Category: Home & Lifestyle

Try telling your water heater some time that it’s Father’s Day (to pick a holiday), so there’s to be no falling short on supply. “The day after? Fine, just not today…we’re expecting guests.”  (By the way, if you do figure that one out, be sure to let us know.) The same goes for anything else around the house – things go right or wrong no matter what day it is, even when you least expect it. The lawn needs to be mowed; that squeaky door could use a squirt of WD-40; and when was the last time you washed those [...]

You could be the most meticulous house cleaner on the planet and maintenance supervisor but still not prevent accidents or illnesses from impacting your family. That’s not a criticism, just a matter of fact.  So, as fundamental as some of the following tips might be, it’s good to keep them in mind for the sake of everyone concerned. Keep dust out of your bed. Place zippered dust and dust mite proof cases on your pillows and mattress to help prevent allergy-like symptoms. Use a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner. Do you have a vacuum cleaner that spews as much dust and [...]

Are you thinking about home improvements?  Maybe a little face-lift but worry about over spending? Well, there’s no reason why you should – provided you plan, set a budget, and then tackle just those projects that prevent buyer’s remorse. Here are few ideas to help get you started: Add curb appeal. Make coming home more enjoyable by adding color with seasonal plantings, painting your front door an inviting color, and updating exterior lighting. Add decorative shutters. Speaking of curb appeal, shutters can give an otherwise plain home façade some much-needed character. Update kitchen cabinets. Don’t have the budget for a [...]

Does a small room always equal overly packed and crowded? Not always, of course, but when it comes to small bathrooms, it often turns out that way. Maybe every item in your small, crowded bathroom is essential, but do they all necessarily belong right there?  Probably not. And what about available space…are you making the most of what you have? If you’ve had it up to your eyeballs with crowded, cluttered bathrooms – large or small – you’ll appreciate the following de-cluttering and improved organizing tips. Build upwards: Add shelf space above the bathroom door. It’s out of the way, and [...]

Does your bathroom need an exhaust fan?  Think of your home as a monarch or, less grandiosely, a boss. What’s the very definition of boss?  Having employees – people with assigned tasks that are essential to an efficient organization. The business lesson stops there, but the home lesson starts here.  If your home is the boss, the bathroom exhaust fan is one of its key employees. That’s because it serves critical needs, at least one of which that concerns your health and well-being. Here’s what the right bathroom exhaust fan can do for you.   Improved Air Quality Bathroom fans [...]

We’ve all heard them. We’ve all shared them. And, chances are, you might even believe one or two. We’re talking about myths: those harmless little falsehoods that get told and retold until fact and fiction become hard to separate. Hang on, did we say “harmless”? You know what?  We’ll leave the “harmless” verdict up to you, especially blind faith in certain myths could cost you money.   Myth – A kitchen renovation will automatically increase your home’s value. If you don’t plan to sell your any time soon, remodel away!  At the same time, just remember that today’s trends are [...]

The occasional household odor, no matter how unpleasant, is common. Maybe you let those onions sauté a bit too long, or perhaps you’re still hanging onto leftovers from 3 weeks ago. Odors like that are fairly easy to remedy. Some odors, however seem to come from nowhere and linger for days – or weeks – on end. Here are six steps for locating the source of unpleasant fridge odors and banishing them once and for all.   Empty the fridge out completely. Turn the temperature up to its warmest setting or unplug your fridge so it doesn’t continue to run [...]

Older home or more contemporary model, there’s always work to be done to keep it in the best possible shape. You’re tired of the kitchen paint color, your fridge ice maker doesn’t work, a strange noise is coming from your water heater…the possibilities are seemingly endless. But while the issues above are more annoyances than anything else, there are several home hazards that could impact family safety. Let’s examine six of them. Lead – If your home was built before 1980, chances are some surfaces were covered with lead-based paint. Since long term exposure can cause serious health consequences, start [...]

The secret to a healthy lifestyle is really no secret at all: get enough sleep, exercise, and eat right. Yet when you’re overwhelmed with life, work, and other responsibilities, new habits are easy to “back burner”. So take a breather, sit down, discover what you’re missing, and make a commitment to re-organize your time so you can take better care of yourself. Here are some great first steps. Space for workout gear. Keep your workout clothes together in a dedicated drawer or area of your closet. If you work out in a gym, pack your bag the night before with [...]