The famous Christmas carol tell us that this is “the most wonderful time of the year!” However, a lot can go wrong over the holidays.
This infographic from Iron Security advises us what to be aware of. There are safety hazards, such as frayed electrical cords, holiday theft, and fire hazards, such as when frying turkeys or burning holiday candles. Establish these practical safety measures (even throughout the year) and make this holiday season the most wonderful time of year!
More people are upgrading their current property rather than moving. If you’re one of them and looking for guidance on resale value, project priorities and reputable professionals to work with to get it done, look no further! CA Real Estate Group is at your service!!
Do you find yourself ambling around your home looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man come winter? If you’re bundled up under layers upon layers of clothing just to keep warm in your living room, it’s probably a sign that the time has come to give your furnace a thorough once-over—and perhaps swap it out for a new one.
While replacing a furnace can be pricey, face the facts: It will be necessary at some point. Putting it off too long can actually cost you money—and can be hazardous.
“When your furnace breaks, not only is it uncomfortable, but dangerous,” says Mark Dawson, chief operating officer of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “Many Americans die every year from exposure [to cold] inside their homes.”
Most furnaces are gas-powered central air systems, which first heat air and then blow it out through ducts and vents. But truly understanding how your furnace works is vitally important. Here are a few telltale signs your furnace is about to go kaput.
1. Your furnace has passed the 15-year mark
A furnace should last about 15 to 30 years before you’ll need a replacement, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But exactly how long yours will last depends on the brand, furnace quality, and its overall efficiency.
“After 15 to 20 years, a furnace’s performance will most likely start to dwindle,” says Dawson. “While you can make repairs to the furnace, over time it’s more cost-efficient to replace the furnace altogether.”
So if your furnace is more than 15 years old, you should start looking into investing in a new one.
2. You have skyrocketing energy bills
Suddenly getting higher heating bills? This can be a blaring red signal that your system is running less efficiently.
“Over time, motors in the furnace begin to wear and use more energy to do the same amount of work they did when the unit was new,” says Todd Koehler, field manager for American Home Shield, the largest and leading home service plan provider. “This will lead to a pricier bill at the end of the month.”
Another downside to an aging furnace that has not been properly maintained? In addition to the motor, the gas valves and burners can work at a diminished efficiency, which can also cause the furnace to consume more gas.
“We often find a lot of older units showing signs of wear that can lead to inefficient operation up to the point there is a major failure,” says Koehler.
3. You notice elevated dust, soot, or rust particles
Clogged ducts can be the cause of more dirt falling from vents as well as the root cause of improper airflow to parts of the home. Very old systems—especially in homes with pets or smokers—are often in serious need of a thorough duct cleaning. And while a dirty furnace can be a sign of lack of maintenance, it could put you on the express lane to needing a replacement.
“Cleaning the burners for proper combustion will eliminate soot,” says Koehler. “And general maintenance such as duct cleaning and changing the unit’s filters will fix the dust issue.”
Plus, you’ll add to the life of your furnace in general. However, if there’s still a lot of dust after a thorough cleaning, a new furnace may be in order.
4. There’s too much humidity in the home
“A combusting furnace will dry out the air and remove humidity, which is normal,” says Koehler. But over time, the heat exchanger can develop thermal fuel residue. That residue will prevent your furnace from heating up enough to then remove humidity from the air. This can lead to higher than normal humidity—the ideal balance is between 30% to 40%—in the home.
“The opposite issue can also occur if the unit develops heat spots from years of operation,” adds Koehler. “Replacing the unit will help resolve these issues.”
5. Rooms heat unevenly
When your kitchen is hot while your den is freezing, it’s probably time to replace your furnace.
“The furnace isn’t pushing out the necessary heat throughout the home as it should,” says Dawson. “While you could have a licensed professional make repairs to the furnace, it’s a short-term solution—and the bigger problem will eventually have to be addressed.”
A good rule of thumb is if a repair costs about 50% or more of a new furnace, you should get a new one, adds Dawson.
6. Your furnace is noisy
Is your furnace loud? Or making more rattles, buzzes, or hums than a jazz trio? Then cracks, leaks, or other structural issues may be trumpeting that a new furnace is in order.
“There shouldn’t be any odd sounds coming from the furnace, apart from the typical noises a furnace makes when starting up,” says Dawson.
