“Summer is almost here (June 21st) and there are always things to get done in preparation for the warmest months of the year. Take a look and see which items might make a big difference in your enjoyment.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
“Thinking it’s time to get some new patio furniture? Learn how to care for and protect it for years of enjoyment.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
After a few seasons of exposure to the elements, your patio furnishings may start showing their age. Most outdoor fabrics and finishes are tough enough to stand up to the wear and tear of many sunny days and stormy nights, but regular maintenance can go a long way toward extending their lifespan. Here are some quick tips on how to protect your outdoor furniture.
Familiarize yourself with your furniture’s care guidelines. The manufacturer’s instructions will usually specify which cleaning solutions to use and which ones to avoid. Applying the wrong products or cleaning using improper methods could damage your furnishings and void any existing warranties.
Wicker will fade and crack if exposed to too much harsh sunlight. Cover your wicker furniture when not in use. Covering also helps prevent mildew from working its way into the cracks and crevices between individual wicker fibers.
When cleaning wicker, avoid harsh or abrasive treatments. A mixture of water and mild soap is best. Apply sparingly — do not soak wicker. Rinse and wipe dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. If necessary, vacuum the wicker first with a brush attachment to remove large debris and loose dirt.
Seal your wood patio furniture. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can discolor wood and weaken its integrity. A coat of sealant will also make the wood more resistant to moisture. Sealants and stains must typically be reapplied every one to three years of outdoor use.
When sealing (or resealing) wood, first clean it. Dissolve the manufacture’s recommended amount of powdered oxygen bleach in one gallon of hot water. Do not use chlorine bleach on wooden surfaces. Apply and scrub any areas affected by mildew with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly. Finally, apply a clear, water-repellent sealant or a penetrating semitransparent wood stain. If desired, you can purchase a sealant (or stain) containing a mildewcide or mix in a mold- and mildew-resistant additive of your own.
Clean metal surfaces with a simple, mild soap-and-water solution. To restore your metal furniture’s luster, take a lint-free cloth and buff it with auto wax (paste or liquid). Lubricate any stiff or creaky moving parts — such as casters, swivels, glides and umbrella mechanisms — using a silicone spray.
If your metal furniture is showing signs of rust or mold, use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand any problem areas. Touch-up with matching paint, applying it in several thin layers. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next.
Now that your outdoor furniture is spick and span, you can keep it looking that way longer by applying an outdoor furniture protector specially formulated for your type of furniture (wicker, wood, vinyl, metal, etc.). Some protectors can be sprayed on, while others will need to be applied with a brush. Look for protectors that are both water-repellent and UV-resistant. Apply thoroughly, but be sure to work in a well-ventilated area while wearing the proper safety equipment: goggles, gloves and a dust mask or respirator.
Spot cleaning is the best method for cleaning outdoor upholstery. Use a mild detergent diluted in cold water and attack any stain using a sponge rather than a brush. Try to avoid soaking the cushions and allow them to air dry completely. Mildew loves moisture. If you store your cushions during those portions of the year when you seldom enjoy your patio, avoid using plastic bags. Try wrapping them in an old bed sheet or a canvas painter’s tarp. The fabric should be able to breathe even if it has been moved to an outdoor storage bin or shed.
Finally, to combat fading and discoloration caused by the sun’s UV rays, apply a fabric protector to your upholstery at the beginning of the warm weather season.
Cover your patio furnishings in waterproof furniture covers when not in use and especially when inclement weather threatens. To prevent your patio from becoming a place where standing water might accumulate, remove your furniture’s foot caps and keep all items upright in order to facilitate proper drainage.
Originally Published by American Home Sheild
“Painting can make a huge impact on a room, but did you realize that the Sheen you pick can as well? See what Consumer Reports has to say.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
There’s a lot more to choosing an interior paint than picking a color. You have to consider the hues of the furniture and flooring, and the amount of light a room gets makes a difference, too. Picking a paint that’s too shiny can reflect too much light, and one that’s too flat might appear dull.
It’s the paint sheen, or finish, that affects how the color appears. And that depends on whether it absorbs light or reflects it. In addition, for paint to hold up well over time, it has to be durable enough for the surface and the situation.
Here is Consumer Reports’ guide to paint sheens from the least to most shiny, and a breakdown of which ones work best in particular parts of the house.
Flat paint has a nonreflective finish and matte is low luster. A paint brand usually offers one or the other. Both help hide imperfections on the surface. “But these finishes are the least resistant to stains,” says Rico de Paz, the engineer who oversees CR’s tests of paints and stains. “And although many did well in our mildew-resistance tests, the other finishes generally performed better.”
