Category: Home Tips
4 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bill
With the price of so many goods and services on the rise, here are a few simple ways to reduce your energy bill.
Check for air leaks. Drafty windows and doors can be a huge source of energy loss. Check each of your doors and windows for drafts, and if you feel them, purchase a weatherization kit at your local home improvement store. You can also buy heavy, insulated curtains. If the draftiness is too severe or it’s too dangerous to fix the leaks (such as your second-story windows), call a professional.
Get-Your-Home-Sparkling Spring Home Checklist
The first official day of spring is March 20, and with winter in our rear-view mirror, March is a great month to ready your home for sunnier days and warmer weather. Here are a few projects to include in your Spring Home Checklist. Get a jump start on them now, so you may fully enjoy the spring days ahead.
Inside
Spring is the perfect time to clean your home thoroughly, but you can’t forget about those pesky spots. The tops of cabinets and under appliances are often overlooked in between deep cleans. If it’s been a while since you took care of these hard-to-reach areas, now would be a great time to dust or vacuum them out so they’re ready for summer.
5 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cool In Summer
It’s summertime, and it is hot outside! That means that you must stay cool at home. Here are 5 ways to do just that:
Close the Blinds
Use shades or blinds on windows facing south or west. Keeping these areas shaded will reduce solar heating.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat can be a great way to save money and conserve energy. You can program it to adjust the temperature up a few degrees when you are away from the home and have it set to return to a cooler, comfortable temperature before you come home.
Install Ceiling Fans
Air that circulates makes you feel cooler. Ceiling fans help to move air throughout the room and keep you feeling comfortable. In the summer months, run your fans counterclockwise to draw the cooler air upwards, and in the winter months, reversing the fans will push the warmer air down.
Grill More
When the thermometer soars outside, turn your oven off and take your meal cooking outside. There are plenty of fun ways to prepare a meal outside using your grill, and if you need inspiration, check out Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out on the Food Network.
Keep Interior Doors Open
This last tip usually sounds opposite to what most would think, but you allow air to circulate freely by keeping your interior doors open. This will keep your home cooler.
7 Common VOCs in Your Home
Although VOCs are found in building products, you’d be surprised by the other sources that can impact the indoor air quality of your home.
Acetone is found in nail polish remover and furniture polish. Choose acetone-free nail polish remover (which is also healthier for your nails) and use furniture polish that is water-based.
Benzene is found in tobacco smoke, stored fuels (like gasoline) and paint supplies. There are many benzene-free paints on the market today.
Butanal is created from the emissions of barbeques, burning candles, stoves and cigarettes. Always use barbeques and butanal-burning stoves outside and choose beeswax or soy-based candles.
Ethanol is found in glass cleaners and washer and dishwasher detergents. Look for products that don’t contain ethanol, or after use, open a few windows so you can filtrate the air.
In addition to building products, formaldehyde can also be found in some drapes, fabrics and molded plastics.
Terpenes are often found in fragrant products like perfumes and soap. Today, there are many natural-based options that still smell wonderful!
Toluene is found in paint, but there are many low-VOC options from which to choose.
30-Days to Organize Your Home
Many of us yearn to have a house that is more organized and less cluttered. But where should you start? As Desmond Tutu once wisely noted, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.” That’s how you should organize and clean your home. Instead of getting overwhelmed with all the stuff, tackle it as bite-sized projects.