Attic Cleaning: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Cleaning your attic removes allergens and respiratory irritants that can make your family sick.

Boy wearing gas mask in cloud of multi-color smoke
Image: Jens Magnusson/Offset
  • Attic cleaning probably isn’t your idea of a good time. But the dust, dander, and mold in that often-neglected room could be irritating your family’s lungs and kicking up allergies. Plus, a clean attic will enable you to put your great attic ideas into action.

“No one thinks about their attic, but it’s a problem area,” says Mike Tringale of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

Attic allergens and irritants constantly seep into your living area through ceiling hatches, doors, recessed lights, and heating and cooling systems (especially if they’re located in your attic).

Attic Cleaning Basics

  • Dust walls, window frames, and rafters with an electrostatically charged cloth (think Swiffer) or duster, which grabs twice as much dust as cotton cloths. Don’t forget to dust exposed roof trusses, attic fan blades, light bulbs, fixtures, hatches, and door frames.
  • Vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter vacuum cleaner, which channels all vacuumed air through a filter designed to remove even microscopic particles. A less expensive choice: Install a top-quality, high-efficiency filter bag in your vacuum.
  • Line shop vacuums with a plastic bag, which traps irritants and makes debris disposal easy.
  • Wear a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health mask, which filters a high percentage of airborne particles.
  • If you suffer from allergies — 50 million people in the U.S. do, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology — hire a professional to remove the debris. Prices for pro attic cleaning vary depending on region and nature of the cleanup. Get an estimate before hiring a cleaning contractor.

Keeping Irritants Out of Your Attic

Preventing mold growth and sealing out insects and vermin help reduce irritants in your attic.

Mold: Small roof leaks and old, cracked caulking can let in moisture, which may lead to mold damage. Once a year, and after each big storm, walk around your home to inspect your roof from all angles. Repair any loose, missing, or broken shingles. Check windows for missing caulking or cracked panes.

Don’t bother buying a home mold test kit, which may register mold spores that are constantly in the air anyway. If you suspect mold or can see a mold-covered area that’s larger than about 10 square feet, call a certified indoor air quality professional to evaluate your situation.

Dust: Many of those tiny dust mites you see floating around are really dust mite particles, roach parts, and vermin dander made of dried saliva, urine, and feces.

These dust proteins can trigger allergic reactions, so search for tiny cracks and openings in your roof, walls, and windows where vermin and insects can enter. Seal attic air leaks with caulk and polyurethane foam, and repair any holes in attic ventilation screens that are under the eaves and in gable ends.

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

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Tree Falls On Property Line: Who Pays? Who Picks Up the Pieces?

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Who pays depends on numerous factors.

  • When a neighbor’s tree falls over your property line, yell TIMBER, then call your insurance company. Home owners policies cover tree damage caused by perils like wind and winter storms.

Most policies cover hauling away tree debris if the mess is associated with house damage; some will cover cleanup even if no structures were harmed.

When a Tree Falls

Your neighbor is responsible when a tree falls over your shared property line only if you can prove he was aware that his tree was a hazard and refused to remedy the problem. Regardless, your insurance company restores your property first, and later decides whether or not to pursue reimbursement from the neighbor or his insurer if the neighbor was negligent in maintaining the tree.Popular Reads

Before a Tree Falls

Write a letter to your neighbor before his dead, diseased or listing tree falls through your roof or over your property line.

The letter should include:

  • Description of the problem
  • Photographs
  • Request for action
  • Attorney letterhead–not necessary but indicates you mean business.

Trim Their Trees

If the limbs of a tree hang over your property line, you may trim the branches up to the property line, but not cut down the entire tree. If a tree dies after your little pruning, the neighbor can pursue a claim against you in civil or small claims court. Depending on the laws of your state, your neighbor may have to prove the damage was deliberate or caused by negligence, but may also be able to recover up to three times the value of the tree. 

Before you cut, tell your neighbors what you intend to do to protect your property. They may offer to trim the whole tree instead of risking your half-oaked job.

Your Tree Falls

It’s always a good idea to take care of your big and beautiful trees, and keep receipts for trimmings and other care. 

