by Milcarsky's Staff | Jan 25, 2022 | How To's
You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to give your home a major facelift. With strategic choices, you can drastically improve the look of your home. Here are some small ways to make a big impact.
Change the Color
One of the most cost effective ways to increase the value of your home and improve the way it looks is to apply a fresh coat of paint. To increase your home’s value, paint the house a light, neutral color that will be universally appealing. Or, choose your paint based on the ambience you would like. It is well known that the color scheme of your home affects the mood. Some colors, such as blue and gray, create a calm and serene environment. Green promotes feelings of health and brings a natural feel. Bright, neutral colors like yellow and gold are enlivening and uplifting. Reds can be energizing. Browns make a space feel cozier. Black is an easy way to bring more sophistication into your home. And white feels fresh and clean. In addition to changing the paint colors of your home, it is easy and inexpensive to accessorize with complementary colors. Focus on throw pillows, artistic pieces, and wall hangings.
Do Small Renovations
Small renovations can make a big difference and bring back the most bang for your buck. The most important renovations for increasing home value are to the kitchen and bathroom. These don’t have to be large to make a big impact. In the bathroom, consider changing the plumbing hardware, installing glass shower doors, refreshing the cabinets with a fresh coat of paint and new handles, or replacing the vanity. In the kitchen, you can easily swap or refurbish the cabinets, install granite countertops, add a modern backsplash, update the lighting, or replace the appliances. Small kitchen products can almost immediately recover the remodeling costs.
Upgrade Window Treatments
We don’t often think about our window coverings, but dated curtains and cheap aluminum blinds age your home considerably. On the flip side, chic curtains and high-end shades add value and style to your house. Changing window coverings is simple and inexpensive but improves the look of your home by leaps and bounds.
You don’t have to break the bank or spend a ton of time making substantial upgrades to your home. The little things make a big difference. Tackle one thing at a time until your home feels like the haven that you deserve.
Read this next: Splurges Every New Homeowner Needs in Their Kitchen
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Sep 8, 2021 | How To's
Having issues with your pipes and plumbing can be very expensive. It’s in your best interest to maintain them well so you can avoid any problems. There are many things you can actively do to help keep your pipes in working order.
Watch for Leaks
Leaks in your home can lead to water damage. If not detected early on, water damage can be very expensive to repair and it can even cause structural damage to your home. In order to prevent this kind of damage, you should be on the lookout for leaks in your home. Often, leaks can be found if you hear a dripping noise or if water is collecting where it shouldn’t. It can be helpful to monitor common areas for water leaks. Such areas include shower heads, the kitchen sink, and the toilet. If you notice any leaks, you should call a plumber as soon as possible to take a look.
Clean Out Your Drain
Your drains will collect many things over time. In the kitchen, there could be food waste and oil building up in pipes. Your bathroom drains will most likely have hair and assorted grooming products that have been rinsed down the drain. Over time, all of these can cause clogs in your pipes. Cleaning out your drains every once in a while can help remove all this build up so you don’t have any serious plumbing problems. Drain cleaners can break down the oil that causes damage to your plumbing. These cleaners are helpful for tough clogs. You can also routinely clean out pipes naturally with baking soda and vinegar or flushing them with hot water.
Check Your Water Pressure
The water pressure in your home should be regulated, but it’s still a good idea to check it regularly. High water pressure can be damaging to your pipes. It can work plumbing too hard and even lead to leaks and flooding in your home. Low water pressure, while not a major issue, will be an inconvenience to you. It can take too long to shower, wash dishes, etc. When you check your water pressure, it can indicate if there is a problem with your regulator.
There is a lot you can do to maintain your plumbing and prevent issues with your pipes. The more you do to take action, the fewer problems you are likely to see. It is worthwhile to stay on top of the maintenance of your pipes.
Read this next: How to Deal with a Washer and Dryer in Your Kitchen
by Milcarsky's Staff | Aug 18, 2021 | How To's
It can be easy to get overwhelmed by home issues, especially if recovering physically and financially after a pandemic. There are some things which seem like they should be able to wait a while. You might put off re-landscaping, or pressure washing this year, perhaps. But there are some things which cannot be delayed. What are home issues which will worsen if you don’t fix them?
Termite Damage
Termite bonds can seem terribly expensive, unless you’ve seen firsthand the irrevocable damage they can cause to a home. If you have seen tunnels, “sawdust” deposits in closets or on windowsills, or similar issues, you need to have repairs done right away. This includes getting those in who can kill the bugs and prevent more, before they eat your fiscal investment in your home! If you see any of the winged termites, or if you have any which show up in your home, are good warning signs of invasion.
Water Leaks
If there are any leaks in your home, you are in danger of deterioration and mold damage, both of which are difficult to repair and costly. Mold can be caused by excess water due to plumbing issues. Even a slight leak in a pipe, or because of a few missing shingles, can cause ongoing odor, unsightly mold, and, worse, an unhealthy atmosphere. There are many molds which can be dangerous to humans as well, so make sure to take care of any leaks quickly!
Sump Pump
If your home has a basement, making sure your sump pump is working properly is critical to make sure your home is running properly! The time to discover that winter runoff has overwhelmed your home, or when you discover a basement pipe has given way, is not the best time to also realize your sump pump is not working.
