Tag Archives: Home Maintenance

Cleaning Tips for Your Four Hardest Working Home Appliances

Occasionally cleaning household appliances like stoves and refrigerators may seem obvious, but what about equipment that does the cleaning, like the dishwasher and washing machine? Give these often overlooked appliances a deep clean with the following tips before the holidays have them working overtime.

Unclog the dishwasher. The cleaner the dishwasher, the cleaner your dishes will turn out after going through a wash cycle. Take a moment to clean the dishwasher’s filter, usually located on the inside bottom of the machine. This detachable filter becomes clogged with food and debris over time, so empty it out regularly to keep it working efficiently.

De-gunk your garbage disposal. Use a natural abrasive combo of ice and salt to loosen grime from the blades. Though it will be loud, run the disposal until the ice is gone. When finished, you can grind up a lemon or lime wedge to deodorize the drain.

Give your washing machine a wash. Hosting out-of-towners during the holiday season? Avoid musty bedding and towels by sanitizing the machine and removing mildew buildup every few months. To do this, run a hot wash cycle without a load and add one cup of bleach to the soap dispenser or directly into the machine.

Give your vacuum more power. Increased foot traffic could have this tool working harder over the holidays. Keep your vacuum maintained with simple fixes like unclogging hoses, cleaning the rotating brush and replacing the filter.

Want to keep your appliances working hard for you? Give them regular attention and their own cleaning now and then.

Adding Privacy to Your Patio or Yard

A yard or patio is the perfect spot for enjoying the outdoors, whether that means playtime with your kids or quiet relaxation after a long day. And while you may like your neighbors, you may not want to see and hear them every time you venture into your backyard. If more privacy interests you, consider these options below:

Fencing — Probably the most straightforward solution, fences have long been the go-to for homeowners seeking seclusion. Be sure to check city ordinances and HOA policies before installing one.

Hedges — Shrubs like boxwood and privet are commonly planted along property lines. Choose an evergreen variety for year-long privacy. Make sure it’s suited for your climate and matures to your desired height.

Screens — Stylish and effective, folding wood-panel screens add a nice visual element while blocking unwanted views. Opt for a weather-resistant screen designed for the outdoors.

Trellis — The lattice configurations on these simple wooden structures offer an element of privacy. They’re also a perfect host for climbing vines and plants if you’d like additional coverage. Just be sure to check the sunlight and care requirements for the vegetation you plant.

Pergola — A pergola helps block views from second-story windows and balconies. It can be as simple or intricate as you’d like and will offer a degree of shade along with privacy.

Drapes — Budget-friendly and chic, panels help screen off your patio and can be moved as desired. Make sure the fabric is suitable for outdoor use or spray it with a water-resistant coating.

Vertical Garden — If you’re looking to increase privacy and also want to grow your own herbs, consider a living wall. You can buy prefabricated tower planters for easy installation.

If neighborly noise is a problem, a water fountain is a relaxing, sound-muffling solution. Consider your outdoor space and choose the privacy-adding options that work for you.

Fall Landscaping Ideas: How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter

Fall landscaping preparation ideas ready your yard for a long winter and glorious spring.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon | Published: October 4, 2011

Fall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before snow and frozen ground turn the lights out on your landscaping.

Spread Mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly, Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

Remove the Dead and Dying

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants should remain dormant. But don’t shelve your shears and loppers yet. Fall is the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

“If you remove dead landscaping in fall, you don’t have to look at it all winter,” Taft says.

Remove dead annuals.

Deadhead spent blooms, and cut back dead and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials.

Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees. Carefully remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking stalks, where new buds will form in spring.

After the first frost, cut back tea roses to about a third of their height.

Wrap Delicate Shrubs

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can dry and split your delicate and pricey shrubs. To protect your landscaping from the winter elements:

Hide small plants under overturned plastic pots or buckets.

Wrap shrubs, such as boxwoods, in burlap.

Surround vulnerable trees with shredded leaves.

Take Advantage of Fall Sales

Early fall until the ground freezes is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Not only do cooler weather and autumn rain put less stress on young landscaping plants, nurseries often have sales to empty their shelves before winter.

“They need to sell every plant by Dec. 1,” Taft says. “Nurseries generally pay a third of the price that you’re paying. So don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If you’re buying several things, the manager may give you a break.”

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Create an Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Your vehicle requires routine maintenance to run smoothly, and the same goes for your house. Without service reminders, however, it can be easy to forget to tend to all the systems that keep your house fully functioning. Fortunately, you can create a simple annual maintenance checklist to properly care for your home and prevent potential issues from becoming major problems.

