GR8TR Today Magazine

Living a GR8TR Life Every Day

House & Home

8 Ways to Keep Your Home Cleaner Every Day

Keeping your home clean can be challenging, especially in cooler weather.  Most of the year, you are tracking in leaves, snow and slush, dirt, mud, or germs from the outside.  Keeping your home clean throughout the week takes more than cleaning once a week.  It takes

The number one idea for keeping your home clean with less effort is to lean speed cleaning techniques.  This is when you can quickly clean something in a couple of minutes or less.  These activities do not make deeper cleaning unnecessary, but they do keep the house cleaner, longer and reduce the need to deep clean as often.  There are many websites where you can learn speed cleaning techniques, and you can easily learn how to keep your home exponentially cleaner in a few minutes a day.

The second thing you can do to keep your home cleaner is to have a place for everything.  Shoes should be taken off and all kept in a mud room or a closet.  Coats should all go in a closet.  Books should go on shelves, so they do not build up.  The more clutter you have, the more dust and dirt will build up around stuff.  Having a minimal look to your coffee tables and counters will make it easy to dust and wipe things down.

A third recommendation for keeping your home cleaner is having high-quality floormats in the home at all entrances, both inside and outside.  Shoes are what track in the most outside grime and wiping your shoes on a good floormat will greatly reduce the rest of the home needing cleaned as often.  Keeping wet or snowy shoes on a rubber backed floor mat will also protect your flooring.  Even ceramic tiles might have grout come out if salty snow weakens the grout when shoes are left to defrost directly on your floor.

As our fourth suggestion, we recommend keeping your cleaning tools and supplies handy to make it easier to keep your home clean daily.  If you can buy a broom hanger and put it inside of the door but with easy access, you can quickly clean your floor each day.  If you have a bucket with wipes and cleaning supplies handy, it is faster and easier to wipe down a sink.

Tip five for keeping your house clean is to make sure your garbage can is full every week.  Often, you may have a half full garbage can on garbage pickup day.  Take a few extra minutes to find things in your home that you will never use, and have low or no value, and throw them away if you cannot donate it.

Our sixth recommendation for maintaining a clean environment is your basement.  Especially if you do laundry or have other reasons to go down there frequently, if you have a basement that is wet, mildewy, or dirty, you are tracking dirt and allergens back upstairs each time you come back up.  Getting your basement waterproofed, or even hiring someone for basement finishing is a great way to clean up the space, create better storage space and make your whole home cleaner.

If you still need more ideas, our seventh strategy for a cleaner house is to not ignore your garage, porch and shed.  These areas can get dirty and if you do not clean them regularly, you will track in dirt from them.  This could even include things like oil or other fluids from your car.  Things like antifreeze can taste good to a pet and make them sick, maybe even killing them. 

And lastly, do not forget if you want to keep your home cleaner, you can keep your pet cleaner.  Brushing and bathing your pets more often will cut down on hair, dust and dander that your pet can generate and leave all over your home.  Having them groomed and bathed more frequently will reduce this and make cleaning your home faster and easier.  Also remember to wipe off their paws after a walk if it is wet or snowy, before releasing them to run about the house.

All of these things, along with having a regular cleaning schedule and habit, will keep your home sparkly clean and create a much healthier environment for your family.  And it should not take long if you plan ahead and do things more regularly.

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

Baking Soda and Its Uses

I like baking – I have a sweet tooth. Among my baking ingredients, amidst the flours and vanilla extract and eggs, there is one thing that I consider to be very important in the household that I always make it a point to stock on it and that is baking soda. For a couple of years now, I have collected some uses of baking soda from online sites and have even tried some of them myself. In this article, I will share with you some of the benefits of baking soda.

