Refreshing a room in your home — for a season or a more permanent change — doesn’t have to be costly or take weeks to complete. Try these creative ideas for quick transformations.
Guest Bedroom
Low-effort, high-impact updates will welcome your guests year-round.
Hang new window treatments to easily change the mood of the room.
Add a patterned rug for texture, warmth and visual interest.
Update the duvet for a small fix that makes a big difference.
Place new pillows in various fabrics and prints to add depth and coziness.
Invite the outdoors in with houseplants.
Kitchen
You might think a kitchen update means major upgrades like new countertops or painted cabinets. But there are quick changes you can make to give your kitchen a fresh new look.
Elevate the feel of your kitchen with new cabinet knobs and pulls.
Restyle open shelving or glass-door cabinets with new or repurposed items.
Create a coffee bar for a modern hotel-like atmosphere.
Soften windows while adding style with new blinds or shades.
Swap old or dated light fixtures for stylish pendants.
Make a distinctive statement with a new faucet.
Entryway
First impressions are made in your home’s entryway. A few simple fixes will go a long way in making this multi-purpose space warm and welcoming.
Add storage with a bench, shelving, console table, or hooks.
Bring life into the space by placing natural elements like small branches or dried grasses in a vase.
Give the illusion of spaciousness with a full-length mirror.
Create a dramatic gallery wall.
Add family photos or meaningful decor for a personal touch.
Housewarming Gifts For A Warm Welcome
Celebrate a friend or loved one’s new home with these creatively unique housewarming gifts.
If the new homeowner loves to host gatherings with friends and family, a personalized cheeseboard or coaster set makes the perfect addition for their next get-together.
For those who value a tidy home, help them out with a cordless vacuum or lid organizer. To keep their schedules as organized as their home, a magnetic calendar is another option.
Culinary enthusiasts will enjoy practical kitchen gifts like organic salts, premium olive oils and artisanal honey. Or consider unusual accessories like hand-painted measuring cups or a mortar and pestle.
Those who love spending time at home will appreciate a relaxing evening with a bath caddy tray and a soothing candle. For families, a sampler of popcorn flavors for their next movie night will surely be a hit.
Hot Tips and Cool Tricks: Your Guide To Regular HVAC Upkeep
Keeping cool in the summer and warm in the winter isn’t just about comfort — it’s about maintaining a home that breathes easy year-round. Beyond merely reducing the chances of an unexpected breakdown, regular upkeep of your HVAC system significantly extends its lifespan and is easier than you might think. While experts suggest professional maintenance once or twice a year, there are some simple tasks you can perform on your own.
Monthly
Ensure outdoor components are on level ground and free of leaves, grass clippings, toys, and other debris. Maintain two feet of clearance around the unit.
Inspect refrigerant line insulation for damage and check for leaks. If repairs are needed, consult a licensed HVAC professional.
Seasonally
In warmer months, turn off the water supply to the furnace humidifier. When the weather turns cooler, replace the humidifier filter and turn the water back on.
Use high-efficiency air filters, and be sure to replace them every three months.
Yearly
Clean the AC condensation drain line with water and bleach.
Lubricate the HVAC motor and replace the fan belt if necessary.
Spice Up Your Pumpkin-Decorating Skills
Turn ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art with these “gourd-eous” decorating ideas.
Give your pumpkins a metallic makeover with copper spray paint that matches copper cookware for a trendy autumn kitchen.
Make a cozy sweater for your pumpkin by gluing thick braids of yarn from stem to bottom, spacing braids about one inch apart.
Bring mummies to life by wrapping strips of gauze around a small pumpkin, using hot glue to secure the strips. Leave a gap in the gauze, then glue on two different-sized black circles for the eyes. These cute pumpkins capture the spirit of the season with their not-so-spine-tingling stare.
Add a touch of elegance by gluing pieces of white lace trim or delicate flower appliques onto pumpkins.
Recipe: Personal Greek Pizza
Ingredients
2 small, pre-baked pizza crusts
¼ cup marinara or pizza sauce
½ cup crumbled Feta cheese
½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
¼ cup red onion, julienned
¼ cup black olives, halved
¼ cup green olives, sliced
¼ cup sundried tomatoes
Directions
Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Place pizza crusts on pan and top with equal amounts of sauce, cheese and vegetables. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until toppings are hot and crusts are crispy. Serve with tzatziki sauce.
Are you a baby boomer who’s lived in your current house for a long time and you’re ready for a change? If you’re thinking about selling your house, you have a lot to consider. Will you move to a different state or stay nearby? Is it time to downsize or do you want more space to accommodate your loved ones? But maybe the biggest consideration boils down to this – will you buy your next home or choose to rent instead?
That decision ultimately depends on your current situation and your future plans. Here are two important factors to help you decide what’s right for you.
Expect Rents to Keep Going Up
The graph below uses data from the Census to show how rents have been climbing steadily since 1988:Rents have been going up consistently over the long run. If you choose to rent, there’s a risk your rental payment will go up each time you renew your lease. Having a higher rental expense may not be something you want to deal with every year.
When you buy a home with a fixed-rate mortgage, it helps stabilize your monthly housing payment.This allows you to lock in your monthly payment for the duration of your home loan. That keeps your payments steady and predictable for the long haul. Freddie Macsums it up like this:
“. . . homeowners with fixed-rate loans will see little to no change to their monthly housing cost over the life of their loan. You can be confident in knowing that your mortgage payments won’t change much in the long term, even when life’s other costs do.”
Owning Your Home Comes with Unique Benefits
According to AARP, buying your next home is a better long-term strategy than renting:
“Though each option has pros and cons, buying provides more pros, with a broader range of benefits.”
To help you choose what you’ll do after you sell, here are just a few of the benefits of homeownership that article covers:
Owning your home can help you save money for the future. Your home, and the equity you build as a homeowner, can provide generational wealth that could be passed on to loved ones, giving them a better life.
You might not have to pay a monthly mortgage payment at all. If you have enough equity to buy your next home outright, you wouldn’t have a monthly mortgage payment. While you might still need to cover property taxes or maintenance fees, not having to worry about a monthly mortgage payment could be a big relief.
Aging in place can be simpler. If your needs change, owning your home gives you the freedom to make renovations and updates that can make everyday life easier.
Bottom Line
If you’re a baby boomer who’s wondering whether you should buy or rent your next home, call Christine Almarines at CA Real Estate Group for advice at (714) 476-4637. With rents going up and homeownership providing so many benefits, it may make sense to consider buying your next home.
