How to Make a Dog Poop Septic Tank - Be Done With the Smelly Poops and Bags

I loved taking my dog Sasha for a walk, and I always brought a poop bag, that I would then throw in

a public waste receptacle before coming home.

But fast forward a few years, and as a senior dog, she didn't want to go further than the backyard, so it also became full of poop!

Stinky Gross Garbage Can

I would pick it up with a dog poop scoop and collect it in bag that then went into my garbage bag for garbage collection.  By then, it would simply stink horribly!  No one wanted to lift the lid.  I figured there had to be a better way.

Homemade Dog Septic System - Put The Poop to Work!

You can purchase them already made, but since I love to do the DIY thing, I decided to research this idea, and found out just how to do it.  Once in place you simply scoop and plop into this system.

Find a Corner of Your Yard that You Can Safely Dig a Hole for Your Dog Poop Composter

Make sure it is safe to dig a hole, this is actually about the most labor intensive part of this project.  But you can have this running in an afternoon, you can even dump your little poop bags into it as most poop bags are biodegradable and will quickly dissolve.

What You Will Need:

• A Plastic Barrel - garbage can sized. (this would be easier to cut than a metal one)
• Shovel for digging the hole
• saw (to take the bottom off)
• small rocks
• drill (for the holes)
• Septic treatment
• water

Step 1 - Cut the bottom off the barrel with the saw

Step 2 - Draw Around the base of the barrel so you can dig a hole

Step 3 - Dig the Hole

Step 4 - Drill at least a couple dozen holes evenly around the bottom 2/3rds of the barrel

Step 5 - Place in the hole, Note:  Have the top 3rd of the barrel sticking out of the ground.

Step 6 - Place the small rocks into the bottom.

Step 7 - Add some Pet Waste (even in the dog poop bags)

Step 8 - Add the Septic system treatment ... Septonic was used in the video

Step 9 - Add some water to get it started digesting.

Step 10 - Place Lid Back On to Keep out Weather

Dog Waste Disposal - Ready to Go!

As you pick up the waste around the yard, or even the little bags you have from your walk can be added.

Just monitor the system.  Add septic treatment as needed and more water.  This all depends on how many dogs you have and their size.  You could use a smaller barrel for smaller dogs.

The septic treatment takes care of the smell as well as digesting the poop and slowly liquefies it and then it leaches out of the holes you drilled as liquid compost.

Very similar to a human septic system.  Check out the video below:

This Pet Waste Disposal System Helps the Environment - Keeps it out of Landfills

This video should pretty much sum it up.  You could even decorate the top portion to fit in with your yard.  But as long as you have it somewhere easy to access, but not in the way, it should do its job of turning your doggy's poop into liquified compost that goes back to the ground.

✅Love the Idea But Don't Want to do the DIY?  You can purchase the system online:

Dog Septic System

 You will still need to dig a hole, but the rest has already been done.

If you watch the video she reports just how much dog poop has been going into the landfills.  Since they pack garbage pretty tight when disposing it can take a long time for even biodegradable bags to decompose.

We flush our waste down the toilet, so why not create a dog waste compost to get rid of your dog's waste.  Keep it out of the landfill.  You can get most supplies online and have them delivered.

Room Separation Ideas - Interior Sliding Barn Doors - Save Room too!

If you want some separation between two rooms, but you don't want a traditional door, due to space or size, then here is an awesome idea.  Interior Barn Doors.

✅In a hurry?  What to see a full page of them?  Click Here

No matter what your decor style, you can find interior sliding barn doors for sale at most home improvement stores, but you can find some amazing deals online.. Check a few out below.

Double Sliding Barn Doors

These would be awesome as pictured, to separate a bedroom from a main room, or even a dining area or play room with larger openings. You don't take up the same room that traditional hinged doors do. These are pretty spectacular.

Under 100 Dollars!

You get everything you need with this indoor barn door. What I really like is how they are functional and yet part of the decor. This means you can use more of your room, as you don't need to allow the extra room needed for a traditional opening hinged door.

Unfinished Indoor Barn Door

With an unfinished one, you can create the look you want. Whether traditional stain and varnish, or maybe try the latest in aged wood look using vinegar. I have a blog post on aging wood with vinegar check it out for some awesome ideas!

Interior Sliding Barn Door Hardware

Check the door you have chosen as most come with hardware kits, but if you are making your own, or maybe reclaiming a barn door to use in your home, you will need the appropriate hardware. You can get everything you need online.

