Category: Home

7 Daily Habits to Maintain a Tidy Home

No matter where you live, it’s crucial that you try and keep your home as tidy as possible.

Keeping your home neat isn’t a matter of vanity. If you don’t maintain a tidy home, you and your family can experience all sorts of adverse physical and mental issues. Thus, you must learn how to maintain your home correctly.

Maintaining a tidy home isn’t about thoroughly cleaning your house once it’s time to do a deep clean. To help keep a tidy home, it is all about the habits that you develop over time.

These daily habits can help reduce your workload when it comes time to deep clean your house. It also keeps your home hygienic daily.

For the maintenance of your home, make sure that you practice these seven daily habits:

 

Make your bed

A lot of people emphasize starting your day right and for a good reason. The simple things that you start your day with will affect how you feel for the rest of the day.

For example, if you do something productive early in the morning, you will feel more motivated to be productive for the rest of the day.

On that note, the simple act of making your bed is going to help you be more productive and come back to a tidy bedroom. Making your bed shouldn’t take you more than three minutes, so there is no excuse not to make your bed in the morning.

 

Sweep regularly

Sweeping your floors will also help you build up a tidy home.

If your floors are cluttered and dirty, it’s going to make your home feel smaller than it is. Therefore, you should build up the habit of sweeping your floors regularly.

Sweeping your floors often is going to reduce the buildup of dirt all over your floors. This task is also especially important if you have pets running around your house.

In addition, it will build up the habit of reducing clutter around the room since you don’t want to move things around when you have to sweep often.

 

Clean as you cook

Any professional chef will tell you that one of the most important things to keep track of when you cook would be the cleanliness of your workspace.

Whenever you cook, make sure that you clear your countertops away as often as possible. You should also make sure that you leave cookware that you‘re no longer using in the sink.

Everybody knows how challenging it is to get up and do chores after you just had a full meal. By cleaning up as you cook, you already reduce the workload that you have to deal with after you finish eating and cooking.

 

Wipe surfaces after use

Another habit that you should develop would be the practice of wiping surfaces after you use them.

It doesn’t matter what type of surface it may be. It could be your bathroom sink to your kitchen countertops.

What’s important is that you get the habit of wiping the surfaces after use to keep things hygienic.

 

Have a place for everything

Having a specific place for everything in your home makes it a lot easier for you to declutter and organize your items. It doesn’t have to be super precise as long as you know where each place is going to be once you keep them away.

Having a place for everything doesn’t only make your house look clean, but it will be convenient for you to find these items when you need them.

 

Do a load of laundry a day

Instead of waiting until the end of the week to do your laundry, it’s better to do a laundry a day.

You won’t have to be intimidated by the piles and piles of clothes that you need to clean and wash. Plus, you always have fresh clothes available in your closet when you do a load of laundry a day.

 

Perform an evening tidy up

At the end of every day, try to go around each room. Look for any items that you can quickly remove or any cleaning tasks that you can easily accomplish.

By doing this before you go to bed, you don’t wake up to a mess. Plus, it’s easier to remember to do since it’s something you do before you go to bed.

 

Wrap Up

Maintaining a tidy home isn’t glamorous. It’s a job that only you and the people who live in the house will appreciate.

It’s all about building daily habits that reinforce the tidiness of your home. The seven daily habits listed above are but a few of the many things you can do to maintain a tidy home. As everything becomes a routine for you, it will become easier to think of other daily cleaning habits that you can incorporate.

Remember to keep things clean and sanitized, especially nowadays, so that you and your family will remain safe and healthy.

 

About the Author:

Jacky Xu is the Chief Operating Officer for Maid Sailors Cleaning Service Chicago. Maid Sailors take pride in providing unparalleled cleaning services at affordable prices. Maid Sailors help transform your house into a home.

Great Ways to Make Your Home Safer for Your Family

Not even in our wildest dreams (or nightmares) did any of us expect the current situation: a pandemic of the dangerous virus, social distancing, quarantine, and shortage of toilet paper. While there aren’t many things that we can do but practice caution and wash our hands more often, we should take our own safety seriously. All of us happen to be spending more time at home than ever before and this is the reason why we should make an effort to make it a lot safer. Here’s how you can do just that:

Change your habits

You wouldn’t believe how reckless people are when they feel comfortable. After a while, we all get lulled in the sense of security in our neighborhoods and let our guards down. As nice as it is not to feel worried all the time, you should still adopt some good habits and be more alert. Locking your doors is a must, as well as locking your garage and back doors. Do this even if you’re only going out for five or ten minutes. Also, it’s a good idea to keep your valuables out of sight; you don’t want people who look through your window to notice how many valuable pieces you have in your house. Keep such things in a safe or in a safe and inconspicuous hiding place. 

