Outdoor Furniture, Perennials & Rat Repellent

Author

Joan Clark
October 05, 2026

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Hi there,

Summer's winding down, but your outdoor spaces still deserve attention. Whether you're tackling stubborn stains on your deck chairs or planning next spring's garden, these tips will help you work smarter.

In today's issue:

  • How to Restore Your Patio Furniture to Like-New Condition

  • Best Low-Maintenance Perennials for Rocky Garden Beds

  • Safe, Chemical-Free Ways to Keep Rats Away from Your Home

  • And more…

CLEANING

We once left a favorite patio chair uncovered through a rainy spring and watched it go from pristine white to a mottled gray-green that no amount of scrubbing could fix. This guide shares seven simple methods that actually work to keep outdoor furniture beautiful season after season.

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PLANTS & GARDEN

Rock gardens thrive in the toughest conditions—thin soil, blazing sun, sharp drainage—yet bloom with color season after season when planted with the right perennials . We've gathered 14 stunning varieties that transform stone and gravel into living tapestries, proving that beauty doesn't need deep roots to take hold.

TIP OF THE DAY

Washing Towels

Wash towels and bedding in their own load, separate from clothing. These thick fabrics need more water and agitation to get clean, and they shed lint that clings to smoother garments.

Run the cycle on hot (or warm if colors are involved) with a full detergent dose. Keeping them separate means your black pants stay lint-free and your towels come out fresher.

WILDLIFE CONTROL

We have learned that rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter, which helps explain how they kept appearing in a supposedly sealed garage. These seven natural repellent recipes use everyday ingredients like peppermint oil and cayenne pepper to send rodents packing without harsh chemicals.

FUN FACT

First Artificial Heart Patient Carried a Load

The first artificial heart implanted in a human in 1969 kept the patient alive for 64 hours, but the external air compressor weighed 400 pounds. The patient, Haskell Karp, was tethered to the refrigerator-sized machine by thick tubes running through his chest until a donor heart became available.

Today's portable artificial hearts weigh about 13 ounces, and their battery packs fit in a shoulder bag.

A NEWSLETTER WE LOVE
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THANK YOU!

Your outdoor spaces deserve care , whether that means scrubbing down patio chairs, tucking alpine blooms between stones, or sending unwanted critters packing without harsh chemicals. Small efforts add up.

May your garden grow,

Tipsbulletin Newsletter Team

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