If you do notice things going thump in your furnace, it’s likely time to hire a licensed professional to do a maintenance check. Just keep in mind odd sounds are one of the first indicators that the furnace will need to be replaced soon.
“Cracks in the system or leaks might be more costly to repair than just biting the bullet and investing in a new furnace,” Dawson says.
Our friends at Old Republic Home Protection share these safety tips to keep our families and our homes protected.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 51,000 electrical home fires occur annually, resulting in nearly 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries, and over $1.3 billion in property damage. And, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 400 people are electrocuted each year.
How can you keep your family safe from household electrical dangers?
1️⃣ Extension cords should be used as a temporary fix, not as household wiring. Keep them free of knots and tangling around other objects.
2️⃣ Do not attempt to force plugs into wall sockets if they don’t fit. Move to an outlet that will accommodate the plug securely and correctly. If plugs won’t stay in a socket, the outlet may be damaged and should be repaired or replaced.
3️⃣ Use lightbulbs with wattage that complies with the lighting fixture.
4️⃣ Keep all electrical appliances away from water! If an appliance does fall in water, unplug it before retrieving it.
5️⃣ Unplug all appliances during an electrical storm to prevent damage from power surges.
6️⃣ Keep a distance of at least three feet between space heaters and rugs, curtains, furniture, and other flammable objects.
7️⃣ Always use power strips with surge suppressors on delicate equipment, such as computers and home entertainment devices.
➡️➡️➡️ For more home maintenance tips, follow us on FB/IG @carealestategroup
Water can damage a foundation in countless ways, so homeowners should look to experts for the dos and don’ts.
Water is not always our friend. Sure, we drink it, swim in it, and need it to survive, but when it comes to homes, it can destroy the foundation, says home inspector Thomas Dabb of Immaculate Home Inspections in South Orange, N.J.
Water can enter a home from the exterior and interior, so buyers and homeowners need to keep their eyes open for signs of its presence—or worse—its damage.
The good news is that there are many experts available to spot and diagnose a problem and suggest the best fix. Water expert Steve Barckley with Exceptional Stone Products in Livingston, N.J., believes that homeowners should start by doing everything possible on the outside of the homes to correct problems and divert water away from a foundation.
Share these seven solutions with clients to help them minimize a foundation’s damage in various scenarios.
1. Improve grading. The slope of a property may direct water toward the base of a single-family house or multifamily dwelling rather than away. Cracks or openings in the foundation then allow it to enter, as well as through higher-level walls, the roof, and other entry points. Fix: “Be sure the grade slopes away from the house,” says Bill Coulbourne, a structural engineer whose eponymous company is near Annapolis, Md. A berm of soil or a swale with planting can prevent water from making its way to a foundation, says Cary Jozefiak, a home inspector with HomeTeam Inspection in Chicago. Caveats: This approach requires periodic maintenance to be sure the berm doesn’t erode. “It also needs to be directed so water doesn’t move toward a neighbor’s property,” Coulbourne says. Using a French drain to allow water to dissipate slowly from near the foundation into the landscape is more environmentally friendly than introducing it into the street to wash away, says Barckley. French drains also require some preventive maintenance to avoid clogging, Jozefiak says.
2. Waterproof a foundation. Keeping the foundation dry will prevent moisture from accumulating on the outside or entering inside. Fix: If wet, the best fix is to waterproof the exterior perimeter and interior walls of a basement or crawl space to prevent capillary action from building up, says New York City architect Victor Body-Lawson of Body Lawson Associates. “What we try to do is create an envelope around a building so water can’t enter through its skin, sometimes with a rain screen that drains water down and out to a storm drainage system,” he says. A sump pump will help if there’s moisture and water inside. It must drain far enough from a house, so water doesn’t recycle back inside if the property slopes or there’s an opening. Home inspector David Rose of Astute Home Inspections in Plainfield, N.J., suggests the drain be at least 5 feet from a house. A backup battery will prove useful if power fails.
3. Install gutters and downspouts. Water flowing off a roof will land near a house and possibly cause damage over time. Fix: A good line of defense is to have both gutters and downspouts installed around a home or building’s perimeter. The downspouts should extend far enough to carry away the water rather than have it sit near a foundation. Jozefiak recommends six feet away from a house. To keep gutters and downspouts functioning, they must be cleaned. How often to do so may depend on the trees near a house, Coulbourne says.