Light up your garden

When you light up your backyard and your garden, you are instantly making your property more secure. This is a great way to show off how beautiful your garden is and how good your gardening skills are, but more importantly, you will be able to see if there’s anything or anyone suspicious outside. Romantic fairy lights may look lovely, but aren’t exactly useful, so try to get lights that work as motion sensors too. While these might light up when there’s a dog or a cat walking through your garden, they will also alert you if anyone approaches your home in the night. Of course, you will have to test them regularly to be sure they are working properly and replace the burnt-out bulbs. 

Secure your doors

We already mentioned the importance of locking your doors, but now we’d like to talk a bit more about door security. Do a quick inspection to ensure that all of your door frames are strong and that your hinges are protected. In case your door has a small slot, you have to make sure that nobody can reach in and unlock them. Luckily, there are many ways you can additionally secure your door, like installing a deadbolt or smart locks. If you notice some lock problems, don’t try to fix it on your own – professional lock repair service is a much better and safer choice. Also, you could add a video doorbell because that way, you don’t have to come up to the front door at all to see who’s out there. 

Install security cameras

Speaking of video doorbells, security cameras for your property are probably one of the best investments you are going to make. Not only will burglars be deterred by cameras, but those who still dare to come close to your home will have evidence against their foul behavior, and you will have the means to bring them to justice. The simplest way is to have cameras that are already a part of a security system, but you can also get some that work on their won. Whatever you decide to do, try to get cameras that have a mobile app as well, so you can access it from your phone at all times. If you’re planning on installing cameras outside, they should have motion detectors so they don’t record when nothing’s going on, and their casing should be weatherproof to protect them from the elements. 

Adapt your windows

While people are usually very careful about locking and securing their downstairs windows, they don’t do the same with their upstairs ones. Even if it would take a lot of effort to reach the upstairs windows from the ground, you shouldn’t leave them unprotected.  If you like to open up your windows because it gets stuffy and hot inside during warmer months, it might be a better idea to get different windows: awning, casement, or slider ones, and to do a bit of research to see what are the best ways to secure them so they can’t be opened from the outside. Also, you can install window security bars because these are inexpensive and efficient. 

Setting up security measures in your home is by far less fun and exciting as it is to decorate it, but it is essential nonetheless. When you are confident that your home is secured, you will feel better and be able to relax and enjoy the time you’ll be spending indoors. Fear and stress are terrible companions, and even though this is a difficult time for all of us who aren’t used to being indoors for so long, there are many things you can do to turn your home into a real safe haven.

Get the Best Outdoor Furniture Covers – an Easy Buying Guide

Home décor doesn’t just involve investing in furniture. Homeowners need to invest in getting the best furniture covers as well. It would be best if you said yes to covers that can resist the elements. It will help to secure the furniture from the wind, sun, and rain and also make sure that the furniture looks stellar. It will also add value to your outdoor furniture investment.

However, you need to know that all outdoor furniture covers don’t get designed equally. It is essential to ensure that you get the correct covers for your furniture. Discussed below are a few tips that will help you to choose smart and wise.

The different cover types

It would be best if you chose from the multiple cover types. The crucial ones to choose from are:

1. The custom-made covers

It is a perfect choice for most homeowners who want to keep their patio and outdoor furniture clean and well-maintained. These covers get designed for a specific furniture size. It gets designed, keeping in mind your precise requirements. Hence, it just might be slightly expensive, but it certainly is of high-quality and is durable.

2. Versatile covers

Not every homeowner wants simple outdoor covers for their patio! Homeowners have unique tastes in outdoor furniture and want impressive covers as well. Some people want to opt-in for the versatile covers that help them to alternate styles. You can count on the online service providers for this.

3. Universal covers

Even though there’s no one size fits all in outdoor furniture covers; still, it is one of the popular choices you have today. Usually, these covers get designed with inclusive dimensions that cater to most outdoor umbrellas and furniture.

The crucial questions to ponder on

Before you say yes to the outdoor furniture covers, you need to consider a few questions. The four important ones are:

1. Is it water repellent?

There are furniture covers that get designed with an outer polyester shell as well as a water-resistant PVC layer. It guarantees excellent performance during scorching sun heat, bitter cold, and heavy rain.

