Real Estate Information

Regular wiping with plain warm water is your first defense in cleaning any stainless surface, followed by a microfiber cloth or paper towel drying. Get rid of fingerprints with  a glass cleaner containing ammonia. 
 

For scratches, use a clean cloth with a few drops of mineral or olive oil.  Wipe in the direction of the grain, and minor scratches will disappear. 

Countertops need daily cleaning, but they need disinfecting as well. Some chemicals in sanitizing products could be harmful, so to give surfaces some TLC while killing germs, use white distilled vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or just good old hot, soapy water. 
 

Mild soap mixed in warm water is great for general cleaning, as well as keeping germs at bay for granite countertops. Applying bleach, ammonia or even acidic vinegar can be harmful, so spray with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water if you need to disinfect. Having it resealed annually helps protect it, as well as maintain the germ barrier. 
 

Quartz is a tough surface, but treat it gently; since it’s a manufactured product, using anything to scour away an errant stain will scratch the surface. Warm, soapy water is best to keep it sparkling.   

Hardwood floors are fairly simple to care for: sweep often, and vacuum using the bare floor setting once a week. Chemical products for mopping are a no-no: a mop dampened with warm water and a mild soap is best, then rinsing any residue with a clean water mop. 
 

Caring for tile is similar to hardwood using a damp microfiber mop and mild soap mixed with water.  As the floor is drying, buff with a dry microfiber cloth for a beautiful shine.  Unsealed grout can be cleaned safely with a paste of baking soda and water applied with a soft brush.   
 

Mix a half cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water when mopping vinyl floors. (The odor will vanish after it dries, or you can add some lemon essential oil to combat the initial smell.) Remove scuff marks by rubbing the streaks with a tennis ball, melamine sponge (sold as “magic” eraser/sponges), or clean pencil eraser. 
 

Real Simple has some great tips for cleaning less common types of flooring such as bamboo, cork and natural stone flooring.  

Fake Social Security Claims:  This scam can begin with an official-looking letter in the mail or a phone call. The caller informs the recipient that there is a problem with their Social Security benefits or suspicious use of their SSN and could stop receiving their monthly deposits if the requested information is not provided immediately. Remind your older adult that the Social Security Administration will never call asking for more information unless they have applied for benefits. They should simply hang up and call their local SSA office or file a report through the SSA Inspector General Office website. 
 

“Family Member” in Trouble:  Someone posing as a family member, most commonly a grandchild, will contact the elderly person and claim to be in serious trouble. The caller says that they need money immediately and will als0 stress not to contact their parents to avoid getting in trouble with them. In spite of their urgency, the senior adult should hang up or disengage and contact another member of the family, or call the person claiming to be in trouble to make sure everything is okay. 
 

Homeowner Scams:  Older homeowners are targeted because they normally live in a home without a mortgage and a higher value than the purchase price.  Property tax scammers will offer to send someone to re-assess the value of the property to lower the taxes, but for a fee. No matter how official the correspondence may seem, the homeowner should always contact their local tax office to make sure they are not being had. 
 

Deceased Spouse’s Fake Debt:  Fraudsters have no shame, and will go through obituaries, then contact surviving family members to claim that the deceased has an outstanding debt.  The best defense against this is to not give out any financial information, and most certainly do not pay anything. The estate handles any outstanding accounts, not surviving spouses. 
 

Medicare Scams: Phone calls come daily–to those who are not even over 65–claiming to be a Medicare representative.  The most common claims the caller will make are asking to verify information, saying the account has a refund flagged, or offering free medical supplies.  Simply hang up without engaging in conversation.   

Once those treats are done, give your dog something to think about and create a treat game for them to play.  This bottle-spinning puzzle requires few materials and basic building skills. 
 

Using a purchased dog bed or making one yourself, you can create a special spot for the dogs to get their rest. Find the perfect dog bed project here from HGTV. 
 

Traveling with Fido can create a real hairy mess on car interiors, but a hammock may be the answer! Sewing basics will come in handy for this fairly simple DIY hammock project. 
 

