Saturday, July 28, 2012
Win a Target Gift Card!
We are holding a drawing for a Target gift card! In order to be entered into the drawing, you must follow our blog. To do this, go to the right hand column, and, right under the music player, there is a spot labeled "Followers." Then you must click on "Join this Site" and it will ask you to sign in with an account (google, twitter, yahoo, etc.) Decide which account you want to sign in as and, once you sign in, there will be a button that says "Follow this Blog." Click on it, and you will be following our blog and officially entered into the drawing for the Target gift card! The drawing will be held August 4th.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
August Home Maintenance Checklist
Remove pest magnets
There are many reasons – fire protection, air circulation, drainage, attractiveness and safety — to keep the outside walls of your home clear and free of debris. One more compelling reason is that piles and stacks of tools, lumber, ladders, yard waste and toys create a haven for spiders, rats, mice and wood-boring insects. Take an hour to circle your home outside, removing anything touching the siding. Donate, discard or store what you’ve removed.
Firewood is one common hiding place. Stacking it under the eaves of the house keeps it dry, but there’s a price: The wood creates a home for spiders and invites them into the house. Also, wood piles trap moisture against the siding and prevent circulation. If left long enough, the dampness could rot siding or trim. Instead, store firewood at least two feet from the house and 18 inches above the ground. Keep it dry by building a little shelter over the top of the pile.
In addition, discourage pests by clearing out vegetation under decks that might give them a safe place to hide. And pick fruit from trees as soon as it is ripe. Keep the ground clean under fruit and nut trees.
Wash and rinse items you intend to recycle. Keep them waiting for disposal indoors or in a sealed enclosure. If you store pet food in a garage or carport, keep it in containers with tight lids. Also, if your bird feeder is attracting rats, get rid of it. To see if you’ve got “four-legged birds,” shine a light on the feeder in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning.
Don’t let water sit around your yard or garden; it breeds mosquitoes. Change the birdbath and wading pool water at least weekly. Toss water out of pet dishes, flowerpot saucers, cans, buckets and anything else lying around that collects rain. Keep gutters clean.
Pamper the lawn
Homeowners can’t successfully emulate the tightly trimmed golf-course look because they don’t have a golf course’s budget and army of maintenance professionals. Instead, the best thing you can do to achieve a good-looking lawn is to mow frequently and high (three inches or more – or just set your mower blades as high as they’ll go). This discourages weeds and trains the grass to grow in thickly. High, frequent cutting encourages roots to grow deep and retain water, so you’ll need to water less frequently. Let the clippings fall onto the lawn to add nourishment. If you’ve been watering the lawn this summer, keep it up: Water infrequently but deeply, giving it an inch to an inch and a half of water each time (measure by putting an empty tuna can on the lawn). Water early in the day to avoid evaporation — not at night, which invites disease. You’ll know it’s time to water when your footprints don’t spring back when you walk across the grass, when the grass gets a blue tinge or when you can’t easily push a screwdriver or steel rod into the soil.
If your lawn has turned brown, don’t try to rescue it by watering now. That’s hard on the grass plants and a waste of water. It’ll come back when the rain starts in the fall. The best time to fertilize depends on your climate and the grass type in your lawn. In general, avoid fertilizing during extremely hot weather or periods of drought. Do not use products with nitrogen when your lawn isn’t green – it can encourage weeds. Start thinking about fertilizing at the end of this month and consult professionals who sell lawn-care products or call your local home-extension service to get advice on what to use and exactly when to use it. August is the perfect time to root dandelions out of the lawn using a long-handled forked tool or with judicious use of an herbicide.
Clean sink drains
If you’ve got a slow-draining sink, take action. First, try a homemade drain cleaner. Onthehouse.com recommends mixing a solution of equal parts of salt, baking soda and vinegar. Pour it into the drain and chase it down with two quarts of boiling water. You can use this solution monthly. Avoid chemical drain cleaners; they can damage the pipes and create toxic exposure for you and your family. Or you can apply some elbow grease and fix slow drains by cleaning out the drain and trap – the U-shaped pipe that’s directly under the sink. Position a bucket under the trap to catch falling water and gunk and keep a pile of rags at hand for cleaning up. This can be a messy job – you may also want to wear rubber gloves. Loosen and remove the couplings that hold the trap to the straight pipes that run from the sink and to the sewer. You may need to use a plumber’s wrench. If the pipe is plugged, all kinds of messy stuff will fall into the bucket and must be removed from the trap. If possible, take the trap outside and shoot a stream of water from the hose through it. Rinse it out thoroughly. Use a snake or wire from a coat hanger to remove built-up debris from the pipes.