2. Are the cover seams reinforced?

At times, it’s the hidden details that make a complete difference. When you scan the cover carefully, you will notice that it has double-stitched seams. It might not affect the finished look of the covers; it can prevent the cover from ripping apart even after constant use for years.

3. Are the covers vented?

Fresh air takes away mildew and mould. So, you can choose covers that come with the secure flaps on all the covers. It helps in proper air circulation while averting water from getting in and causing furniture damage.

4. Is it secure?

The best outdoor furniture cover is of no use if it fails to perform with the first elemental blow, i.e., strong wind or a torrential downpour. You can opt-in for covers that use drawstrings, elastic edging along with reinforced ties that securely hold the sheets during harsh weather conditions.

Now that you are aware of the cover types and the questions you need to consider; you can make an informed decision. You can also compare the product quality and price to get a correct idea about the cover that will cater to your requirements.

Smart and Easy Ways to Make a Wall Stand out in Your Room

Homeowners often get engrossed with decorating their homes and their rooms! Everyone wants to stay in an ambiance that breeds beauty and creativity, in easy, simple ways. There are several ways to get a room filled with impressive décors, like furniture, geode table, side tables, potted plant, ceramic décor, and many more (visit ToolBox Nerd for more ideas). When it comes to the walls, homeowners need to think smart and creative. Using a chunky painting is cliché. If you want something striking, you need to think out of the box. You also need to ensure that the décor item doesn’t cost you a fortune.

You can count on some of the smart tips discussed below:

 

1. The wall murals

 

One of the best ways to make a selected wall stand-out is to work less on it and add more to its appeal. The canvas wall murals are the best way out. The leading service providers today offer multiple textures to choose from. These are custom vinyl wall murals that act like decals but cover the entire wall. The wall art is easy to print and install on the wall. Usually, it’s a high-end, self-adhesive fabric, and the images get printed in HD quality. So, whether you choose wavy lines or box prints, the design adds a different look and dimension to the wall. You can use the same in one or many walls, based on your overall home décor.

The vinyl wall murals are easy to avail and are affordable. You can place an order and print the same within a short time. It’s easy to put up on the wall and takedown as well when you want. In terms of the design, the service providers offer you total creative freedom. If you get stuck anywhere or have a query, you can ask for assistance. Also, the vinyl wall murals last longer and are sturdy. Of course, there are other ways to decorate your walls too! For example, you might want to invest in some acrylic photo blocks to display family portraits or your favorite artwork. Photo blocks are really eye-catching and will help to make your house feel like a home. Accordingly, if you are tempted to invest in some of your own, you can get your acrylic photo blocks at Bumblejax online.

 

2. White paint and a unique décor item

 

Is there a specific wall in your house that you wish to decorate distinctively? If yes, then you can put your creative cap on and go all out, brainstorming the best ideas. For instance, opting in for a minimalistic wall décor will draw attention. One of the best ways is to choose a white paint with a semi-gloss or matte texture. Make sure the surface has a sheen and is smooth. You can use a huge dream-catcher or any abstract art frame. Else, you can also place a coat and cap holder and keep it bare and well-maintained. Perhaps you can place one hat and a coat to add to the show. Keeping an armchair that looks antique beside it will also add to the appeal. 

 

3. The attractive wall decals

 

If you want to make your room wall appear trendy and smart, the wall decals are the best options. Usually, decals are available in multiple quotes, designs, letters, and images. Choose the one that complements your wall color and room décor the most.

The majority of urban dwellers are opting in for canvas wall murals today. It’s just one item that can literally dress up your wall and change the look of the room and space around. If you want one, browse online and order one today.

Smart Ways to Decorate Your Living Space While in Isolation

The whole situation with the coronavirus isn’t exactly ideal. People have to spend more time indoors than ever before, and shopping for decorations is limited. You’re pretty much stuck with what you’ve got, and no one is inspired by looking at the same rooms all day, every day. Even in these tumultuous times, decorating your living room is as important as ever. In fact, it’s something you’ll need to not go crazy from being indoors all day. Luckily, there are some clever ways to redecorate without needing a lot of shopping or effort. Here are a few that might interest you. 

Bring a bit of nature inside

People didn’t get enough outdoor time as it is, but the current situation is turning out to be even worse. Spending time inside is the norm right now, and there’s a severe lack of fresh and natural environments around us. Luckily, there’s a way to bring a little bit of that natural freshness inside your home.