But if your tree falls over a neighbor’s property line, do nothing until their insurance company contacts you. You may not be liable unless you knew or should have known the tree was in a dangerous condition.  If you pruned a tree or shored up trunks to prevent problems, gather your receipts to prove your diligence.

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

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4 Ways to Give Your Kitchen Personality

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

A creative kitchen can feature your interests and taste — and blend with other rooms.

Remodeling-kitchen-personality-modern-red-tile-warm-hero
Image: rilueda/Getty
  • Kitchens are showing more personality these days. As they’ve become a hub, they’re not just for cooking and eating. We’ve been using them for all kinds of activities. We want our kitchens to reveal our interests and taste but still blend with the rest of our home. Here are four ways — little and big — to do that by designing a creative kitchen. 

#1 Aim for a Creative Kitchen

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Image: MarioGuti/Getty
  • You love looking at posts on Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration and saving them for mood boards or focused aesthetic. But because of your urge for individuality, you want to incorporate choices in ways nobody else does. As long as you don’t make drastic changes that would take big bucks to reverse if you sold in the next few years, you can get creative. Feel free to fix up your kitchen just the way you love. 

“Do what feels good for you and nobody else,” urges designer Sharon McCormick of Sharon McCormick Design in Hartford, Conn. This may involve a quick, affordable fix. So, you could move a rug from another room to add a spark of color or pattern. Or hang favorite artwork, or display collectibles on floating shelves or in glass-fronted cabinets. 

If you need to focus on investment-grade changes with lasting value, you still have options. Think about hand-scraped floors, wire-brushed and high-gloss lacquered cabinets, or hardware in new elegant shapes and finishes, says Chicago kitchen expert Mick de Giulio of de Giulio Kitchen Design.  

#2 Express Yourself With Kitchen Color

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Image: FollowTheFlow/Getty
  • Kitchen color is the great game changer for a creative kitchen. It’s a quick and easy way to update your kitchen’s look and feel. White, gray, and beige are still popular palettes for kitchens, but livelier hues are showing up, according to a 2021 Houzz survey. If you’re timid about the new shades — lots of blues and greens — consider small doses in a few perimeter cabinets. Or for an island, you could add some backsplash tiles on one wall; one color appliance, like a turquoise range (yep, it’s available!); or a smaller standing mixer or countertop oven. They’re now available in almost any color of the rainbow. 

Paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams says green kitchens are gaining ground. People want to bring the feeling of plants and trees inside, whether in dark, jewel tones or more muted, soothing hues. Green also pairs well with wood in floors, furniture, or butcher block countertops. 

If you’re not ready to commit to color, consider sophisticated black accents. They’ve become popular for architectural features like window frames, doors, cabinets, faucets, and appliance fronts. “Black is the Sharpie that outlines the kitchen,” says JT Norman, design specialist at Kitchen Magic in Nazareth, Pa.

#3 Blend Your Spaces for Seamlessness

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Image: Andrea Rugg/Getty
  • The kitchen has become more of a room to live in. Even if you already have an open floor plan with adjoining spaces, you may want your furnishings, color palette, and accessories to blend more seamlessly. That way, there’s no jarring change from one room to another. McCormick says this is a shift from years past, when each room was a different color and sometimes a slightly different style. “With this new way, you can bring chairs from one room to another if you need more seating,” she says. “They look right, and it’s also easier on the eye.”

If your kitchen has separate dining and comfy hangout areas, you can still get a cohesive look by coordinating colors and styles. One way to blend spaces is to use the same style of cabinetry. Simple shaker cabinets are still a classic choice. Some homeowners also want panel fronts similar to their cabinets to camouflage kitchen appliances. And even if the color scheme isn’t exactly the same throughout, you might introduce one common denominator of a few similarly colored accessories in each room. 

#4 Go for Convenience With Smart Appliances

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Image: visualspace/Getty
  • Your tech-savvy side wants to find ways to use the latest developments in kitchen equipment to save time and effort. Why not get a jump on preheating the oven for the chicken you plan to roast after a hard day at work — or reheating the one you bought at the supermarket? Most major manufacturers offer models with Wi-Fi capability. You download an app onto your phone or tablet and program the unit. Voila! The range is warm when you arrive home, so you get to eat sooner. 