There are so many different interior sliding barn doors for sale online compared to the home improvement store. I couldn't find a great selection but I did online. Let it be delivered to you!

✅ More Interior Sliding Doors for Sale

Getting creative in a Small Space

Traditional doors especially double doors take up a huge amount of space. You need to allow for the openings etc. By using a sliding door, you save that room. You only need to keep some wall space open, making this a perfect option for small spaces. So if you have downsized, or are simply looking for ways to separate rooms, then check this idea out.

Turn Your Regular Door Into a Indoor Barn Door

Hardware to Change Your Present Interior Door

This too is an awesome idea for the budget minded (like me!). Instead of purchasing a new barn door, use your present one and create the sliding door using this hardware.  The hardware is designed to be used on a typical door.

This will give you the separation you need and want as well as more usable space in both rooms.  The hardware also looks good and not to utilitarian.

Hopefully this has inspired you to make some changes especially if you are looking for some room separation ideas that are not only functional but look awesome!

How to Get Rid of Cat Hair Around the House - This Works

As the owner of 3 cats, I can tell you that cat hair builds quickly.  I like to keep my house clean and

always clean the litter box daily, but I think my vacuum cleaner goes on strike when it comes to anything from my cats such as hair.

LINT ROLLERS!!

Before you hit the back button.  It can't be just any lint roller, it needs to be the type where you rip the sheets off and dispose of them.  I find any other type simply straightens the hair instead of removing it.

Scotch Brite Lint Rollers

You Were Probably Expecting Some Kind of Miracle?? 

 Nope, just this type of lint roller.  From experience this has got to be by far the BEST way to get rid of cat hair from hard to clean surfaces, such as bed spreads, and even lamp shades!

YES LAMP SHADES!

Some how, the cat hair actually travels to that height.  If you have central heating or air conditioning, any cat hair will get circulated and caught in the filter, but also some gets blown in the air and some how lands on my lamp shades, blinds and curtains!

I have a post on how to clean a fabric lamp shade if you want to check it out, but basically you use this exact same product.  It has just enough glue surface to grab the hair but not leave any film.

How to Use This Type of Lint Roller

I find working in a grid is the best rather than back and forth.  I find the patch on my dark red bed spread and start at one end and roll it one way for a couple of times, then when it doesn't lift any more cat hair you need to peel that one off and start a new one.

Keep doing this until it is gone.    Works wonders on couches too.  If you vacuum your couch and think you got it all?  Think again.  Grab one of these rollers and roll across the fabric and see what it looks like.  Yep... CAT HAIR!

Best Lint Roller for Cat Hair

Getting rid of cat hair doesn't have to be a huge problem. Yes it will always be an ongoing problem, but don't rely on your vacuum cleaner to pick it up off bedspreads, throw pillows, couches and lamp shades.. It may do a wonderful job of the carpet or the hardwood floor, but other surfaces not so much!

Invest in a Few of These Lint Rollers for Around the House and use them on surfaces such as:

• Throw pillows
• couches
• bed spreads
• quilts
• curtains
• fabric lamp shades
• clothes
• throw rugs that don't vacuum well.

.... just to name a few surfaces I have used this product on.  If your fancy expensive vacuum cleaner does a great job on everything but cat hair, then I highly recommend this product.  It has to be the type with the tear away sheets in my opinion.  With 95 sheets to each roller, you can get rid of a lot of cat hair!

With over 1900 reviews at the time of this post, it is considered the Number 1 BEST SELLER.

Online can also be cheaper, so check out the current price and have it delivered right to your door.

How to Clean a Fabric Lamp Shade - Quick and Easy and Cheap

Fabric lamp shades look wonderful when you first get them, but just like the rest of the room, dust can build up.

If you use a dusting cloth, it literally adds more dust to the lamp shade and before you know it they are looking dull.  They can fill up fast with dust especially if you have open windows, they are like a magnet.

This by far has to be the BEST way to clean a fabric lamp shade.

LINT ROLLERS!!

I was Stunned and Amazed!

I couldn't believe how well these work on lamp shades as well as other surfaces besides your clothes.

 I always had one laying around to get the cat hair off my shirt, but never thought for a minute to use it to remove dust from a lamp shade.  It took 2 sheets of this roller to get the dirt and dust off.  I thought the shades were done, but they came back to life!

Picks Up Glass Too!

Have you ever broken a glass or dish and had tiny little shards everywhere?  Run one of these lint rollers over the area and it will pick up the bits you can't see!  Dispose of that sheet and there is another fresh one waiting.

