WHY DO THIS?

Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) is an incredibly versatile cleaning agent. Use it in your kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms for a spotless, non-toxic clean. Not only will this keep the toxins out of your house, but it will save you money when you don’t have to pay for other, more expensive cleaning alternatives. 

1. If you have unpleasant odors wafting from your refrigerator or freezer, place a small opened box of baking soda in the unit. The baking soda will nullify the unpleasant odors. Experts recommend you replace the box every three months.
2. To clean any surface with baking soda, including kitchen and bathroom counters, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. It’s up to you how much baking soda you use – the more baking soda, the more paste-like your cleaning agent will be. Wipe your surface, and then rinse it with clean water.
3. If you need to clean your silver, make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Rub each silver piece with the paste, and then rinse them with warm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry each piece before storing them.
4. If you have scuffmarks on a floor, including linoleum, wood, and tile floors, sprinkle baking soda over the scuff marks. Wipe the baking soda away with a warm, damp cloth.
5. To help remove spills from carpet, blot the spill as much as possible. Then, sprinkle with baking soda and let it sit for at least five minutes. Vacuum the baking soda away.
6. To clean your lawn furniture, use a paste of 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 quart warm water. Rub the paste on your furniture, then rinse it away with a water hose.
7. If you like using baking soda as a cleaning product, consider buying in bulk to save even more money. Baking soda doesn’t spoil, so storing it for a long period of time will not weaken its cleaning power.

WHY DO THIS?

Lower your monthly energy bill and reduce your impact on the environment by unplugging electronics, turning up the refrigerator, and being mindful of your dish cleaning habits in the kitchen.

1. Unplug your vampire electronics. Some electronics never fully turn off, they just go into a hibernation mode. To know if your appliance goes into hibernation mode, read the owner’s manual. Coffee makers and toasters are common kitchen vampires, so be sure to unplug these appliances when you’re not using them.
2. Don’t use the oven as a heater. Only open and close the oven when it’s necessary for your meal. It just makes the oven work harder and wastes energy. When you run a self-clean cycle, only run it after you’ve cooked in the oven. That way, the oven is already hot and you won’t waste energy.
3. Turn up the refrigerator temperature. There’s no reason to have ice pellets in your milk, so raise the temperature so your refrigerator isn’t overworking. Experts say that between 38 and 42 degrees is an optimal setting to keep your items fresh and save energy in the meantime.
4. Skip the pre-rinse and dry cycle on your dishwasher. It takes very little time to dry the dishes by hand, and the pre-rinse cycle is doing more harm than good. If your dishes are especially grimy, rinse them in the sink before placing them in the dishwasher. Only run the dishwasher when it’s full to save energy.
5. When you clean your kitchen, try products you already have in your cabinet! An equal mixture of baking soda and water works well on countertops. To learn more about green cleaning products, read about making Green Cleaning Products in the Blog category "IT IS EASY BEING GREEN"..

When would you talk to a car salesperson? Probably only once you’re ready to buy a new car. You would do some initial research (perhaps on the internet), get an idea of what you want, and then go to the dealership to meet a salesperson, test drive the car and make the purchase.

Although that approach may work when you’re buying a car, it’s not the best approach when it comes to real estate.

You see, successfully buying or selling a home requires a lot of planning and legwork. You want the process to go smoothly, the right decisions to be made, and the best possible deal to be negotiated.

After all, this is the purchase and/or sale of your home!

So, the best time to talk to a REALTOR® is as early in the process as possible.

In fact, even if you’re just thinking of buying or selling — and simply want to explore the possibility of making a move sometime this year — you should have a conversation with a good REALTOR®.

A REALTOR® will answer your questions, provide you with the information and insights you need, help you avoid costly mistakes, and make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

When you are ready to buy or sell, having worked with a REALTOR® early in the process will help ensure you get what you want.

So talk to a good REALTOR® when:

• You have a question about the local market.

• You want to know what your home might sell for today.

• You’re interested in checking out homes currently available on the market.

• You’re in the midst of deciding whether or not to make a move.

• You’ve decided to buy or sell.