Faucets like Delta’s Touch2O Technology let you touch anywhere on the spout or faucet handle with your wrist or forearm to activate water flow if your hands are covered. So, no worries if you’re kneading pizzas for your gang.

You may or may not be ready for a fridge that knows if you’re low on butter or eggs and need to order. “Some buy this technology if they can afford it, even though they may not use it often,” says Chicago designer Susan Brunstrum of Studio Brunstrum.

But here’s something you can easily add and will want — more outlets and USB ports. You’ll be ready to charge everyone’s phone and other tech devices at one convenient charging station.

A creative kitchen can be a more livable space that displays your family’s interests and blends with your other rooms. And best of all, changes don’t have to be big, pricey, or time consuming. They can still make a major difference in ramping up your happiness quotient.

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

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How to Cool a Room Without AC

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Want summer comfort but hate the AC? Follow these tips on how to keep your house cool without frosty air conditioning.

Dog sitting in front of fan keeping cool
Image: Melanie DeFazio/Stocksy
  • These tips will help you cool a house without AC, which will save energy (and avoid AC wars with your family).

How to Cool a Room Without AC

When sunlight enters your house, it turns into heat. You’ll keep your house cooler if you reduce solar heat gain by keeping sunlight out.

Close the drapes: Line them with light-colored fabric that reflects the sun, and close them during the hottest part of the day. Let them pillow onto the floor to block air movement.

Add awnings: Install them on south- and west-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain by up to 77%, says the U.S. Department of Energy. Make your own by tacking up sheets outside your windows and draping the ends over a railing or lawn chair.

Install shutters: Interior and exterior shutters not only reduce heat gain and loss, but they also add security and protect against bad weather. Interior shutters with adjustable slats let you control how much sun you let in.

Apply high-reflectivity window film: Install energy-saving window films on east- and west-facing windows, which will keep you cool in summer, but let in warming sun in the winter. Mirror-like films are more effective than colored transparent films.Popular Reads

Open Those Windows

Be sure to open windows when the outside temperature is lower than the inside. Cool air helps lower the temps of everything — walls, floors, furniture — that will absorb heat as temps rise, helping inside air say cooler longer.

To create cross-ventilation, open windows on opposite sides of the house. Good ventilation helps reduce VOCs and prevents mold.

Turn Up Fans

Portable fans: At night, place fans in open windows to move cool air. In the day, put fans where you feel their cooling breezes (moving air evaporates perspiration and lowers your body temperature). To get extra cool, place glasses or bowls of ice water in front of fans, which will chill the moving air.

Ceiling fans: For maximum cooling effect, make sure ceiling fans spin in the direction that pushes air down, rather than sucks it up. Be sure to turn off fans when you’re not in the room, because fan motors give off heat, too.

Whole house fans: A whole-house fan ($1,000 to $1,600, including installation) exhausts hot inside air out through roof vents. Make sure your windows are open when you run a whole-house fan.

Power Down Appliances

You’ll save money and reduce heat output by turning off appliances you’re not using, particularly your computer and television. Powering down multiple appliances is easier if you connect them to the same power strip.

Don’t use heat- and steam-generating appliances — ranges, ovens, washers, dryers — during the hottest part of the day. In fact, take advantage of the heat by drying clothes outside on a line.

Plant Trees and Vines

These green house-coolers shade your home’s exterior and keep sunlight out of windows. Plant them by west-facing walls, where the sun is strongest.

Deciduous trees, which leaf out in spring and drop leaves in fall, are best because they provide shade in summer, then let in sun when temperatures drop in autumn. Select trees that are native to your area, which have a better chance of surviving. When planting, determine the height, canopy width, and root spread of the mature tree and plant accordingly.

Climbing vines, such as ivy and Virginia creeper, also are good outside insulators. To prevent vine rootlets or tendrils from compromising your siding, grow them on trellises or wires about 6 inches away from the house.

Speaking of shade, here are smart, inexpensive ideas for shading your patio.

Want more tips for staying cool this summer? Substitute CFL and LED bulbs for hotter incandescent lights.

Also, try insulating your garage door to prevent heat buildup.

