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Tips on Organizing Your Garage

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Shop Garage Racks on Senior.com

If you are like my family and 60% of other American families who own garages, that is the one room you leave as well as enter your home several times a day. The garage is one of the largest rooms in your house and one of the most abused. on Organizing Your Garage

After the winter our garage barely has room for our cars. We have a two car garage and in order to pull both cars in you have to do the sideways walk with your breath held to make it down the alley between the car and the junk.

We have shovels, snow blower, bikes, tools, more bikes, holiday decorations, storage boxes, strollers and a bevy of other stuff filling the garage from floor to ceiling.

Tips on Organizing Your Garage
I spent the winter looking into sheds, so we could move a majority of our stuff into the shed and get our garage back. Here’s the thing about sheds: they are expensive, ranging between $750-$10,000, in many cases you need a permit, they take up a part of your yard, they eventually get old and weathered and if it’s a winter like this year, they can be snowed in and useless to you.

That’s when I turned to SafeRacks and The Garage Store to help me with my storage woes. SafeRacks are more than your run of the mill garage shelves, they are state of the art monsters that are built to take a beating, hold a ton and last a very long time. Ti

ps on Organizing Your Garage
The best thing about SafeRacks is they don’t take up additional space, they make new space for you, where there once was none. Ti

ps on Organizing Your Garage
If you look up in your garage, you will most likely see your garage door opener, a few lights and that’s it. What the folks from The Garage Store and SafeRacks see is an opportunity to organize your garage, making it a place you can get in and out of, while at the same time store your stuff.

We had two SafeRacks installed by The Garage Store for less than the cost of the cheapest rubber shed on the market. These are custom fit for your space and built to take whatever you throw at them. Each shelf holds up to 600 pounds, is made of 14 gauge industrial grade steel, are attached with multiple ceiling connections at each vertical support for added strength, is powder coated white for added protection and has a limited lifetime product warranty. Organizing Your Garage

I had been kicking around the idea of making my own wood overhead shelves but when you compare the quality of the SafeRacks to wood or a store-bought shelf there is no contest. The margin for error is the production and installation of the SafeRacks is pretty slim. That and the installation was fast and perfect. The guys from the Garage Store showed up, took about 15-20 minutes to review my needs and garage dimensions, from there they got to work, cutting, measuring, bolting and securing the racks to the ceiling and wall so tight and strong I could hang from them.

Could I have installed them myself, sure it’s an option, but it took them two hours for two shelves, where it would have taken be about five times that and I am estimating a good amount of Advil after. They show up with the right tools, cutters, portable heaters and know how to find studs, joists and get those shelves up fast.
The garage is the ugly duckling of the house. We throw stuff in it, leave it dirty, and use it as a storage locker. By organizing my garage and installing SafeRacks, not only was I able to organize my garage, but my house. I added so much space I was able to get the boxes of stuff that have been filling up my closets and basement floor and put them in my new storage space.

Now we are not only ready for Spring, our bikes are all hanging from hooks, our boxes neatly organized and not only do our cars fit, we have room to walk on the sides and the front of them! Our SafeRacks keep our stuff inside the garage out of the elements and out of the way.”
Shop Garage Racks on Senior.com
– D.A.D. – Dad All Day / SafeRacks

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Assessing Curb Appeal
Home Improvements

Assessing Curb Appeal

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

So you’re looking to move your family out of your current residence to a new home better suited for your needs. Before you list your home on the market you will need to gauge its appearance to prospective buyers. Assessing Curb Appeal
Over time, a homeowner can grow accustomed to a home’s faults and shortcomings. Here are some tips and questions to ask yourself while evaluating the curb appeal of your market-bound home:

REMOVE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT

The first rule is to get rid of any personal thoughts about your home. This can be difficult, but consider what you want from this experience – to put the least amount of work into getting the highest amount of money for your house. Go into the experience viewing your home as a house.

PRETEND YOU’RE THE PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYER

Park your car down the street or at the end of your driveway. Make sure your vantage point is far enough away you see the entire house and yard. It is important to do this in the morning and at night to get good perspective of how your home looks at all hours. You can count on an interested homebuyer driving by many times, even at night.

