(BPT) – Investing in a bathroom upgrade is in the cards for nearly a quarter of homeowners planning to renovate within the next 12 months, according to a new survey by Bankrate.com. Improving a bathroom is rewarding on multiple levels; if you’re sellin…
(BPT) – From decorating, shopping, cooking and cleaning, there’s a lot to do during the holiday season. Time is running out to get it all done before your next big gathering, and you may be thinking, “where do I even start?” Merry Maids, the nation’s largest home cleaning company, is making it simple by sharing the easiest ways to clean the messiest spaces in your home this holiday season.
1. Inside your oven
Between roasting turkey and baking pies, your oven will see seen a lot of action. Let your oven racks clean themselves overnight. Remove the oven racks, place them into large plastic trash bags and spray them generously with a degreaser solution. Let them sit overnight in a ventilated area away from pets, children and other hazards. The following morning, remove the oven racks from the plastic bags, rinse them in the sink with warm, soapy water and wipe them dry. Wipe down the inside of your oven with a microfiber cloth, then slide in your newly cleaned oven racks.
2. Carpets and rugs
From footprints to spilled wine drops, your rugs take a beating during all the holiday festivities. With any stain, make sure to tackle it right away and blot the stain with a paper towel or microfiber cloth to remove excess liquid. Even if the stain has been lingering, mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Using a clean microfiber cloth, dip it in the cleaning solution and blot the stain.
3. Toilet
Hosting families and friends means your bathroom works overtime. Surprisingly, vinegar is perfect for cleaning the hard-water deposits in your toilet bowl. Pour a cup of white vinegar and a few fizzy denture tablets into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. The following morning, scrubbing will require less time and less elbow grease.
4. Windows
Kitchen windows are an unexpected place for grease and grime buildup, but heavy cooking and baking can do a number on them. Rather than reach for a cleaning product, make your own. Mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of water and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll be looking outside at the snow through a grease- and fingerprint-free window!
5. Refrigerator
Refrigerators are home to lots of meals throughout the holidays, so now is the perfect opportunity to refresh yours. A quick and easy trick: place an orange peel filled with salt in the refrigerator to deodorize it and help keep the fridge smelling clean and fresh. Just cut an orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt and place it in a bowl at the back of the refrigerator. Replace as needed!
If you’re taking on cleaning your home (whether before or after the holiday season) and need a time-saving tip, or lifesaving stain removal tip (even if it’s a stain from last year’s celebration), Merry Maids is here to help. Ask the experts via Facebook or Twitter, using #SeasonsCleanings in your question, and Merry Maids will share its best tips and tricks to get your home in order.
(BPT) – From decorating, shopping, cooking and cleaning, there’s a lot to do during the holiday season. Time is running out to get it all done before your next big gathering, and you may be thinking, “where do I even start?” Merry Maids, the nation’s largest home cleaning company, is making it simple by sharing the easiest ways to clean the messiest spaces in your home this holiday season.
1. Inside your oven
Between roasting turkey and baking pies, your oven will see seen a lot of action. Let your oven racks clean themselves overnight. Remove the oven racks, place them into large plastic trash bags and spray them generously with a degreaser solution. Let them sit overnight in a ventilated area away from pets, children and other hazards. The following morning, remove the oven racks from the plastic bags, rinse them in the sink with warm, soapy water and wipe them dry. Wipe down the inside of your oven with a microfiber cloth, then slide in your newly cleaned oven racks.
2. Carpets and rugs
From footprints to spilled wine drops, your rugs take a beating during all the holiday festivities. With any stain, make sure to tackle it right away and blot the stain with a paper towel or microfiber cloth to remove excess liquid. Even if the stain has been lingering, mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Using a clean microfiber cloth, dip it in the cleaning solution and blot the stain.
3. Toilet
Hosting families and friends means your bathroom works overtime. Surprisingly, vinegar is perfect for cleaning the hard-water deposits in your toilet bowl. Pour a cup of white vinegar and a few fizzy denture tablets into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. The following morning, scrubbing will require less time and less elbow grease.
4. Windows
Kitchen windows are an unexpected place for grease and grime buildup, but heavy cooking and baking can do a number on them. Rather than reach for a cleaning product, make your own. Mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of water and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll be looking outside at the snow through a grease- and fingerprint-free window!
5. Refrigerator
Refrigerators are home to lots of meals throughout the holidays, so now is the perfect opportunity to refresh yours. A quick and easy trick: place an orange peel filled with salt in the refrigerator to deodorize it and help keep the fridge smelling clean and fresh. Just cut an orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt and place it in a bowl at the back of the refrigerator. Replace as needed!
