Cindy's Blog

Whether you're getting your home ready to sell or just getting out the "cobwebs" from the chilly months, there are lots of things you can do to get ready for spring (and since it's "Earth Week," lots of ways that you can get ready for spring and be a little greener as well!).

Here are some green cleaning tips, to not only spruce things up but make them a little healthier for your family as well. (courtesy of www.eartheasy.com)

Combinations of the above basic products can provide less harmful substitutions for many commercial home products. In most cases, they're also less expensive. Here are some formulas for safe, alternative home care products:

Make sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children. All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc. Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years. Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell. • Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house. • Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home. • Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water. • Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter. • Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal. • Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove. • Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room. Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower. Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water. For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum. Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe. Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water. Deodorize: • Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda • In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit • Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming • Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard. Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs. Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle.

Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth. For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly. Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads. Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm. Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

Metal Cleaners and Polishes:

Mold and Mildew: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby. Mothballs: The common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard. Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet. Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush. Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union. Paint Brush Cleaner: Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job. Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room. Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue. Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge. Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag. Stickers on walls: Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work. Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.) Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Open room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell. Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface. Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.

Well, it's official. All of those comments to my clients and blog posts saying that the market is not as bad as the media makes it out to be, and that it is starting to pick up a bit are validated by the recently released Housing Market Analysis by the Richmond Association of Realtors.

The results of the analysis are as follows-

Based on past experience, the Richmond metropolitan area has weathered national recessions better than many other regions because of its diversified economy.

Home sales were down 31% in the Central Virginia area in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the first quarter of 2007.

Prices have not dropped in the Central Virginia area as they have in some other areas, and our foreclosure rate is still considerably lower than that of other areas, particularly Northern Virginia.

Home sales do typically pick up in the spring, and this year seems no different. According to this study, there were 311 more homes sold in our area in March 2008 compared with January 2008. That represents an increase in sales of 45%. While this uptick is not as strong as the January-March increase in 2007 (60%) it does indicate that the general ebb and flow of the market seems to be in order. *

At the risk of repeating myself, this is pretty much what we have been saying. Also, at the perhaps greater risk of sounding like the marketing campaign for the National Association of Realtors, buying a home is still almost always better than renting (unless, of course, you can only qualify for some insane mutation of a mortgage that will eat you alive in five years, in which case, please refer to ever mortgage bubble article written in 2008!) But for most people, if you move because you're having a baby, your "babies" are leaving the nest, a parent is moving in, a spouse is moving out, or you just want to change your lifestyle, if you move where you love, worrying more about what you like than what the investment will net you (not to totally discount that of course!) you will be okay.

*Information excerpted from the Analysis of the Richmond Area Housing Market, First Quarter 2008 by the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis.

With Earth Day coming up tomorrow, it seems like a great time to take a look at those things that we do (and sometimes don't do) that have an impact on the world around us. If you caught Virginia this Morning on WTVR 6, you saw me give my top ten tips to go green on Earth Day and everyday. I'll list them here, though, and tomorrow will post some more "home centric" tips to help make your home a bit more energy efficient, "greener" and save you a bit of money.

Top 10 Ways to Go Green, Every Day

Well, the much heralded spring market finally seems to be creeping up on us, and for sellers, at least, not a moment too soon!

While homes are still not "flying off the shelves," so to speak, there are definitely more buyers out there, more activity, and absolutely, positively terrific loans and rates to be had. Yes, the days of 100% no documentation financing with shaky income and credit are gone, but really, they probably should be. There are definitely alot of short sales and foreclosures, but the sky is definitely not falling, and the buyers do seem to be coming back out. If you're a seller, that is GREAT news! If you're a buyer, you still don't have the competition of a couple of years ago, and there is still great variety, but for the most part, you're still in the driver's seat!