Overall, if it has to do with insect or rodent infestation, if it will damage your house permanently, or if neglect of it, like the sump pump could cause ongoing future damage to your home, these are the things which cannot wait. Even if a home has been remodeled, or repainted, if it has foundational issues, it loses in equity. It’s much better to prevent all of the problems you can in advance, which can save you both a great deal of money, time, and frustration in the long run.
Read this next: How to Get Creative With Your Backyard Project This Spring
by Milcarsky's Staff | Mar 26, 2021 | How To's
Hardwood flooring is one of the more popular flooring options for many homeowners. It usually looks much nicer than carpet but typically isn’t nearly as expensive as higher-end tile or stone floors. That doesn’t mean it’s cheap though, especially if you opt for nicer, higher quality woods. For the sake of both getting the most out of it and the appearance of your floor, it’s important to understand how to properly maintain hardwood flooring and protect it from damage.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The first thing you need to understand about hardwood floors is how to clean them properly. If you don’t, you’ll decrease the amount of time your floor lasts and could dramatically speed up how quickly it becomes damaged. On the other hand, if you do it right, you’ll be able to extend the life of your floor and keep it looking beautiful. It’s best to take some time daily to clean up any dust or dirt that has accumulated throughout the day. A vacuum, broom, or dust mop can all be viable options for daily cleaning. You may find a microfiber dust mop is more effective since it can more readily pick up smaller particles that vacuums and brooms are more prone to leave behind. Do a deeper cleaning periodically as well, using products that are specifically designed for hardwood floors. Don’t use vinegar water, steam cleaning, or soap-based cleaners. This will help you avoid accidentally damaging your hardwood floor while you clean it.
Polishing the Floor
As time passes you may notice your hardwood floor loses some of that shine that it had when it was first installed, instead of becoming dull and less attractive. Polishing a hardwood floor can help even out any damage that has occurred and can restore the luster and shine. It’s important to note that polish should only be used on hardwood floors with protective surfaces. For those with a more penetrating finish, a hardwood floor wax should be used instead. Start by removing everything from the room and cleaning the floor thoroughly. Once it’s completely dry, you can start polishing it. Apply the polish to the floor in an S shape and then use a flat-surface mop to work the polish into the wood in the same direction as the grain. Smooth out any air bubbles and make sure you cover the whole floor. Organize yourself so that by the end of it you’re at an exit. Allow the floor to dry for at least an hour before allowing anyone to walk on it and at least a day before replacing everything you removed and returning to business as normal.
Prevent Scratches
One of the downsides of hardwood flooring is that it can become scratched relatively easily. Dirt being ground in, walking in heels, and pets with nails that are too long can scratch the floor. Furniture being dragged on hardwood can scratch the floor, but adding felt pads to wood furniture helps prevent damage. Covering the floor with rugs, not walking in heels, and keeping nails trimmed can help prevent scratching, as can regularly cleaning it. Opting for a no-shoe policy in your home, in general, can help prevent dirt, grime, and anything else that can be brought in on people’s shoes from being ground into your flooring. Stocking feet are generally much kinder to floors. Consider having a basket of clean socks that you can offer your guests when they come into your home so you can protect your floors. It’s also good to keep in mind that rugs on hardwood can sometimes lead to people slipping and falling, so add a rubber rug underlayment to the bottom to prevent the rugs from slipping.
Prevent Warping
Water and hardwood floors aren’t usually a happy combination. If the hardwood is exposed to too much water, it tends to warp over time. The obvious solution to warped flooring is to prevent it from happening in the first place. That means limiting the amount of water that comes in contact with it as much as possible. This is exactly why using a steam cleaner on hardwood flooring isn’t recommended, since it combines heat and water and can cause permanent damage. Using water to clean the floor, in general, is inadvisable as well. Clean up any spills immediately. Be on the watch for spots that look hazy or milky, since that can indicate water damage. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have puddles of water on the floor for it to suffer water damage. If the humidity in your home is too high, even that can be enough to damage your hardwood. Monitor the humidity in your home and take steps to reduce the humidity if it gets too high.
Prevent Sun Damage
Conversely to water damage, the sun can also damage your hardwood. This tends to happen because of exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Depending on the type of wood, the exposed portions could become lighter or darker. You may not even notice it until the damage has already been done and you move furniture to expose an area of the floor that hasn’t been exposed to the sun. You could install blinds and shades to reduce exposure, but many people find they prefer to have access to natural light and its benefits. Other options include window films that block UV rays and using wood finishes with UV blocking properties.
Refinishing
If you’ve been less than diligent in the upkeep of your hardwood floor, it may benefit from being refinished. Refinishing a hardwood floor involves completely removing the finish, repairing damaged areas, and then applying a new coat of finish. Depending on the damage you’re looking at, opting to refinish your floor could save you from having to replace it altogether. However, if you keep up on your regular maintenance and damage prevention, this isn’t something you should need to do much at all.
Properly maintaining a hardwood floor and protecting it from damage is an important responsibility for any homeowner who wants to keep their hardwood floor in good condition. To do so you’ll need to understand how to properly clean it and be aware of what could cause it damage. This will help you keep your hardwood floor looking clean and high quality for years to come.
Want to update your kitchen appliances? We’ve got you covered!