If you’re taking on cleaning your home (whether before or after the holiday season) and need a time-saving tip, or lifesaving stain removal tip (even if it’s a stain from last year’s celebration), Merry Maids is here to help. Ask the experts via Facebook or Twitter, using #SeasonsCleanings in your question, and Merry Maids will share its best tips and tricks to get your home in order.
(BPT) – As Americans design their dream homes, or plan the remodel of their existing ones, wood is once again becoming a prominent feature in their interior design schemes. One species in particular – cypress – is attracting the attention of both millennials in the suburbs and boomers along the shoreline. So what’s the appeal?
‘Cypress is a unique wood that offers a variety of looks,’ says Brian Meier of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, www.CypressInfo.org. ‘It’s readily available in visual grades ranging from knotty to knot-free. And it’s a beautiful wood. Its natural color, which typically varies from golden honey to light chocolate tones, can include red and olive hues. And while wood is a timeless building material that can complement any architectural style, cypress will make a design statement in any room.’
The appeal is real
Cypress is often the go-to material for siding and other exterior applications where good looks and durability really count, and rightfully so. However, it’s those same attributes that make cypress an ideal choice for indoor applications like high-end cabinetry and bold, built-in storage solutions.
Mandeville, Louisiana custom cabinet manufacturer Geoff Philippus agrees. ‘Thanks to its natural resistance to water, cypress is a great wood to use in wet zones, such as kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and even outdoor cooking areas,’ he says. Philippus added that customers usually come to his custom shop with a design in mind, and he then offers suggestions on how to achieve their desired look.
‘More often than not we introduce people to cypress, from new growth, reclaimed, river recovered, or pecky cypress with its naturally occurring pockets and holes,” Philippus says. “It’s something they’ve never seen before, and they fall in love with it. We recently completed a massive kitchen island and matching built-ins showcasing pecky cypress. The visual effect is like nothing else out there and it’s one of my favorite projects.’
Add some personality
Plain walls and bare ceilings are passé. Today’s savvy homeowners are looking to add personal style to their living spaces beyond what a fresh coat of paint can provide. Adding a touch of cypress to the mix is a great beginning.
According to Mark Jefferson, a specialty woodworker from Palm City, Florida, ‘Nothing adds aesthetic warmth to a room like wood,’ he says. ‘And cypress packs plenty of character and design flexibility. I’ve used it for everything from coffered ceilings and decorative doors to paneling and general millwork. Cypress also is excellent for structural design elements, such as exposed timbers and beams, which are popular because they open up a space, making ceilings seem higher and rooms look bigger.’
Be inspired
Wooden furniture is synonymous with durability and a long-term investment that can be repaired, refinished and passed down from generation to generation. And while furniture can be crafted out of many different wood species, for custom furniture maker Jason Straw of Gainesville, Florida, his choice is cypress, and for several reasons.
‘Cypress offers intense imagery and color, with a rich grain and texture that makes stunning furniture – or rather, functional pieces of art,’ Straw says. ‘It’s a great wood to craft dining room tables, desks, vanities, headboards, and nightstands.’ But for Straw, there’s an even greater appeal.
‘I like using cypress, especially logs that are recovered from rivers and swamps,’ Straw says. ‘To know that I’m using wood from a tree that probably started growing thousands of years ago – and has been under water for at least 100 years – is fascinating to me. The wood’s history is on my mind every time I work with it.’
You too can be inspired. Visit www.CypressInfo.org to explore the myriad ways cypress can make a design statement in your living space.
(BPT) – As Americans design their dream homes, or plan the remodel of their existing ones, wood is once again becoming a prominent feature in their interior design schemes. One species in particular – cypress – is attracting the attention of both millennials in the suburbs and boomers along the shoreline. So what’s the appeal?
‘Cypress is a unique wood that offers a variety of looks,’ says Brian Meier of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, www.CypressInfo.org. ‘It’s readily available in visual grades ranging from knotty to knot-free. And it’s a beautiful wood. Its natural color, which typically varies from golden honey to light chocolate tones, can include red and olive hues. And while wood is a timeless building material that can complement any architectural style, cypress will make a design statement in any room.’
The appeal is real
Cypress is often the go-to material for siding and other exterior applications where good looks and durability really count, and rightfully so. However, it’s those same attributes that make cypress an ideal choice for indoor applications like high-end cabinetry and bold, built-in storage solutions.
Mandeville, Louisiana custom cabinet manufacturer Geoff Philippus agrees. ‘Thanks to its natural resistance to water, cypress is a great wood to use in wet zones, such as kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and even outdoor cooking areas,’ he says. Philippus added that customers usually come to his custom shop with a design in mind, and he then offers suggestions on how to achieve their desired look.
‘More often than not we introduce people to cypress, from new growth, reclaimed, river recovered, or pecky cypress with its naturally occurring pockets and holes,” Philippus says. “It’s something they’ve never seen before, and they fall in love with it. We recently completed a massive kitchen island and matching built-ins showcasing pecky cypress. The visual effect is like nothing else out there and it’s one of my favorite projects.’