Potted plants can be real life-savers when you need to stay inside for a while. They let your house breathe and make it feel livelier. The soft green hues of leafy plants help you relax and focus, and research has shown that they also affect peoples’ stress levels. Add a few of them in your living room and it’s going to make your home feel more comfortable. 

Rearrange the living room

During isolation, you’re probably going to be spending more time in your living room than anywhere else. It’s where all the entertainment is, and it’s where you’ll interact with your family. Being there more than usual is going to have you sick of the room in no time. Switching things up would be great, but you can’t really go out shopping for new things. 

On the other hand, you could always make some changes without introducing anything new. Rearranging the furniture works well to freshen up a room. Instead of having everything centered around the TV or entertainment center, you could create a chic chaotic arrangement with the furniture. You could also make a coffee table the focal point of the room. This will make it easier to get people into board games or cards. It’s something that would do everyone some good when they get bored of isolation.

Add tasteful touches

While you can’t make enormous contributions to your home’s design, there are still a few small details you can add to your rooms from time to time. Something that adds a little flavor and personality will make spending time in these rooms more tolerable. 

Rugs are a great place to start. They make any room feel cozier and their colors and patterns can really draw your attention. Since you can’t go around flea markets and shops to check them out, looking for modern rugs online would be a better option. You can find rugs that fit any kind of home design. You’ll find everything from chic and messy-looking rugs to clean and sleek rugs that would work well with a minimalistic design. 

Candles are another addition worth introducing to your home. They can create a nice atmosphere that changes the feel of a room. Let’s not forget about the romantic aspect as well. You can have nice candlelight read in your living room and feel like you’re in a chic café. Plus, candles aren’t hard to come by. You can find the most diverse scented candles on the internet. Think about the atmosphere you want in your home and recreate it with the wonderful smell of candles. 

Put emphasis on the windows

Since we’re all yearning for a little more fresh air in our lives, windows and balconies are this year’s saving graces. If you haven’t been spending a lot of time there before, you certainly are now. It might be time to make them a little more comfortable and attractive while this whole situation lasts.

Take the clothes hangers out of your balcony and put a few chairs up. Enjoying the springtime on your balcony won’t be equal to going outside, but it’s as close as you can get. Take some of those candles and use them at night, it’s going to make for even more of a cozy environment.

Being cooped up inside probably has you wishing you had bigger windows to let even more air inside. Try to free up space around your windows and spend more time there as well. Keep them wide open and add a potted plant on it. It’s not much, but it’s going to freshen it up. 

Conclusion

Just because we’re all isolated inside doesn’t mean our houses have to be less attractive. You should do your best to make use of this situation and spruce up your home as much as possible. Even without any external additions, you can still decorate your home to your tastes and make the time you spend inside more interesting and comfortable. 

10 Places to Find Your Inspiration

You’ve hit the creativity brick wall.  Whether you’re a writer, a painter or a creator of professional stock photography this happens to all creative types from time to time.  No matter how imaginative you think you are, there will be occasions here and there where you will need a proverbial kick in the creativity pants.

The next time this happens to you, take a deep breath and look around.  Sometimes the next great idea materializes right in front of you when you search these tried and true themes for your inspiration.

Holidays

Tired of creating still lives of Christmas lights and ornaments?  Look to some of the more unusual holidays celebrated around the world for your genius.  There is a day dedicated to just about any food, fetish or trivia somewhere.  Search the web and you’ll find a wacky holiday, festival or celebration sure to be a catalyst to your creativity.

Nature

It’s hard not to be inspired by the beauty of nature.  The majesty in a sunset, the colors of the rainbow or contrasts in fields of flowers are all awe inspiring.  But the trick is to see beyond the obvious draw to find originality.  Look small – at the tiny spider building a web on that stunning flower.  Look big – at the storm clouds parting to form that breathtaking rainbow.  Draw from contrasts of light and dark, hot and cold, big and small.  Look not as an observer, but as an artist and you’ll be sure to see a new side to Mother Nature.

Travel

It’s easy to create awesome imagery when traveling to exotic places, but try to be a tourist in your own backyard.  Think like someone who’s looking to book a trip to your area – or better yet, think like the tour director, travel agent or pamphlet designer looking to promote your area.  What is unique to your geography? To your history? To your climate? To your architecture, or people, or traditions?  Use these as your muse.

