Tricks For Hard-To-Paint Areas

While some DIY projects seem like they should be left for the pros, painting doesn’t have to be one of them. Basic painting seems easy enough, but sometimes we run into those hard-to-paint areas and regret not hiring a professional. Instead of hanging up the towel, try out these tricks for those spots and see if you can finish your project all on your own (and save some money in the process!) Painting Window Trim Painting the wood diving panes and sashes on windows can seem daunting at first. Most people think that lining your windows with painters tape will help, but that is usually just a waste of time. Instead, just paint away! This is the one time it is okay to get a little paint outside of your target area. When paint gets on the glass, just allow it to dry and as soon as it does, scrape it off with a razor blade. Try not to let the paint set for longer than a day. Painting Behind Toilets Sometimes, the hardest places to paint are the tight spaces where we can’t really do much to make that space bigger. This is where you will need a “hot dog” roller. They’re smaller than regular rollers and when attached to a longer handle, can make painting in tight spaces a breeze. You can use this roller for other small spaces, like behind radiators or other fixtures. Painting High Ceilings If you’ve got a high ceiling or a tall wall where a ladder can’t safely reach, like above a staircase, you’ve usually got a challenge on your hands. This is where a paintbrush extension tool comes in. Rather than attaching a roller to a pole and losing stability, an extension tool is more like an extension of your arm. Make sure to avoid dripping paint by loading less paint on the brush that you typically would for a wall right in front of you.

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9 House Cleaning Hacks

Everyone hates getting bogged down with life’s little details. And guess what? You don’t have to! Here are house cleaning hacks for people who hate cleaning their house. Let’s face it, this is everyone. 1. Use old socks to clean blinds Blinds often have multiple sides and shapes, so they can sometimes be a hassle to clean. But with this simple hack, they don’t have to be. Simply use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water to dampen an old sock, and then swipe the damp sock over each section of the blinds. Embedded dust and dirt will come right off! 2. Dust electronics with coffee filters Coffee filters are perfect for cleaning dust from TV screens, computer monitors, and any other screens around the home, without leaving behind any fibers like towels do. You can also clean windows without leaving streaks—just clean them with a coffee filter instead of paper towels. 3. Clean your ceiling fan with a pillowcase Instead of using a rag to clean your ceiling fan, which usually results in dust falling onto your furniture and floors, use an old pillowcase. Slip the fan blades inside the pillowcase, and then wipe each blade one at a time. Then just throw the dirty pillowcase into the washing machine. 4. Use dryer sheets to clean everything Apparently, dryer sheets have many uses beyond the laundry room. Run a dryer sheet along your baseboards to remove dirt and repel dust. Clean lampshades with dryer sheets as they pull away dust and prevent static cling, which equals less dust in the future. And add a dryer sheet to the bottom of your trash can to absorb odors and leaks. Dryer sheets, either used or unused, are also the easiest way to break down soap scum. Simply scrub fixtures with a sheet and see results immediately. 5. Steam clean your microwave Everyone hates cleaning the microwave. Instead of scrubbing it down, try putting a bowl with lemon juice and water in the appliance. Microwave on high power for three minutes and allow it to sit for five more minutes. The steam will loosen any food remnants and banish odors, too.  A couple of easy wipes inside and you’ll have a clean microwave with a lemony scent. 6. Grab pet hair with rubber gloves When your standard vacuum can’t suck up all your pet’s hair, rubber gloves will get the job done. Just slide them on and rub down any areas that need extra cleaning. When rubbed against fabric, the glove generates static electricity, which causes pet hair and lint to stick to it. Rinse the gloves under running water when you’re done, and the hair will come off. 7. Clean with vinegar (and save big) Distilled white vinegar is one of the most popular, eco-friendly, and versatile cleaning staples around due to its acidity. Plus, it’s cheap so you will save tons of money on cleaning supplies. It can be used in the following ways: Shower: Wipe your shower doors with vinegar to prevent soap scum and buildup. Kitchen and bathroom drains: To help keep drains clog-free, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar down every two weeks. Allow it to sit for a half-hour, and then run cold water to flush it out. Tile surfaces: Mix a half-cup of distilled white vinegar and a half-gallon of warm water. Use it to clean all tile surfaces. 8. Polish bathroom fixtures with baby oil Do you have dull bathtub, shower, and sink fixtures? No problem. Get a paper towel and some baby oil. Put a dab of the liquid on the towel, then wipe it on the faucet. You’ll see it shine! 9. Let your dishwasher do double duty If you only use your dishwasher to clean dishes, you aren’t using it to its full potential. Take a look at this list of things you can safely wash in the dishwasher, and put it to work: Rubber flip-flops and baseball caps Makeup brushes Nonelectrical plastic and rubber kids’ toys Mouthguards Hairbrushes and combs Plastic and metal garden tools Refrigerator shelves