4. Keep large trees and bushes away from a house. Tree roots and other plant materials try to grow toward water, which can destabilize a structure and penetrate foundations, says Rose. Fix: If large trees already grow near a house, check that plumbing lines are free, and confirm there aren’t foundation cracks. If problems arise, the tree may need to be taken down or bushes transplanted, Body-Lawson says. Sacramento, Calif.-based landscape designer Michael Glassman suggests consulting a licensed arborist to check roots, stability, and if the tree should be removed. “The best time to remove trees is in winter when they are dormant,” Glassman says.
5. Don’t ignore diagonal cracks. Movement, temperature changes, and time may cause foundation cracks to develop. But large diagonal ones require attention from a structural engineer to avoid bigger issues. “Visual clues appear before structural inadequacies do,” says Madison, Conn.-based architect Duo Dickinson. Among the problems are moisture and salt destroying anything made of steel and non-pressure-treated wood, which may rot, Dickinson says. Fix: Cracks suggest settlement and send a red flag that something might be wrong with a foundation, says Body-Lawson. “It might have sagged but it may not deteriorate further. However, if it continues to do so, the foundation needs underpinning.” Cracks that appear in foundation walls due to settlement may be visible in a first floor’s interior, too, says Coulbourne. Hairline cracks are common, but when it’s a quarter-inch in width and V-shaped, it may indicate pressure on an exterior wall.
6. Check for significant leaks and stains, especially efflorescence in a basement. “An unfinished basement is the best basement because it’s easier to see problems,” says Rose. Fix: When a basement is finished, experts recommend looking for clues. For example, a rust color that shows through paint can be a sign of moisture, says Barckley. Efflorescence—white powder left behind from minerals in water—may also appear. Coulbourne says that mold is another indicator, most likely visible at the base of a wall where moisture accumulates. Use your nose, too, he says. “If you walk into a damp basement, you can smell that,” he says. Sometimes areas covered over need to be checked. For example, Rose may pop open ceiling tiles to examine what’s behind them.
7. Learn why interior or patio floors may slant. It could be that a house is settling, which happens over time, says Body-Lawson. “Old houses may sag a little and then stop,” he says. But if the floor or patio was level and now slants, it might be time to hire a structural engineer, says Jason Chang of Jersey Inspections in Verona, N.J. Fix: Floorboards, tiles, and carpet can be picked up, joists shimmed, and a new layer installed, says Body-Lawson. If water gets under pavers outdoors, they may need to be taken up, the pitch of the patio checked, a membrane or drainage system installed, then pavers put back, Jozefiak says.
Forget holding objects to see if they spark joy. It’s finally time for collectors and pack rats to rejoice!
It turns out, all of the crap you’ve collected over the years and crammed onto shelves is actually a decorative style that’s trending on Instagram and TikTok. So welcome to “cluttercore.”
More is more when it comes to this newest home style that features layers of pattern, color for days—and just about anything else you’d like to add.
The look has gone so viral that tens of thousands of folks are flocking to their social channels to take “shelfies,” or selfies of their bookcases, so they can share their cluttercore designs.
Homeowners are lining up their seashells, action figures, and candles shaped like vegetables to proclaim their unabashed love of cluttercore.
Wondering how cluttercore began—and whether this style is one to try or one that veers into hoarding territory? Here’s more about this latest decor trend, ways to get the look in your rooms, and how to know if you’ve moved past cluttercore into just plain clutter.
Cluttercore origins and definition
A video on TikTok last summer got the cluttercore ball rolling—and there was no looking back. This look seems to be an outgrowth from our cooped-up days during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were forced to spend hours looking at our homes with a critical eye.
Aching to feel safe in an upside-down world, we gathered our clutter together and put it on display. Cluttercore at its heart is actually maximalism on steroids, with a focus on groupings on shelves, layers on walls, or anything that signals abundance.
“The expression of cluttercore is to arrange things into groups and leave some space between them so each section has its own importance,” explains Robert Oleysyck, owner of All In Creative Agency.
If you’re a lover of maximalism, cluttercore is a close relative. (Think of the style as your very eccentric aunt.) And one way to get the look is to embrace an abundance of color and textures in your rooms. Oleysyck suggests creating a design in your home that works for you and “makes you feel whole or fulfilled.”
And if this maxi-gone-crazy style gets to be too much in one room, you can always tone it down in another.