Clean the drain plug
Also, pull out the sink’s drain plug to clean it. The plug pops up and down in the sink. It is attached to a rod and lever that are held to the back of the drain pipe by a nut. Pull out the rod by unscrewing the nut. Clean the drain plug and remove any gunk that’s in the pipe, then reassemble the plug. Reassemble the trap, tightening the couplings by hand so you don’t screw them too tight. Flush the drain by running hot water for a few minutes.
Fix leaky faucets
Check faucets for leaks and install new rubber gaskets by unscrewing the faucet end, removing the old gasket and reassembling it. Also fix dripping faucets. First, shut off the water under the sink. For sinks with independent hot and cold water faucets, dismantle each faucet, removing the washers (rings made of rubber, plastic or brass). Put the washers in a sandwich bag and bring them to the hardware store to look for replacements. Reassemble the faucets and turn the water back on. For a single-arm faucet, fix leaks by replacing the faucet’s inner workings. That’s not hard, because you can just note the brand and buy a faucet rebuild kit (about $50 at hardware stores). Dismantle the faucet, laying out the pieces on a paper towel. Shoot a photo or make a sketch to refer to when assembling it. Put the faucet back together and turn the water back on.
Clean and replace grout and caulk
Inspect the grout in tiled areas of your home, particularly in bathrooms and the kitchen. If grout is cracked or missing, remove and replace it in the affected areas. Grout should be cleaned regularly, particularly if it comes into contact with moisture, to keep it free from stains and mold. Use an old toothbrush and one of these cleaning products: TSP, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, bleach or grout cleaning solutions (available at tile stores or on the Internet). Inspect the seal around sinks, showers and tubs and recaulk any spots where caulk has cracked or separated. Use silicone tub and tile caulk.
Get a furnace inspection
Have your heating system inspected and serviced by a professional. Call the company that sold it to you or your fuel distributor to get recommendations for servicers.
Blanket the water heater
Get one of those nice, fat insulating blankets for your water heater if it doesn’t have one. You don’t want to pay to heat all that water and then let the heat leak into the atmosphere.
Inspect and maintain the water heater
Have your water heater professionally serviced once a year. Inspect the water heater thoroughly and check the walls and floor around it for evidence of leaks, rust or corrosion. Also check the lines and connections to the heater. Even a small amount of moisture can rot the flooring and subfloor. Lie on the floor to look at the bottom of the heater from underneath, using a flashlight. If you find leaks, replace the water heater.
Test the water-heater valve
Test the valve that controls temperature and pressure on tank-type water heaters. Do this once a year because, if the valve becomes stuck in the on or off position, an explosion can result. Work carefully because the water in the tank is extremely hot. Do it during business hours on a weekday so you can get help if you find problems. Put a bucket under the water heater’s overflow pipe to catch the drainage. The valve is at the top of the water heater and is recognizable because it has a small handle. Lift the test handle for five seconds to release a little water, then close it. If the valve refuses to close, or if nothing comes out, call a plumber immediately to replace it.
For even more information, visit http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=20944886.
There are many reasons – fire protection, air circulation, drainage, attractiveness and safety — to keep the outside walls of your home clear and free of debris. One more compelling reason is that piles and stacks of tools, lumber, ladders, yard waste and toys create a haven for spiders, rats, mice and wood-boring insects. Take an hour to circle your home outside, removing anything touching the siding. Donate, discard or store what you’ve removed.
Firewood is one common hiding place. Stacking it under the eaves of the house keeps it dry, but there’s a price: The wood creates a home for spiders and invites them into the house. Also, wood piles trap moisture against the siding and prevent circulation. If left long enough, the dampness could rot siding or trim. Instead, store firewood at least two feet from the house and 18 inches above the ground. Keep it dry by building a little shelter over the top of the pile.
In addition, discourage pests by clearing out vegetation under decks that might give them a safe place to hide. And pick fruit from trees as soon as it is ripe. Keep the ground clean under fruit and nut trees.
What's your home worth?
Seal garbage cans tightly. If you’ve had problems with rats, dogs or raccoons getting into the trash, make sure the cans have tight-fitting lids. Tighten the lids by linking a stretchy tie-down from handle to handle. Knot it to shorten it if necessary. Buy or build a small enclosure for your cans.Wash and rinse items you intend to recycle. Keep them waiting for disposal indoors or in a sealed enclosure. If you store pet food in a garage or carport, keep it in containers with tight lids. Also, if your bird feeder is attracting rats, get rid of it. To see if you’ve got “four-legged birds,” shine a light on the feeder in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning.