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

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7 Cleaning Tips for Keeping Your Home Spotless When Selling It

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Drive off with the laundry. You don’t want buyers’ noses to detect your dirties.

Brown carpet with perfect geometric-patterned vacuum lines
Image: @joeychiudds
  • When your house is on the market, keeping it picture-perfect can be a wee bit stressful. But it is possible to keep your home show-ready while life goes on. 

Here are seven cleaning tips on how to do it.

#1 Invest in Clear Bins

The less stuff you have out, the less you have to keep tidy. Keep as few (depersonalized, aesthetically pleasing) items in your home as possible, from decor to clothes. Thin out closets, garage, bookcases — any place clutter collects.

Of course, that means your storage spaces are going to get a workout. “This is a great time to buy those big plastic tubs because they’re cheap, and they make everything look uniform,” says Dale Boutiette, a real estate agent with the Dale + Alla Team in San Francisco.

Keep your tidy storage tubs somewhere out of the way but accessible. You’ll be a more effective clutter-culler if you know you can get to your stuff when you need it.Popular Reads

#2 Clean As You Go

High angle view of dishes and utensils in dishwasher
Image: Cavan Images/Offset
  • When your home is on the market, cleaning isn’t a thing you do; it’s the way you live.

“Assume you’ll have a showing every day,” says Maura Black, sales vice president at Sibcy Cline REALTORS® in Cincinnati. “So clean as you go.”

Every time you finish an activity or leave a room, make it your goal to look like you were never there.

Deposit dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash and stow them after each meal. Make the bed when you get up. Fold laundry straight from the dryer and put it away immediately. You get the idea.

“That may take a few extra minutes up front, but it relieves a ton of stress at showing time,” says Black.

Every time you finish an activity or leave a room, make it your goal to look like you were never there.

#3 Use Only One Bathroom

White bathroom with black-counter vanity and glass shower
Image: Sameer A.K.
  • Few areas of your home need to be as spotless for buyers as the bathroom — but also, you know, stuff happens in there. Every day. Sigh.

Consider using only one bathroom while your home is on the market. The fewer toilets to scrub in a hurry, the better.

And keep that one bathroom as near-perfect as possible while in use:

  • Squeegee the tub or shower after every use.
  • Wipe the sink and counter after every use, too: brushing your teeth, applying makeup, washing hands, spraying hairspray, etc.
  • Clean the toilet and wipe down the floor each day.

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#4 Tackle Odors Every Day

Odors are an instant turnoff for buyers, and new odors appear every darn day. Start off on the right foot by paying a pro or doing your own super-deep cleaning with a focus on olfactory messes: grease build-up, stinky drains, musty basements, etc.

Then, do a daily disinfectant sweep of your home’s stinkiest spots:

  • Wash your trash cans every time you take out a bag.
  • Vacuum under furniture.
  • Wipe down baseboards and window sills (where dust — thus, smells — gets trapped).
  • Do a careful cleaning of your stove and surrounding cupboards after you cook so tonight’s dinner doesn’t become tomorrow’s turnoff for buyers.

#5 Rotate Kids’ Toys and Books

Record organizer used for kids' books in very designed room
Image: @fortheloveofhous
  • If you have kids, you know containing the daily hurricane of toys is a challenge on a normal day.

When your home’s on the market, it’s time to get extra strategic. First step? Banish toys from all but one room. Whether it’s a playroom or bedroom, keep the toys behind one door at all times.

Then deal with quantity.

Divide the whole toy collection into groups and designate tubs for each. The kids can play with one group at a time, and the rest go into a closet. If only so many toys are accessible, only so many toys can be everywhere when a buyer is on the way.

Finally, keep your active group of toys in some sort of nice, accessible storage system, like cute bins or baskets.

“My favorites are open baskets,” says Becky Rapinchuk, aka Clean Mama and cleaning pro at Cleanmama.net. “They’re attractive, and they let kids easily see and access toys, while looking great for showings.”

#6 Send Pets on Vacation

Adorable lap dog sitting on carpet waiting to be whisked off
Image: Emily Maxwell
  • Oh, how we love our pets. And oh, how they do not love showing season. You’re stressed because their fur is everywhere, and they’re stressed because you’re stressed, and stress makes them … shed more.