  1. Facial Scrub – This is something that I have done and still continue to do to this day. I make my own baking soda facial scrub by mixing one and a half tablespoons of warm water to three tablespoons of baking soda. The consistency should be that of a paste. Use this to scrub dead skin cells and germs off your skin. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes. It stings.
  2. Room or Fridge Freshener – Let’s admit it. Our fridge is the source of a mixture of odors from leftovers and other stuff we put inside it – not all of them pleasant. The simple solution I have is to put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a small container (something that will not take too much space in your fridge) and let it sit there for a few days. I find that odors inside the fridge are neutralized when I do this. You can also try this out in your rooms.
  3. Kitty Litter Deodorizer – As a pet lover, this is something I do. Before filling your litter pan with kitty litter, sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom and then add the kitty litter. This helps the kitty litter from getting too stinky.
  4. Minor Insect Bite Treatment – I cannot attest for this because I have not tried this myself, but baking soda is said to be a good treatment for insect bites. You have to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
  5. Brush and Comb Cleaning Agent – Your brushes and combs collect dirt from your hair. It also gets oily from your scalp and residue from your hair products. You can easily get rid of this by soaking your combs and brushes in warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda for about half an hour to an hour. After that, you can simply rinse it and let it dry.

Baking soda has been very helpful around the house and not just for baking purposes. It can clean surfaces, act as a beauty product and can keep the air fresh. So the next time you run to the grocery store, drop by the baking goods aisle and make it a point to keep your shelves stocked with it.

 

New Year, New Look – Four Decorating Ideas For Your Home

The new year is often associated with change – a time to put the negativities of the past and change for the better. People are often inclined to change something in themselves at the start of the year – from something small like getting a new hair color to something substantially larger, like changing careers or planning to get married to their significant other. We have all done it at some point since we believe there should be progress in ourselves or at least there is hope for progress, so why not include the look of our homes in that change as well?

In this article, I will share some decorating ideas that will hopefully spark your creative side. I should say that not all of these ideas are trendy and whatnot, some of them may even be classics in their own, but if you have not applied them in your home, the change can be beautiful. If you have not tried them, I encourage you to do so. If anything, the new look should be an interesting change in your humble abode.

  1. Go green. Plants can instantly change the look of the room. Plus, they take in carbon dioxide and help produce oxygen. I’m sure we have seen those small plants placed in bathrooms. What’s the first thing you notice? I myself have always noticed that the room looks more alive. Most of us don’t have picture perfect bathrooms worthy of being featured in magazines, but we can add color and life just by adding a plant or a terrarium. It’s not just for bathrooms. Terrariums look great on desk tops and since they can be small, they don’t take up much space.
  2. Pick a theme. If you have a bit of extra budget and time, you can pick a theme for some rooms in your home. Do your children love the beach? Why not pick a nautical theme for their room. Decorate it with anchors or a ship’s wheel and pick some starfish-printed curtains for them? Make sure that the room does not get too cluttered with the same stuff. Gold looks wonderful and classy in a living room, but too much gold will make it look overpowering and quite tacky.
  3. Frame it up. I’ve always told my friends that living in the digital age has made it easier for parents to take snap shots of their little ones any time of the day. We all have our favorites and the ones we won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Get those pictures printed in a bigger size and have them framed. They look especially nice on staircase walls. After some time, you will see how your baby has grown over the years and you can look at the images wistfully.
  4. Lights. It’s no secret that lights and their settings can instantly make a difference in a room and a person’s mood. Sunlight in the morning looks cheerful and happy; dim light looks romantic. There are many affordable chandeliers in the market today and you can even make one of your own if you’re handy with electrical wires. This does not just apply to living rooms and bedrooms. You can even change the lighting in your kitchen if you think your overhead light is too bright. 

Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s crucial for your well-being that it looks like a place you want to be in at the end of a long day. Don’t neglect it and try to make it look pleasing with the resources that you have so that when you come home after a day outside, it will welcome you into the comfort of its arms.

Kid Proof Your Home Office

Here are a few tips to kid proof your home office if you are a work from home mom:

1. Keep as few wires as possible reachable to little hands. That means position your furniture to cover outlets so wires are not exposed and inviting little hands to pull at them. Also, you can get cable covers and wire clips to hold several wires together.

2. Keep as much away from the edge of surfaces where little hands can reach. For instance, keep your computer monitor far back and when you are not using your keyboard put it above your monitor if possible. Also, unplug your printer and fax machine when not in use so that even if little hands get on them they can’t do much damage.

3. Your file cabinet will be hard to keep organized if your little one keeps getting into all the papers. The easiest solution is to get locks for the drawers. However, be careful that they cannot lock themselves in the drawers.

These are a few inexpensive tips to help you if you are trying to earn extra money at home. Of course the ideal would be to lock your office door when you are not working and only work when your little one is not around. However, this is not always practical and therefore I hope these simple tips are helpful as you set up your home office.

