9 Tips from a Burglar on How to Keep Them Out of Your House

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Don’t come home to a nightmare and the feeling of being invaded. Here how to stop a house burglary from ever happening.

prevent break-in tips silhouette of a burglar wearing a balaclava holding a crowbar looking through a house window
Image: tommaso79/Getty
  • You come home to an open front door, a ransacked house, and missing valuables. How did a burglar know you’d be gone? How did they get in? 

Here are nine tips from a burglar’s perspective about how to keep them out. And try these home security tips to prevent burglary, too.

#1 Put Ladders Away

Call me a social climber if you will, but I love ladders. They make it so easy to reach a second-story window. I really love it when upper story openings aren’t wired to a home security system. 

So, if you want to keep me out, store your ladder in the basement or a locked garage. And call your security company to wire upper-story windows into your alarm system.

#2 Don’t Make Your Trash So Visible

Can’t tell you how much fun I have driving around neighborhoods on trash day (especially after big gift holidays) when the empty boxes on the curb reveal what wonderful new toys you have. That made it possible for me to land a new laptop and a flat-screen TV in one easy trip to your home!

Next time, break down the boxes and conceal them in the recycling or trash bins. 

#3 Keep Shrubs Trimmed

Oh, how I love overgrown shrubs and trees. A wonderful place to hide before I break in and grab all your cool stuff. 

Trim back bushes and trees near windows and doors. Make sure entry points to your home are easily visible from the street. I much prefer to work in private. While you’re at it, install motion-sensor lighting. 

#4 Be Sure Your Exterior Doors Are Steel

A plain wood-panel door is an invitation. I have no trouble kicking it in. 

You may want to install steel-wrapped exterior doors with deadbolts on all your entries. And be sure your windows are locked when you’re away. 

#5 Watch Where You Hang Mirrors

You’d be surprised how many homeowners position a mirror in their entry hall so I can see from a window if the alarm system is armed.

A little free advice: Relocate the mirror so your alarm system isn’t visible if someone peers through a window.

#6 Have Someone Attend to Your Home When You’re Away

Wow, isn’t it amazing how fast the grass grows? An uncut lawn, unshoveled sidewalks, packages on the porch or in the yard, and shades always closed scream, “I’m empty. Come inside!” 

Hire someone you trust to mow or shovel regularly, pick up around the porch and doorstep, open and close various window shades, and turn different lights on and off (or put a few on timers). One more thing: Lock any car you leave in the driveway, or I can use your garage door opener to get in quickly.

#7 Don’t Put Valuables in an Easy-Carry Case

I can carry that right out your back door. 

You may want to invest in a wall safe, which I rarely attempt to open. Or, rent a lock box at your bank.

#8 Be Wary of Posting on Social Sites When on Vacation

It’s quite likely that I’m a friend of a friend of yours in the interwebs. And through them, I may discover you’re away for the week in Paris, having the time of your life. And I’ll have the time of my life ransacking your place.

If only you had known that posting comments and photos of your trip on social networks is fine — as long as you do that after you return, so you won’t broadcast your absence.

#9 Inviting People to Your Home to See Stuff You’re Selling

You’re downsizing. Great! Selling a bunch of stuff like TVs, computers, jewelry. I just have to call you up, and when you invite me to your home, I just grab the items and run.

It’s called “robbery by appointment.” If you want to sell high-ticket items to strangers, I suggest you arrange to meet at the parking lot of your local police station. I definitely won’t show up, and you’ll still have your valuables.

For more tips, see our list of low-cost tricks to fool burglars. Did you know there’s a gizmo that mimics the glow of a TV?

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

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Home Organization Ideas to Turn Unused Space into Storage Heaven

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

You can fit an entire closet where?

Using a kitchen pegboard for home organization
Image: @nolan_nest on Instagram
  • It’s hard to enjoy your home when it feels cramped. But before you start thinking, “Time to move!” you may just need to make your house more clever — one with organization solutions built into surprising places.