If you can send them to a friend or relative while your house is on the market, it can lower everyone’s blood pressure and keep your house as hair- and dander-free as possible.

If that’s not an option, here are some alternatives:

  • If you have more than one pet and enough household members, appoint each member their own pet and assign daily cleaning tasks: brush pets’ fur, clean their bowls and eating areas, vacuum their favorite napping spot, etc.
  • Take them away with you, or confine them to a crate or separate quarters when buyers come.
  • If you have an old or sick pet you can’t leave alone or take elsewhere, ask your agent to restrict showing times to when you can be there. This isn’t optimal since most buyers prefer owners aren’t present during the showing, but people are generally pretty understanding about special considerations like pets. Just keep your pet (and yourself) away from potential buyers during the showing.

#7 Drive Away With the Laundry

Two hampers overflowing with laundry waiting on table
Image: Molly Flanagan/Offset
  • No matter how showing-ready your home is at all times, there’s one thing that’s often tough to time perfectly: the laundry.

For many busy families, the massive laundry operation is always at some stage of unfinished, and you just can’t run the washer and dryer any faster.

While you can do your best to stay on top of it, if you get a text that a buyer is on the way and you have piles of dirties awaiting their turn, Rapinchuk has a tip: Toss ’em in a basket, stow the basket in the car, and drive away. You may not be Martha-perfect, but buyers don’t need to know that.

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

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Attic Cleaning: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Cleaning your attic removes allergens and respiratory irritants that can make your family sick.

Boy wearing gas mask in cloud of multi-color smoke
Image: Jens Magnusson/Offset
  • Attic cleaning probably isn’t your idea of a good time. But the dust, dander, and mold in that often-neglected room could be irritating your family’s lungs and kicking up allergies. Plus, a clean attic will enable you to put your great attic ideas into action.

“No one thinks about their attic, but it’s a problem area,” says Mike Tringale of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

Attic allergens and irritants constantly seep into your living area through ceiling hatches, doors, recessed lights, and heating and cooling systems (especially if they’re located in your attic).

Attic Cleaning Basics

  • Dust walls, window frames, and rafters with an electrostatically charged cloth (think Swiffer) or duster, which grabs twice as much dust as cotton cloths. Don’t forget to dust exposed roof trusses, attic fan blades, light bulbs, fixtures, hatches, and door frames.
  • Vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter vacuum cleaner, which channels all vacuumed air through a filter designed to remove even microscopic particles. A less expensive choice: Install a top-quality, high-efficiency filter bag in your vacuum.
  • Line shop vacuums with a plastic bag, which traps irritants and makes debris disposal easy.
  • Wear a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health mask, which filters a high percentage of airborne particles.
  • If you suffer from allergies — 50 million people in the U.S. do, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology — hire a professional to remove the debris. Prices for pro attic cleaning vary depending on region and nature of the cleanup. Get an estimate before hiring a cleaning contractor.

Keeping Irritants Out of Your Attic

Preventing mold growth and sealing out insects and vermin help reduce irritants in your attic.

Mold: Small roof leaks and old, cracked caulking can let in moisture, which may lead to mold damage. Once a year, and after each big storm, walk around your home to inspect your roof from all angles. Repair any loose, missing, or broken shingles. Check windows for missing caulking or cracked panes.

Don’t bother buying a home mold test kit, which may register mold spores that are constantly in the air anyway. If you suspect mold or can see a mold-covered area that’s larger than about 10 square feet, call a certified indoor air quality professional to evaluate your situation.

Dust: Many of those tiny dust mites you see floating around are really dust mite particles, roach parts, and vermin dander made of dried saliva, urine, and feces.

These dust proteins can trigger allergic reactions, so search for tiny cracks and openings in your roof, walls, and windows where vermin and insects can enter. Seal attic air leaks with caulk and polyurethane foam, and repair any holes in attic ventilation screens that are under the eaves and in gable ends.

