Making Your Home Feel Clean and Healthy

A clean and healthy home keeps inhabitants and visitors safe from hazards and germs. However, making a home feel clean and healthy can be daunting, especially for those with children. It only takes minutes for kids to mess and clutter a home shortly after de-cluttering, scrubbing, mopping, dusting, and wiping it. Unsurprisingly, some people give up on a household routine once they feel like their efforts can’t change anything. However, you can establish daily habits that will make your home feel tidy and hygienic.

Make Your Bed in the Morning

Making the bed in the morning keeps your bedroom tidier. While it’s the simplest thing to do every morning, it makes a significant difference. So, take a few minutes to make your bed so that your bedroom can look and feel neat. Also, change and wash your sheets regularly to keep pet dander, bacteria, and pollen at bay.

Wash Dishes After Use

It’s easy to forget to wash the dishes when rushing somewhere. However, your kitchen will feel clean and healthy if you make a habit of washing dishes after use. Moreover, you’ll not worry about washing the dishes when you come back home.

Leave Shoes at the Door

Avoid wearing shoes past your entryway. Even your guests won’t mind leaving shoes at the door when entering your home. Shoes carry germs and dirt, which can get into your home, making it dirty and unhealthy if you don’t leave them at the door. Therefore, ensure you have adequate cubbies, shelving, or a big bin for storing shoes at the entryway. Also, have a fiber rug at your doorway for scuffing off major dirt. That way, you won’t have to mop the floor continuously.

Wipe Down the Surfaces Regularly

Wiping down the surfaces keeps dust particles and dirt under control. It also lowers the risk of developing dust mite allergy. Therefore, wipe down all surfaces, including the bathroom vanity and kitchen counter. Also, wipe down tables and counters after meals. That way, your home will feel tidier and healthier for your family and visitors.

Sweep the Floors and Vacuum Regularly

Sweeping the floors in all rooms prevents dust buildup. It also makes house cleaning a less daunting task. Also, vacuum high-traffic areas more often. This includes the living room, entryway, and hallways. By performing this task regularly, you prevent dirt, dust, and residue accumulation.

Take Out the Trash Regularly

Bacteria can grow in overflowing trash cans. Also, inefficient waste removal and smell can affect your family’s health negatively. It can cause chronic illnesses and infections. Therefore, ensure you take out trash and dispose of it correctly.

Stay Organized

Your home is easy to clean when organized. Therefore, don’t let your home get messy to start cleaning it. Instead, put everything where it belongs after use.

Parting Shot

Cleaning your home is good for your family’s health. Whether you have a house or an apartment, keeping it clean and hygienic has numerous health benefits, including preventing allergies and infections. By following the above tips, you can make your home feel clean and healthy. Remember, you can always hire professional house cleaners if you have a busy schedule that leaves you with no time to clean your home.

Post sponsored by: Regina House Cleaning

Increase the Resale Value of Your Home with Basement Waterproofing

If you plan to eventually sell your home, basement waterproofing can maximize its resale value. Many buyers think twice before buying a home whose basement will require waterproofing. Some will even offer 10-15% below the value of a home if it will eventually need waterproofing.

Why Basement Waterproofing Increases a Home’s Resale Value

Water can damage a property’s foundation significantly. Once water seeps into a home’s basement, it can cause foundation leaks, cracks, and mold. Foundation damage affects the structural integrity of any building, lowering its resale value. Moreover, once mold grows in your home, it can negatively affect your family’s health.

Basement waterproofing protects the foundation, ensuring water will not seep in to cause structural damage. It involves installing a reliable drainage system for redirecting water away from the foundation. Such measures prevent water from damaging your home and they can enhance its resale value.

Exterior Waterproofing

Exterior waterproofing involves installing a coating or waterproof membrane on the basement walls after excavating the outside. This approach prevents water damage that may arise from wall leakage. Here are standard steps for exterior waterproofing:

  • Soil excavation around the property’s affected areas.
  • Membrane or waterproof coating application around the exterior walls.
  • Drainage system installation to collect and drain water away from the building.
  • Correcting the grading and installing extended downspouts in the affected areas if necessary. 

Interior Waterproofing

Waterproofing the basement interior involves installing a reliable drainage system inside the basement walls. After installation, the system collects any water that may seep via the walls, channeling it away from the building. Here’s the standard procedure for installing this system:

  • Sump pump installation to remove water from the basement.
  • Sealing the walls with a high-grade vapor and water barrier.
  • Installing a suitable under-slab drain system for collecting and directing water to the sump pump.
  • Installing a suitable humidifier for eliminating moisture from the indoor air.