Here are some home organization ideas that’ll delight you:

#1 The Coolest of the Home Organization Ideas: A Wall-Turned-Jewelry Closet

A wall mirror opens to reveal jewelry storage system
Image: J Korsbon Designs
  • You’ll get out the door faster in the morning if you can grab the right necklace without spending 10 minutes untangling it from a knot of beads.

This is one of the best home organization ideas because it leverages the silver bullet for storage woes: between-the-studs shelves. For maximum jewelry-friendliness, pair pegs with shelves and hang a tidy little door.

Related: Tips for Creating Storage Between the Studs

#2 Reach New Organizing Heights with Library Ladders

Kitchen with built-in rafter shelving and library ladder
Image: Alec Hemer, photo/Tim Cuppett, designer

This is great if you’re closer to seven feet tall than six, but the rest of us can’t reach the stuff on the top shelves. Here’s a clever storage idea: Install a library ladder.

Even better, there’s no engineering required: You can find rolling ladder kits online.

#3 Try Pegboards

Pegboard in kitchen hanging pots, pans, and other items
Image: @nolan_nest Instagram
  • Here’s a smart home-organization idea: Turn a kitchen wall into storage space by covering it in pegboard and hanging pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. You get storage without losing square footage to cabinets or an island. 

Add a shelf at the top, and you’ve put a storage hack on top of a storage hack. Literally.

#4 Turn an Angled Wall into a Closet

Wall shelving converted to a closet to optimize storage
Image: Mindi Carwin at MyLove2Create.com
  • If you’ve got an upper-story room with a slanted wall, maximize that cramped space by making a built-in closet. You can do this in an attic, bonus room, bedroom, or any place where the roof line creates dead space.

And it has a little secret: The center section of this closet is on wheels and pulls out to reveal even more storage behind it.

#5 Add a Shelf for Folding Clothes in the Laundry Room

Sunny laundry room with counter above washer and dryer
Image: Thalita at the Learner Observer
  • This one is so simple and smart, you’ll wish you’d thought of it. Put a countertop over your front-loading washer and dryer to create a place to fold clothes.

Add under-counter shelves on one side for storing ever-ready laundry baskets. 

Be sure to mount the counter high enough above the washer and dryer so you can easily pull them out for maintenance and repairs.

#6 Turn a Stairway Into Pull-Out Storage

Drawers beneath stairs pull out to reveal bags and shoes
Image: Winnie Ho
  • Turn the dead space under the stairs into pull-out storage compartments. Cut into the drywall between the studs, and make bins, shelves, or even hanging storage to hold whatever items you need in the vicinity of the stairs. 

To make the best of the space, think through exactly what you’ll store before customizing. Tote bags and coats? Pegs could do it. Shoes? Go for shelves.

#7 Take Garage Storage Up a Notch with Motorized Pulleys

A garage outfitted with a pulley storage system
Image: Susie Soleimani Photography / Designer: Spectrum Design|Build
  • Put the overhead space in your garage to work by installing a motorized pulley system that lets you store ice chests, camping gear, and other bulky items overhead. Forget those ceiling hooks and high garage shelves that are a pain to access; with this system, hit a button and your stuff is valeted right to you.
  • “Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.”
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10 Delightful Ways to Make Your House Brighter in Winter

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Let more natural light shine indoors with these simple tips.

natural light in cozy living room brighter in winter with wicker baskets with firewood and burning fireplace
Image: Liudmila Chernetska/Getty
  • Fall and winter start cozy — who hasn’t used the colder temperatures as an excuse to binge-watch Netflix while swaddled in a couch blanket?

But come January, staying indoors can feel less like a treat and more like you’re living in a cave.

Here’s how to make your house lighter, brighter, and cheerier with more natural light indoors.

#1 Take the Screens Off Your Windows

Bright white kitchen with a window over the sink
Image: Natasha Hunt, Simply Inspired Blog
  • You’ll get 30% more sunlight shining indoors without screens on your windows.

Here’s the best part: Sunlight warms your room and saves you money on your heating bill. It’s solar power — for you!

Be sure to store your screens in your garage or basement, where they won’t get damaged. In the spring you’ll want to put them back on so you can keep that 30% of the sun out and run your cooling system less.