Upgrade that cagey dog crate by creating this cover with a removable top. The cave-like atmosphere it creates is comforting for the dog and gives you space to use as a table! 
 

An active dog is a happy dog when they have plenty to do outside! If you have the space, why not create a tire tunnel, tug toy, or PVC agility course? 

Any cat owner knows that cats love to have a place to hide, sleep, observe. Make a fun hideaway with a t-shirt and a few other materials! 
 

Keeping an indoor cat entertained can be a challenge, and toys can be expensive. Create a simple feather toy or cat-treat puzzle to keep them busy. 
 

Bring the outside indoors: grow an indoor garden just for Kitty.  She will think she is the queen of the jungle! 
 

Will these inexpensive shelf steps keep your cat off the counters?  
 

While it is virtually impossible to make your cat stay in the yard, making a “catio” gives them a place to be outside while keeping them safe, as well as local wildlife. Install a cat door or open a window and have a structure like one of these waiting on the other side, or build this catio as part of your home’s design. 
 

In some cases, going green for decor can be expensive, but it does not have to be! Thrift stores, consignment shops, and tag sales are all perfectly green alternatives to buying new! 
 

Paint and other wall/wood treatments can be full of harmful chemicals.  Look for labels that say “non-toxic,” and paints that are low- or zero-VOC.  Learn more about “green” paint from the spruce. 
 

When shopping for new items, look for wood that is harvested responsibly, made from repurposed pieces, or even repurposed wood. 
 

You will pay more for carpeting made of natural fibers or recycled materials and organic dyes, but a clear conscience for the green living you are trying to achieve will outweigh the cost. Create custom designs with Flor carpet tiles, or go with 100% biodegradable Earth Weave carpet. 
 

Other eco-friendly flooring options are reclaimed wood, bamboo, and cork flooring. 
 

Use natural fabrics for bedding and draperies, or even upholstery:  cotton, linen, hemp, or wool are all more sustainable than synthetic textiles. 
 

Look for locally made artisan furniture, art, or decorative pieces.  You will likely find these crafters use locally found, sustainable materials. 

The larger the container, the better, when it comes to growing veggies. Purchasing pots is always an option but save money and use large buckets! Drain holes are easy to add with a drill and large bit, just make sure you have plenty of drainage. 
 

Grow bags are becoming quite popular and are great for growing veggie plants, and even berry shrubs! They offer many benefits over plastic and even clay containers but will cost more initially. Some even have “windows” for watching root vegetables grow, something that will be fun for the kids to watch! 
 

For soil, plain container mix is best; added fertilizers are not necessary, especially if you plan on using organic matter. Find a garden center that sells soil in bulk, purchased by the cubic yard, which will save money. Vegetables need at least six hours of full sun, and containers will be easier to move to a sunnier spot if they are not getting the needed amount. 
 

If you have the right sized container, you can grow practically any vegetable. Check out this list from Farmer’s Almanac for a list of what will grow best in different sized containers. 

Flowering annuals and bulbs have different needs when it comes to sunlight. This means that you can have pots of flowers practically anywhere you want them! 
 

Because flowering plants are solely for decoration, think outside the box when it comes to what to use. All you need are holes for drainage and almost anything can be a flowerpot. 
 

Planting a mix of different plants in one pot makes for a lot of interest, just be sure you are not mixing flowers that require different amounts of light or moisture. 
 

Think vertical as well--plant bags can be filled with flowers, and once the roots have taken hold, they can be hung from a nail or hook on any flat vertical surface. 
 

Hanging baskets are another common container, but do not just keep them on the porch! Hang them from sturdy tree branches, pergolas, or from wall-mounted plant hangers are just a few ideas. 

Grease collects on the outside and even the insides of some cabinets. Cut the grease with hot water and dishwashing liquid, rinsing afterward. For tough spots, make a paste of baking soda and water, rub onto the spot, then scrub off with a damp cloth. You’ll need to rinse this solution more than once, but baking soda makes it easy to remove, so the rinsing will be worth it. 
 

For both cabinets and pantry, remove everything from shelves, and toss anything that’s out of date.  
 