Return-to-office mandates mean many of us are readjusting to commutes that involve actually leaving home—and our pets. And, as we’re getting used to the new norm, our fur babies (especially pandemic fur babies) are acclimating as well—or not, as the case may be.
Claudia Prado, founder of the impact-driven pet meal service YumPup! and dog mom to an 11-year-old Yorkie, Blue, says your pet’s “bad” behavior—increased vocalization, going potty indoors, or attempting to escape—actually may be signs of separation anxiety. “Dogs may exhibit more active behaviors like excessive barking, pacing, or destructive chewing,” while “cats may become more withdrawn, hide, or have changes in their litter-box usage,” she adds.
If this sounds like your pet, you’re not alone—and, luckily, there are things you can do to ease the transition. Ahead, five ways to help your dog or cat feel safe at home when you’re away at work.
Elevated spaces can be a cat’s safe space. (Getty Images)
1. Create a safe space for your pets.
Just like their “hoomans,” pets crave space to call their own. That might mean a crate or dog bed for Fido, and for Kitty, a cat cave or cat tree. It really depends on your pet. Some animals feel safer in an enclosed space, while others love to be able to observe their surroundings, Claudia says.
Whatever your animal’s preferred retreat, be sure to add a few of their favorite things—blankets, plush toys, even an article of your clothing. Prado leaves “pieces of clothing on the floor or on top of my bed (my pup thinks my bed is his bed) so he can lay on top of it and smell my scent until I get back. This way he feels I’m close and stays calm enough to fall asleep while he is alone.”
A dog bed can serve as a safe and comforting space for your pet, especially if it carries your scent. (Getty Images)
Brain stimulation toys, like licking mats and puzzles, are a great way to occupy your pets while you’re gone and will also tire them out for their daytime naps. For licking mats, Claudia recommends using healthy foods like Greek yogurt and putting the mat at head level to avoid any neck or back issues. She also recommends changing your puzzle toy often. Pets “are very smart, and once they figure out the puzzle toy, they will be able to get to the food very quickly, defeating the purpose of the activity.”
Leaving music or the TV on can also help keep your pets occupied while you’re away. “My pup has watched Modern Family and Friends countless times,” Prado says. “At this point, he is a bigger fan of both sitcoms than me.”
Pets may be intrigued by the addition of a pet camera to your home. (Getty Images)
4. Get a pet cam.
Pet cameras can alleviate both your pet’s separation anxiety and yours. “I love using pet cams, even for dogs that don’t have separation anxiety,” says Karishma Warr, Head of Training at Calm Canine Academy. Their go-to is this weatherproof Wyze cam, but there’s no shortage of options on the market. A camera that also dispenses treats may be particularly helpful for extremely food-motivated dogs and cats.
Like with anything new, there may be an adjustment period for your furball. Try introducing the camera at a time when you’re not leaving home, so your pet doesn’t associate it with your imminent departure.
Speaking of departure, Warr says the best way to build your pet’s comfort with “departure stimulus” is through desensitization training. Try shutting doors, picking up your keys, changing your clothes or other things you do in preparation to leave the house—but then don’t actually leave.
Your equity grows as you pay down your home loan and as home prices increase. With home prices rising again, your equity is getting an extra boost.
Almost half of homeowners are equity rich because they have at least 50% equity in their homes. If you’ve been in your home for a while, you might have gained a considerable amount of equity, too.
Want to find out how much equity you have? Connect with a trusted real estate agent for a Professional Equity Assessment Report (PEAR). Call Christine Almarines and the CA Real Estate Group for a consultation today by calling or texting (714) 476-4637.
Find out how much your home would be valued at in today’s market > CLICK HERE
Gather everyone around for one more cookout of the summer this Labor Day, and keep these tips in mind to ensure that it goes smoothly.
[FamilyHandyMan.com] editors and experts handpick every product they feature. They may earn a commission from your purchases.
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Start with a Thorough Cleanup
If you don’t set aside time to clean and prep your grill, it can be easy to “forget,” and then your grill won’t be at its best for the barbecue (and may even ruin foods with smells, grease smoke, and other problems). In addition to cleaning your grill, take a walk around your yard and clean up any toys or junk that you’ve been meaning to get rid of — this helps avoid stress on party day. Plus, check out these 12 tips for planning the ultimate backyard barbecue.
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Get Yourself a Grill Basket
A grill basket is the perfect tool for grilling more delicate foods, especially veggies, fruit and kebabs.
If you don’t have a table umbrella or built-in shade from canopies or a pergola, consider using light netting or simple white bed sheets for quick DIY shade (check out these Labor Day sales on all things DIY). You’d be surprised how much your guests will appreciate the shade. For a more ambitious project, consider a grill gazebo instead.
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Choose a Signature Drink
To make your party stand out, pick out a special drink (cocktails or mocktails work well) and one unique food item that you are especially proud of. Play up these specialties in your party invitations and make sure you have enough ingredients for a steady supply. Keep food plans simple so you have time to enjoy the party along with your guests.
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Choose Portable Foods
Holding onto a plate of food at an outdoor party can be awkward. If you set it down, you may forget where it is and bugs can get at it, or someone might think you’re finished with it and throw it away.
As the host, focus on foods that don’t need plates. You can skewer a variety of veggies, meats, appetizers, fruit and sweets. Or let guests make their own. Provide bowls or platters of bite-sized items along with plenty of skewers.
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Grill Everything
With your grill out, why not use it as much as possible, like this grilling shelter? Grilling can improve a wide variety of dishes. Most breads and veggies can be lightly grilled, including lettuce and angel food cake.
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Protect Your Food
While that smorgasbord of food may look great in a photo, it’s not great for the food to sit out all afternoon. Flies will get into the fruit, coleslaw will quickly wilt, and kids (with grubby hands) will find it tempting to grab and go. So it’s best to keep food under some kind of cover.
If you are doing a potluck, keep plastic wrap handy to wrap open bowls and platters. And for your food, make sure it’s covered with a lid or in a cooler until you’re ready to serve. You can also set up the food table just inside the house instead of outside. Remember, this food needs to endure hours of summer heat and bugs — it needs all the help it can get.
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Multiple Food Stations
You don’t want people waiting in line for food or drinks, if possible. Set up several food tables if you have a lot of guests. Likewise, you may want to spread out ice chests and coolers filled with drinks so they aren’t all in the same location. Not sure if you have enough tables? Build a couple more for your deck or patio.