Add some personality
Plain walls and bare ceilings are passé. Today’s savvy homeowners are looking to add personal style to their living spaces beyond what a fresh coat of paint can provide. Adding a touch of cypress to the mix is a great beginning.
According to Mark Jefferson, a specialty woodworker from Palm City, Florida, ‘Nothing adds aesthetic warmth to a room like wood,’ he says. ‘And cypress packs plenty of character and design flexibility. I’ve used it for everything from coffered ceilings and decorative doors to paneling and general millwork. Cypress also is excellent for structural design elements, such as exposed timbers and beams, which are popular because they open up a space, making ceilings seem higher and rooms look bigger.’
Be inspired
Wooden furniture is synonymous with durability and a long-term investment that can be repaired, refinished and passed down from generation to generation. And while furniture can be crafted out of many different wood species, for custom furniture maker Jason Straw of Gainesville, Florida, his choice is cypress, and for several reasons.
‘Cypress offers intense imagery and color, with a rich grain and texture that makes stunning furniture – or rather, functional pieces of art,’ Straw says. ‘It’s a great wood to craft dining room tables, desks, vanities, headboards, and nightstands.’ But for Straw, there’s an even greater appeal.
‘I like using cypress, especially logs that are recovered from rivers and swamps,’ Straw says. ‘To know that I’m using wood from a tree that probably started growing thousands of years ago – and has been under water for at least 100 years – is fascinating to me. The wood’s history is on my mind every time I work with it.’
You too can be inspired. Visit www.CypressInfo.org to explore the myriad ways cypress can make a design statement in your living space.
(BPT) – Shampoo bottles, makeup tools, lotions, linens and laundry – the bathroom is one of the most frequented rooms in the home and clutter can collect quickly. Stop the chaos before it gets out of control by implementing some smart storage solutions…
(BPT) – Love the look of sleek, elegant shower spaces featured in popular home-improvement magazines and TV shows? You don’t need to be a design expert to update your favorite bathroom with touches of modern luxury and influences of European simplicity…
(BPT) – It’s almost that time of year again – you prepare for the holidays and start thinking about what you want your New Year’s resolution to be.
According to research from Nielsen, one quarter of Americans want to spend less and save more money in the New Year. If you’re one of these people, follow these five easy tips to stay on track financially in 2017.
Automate payments into your savings account.
When payday rolls around, it can be tempting to pocket every last dollar. But realistically, it’s difficult to save money that’s right in front if you. Instead, automate payments into your savings account before it makes it to your checking account. This way, you won’t miss it from your budget, and you’ll be on the road to staying true to your New Year’s resolution all year.
Dine in.
Everyone knows eating out is more expensive than dining in, but you might not even realize how often you’re doing it. When you’re on the go, buying lunch or ordering take-out, costs quickly add up. Pre-planning and preparing meals for the week ahead will not only save money but help you eat healthier at the same time.
Rethink your wireless plan.
Do you feel like you’re paying too much for your data? In 2017, set yourself free from your overpriced wireless plan. For only $40 a month, Net10 Wireless’ no contract cell service makes this easy. You’ll get nationwide coverage on one of America’s top four networks and the first 3 GB of data at high speeds, then at 2G*. Plus, you can make the switch while keeping your current phone and number with the Net10 Wireless Bring Your Own Phone program. “Ringing” in the New Year is all about making changes for the better, and switching your plan could save you lots in the long run.
Bring the gym home.
Exercising is important, but monthly gym membership fees can make a huge dent in your savings. Instead, try working out at home for a few months by following exercise videos, running outside (weather permitting) or modifying your favorite utilizing home items. If that’s not enough, try pay-per-class offerings coupled with your own exercise outside of the gym.
Cut out your cable bill.
Similar to spending too much on a cell data contract, your monthly cable bills could also be hindering your financial goals. How often do you really watch specialty channels anyway? Opting for monthly streaming services can cost you as low as $7.99 per month while offering the same programs and movies you love. Meanwhile, the average cable bill is $99 per month. Making the switch could save you more than $1,000 per year, which just goes to show how sticking to your New Year’s resolution can pay off.
*At 2G speeds, the functionality of some data applications, such as streaming audio or video may be affected. Please refer always to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at NET10wireless.com.
(BPT) – Thousands of Americans who are in the process of building their own home, or simply looking into it, are faced with hundreds of different questions. Granite or quartz countertops? Neutral or bold colors? Tile or hardwood flooring? And those que…
(BPT) – Thousands of Americans who are in the process of building their own home, or simply looking into it, are faced with hundreds of different questions. Granite or quartz countertops? Neutral or bold colors? Tile or hardwood flooring? And those que…