Saving time and money are two things every homeowner likes to do. Here are 20 simple home hacks from a Walnut Creek Realtor that could make your life that much easier:
1. Polish furniture with essential oils
Instead of using traditional furniture polish that contain harmful chemicals, try all-natural essential oils instead. The following essential oils are often used to clean and polish wood surfaces
- Lavender
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Lemon
- Fennel
- Cedarwood
- Sweet orange
- Grapefruit
- Tea tree
- Tangerine
- Rosemary
- Ylang Ylang
After choosing the essential oil that suits your tastes, combine the following ingredients:
- 10 drops of essential oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
- 2 cups of distilled water
How to use:
- Remove all dust from furniture
- Spray mixture on a microfiber cloth
- Wipe furniture with cloth
Note: Essential oils are not safe for consumption. Do not use on food surface areas.
2. Remove crayon marks with a hairdryer.
If you have crayon marks on your walls, heat the area with a hairdryer. (This will soften the crayon’s wax). After a few seconds, wipe the wax away with a soft cloth.
3. Organize your fridge.
Maximize the use of your fridge by organizing your foods in the areas that benefit them most:
- Top shelf. Warmest area of the fridge, which is ideal for leftovers or foods that will be consumed quickly.
- Middle shelves. Coldest area of the fridge, use for dairy products or foods that have a long shelf life.
4. Remove steaks with white vinegar.
Mix white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Spray the area and wipe with a clean cloth.
5. Clean the toilet bowl with mouthwash.
Pour a capful of mouthwash into the toilet and let sit for thirty minutes. Scrub with a toilet bowl cleaner and flush.
6. Paint your keys.
If you have a lot of keys (home, office, mailbox, etc.) consider painting them. This will decrease the time spent trying to figure out which key goes where.
7. On hot nights, freeze your pillowcases for a good night’s sleep.
Many find it difficult to fall asleep when they are hot. On those humid nights, place your pillowcases in a freezer for 15-20 minutes. The coolness will feel relaxing and help you fall asleep.
8. Put a paperclip on the end of a duct tape roll.
Instead of folding over the duct tape to mark where you last used it, use a paperclip instead. This will help to quickly find the end of the roll and not waste any.
9. Turn used milk bottles into watering cans.
Put small holes in milk bottle tops to make a neat watering can for your plants and garden.
10. Clean blinds with a towel wrapped in tongs.
One of the easiest ways to dust blinds is to wrap a dish towel in tongs and secure it with a rubber band.
11. Clean greasy pans with Alka-Seltzer
For hard to clean pans after cooking, fill them with hot water and add an Alka-Seltzer tablet. After 15 minutes, wipe the mess up with ease.
12. Turn old water bottles into garden sprinklers.
Punch a few small holes into the bottom of an old water bottle. Tape the bottle tightly to a water hose and you have a small sprinkler.
13. Use aluminum foil to stop cats from scratching furniture.
Place aluminum foil on the areas cat’s like to claw. The aluminum foil won’t feel as good to them as the furniture, prompting them to stop.
14. Use the silverware tray in the bathroom.
In addition to silverware, a silverware tray can be used to organize bathroom items as well. Mascara tubes, makeup brushes, toothbrushes, and toothpaste can all be neatly organized in a silverware tray.
15. Eliminate trash bag leaks with paper.
To stop trash bag leaks when you pull them out of the can, put paper in the bottom of the bag. The paper will absorb the liquid and limit the leaks or stop them altogether
16. Store extra paint in mason jars.
If you have extra paint after painting a room, pour the leftovers into mason jars and screw the lid on tightly. Not only will this keep the pain from drying out, but it allows you to throw away those bulky paint cans.
17. Unclog drains with coffee.
Mix coffee grounds with boiling water and dish soap to unclog the drains. Follow up with more boiling water to ensure the clog is cleared.
18. Use cooking oil to remove residue from sticky paper labels.
To remove the sticky paper residue labels from jars, put a little cooking oil on a cotton ball and rub on the area for a few minutes. Once the oil sinks in, the paper can be wiped off.
19. Fix window screens with clear nail polish.
If there is a small hole in your window screen, wipe a little clear nail polish over the area. The nail polish will help seal the small rip.
20. Organize your sheets and pillowcases.
A great way to keep bed sheets and pillowcases together is by folding the sheets, linen, and other pillowcases inside one pillowcase. This way, you don’t have to hunt for everything because it’s all in one place.
These are just a few hacks that can make your life easier. Start using them today!
About Walnut Creek Realtor of Range Homes
Are you looking to buy or sell a home? Need help determining your next move? Having a licensed real estate agent is essential. Here at Range Homes, we have helped our customers buy and sell homes for years. We also have great market data to help you pick the perfect area and are ready to help you find your dream home during these unprecedented times. Contact us HERE for your real estate needs.
Why Walnut Creek CA?
Walnut Creek CA is known for its good economy, beautiful landscapes, and extremely popular housing market. When other states and territories have experienced a decline in housing prices the Bay Area, in general, has remained strong. This doesn’t mean you should not diversify your portfolio across many states, but Walnut Creek Realtors agree that this is certainly a strong place to start for a novice investor. There are even some great low-cost homes that are ripe for renovation.
We have a team of friendly, helpful Walnut Creek Realtors that specialize in East Bay CA real estate and property sales that can help you work out how to best get your property portfolio started. Our agents are here to put your needs first, get you the best deals and offers, help you buy or sell your dream home and build your investment portfolio. Reach out to our team today to find out your options.
If you are looking to find a Walnut Creek Realtor, looking for homes for sale in East Bay CA, or even to sell your home with someone who will make sure you get the best deal and understand your needs – look no further – when you work with us, consider yourself family.