#2 Hang Outdoor String Lights Indoors

A bright living room with string lights on a wood shelf
Image: Eleni Psyllaki
  • They don’t give off a lot of light, but they’re cheerful as heck.

Drape them around a window or a mantel, or hang a string of LED glimmer lights in a tall potted plant. They’ll add a layer of soft light to your room and remind you of fireflies, flip-flops, and patio parties.

#3 Steal a Little Swedish Chic

A bright white, Scandinavian chic bedroom
Image: @makingoverthemimsion
  • Scandinavians excel at making a home light and airy because they’ve got places where the sun doesn’t rise at all from November to January.

And you thought you had it bad.

To adapt to weeks and weeks of polar night, Swedes keep interiors pale to reflect and amplify light.

Think white walls, light woods for furniture and floors, and light upholstery. To get the look without getting rid of your dark furniture and floors, put white or light gray slipcovers on your sofa and chairs, and put down light-colored rugs.

The fastest way to bring a little Sweden into your room is to paint it. Try creamy white, pale blue, or dove gray.

#4 Change Your Bulbs

A group of clear stylish light bulbs
Image: Pop Lights EXI Glass Chandelier
  • Replace those incandescent bulbs and their yellowy light with LEDs, which produce a brighter, whiter light.

But get your bright right:

  • The higher the K rating on the bulb, the cooler and whiter its light.
  • For cool, white light, opt for a bulb rated 3,500K to 4,100K.
  • For blue-white light that’s closest to natural daylight, use a bulb between 5,000K and 6,500K.

Unless you live in Sweden (see above) you may want to leave the uber-high K bulbs for grow rooms and seasonal affective disorder therapy clinics — because they’re as bright as real sunlight on a hot summer day at noon. You’ll need sunglasses to read.

Related: Dirty Light Bulbs Are Depressing, and Expensive, Too

#5 Hang Mirrors

A circular gold mirror over a wood desk
Image: Madison Wetter of Spaceandhabit.com
  • Make the most of that weak winter light by bouncing it around the room with mirrors.

If you don’t want the distraction of seeing your reflection all the time, use a large, convex one — also known as a fish-eye mirror. It will amplify light better than a flat one. Another option: Hang a gallery wall of small mirrors.

#6 Replace Heavy Curtains With Blinds or Roman Shades

A wood chair in front of a window with a floral shade
Image: Shannon Munro Denny/@bungalivin
  • Fabric curtains, while quite insulating, block light and make a room feel smaller and more cramped, especially if they’re a dark color or have a large print.

Try Roman shades or a simple valance paired with blinds to let in the maximum amount of natural light.

#7 Clean Your Windows

A bright kitchen with open shelving and wall of windows
Image: Prideaux Design & Alta Constructors, designer/Matt Vacca, photographer
  • Dirty windows block a lot of natural light.

Admit it. Yours are kind of cruddy because who remembers to block out an afternoon to clean the windows?

So, get it on your list. Clean the glass inside at least once a month and the glass outside once a year. Your serotonin level will thank you.

#8 Swap Your Solid Front Door for One With Glass Inserts

An open white door with glass insert in entryway
Image: irina88w/Getty
  • A solid front door can make your house look and feel as dark as a dungeon.

Get rid of it and install a half-light or full-light door that lets the natural light stream in. For even more natural light, add glass sidelights and a glass transom.

A new entry security front door will cost about $250 in fiberglass and $975 in steel, including parts and installation. A a new door will add curb appeal, which equals higher resale value. And coming home in the evening to the warm glow of light radiating out the glass panels in your front door is an instant mood lifter.

Related: How to Avoid Choosing the Wrong Front Door

#9 Add a Skylight

A skylight in a kitchen
Image: Helen Menegakis @sydneyrenovator
  • It’s the ultimate way to bring more natural light into your house. A window only catches sun for a couple of hours a day, but a skylight lets in the sun all day.

An indoor view of the sky makes deepest January more tolerable. And feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, light streaming from above, is liberating. A skylight, installed, costs between $1,300 and $3,000. A cheaper alternative is a tubular skylight, which costs $500 to $950 including installation.