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Selling Your Home? Don’t Forget These 6 Maintenance Tasks

If you’re a homeowner, you already know that keeping your property in tiptop shape requires dedication and patience for ongoing maintenance. But what if you’re putting your home on the market or even accepted an offer? Perhaps you’re thinking: Not my problem anymore. However, just because you’re selling doesn’t mean you’re off the hook from routine maintenance tasks—and that’s especially true if you’ve already vacated the house. Sure, a well-cared-for house shows better: Small things like broken doorbells and leaky faucets make buyers wonder if your property also has bigger issues elsewhere. But more important, a little routine maintenance can help you avoid a catastrophic problem down the line (e.g., burst pipes, roof leaks, critters moving into your attic) that could devalue your property and derail that sale. To prevent minor issues from escalating into full-blown, money-sucking, sale-killing problems, focus on these six important areas you can’t afford to neglect. Keep up the yard and walkways Whether you’re still living in the house or not, you’ll want to make sure to keep your landscaping tidy—remove dead tree limbs, rake leaves, and clean out flower beds. Curb appeal is so important. If your home is already vacant, have someone tend to the yard regularly so that grass and weeds don’t detract from your home’s appearance. If your home does not have a well-maintained exterior, potential buyers will keep driving. Plus, this kind of neglect can be a bull’s-eye for vandals to break into your property. Consider having lights on timers so the house doesn’t look dark all the time, and arrange for driveways and walkways to be plowed weekly in the winter months. And don’t let mail pile up in the mailbox. Clean the gutters and check the roof This one’s easy to forget about, even when you don’t plan on going anywhere. But when it comes to gutter and roof issues, neglect can cause a dangerous domino effect. Overflowing gutters can damage your foundation, and also lead to drainage issues. And, of course, you don’t want buyers seeing puddling water as they approach your house. And then there’s the roof. Of course, it’ll be examined during the home inspection, but it would benefit you to do it before putting your home on the market. Small roof cracks can remain undetected for years, causing water to slowly infiltrate your home and damage ceilings and walls. Service your heating systems The hidden guts of your home need regular attention, whether you’re still living there or not. That means having your HVAC systems professionally serviced. First up, your furnace: If you get it addressed before you list your home, it won’t smell like dust when you crank up the heat during an open house on a chilly day. While you’re at it, have the duct work and filters cleaned as well. And if you have baseboard heaters, vacuum those out, too. Speaking of heat, it is suggested to keep the thermostat at 66 degrees Fahrenheit when agents are showing your house so buyers can visit your place comfortably. This will also avoid any issues with pipes freezing or bursting in the colder months. Have a chimney? Be sure to have it inspected and cleaned as well. You want to make sure there are no cracked flue tiles, and that from the exterior, there are no gaps in the mortar between the bricks. Otherwise, you could potentially have the chimney fall over onto the house, and that’s a very expensive fix. Keep the critters out If you don’t want to add “family of raccoons included” to your listing (and pay the hefty tab for getting them out), inspect the inside and outside of your home for any areas that need to be plugged up. Take care of holes from damaged siding or fascia under the roofline—and do it promptly. In a colder climate, squirrels look for somewhere warm to go, and they’ll find their way into your property. Stove and dryer vents, for example, should be covered with wire mesh to deter pests. Wash your windows Most people associate sparkling windows with spring-cleaning, But if your house is on the market, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is—you need to get those babies squeaky clean. If buyers walk through your home and all they see is dirty windows, that’ll really mar the showing process. Make sure to wipe them down after a bad storm, when they’re especially likely to show muck and grime buildup. Check the calendar Depending on what time of year you bring your house to market, pay attention to any details that scream, “We don’t live here or care anymore.” That means tackling seasonal tasks such as clearing away lawn mowers in the fall and storing shovels in the spring. It is also a good habit to put away patio furniture in the fall and winter. Leaving them out all year long shows deferred maintenance and lack of caring, and can really turn off a potential buyer. Staying on top of these regular tasks will make it easier to sell your home with fewer headaches. Plus, it’ll preserve the value of your property, and potentially, the thickness of your wallet, too.  

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