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Lights and Torches
Besides traditional outdoor lighting, consider installing string lights around your patio or deck for the right touch of ambiance and visibility as night falls. Setting up a few torches is also a good idea — not necessarily for visibility, but to help drive away mosquitoes with smoke and citrus oil blends. Be sure to watch young children around the torches.
Eventually, people will want to sit down. Have plenty of chairs and benches around and fill in with picnic blankets. If you are feeling ambitious, build your patio chairs.
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Signs and Chalk
Make it easy for your guests to know what’s in coolers and where different food items and drinks are. Setting up signs or propping up a chalkboard allows you to give directions (where’s the bathroom?) and identify everything. Speaking of identification, you may also want to include a bowl of tags or clips for drink glasses or a marker for disposable glasses and cups.
Use chalk to write a welcoming greeting on the sidewalk and steps in front of your house. No sidewalk? Draw arrows on the path to your backyard to guide your guests. And leave the chalk out so kids (and adults) can doodle during the party.
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Ban Bugs
Bugs can ruin a perfectly good outdoor party, forcing everyone indoors. If you don’t want to use a chemical spray bug repellent, try citronella candles or torches with citronella oil.
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Clear Your Dishes
Even if you limit plates and silverware, you’ll still have dishes to take care of. To prevent chaos, set aside trays for bussing used non-disposable dishes. That way you (and your helpers) can take the dishes back to the kitchen in bunches throughout the party, making final cleanup easier.
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Prep a Fire Pit
Ending your party with a cozy fire is fun, but you need to be ready. Prepare your fire pit for the big day by clearing out debris, stacking in firewood and making sure you have more wood on hand. If you don’t have a fire pit, there are lots of patio-friendly fire pit tables and similar designs that you can choose from. Or, believe it or not, you can build a fire table.
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Don’t Forget Music and Games
Create one last summer playlist and use a Bluetooth-enabled speaker to broadcast the tunes for your party. Of course, music isn’t the only entertainment people will be looking for. Set up games like croquet, bocce, and cornhole on the healthiest parts of your lawn for the kids of all ages.
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Use an Online Calculator for Food
Food is always one of the first considerations and thorniest problems for a big grill-out. Fortunately we live in an incredible digital age with online barbecue planners that allow you to see just how much food — and what kind of food — you need. The linked planner lets you calculate meals based on adults, children, number of vegetarians and favored meats. It’s a great way to get some basic numbers to work with.
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Plan Menus Early and Make a List of Ingredients
Plan your full menu based on the information for the online planner. For every dish and cocktail, make a precise list of ingredients that you need purchase and double-check it before you shop. You don’t want to start the party and realize you forgot that one ingredient that you assumed was in the kitchen.
Many experienced grillers like to focus on a signature dish or drink to show off a little, but this is up to you. Also, whenever possible, try to take guests food allergies into account by providing alternatives, if necessary. For more backyard fun ideas, check out these seven outdoor games you can make with stuff you already have.
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Plan for Outside Refrigeration
Not every grill setup can have an outdoor refrigerator (although it makes a great addition), but you do need some way to keep things cold. Whether it’s a mini-fridge you can plug in outside or a couple of coolers, be sure to have this figured out before grill-out day.
Always refrigerate meats separately from other foods and try to reserve a section or cooler for the drinks. Remember that it’s important to keep some foods cool, while drinks can always be stored inside until you want to bring them out. You need a good cooler for proper camping — check out the best camping supplies you don’t have.
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Create a Menu for Guests
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but for larger grill-outs it’s useful to have a printed or written menu that shows what you will be serving, especially if you are proud of it. Paper printouts, chalkboard stands and whiteboards all work. Skip this step if it’s a potluck-style gathering. Love the look of chalk? Make chalk paint at home.
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Organize Meat By Temperature
The easiest way to do this is to create three platters — rare, medium and well-done. Label them and serve your cooked meats on the appropriate platters. Keep an eye on them, and adjust for the general tastes of the crowd. This is a great way to please guests and save a lot of time asking or answering questions about which steak is well-done.
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How ‘Bout Them Apples
After that trip to the apple orchard, grill up some apples with your dinner. Apples stand up well to the heat and can be a tasty addition to the main dish or dessert. Just slice cored apples in half, brush them with a little oil or melted butter and cook them over medium heat until they’re tender.
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Try a Fall Grilling Marinade
Try fall flavors in your homemade fall grilling marinades. Maple, rosemary and bourbon are all flavors of the season. The Spruce offers this fall-inspired marinade featuring bourbon.
Ingredients:
• One cup bourbon;
• One cup brown sugar;
• One cup oil;
• One cup mustard;
• One cup Worcestershire sauce.
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients and mix until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Marinate meats for four to 12 hours before grilling.
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Squash Skewers
Try fall grilling butternut squash. Peel it, remove the seeds and cut into one-inch pieces. Coat the pieces in some olive oil and place them on skewers. Cook them over medium high for five to seven minutes.
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Grill Your Chili
Use a large cast iron pan or Dutch oven to cook your chili on the grill. Plus, Weber offers tips such as using a charcoal grill to cook a pot of chili in just over an hour. And using your grill will add a smoky richness you just can’t get inside.
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Try Some Leeks
Instead of throwing your fall-harvest leeks into a soup, try this simple recipe and serve them up as a side dish. Clean and trim the leeks. Next, split them in half lengthwise and coat with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Finally, grill them about five minutes per side, or until they are tender.
Try grilling a pumpkin for your next fall dessert. Just clean off the outside of a sugar (pie) pumpkin and poke some holes in the shell to allow for ventilation. And place the pumpkin in a 8×8-in. glass dish and cook on a grill at 350-375 degrees for 45-60 minutes, or until tender.
When it’s cool enough to handle, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Finally, use the cooked pumpkin for pie, or toss with some cinnamon and sugar and eat with ice cream.
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Grilled Salsa
Instead of making your regular go-to salsa recipe, try grilling your peppers, onions and tomatoes. For peppers and onions, cut and place on skewers. But for tomatoes, grill them whole over indirect heat until tender. Then chop and combine with the rest of your salsa ingredients.
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Grill a Lasagna
You can grill lasagna or any other casserole. Just heat a grill to medium and place the prepared lasagna or casserole over indirect heat. Then cover and grill for 45 minutes to one hour.
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Grill Wings For the Game
Wings don’t have to be fried. When making wings for a crowd, try grilling them. After marinating the wings, place them on medium, direct heat and grill for 25-30 minutes. Or you can also skip the marinade and toss them with sauce after grilling. Here’s how to fit everyone in front of the TV if you move things inside.