Humor

Sometimes we simply take art – and ourselves – too seriously when all we really want is a good reason to laugh.  Use your naturally silly side to capture practical jokes, caricatures of folks you know, or just a good old fashion pun.  Think of any person, place or thing and then see how many different ways you can use that in a humorous setting.  Don’t forget to poke some fun at yourself while you’re at it.

Science

Geek is the new chic!  Every avenue of scientific research and study can be a model for your thoughts.  Go to an observatory, or science and nature museum, with an open mind.  Read scientific magazines or watch television shows that discuss astrology, chemistry or any other scientific field.  Or just watch The Big Bang Theory for a few days to see what physics can inspire you to do.

News and Current Events

We all read a paper or watch the evening news so why not use the relevant topics as motivation.  See what’s trending on social media for insights into what the world is talking about and challenge yourself to see how many ideas you can brainstorm from a single hashtag.  Look at the topic of the latest viral video to see what they bring to mind – if nothing else, you’re sure to see some really cute videos of kittens to make it worth your time.

Animals

And speaking of animals, they are a great boost to ideating.  They can be used as a subject in their own right, or studied to identify characteristics that translate well into art;  kitten/playful, fox/sly, dog/loyal, crocodile/cold, etc. etc. etc.  Use them to represent universal themes like a butterfly flying free.

Everyday Life

List all the things you do on an average day.  What are the weekly or monthly items on your to-do list?  What annual events centered on home, work and family occupy your time.  These can each be an impulse to an idea.  Close your eyes and let the mundane become exceptional.

Food

We’re already a world of food paparazzi; why not use the daily bread to add incentive.  If you like to cook, think farm to table to uncover unique examples.   If you like to eat, think happy times with friends and family shared over a kitchen table.  An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Fish is good brain food.  Every aspect of the food can generate a wealth of new angles to consider.

Health, Nutrition, and Fitness

We are bombarded daily with the importance of balancing nutrition and fitness for good health and the consequences of not doing so.  Instead of obsessing over them in your personal life, let the topic encourage new visions.

A few additional tips to help with your creative flow.

  • Keep a notebook or journal to jot down great ideas when they come to you.
  • Try doodling as a brainstorming technique. It’s amazing what can come to you when you release your mind to the creative process.
  • Get moving! There is scientific proof that motion helps to improve creativity, so take a walk to help get those juices flowing.

Images copyright Karen Foley via Dreamstime.com.

5 Top Sleep Tips for New Parents

For nine months, parents are sleepless with excitement, but as soon as you welcome your new family member into your home, you discover that the many joys of parenting will inevitably be riddled with challenges – sleep deprivation included. However, too many parents take this at face value and simply embrace the fact that sleep will be scarce and that they won’t have a single moment to themselves until their offspring grows up a little bit.

Still, this is not entirely true. It definitely pays to reevaluate your attitude, to pick up a few handy tips from versed parents and to start adjusting your routine to make more room (and time) for proper rest. Now that you’re embracing your new roles, it’s time to introduce some self-care practices and prepare for the new, extraordinary chapter of your life, preferably while not gluing your eyelids to keep ‘em open. These tips should do the trick!

Nap while your baby sleeps

One key way in which parents can get more rest is to use the natural sleep cycle of their little ones. Whenever your baby falls asleep, you should pick up your favorite pillow, a blanket, and get some rest yourself. Tune out all distractions and make sure that you always have a comfortable place with no noise and chaos around you so that you can fall asleep more quickly and without any trouble. 

Ensure comfort for you and your partner

Too many of us are completely clueless about what kind of beds, mattresses, and bedding we should get, let alone the right positions for our spine and neck and how we should sleep to get the most of our downtime. The right choice can mean the difference between getting ample sleep and ending up restless during the night, so it pays to find out more about the right bedroom essential to get enough rest.

Start by choosing a mattress that will give your entire body enough support while also ensuring ample comfort to help you fall asleep faster without causing any pain. A hybrid mattress that blends the memory foam with steel coils, for example, which makes it a great option to ensure comfort and support.

Set up a schedule

You and your partner have decided to bring a baby into this world, and you’re in for one rewarding, yet bumpy ride. It’s vital that you share every single obligation when it comes to taking care of your little earthling since you’ll also be cherishing all the joyous moments together. A schedule for those shared responsibilities is a great way to set up a system that both of you can develop together and adjust according to your needs. 

For example, you and your partner can take turns getting up during the night for feeding your baby, whereas you can also switch when someone makes meals, takes care of the dishes, and handles nappies. Some parents easily communicate these chores, but just in case one of you feels overwhelmed, you should share your concerns and find a fair way to share chores with a newborn schedule.