Start by making a list of each task you’ll need to complete over the coming year. Make sure your yearly home inspection includes all major systems (HVAC, electrical and plumbing), the interior and exterior of your home, water and septic tanks, doors and windows, and the attic or basement if applicable.

When that’s done, organize the list according to how often each item needs to be checked or maintained and set reminders accordingly. Your home maintenance checklist might start to look similar to this:

Monthly

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Change air filters in the heating and air conditioning system.
Clean range hood filters to avoid possible grease fires.
Trim back any shrubbery or plant growth around the outdoor HVAC unit by at least 18 inches.

Quarterly

Check and wipe down sliding doors and window tracks.
Replace batteries in smoke detectors.
Test garage door and grease tracks as needed.

Semiannually

Clear gutters of spring and fall foliage.
Power wash windows and siding.
Schedule seasonal service of the HVAC system before summer and winter.

Annually

Inspect and insulate pipes to protect them from freezing.
Trim trees and shrubs away from the home’s exterior.
Touch up exterior paint and check for wood rot or water damage.
Check grouting in kitchen and bathroom and repair if necessary.

A home maintenance checklist will make it easier for you to manage the upkeep of your house. It can also help you catch minor issues before they become costly home repairs.

Tips for Choosing the Right House Color

Choosing a new house color can be quite tricky. It takes some thinking and observation. We’ve gathered some pointers that can hopefully help along the way to choosing the perfect color for your dream house.

1. Accentuate

Photo by: Andersen Windows / Flickr: Creative Commons

Photo by: Andersen Windows / Flickr: Creative Commons

That’s right. Accentuate architectural details like window trim in a contrasting color, which in return will add character and charm. It’s always a good idea to emphasize your entryway.

2. Trends

Unlike fashion or sporty car models, color houses seem to stay in style for years. For that reason, what you choose today most likely will still be trending the following day, or even year. Take a walk around your neighborhood, or other neighborhoods that have caught your eye and observe the colors other use. You might get new color ideas, and find they work perfect for your house.

3. Dark vs. Light

Photo by: John / Flickr: Creative Commons

Consider that darker lights in the lower portion of a house can suggest permanence and stability. Lighter colors make a house appear larger in size and more inviting. Know what you want your house to portray and go from there. It is after all, a reflection of you.

4. Don’t accentuate the wrong things

If you have air conditioning units or gutters, you might want to work them into the house. Don’t work around them, make them work for you. Don’t accentuate them in anyway, just the opposite , try to drive the eye to the better assets your house has. Again, emphasizing on the entryway is always a must.

5. Don’t ignore the neighbors.

Photo by: Daniel R. Blume / Flickr: Creative Commons

Be creative. If you’re one to always stand out, do so. However, when choosing a color don’t choose one that will clash with your neighbor’s. When you take a stroll around the neighborhood, look at the other colors the neighbors use and try to find that median, where you find a color you’ll be happy with, yet also mesh well with the neighborhood’s colors.

6. Don’t ignore the landscaping

Take into account everything that’s around your house. The color you choose might help bring out those beautiful flowers you work so hard to grow. Compare and contrast earth tones if you have a lot of greens growing around you.

7. Do not wing it

Photo by: Erik Söderström / Flickr: Creative Commons

This is something that not only you’ll have to live with everyday but, also other people. Plan it out at the best of your abilities, and don’t be scared to paint a small portion of the house with the colors you’re considering. At the end, you’ll be sure you got the right one.

Photo by: Loren Kerns / Flickr: Creative Commons

Well dear readers, this is where we end our post. Do let us know if any of these tips helped you out at all. Feel free to comment below the steps you took before choosing your house color, and why you decided on that color? We’d love to know!

Find the original article here.

Gym vs. Home chores: Which one burns more calories?

Do you ever feel guilty for staying home and cleaning your house instead of going for a jog, hitting the gym, or missing your yoga class? Well, fear not dear reader we have good news! You might burn more calories staying home and doing chores than lifting weights! Don’t believe us? No worries, take a look at this infographic and tell us if you were surprised as much as we were.

Source: Yourgreenpal.com

5 Hacks to Make Your Studio Apartment Look Bigger

Do you live in a loft? studio apartment? Do you see yourself living there for a while, or do you just like that style and can’t see yourself leaving it? Well, we totally understand, and we’ve got tips for you to make every square footage of that room count. Here are five hacks to make your studio apartment look bigger than it actually is:

1. Lighten up the floors

Yep, that’s right. Make your floors a lighter color. Paint them, or if you’re renting the place and your lease won’t allow it, then a wide bright rug will do the trick just fine, as well.

2. Clear it up

By this we mean, clear, see-through furniture is your best choice. Side tables with see-through legs. All these help into making it seem there is less space, or clutter. Try it out and tell us what you think!