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Make a Charred Vegetable Salad
Get the most out of the end-of-season produce and grill up vegetables for a chopped salad. Try peppers, Brussels sprouts, onions, eggplant and even romaine. Next, coat vegetables with a little oil, salt and pepper and grill over direct heat a couple of minutes on each side until tender. Then chop and toss together with your favorite dressing.
Wish you had more free time to do the things you wanted? You’re about to get it! This expert-approved home advice will change your life.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. [Readers Digest] may earn a commission from your purchases.
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Skip ’em!
When it comes to home maintenance projects and rigorous home cleaning, we tend to worry that we’re doing too little…but there’s actually a good chance we’re doing too much. Yes, you read that right. You might actually be doing tasks that either aren’t necessary or are damaging your home in some way.
Ben Shrauner, a real estate investor and the owner of SellYourKCHouse.com, says that you can determine which projects to skip and which to prioritize tasks by asking yourself two questions: Are there permanent effects of not cleaning or maintaining an item, and how expensive will it eventually be to replace this item/part of your home? The answers may surprise you—and make you wildly happy!
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Getting carpets professionally cleaned
Think you need to enlist a professional carpet cleaner once or even twice a year? Think again. Unless your carpet suffers from a multitude of food or wine spills and heavy pet usage, you don’t need to do a deep cleaning more than once every 18 months, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. In between, simply focus on deodorizing and spot treatments. “Carpets can be deodorized with baking soda every other month, and rubbing in a little bit of powdered Tide or Dawn dish soap with warm water is an inexpensive, easy way to treat spills and spots,” says Ty Rosa, owner of the Sparkling Clean Home. If you want to go the DIY route, try one of these 17 homemade carpet cleaners you probably already have in your house.
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Repainting walls
What else can you skip this year? The expensive and exhausting process of repainting your walls. You might be tempted to do this to make them look new again, but all you really need to do is clean them properly. Believe it or not, that means vacuuming and washing them, says Rosa. Since they hold a lot of dust, she advises vacuuming them every three months, then following up with a little high-quality, all-natural dish soap, warm water, and a microfiber cloth. This will bring your walls back to life and keep them in tip-top shape.
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Washing curtains
Some people religiously wash their curtains every month, but this is another time-consuming home project that isn’t necessary, according to home cleaning expert Natalie Barrett of Nifty Cleaning Services. But this doesn’t mean you can ignore your curtains altogether. After all, curtains do accumulate a lot of dust and grime. “Take a less demanding approach to keeping them tidy by dusting the curtains and regularly deodorizing them for a fresh and clean scent,” she recommends. Incorporate these mini cleaning tasks in your regular chores, and then opt for professional curtain cleaning every six months or so to ensure that all dirt beneath the surface is eliminated.
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Cleaning windows
You’ll want to hug Barrett for this tip: Skip the window cleaning…at least in the summertime. Why? On hot days, before you’re able to wipe away the cleaning detergent and all the dust and dirt, the heat will dry up the mixture. This will result in Sisyphean work for you: more effort and only more dirt to get rid of! Instead, spot-treat kiddie fingerprints and dog-nose smudges in the summer, and leave the intense, full window cleaning for the fall. While you can skip this chore without an issue, make sure you’re doing these 9 tasks every week.
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Polishing wood floors
Carpenter Trond Nyland, founder and CEO of the Cordless Drill Guide, urges you to stop polishing your wood floors on a regular basis. If you do this too frequently, you’ll actually damage the wood. Instead, use cleaning chemicals a lot more sparingly. Furniture should be polished only every six weeks or so to help keep the veneer, and when it comes to hardwood floors, Nyland advises running a vacuum over them about once a week and giving them a wax and polish every three years. FYI, you should never use these cleaning products on your wood floors.
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Mulching
A lot of work goes into maintaining the outside of your house, but this is one thing you can eliminate from this year’s to-do list. While mulching flower beds in the front yard can certainly make them look nice, the effect may not be worth the effort. That’s the assessment of Joe from the blog Mini Riches, who’s worked in the construction business for a decade. The process can take up days of your precious time or cost you thousands of dollars if you hire a professional. Skipping this for one season won’t dramatically impact the curb appeal of your house, but it will spare your back and knees and keep a lot more money in your bank account. Instead, tidy up the beds with a rake, and pull out weeds as you see them rearing their ugly heads. Read up on the other surprisingly easy ways to kill garden weeds.
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Cleaning dryer vents
Step away from the dryer vent. This is not a project that you want to DIY, says Jason Kapica, president of Dryer Vent Wizard. Instead, pay attention to the warning signs that you might have a problem, such as your dryer being hot to the touch or needing additional cycles to run, and then call in a professional for the actual vent cleaning. It’s not that cleaning a dryer vent is a waste of time—it’s a waste of time for you to do it because you’re not a professional. Tinkering with it yourself can damage your dryer, and if you attempt to clean or repair it yourself, you might miss important fire-hazard signs.
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Power washing
While many homeowners love the way power washers deep-clean, in most cases, this kind of treatment should be limited. “One downside of excessive power washing is the abrasiveness of the water pressure itself, which can remove paint and wood fibers if used to excess,” says Richard Reina, product training director at TOOLSiD.com. “Just because a wood fence is a little dirty, it shouldn’t require the power washer every time.” Instead, use a garden hose with standard water pressure to minimize damage to siding and fences. Of course, a power washer will come in handy sometimes, as will these products that will clean your house in less than an hour.
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Sharpening lawn mower blades
“Whether you have a push mower or a ride-on mower, you have heard that the mower blade needs to be kept sharp,” says Reina. But the truth is, you don’t need to do this task as often as professionals recommend. “If you’re sharpening that blade every few weeks, you’re wasting your time because a well-sharpened blade should last most of the mowing season (depending on the size of your lawn, of course).” Not only are you losing time that could be spent on hobbies or relaxing, but the frequent sharpening will also ultimately cost you money. Think of it this way: Each time you sharpen that blade, you remove a fine layer of material, so if you’re doing it too frequently, the blade will need to be replaced sooner.
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Removing wallpaper before painting
Before getting into online marketing, Daniel Morris was a self-employed painter. According to him, you shouldn’t bother scraping and peeling off old wallpaper if you want to paint your walls. It takes a ton of time and energy, and there’s a much easier solution. “If your old wallpaper does not come away easily—and it probably won’t—it is best to paint over the wallpaper after gluing back any raised areas for a temporary improvement,” Morris says. It may sound crazy, but it works, and it’s a lot more common than you think.