Build a support system

Moms and dads everywhere: you’re not alone. Your friends and family members are also there for you, as they should be, and you can and should ask for help when you need to get some rest. There is no shame in letting your loved ones know that you’re exhausted, so they can jump in occasionally to take care of your little one while you get a few hours of sleep.

In case you don’t have a big family and none of your relatives are able to help, there are professionals whom you can hire. A sitter or a trained nurse can be of great help from time to time. 

Practice sleep-inducing rituals

It’s easy to think that you’ll fall immediately asleep as soon as you put your little angel down for the night. As many parents will attest to, this doesn’t always turn out to be true, because many parents are too tense or have many other chores to think of, so they end up revising their to-do lists for hours in bed instead of falling asleep. To help your body unwind and turn on that sleep mode in your mind, you can introduce relaxing rituals. 

For example, you can use scented candles with lavender to add this lovely, soothing fragrance to your bedroom. Also, you can prepare and sip on a cup of chamomile tea while you read a book to let go of all those daily worries. Some stretching and belly-breathing can also be of great help!

Parenthood is a time of revelation, beauty, and of course, ups and downs. Take downtime seriously, because you will have more energy to bond with your baby, you’ll reduce your risk of developing postpartum depression, and you’ll also preserve and deepen your connection with your partner. Hopefully, these tips will help you get your shuteye and rest more easily, and ultimately help you enjoy your new role for months to come. 

 

Seeing some parenting books can be very handy.

2021 What Nobody Tells a New Father cover

About the author

Mia Taylor is a 33 year old blogger who writes about beauty, fashion and travel. She had always been passionate about fashion and over time she had developed a style of her own.  Mia loves to mix and match and inspire girls with her advice about outfit and accessories. She loves telling a story about her travels, providing beauty tips with readers.

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10 Home Maintenance Tasks Every Parent Should Know How To Do

Our home requires a lot of care and there are plenty of things we can do to make it comfortable, functional and in perfect condition for years to come. The key lies in a good organization, taking preventative measures as well as being prompt about any potential issues and it also requires a little time, effort and skill. There are some home maintenance tasks and repairs; everyone should know how to do – take a look at them!

1. Clean front-load washers

When it comes to home maintenance, there are some things on that checklist that we somehow forget to do. Cleaning front-load washers are one of them. Have you noticed that sometimes your clothes end up smelling icky after being washed? That’s because these washers are perfect for breeding mildew and mold. It’s essential to clean these washers at least once a month. It’s done quite simply: just set your washer to the hottest and longest washing cycle, add two cups of vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda and let it run the cycle. After it’s done, take a damp cloth and clean the inside of the drum, and rubber seal.

2. Clean front-load dryers

The same goes for front-load dryers. The cleaning process is even simpler when compared to washers. Clean the dryer vent as well as the duct. Unplug the dryer and check the duct for lint. You might need to replace the duct if vacuuming it doesn’t help.

3. Take proper care of your garbage disposal

Your garbage disposal can easily start to smell bad. That’s because of all the food residue in it. You can eliminate the odor by pouring half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the disposal. Remember to put a stopper on it and leave it for a few minutes. Flush it down with hot water afterward.

4. Keep your drains clean

Keeping your drains clean is one of the most important things as far as home maintenance is concerned. This is one of those issues that can cause you a lot of problems and that will require you to hire professional help eventually. Unclogging blocked drains is something you can try yourself with a plunger and different chemicals. However, if it doesn’t work, you can always hire professionals to deal with your problem.

5. Keep your gutters leaves-free

The main function of gutters is to collect water and dispose it away from the roof and foundation. And if they are full of leaves, they can’t perform their function and they can easily cause damage to the foundation and invite pests. Make sure to clean your gutters at least twice a year.

6. Replace air filters

Replacing air filters is also an important chore that we often forget about. They have multiple functions that consist of supporting the longevity of the AC, conserving the energy of your home and preventing mold. You should replace them once a month.

7. Replace damaged window screens

During harsh weather conditions that our homes usually face during winter and fall, window screens can get easily damaged. In order to prevent them from causing further damage and being functional, we should replace any damaged ones when spring comes.

8. Clean the carpets

Our carpets are the spot to which we drag all the dirt from outside. We should vacuum and clean the carpets to keep them dirt and debris-free.

9. Get rid of clutter

Getting rid of unnecessary clutter is something that requires quite a lot of consideration and time. But once done, it makes your home a so much better place. Think about all the things you haven’t used for a while and get rid of them.