3. Two-for-One

To some people this idea never seems like fun, but then again some people love the efficiency of it. Think of buying one furniture that doubles into something else. For example, your side table could also double as a bar. These not only save you space, but also keeps you and almost forces you to keep the space less cluttered and more organized.

4. The walls are your friends

Well, it might sound silly but they are! They become extra space you can occupy. For example, hang your necklaces, towels, etc. Have that become another space that you can use. Here’s a tip: make sure everything has at least 5-8 inches of space between each other. The trick is to never make it seem like it’s cluttered.

5. Higher Up

Ok, so now we’ve used up your walls, floor, and even doubled-up some furniture use. Now, look up. Yes, the ceilings. No, we’re not hanging anything from there today (although we recommend you do—some interior decorators suggest hanging plants gives it a sense of more space to a room), but we will be painting it. If you are lucky enough to have a high ceiling, then feel free to paint it! We suggest you do the same color as your floor to lighten up the place even more.

Well reader, here is where we end our post. Hopefully, you’ve find it informative! Feel free to tell us if you’ve tried any of this and it’s worked! Or, if you’d like to add some more tips, feel free to do so in the comments below!

Find the original article here.

Autumn House Maintenance Tips

Each season your home will face changes in temperature, weather conditions, aging and the abuse of human habitation. If you want to keep all of this from hurting your home, you will need to do a little work to prepare it for the autumn and winter seasons ahead. This will help you keep costly repairs at bay with a little bit of useful seasonal maintenance. Regardless of where you live, the following tips will give you a few ideas of work to do before the weather gets too cold:

Check your downspouts and gutters

Your roof is one place that is often forgotten during maintenance in most cases, so you would do well to remind yourself that proper inspections from time to time are necessary if you want to make sure everything is in working order. Clear any leaves and dirt on top of it and from its gutters, and check the downspouts for any loose or jammed pieces that may be obstructing the flow of water. Check the flashing around the chimney as well as any openings on the roof, such as skylights, for leaks.

Check the grounds of the property

Before you have the first snow or fallen leaves cover everything, you will need to check the walkways for any cracks as well as any loose materials. Fix them while you can, before the moist and slippery weather becomes a problem further down the line. If you don’t fix such issues now, you may even have a further deterioration of your walkways when frozen water expands inside the cracks over time.

Changing air filters

If you happen to have a central air conditioning system, you will need to change the air filter on a regular basis. If you have a window unit, you will have to remove the window or place a waterproof cover over it to prevent any damage. Change the filters in your stove vents, clothes dryers and the vents themselves for your central AC. Make sure you check the condition of your room fans if you happen to have any. Clean air filters will be a big deal during the cooler autumn months ahead. This will also ensure you have less allergens floating around the house, upping the productivity of your AC units as long as you keep them rotating when needed.

Fixing your plumbing

Before the temperatures lower, you will need to check for any leaks in your bathrooms, kitchens, basement and any other areas through which the main pipes pass. You will need to winterize any of them that happen to be in risk areas to avoid frozen pipes and bursts. Give them proper insulation if they don’t already have it, and you should be safe for the coming winter.

Westminster kitchen and bathroom plumbing services can offer an array of services at a competitive price.

Landscaping Tips for Homeowners

Having a landscaped garden is a great way of improving the overall value of your home, as well as its reputation around town. The costs you will need to pay to get things done will be there, but you can rest assured this will be money well-spent, making your home a much more welcoming place for all involved, guests and potential buyers as well. If you need the help, you can hire gardening and landscaping professionals to get things done for you, assisting you with the jobs you’re not sure you can do yourself. The time you spend on this will be up to you, but the main thing you need to remember is that landscaping gardeners will have the skills you need, but they may also know the type of garden that would work best for your chosen area. You can do some research on the web by yourself or through books if you need more information on the subject.

A gardening expert who works on designing such places will have a significant amount of information you can make use of, as well as ideas and the experience you need to get things organized. Nowadays people either don’t have the time to deal with such tasks or they simply don’t possess the skills in many cases. Having the area under the care of a professional will make sure you have less to worry about in the long run. You can have a great, low-maintenance approach to your new landscaping solution, which will make it much easier to take care of. A good example of that would be paving it with flagstone slabs that are easier to clean. Wood decking is also a good way of approaching things, though it will need some occasional cleanup and staining to make it look good. Although the initial costs of string trimmers, lawnmowers and other gardening tools will set you back, you will have great need of them as time goes by so you can keep your garden clean, weed-free and looking good.

You can also have a much more interesting and complex design for your landscaping needs, though this means you will need to deal with more maintenance too. Landscaped gardens can really stun with their amazing looks, especially if you have a strategically placed gazebo or something along those lines.