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

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8 Storage Tips to Help You Clean Better, Clean Faster

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

The glove hack in #5 is borderline genius.

home cleaning products organized in hallway to basement shoe caddy on door broom mops dusters hang on wall
Image: Amy McBennett for HouseLogic
  • Though there may be a dozen other items on your to do list, you can’t hide from the one you wrote at the top of the page in red and all caps and circled twice: “Clean the house.” It’s a drag, and the task always takes twice as long as you expect it to.

But it doesn’t have to be a drag. Not if you’re organized, that is.

When everything is accessible and ready to go, you’ll be motivated to get started — and you’ll finish faster, says Jan Dougherty, author of “The Lost Art of House Cleaning.” 

Try these ideas for a bit of motivation to grab your cleaning gloves.

#1 A $4 Tension Bar for Spray Bottles

The rooms that require the most cleaning accoutrements are the bathroom and kitchen. Fortunately, they both typically contain the gold standard for supply storage: a cupboard under the sink.

Tension rod used to organize spray bottles
Image: Liz Foreman for HouseLogic
  • But this blank box can be a lot more efficient. Add a cheap and easy-to-install tension bar to hold your spray bottles where you can easily see and grab them.

An alternative to a tension rod is a sliding rack installed at the bottom of the sink cabinet, Dougherty says. That way, you can easily pull out what’s under there without breaking your back to get it.

Related: Under-Sink Storage Ideas for Bath

#2 Use S-Hooks to Convert Any Closet to a Broom Closet

Have just one broom closet, but three stories and nine rooms to clean? Or no broom closet at all? Turn any closet into an efficient space for cleaning supplies by using inexpensive S-hooks to hang mops and brooms right where you need them. And, wow, look at all that floor space for storing your buckets and other supplies!

#3 Use a Cart to Move With You

No closets? No problem. Do what hotel maids do — use a cart to haul your cleaning supplies around. The one pictured comes from IKEA (about $30) and does the job without taking up a ton of space.

Blue cart with cleaning supplies in a bathroom
Image: Anne Arntson for HouseLogic
  • #4 Build (or Buy) Shelves to Fit That Odd Corner

Your home is a special snowflake. Whether it’s small and open or huge and labyrinthine, locating your home’s unique opportunities for shelf space can be a great way to make cleaning supply storage more convenient. It could be that open area in the corner by the stairway or that dead space at the end of the hall.

After all, you don’t want to run around looking for things.

Wood tower in a garage with blue and red recycling bins
Image: Jaime Costiglio/That’s My Letter
  • Inexpensive shelving can be tucked anywhere, and you can configure units to fit your supplies. If you’d rather not look at your storage, you can always use a decorative curtain or screen to hide it.

Can’t find room in the main house? Garage space — especially close to the door of an attached garage — can be an efficient spot for a set of shelves to live.

Wood tower with cleaning supplies in a garage
Image: Jaime Costiglio/That’s My Letter
  • #5 Hang a Hook for Gloves

Below the sink is the natural spot for gloves, but finding them crumpled up and stuck to the side of a grimy spray bottle makes for a gross cleaning delay. Hanging them up makes rubber gloves easy to find and keeps them clean and dry. Add some grommets to your gloves, or use a chip clip with a looped top for the same effect.

A blue and yellow pair of gloves with grommets under sink
Image: Iron & Twine
  • #6 Pull Out a Closet

This is the Cadillac of cleaning storage solutions — making a closet-size pull-out rack. If you’ve got a foot or two of blank space between the right walls, you can have a pull-out closet custom fit for all your supplies. From the outside it looks like one of your cabinets. Inside, everything is visible and easily accessible.

A pull-out cabinet filled with cleaning supplies in kitchen
Image: Carmel Builders, Inc.
  • #7 Hold It All in a Shoe Caddy

It’s cheap. It’s easy. And all those pockets! The beauty of using a behind-the-door shoe caddy is you can hang it in or on any closet or door depending on where you want your supplies. Clear plastic sections make products easy to see for grab-and-go cleaning. Drips and spills wipe right off. And to keep the cleaning product clutter out of sight, simply close the door.

Shoe caddy filled with cleaning supplies in a kitchen
Image: Liz Foreman for HouseLogic

#8 Pegboard the Lot

Pegboards are the Swiss Army knives of the organization world; they can do everything. You can hang small shelves, baskets, and, of course, hooks of every shape and size on this baby. You just need wall space. Pegboards keep cleaning products off the floor and make them easy to locate.