“Carve out specific areas where you can express cluttercore with intention while reserving other spots, like the bedroom, for a more quiet aesthetic,” Oleysyck says.
Cluttercore celebrates collections
If you’re into vintage dishes, bowler hats, or comic books, and you want to view them in detail around the clock, cluttercore is for you.
Hang a gallery wall with your finds, corral them on a tray, or mount them under glass for safekeeping. It all works with this fun and creative design trend.
Oleysyck says he proudly displays photography gear, audio equipment, speakers, and a massive collection of vinyl and CDs—”all of which I have an emotional attachment to.” But he does cop to cleaning it up now and then, or when he’s feeling restless or having company over.
“There’s a misconception that being organized means you have to have a sparse space with no warmth,” notes Katie McCann, the organizing professional at Haven.
Even McCann, who lives and breathes order at her day job, displays decorative items on her bookcase. But she draws the line in high-traffic areas. (Her kitchen counter, dresser, and foyer table are neat and tidy.)
Cluttercore also embraces patterns in a big way, including wallpaper, textiles, and floor coverings. But as you plan your look, think about a unifying thread that can run through it, whether it’s red, white, and blue; a flower theme; or Indian block prints. Otherwise, you may end up with a headache-inducing aesthetic.
Cluttercore—or simply clutter?
As with any decor trend, cluttercore definitely has its detractors. Leah Atkins of the eponymous design firm laments this new extreme in home design.
“You’re on trend if you cover all your walls, overfill your shelves, and put out so many pillows on your sofa you can’t sit down—this look is literally a hoarder’s dream come true,” she explains.
McCann doesn’t disagree and reminds homeowners of the need to draw the line somewhere.
“If there’s no method in place, then you’re simply leaving all your stuff out in plain sight rather than tucking it away,” she says.
The bottom line: You can make the joy that is cluttercore work for you, without going off the deep end into utter chaos. The experts here all urged homeowners to make collections work for them, rather than become hostage to the collections.
And if you can’t find a place to sit down, it’s time to rethink the pillows.
It may not be poolside season any longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to call it quits in your backyard living space just yet. With a few more warm days and brisk nights ahead, now’s actually a great time to rethink your outdoor design and make it seasonally appropriate with string lights, cozy decor, and a bit of overhead protection from the sun or rain.
This week’s Instagram decor trends include five looks that will inspire you to polish up your outdoor space—whether it’s an apartment balcony or a spacious backyard seating area—so you can enjoy these last few weeks of outdoor living in style.
1. Scandi-inspired seating
No one knows how to ring in the colder seasons in style quite like the Scandinavians, and this Scandi-inspired seating from @primrose.co.uk illustrates the point perfectly.
We love the minimalist vibe of the seating area made from recycled wooden pallets and faux fur rugs.
“It’s a relatively cheap look to re-create and creates an ideal seating arrangement for a casual meal,” says design and remodeling expert Ben Kuhl, of Shelf Expression. “Use throw pillows and candles to enhance the look.”
Get the look: Add a few of these faux fur throws to your outdoor seating area.
2. Garden-path fairy lights
Another easy way to bring a bit of soothing ambiance to your outdoor space is to line your backyard with string lights, like the ones seen here from @camilliabloomsbury.
“If you have a developed flower garden, this might be just the thing,” says Kuhl. “These fairy lights add romantic mood lighting to your outdoor space—making it perfect for a picnic date with your partner. Use a shepherd’s hook to get the right height for your lights.”
Mirrors are an amazing addition to small indoor spaces—and as we can see in this photo from @leopard_print_stairs, the same can be said for their magic effect on outdoor spaces, too.
“Mirrors will fabricate the illusion of extra space, making them perfect for small garden areas,” says interior designer David Lee, of Neutypechic. “Placing a mirror on your patio will create an indoor-outdoor feel and give it a homey vibe.”
4. Bamboo canopy
One of the most inexpensive and effective ways to create some shade from the weather—and cultivate that tucked-in feeling—is with a bamboo canopy like this one from @sallydoessassy.
“If you live in a city where it’s usually hot and sunny, add a bamboo canopy in your backyard,” says Lee.
This overhead cover can also come in handy during a light sprinkle of rain.
Get the look: Grab a few rolls of bamboo or reed fencing to create your perfect vintage canopy.