When it comes to what’s on your spice rack, McCormickⓇ reports that whole spices last 3-4 years, 2-3 years for ground spices, and herbs have a shorter life of 1-3 years.  Check the freshness date on the container, and if it’s within that time frame, keep it.  If not, throw it away and restock. 
 

On to the shelves containing dishes, storage containers, and cookware:  remove items, and if there’s something you can part with, get rid of it. Keep in mind local daycares or domestic violence shelters that can use kitchen items. 
 

Wipe down all the shelving, preferably with a disinfecting cleaner, and once that’s done, place down non-skid liners where your dishes and glassware will go. 
 

Heavier dishes should be on the bottom shelf. Cookware and bakeware that is used most often should be placed in the front part of the cabinet so they’re easy to get to. 
 

For pantry storage, reshelf everything in categories:  baking supplies, spices, sauces, breakfast items, pastas, and canned food items will be grab-and-go when you need them.
 

Don’t neglect the drawers! Clean them, purge anything you don’t need, and use trays or utensil organizers to keep everything where it’s convenient.  

- Simply using bright-colored accessories such as cozy throws, pillows, slipcovers, or accent rugs will reflect the natural light coming through the windows and help boost your mood. 
 

- Interior lighting can affect our disposition, especially in winter. Install daylight-type bulbs in ceiling fixtures, but use warm bulbs for lamps and sconces. 
 

- Natural items are not just for holiday decorating. A basket of pine cones with battery-operated LED lights woven through them or a simple wreath of twigs can double as decor for wintertime. 
 

- Clip small branches and twigs, spray them with white paint, (or leave natural), and display them in vases with artificial snow, small pine cones, or leftover whole nuts as a filler.  
 

- Snowflakes, no matter where you live, are a fun way to brighten up your interior. Have the kids cut out paper snowflakes or make these popsicle stick snowflakes. Hang them from a windowsill or use clear removable sticky dots and adhere them to the glass.  
 

- Create a whimsical wreath by wrapping a foam core wreath with an unused knitted scarf, adding mittens in place of a bow. This is another easy craft where children can participate! 
 

- Start forcing the flower bulbs you received as gifts to add a bit of green and color to your decor. Amaryllis and paperwhites are the easiest to grow indoors because they are tropical plants. 
 

- Another way to give a spring-like feel inside is to force-bloom flowering tree branches! Just follow these tips from Fine Gardening.  
 

The very thought of storing strings of tiny lights can send us running away! Many stores carry plastic reels to wrap lights around as well as companion containers. It is also possible to store the lights in the exact way they shipped from the factory, and all that is needed is a zip tie. This video shows you this simple storage tip.
 

To keep decorations and greenery from being flattened, store artificial wreaths in a hanging position from hooks; just be sure to cover them with a plastic trash bag to keep them from getting dusty. 
 

If the storage area has enough space, store artificial trees standing up. Rolls of shipping plastic can be wrapped around the tree from top to bottom to keep it dust-free or use contractor trash bags to cover the tree. Otherwise, keep the original container, and store it as close to the original packing as possible. Use zipper storage bags for any loose pieces. 
 

Unused or old suitcases are perfect for ornaments or odd knick-knacks. If at all possible, keep the original packaging, and your treasured items will be safe and snug no matter what container they are in. 
 

Bows are expensive and keeping them fluffy and new-looking can be a challenge. Use a coat hanger to attach them to, and store them hanging with a plastic garment or trash bag to cover. If you fear that heat will cause them to sag, stuff bow loops with balled-up wrapping paper that would have otherwise been tossed. 
 

Artificial garlands do very well coiled up in 55-gallon garbage cans. 
 

Precious ornaments--especially those made by the kids out of natural materials--should be placed in zipper storage bags, then stored in the unused cookie tins. That is a double storage win! 
 

Visit your local grocery’s produce manager and ask for covered apple and orange shipping boxes, as they are quite sturdy.  Many of them come with indented trays as well as moisture-wicking padding, making them perfect for storing treasured holiday items.