Don’t let water sit around your yard or garden; it breeds mosquitoes. Change the birdbath and wading pool water at least weekly. Toss water out of pet dishes, flowerpot saucers, cans, buckets and anything else lying around that collects rain. Keep gutters clean.
Pamper the lawn
Homeowners can’t successfully emulate the tightly trimmed golf-course look because they don’t have a golf course’s budget and army of maintenance professionals. Instead, the best thing you can do to achieve a good-looking lawn is to mow frequently and high (three inches or more – or just set your mower blades as high as they’ll go). This discourages weeds and trains the grass to grow in thickly. High, frequent cutting encourages roots to grow deep and retain water, so you’ll need to water less frequently. Let the clippings fall onto the lawn to add nourishment. If you’ve been watering the lawn this summer, keep it up: Water infrequently but deeply, giving it an inch to an inch and a half of water each time (measure by putting an empty tuna can on the lawn). Water early in the day to avoid evaporation — not at night, which invites disease. You’ll know it’s time to water when your footprints don’t spring back when you walk across the grass, when the grass gets a blue tinge or when you can’t easily push a screwdriver or steel rod into the soil.
If your lawn has turned brown, don’t try to rescue it by watering now. That’s hard on the grass plants and a waste of water. It’ll come back when the rain starts in the fall. The best time to fertilize depends on your climate and the grass type in your lawn. In general, avoid fertilizing during extremely hot weather or periods of drought. Do not use products with nitrogen when your lawn isn’t green – it can encourage weeds. Start thinking about fertilizing at the end of this month and consult professionals who sell lawn-care products or call your local home-extension service to get advice on what to use and exactly when to use it. August is the perfect time to root dandelions out of the lawn using a long-handled forked tool or with judicious use of an herbicide.
Clean sink drains
If you’ve got a slow-draining sink, take action. First, try a homemade drain cleaner. Onthehouse.com recommends mixing a solution of equal parts of salt, baking soda and vinegar. Pour it into the drain and chase it down with two quarts of boiling water. You can use this solution monthly. Avoid chemical drain cleaners; they can damage the pipes and create toxic exposure for you and your family. Or you can apply some elbow grease and fix slow drains by cleaning out the drain and trap – the U-shaped pipe that’s directly under the sink. Position a bucket under the trap to catch falling water and gunk and keep a pile of rags at hand for cleaning up. This can be a messy job – you may also want to wear rubber gloves. Loosen and remove the couplings that hold the trap to the straight pipes that run from the sink and to the sewer. You may need to use a plumber’s wrench. If the pipe is plugged, all kinds of messy stuff will fall into the bucket and must be removed from the trap. If possible, take the trap outside and shoot a stream of water from the hose through it. Rinse it out thoroughly. Use a snake or wire from a coat hanger to remove built-up debris from the pipes.
Clean the drain plug
Also, pull out the sink’s drain plug to clean it. The plug pops up and down in the sink. It is attached to a rod and lever that are held to the back of the drain pipe by a nut. Pull out the rod by unscrewing the nut. Clean the drain plug and remove any gunk that’s in the pipe, then reassemble the plug. Reassemble the trap, tightening the couplings by hand so you don’t screw them too tight. Flush the drain by running hot water for a few minutes.
Fix leaky faucets
Check faucets for leaks and install new rubber gaskets by unscrewing the faucet end, removing the old gasket and reassembling it. Also fix dripping faucets. First, shut off the water under the sink. For sinks with independent hot and cold water faucets, dismantle each faucet, removing the washers (rings made of rubber, plastic or brass). Put the washers in a sandwich bag and bring them to the hardware store to look for replacements. Reassemble the faucets and turn the water back on. For a single-arm faucet, fix leaks by replacing the faucet’s inner workings. That’s not hard, because you can just note the brand and buy a faucet rebuild kit (about $50 at hardware stores). Dismantle the faucet, laying out the pieces on a paper towel. Shoot a photo or make a sketch to refer to when assembling it. Put the faucet back together and turn the water back on.