10. Replace batteries in safety devices

One of the things most often slips our mind: replacing batteries in safety devices. You should check if all the safety devices such as alarms and smoke detectors have functional batteries and replace them from time to time.

Doing these simple things around your home promptly can bring you years of peace and tranquility when it comes to more serious and demanding home maintenance tasks that require professional help.

Essential Elements of Home Extension in the Melbourne South East

House extensions can change how you live in your home without expecting you to move to another property. Regardless of whether you mean to reach out up, out, or to the side, there are some key things to know before your venture starts from the legalities and coordination to spending plans and developers. To assist you in exploring your home extension venture here, some factors you have to know before your plan starts rolling.

House Extensions Need to Coordinate with Building Regulations 

Regardless of whether your home extension in Melbourne southeast can be worked under Permitted Development rights and won’t need arranging authorization, the work must get Building Regulations endorsement.

The Building Regulations set out the least necessities for necessary respectability, fire wellbeing, vitality effectiveness, clammy sealing, ventilation, and other vital angles that guarantee a structure is sheltered. Most of the fix works are avoided from Building Regulations, with the individual cases of substitution windows, underpinning, and reworking. In any case, aside from specific new structures, for example, sheds, storehouses, and some conservatories, all-new structure work, including alterations, must conform to the Building Regulations.

Common Examples of Work Needing Approval Such As:

  1. Home extensions in Melbourne southeast, for example, needs statutory approval for a kitchen, room, living room, and so on 
  2. Loft transformations 
  3. Internal auxiliary modifications, for example, the evacuation of a heap bearing divider 
  4. Installation of showers, WCs, which include new seepage or waste pipes 
  5. Installation of further warming machines
  6. New fireplaces or pipes 
  7. Altered openings for new windows

1. Do House Extensions In Melbourne South East Add Value?

For house expansions to bode well, you have to ensure the worth included is more prominently than the expense of the venture recorded. It tends to be hard to evaluate yet finding comparable neighborhood properties and perceiving the amount they’ve sold for, and it can be a helpful guide. Knowing about the roof is an incentive in your general vicinity, and you can plan for setting up to modify your arrangements if vital.

2. Limitation Of The Extension

Frequently extenders get engrossed with just thinking about the venture regarding square meters, not as far as what that size is adding to the house. Greater isn’t in every case better with regards to home extensions, and there are conventional methods of making the sentiment of more space without including an enormous expansion. This is usually accomplished through the smart plan of the new space, yet in addition, what is as of now there. On the off chance that you are expecting to coordinate your home expansion in Melbourne southeast to the current property, you have to source coordinating materials (which is once in a while more complicated than one might expect).

3. Pick the Right Designer For Your Home Extension In Melbourne South East

With regard to the structure of your expansions, there are various choices you can look over.

These include:

    • Architects 
    • Architectural professionals 
    • Designer specialists
    • Package manufacture organizations’ in-house design groups

Request suggestions from companions, family, and neighbors, yet in addition, look online for practices that have planned activities like what you want to construct.

4. Plan In Efficiency Early On

By concentrating on the texture of your new house expansion, you might have the option to overwhelm the essential esteem far and airtightness levels determined by the Building Regulations.

In any case, adding a thermally-effective expansion to an inadequately protected home won’t make it less expensive to run medium-term, and you should hope to improve the effectiveness of the principle house while the developers are nearby.

5. Stretching Out Above A Single Story

While it might appear to be intimating to expand a single story or the garage, these structures may not be able to help the total load. There are choices where the old structure isn’t adequate: support existing shallow establishments, fortify or sidestep the current with a steel outline slept within new solid cushion footings, or obliterate and revamp. The last is frequently preferred as the most practical choice.

Conclusion

Home extensions are an essential part of our modern culture. With the requirement of more space, this option becomes a very viable one.

7 Lovely & Affordable Home Renovation Projects

Are you looking to give your home a fresh look? Or are you thinking about getting a minimalist cloakroom suite? A home renovation project can be just the thing: with the right project, you can make your home look amazing without spending a ton of money.

Besides, the right home renovation project can be fun. Here are 6 that fit the bill.

1). Paint Makes Everything Fresh

If you’re looking for a relatively simple, beautiful, and affordable home renovation project, one of the best places to start is a fresh coat of paint. This is because the magic of paint is to make everything new: with a fresh coat of paint, old and shabby becomes new-looking, crisp, and clean.