Here’s how to do it: First, apply a diluted TSP (trisodium phosphate) mixture to the paper to get it ready to accept and hold the paint. Then prime the area, and once dry, apply coats of oil-based paint. Easy-peasy! The bigger question may be what color you should use. We can make that easier for you, too: Here’s the perfect paint color for you, based on your zodiac sign.
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Cleaning your entire house
This might be controversial for neat-freaks, but you don’t need to clean your entire home before entertaining guests. If you’re short on time, says Richard Kennedy of the Vacuum Experts, “just vacuum the places that people actually go.” For example, you might just want to quickly vacuum from the front door to the stairs and in the sitting area. The well-rated Dyson Cyclone V10 Cordless Stick Vacuum get the job done quickly and efficiently. You’ll also want to scoop up any clutter and temporarily stash that in a locked bedroom, fold throw blankets nicely, and put away stray shoes. This work takes minutes instead of hours, but to guests, the house looks spotless. Of course, you should give the guest bathroom a once-over, too—here’s how to do that in five minutes or less.
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Regrouting tile
“Unless grout is crumbling and falling out, regrouting is often a waste of time,” says James Upton, the DIY Tile Guy. “If your grout is old and dingy-looking even after you’ve cleaned it, I recommend looking into grout colorants before you take on the much larger project of removing and regrouting.” Both colorants and grout pens will color and seal grout joints, making them look fresh and new.
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Installing a new roof
Obviously, sometimes you need a new roof. But most times, you can get away with simply replacing the pieces of the roof that are slightly damaged and problematic from an aesthetic perspective. That will save you time, money, and energy, says Rostislav Shetman, founder of 9Kilo Moving. “A more aesthetic-looking roof [won’t] increase the value of your property manyfold,” he explains. In fact, most times, you will recoup only a little over half of what you spent.
So, how long will your roof last? According to the National Association of Home Builders, “slate, copper, and tile roofs can last more than 50 years, while homeowners with wood shake roofs should expect them to last about 30 years, fiber cement shingles 25 years, and asphalt shingle/composition roofs about 20 years.” Here are another 32 home upgrades that are a huge waste of money.
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Raking leaves
If the fall is famous for anything other than pumpkin-spiced everything, it’s probably the piles of leaves covering our gardens and lawns. Jordan Collins, a home maintenance expert at Two Lions 11 Ltd, thinks that too many people spend time raking leaves only to realize that the next day they have to do this all over again. “On top of this, throwing away the leaves isn’t optimal for any gardener because foliage is rich in nutrients. When you allow the leaves to decompose, you actually enrich the soil for the next season.” For those reasons, Collins recommends leaving the leaves right where they are!
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Weeding
Homeowners spend far too much time weeding their lawns. Dan Bailey, president of WikiLawn Los Angeles Lawn Care, sees some of his neighbors out there every weekend, on their knees and hunched over as they deal with pesky weeds. Stop right there! “If you’re prioritizing the right things, you should only need to weed in spring,” Bailey explains, “and if you’re in a tropical area, maybe once a month during the summer.” Instead, he says, invest in good fertilizer and establish the right watering habit. If you buy top-grade fertilizer, you’ll have far fewer weed problems as long as you’re properly aerating the soil. While you’re at it, you can also water your lawn less, too, since that contributes to weed growth. “In the summer, most lawns only need watering one to two times a week, depending on the climate,” he notes. Next, check out the home improvement projects that practically pay for themselves.
There are ways to embiggen your home without spending a fortune.
When you first bought your first house, it probably seemed enormous, especially if you were moving from a tiny apartment. But inevitably, the longer you own it (and start filling it with stuff, pets, and children), the smaller it seems.
What’s to be done? Buy a larger home? Sure, but that’s going to be expensive, especially right now. Get a storage unit? Now your stuff is 20 minutes away, and you have a new monthly bill to pay. Add an addition to your existing house? Also expensive—but it doesn’t have to be. While adding a whole new room or wing to your house might be the ideal solution to your space needs, if you don’t have the cash for such a project, there are lower-cost options you could consider.
Finishing an existing unfinished space
The first option to consider is finishing the spaces that already exist. Unfinished areas like basements don’t count as livable space in your house, so finishing them adds value and space to your home.
If you have a garage, that’s going to be the cheapest space to finish. Garages are often already attached to the main level of the house, have a door connection to the rest of the space, and are probably wired up with electricity at the least. The average cost of converting a garage is around $15,000, though it can go a lot higher if you need to add plumbing for a bathroom or if your garage is very large (or if you’re trying to convert one portion of a 3-car garage and keeping the rest for a car). The main downside is the loss of covered parking, but this is a cheap way to gain square footage.
Unfinished attics and basements are also obvious targets for finishing, with the cost to finish a basement averaging about $23,000 and the cost of finishing an attic averaging $25,000.
Enclose an outdoor space
Another way to add square footage to your home cheaply is to take advantage of outdoor spaces that are already part of the home’s footprint, like patios and porches. This can be pretty involved, requiring new foundations and everything from plumbing to wiring in addition to adding walls, windows, and doors connecting the space to the existing home. Depending on the size of your patio, completely enclosing it can run you anywhere from $17,500 on the low end to several hundred grand on the higher end—which isn’t much cheaper than just adding a room. Enclosing a porch and making it into a four-season room can be cheaper, ranging from $20,000 to $80,000 on average.
A cheaper option for a porch or patio conversion is to create a sunroom or three-season room. Because these spaces lack insulation and heating, they’re generally cheaper to build (screening in a patio, for example, can be as cheap as $500, and a three-season porch can often be obtained for less than $10,000). While these won’t count as official bedrooms or anything and aren’t usable in colder weather, they still add value and usable space to your home.
If you’re handy, a cheaper option for a sunroom or three-season room conversion could be a DIY kit. These can get the job done for as cheap as $1,500 because they don’t include labor costs, and typically require just a few days to construct.
Create bump outs or dormers
An affordable option to add just a little space to your home is a bump-out or an attic dormer. A bump-out is a small addition to a room, sometimes as small as two feet in depth. They’re usually supported by the existing home’s foundation, so don’t require one of their own. Depending on the length of the bump-out, you can add a few dozen square feet to the living area of your house, and the costs range from $5,000 to about $32,000, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Adding a dormer or two to your attic doesn’t actually add much square footage, but it can make the existing attic space into usable space by raising the ceiling height and adding windows. Attic dormers typically cost less than $20,000 to add, and can transform a tight attic into a sunny room.