Pegboard with cleaning supplies in front of green wall
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic
  • The secret, says Dougherty, is the discipline to put everything back the same way every time. “I have eight crews out and eight vans, and every van is packed the same way,” she says. “No matter which vehicle one of my cleaners used, the interior is familiar.” Do the same with a pegboard, and reaching for the rag, bottle, or duster you need will be a cinch. 

“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 Gotta Do’s in April for a Worry-Free Summer

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

Battle bugs before they bite (or sting!) you — and check the attic for problems.

Image of cellphone reminder April do this now spring tasks lawncare, ac with background raindrops
Image: Maggie Stuart for HouseLogic
  • Tackling five simple tasks now gives you a head start on spring. That leaves you plenty of worry-free time to enjoy the warmer weather.

#1 Tell Insects to Bug Off

Illustration of a hornet
Image: Mojoje/Getty
  • Early spring warmth awakens insects, so start to protect your home now. Seal openings in eaves, decks, and other structures to keep out carpenter bees.

Nix mosquitoes by eliminating standing water or treating it with larvicide. Call a pro to destroy wasp and yellow jacket nests, unless you’re experienced enough to engage in a bee battle.

#2 Prep Tools for Lawn Care

Lawn tools hanging in a garage
Image: Jo Facer, The Edible Flower
  • Ladies and gentlemen, start your mowers. April’s the month to get this vital piece of equipment ready to roll. An unmaintained machine can cost money, slow you down, and leave your lawn vulnerable to disease. So, before you pull the starter rope: 
  • Replace spark plugs and the air filter.
  • Change the oil and sharpen blades.
  • Fill the tank with fresh gasoline.

While you’ve got your gloves on, clean, sharpen, and repair your garden tools. When your azaleas are ready to prune, you’re not going to want to keep them waiting.

#3 Tune Up the Air Conditioner

Illustration of woman sweating in the summer
Image: Michele Rosenthal/Offset
  • With flip-flop weather comes another summer tradition: cranking up the air conditioning. Tune up your AC in April, before the mercury and service rates rise.

Ask your HVAC company if they have a twice-a-year maintenance plan. Often, you can get discounted rates if you join, and you don’t have to worry about finding someone to do it each spring and fall.

Now you only have to worry about which pair of Havaianas to wear.

#4 Check the Attic (and Garage)

Blue and red painted detached garage
Image: Ian Wood (Berkeley Garages)
  • How long has it been since you looked in the attic? Yeah, us too.

April’s the time to inspect this oft-ignored space — before it gets too hot. Look for signs of animal activity (raccoons love attics), and repair or replace damaged insulation or wiring.

Ensure stored items are still secure; tighten container lids and dust covers and replace moth repellents.

While we’re talking storage, how’s the garage? If soccer balls, bikes, and luggage have taken prime parking space, regain control with a storage system. Your car (and your partner) will thank you.

#5 Clean Up Bird Feeders

Cat-shaped birdhouse outside a home
Image: Suck UK
  • Besides spreading diseases to birds, dirty bird feeders attract rodents and hurt curb appeal. Gross.

Give your bird feeders a deep clean — not just a rinse-out.

Empty them, take them apart, and wash with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water. Rinse well to remove all traces of bleach, air dry, and refill with seed.

Clean under feeders, too, because moldy or spoiled seed on the ground can make pets sick. Don’t forget the bird bath.

A pretty yard that’s a healthy haven for birds makes a good impression — one that says “this is a well-cared-for 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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Mold. Ugh. Here’s How to Kill It Forever

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Brittany Icayan

By the way, bleach doesn’t work. And don’t try to scrape it off, either.

Moldy shower tile
Image: Bonnin Studio/Stocksy United
  • Ugh. Mold. It’s ugly. It’s tenacious. It’s the uninvited guest that keeps visiting — no matter how rude you are to it. But, unwittingly, you may be setting up the perfect conditions for mold’s return: a food source, lots of moisture, and a pleasant temperature.