The beautiful thing about this approach, too, is that it can be applied to both your interiors and your exteriors. Whether you’re looking to make your bathroom, living room, dining room, or exterior look fresh and new, paint is the way to go.

As Colorado-based painters Teaberry explain, “a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the look of your home.”

It’s easy to see why they’re right: so many of our design problems with older houses have to do with the décor, i.e. awful wallpaper, questionable choice in paint, etc.

You can even hire painters to help you at very affordable rates—this may be important if you’re worried about stains, or if there’s a challenge reaching the area you’re looking to paint.

2). Brand-New Bathroom

There are some surprisingly interesting ways to make your bathroom over, and you can find budget-friendly ways to do practically all of them. We’ve already talked about paint; how about tile?

With tile, if you’re trying to save money the most obvious way to do it is to limit the areas you plan to tile. Instead, focus on specific areas that are especially obvious to the eye and important, i.e. the floor.

What’s more, do you really need tile all the way up and down your wall? Why not one horizontal strip, followed by paint? For that matter, if you must tile an entire wall and you like a more-expensive tile, why not do one strip of the more-expensive tile and use it as an accent against a much cheaper tile?

Another good way to go with a bathroom is updating the fixtures. We’ve talked before about renovating your bathroom for safety, and that can be an important part of this. Instead of a granite countertop, invest in updated light fixtures, sink faucets, racks for the towels, and drawer pulls, as well as rounded edges, skid-proof mats, and other things.

3). Classy Crown Molding

Have you ever noticed how much some rooms look like the inside of a box? If that describes a room in your house, the answer may be crown molding.

Crown molding is simply trimming for the edges of your walls and ceilings. It’s visually more interesting than looking at the inside of a box, as it were.

Crown molding is very cheap, and all you really have to do is very carefully measure how much you need, cut it, and install it. This is a weekend project at most—it’s likely that you will only need a few hours to complete it.

4). Get Creative With Your Closets

Do you have a closet that’s always full to bursting with clothing and other stuff? Try organizing it. Closets are remarkably easy to optimize.

Getting creative with closets can start with something as simple as a proper set of drawers, one that’s large enough to accommodate everything you need it to. You don’t have to stop there, though: try some elegant, attractive baskets, and maybe some nice hooks to hang things on.

You can also paint the interior walls of your closets to make them look more interesting. Get creative, and see what your closet looks like as a result.

5). Book Tree Shelves Are Amazing

Want to know what’s better than a bookshelf? Try a book tree shelf, an object designed with shelves positioned like the branches of a tree.

Not only is it functional, it provides a visually-interesting way in which to store your children’s books and/or toys. They’re available online at quite reasonable prices, but you can also make your own. You can also hire a tree service like Sacramento professional tree care.

6). Trade Blinds for Blackout Curtains
Blinds have become common in many homes, but if you’re in the mood for adventure, try blackout curtains. They add an air of mystery, they won’t break the bank, and they’re also great for helping you sleep.

7). Create A Remodel Plan

Once you establish a list of your remodeling needs, it is important to then create a plan complete with estimates. You should make note of every detail down to the fixtures, furniture, paint, and hardware needed for each room. It’s also important to include appliances in your remodeling plan. New appliances come with the cost of the initial purchase as well as delivery and installation fees, so it’s crucial to note how that could potentially affect your budget. By making a list of everything you want or need for each project, it allows you to calculate the cost and see how it aligns with your budget. If you prefer using technology, mobile apps like HomeZada make it easy to manage your home improvement project details and budget. They also store financial records, which you can use if you decide to sell your home down the line.

Make sure to speak with contractors about your remodel to receive professional advice. Connecting with top-rated electricians or plumbers in your area is smart if you want to accurately assess the cost and needs of your project. By bringing in two or three professionals, you will have a thorough idea of the project and how it will be completed, with the security of knowing the job will be done right.

Honorable mention

When designing a kitchen remodel, there are the obvious things to think about – countertops, backsplash tile, cabinet hardware, etc. And while those are all very important aspects of the design, the real pièce de résistance is the cabinetry. It’s not only essential for storage and functionality, but it’s usually the largest factor (and expense!) in any kitchen and can make or break the overall design. – Tip by Mackenzie Wood for Bandd Design‘

Conclusion

Home renovation projects can be amazing opportunities to improve your living space. The right project can be remarkably doable, not to mention affordable and a great deal of fun. Try any of these 6 projects, and see the results for yourself.