Create a loft
If the interior of your house has at least one space with soaring ceilings, you can add some usable space by building a loft area. This can be a DIY project if you really want to keep costs down, and can give you an office space or additional storage space without sacrificing any existing areas. Depending on how ambitious you are (is this just a platform for a bed, or are you envisioning a fully-equipped office?) a lofted area within a room can run you anywhere from a few grand to tens of thousands of dollars.
Add a prefab shed/ADU
Finally, if you have backyard space, you could consider adding a tiny house (also called an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU) or prefabricated shed space to your property. Tiny homes can be as cheap as $4,000 if you DIY the build, and you can wire them for power and add plumbing, climate control, and nice finishes to create freestanding living space. Be sure to check with your HOA or local government concerning permits and other requirements before you click “ORDER” on an entire small house.
Here is a list of currently open Orange County Farmers Markets. They serve many different communities of the OC. Most are certified and sell the produce of our local farmers and vendors. They are a great way to support small business here in Southern California.
Due to possible seasonal, holiday or weather related changes to times & locations, we encourage you to click on the link of the market event holder to get the most updated information. ‘Rain or Shine’ markets may have low vendor attendance on wet days.
Please note – this is an informational page only. If you have any specific questions about any of the markets listed, please contact the management company of the farmer’s market you are interested in.
Sunday Farmers Markets
Garden Grove
Historic Main Street, Main St. & Garden Grove Blvd.
Sundays
10 AM – 2 PM More Information
Operated by Local Harvest Garden Grove Certified Farmers’ Market. Offering an abundance of farm fresh Certified California Grown Fruits and Vegetables, along with a variety of gourmet specialty foods. Arts, crafts and jewelry from local area vendors can also be found.
Irvine
The Great Park in Irvine, Marine Way off Sand Canyon
Sundays
10 AM – 2 PM (weather permitting) More Information
Every week, the Great Park Certified Farmers Market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, handcrafted artisan products, live music and entertainment, and a selection of gourmet food trucks. Take home fresh produce grown on the Great Park Farm and other local farms and enjoy live entertainment, including live music, car shows, and more.
Ladera Ranch
Founders Park, 28275 Avendale Clubhouse in Parking Lot
Sundays
9 AM – 1 PM More Information
Farmers, cottage producers, food trucks and craft vendors selling great food and products you can’t find at stores. The produce is grown locally using sustainable methods to reduce climate impact – much is organic. The small batch specialty producers make their products nearby using only the highest quality ingredients.
Laguna Niguel
27271 La Paz Rd, Laguna Niguel (Plaza de Paz Shopping Center)
Sundays
8 AM – NOON (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Just steps away from the famous Dory fish market and beachfront shops and restaurants, this market is a staple for locals and a reason to make Newport Beach a Sunday destination. Shoppers will find a selection of exotic fruits, seasonal vegetables, eggs, honey, nuts as well as specialty foods like small-batch breads, Mediterranean dips, vegan salsas, cold-press juices, teas, handmade jewelry and art.
San Clemente
200 block Avenida Del Mar Dr.
Sundays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine) More Information
Affiliated with California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. The certified farmers market concept is an effort to re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers in California. Put simply, certified farmers’ markets (CFM’s) are “the real thing,” places where genuine farmers sell their crops directly to the public. It is where the agrarian community relates to the urban community
Monday Farmers Markets
Currently there are no Monday markets in Orange County
Tuesday Farmers Markets
Huntington Beach
Surf City Nights is a Weekly Street Fair and Certified Farmers Market
Tuesdays
5PM – 9PM More Information
Orange County’s largest weekly street fair and certified farmers’ market.
Every Tuesday from 5 pm to 9 pm, 90 vendors presents unique handcrafted wares: furniture, jewelry, art, clothing, live music, street performers, community groups and kids’ activities.
Orange
Irvine Regional Park
1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA
Tuesdays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Placentia
Placentia Town Center
130 E Yorba Linda Blvd.
Tuesdays
4 PM – 8 PM More Information
This Certified Farmers Market provides approximately 30 unique and exciting vendors to the Placentia Town Center. A free shuttle bus to and from the Placentia Certified Farmers Market is now available with five different locations for picking up and dropping off.
Santa Ana
Located in the corner parking lot on Bush and 3rd Street in Downtown Santa Ana.
Tuesdays – closed for the season, please check back
The DTSA (Downtown Santa Ana) Farmers’ Market is a community-oriented, chef-driven Farmers’ Market that strives to bring the highest quality produce at the best price possible.
Seal Beach
Seal Beach Village
13904 Seal Beach Blvd., Westminster Blvd & Seal Beach Blvd
Tuesdays
9 AM – 1 PM
Opened in 2010, this small Tuesday market is convenient for nearby Leisure World residents. Around 15 vendors that and include many familiar to other Orange County farmers markets.
Wednesday Farmers Markets
Fullerton
Fullerton Community Center, 340 West Commonwealth Ave.
Wednesdays
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM More Information
Believed to be the oldest farmers’ market in Orange County, this Wednesday market is renowned for the freshness of its produce and its wide variety of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers – many of which cannot be found at local supermarkets. It is operated by the nonprofit Fullerton Certified Farmers Market Board
Irvine
Irvine Towers Certified Farmers’ Market
18400 Von Karman, Irvine, CA
At the Towers Main Courtyard
Wednesdays
10 AM – 2 PM More Information
Farmers’ Market Featuring a wide variety of Food Vendors. Great place to get a lunch. Year Round, open To The Public.
Irvine
Irvine Kaiser Permanente CFM
6640 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA
Wednesdays
9 AM – 1 PM More Information
Located in front of the Medical Office Building. Affiliated with California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. The certified farmers market concept is an effort to re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers in California.
Tustin
Corner of El Camino Real and 3rd Street
Wednesdays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Thursday Farmers Markets
Anaheim
Downtown Anaheim Certified Farmers’ Market & Craft Fair
435 W. Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, CA 92805
Thursdays
11 AM – 3 PM More Information
Local California certified Farmers, International Foods, craft fair and Homegrown Music series.
Brea
Brea Place, 135 S. State College Blvd, Brea
In the parking lot off of S. State College Blvd.
Thursdays
3 PM – 7 PM More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
Costa Mesa
Orange County Fairgrounds
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Thursdays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Friday Farmers Markets
Anaheim
Anaheim Kaiser Permanente CFM
3440 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim, CA
Fridays
9 AM – 2 PM More Information
Located across from the parking structure. Affiliated with California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. The certified farmers market concept is an effort to re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers in California.