Best uses: Ceilings, living rooms, bedrooms, and anyplace with little wear and tear or where messy splatters are uncommon.
For a softer look, choose eggshell. “Satin is slightly shinier, and both are easier to clean than flat or matte paint,” says de Paz. You’ll find that some paint lines offer both eggshell and satin. These sheens tend to accentuate surface imperfections, so take time prepping, getting the walls as smooth as possible. Scrape away cracked or peeling paint with a metal putty knife. And use it to remove bumps, dried-on paint, and the raised edges around nail holes.
Best uses: Eggshell can be used in the family room, living room, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin works well in those rooms, too—anywhere, really—and in the kitchen, dining area, children’s bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. Many satin finishes are tough and can be used on both walls and trim.
The easy-clean satin finish is ideal for places where there’s lots of activity, such as family rooms, entries, and hallways.
“The most lustrous of this group, semigloss paints typically resist stains better than the other finishes and are easy to clean,” says de Paz. Very smooth surfaces are a must.
Best uses: Trim, windows, and doors. For walls that are in great condition, consider semigloss for a kid’s room, the kitchen, and bathrooms if you don’t mind the shine.
Our Paint Buying Guide is a good primer, and see our interior paint ratings of 21 lines. Prices range from $17 to $70 per gallon—and paying more doesn’t necessarily get you a better paint. Because years of testing showed us that a paint line’s various finishes perform similarly overall, we’ve combined the scores into one to make it easier for you to shop.
“Now is the time to start getting your flower beds ready and putting down Mulch. But do you know how to Mulch correctly?”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Anyone can learn how to mulch and prolong the life of their landscaping. Here’s how. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“Have you considered container gardening? We love it for both our front porch and our deck. Things look great and we can move it around as we see fit each year. Give it a try!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
‘As kids change so do their storage needs. Check out a number of different ways to handle those changes”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – Dc Metro Realty Team
From babies who adore you to teens who ignore you, kids change — and so do their storage needs. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“Want to give a room or two a face-lift, but a little short on cash? Check out these low-cost, no-cost ideas.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
“Getting the most out of your home is important. Making a few small changes can make it ‘work’ better for you and will appeal to future buyers when you go to sell.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“Remodeling a Small Bathroom can be a challenge since you really don’t have much to work with. These examples might just help you out.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
“Using the right light bulb can make a difference, especially in your kitchen appliances. Get it right the first time.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Photo by: Shutterstock
When the light in your oven or refrigerator goes out it can be tempting to use whatever light bulb you have on hand. But that’s actually not the best decision. Appliances require smaller-profile bulbs that are specially made to withstand heat and that contain rugged filaments made to endure vibrations from opening and closing the doors on the appliance. It’s also important to use bulbs with the recommended wattage and the proper base size. Ovens, microwave ovens, ranges, range hoods, refrigerators, freezers and dryers are among the appliances that require these special bulbs.
Incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are most often used in home appliances. Here’s how they work:
• Contain a tungsten filament
• Electric current heats filament to produce light
• Usually contain a stem or glass mount at the base to prevent air leaks
• Stem embedded with small wires to support the filament
• Vacuum or inert gas protects filament from evaporating
• Functions similarly to an incandescent lamp
• Employs the halogen cycle
• Halogen gas helps redeposit tungsten onto the filament for longer bulb life
• Electricity is emitted from cathodes that excite mercury vapor (inelastic scattering)
• Glass envelope contains phosphors and a noble gas (e.g., argon)
• Mercury atoms produce ultraviolet (UV) light, causing phosphors to glow and produce light
For instance, a 40-watt (incandescent) appliance bulb may be the same bulb used in your oven and your range hood.
Here are some of the bulbs that can be used in various appliances.
Oven: Many ovens require 15-watt tubular halogen lamps while others require a 40-watt appliance bulb.
Microwave oven: These often require a 25-watt T7 microwave light bulb. It has an intermediate base and sometimes is used in ranges and sewing machines.
Refrigerator: Usually takes a 25- to 40-watt standard base appliance bulb, but some refrigerators use a T8 intermediate base bulb.
Dryer: Most dryers use a 10-watt, 120-volt C7 bulb.
In 2012, manufacturers and retailers began phasing in bulbs that meet the standards required by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), passed by Congress in 2007. The law requires higher efficiency standards for basic light bulbs, but it doesn’t apply to all specialty bulbs. Appliance bulbs are among those that are exempt.
Before you head out to the hardware store to purchase replacement bulbs, we suggest you take a minute to check the appliance owner’s manual to find out which bulb is recommended by the manufacturer. If you no longer own the manual, you can likely find the manual online on the manufacturer’s website by entering the model number of the appliance you own.