You will also have to deal with the right amounts of light levels for the plants in your landscaped area. This is especially important if you have trees or the home you live in or plan on selling creates a shade over some areas of the landscape. Certain flowers and other plants love the shade above all, so before you make your move you should ensure you understand what goes where as well as their specific needs. Another great addition to a landscaped area, ponds can be absolutely wonderful to have around, especially when combined with some ornamental statues, seating space and more. Whatever your choice may be, your vision is what defines the looks of your new landscape.

There are a great many flowers that may be grown in the Minnesota area, such as the following:

Cornflowers (Echinacea purpurea)

Lovely pink to purple and white colors, but also available in other colors such as yellow, red and more. Do keep in mind that some people are allergic to echinacea though, so you may want to make sure you’re not one of them.

Lenten Roses (Helleboros orientalis)

Often found blooming in the shade, they are red, purple or almost black, whith pink, greens and white petals. You can place them near your walkways to enjoy their lovely colors.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

A wonderful spring flower, which has purple to pink blooms, equally capable of surviving in the sun or in the shade. They can reseed themselves, so you don’t really need to worry about them too much.

Black-Eyed Susans (Redbeckia fulgida)

Gorgeous golden flowers wht a dark center, blooming for more than a month and even during August. You can grow them in the sun with no maintenance and no worries at all.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

These lovely flowers, also called milkweed that are very easy to grown, also being a real magnet for monarch butterflies. They have gorgeous clusters of yellow, pink or orange flowers with thin and delicate seedpods.

Landscape Design And Garden Services Kensington can help you with more ideas.

About the Author: Cora Carter is a professional writer. She lives in England with her husband and children. She wants to share her experience with her audience. She has many published articles on various topics such as home and garden, real estate, cleaning etc.

What’s the Difference Between Home Insurance and a Home Warranty?

Original Post: What’s the Difference Between Home Insurance and a Home Warranty? | By: HouseLogic | Published: April 1, 2014

Homeowners looking to protect themselves against costly repairs may consider obtaining home insurance or a home warranty. Although these two terms sound interchangeable, they’re actually two distinct types of protection homeowners can purchase. Home insurance protects homeowners from paying for costly repairs caused by accidental damages. Home warranties protect homeowners from the costs of replacing systems and appliances that wear out over time.

What is Home Insurance?
Nearly all mortgage lenders require you to obtain the appropriate home insurance policy to protect your home and belongings. Home insurance generally covers four areas:

Interior or exterior home damage
Loss or damage of personal property
Liability for damages caused by the family and their pets
Temporary housing while a home is being rebuilt or repaired

These areas are only covered if the damages were the result of a cause the insurance policy covers. Home insurance policies generally cover damages caused by fires, theft, and storm damage. Flood and earthquake coverage require an additional policy.

Home insurance rates vary widely based on the amount of coverage you select and where you live. The average yearly cost for insurance premiums in 2011 (the latest year for which data is available) rose to $978, according to the 2013 National Association of Insurance Commissioners Annual Homeowners Insurance Report. When you file a home insurance claim, you usually have to pay a deductible before your insurance coverage kicks in.

What is a Home Warranty?
Home warranties protect homeowners from paying the retail cost for repairs and replacements when their appliances or home systems wear out over time, as well as provide access to a network of professional service contractors. Home warranties aren’t required by mortgage lenders so many people choose not to purchase them.

Home warranties may be offered as a gift by homebuilders, real estate agents, or home sellers. Of course, home warranties may also be purchased independent of a real estate transaction. Annual home warranty premiums and service fees can vary by location and provider. Rest assured, they can save you money when it comes time to replace or repair any covered items.

Home warranties typically cover four areas:

Major appliances
Heating and cooling systems
Plumbing
Electrical systems

They generally don’t cover:

Hauling fees
Appliance attachments that can be replaced easily
Appliances with pre-existing problems

Home warranty costs don’t increase yearly as a result of claims, as home insurance premiums can, though costs for both will typically vary each year due to inflation and rising service expenses.

Because home insurance and home warranties cover two completely different sets of home repairs and replacements, you may want to purchase both. Alternately, besides buying required homeowners insurance, you can set money aside for unexpected home repairs instead of purchasing a home warranty.

However, a major advantage of having a home warranty is the convenience and time saved from not having to search for and screen contractors when things go awry. After reporting your problem, your home warranty company will quickly dispatch a qualified service technician to come to your rescue. No time wasted searching online for listings or reviews.

Homeowners should research their options, weigh their needs, and see what’s best for their particular situation and budget.

For more information on home warranties, visit AHShome.com today or watch the video: http://youtu.be/fciU2z7ciOU.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-insurance/home-warranty/
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