Screenmobile Blog Official weblog of The Screenmobile Corporation

Adding a fountain to your backyard is a great way to add some additional calm in your oasis. The sound of running water can be so soothing while you relax outside under your Screenmobile patio sun shades or lattice covers, and creating a fountain is pretty easy.

First you want to gather your supplies. Go to your local home improvement or garden supply store to pick out the clay pot you want to use. Use your backyard for inspiration. Pick out colors that blend in with the environment right outside your back door.

You want the pot to be at least 12 inches high and 16-20 inches in diameter. To reduce the chances of leaks or future cracks, choose a pot that is sealed with a glaze. If you find one you like that isn’t sealed, you can always seal it with a waterproof sealant.

Once you have the pot you want to use, you need the rest of your supplies. The easiest way is to purchase an electric fountain kit—which comes with all the supplies you need)—or you can purchase the electric submersible water pump, foam filter and a fountain spout separately.

Decide where you want your fountain to be outside on your patio or porch or in the garden. Make sure it is near a power source so your pump works!

Next you need to plug up the drainage hole of the pot. A wine cork can work well or use duct tape to tape the hole and then use rocks to keep the tape down. Add more pebbles and other rocks into the pot and make it as level as possible .

Place the pump on the pebble base. Fill the pot with water until it’s about three inches from the top of the pot. Plug the electrical pump in and attach the fountain spout to the top of the pump. Play with the settings until the water is as high and as wide in diameter as you like it.

Enjoy relaxing outdoors in the sun (or shade) by your new fountain!

During the summer, keeping your body hydrated can be a challenge and if you’re one of the millions of Americans who doesn’t like to drink water it is even more difficult. So next time you’re sitting out on your patio enclosure with a few friends, let these creative water recipes keep you refreshed.

• Cucumber Water: Peel and slice about 1/2 a cucumber and place it in a pitcher of water.
• Strawberry, mint & lemon Water: 3 Slices of lemon, 2 sprigs of mint and a handful of sliced strawberries makes a delicious and refreshing water that is sure to impress your friends.
• Fruit salad Water: Slice one orange, 1 green apple, and about 2 cups of watermelon.
• Peach Orange Water: Even your kids are sure to love this water. Just slice up a peach and an orange to create a summertime treat that no one can refuse. But if you’re looking for a bit more color to your water, add a small handful of blueberries. Delicious!

All naturally flavored waters should sit for at least 2 hours before serving. If you can give them a full 24 hours, you will enjoy them that much more. Bon appetit.

And if by chance your patio or porch isn’t as appetizing because it isn’t screened in, don’t fear. We will be happy to create the perfect space for you to drink these wonderful waters on. You can see the many products that we have created for others at screenmobile.com.

Summer is almost here, and that means warmer weather and barbeque season! It’s time to whip out your best barbeque recipes, clean out that grill, and start having friends and family over. Whether you’re having a big shindig on the Fourth of July or just a few guests over for a backyard BBQ, you want to make sure your barbeque goes on without any flaws.

First step

in hosting a great barbeque: making your grill BBQ ready. If you don’t have a grill and want to host the get-together, you might want to purchase one. If you plan on hosting more barbeque functions, buying a grill is a good investment.

Already have a grill? Before you host your party, make sure the grill is clean. A clean grill cooks better and doesn’t leave a bad taste on your perfectly good meat. Remove the cooking grates and soak them in warm soapy water for about 10 minutes. Give them a good scrub with a stiff wire brush and rinse. Clean out the ash around the burner, making sure you put the burner back in place when you’re done. Use the brush and some soapy water to gently scrub the inside surfaces of the grill and rinse. Give yourself extra cooking time the next time you use your grill to make sure any residue burns off.

Next step: get the supplies. Make sure you have the charcoal or gas that goes with the grill, the meat for the grilling, the paper products for putting the meat on, etc. It’s a good idea to make a list of all the things you need so you don’t forget anything and have to leave the party to make a store run. Decide if you want decorations, or if you just want to have the backyard and patio as your décor.

Another very important part in planning the best barbeque: figuring out seating. If you’re hosting the BBQ in your backyard, pull out the lawn furniture or put blankets out for people to enjoy your cooking outside. If you don’t have enough seating, see if you can borrow or rent tables and chairs. If you really want to, you could always purchase an extra card table and folding chairs that can be easily stored when you don’t need them.

The next step: sending out invitations. Decide when you want to host the BBQ and who you want to invite to your party. Do you want a lot of people? Do you want a more intimate gathering? Do you want adults only or can kids come too? Once you know what kind of get-together you want, invite your friends and family members.

The final step: start grilling! The big day is here! Fire up that grill and start grilling that meat. Enjoy spending time eating good food in good company.

When the glass of your window gets dirty, you whip out the glass cleaner right away, spray it on and wipe it off. You try to get the perfect technique down so you don’t have any streaking or missed spots, but do you clean your window screens too? Truth is most people don’t really think about that part of their window.

If you want clean windows, why neglect the screens? It’s like cleaning the kitchen but leaving dirty dishes in the sink. The screens are the most exposed to wind, dirt, rain, etc., and can get very dirty. The dirt plugs up the screens, making it harder for a breeze to come in and not very appealing to look through.

You don’t just want to hose the screens down, though. It doesn’t work to clean dishes by rinsing them, so why would it work with just a hose? Take the time to really clean your window completely: glass, screens and all.

Cleaning window screens can seem like a daunting task, but it’s really not that difficult. It takes time to clean the screens, however, so make sure you have a good chunk of time to dedicate to cleaning. Make it a family project and have some good bonding time with your loved ones.

The first step in cleaning your window screens is to decide if you want to buy a cleaning solution or make your own. If you want to save money and make your own solution, mix 3 parts water with 1 part ammonia. Next you want to remove the screen frames. Lay them down on an old, but clean cloth or sheet. Dampen the screens with a hose before you apply the cleaning solution.

Take a nylon bristled scrub brush and dip it into your solution. Scrub the screens using a light scrubbing motion. Make sure you don’t scrub too hard or push the fabric since this can cause the screen to stretch or tear. Rinse the screens and gently tap them against the cloth to remove extra dirt. Repeat scrubbing if you missed a spot. Let the screens dry and then replace them as soon as they are dry.

Now that your window screens are clean and dry, open up those windows and let the breeze in! You can enjoy a nice summer breeze without having to look through an unattractive screen. Take care of your window screens and you can increase their shelf life.