home maintenance: 10 Hidden Hazards in Your Home - 09/09/10 11:40 AM
Buying a first home is an exciting time for many of us. That pride of home ownership plus the freedom of decorating however we'd like is a liberating feeling. Once you own a home, there's no more worrying about the landlord and whether you can paint that ugly pink kitchen, hang new curtains, or (gasp!) put nails in the walls.
Home ownership does come with a different set of worries, unfortunately. Unlike a rental where the landlord takes care of regular maintenance issues, keeping a house safe from hidden threats is a homeowner's responsibility. Here are just a few of the … (4 comments)

home maintenance: 8 DIY Projects To Add Value To Your Home By Labor Day - 08/27/10 09:02 AM
Labor Day looms large for homeowners. The end of summer signals that many of us will soon be immersed in an accelerated work schedule plus soccer practices, homework and other realities of back-to-school season. (Then there are football-filled Sundays that most cut into your handyman time in the fall.) But there's still time to tackle a few remodeling projects. And while your goal may simply be to freshen the appearance of your home, you also want to know that your hard work will increase your home's value.
Here are eight home improvements you can finish by Labor Day that will pay … (1 comments)

home maintenance: 6 Tips for a More Spacious Kitchen - No Matter the Size! - 08/24/10 07:08 AM
Whatever its size, any kitchen can feel more spacious and function better using these simple tips:
Paint walls and cabinets a similar color. This makes the the separation appear seamless and allows the eye to travel freely across the room. Clear out unnecessary items. Clutter can make even a large room feel tight. Choose the two small appliances you use most (toaster and espresso machine at my house!) to leave on the counter and put the rest away in cabinets or the pantry. A basket on top of the fridge can neatly contain bags of snack foods and chips. Take advantage … (2 comments)

home maintenance: 10 Tips to Green Your Spring Clean! - 04/13/10 09:46 AM
The 40th annual Earth Day celebration is April 22nd! It also happens to be the time to bust out the mops, rags, and cleaners and take care of a little Spring cleaning! Here are some earth- and human-friendly cleaning tips:
1. Take a Deep Breath. Use baking soda, essential oils, or even fresh cut flowers instead of chemical fresheners.
2. Go Paperless. Opt out of junk-mail lists and phone book deliveries and use paperless billing for utilities.
3. Clothes Encounters. Wash laundry in cold water and install a clothesline in your backyard, basement, or garage.
4. Water Wise. Install a low-flow … (4 comments)

home maintenance: This House Has a 400 Watt Smile! - 05/18/09 03:23 AM
For months my husband and I have been saying we need to trade out some of our incandescent bulbs to CFL's(compact fourescent lights). It's one of those things we only seem to think about when we're at the eating bar in the kitchen where there are five bulbs burning at once. We never seem to remember when we're actually at the store. That finally changed last Saturday!
I was at Fred Meyer, my favorite we-sell-everything store, picking up buy-one-get-one-free flip-flops and cream cheese. On my way to the checkout a lightbulb went off in my brain: lightbulbs! I trotted off to … (3 comments)

home maintenance: Don't Top Trees if You Think Trees are Tops! - 05/12/09 04:53 PM
You wouldn't chop your head off when all you needed was a haircut, would you?
Tree topping involves the removal of large amounts of leaves and branches from a tree's crown. Did you know this common practice actually hurts trees, creates unsafe conditions and shortens the life of the tree? Before doing any pruning consider the location of electric lines and, for safety's sake, hire a certified arborist. While prudent pruning can enhance the life and beauty of trees "topping" should be avoided for the following reasons:
It doesn't work! A topped tree grows back quickly as it attempts to replace … (1 comments)