5. Hanging lanterns
Improving the lighting in your outdoor space while also making it look high-end is as simple as hanging some trendy lanterns like these ones from @fincadelicaibiza.
“Low-hanging lanterns are coming back into fashion, and they will give your patio or backyard an Ibiza-inspired vibe, so you feel like you’re chilling somewhere more exotic than your own backyard,” says Lee.
What’s the dirtiest place in your home? Despite all the germs floating around your bathroom, there’s actually way more nastiness happening in—yikes!—your kitchen, than practically anywhere else in the home, according to a study by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
“The areas in which food is prepared actually contain more bacteria and fecal contamination than many other places in the home,” the study says.
If you’re horrified and ready to grab the disinfectant and head straight to the kitchen, you’re not alone. But you probably want to know which items in your kitchen are making it such a thriving cesspool—and how you can fight against this potentially dangerous bacteria. Here are the grossest items in your kitchen, according to the pros.
Your cutting boards
It’s no surprise this common kitchen item makes the top of the list, with all the food prep we do here. The NSF found that 18% of cutting boards contain fecal contamination from E. coli bacteria, which is often found in raw meat. And in recent years, both wood and plastic cutting boards have proven harder to keep clean than originally thought, especially if they’re several years old.
“The issue arises when people are unable to clean cutting boards properly because they have deep grooves from being used so much,” explains dietitian and food safety expert Bri Bell. “Bacteria can live in the grooves and contaminate your food. It’s time to get a new one if you can fit a fingernail in the groove, because then you know it’s too deep to properly clean.”
“We use cutting boards to prepare foods like raw meat, which can spread salmonella and E. coli,” says Brian Sansoni, spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute. “A good rule of thumb in safe food preparation is to avoid cutting raw meat, poultry, or fish on the same surface without thoroughly cleaning it between uses.”
Even better, he says: “Have two cutting boards: one reserved for meat and the other for fruits and vegetables.”
Your kitchen faucet
If you thought your door handles were dirty (and they are), then this next bit will really make you run for the disinfectant. According to the NSF, 45% of kitchen sinks were found to contain salmonella and E. coli. Even if you aren’t regularly rubbing raw chicken on your kitchen faucet, there’s still a logical reason why it’s one of the nastiest places in your home.
“The faucet is a high-touch area,” Bell says. “We often touch it with dirty or wet hands, so it gets dirty quickly between washes, and people tend to clean them only when they look dirty—not realizing it has bacteria regardless.”
To keep the poop particles out of your kitchen sink, wash the sink regularly with disinfectant.
“Particularly during the fall and winter, when colds and flu are at their peak, it’s a good idea to keep faucet handles clean to prevent the spread of germs,” Sansoni says. “At least once a day, wipe down faucet handles with a disinfectant wipe.”
Your refrigerator
Here’s another item that comes in close contact with our food but tends to be neglected when it comes to regular cleanings. And if you’re anything like the participants of this 2019 study by the American Cleaning Institute, chances are you can’t even remember the last time you cleaned the fridge.
And there’s a reason why that’s scary: “Spoiled food and spills can attract germs,” Sansoni says. To be more specific, these germs include things like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, according to a 2013 Germ Study by NSF.
The best way to keep yourself from getting sick due to contamination in the fridge is by regularly inspecting and cleaning it.
“Wipe up spills with a paper towel and warm water as they occur,” Sansoni advises. “Every week, before doing your grocery shopping, do a quick purge of food that has expired or gone bad, then clean the inside of the fridge by emptying out all the contents, removing the drawers, and scrubbing with a sponge, warm water, and liquid dish soap.”
It might sound like a lot of work, but it certainly beats food poisoning.
Your kitchen sponge
This item is so gross we decided to save it for last (just in case you started reading this while snacking, now’s a good time to stop). Kitchen sponges, dishrags, dishcloths—whatever you call them—are the downright nastiest thing in your kitchen—if not your entire home.
In fact, more than 75% of sponges contained salmonella and E. coli, the NSF found—and since we often use them on things like countertops and dishes, you can only imagine how that bacteria spreads.
“The sponge holds onto moisture and bacteria from food after washing the dishes,” Bell says, “so it’s a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply, and people don’t tend to clean it, because it’s considered a disposable item.”
Although this news makes it tempting to replace your kitchen sponge between each and every use, Bell explains there’s an easier way to keep the grossness at bay.