Kitchen Drawers

You know how crumbs and things tend to build up in the cutlery drawer, junk drawer and other drawers?  Instead of hauling out the vacuum cleaner, simply run this lint roller over the area and all the little bits of dust and crumbs are gone.  Quick and Easy.  Every time I open a drawer I keep meaning to vacuum but the close it and forget it, but I keep the lint roller nearby in my junk drawer and simply use it to get those bits out of the cutlery tray.

Glitter and Crafting Bits

Run it over the craft area and you can pick up glitter or tiny bits and pieces.

Cleans Cat Hair off of Bed Spreads

This one really amazed me.  Even my powerful vacuum cleaner simply straightened the animal hair rather than remove it.  I find cat hair especially sticks like Velcro and just doesn't want to come off, next thing you know there is a haze of grey hair on my dark red bed spread.

Take the lint roller (with a fresh sheet ready to go) and run it over the bed, you will be amazed.  Rip that sheet off to reveal a new one and keep going.

There are 95 sheets on each roller.  Plenty to deal with lamp shades, bed spreads, broken glass and more.

Scotch Brite Lint Roller

This brand is the number one best seller online.  With over 1900 reviews at time of writing.  Easy to tear sheets makes this one of the easiest ways to clean hard to clean surfaces, such as a fabric lamp shade.

Get a Few and Keep Them Everywhere

I used to have one tucked in a drawer in the kitchen for the odd time I was dressed up and wanted hair and dust removed from my clothes, I never really thought about using them for anything else.  There is no residue and they have just the right amount of sticky surface to work well.

Really works well in the:

• Car - upholstery
• Around the House - lampshades, bed spreads, curtains etc
• Kids Play Areas - pick up glitter, tiny bits
• Kitchen - broken glass, crumbs in the drawer

So Back to How to Clean a Lamp Shade? Now You Know!

For under 20 bucks you can have a pair of these, with 95 sheets on each one.  We are all busy so whatever works quick and easy I say, and getting them online means they show up at your door.

Check the current price ....  I use these everywhere now.

How to Clean Make Up Brushes - Quick and Easy

Makeup brushes are a wonderful tool for applying your daily face, but the downside is they get dirty and stop working as well.

No matter how clean your face is, the transfer of oils from your face and the makeup begin to build up in the brushes, and they simply don't work as well, plus break outs can occur.  None of us want that.

So take a little time each week, invest in a few supplies, and keep those expensive brushes clean!

Here is what you will need:

• Baby Shampoo
• Warm Water
• Cup
• Clean towel
• Time to Air Dry

Method:

The best time, would be right after you have used them for the day.  This will give them time to dry for tomorrow.

You also need a place where you can spread out a clean towel and lay your brushes to air dry.

In a hurry?  Would Rather Have a Machine to Clean Your Makeup Brushes Fast?  Click Here

Step 1 - Examine the Brushes - Are they still in good shape?

Step 2 - Mix some baby shampoo with warm water into a cup.

Step 3 - Take your brush and swirl the bristles in the shampoo water.  Being careful not to dunk the entire handle, just the bristles.  Swirl and if necessary rub a little bit with your hand to loosen the built up grime.

Step 3 - Rinse under warm clean water from the tap, still being careful not to wet the entire handle.

Step 4 - Reshape the best you can with your clean hands

Step 5 - Lay on a clean absorbent towel to air dry.

Step 6 - Fluff before use.

That is it.  Your clean makeup brushes will be ready to use and actually feel looser and cleaner.  It is surprising just how quickly they can build up with products.

How Often Should You Clean Makeup Brushes?

If you use them every day, you should clean them at least once a week, and more often if you are prone to skin breakouts.

Another Option:  Use a Makeup Brush Tree to Air Dry Them

Makeup Brush Tree for Drying and To Keep Shape

This dryer is a great way to keep the shape of the bristles. Also takes up less room than laying out a towel. If you use lots of brushes, this would be a great tool to add to your kit. Totally affordable under 15 bucks!  Check out the current price.

Another Option:  Invest in a Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine

 Makeup Brush Cleaner Electronic Device

 With this machine you just set it and go. It totally washes and cleans your makeup brushes without you even touching them.

With over 121 good reviews at time of this writing, everyone seems happy with this idea.

It completes a wash and 3 rinse cycles in 15 minutes.  Just set it and go.  This is more of an investment than doing them by hand, but would make a great gift for her or for yourself.