Inspect the grout in tiled areas of your home, particularly in bathrooms and the kitchen. If grout is cracked or missing, remove and replace it in the affected areas. Grout should be cleaned regularly, particularly if it comes into contact with moisture, to keep it free from stains and mold. Use an old toothbrush and one of these cleaning products: TSP, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, bleach or grout cleaning solutions (available at tile stores or on the Internet). Inspect the seal around sinks, showers and tubs and recaulk any spots where caulk has cracked or separated. Use silicone tub and tile caulk.
Get a furnace inspection
Have your heating system inspected and serviced by a professional. Call the company that sold it to you or your fuel distributor to get recommendations for servicers.
Blanket the water heater
Get one of those nice, fat insulating blankets for your water heater if it doesn’t have one. You don’t want to pay to heat all that water and then let the heat leak into the atmosphere.
Inspect and maintain the water heater
Have your water heater professionally serviced once a year. Inspect the water heater thoroughly and check the walls and floor around it for evidence of leaks, rust or corrosion. Also check the lines and connections to the heater. Even a small amount of moisture can rot the flooring and subfloor. Lie on the floor to look at the bottom of the heater from underneath, using a flashlight. If you find leaks, replace the water heater.
Test the water-heater valve
Test the valve that controls temperature and pressure on tank-type water heaters. Do this once a year because, if the valve becomes stuck in the on or off position, an explosion can result. Work carefully because the water in the tank is extremely hot. Do it during business hours on a weekday so you can get help if you find problems. Put a bucket under the water heater’s overflow pipe to catch the drainage. The valve is at the top of the water heater and is recognizable because it has a small handle. Lift the test handle for five seconds to release a little water, then close it. If the valve refuses to close, or if nothing comes out, call a plumber immediately to replace it.
For even more information, visit http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=20944886.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
10 Decorating Tips to Make Your House a Home
Click on the link to see 10 ways to make your house a home!
10 decorating tips to make your home a happy... | Chatelaine.com
10 decorating tips to make your home a happy... | Chatelaine.com
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Home Improvement
This is a GREAT website if you're looking for home improvement projects! http://homeimprovementtips.org. It has home improvement ideas for nearly everything you can think of! Including Affordable Home Improvement Ideas for All Homes:
Home improvement project is not a simple kid’s job but it has millions of things to look after. However; the house improvement when done can intensely improve your living space, along with increasing the value of your home.
The most significant part of any home improvement project is budget. The cost associated with re-modelling your home could be overwhelming, but do not think of giving up an idea to make your surrounding better because there are many inexpensive home improvement ideas to help that will boost up your whole home project.
By following simple steps below mentioned, you can update your house without depleting your bank account.
http://homeimprovementtips.org/affordable-home-improvement-ideas-for-all-homes/
Home improvement project is not a simple kid’s job but it has millions of things to look after. However; the house improvement when done can intensely improve your living space, along with increasing the value of your home.
The most significant part of any home improvement project is budget. The cost associated with re-modelling your home could be overwhelming, but do not think of giving up an idea to make your surrounding better because there are many inexpensive home improvement ideas to help that will boost up your whole home project.
By following simple steps below mentioned, you can update your house without depleting your bank account.
- Think about the basic improvements before taking leap towards bigger things. The basic things include painting job, replacing fixtures, cleaning or replacing rugs, upgrading appliances, etc. Undertaking these minute changes will surely enhance your home along with taking care of the budget you planned.
- Landscaping is another good way to change the look of your home and its surroundings. The exterior of your house plays an important part in enhancing the property. You can either hire a professional help or can do it yourself by making it a bit fancy. Little changes like elaborate fences, stone walkway, fancy garden trimmings etc.
- Changing the flooring is surely another inexpensive home improvement idea that certainly gives the kind of impact you expect from a new home. You can find nicely designed carpet flooring or if you have wooden flooring it can be changed to else pattern since there are wide varieties of home décor stuff available all over.
- Using decorative objects in your home is one of the inexpensive home improvement ideas that most of the people opt for. Searching over the Internet or in any interior decorating magazine will help you match your theme of your house.
- Improving lightning or replacing your lighting stuffs is inexpensive and the best way to have a new appealing look. You can install dimmer switches, chandelier or a globe to your fan to have an attractive looking room. If your house has more than one hallway or passage, you can lighten up that too. There are many fancy lightning fittings available to illuminate your space.
- You can update or remodel your bathroom, kitchen with latest appliances and current running styles. This will certainly give a facelift for the modern look you are looking for. Vintage kitchen is one of the best ideas that can enhance the looks of your kitchen very afford-ably.
http://homeimprovementtips.org/affordable-home-improvement-ideas-for-all-homes/
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Renew Your Kitchen!