If you’re really good with tools, you can install a tubular skylight yourself. Don’t even think about installing a full-blown skylight yourself.

#10 Add Plants

Plants on a home windowsill
Image: Igor Josifovic

Putting pots of plants around your room will remind you that spring and green will return.

Match plants to the amount of light you have, because dead and dying plants are depressing. Tropicals that thrive in indirect light are usually the best choice. If you have a sunny window you’ve got more plant options.

Bonus points for adding a plant that blooms in the winter, like a kaffir lily or anthurium.

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

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5 Tricks to Keep Your Pipes from Exploding This Winter

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Even if you think they’ve already started to freeze.

Frozen outdoor faucet
Image: Skowronek/Shutterstock
  • New homeowners may have heard that winterization is important, but in the hubbub of your first year living in a home you own (finally!), it can be easy to overlook the need to prepare for the cold weather ahead. After all, it’s just not something renters deal with; prepping pipes for winter is often the landlord’s job.

Ideally, you should winterize your pipes in the fall, before winter seriously sets in. But if you’ve forgotten and all of a sudden you’re in the middle of a deep freeze, there’s still time to prevent disaster.

Here are some easy techniques to save your pipes from bursting:

#1 Turn On Your Faucets

If the temperatures have dropped into freezing and intend to stay there, turning on your faucets — both indoors and out — can keep water moving through your system and slow down the freezing process. There’s no need to waste gallons of water: Aim for about five drips per minute.

#2 Open Cabinet Doors

During cold weather, open any cabinet doors covering plumbing in the kitchen and bathroom. This allows the home’s warm air to better circulate, which can help prevent the exposed piping from freezing. While this won’t help much with pipes hidden in walls, ceilings, or under the home, it can keep water moving and limit the dangerous effects of freezing weather.

#3 Wrap Your Pipes

If your pipes are already on their merry way towards freezing, wrapping them with warm towels might do the trick. You can cover them with the towels first and then pour boiling water on top, or use already-wet towels — if your hands can stand the heat (use gloves for this). This should help loosen the ice inside and get your system running again.

#4 Pull Out Your Hairdryer

A hairdryer (or heat gun) can be a godsend when your pipes are freezing. If hot rags aren’t doing the trick, try blowing hot air directly on the pipes. Important note: You don’t want to use a blow torch or anything that produces direct flames, which can damage your pipes and turn a frozen pipe into an even worse disaster. You’re trying to melt the ice — not your pipes.

#5 Shut Off The Water if Pipes Are Frozen

Have your pipes already frozen? Turn off the water immediately. (Hopefully you know where the master shut-off is, but if not, now’s the time to find it!)

Make sure to close off any external water sources, like garden hose hookups. This will prevent more water from filling the system, adding more ice to the pile, and eventually bursting your pipes — the worst-case scenario. This also will help when the water thaws; the last thing you want after finally fixing your frozen pipes is for water to flood the system — and thus, your home.

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

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5 Tasks Every Homeowner Should Do in January

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Start looking for that contractor NOW if you want your project done by summer’s end.

Do This Now - Time-saving tips
Image: Simone Golob/Offset
  • Whew. The holidays are done. The new year has rung in.

That’s when smart homeowners know it’s time to do these five things that’ll save time, money, and hassles all year long.

#1 Organize Your Seasonal Storage Space

Wrapping Paper Stored on Closet Ceiling| Storage Solutions
Image: Frank Farm / frankfarm.org
  • Packing away holiday decor presents a big opportunity. It’s the best time to sort, declutter, and reorganize that space where you store your seasonal stuff.

So before simply stuffing your holiday things back in there somewhere, take inventory; then sort, filter, donate, trash, and re-home as many of your things as possible.

It’ll help keep you more organized all year long, and make it easier to find all your holiday stuff next year.

#2 Deep-Clean the Kitchen

A gas stovetop with food crumbs, green teapot
Image: Jamie Bonilla
  • All of that holiday merriment-making is rough on a kitchen. Give it a good deep cleaning now that the glittery dust has settled.