DURING THESE EXERCISES, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

  • What are your first impressions of the house, driveway and landscaping? Think back to when you were the prospective homebuyer to remember the advantages and disadvantages of the house and yard.
  • What drew you to the home? How can you improve upon these features?
  • Are there any eyesores? How can you enhance them or make them smaller?
  • What is the least amount of money and time you can spend to make these changes?

MAKE AFFORDABLE UPGRADES

Here are a few simple ways to add upgrades for some extra curb appeal:

  • Install new hardware on doors.
  • Throw a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your home.
  • Add potted plants to the front doorway or porch.
  • Install window boxes

RECORD THE EXPERIENCE

Take before and after pictures to properly record the experience. As you are working towards these improvements you will be happy to have something to look back at. Also, photographs will point out little issues you may otherwise overlook if going off of memory.
Taking a few extra steps to evaluate the appearance of your home can get your house on the market sooner, and get you on your way to your next dream home.

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Home Improvements

Saferacks Video on Organizing your Garage

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

This is a great quick video from The Clutter Diet about how you can use Saferacks to organize your garage! Senior.com is a leading distributor of all saferack products. You can’t beat our pricing! Senior.com sells all sizes and accesories for self install, or purchase the racks professionally installed. What a great way to clean the clutter, add value to your home and claim your garage back! Now that’s home improvement worth celebrating! Saferacks Video on Organizing your Garage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=14&v=Cw4A2gy6N4w
Select your sizes and accessories and we will ship to your house for FREE!
SafeRacks is the premier overhead garage storage system. These high quality storage racks help to make your garage a more functional space for your vehicles and toys. SafeRacks is designed first and foremost for maximum strength and durability. Each product boasts a heavy duty design and is manufactured with industrial grade steel. The support structure of each rack is independently tested to hold up to 600 pounds. If you need garage storage solutions for your home, which allows you to optimize space and steer clear of clutter, check out Senior.com. We offer a wide variety of robust overhead garage storage devices, storage racks and garage shelves. At Senior.com, we will not only help you to make the most of your available space, but help you save time and money.SafeRacks
 

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Home Improvements

Clear the Bathroom Clutter

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Due to their small size and heavy usage, bathrooms can become a messy, cluttered area for many families. They are also are important spaces to keep clear for safety reasons. For seniors, most falls occur that occur in a home, happen in a bathroom. Clear the Bathroom Clutter Fo
For those with smaller bathrooms, storage solutions can be even harder to find. Here are some organization tips to make your bathroom a clean and functional space for every member of the family: Clear the Bathroom Clutter

  • Assess the mess: Go through all the cabinets and drawers to clear out unused makeup, health care products and medications. Make sure the items you keep are only those used on a regular basis. Items used sparingly should be placed in an alternate location.
  • Go vertical: Medicine cabinets can quickly get stuffed when combs, toothpaste and other toiletries are stored horizontally. Use organizer cups with suction adhesives to contain items vertically and save on space.
  • Hang up in style: Old coat racks and ladders make perfect solutions for larger families to hang multiple towels. Snag an old one from a thrift store and paint it a bright hue, like red or turquoise, for a stylish bathroom accent piece.
  • Avoid spills and squirts: Hair products, such as gels, mousses or hairsprays, can create sticky, tough-to-clean messes if thrown into a drawer or cabinet. Avoid such mishaps by placing these types of items in a plastic tub instead of directly in the drawer.
  • Divide and conquer: Bathroom drawers can become unruly if not organized. To keep items separate and tidy, insert a divider, such as those used for kitchen utensils. These often come in fun materials, such as bamboo or stainless steel, to add a fresh look.
  • Assign cabinets: Try to use a large enough cabinet so each member of the family has a drawer. This will limit the amount of items high maintenance members can bring into the small area. Plus, it makes it easier for everyone to find their stuff.

With these easy tips, you’ll be able to transform your bathroom into a clean, organized environment, regardless of its size.

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Energy Saving Led Light Bulbs
Home Improvements

DIY Energy Saving Tips

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

One of the best home improvements you can do yourself is improve your energy savings. Here are 5 things you can do to successfully reduce your home energy consumption and save money: DIY Energy Saving Tips

  1. Seal the leaks around windows and exterior doors.

    This is easy to do, and will help your home keep the heat in. Caulk, spray foam or use weather stripping and it will have an impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. If you don’t want to fuss with this then hire a handyman, or a reputable window, insulation or painting company. Many of them provide this service.