3 Ways to Boost Your Home Value on the Cheap

It’s now a good time to buy or sell a home. However, overspending many times to boost a home’s value is not a good idea. Some things can be done at a lot cheaper price, but the outcome will be a lot better than expected.

With that in mind, the following are three ways to boost one’s home value for more affordable prices. And even though some of these steps may seem minimal, the value will spruce up greatly:

1. Clean up thoroughly.

From a few bucks to a few thousands dollars depending on the amount of clutter, weird smells, and grime, cleaning thoroughly from top to bottom, inside and outside the home, and in garages and other areas outside the home go a long way. And the potential return from doing this step is three to five percent.

When cleaning thoroughly, one must depersonalize the space so that potential buyers can visualize how they can use that space. Even the opening of the curtains and blinds to let sun in will give them a better feel, and it would make the space appear bigger. For spaces that are severely cluttered, a professional organizer can help, and there are places like the Salvation Army who are willing to pick up belongings that are in good condition but is no longer needed. And with the harsh winds causing dirt marks and debris on homes in the Midwest, it’s important to do some power washing on the exterior of the home. One would be amazed of the significant difference after the thorough power washing.

2. Paint the rooms selectively.

Painting the walls a neutral color is always a good idea because potential buyers can visualize how they would use the space. Also, neutral colors go with any type of furniture they may want in that space. With this said, depersonalization is key here. Having purple walls may be great for the current residents, but it may be a turnoff to potential buyers who may automatically be withdrawn from buying the house because of that. Also, painting the walls are important because it makes the place appear bigger, cleaner, and fresher.

3. Fixing minor fixtures.

Whether it’s caulking the tub, fixing light fixtures, getting the burnt mark off the counter-top, or replacing some shingles that are more affordable and with a warranty, these steps would definitely make a great difference. It only costs a mere $100 to a few thousand dollars, depending on what all needs to be done. However, the potential return would amount from two to seven percent, depending on the work done.

Indoor Cold Weather Family Activities

It is usually cold in the Winter, but sometimes it gets really cold.  You know what I mean.  The “not going out in this unless I have to” cold.  If you are an active family, you may find yourself suddenly bored and trying to figure out what to do together in your home.  Of course there is always the Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime binge.  But there are also other things you can do that back in the day people did as a family but have fallen out of popularity.  Here are some ideas of things you can try doing in your house with some tea or hot chocolate.

  1. Unless you are very young, you probably have some board games around the house covered in dust.  Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, Yahtzee – there are a lot of options and these were so fun before everyone got sucked permanently into their phones.
     
  2. No board games?  How about cards?  Rummy, Texas Hold’um, Go Fish – depends on the age of your kids but cards are a lot of fun and can teach critical skills and strategy.
     
  3. Another option is art and crafts.  Maybe you have not done them since you were a young child, but there is something therapeutic and fun about sitting and sketching or painting. If you have the stuff, you could always build a birdhouse in anticipation of Spring, or just do a mosaic of stuff you have around the house.
     
  4. Start learning a language – I know this sounds a bit out there but with online systems such as Babel, you can start learning a language for free.  Planning a trip this Summer?  Why not use these cold times to start the family down a linguistic journey.
     
  5. Maybe less of a group project and more a good way to spend some solo time is to start writing the book you always talk about.  Lots of people think about it but indoor months are the perfect time to turn off the TV and start putting pen to paper.  It is actually easy to publish your own book on Create Space, a service of Amazon.
     
  6. Declutter a room – OK, maybe not fun but think of how good it will feel when you have gone through the junk drawer or cleaned out a closet.  If you are going to be inside anyway you can always do this now so when it is nice you can be out hiking or swimming.

Yes, it might be too cold to be doing a lot of outside things for anyone other than die-hard outdoorsy types, but this can be a very positive time to have fun, connect with your family and get some useful things done.  Enjoy the cold.

Tax Advantages with Home Based Businesses

Tax advantages with home based businesses are plenty that there is no reason not to take the income opportunity home based business provides. Tax advantages include equipment deduction, deductions on office supplies and furniture, and travel needed to provide service.