Drainage System

A drainage system is vital in basement waterproofing. It prevents water damage by collecting water from the building’s foundation and directing it away. Here are the available options for this drainage system:

  • Surface drains: This system collects water that may pool on the surface around your home and directs it away from its foundation. It uses trench drains in the garage, entryways, or other hard surfaces.
  • French drains: This system uses a trench that experts dig around the basement’s perimeter. Also, they install a piping system with gravel surrounding it. Depending on the condition of the ground surrounding your home, they may fill the trench with gravel and direct the excess water to daylight discharge points and the sump pump.

Is Basement Waterproofing Necessary When Planning to Sell Your Home?

Waterproofing the basement is an investment that increases your property’s value. You can expect up to 30% return on investment from your basement waterproofing project. Here’s why you should waterproof your basement when planning to sell your home:

  • A home with a dry basement captures the interest of many buyers.
  • A dry basement increases the home’s value.
  • Waterproofing makes selling a home easier.

Nobody wants to buy a home that will require them to invest in basement waterproofing a few months after acquiring it, unless it sells at a price that’s way below its value. So, invest in basement waterproofing to sell your home faster and at a higher price.

Post sponsored by our friends at Foundation Repairs Winnipeg

Should You Get an Inspection Before You Renovate?

You may not know it but a home inspection should be an important step of the renovation process. Having your home inspected enables you to identify deficiencies or problems that should be fixed during a renovation. Here are some of the reasons to get an inspection before you renovate your home.

Structure

You enjoy the open, big spaces of your home. They enable your family to gather and have more enjoyable entertainment moments. But, your home may not be designed to feature open spaces. Therefore, you might think that you can make your home more inviting and modern by knocking down some walls. A contractor or handyman might not understand the effects of such a move. If some walls are knocked down without proper planning, the structural integrity of your entire house could be affected. A professional home inspection will determine the walls that can be knocked down without affecting the structural integrity of your house.

Plumbing

Perhaps, you saw a beautiful vanity at a local shop and decided to purchase it for your home. The salesperson at the store might have made the installation of the vanity look easier. You may even decide to install it yourself. And, after a few hours, the vanity is up and running without leaks. This makes you think that you did an excellent job. But, it could be draining slowly or plug up more often. In some cases, homeowners cause serious damage to their plumbing systems when they do home renovations without professional assistance. When you have your home inspected before you renovate, you know the location of hidden pipes. You also know the fixtures that can be installed without interfering with the proper functioning of the plumbing system. Therefore, have your home inspected before you renovate to avoid interfering with the plumbing system.

Decks

Relaxing on a beautiful deck or patio as the sun shines is one of the most enjoyable experiences for most people. This is also the best place to entertain guests or enjoy cold beverages. You may have watched a home remodeling program that made building a deck seems easy. This may have tempted you to build a deck without professional assistance. Unfortunately, this can mean that you will end up with a structurally unsound deck. If your home renovation project involves the construction of a new deck, get an inspection before you start it. This will enable you to end up with a structurally sound deck that can withstand the weight of many people.

Basement Drainage

Perhaps, you want to renovate your basement to make it a guest room or a family fun area. But, if you’re not careful, the beautiful tiles or wood flooring that you install in the basement will be damaged by water damage. A basement should handle water infiltration in small amounts. That’s because this is an underground space of a home. Thus, leaks should be expected occasionally. Getting an inspection before you renovate your home enables you to locate leaks and fix them. This ensures that your newly finished or renovated basement won’t be damaged by excess water leaks.

Electrical System

You need an adequate power supply for electrical devices and appliances in your basement, kitchen, and even decks. To ensure proper installation of power lines and sockets in such places, your home should be inspected properly. The inspector may recommend that you upgrade your electrical panel to handle more circuits. If you don’t get an inspection, you may end up dealing with the consequences of code violations. Therefore, get an inspection to ensure proper installation or upgrading of your electrical system during your renovation project.

Getting an inspection before you renovate will enable you to determine what should be done and how it should be done during the renovation project. This will help you avoid unnecessary troubles or costs down the road.

For more local help, visit www.bathroomrenovationsbrampton.com to have a professional come take a look at your bathroom prior to renovating.