Purge your pantry and frisk your fridge, passing what you can on to local food banks. Scrub the walls and kickboards, and even pull those appliances right out from the walls for a thorough vacuuming to prevent gunk (and stinks!) from accumulating.

#3 Plan Summertime Projects Now (Especially if You Need a Pro)

An outdoor space with patio furniture and a dog
Image: Photo by ADZA
  • Finalize plans for any landscaping, decks, patios, or other outdoor projects that need warm weather. Two good reasons:

1. If you’re DIYing, you’ll be ready to roll at the first hint of nice weather. That way, you’ll be less affected by any supply chain shortages and have your improved yard ready to enjoy by summer.

2. If you’re hiring a contractor or other professional, getting your bids and contracts in place now will save you from competing with the spring rush (wait too long, and you may not be able to book anyone!).

#4 Create a Schedule to Clean ALL Your Home’s Filters

Two home air filters
Image: Michael Sheehan (“HighTechDad”)
  • It’s not just your HVAC. The filters in your fridge, your vacuum cleaner, your dryer, your air filter, and other household items need to be changed or cleaned at least once a year to be effective, usually more often — especially your dehumidifier. Yucky mold grows easily there.

Check manufacturer instructions for all the filters in your home, and create a master schedule; then add them to your calendar app to remind you.

#5 Save Some Green at White Sales

A bed with white sheets and a white bedspread by window
Image: @hawkes_landing
  • Linens and towels go on sale in January. It’s a long-standing retail tradition that started back when linens only came in white (hence the name), and it still has a solid rep as a money-saver — only in more colors today.

Cut your threadbare bath towels into rags and restock your supply, plus fill in any gaps in your bed linens you may have noticed if you had a house full of holiday guests.

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

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Winter Prep Now for No Regrets Later

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Brittany Icayan

A winter-ready yard will be easier on you — and your wallet.

a red snow shovel leaning on the yellow siding beside the green front door of a home with white columns and a wet porch and stairs from the melting snow and there are snowflakes blurred in the foreground of the image
Image: Jason Finn/Getty
  • It’s easy to get so wrapped up in leaf peeping and other outdoorsy fun that you cut back on pre-winter home maintenance. But doing basic tasks now could lead to an easier winter and a greener spring — no matter where you live. Plus, you might save on costly repairs. Here’s a roundup of things you’ll be glad you did.

Head Off Winter Woes

Frozen garden hose outside a house
Image: skhoward/Getty Images
  • Getting ready for winter doesn’t have to be a big deal. The trick? Know what things are most likely to cause problems and keep them from happening to your home and yard. With a fall checklist, you won’t forget to detach your garden hoses from outdoor faucets.

Jumpstart a Lush Lawn

Dog hanging out during fall lawn cleanup
Image: Scott Smith
  • Not ready to replace your lawn with native plants or groundcover? No worries. But don’t settle for sad patches of grass in the spring. If you do some work in the fall, you’ll protect your lawn from winter damage and enjoy better results later.

Avoid Weather Fallout

red frozen pipe with icicles in a home
Image: igorwheeler/Getty
  • Every homeowner wants to prevent winter weather from causing dangerous or pricey problems. That’s why it’s super important to do things like seal up leaks and clean gutters before trouble hits home. A few pluses: These preps are often inexpensive, can be done by a pro, and/or don’t take much time. 

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

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Holiday Entertaining: Home Cleaning Checklist

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Brittany Icayan

These simple cleaning tips will give you a clean house to celebrate when you host for the holidays.

illustration of Santa holding a checklist with a feather pen and scribbling with “Santa's To-Do List” at the top
Image: Maggie Stuart for HouseLogic
  • In getting ready to entertain for the holidays, a random approach may get you random results. Probably not what you’re going for. That’s why it’s smart to have a plan. But instead of using boilerplate steps, you can choose from a checklist menu like this one and pick what appeals to you the most.

These 13 steps are a good starting point based on advice from professional house cleaning businesses.