  2. Fix your insulation situation.

    Insulation is typically the #1 way to save energy in your home. According to the Department of Energy (www.ornl.gov) heating and cooling account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes. And according to EnergyStar, you could save up to 10% of your total annual energy bill just by sealing and insulating.

  3. Clean and seal heating ducts.

    Almost 20% of the air that moves through your duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. Over time, ducts can sag or collapse. Vermin and other animals can chew holes in crawl space ductwork. Ducts can also come apart at the seams. When this happens, any air that should be going to the rooms in your home is instead being wasted by ending up in your attic, your walls, or under your house. If duct tape was used on your ductwork originally, it’s best to have it replaced with aluminum or foil tape. Traditional duct tape deteriorates quickly. Metal seams should be cleaned and then sealed with duct mastic, which doesn’t crack. It creates a permanent seal.

  4. Let your equipment breathe.

    Your heating and cooling systems depend on a flow of air to maximize their efficiency. Homeowners can take easy steps to help change the furnace filter, and check for leaves/debris around an outside heat pump or air conditioner. A clogged air intake outside or dirty indoor furnace filter limits air flow to the equipment and causes it to function inefficiently. It can eventually lead to costly breakdowns and repairs. This is similar to changing the air filter in your car. Electronic filters typically need cleaning at least twice per year and paper filters need replacing. Check your product warranty for your manufacturers specific instructions.

  5. Open those registers.

    Many people close floor registers to push heat into certain parts of their house. Since about the late 60’s the products installed in homes have been forced air furnaces. These are designed for a specific amount of air to flow thru the furnace while operating. The ductwork is designed for this amount of air also. When air registers are closed it reduces the airflow and allows heat to buildup in the system. That heat has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is up the flue and out of your house. Closing 1 or 2 registers is fine in rooms that get too hot. Keep as many registers open as possible so your furnace can operate at maximum efficiency. This is the same for heat pumps and central air conditioning. Airflow is key to efficient heating and saving money.

Not sure where to start to make your home energy efficient? Consider a home energy audit. A certified audit uses the latest technology to analyze your house, measuring heat loss, combustion and air leakage. An audit will show you how your home uses and wastes energy. This will help you prioritize what you can do to get the most energy savings.

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10 Kitchen Updates Help Seniors Age-in-Place
Home Improvements

10 Kitchen Updates Help Seniors Age-in-Place

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

The kitchen can be a dangerous place 10 Kitchen Updates Help Seniors Age-in-Place

Everyone spends a lot of time in the kitchen. After all, that’s where the food is. But for seniors, it can also be a room full of dangers. 10 Kitchen Updates Help Seniors Age-in-Place
Common accidents include:

  • Getting burned
  • Setting something on fire
  • Falling down while reaching for something
  • Getting cut from a knife
  • Accidentally ingesting poison (think about cleaning products stored under the sink; a potential danger for people with dementia)

Safe kitchens help seniors age in place

Preventing serious accidents helps older adults stay independent in their homes longer. A big part of that is increasing the safety and ease of use of the rooms where they spend a lot of time.
A well-thought-out kitchen reduces the risk of accidents and helps you worry less. Follow these 10 easy tips to make your senior’s kitchen safer.

10 simple kitchen safety updatesshutterstock_29494951

  1. Make sure emergency contact numbers and critical medical information are clearly visible. The fridge is usually a good spot.
  2. For those with a POLST or DNR, post clear instructions on where to find it.
  3. Replace kitchen knives that are too large, heavy, or dull. They’ll be difficult to use and more likely to cause injuries.
  4. Remove small appliances that aren’t being used anymore, like blenders or food processors. Put them in storage or donate them.
  5. Keep frequently used appliances within easy reach on the counter, like the coffeemaker or toaster.
  6. Move frequently used dishes, silverware, pots, and pans to easily accessible locations. The goal is to minimize reaching up or bending down — that can cause falls.
  7. Check the stove, sink drain, garbage disposal, exhaust fan, and microwave to make sure they’re in good working condition.
  8. Make sure a smoke detector is installed on or near the ceiling. Get one with 10 year battery and low false alarm rate for low maintenance.
  9. Reduce hand slips, burns, and spills with grippy silicone potholders. Throw away those old cotton ones!
  10. Try a passive monitoring system like Evermind so you can make sure your senior is going about their usual daily routine without being intrusive. Peace of mind for both of you! 10 Kitchen Updates Help Seniors Age-in-Place