Tips For Getting Your Teen To Maintain A Clean Room

  1. PASSION

Start with what is near and dear to their hearts. Whether they love CDs, photos or magazines, bringing a sense of order to a collection they are passionate about is a great way to build their confidence and inspire them to continue organizing.

  1. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Respect to your teen’s preferred way of grouping things. Organizing their things your way may not make sense to them and if the system doesn’t work for them, it won’t be maintained for very long. Let them make their own choices during the purge. Although you can ask questions to help them determine what they value most, they should have the final say on what to keep or toss.

  1. SUPPORT

Make organizing easier for your teen by keeping them company. You can lend a hand by gathering supplies, labeling containers, and bagging the trash. During this process, avoid disparaging comments like “This room is a disaster!” or “You have so much junk!” Instead, take on the role of cheerleader by acknowledging small successes along the way and pointing out areas where they are organized.

  1. HOUSE IT

Teenagers have a lot of stuff. Rather than nagging them to get rid of things, create homes for their treasures. Use bookcases, shelves or wall units to get things off the floor and utilize the vertical space that would otherwise be wasted.

  1. CONTAIN IT

Use wicker baskets or decorative photo boxes to contain small items. Store like with like and label the containers. Use twine to attach manila shipping labels to baskets. Not only does this create a neater look, it also makes dusting easier.

  1. FILE IT

Use a banker’s box or a clear file tote that can accommodate hanging files and use clear plastic tabs to label one file for each school year. When they bring home their completed assignments, report cards or certificates, they can file them under the corresponding year. Encourage them to weed through the file at the end of the year and keep only what matters most.

  1. ZONE IT

Ask your teen to make a list of all the activities that take place in his or her room. Together, create an area for each of these activities, placing all the supplies needed for that activity close at hand. Some common teen zones include: music zone, reading zone, homework zone, grooming zone, dressing zone. When the CDs and the headphones are located beside the CD player, it makes finding and putting the CDs away easier and more likely to happen.

  1. POST IT

A bulletin board is a must-have for most teens, although it can become an eyesore if it’s not weeded out regularly. Encourage them to use it as a place to post friends’ phone numbers and a monthly calendar where they can keep track of important events. If they like to display special photos of themselves and their friends, choose a magnetic board rather than a cork one.

  1. HOOK IT

If clean clothes never seem to make it into the closet, consider hanging hooks over or behind the door. A clothing tree, funky wall hooks or an attractive coat rack work equally well at keeping clothes off the floor.

  1. LET IT GO

If all else fails, tell yourself that it’s only a phase and close the door!

Tips To Clean Your Outdoor Patio Rugs

Once you buy outdoor rugs online, you forget to take as good care of them as you would care for your indoor furnishings. And given the neglect, the rugs may die an early death or end up losing much of their beauty and color. Moreover, the accumulated dust and spills can turn your precious rug into a breeding ground for microbes.

If you own any kind of patio outdoor rugs, you should certainly try these tips for keeping them in good shape for a very long time.

  1. Storage:

It is pointless to keep the rug spread out if it is not in use. It would put unnecessary stress on the fabric and even take the new sheen out of it sooner than your expectations. It becomes all the more important to keep the outdoor rugs rolled away in cold months when either the patio would be exposed to rains or get covered in snow. To put it in a nutshell, it only makes sense to keep the rug spread in summers or spring time. And during the rest of the year, you can safely keep it decked away.

  1. Cleaning:.

Ideally, outdoor rugs should be cleaned every month if they are exposed to light and dust all day long. You can also pick up a weekly cleaning routine if the rug is not too heavy and if it attracts more than normal amount of dusty deposit. All you need to do is scrub it softly with a solution of mild detergent. Once the scrubbing is thoroughly done, use a hose to spray a powerful jet of water that would remove all the loosened up grime, stains and dust much effectively. Then, you can let it out in the sun for drying.

  1. Maintenance:

You need to protect the patio rugs from mold and fungal growth. If the weather is damp or humid, the rugs are at a greater risk. The best way to avoid so is by keeping the rug under direct sunlight every once in a while. This exposure to the sun also wards of foul smells. Both sides should be exposed to the sun for an equal length of time. If a spill happens right in front of you, you would be very lucky because it would be the best time to remove it easily. A water and vinegar solution works best but you can also go for instant stain removing solutions that are manufactured industrially.

-Thank you to our ongoing supporters who provide expert carpet cleaning Medicine Hat has been enjoying for years.