Fountain Valley
Mile Square Park Certified Farmers Market
16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Fridays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine*) More Information
The Mile Square Park Certified Farmers Market is located at Freedom Hall in Mile Square Park. Genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts, and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure that he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills Mall Parking Lot
the 5 Freeway and El Toro Road
Fridays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
La Palma
Kaiser Permanente Farmers’ Market
Kaiser Permanente La Palma Medical Offices
5 Centerpointe Drive, La Palma
(949) 364-1270
Every other Friday
10 AM – 2 PM More Information
You can find fresh, nutrient-dense produce at a nearby Kaiser Permanente farmers market. We have locations at many of our facilities, so pack a tote bag and pick up your peaches, peppers, and prescriptions in the same trip. Located in the parking area on the south side of the building.
San Juan Capistrano
Farmakis Farms
29932 Camino Capistrano
(949) 364-1270
Fridays
9 AM – 1 PM More Information
Family-owned Christmas tree farm and certified farmers’ market located in San Juan Capistrano. Come experience life on the farm every Friday from 9:00am – 1:00pm with our weekly certified farmers’ market. Features produce from many local farmers, breads, dips, sweets, jams, crafts, and many more locally made artisan products.
Saturday Farmers Markets
Buena Park
Corner of La Palma and Stanton Sears Parking Lot
Saturdays
9 AM – 2 PM More Information
You can find organic fruits and vegetables, fresh eggs, raw honey, dried fruits & nuts, specialty foods, kettle corn, and a variety of fresh foods made to order!
Corona Del Mar
3201 Pacific Coast Hwy
(Marguerite & Pacific Coast Hwy)
949- 361-0735
Saturdays
9 AM – 1 PM More Information
Limited parking on-street and in a small lot. Affiliated with California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. Open since 1996, look for prepared foods, honey, fresh fish, and flowers—and lots of fruits and vegetables from premier growers often not seen at other markets.
Costa Mesa
SoCo Farmers’ Market
SoCo Collection
3315 Hyland Ave
Saturdays
9 AM – 2 PM More Information
Located in the SOCO Collection, our SOCO Farmers’ Market in Costa Mesa is the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Featuring local farm fresh fruits and vegetables, raw honey, fresh almonds, fresh eggs, meat, and poultry.
Cypress
4505 Katella Ave, Cypress, Ca – in the parking of Cottonwood Church.
Saturdays
9 AM – 2 PM More Information
The market features fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of prepared foods including fantastic tamales and BBQ, as well as some artisanal vendors selling items such as fresh breads, hummus, honey and handmade soaps.
Dana Point
La Plaza Park at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway & Golden Lantern
949-573-5033
Saturdays
9 AM – 1 PM More Information
Selling produce, flowers, breads, fish, arts and crafts, pita, honey, nuts, hot sauces, humus, mixes, pickles, coffee, indian food, mushrooms, etc. In addition to local, organic produce and unique products from Dana Point businesses, arts & crafts vendors join in the fun every 2nd Saturday of the month.
Irvine
Mariners Church parking lot, On the corner of Bonita Canyon & Turtle Ridge
Saturdays
8 AM – Noon (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Laguna Beach
521 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach (across the street from the Lumberyard Shopping Center)
Saturdays
8 AM – NOON (rain or shine*) More Information
Affiliated with Orange County Farm Bureau Sponsored Certified Farmers’ Markets. California certified farmers’ markets are the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.
* According to the Orange County Farm Bureau, this is a rain or shine event. Even though this is a rain or shine event, please be advised many vendors may not attend markets on rainy days.
Orange
Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market
Located at 303 W. Palm Avenue
on the corner of Cypress & Palm in Old Towne Orange
Saturdays
9 AM – 1 PM (rain or shine) More Information
The Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market is a Saturday certified farmers market operated by the non-profit Orange Home Grown, Inc. The market features a large selection of fruits, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms, honey, free range eggs, grass-fed beef, poultry and milk, and seafood,, fresh bread & baked goods, preserves and more. Enjoy complimentary coffee and music while you shop.
Solved! What to Do When Your Refrigerator is Not Cooling
There’s no need to toss—or eat—all of your refrigerated food before it goes bad. These solutions can get your fridge cooling again.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Q: I’m worried that my refrigerator is not cooling. I just pulled out a can of soda that’s barely cold, and I noticed my milk is also warmer than it should be. Why is my refrigerator not cooling properly? Do I have to call a repairman, or is there something I can do to fix it?
A: While some refrigerator cooling problems require professional assistance, don’t call the repairman just yet. You might be able to fix it yourself. It’s certainly worth a shot, too, since the average professional service call can run $150 or more.
Start by noting strange refrigerator noises like scraping, which might indicate a problem with the condenser fan. Check to see if the freezer is working but not the fridge, as it may only be the refrigerator compartment on the fritz. Depending on the cause of your fridge not cooling or freezer not freezing, the following tips might help.
Make sure your refrigerator has power.
A power cord that has worked loose in its outlet or a flipped breaker will shut the entire fridge down. Here’s how to troubleshoot this common issue:
Open the refrigerator door. If the light comes on, the fridge has power and you can move onto other possible solutions.
If the fridge compartment light doesn’t come on, ensure the power cord is firmly plugged into the wall outlet and check for the light again.
If there is still no light, check your main electrical panel for a flipped breaker. Switch it back on if necessary.
Consult your owner’s manual for brand-specific troubleshooting.
When dealing with any brands of refrigerators not getting cold, there might be simple, brand-specific solutions. Peruse your appliance’s user manual for relevant refrigerator troubleshooting steps, tips, and error codes.
Common causes for a refrigerator not cooling likely addressed by your user manual may include:
New refrigerators with both compartments set to the correct temperatures take some time to cool. If a freshly installed GE refrigerator’s not cooling immediately, the manufacturer recommends giving its models up to 24 hours to get cold, but this cooling period can range widely between brands.
The refrigerator may be set to demo mode (sometimes called cooling off, shop, or display mode). Turning off this setting differs from model to model. As an example, an LG refrigerator not cooling when set to this mode may display “OF” and “F” where the freezer and refrigerator temperature settings normally go. Most LG fridges will exit demo mode and begin cooling if the “Refrigerator” and “Ice Plus/Lock” buttons are held simultaneously for 5 seconds.