“You’ve got to eliminate one of those three legs of the stool so mold won’t grow,” says Pete Duncanson, senior director of training and development at ServiceMaster Brands. “And it’s always easier to prevent than to remediate.”

Assuming you like warm showers and a comfy thermostat setting, there’s not much you can do about the temperature mold loves. But you can get rid of mold — and permanently prevent it — by controlling the other two factors: food and moisture. Here’s how.

Starve It Out

Mold is a horror flick cliché. It’s everywhere. It’s alive. It spreads by spores floating in the air. And it can grow on any surface — porcelain, plastic, copper, silicone — as long as that surface is coated with organic matter.

“Mold doesn’t live on your shower walls or the grout or caulk; it actually lives on the deposited skin cells and soap residues (which have your skin cells in them),” Duncanson says. So. Gross. So, yes, if you want to get rid of mold, you gotta break out the cleaning bucket. There’s no way around it. But the good news is that you don’t need toxic cleaners. Soap and water works just fine with some elbow grease, says Bob Justewicz, vice president of marketing at IMS Laboratory, part of the National Association of Mold Professionals. But two warnings:

  1. Don’t bleach it. Online chat rooms and myriad websites might have you believe that bleach kills mold. Both professionals say it’s not true. “Bleach or peroxide removes the stain, but they don’t kill the mold,” Duncanson says.
  2. Don’t scrape it. Remember, mold is alive (it’s ALIVE!) and reproduces through microscopic spores. “If you brush [mold spores] with your hand, they just go into the air and look for new places to colonize,” Duncanson says.

What about those daily shower sprays? Will they work? They are of some benefit, says Duncanson, in that they help push mold’s food sources down the drain. But as a solo act, no, they won’t keep your bathroom clean.

Dry It Out

How? Use your exhaust fan. “Running the fan any time the bathroom is in use is a good idea,” Duncanson says. “Then leave it on for 30 minutes after or at least as long as the shower ran.”

But make sure your fan actually exhausts outside through the roof or a side soffit and not into the attic. “If it’s going into the attic, you’re causing moisture to go into an unconditioned space, and you can cause mold growth there.”

No exhaust fan? “Any movement of air will help dry out the bathroom,” says Justewicz. “Even a desk fan on the vanity will help.”

After a shower, use a towel or squeegee to wipe down shower walls. Open the shower curtain to let it dry. Mop any water spills on the floor and counters. Avoid piling in too many shampoo and body wash bottles. They’re a perfect place for moisture and mold spores to hide.

Make It Stay Away

Here are a few more tips if your bathroom mold seems especially strong-willed:

Recaulk. Mold adores crevices — probably because it knows you can’t reach it there. If lots of mold has built up on your caulking, it’s probably because it’s spread deep into unseen spaces behind it. If so, recaulking may solve the problem. Just be sure to follow these tips to keep the problem from getting worse:

  1. Once you’ve removed the compromised caulk, thoroughly clean and dry the area before putting down new caulk.
  2. Use caulk labeled specifically for the bathroom, which means it will be mold resistant.
  3. Let it cure for at least 24 hours (or as long as it needs to) before taking a shower or bath. If it’s not dry, it’ll allow moisture to creep back in, undoing all your hard work.

Check everywhere for mold. If it keeps coming back, it may have a colony somewhere you haven’t found. Check behind the toilet and under the sink. Moist drywall and wallpaper are tasty treats for mold.

Install a humidity monitor. Affordable at around $10, they can let you know when moisture is building before it turns into an indoor rain forest.

Know when to get help. If it keeps coming back, or you see areas of mold the size of a quarter or bigger you want professional help. “You’re dealing with excessive moisture or a food source that needs to be controlled,” Duncanson says.

How to Get Rid of Bathroom Mold

  1. Use soap and water, not bleach. Bleach only discolors it; it does not get rid of mold.
  2. Keep your bathroom as dry as possible. Use squeegees on shower walls and doors. Use an exhaust fan religiously. Wipe wet areas with dry towels.
  3. Re-caulk your tile if necessary. Be sure to get caulk intended for humid and wet areas, like bathrooms.
  4. Get a humidity monitor to let you know when moisture is building up to mold-friendly levels.

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

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