13 Steps to Clean House for Holiday Entertaining

#1 Tidy Up

 Declutter living areas, countertops, and floors. Gather everything in a laundry basket, then sort directly from the basket, advises Debbie Sardone, owner of SpeedCleaning.com. Don’t forget the small touches too, like fluffing the couch pillows and folding throw blankets, adds Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of AspenClean, a chemical-free cleaning service based in Canada.

#2 Dust

Dust surfaces in all areas of the house, from the tabletops to the window blinds, ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures. 

Pro tip: “We use scented dusters, which eradicate dust and leave a fresh smell behind,” says Obi Ukwu, manager and founder of Maidattendants, based in Nashville. 

#3 Wipe Down Surfaces

Wipe down faucets in the bathroom and kitchen, countertops, and smudges and fingerprints from glass doors, windows, and mirrors. Also, don’t forget to clean chairs and stools your guests will be sitting on. 

#4 Shine Up the Bathroom

Use a cleaning agent to thoroughly rub the toilet, sink, and shower (including the shower tracks and curtain). Sweep all personal items into drawers so countertops are bare. 

Pro tip: A pumice stone can be a great tool for removing rust and scum from hard surfaces.

#5 Focus on the Kitchen

Clean appliances, countertops, stovetops, the oven, the microwave, and the refrigerator. 

Pro tip: Put an open box of baking soda inside the refrigerator to neutralizer odors and keep leftover food smells at bay, Ukwu says. 

#6 Tend to the Floors

Focus on eliminating dirt in high-traffic areas. Vacuum the rugs and carpet and mop the floors. 

Pro tip: A lemon-scented cleaning agent will make the room smell extra clean, says Johnny Pallares, owner of De La Rosa House Cleaning in Phoenix.

#7 Clean the Baseboards

The baseboards collect dust over time, and the film can make your home appear dirty. 

Pro tip: Vacuum the baseboards to remove dirt and dust, then wipe them down with vinegar and water, Ukwu says.

#8 Check Supplies

Fully stock the bathroom with toilet paper, tissues, and soap for guests. Keep extra supplies in cabinets nearby, in case you need to quickly replenish.

#9 Pay Attention to Smells

While cleaning your home, open windows or turn on the vents, Sokolowski says. Light a candle before guests arrive to fill your home with a fresh scent. 

Pro tip: Try an air freshener in the bathroom to keep it smelling clean. 

#10 Take Out the Trash

Smells can build up in trash cans, so take out the trash regularly, especially before guests arrive. 

Pro tip: Keep extra trash bags inside the bottom of your trash can so it’s easy for you — or your guests — to keep changing out bags, Sardone suggests. 

#11 Spruce Up the Guest Room

For overnight guests, change the bedding. Dust the tabletops, declutter, and carve out space for a suitcase, along with leaving an open spot in the closet for their items, Sokolowski says. 

#12 Do an Exterior Checkup

Make sure sidewalks are clear of ice or snow. Remove eyesores like rust stains on patios, porches, and driveways. 

Pro tip: Use a lemon to remove stains. “Mixing pure lemon juice into your cleaning routine yields some impressive results,” Sokolowski says.

#13 Prepare an Emergency Cleaning Kit

During parties or gatherings, food and drink stains are often unavoidable. Keep spot cleaner nearby, Sokolowski recommends.

Think of the cleaning tip checklist not as a taskmaster, but a way to help you prioritize and time your home cleaning for holiday entertaining. You’ll be ready to celebrate even before the first guest arrives! 

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

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11 Easy-Up, Easy-Down Decor Hacks for Stress-Free Holidays

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Brittany Icayan

Start saving those egg cartons!

easy holiday decoration organization hacks candle and pine cones on a rustic wood table with small packages with a Christmas tree and a white fireplace with a roaring fire in the background
Image: ArtistGNDphotography/Getty
  • Give or take a Scrooge or two, everybody loves the holidays: Decorating the tree, hanging lights, hanging holly — all those things! But you know what nobody loves? Taking all those things down.

Because, wow, what an unorganized mess.

Before you go all Scrooge, get your jolly back with these simple holiday decorating hacks.

#1 Protect Ornaments With Holiday Recyclables

Small colorful ornaments in a yellow egg carton
Image: Anne Arntson for HouseLogic
  • Trimming the tree should feel like the happy ending of a Lifetime holiday movie, not a game show guessing which box will contain broken memories.