Your fridge may be too close to nearby walls and cabinets for proper airflow. For both Whirlpool and Samsung refrigerators not cooling due to installation location, the manufacturers recommend at least 1 inch of clearance behind and above a unit, and ½ inch to each side.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Check the refrigerator thermostat settings.
New refrigerators usually come preset at temperatures of around 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the fridge compartment and 0 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer compartment, the ideal fridge temperature settings.
Thermostat dials inside the fridge and freezer can be accidentally adjusted when inserting and removing items, though. Exterior digital thermostats can also be inadvertently changed by little fingers or by leaning or brushing against the control panel. Many digital panels come with the ability to lock the settings for just those reasons. Whether the temperature controls are located inside or outside, reset them to the settings recommended by your fridge’s user manual if need be.
If you don’t trust the temperature readings you’re getting, or if your old fridge lacks a thermostat, consider purchasing a low-cost refrigerator thermostat to test the temperature yourself.
Test your fridge door seals.
If the magnetic seals or door gaskets on the fridge doors are defective, cool air could be escaping the appliance. Refrigerator door gaskets can grow brittle over time, reducing their ability to form a tight seal. You can test your fridge’s seals using just a dollar bill.
Grab a dollar and open the fridge door.
Hold the dollar bill in place where the gasket and refrigerator meet and close the door.
Pull out the dollar without opening the door.
If you feel resistance when removing the dollar, the seal is still working. If the bill slips out easily, however, you’ll need to replace the door gaskets.
Replacing the gaskets is relatively easy for DIYers. Refrigerator door gasket prices range from around $25 to $85—or more, depending on the brand and model. Check your owner’s manual to ensure you pick the correct replacement gaskets, and look for detailed installation directions in the manual or replacement gasket package’s instructions.
Ensure the refrigerator is level.
A relatively new fridge with good door seals can still leak and fail the above dollar-bill test when the appliance isn’t level. If a refrigerator is leaning in the wrong direction, its doors may not seal tightly enough to keep cold air in.
Set a carpenter’s level on top of the fridge. If the bubble is not centered in the glass tube, adjust the refrigerator’s front legs. Most refrigerator legs can be adjusted with an Allen wrench or adjustable pliers. Consult your owner’s manual for detailed instructions on how to level your appliance.
Clean the condenser coils.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Your fridge contains condenser coils filled with refrigerant. Over time, these coils—which are not in a sealed unit—can become caked with dust, hair, or pet fur, which reduces their cooling ability. Fortunately, cleaning refrigerator coils is simple, requiring only a $10 condenser coil brush and a vacuum to suck up loosened dust. If you find significant buildup on the coils, clean them once or twice annually to keep your fridge cooling properly.
istockphoto.com
Check to make sure nothing is blocking the air vents.
Cold air circulates through vents running between the refrigerator’s freezer and refrigerator compartments. If an item blocks that airflow, it can result in warmer temperatures in the fridge compartment. Depending on your fridge’s brand and model, its vents could be located along the back or sides of the interior walls. Check your owner’s manual if you have trouble locating them, and double-check your unit for these issues:
Cramming too much food in too tight of a space is a common cause of a refrigerator not cooling, as items grouped tightly near a vent can block airflow. Keeping plenty of food products in your fridge helps it maintain a cool temperature, but don’t pack the compartment so tightly that air can’t circulate easily from shelf to shelf.
Frost buildup in the freezer also can block vents, reducing or preventing cold air from reaching the refrigerator compartment. If the fridge is not cooling but the freezer works and the latter compartment is heavily frosted over, unplug the fridge and defrost the freezer. Once it melts, plug the fridge back in and allow it to cool properly. It can take an entire day for a heavily frosted freezer to defrost, so plan to store perishable food items in a suitable cooler or a neighbor’s fridge, if possible.
Inspect for problems after a recent power outage.
You’ll know the cause of a fridge not getting cold when your home loses power, and your refrigerator may take a while to reset and cool after an outage. Some refrigerators might need extra user input after a power outage, so refer to your fridge’s manual for specific steps on how to get yours back up and running once power is restored.
If all else fails, call a repairman.
Photo: istockphoto.com
If none of the above refrigerator troubleshooting tips work, the cause might be a defective mechanical component. While it isn’t too difficult to replace some refrigerator components, pinpointing the exact problem can be tricky and require specialized equipment.
The refrigerator compressor, compressor fan, or defrost thermostat might need replacing, which should be undertaken by a licensed professional. If your fridge is still under warranty, note that DIY part replacements may void the warranty. Some service and parts might be so costly that you’re better off replacing a refrigerator that’s stopped cooling, but that should be a last-ditch option.
Final Thoughts
With a little luck and troubleshooting, you can figure out why your fridge is not cooling and potentially solve the problem with a simple fix, like thinning out items to avoid airflow blockage, checking that the appliance has power, or adjusting temperature settings and model-specific functions. You also might learn how to clean refrigerator condenser coils or replace door gaskets on your own in the process. In most cases, though, leave mechanical part replacements to an appliance service pro.
If all else fails, you may find that it’s time to replace your fridge. To avoid that, do all you can to maintain this important kitchen workhorse and extend how long your refrigerator lasts.
FAQs
The above tips can help when a refrigerator is not cooling, but you might still have one of these common questions.
Q. Why isn’t the refrigerator cold but the freezer is?
If the freezer works but the fridge is not cold, it could be that the damper control that lets cold air into the fridge is broken. The same goes for the fridge’s evaporator fan motor or evaporator coils, upon which frost can build up. A defective thermistor, which monitors the fridge’s temperature, might be the issue. Or it could be a simpler problem, like blocked ventilation to the fridge compartment or worn-out door gaskets letting out cold air.
Q. Should I turn my refrigerator thermostat down if my fridge is packed with food?
During peak usage times, like holidays or when having company over, lower the refrigerator temperature by about 1 degree Fahrenheit to account for more items and time spent with the fridge door open.
Q. How do I reset my refrigerator compressor?
Compressors are what make refrigerators’ trademark humming sound. If you hear your fridge compressor running but not cooling, pull the unit away from the wall and unplug it. Search the user manual for how to activate “Off” or “Zero” settings and set your fridge and freezer to those settings accordingly. Plug in the unit back and set the compartments back to the correct temperature settings. Give the fridge about 24 hours to cool.
Q. How do I know if my refrigerator compressor is not working?
If you hear the refrigerator compressor making odd noises, turning off and on more frequently than usual, or not staying on as long as it should, you might need a replacement. Another way to know if your refrigerator compressor is bad is if the fridge feels warmer to the touch than usual when it’s running.
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