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Housing Tips

8 Tips On Organizing Your Home

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

keep-calm-and-organize-351-287x300Here are 8 very useful tips on organizing your home. Taking that first step is the most important part of organizing your home. So now let’s get started on step one. This is critical because you can’t get to where you want to go unless you know what that “where” looks like. How do you want this room to function? How do you want to feel when you’re in it? What do you want to do in this room? What is the real purpose of this room?
Tip #1 – Make the List
Get a pad of paper and pen and walk through each room of your home and write down what you see. It is important not to be overwhelmed. Try doing this systematically.
For example, here is what you might see in your home entry way: shoes, unopened newspapers, mail and circulars that are left at your door, keys, pet toys, coats, sweaters and more. Now write down what can be done to eliminate this clutter.
Tip #2 – Get into a Routine
Sounds simple doesn’t it – well take it from me it’s one of the hardest tasks to do. As a teacher, I have always found this has helped me “organize” my day at school for lessons planning, staff meetings and have always found it effective – so, guess what? I now do it for organizing the home. For example, with the children if they have left any toys lying around after playing with them I encourage them to put them away in their “tidy box” or on the shelf.
Tip #3 – Organize Storage
All things in the home must have a “Home” that’s one of the things I say to my kids. Why? Because when something is not seen (in the closet) you can get the False Feeling of it’s all organized. On the shelves divide up sweaters, blouses, the clothes you wear now. As for racks – great for shoes.
Tip #4 – Organize your kitchen
Organize you cabinets for plates, Tupperware, guest tableware – separately if possible, if not, separate shelves. Another great (often overlooked) storage facility is the “Dishwasher” – storage and “purpose” rolled into one!
Tip #5 – Organize the Bathrooms
Ideally, if you have the space and children two bathrooms are great. Make sure that shelves for the toothpaste are just the ‘right’ height for the children in their bathroom. In addition, keep no make up or any potentially dangerous articles in the children’s bathroom within reach!
Tip #6 – The master grocery list
It’s been one the greatest time savers in our home. Basically I have a ‘general list’ that includes the ‘basics’ then ‘specifics’ including favorite items that my children would like in the week and then ‘luxuries’ the items that we would like but don’t need.
Tip #7 – Organize the Garage
Start out by making piles, for example: Yard tools, hand tools etc. Begin by clearing off the work bench if you have one. You might want to purchase some storage containers for the things you have in the house you want to save. Label the containers and stack them in the garage. You can buy hooks to hang rakes, shovels, hoses, bicycles etc. Check out the overhead storage racks sold here on Senior.com! They are a fabulous way to reclaim the space on your floor and Senior.com will install them for you.
Tip #8 – Have a garage sale
After you go through the house and garage, you will end up with many things you no longer want. The most fun way to get rid of these items is by having a garage sale. You will be amazed at the amount of money you can possibly earn and what you don’t sell you can give away or donate.
Good luck with the re-organization!
 
articlecity.com

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Housing Tips

Simple Steps to Help Homeowners Ease into Spring Projects

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Simple Steps to Help Homeowners Ease into Spring Projects

