent of his apartment. The man, Isias Videl Maceda, was unhurt.

I guess the question mark in the title of the article indicates the incident is still under investigation, but I think it's fairly safe to say that whatever this gentleman was doing, he was doing it all wrong! The episode is a good reminder for all of us that chemicals -- especially those contained in aerosol cans -- must be kept away from heat sources.

[via Reuters.]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Crate and Barrel, has announced a voluntary recall of about 5,100 "Remy" shag rugs. A fire and burn hazard is posed to consumers because the large "Remy" rugs fail to meet federal standards for flammability and could ignite. The small shag rugs fail to meet federal labeling requirements.

Manufactured in India and sold at Crate and Barrel online retailer, catalog and retail stores from January 2007 through April 2008 for between $50 and $300, this recall is for "Remy" cotton jersey shag rugs sold in red and in white. Please see the CPSC press release for a list of rug sizes involved in the recall.

Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled shag rugs. Consumers with large rugs should contact Crate and Barrel to obtain a full refund and arrange pick up of their rugs. Consumers with small rugs should contact Crate and Barrel to obtain a refund or a new label including warning information. Crate and Barrel can be contacted at (800) 451-8217 or www.crateandbarrel.com.

Got a big ugly space in your yard that needs filling? Adding yet another evergreen shrub seem boring? Consider pampas grass! It's a big beauty of a plant, one that -- like all ornamental grasses -- is frequently overlooked by home landscapers.

Here are a few reasons why I love pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana):

1. It grows fairly fast, so is an ideal choice for filling in large, barren landscapes.

2. It grows nice and thick, creating an effective privacy screen, wind break or sound barrier.

3. Its long, graceful blades and delightfully fluffy pannicles (flower plumes) are beautiful.

4. Its vertical angles evoke the tropics, bringing an exotic feel to suburban yards and otherwise drab mall parking lots. Its long blades also create a dramatic and pleasing visual contrast with other garden shrubs and trees. Meanwhile, its rounded and slightly wild shape makes it an excellent softener of hard urban surfaces, like brick walls or metal signs. (See the photo above for a perfect example of this.)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of about 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters, due to the fact that the toasters can remain energized after popping up. This poses a fire hazard if a consumer covers or places a flammable object near the toaster that may ignite while the toaster is still "on". Although no injuries or fires have been reported, Hamilton Beach has received at least 63 reports of toasters that have remained energized, or "on", even though the lever was in the "up" position.

Manufactured in China and sold at mass merchandisers, department stores, grocery stores, home center stores, and other retail stores nationwide, as well as various online retailers from August 2007 through February 2008 for between $13 and $40, this recall is for 17 different models of toasters. Styles range from black, red, chrome, white, and brushed chrome, with 2 or 4 slice openings. Check the bottom of your Hamilton Beach or Proctor-Silex toaster for the model number and series code.

Stop using the recalled toaster immediately and contact Hamilton Beach at (800) 574-6800 for instructions to receive a free replacement toaster. If you have a Hamilton Beach toaster, you may also contact them at www.hamiltonbeach.com. If you have a Proctor-Silex toaster, you may contact them at www.proctorsilex.com.