Employing yourself to the income opportunity home based business basically means that you may have a certain area in the house dedicated to the business. The IRS regards this as the work space and allows deductions for any needs that will support that area of the house.Equipment including computers and service equipment needed to start the business can be deducted from taxes and allow ample opportunity to purchase what is needed. Thinking big in your business can be an excellent way to kick start the career from home but it is generally recommended to start small and then work up to more expensive equipment depending upon the area of expertise.

Deductions include furniture and office supplies for your income opportunity home based business and can provide the office space with enough to feel comfortable. Working from home should be a comfortable experience in order to provide enough space and arrangement for furniture to work within the area. Creating a theme in the workspace is highly recommended for the career from home minded individuals for a pleasant working environment.

Traveling, entertaining, and fuel expenses can also be deducted from the taxes of a home based business. These are plausible opportunities to gain further clients and provide service or products for the growth of the business.

Protect Your Family – Home Dangers

Carbon Monoxide – The silent killer

During the winter months, doors and windows remain closed at all times and the chance of fresh air circling in your home in great quantities is null. Not only is fresh air a problem during the winter months, but the furnace in constant use makes Carbon  Monoxide gas in your home a bit more likely.

A very inexpensive carbon monoxide detector can cost you less than $10 dollars at your local Target, Walmart, Lowe’s or Home Depot store. You can purchase a  battery operated detector or an electric one, but either choice is an inexpensive safety choice that can be a lifesaver for you.

Smoke Detectors

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends testing your smoke detectors monthly to make sure they are working properly. They also recommend changing the batteries in your smoke detectors yearly.  Keeping a regular schedule-say every October, or every thanksgiving-to change the batteries in the smoke detectors of your home should make it an easy thing to do every year.

Every ten years, the National Fire Protection Agency recommends changing the smoke detectors in your home.  Every floor in your home should have a smoke detector, including the basement and the attic.  The smoke detectors should be installed in the hallways, and outside and inside the bedrooms. Make sure to place a smoke detector close to the kitchen as well. For more information about fire prevention, check your local Fire department website.

Poisoning

According to National Council Safety’s website, unintentional poisoning is one of the leading causes of deaths in the adult population in the United States. Gases, households chemicals, lead poisoning and button batteries are some of the dangers lurking in your home that can be fatal for your young kids. Have you childproofed your home lately? Household cleaning products pose a risk to small children if they are not kept safely away from them.  Some of the products that experts recommend you check are laundry packets, paints, drain and toilet cleaners, and all cleaners you use in and around the home and keep in the house or garage.

Medicine kept in the bathroom cabinets are easily available to your child and can be abused. A Scholastic study found that children self-medicate as early as 11 years old. And according to the study, more than 10,000 minors are admitted into hospitals for overdosing on over the counter medications.  Keeping an eye on what you have and making sure you talk to your kids about the dangers of self-medicating can go a long way in preventing an overdose.

Keep your family safe by being proactive.

Fall Car Maintenance for Cold Weather Dwellers

As Summer ends and Fall begins, you want to take a look at several things with your car before the weather gets too cold.  Some of these things are basic and can be done at a local parts store and some of these things you might need a mechanic to check, maybe at your next oil change.

Wipers and Fluid are something to get replaced and filled up before you start getting into sleet and snow.  That is no time to not be able to see well.  And do not add water to your wiper fluid as it could freeze.

Next look closely at your tire treads.  If they are worn too far down it is time to get new tires before the slick roads pose a bigger risk.  Shopping around in local tire stores before you need to rush and find replacement tires will help you get the best price.

Next consider having your battery tested.  Once it gets cold you may find a marginal battery is no longer turning over the car and you are stuck someplace and cannot get the car started.  Last year we had a fairly new car not able to start because one cell of the battery was bad.  This was odd as we knew a newer car should not have a battery issue that early but it was important to figure out the issue and replace it because we got stranded several times.

Heating is also something to take a look at.  Once you start using the heater again, there are a number of things that can go wrong and make the heating less efficient or even overheat the car.  At the very least make sure if you have had your radiator flushed and it has the proper level of coolant if it is time for that.

Check all of your lights as well.  If you are going to replace burned out lights yourself it is a lot more pleasant to do it in 50 degree weather than 30 degree weather.  Might as well do it now.

Lastly, a common issue is brakes.  If your brakes are worn and you have not replaced the brake pads yet, it will only be worse as the road conditions get worse.  It is important that you can stop well and that everything has been checked out.