“The best way to clean a sponge is to run it through the dishwasher with your regular dishes, or microwave a wet sponge for one minute,” she says. “Both these methods will kill most of the bacteria growing in the sponge that is likely to make you sick, but it will still contain some bacteria.”
In fact, Bell makes a case for ditching the beloved kitchen sponge entirely.
“My recommendation is to actually stop using sponges for washing dishes, and instead use a scrub brush or washcloth that dries quickly and completely between uses,” she says.
But if you can’t live without your beloved sponge, at least do everyone in your household a favor by replacing it every couple of weeks.
As we usher off a very hot (and fun) summer, it’s time to welcome the upcoming fall and the colder, wetter weather that comes with it. This is the perfect time to check off a few fall home maintenance items around your house. Then you can sit back and rest assured that your home is in good shape. Below is a quick checklist of home maintenance items you should be able to tackle in a few hours on a weekend. It’s time well spent that will give you peace of mind and prevent unwanted expensive surprises.
ROOFS & GUTTERS
1. Check for damaged, loose, or missing shingles. If you’re not comfortable climbing on ladders, this may be a job for a roofer or a local handyman.
2. Check for leaking, rusted, misaligned or damaged gutters & downspouts and clean them. Be sure the downspouts direct water at least 3 feet away from your foundation.
3. Cut back tree limbs growing on or over the roof or near any windows or power lines. If the trees are too close to the power lines, it’s best to let a professional tree trimmer handle it.
4. Check flashings around vent pipes, skylights, and chimneys. This is by far the biggest source of roof leaks. Roofing tar and a spatula are all you need.
EXTERIOR WALLS
1. Check painted wood surfaces for flaking paint. Patch and paint as needed.
2. Cut back and trim shrubbery against sidewalls. This tends to deteriorate wall surfaces and is a haven for rodents.
3. Maintain grading (soil) sloped away from foundation walls. This is a potentially significant problem during heavy rain.
DOORS & WINDOWS
1. Check the caulking around doors, windows and window sills. This is the #1 source of rot damage. Re-caulk as needed.
2. Check weather-stripping around doors and windows. This is a potential area of heat loss.
INTERIOR
1. Close crawl space vents in fall/winter and open in summer. This is a huge energy saver in cold weather.
2. Check to make sure that the damper of your fireplace seals tightly. Air loss through chimneys is very common. Don’t pay to heat the outdoors.
3. Check the basement for dampness and leakage after wet weather. There are many reasons for moisture penetration into basements, such as hydrostatic pressure behind retaining walls and improper exterior site drainage. The sooner you spot it, the less expensive it will be to fix it.
4. Replace batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. Change old-style smoke detector batteries, or better yet, install newer style detectors with 10-year batteries.
HEATING & COOLING
1. Change or clean furnace filters, air conditioner filters, electronic filters as needed.
2. Clean around cooling equipment, removing leaves, dust, overgrown shrubbery, debris. The cleaner your system is, the more efficient it will operate.
3. Cover or remove the AC window unit for the fall/winter. Again, this is a potential source of air loss and moisture penetration.
PLUMBING
1. Exposed exterior water lines and drains should be wrapped with insulation. Water lines under the house, in the crawlspace, should also be insulated for energy efficiency.
ELECTRICAL
1. Check exterior ground fault interrupters (GFCI) for proper operation. You can buy an inexpensive GFCI tester at any hardware store.
2. Check any exposed wiring and cables for wear or damage. Replace as needed.
KNOW THE LOCATION OF IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (Year-round)
1. The main water shut-off valve. This should be opened and closed at least once a year to assure proper functioning.
2. The main electrical disconnect or breaker, in case you need to shut it off or reset a tripped breaker.
3. The electrical panel box for breakers or fuses.
4. All fire extinguishers in the house. You do have extinguishers, right?
Believe me, this may seem like a long list, but you can easily make this into a family affair and have the kids or your spouse handle some items while you handle the others. After inspecting over 8,000 homes, I can’t emphasize how much regular maintenance can prevent costly repairs or replacements in the future. Good luck and as always, please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions.
Tony Escamilla is the founder of Villa Home Inspections. He founded Villa Home Inspections 23 years ago in 1998. With a background as a general contractor since 2000, Tony has been in the construction industry for many more years. He has personally performed over 8,000 inspections throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties.