Keep ornaments safe for next year by stowing them in leftover party cups, hot-glued onto a piece of foam board cut to fit inside a storage bin, recommends Lisa Woodruff, founder and CEO of Organize 365 in Cincinnati.

Or pack ornaments away using bubble wrap from holiday packages or egg cartons from those countless cookies you made.

All of these options make for shock-absorbent padding that’s more durable than paper towels or tissue paper.Popular Reads#2 Create a Year-Round Focal Point

Living room with cat on a couch and string lights on mantel
Image: Richelle Hesselink
  • You dream of decking every hall, every year, but when the holidays roll around, you’ve got a brisket to bake and cocktails to clink.

So focus your festive energy on just one iconic focal point — a wreath on the front door or greenery on the mantel — something that easily changes with the seasons.

Or, create a display that makes you feel merry year-round. (Try repurposing storefront letters to spell out “LOVE” or “JOY” — sentiments that never go out of season.)

#3 Get a Decorating Toolbox

A red toolbox with holiday-related items
Image: Courtesy of Lowes.com
  • Before you can hang a single strand of lights or sprig of mistletoe, you have to find the gosh-darn zip ties, track down the floral wire, and repurpose a few extension cords.

Just thinking about the prep work makes you ready for a long winter’s nap. But this year’s gonna be your prep for next year and the years to follow.

As you put everything up, keep a running checklist of what you need. Then stock a toolbox that gets replenished every year.

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

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5 Holiday Cleaning Mistakes Experts Know to Avoid

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Brittany Icayan

Steer clear of bulk shopping and other don’ts in your holiday prep.

unhappy woman sitting on white kitchen floor with spilled food on the floor and white kitchen cabients
Image: AndreyPopov/Getty
  • When you’re cleaning for the holidays, you want to make every minute count. Home cleaning professionals see firsthand where mistakes are costing us nonpros. Debbie Sardone, owner of SpeedCleaning.com, shares hosting tips that will dodge some holiday prep missteps.

5 Don’ts in Home Cleaning for the Holidays

#1 Bulk Shopping

We’re not judging all those Costco runs, but maybe think twice before packing that shopping cart to the max. “Hold off on those super-duper giant size jars — at least for right now,” Sardone says. Bulk items will clutter closets and your refrigerator just when you need that space the most. So, save that purchase of a 10-pound roll of paper towels for a post-New Year’s shopping trip. 

#2 Overlooking the Refrigerator

Along those same lines, reduce items in your fridge. “You will need room in your refrigerator for what you bake, make, or need to store this holiday,” Sardone says. Clear out half empty jars of condiments or outdated, crusted over items you never intend to use. Wipe down shelves, and make sure there’s open space. That’ll also help avoid awkward encounters with guests who bring food, causing you to haul out jars of mustard and jelly trying to make room.

#3 Not Asking for Help

Your family members would likely be happy to pitch in, but they may need you to be specific about what they can do. “Too often we get frustrated that others don’t offer to help us. But they may not know how to help,” Sardone says. “‘Will you vacuum in here for me?’ is much more specific than ‘Can you help me clean?’”

#4 Ignoring Smells

You may be nose-blind to your own home’s scent, but your guests won’t be. The smells can get even worse as you start cooking, especially if you fail to prepare. Run the oven cleaner on automatic before tackling the heavy cooking of the holidays, Sardone says. “It’ll help rid the oven of a year’s worth of spills and avoid any lingering smells from taking over,” she says. Other tips: Keep up with the trash to avoid odors; before guests arrive, light a scented candle.  

#5 Failing to Have a Plan

Set a timer for 20 minutes and target one key area to clean within that time frame. Then, repeat. “You’ll be amazed at how much you can clean in just 20 minutes,” Sardone says. Prioritize key areas where your guests will spend time. “You don’t need to spring clean every room in the house if your guests won’t be in them,” Sardone says. 

All five don’ts are easy to avoid. You’re on your way to problem-free holiday prep.TOPIC

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

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