Check the current price

If your make up brushes have seen better days, then maybe it is time to replace them.  You don't have to break the bank to find some good deals online.

BS-MALL Makeup Brushes

With over 7000 reviews, these are the number 1 best seller!!

As well as affordable at under 15 bucks!  Check the current price.

Cleaning your make up brushes, is super important.  Take good care of them and they will do their best job for you.

But always examine them to make sure they are still in good shape.  Even after many washes they can wear down and not work as well.  So get rid of them and invest in a new set!

Do your best to look your best!

How to Trap a Feral Cat for Neutering

I personally have been working with a feral cat that showed up as a kitten in my yard last year.

You can read about my feral cat story here.

Since I had basically begun to feed him, I knew he had become my responsibility, and part of that responsibility is to do the right social thing and have him fixed.  As he got closer and closer to us over the months, we saw that he was a male.

Check with the Local Humane Society for a Feral Cat Rescue in Your Area

This is the first step.  I contacted them and they said they could come and trap him, but they were swamped and said if I could do it, they could take him and get him neutered.   I was given steps to take to catch him.

Humane Feral Cat Trap

Make Arrangements with the Feral Cat Rescue First Before Trapping

Let them know you are attempting to catch him/her and find out where to take them.  Make these arrangements first.  Most humane societies do not deal with feral cats, so get the right organization before you start.

Step 1 - Watch Their Daily Living Habits and see where they go.  So you can figure out a good place for the live trap.

Step 2 - Purchase or rent a good quality live feral cat trap.

Step 3 - Purchase a can of cat food meat.  Feral cats are totally attracted to the smell of the canned food when opened, compared to dried kibble.  If you want to get them quickly,  canned food works best.  Open it and place in a bowl in the trap in the area they tend to hang out.

Step 4 - Make sure you do this on a day you are around, you don't want a cat trapped in a cage in the blaring sun or snow storm for hours or days.

Step 5 - Place a blanket or sheet or the cover that is included in the feral cat trap over the cage to keep them calm.   Where gloves when picking up the cage.  They may be freaking or totally calm, it depends on the cat.

Step 6 - Take to your prearranged place so they can be properly taken care of and spayed or neutered.  This is the right social thing to do to stop unwanted kitties showing up again.

If you are catching feral cats to simply stop them reproducing, many organizations suggest the cat be returned after the operation to the exact same spot.  They are marked as being a "fixed feral cat" just in case they are trapped again with a clip to their ear.

If the cat is in your yard and you don't want it there, make sure they know this.  Our local cat rescue has a feral section where a community of cats is housed to keep them safe and happy in cat enclosures.

Please don't simply trap it and take to the woods.  They need to be neutered there are way too many stray and suffering cats around.

Training a Feral Cat for Yourself

I was about to go down this road and about to follow the 6 steps above, but my little feral had come on the scene while he was quite young but was starving.  After a lot of work moving his feeding station closer and closer and giving him shelter outdoors and a routine,  he eventually got close enough to eat just inside the door of my house with my own 2 cats.

Since I was not doing a "catch and release"  I called my own Veterinarian to ask if she could neuter a "semi feral cat" and she agreed.  So I had to get him in the house as if to eat one morning as per usual, and I had my cat carrier ready, my team assembled and I simply grabbed him by the scruff and quickly placed him in the carrier with a towel over his head.  Hubby got the door closed before he could figure out what happened.

He was actually quite calm!

After the surgery he was sent home still sedated as they didn't want him freaking out there, and was told to keep him inside as long as possible.  That was about 6 hours when the sedation and drugged look faded.  I had no choice but to let him out as he was freaking at this point.

For the Love of a Feral Kitty

I thought that was it as I saw him run at high speed.  I thought "great I spent all this money and now he has run away"  but the next morning he was on the patio door step looking for breakfast!

Now he is becoming much easier to train.  Getting him neutered was the right decision.  He is calmer, and coming in the door for food and comfort and I can pick him up.  So my feral cat story has a happy ending!

This picture is of a Stoned Moo  (his name is MOO) not quite sure about this sedation.  He was batting at make belief bugs and trying to get out.  Held off as long as I could and then out he went, but now at least there will not be any unwanted kitties or cat fights on my watch!

If you get to them when they are young enough, it is possible to train them to love humans again, but if they are adults it is probably best to have them live trapped, fixed and released to enjoy life on their own terms.

Owning a life animal trap for feral cats can also be used for other animals that need moving.   A good investment to have on hand, good for injured animals too.