GardeningNow, while the winter is still around, is the best time for homeowners to get a jump start on planning and prepping for their spring and summer home and garden projects; so when the weather really does warm up, it takes little effort to get the projects underway. In addition to fine-tuning home improvement and gardening plans, it is also a good idea to make certain the required tools are in tip-top shape, so the projects are not delayed.
Here are some ways to prepare for the spring and summer seasons with just a few simple steps:
* Plans – Sketch out those garden plans, and pick the plants that can be purchased or grown from seed. Plans don’t need to be drawn to scale, but they’ll provide great background information for a shopping list. Research how early seedlings should be started, so they’ll be ready for transplant when the time arrives.
Also create plans for any home projects that need to be accomplished. The depth of those plans depends on how complicated the project is. Make certain all permits are in order, if required by the community; and if a contractor is needed, a formal agreement and timeline is in place prior to work commencing.
* Lawn tools – Check pruning shears for sharp blades – and either sharpen or replace them if they don’t easily cut through a small stem of plant material. Also, review lawn mower blades. Check the oil, gasoline and starters on all gardening machinery to ensure they’ll run correctly when needed.
* House tools – A review of all home tools helps to determine if any new purchases – or replacements are needed. This is the perfect time to head to the store and purchase missing tools, add new blades to saws or replenish the sandpaper stash – eliminating wasted time running back and forth to the store.
* Hand tools – A little care can go a long way in keeping your hands and feet – the most valuable tools found in every household – in good shape after the long, dry winter months. These tools are vital to accomplishing everything on those garden and home project lists, and they are often forgotten. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet are both guaranteed to effectively relieve dry, cracked skin in even the most extreme cases. And just a little bit of the highly concentrated, hypoallergenic and odorless creams is needed. Start every project off with healthy hands, and keep them that way throughout the entire season of projects. It’s the best cream for dry hands – especially after the long and dry winter months.
* Materials – As the project season gets closer, start purchasing the materials needed ahead of time. This helps to spread the cost out, and can give an idea of how much time and effort the project will take to be completed. Get started now in matching colors, finding the perfect accessories and even price-comparing between different suppliers to help save money.
For homeowners who haven’t experienced the warm-weather-project itch quite yet, it’s still a good idea to start thinking about those items on to-do lists to help with being prepared and ready to go when the season arrives. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to have a successful spring and summer project season. Don’t forget O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet to keep hands and feet in healthy shape to tackle any job.
 

Provided by: ARA
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When To Resurface Your Driveway
Home Improvements

7 Simple Steps In Cleaning Your Furnace Filter

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Home Pic7 Simple Steps In Cleaning Your Furnace Filter
Regular furnace maintenance is indispensable to keep your home’s cooling or heating system in top condition. Cleaning a furnace can be cumbersome to some homeowners but knowing that the build up of dust and debris in the system can create friction and a possible fire hazard, they should deem it important. There are lots of professional services offering furnace and duct cleaning using the right tool to fully reach down and target the dirt accumulated in your HVACs furnaces. However, there are simple tools that are easily accessible right in your nearest hardware store that can let you clean your own furnace and spare yourself from spending with labor.
Check out these simple steps on how you can go about cleaning your own furnace filter.
1. Disconnect the power and fuel sources. You don’t want your first furnace filter maintenance job to be your last so keep it mind that you are working on an electrical appliance. Never work with the electrical wires unplugged. As an additional safety measure, in gas and oil furnaces, the pilot light and fuel supply needs to be shut off.
2. Locate your furnaces maintenance service panel. You can refer to the user manual to see if you might need any tool to accomplish this task. Some furnace doors open by hand, while others are screwed in or fastened so you may need a screwdriver or other simple tool to open it.
3. Locate the furnace filter. The furnace filter is that spongy like piece of object that sits between the furnace and the air duct. It has a width of 1 inch or slightly more than that.
4. Once you locate the filter, take it out from the furnace. If you have a reusable filter, you can just take it out and clean all the dirt from the filter with your garden hose. Let it dry before replacing it. If you have a disposable filter, you can just replace it with a new one.
5. Clean the areas where the filter sits. You can use an old toothbrush to get into the furnace�s blower and smaller spaces and thus effectively remove accumulated dust and debris.
6. Replace the filter and put back any safety cover that you have removed. Check to see if everything is in order, if yes, you can reconnect the furnace and turn it on. If you have an electrostatic air filter, simply take it out, wash it with a hose an place it back in the filter tracks.
7. Run the furnace for a few minutes and observe if there are unusual sounds or smell coming out. If you smell burning wires or are hearing crackling sounds for prolonged period of time, shut down the furnace and call in a furnace and duct cleaning professional.
A clean furnace is the number one thing to keep heating or cooling equipment running at its peak performance along with maintaining its life span. Checking your air filters for blockage at least once a month, especially if you use continuous heat throughout the winter season, can not only increase your furnaces’ efficiency but it can also cut down your bills and save your family from possible respiratory health issues as well.
articlecity.com

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