Here are seven effective methods (all-natural!) that will help you eliminate cooking smells and keep the complaints from your family at bay.
Home cooking is the best … except when the smell of your curry dinner lingers for days (or weeks?) after you’ve finished the meal.
The truth is, cooking at home can result in a potpourri of stubborn odors in your kitchen. After a while, the rich aroma of roasting lamb can curdle into the stale stench of fatty mutton.
So how can you 86 all these lingering cooking smells? For starters, turn on the range hood fan right off the bat, to ventilate your kitchen while you cook. And we highly advise against lighting scented candles, which will just add another heavy layer of odor. Instead, try one of the following methods, which have been proven to banish stinky cooking smells quickly.
1. Slow boil a simmer pot
The head chef of HelloFresh, Claudia Sidoti, combats icky odors after she cooks with a simmer pot of several aromatic blends based around citrus, which cuts through unpleasant smells.
She combines the ingredients—either 1) orange, cinnamon sticks, and cloves; 2) lemon, rosemary, and vanilla beans; or 3) orange, cranberries, and pine twigs—with three cups of water in a pot. She brings it all to a boil and then lowers the pot to a simmer.
The fresh and slightly sweet scent will cut through other smells and linger pleasantly in the room. But be careful! “Once the water evaporates, the citrus can easily burn,” says Sidoti.
2. Break out the essential oils
A great way to neutralize offensive smells is by introducing purifying essential oils in your kitchen. Use a spray bottle filled with water and about eight to 10 drops of either lemon, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oils. Then lightly mist the mixture into the air.
“Or if you want to create a DIY diffuser with what you have on hand in the kitchen, you can soak some cotton swabs in vanilla and place them around your countertop for a quick, pleasant scent,” says Dr. John Gilmer, PhD and food/cooking/nutrition expert at ActiveIron.com.
3. Neutralize with vinegar
If a cooking smell really persists, you need to step up your game and clean your kitchen cooking surfaces and countertops with vinegar, a remarkably effective cleaner and deodorizer. “Vinegar is an acid, and acid degrades the other lingering odors,” says Abe Navas, general manager of Emily’s Maids, a house-cleaning service in Dallas.
Let the vinegar soak into surfaces for 15 minutes, and then clean again with soapy water. Rinse with lots of clean water.
4. Clean up quickly before and after dinner
After you’re done cooking, cleaning up immediately is a great way to chase away odor, according to Kealia Reynolds, an editor at HouseMethod.com. “Cleaning up right away prevents smells from aging and becoming more pungent on your kitchen surfaces,” she says.
Place all strong-smelling meat and vegetable castoffs, such as onion peels, fish skin, and garlic, into a plastic bag inside a closable trash can. Take the trash outside rather than leave it in the kitchen overnight.
Rinse all cutting boards the moment you’re done with them. If you’ve cut garlic, onions, or other strong-smelling foods on a cutting board, the scent can seep into the surface and last for days if not cleaned properly—and quickly. Stick plastic cutting boards in the dishwasher for a deep clean, and use half of a lemon sprinkled with salt to clean wooden cutting boards.
And after the meal has been served, rinse and wash all the dishes as soon as possible.
5. Absorb strong odors overnight
If you are too exhausted after cooking a huge meal to do a massive kitchen cleanup, let items from your pantry work for you as you snooze.
“Leave a small bowl of white vinegar, coffee grounds, or baking soda out overnight on the counter,” says Gilmer. Each of these items are great at absorbing smells.
Another nighttime tip? Be sure to close your bedroom and closet doors before you turn in. “These rooms are full of odor-absorbing fabrics that will cause smells to permeate your home,” Gilmer adds.
6. Deep-clean the drain
Many of those displeasing kitchen smells may be coming from your sink, where odors can get trapped. “We recommend freshening your kitchen drain monthly,” says Jenn Nicken, founder of The Chef & The Dish, a global marketplace with chefs around the world via Skype. “Simply put about half a cup of baking soda into your kitchen drain, then pour one cup of vinegar into the drain. Let sit for 15 minutes, then run hot tap water for 60 seconds.”
7. Manage the microwave
The microwave is guilty of trapping odors, in the form of splattered sauce and hardened food scraps. Be sure to wipe down the inside of your microwave a couple of times a week.
“And if you have lingering smells in your microwave, use a few drops of lemon essential oil and wipe down the interior of the appliance,” Reynolds says.
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