Take the Steps to Phone or Contact a Feral Cat Rescue to Get More Advice

I live in a subdivision and we have a feral cat problem, so many of the neighbours have started to take steps to help them.  Most are hungry and injured from cat fights.  Getting them neutered will at least stop the reproduction and many of the cat fights.

Make the decision right up front as to whether you wish to let him stay in your yard or you want him removed.

Since cats are great at keeping down the mice population, you may want to give your feral cats a nice outdoor house to live in rather than your shed once they are fixed!

Feral Cat House

This at least gives them a decent place to live if they love your yard instead of making their own home in your shrubs, or shed or garage or roof. A feral cat will get used to you but simply won't live inside. I love the idea of these specialized houses. Right now Moo lives in a garage tent that we need to get rid of, so I will get this feral cat house and let him get used to it by putting some treats inside.

Specialized feral cat houses, have an escape back door just in case preditors come looking.  You don't want him feeling trapped.  But this will keep the weather off of them too.  I call Moo my "outdoor cat" .  I am responsible for his feeding and health care and he will come in the house to eat, but it is too ingrained in him to live outdoors, so keep harmony in the yard with his very own house instead of under your shrubs or messing up the shed.

How to Calm Down a Dog in a Thunderstorm - 6 Ways

"I had a 65 pound dog that I adored, until there was a thunderstorm!"

She would get so panicked, that the house suffered destruction.  She would try to go under a couch that she could not fit, or into a kitchen cabinet, or scratch the front door to get out.  Anything to escape the storm even if it meant getting hurt.

Sadly many dog owners deal with this problem.  But there are a few solutions to try, that helped my dog.  Once I followed these steps, she was much easier to handle and each storm was less anxious.

DO NOT SHOW ANY ANXIETY YOURSELF!!

If you too are scared of storms this will not be easy, but your dog will pick up on your cues.  If you suddenly run around the house closing windows and acting odd, they will react.

6 Steps - How to Calm a Dog During a Thunderstorm 

Step 1.  Walk Calmly around the house as per usual, even hum a tune as if nothing is wrong.  Pay not attention to the storm or your dog.  Dogs pick up on your cues and if you are stressing or freaking out, so will they.

Step 2.  Ignore the fact there is a thunderstorm going on and act as if...

Step 3.  DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT especially if you are freaking yourself, dogs are sensitive and pick up on your fears.  If you can't hide your fear, do not look your dog in the eyes!!

Step 4.  Find a safe small spot for them to hide ahead of time and guide them there.  If they are crate trained, put them in their crate and place a blanket over the crate to make them feel like they are in a cave.

Dogs love to go to small dark spots when they are scared.  So find a spot in your home they could hide.  My dog eventually felt safer in the basement, as it was dark and you couldn't see the lightening, so in a storm I kept the basement door open and she hid behind the furnace.  So I keep the route to that area open for her.

Once she found the basement, she stayed down there for hours.  This at least saved the rest of my house, as a 65 pound dog in panic mode can be destructive as well as possible hurt themselves.  I did not go and see her, she came upstairs when she was ready and I still pretended nothing was wrong.

Step 5.  Be careful opening the door, as they may bolt, even if it is not their nature to run, they will when in a panic.  Many animal shelters receive calls after big storms and fireworks etc for lost dogs.

Step 6.  DO NOT OVER CUDDLE - This one is seriously important, this is where I failed miserably, because I do feel now when I look back that it was me that helped this fear grow every summer.

When she was a puppy she was not fearful of storms, but around 2 years old she showed a bit of apprehension and I would soothe her and cuddle her and look scared myself as I am not a fan of storms either.  By doing this she realized this is something to be scared of, and it got worse.

Thundershirt  Anxiety Jacket

This is an additional item you can add to your "dog calming storm watch kit".  Backed by science, the idea behind this anxiety jacket, is that it creates gentle pressure in all the right spots that triggers a calming sensation for your dog.

For this to work, you will need to be thinking ahead of the storm.  If there is a thunderstorm in the forecast, then get this jacket on your dog, and still follow the above steps.  Many dogs, including mine could pick up on the storm before it appeared, so if your dog has serious issues with storms and you don't want to go down the drug road, this is a awesome investment.

Just click on the picture of the link to see this product online.  It comes in different sizes, and has over 5700 reviews at this writing.

For under 50 bucks, this would be worth trying especially if your dog is super anxious about thunderstorms or fireworks or simply moving and any other stressful events.  I saw a dog wearing this jacket at the Veterinarians office.  Smart Idea!

Check the current price