Need a creative, quick save to rescue your faded kitchen
but have limited time and not a lot of money?
These are projects any do-it-yourselfer
can accomplish on a barebones budget and still end up with a dynamite result.
Some of these projects can even pull together a rented apartment kitchen without
sending your landlord through the roof.
Get started in the morning and be
finished in time for dinner guests!
1. Think Paint.
The first and primary hint: Paint works miracles on everything. If it holds
still, paint itneatly, inside and out. Don't think colors; think shine and
texture. Old wood tone cabinets spray-painted very glossy white or hand painted
with oil-base in creamy white provides yards of look for very little cash.
Then repaint the walls with latex satin
enamel in soft sheen or no sheen. Use a color to contrast with your "new
cabinets." Feeling adventurous? Paint pulls and hinges, too. If you have poor
cabinetry, this technique can really pull it together.
2. New Pulls.
When renovating cabinetry, new pulls add punch. In a small kitchen, put money
into pulls and hardware. Expensive pulls can make the worst cabinets sing.
Consider vintage pulls.
3. Remove. Less is more! Look at the
cabinets and consider which doors could be removed to expose the shelving. Open
shelving helps a kitchen look bigger. Display your favorite dishes, baskets and
what-have-you for a new, updated look. Paint the inside of the cabinets the same
as the outside or an opposite, bright color for snap and speed.
4. Replace. Replace solid cupboard doors with glass fronts. The glass can be
clear or frosted or you can get vintage doors and master them to fit. Showcase
dishes, glassware, silver, anything displayable. You can also line the inside
glass with sheer fabric. And if youve removed some doors to create open shelves,
the glass fronts add to the look beautifully.
5. Lighting.
Track lights brighten up any kitchen. Wire suspension lights can make the space
look contemporary and new. Paper lanterns add life and freshness. All three
types of lighting put light where you need it, create space or raise the
ceiling. If you have a very small kitchen, make a box or rectangle of lights
with extra small halogen bulbs.
6. Easy Tile.
Have new countertops in a day. (Heres when it pays to have a small kitchen.) If
the counter space is not expansive, go ahead and splurge on expensive tile. It
will make the entire kitchen look luxurious. Or, with small counters, you may be
able to buy vintage tile. Tiling a small countertop is simple. Dont be afraid of
irregularities.
7. Quick Floors.
Today there are countless self-stick tiles that can be added for a quick revamp.
(Hint: Think contrasting black and white.) Floating wood floors and wood tiles
can be done in an afternoon. Paint the floor a dark color such as black. To tie
in the wall or cabinet color, use that paint to rag or faux finish over the
darker color.
8. Flashy
Faucets. Heres another feature to invest in. A
flashy new faucet can make an old sink fade back. New faucets in white or chrome
with pull-out sprays look great and, for the money, say "new kitchen."
9. Reflections.
One of the best ways to add space without permanent alterations is to attach a
glossy white-framed mirror to the wall at the end of a galley kitchen. It will
add dimension and space. Place one above the refrigerator, hang one on a cabinet
for drama or even set one on the floor.
10. Window
Covering. A new window covering makes the window and the wall look fresh.
A matchstick blind cut to size or a metal-tone mini blind add texture and light
control. Small shutters loosely fitted into a window frame can be installed in
an afternoon and are readily available in white or natural. Paint them,
faux-paint them, stain them or leave them alone.
Monday, July 9, 2012
July Home Care Tips
10 Home Care Tips & Ideas for the Month of July:
- Trim shrubbery around the walls
- Trim tree limbs away from the roof
- Remove tree limbs, branches, or debris as needed. Each can attract insects.
- Check siding for damage, warping, or rot.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check for damaged, loose, or missing shingles.
- Check painting surfaces for damage or flaking.
- Check chimneys for deteriorating bricks and mortar.
- Check window and door screens; Replace or patch if needed.
- Check driveway, walkway, and patios for cracks or deterioration and reseal or repair as necessary
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy 4th of July! Take a Step Toward Energy "Independence"
The Fourth of July — Independence Day — is a great time to reflect on how lucky we are to live in the United States of America, and what we can do to make our nation better, stronger, and more prosperous. As President Kennedy famously said many years ago, “Ask what you can do for your country.”
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/emergency-preparedness/fourth-july-take-step-toward-energy-independence/##ixzz1zfr3zXfk
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/emergency-preparedness/fourth-july-take-step-toward-energy-independence/##ixzz1zfr3zXfk
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