Looking for Age Appropriate Chore Ideas for Your Kids? Check These Ideas Out!

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Jeremy Leake

Getting kids involved in the everyday cleaning of a home can be hard. Knowing what chores are age appropriate can also be hard. We found this article with information on why giving your kids chores are important as well as what chores are appropriate for each age group. We hope it helps in teaching your children to be contributing members of your household and that your house stays cleaner!

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From the article:

The Value of Chores for Children
Parenting expert Jim Fay, co-founder of the Love and Logic website, says we all need to feel needed and to know that we’re making a contribution — even kids. “But they can’t feel that way if they don’t have chores and make contributions to the family,” Fay says.

Roger W. McIntire, University of Maryland psychology professor and author of Raising Good Kids in Tough Times, says, “A child has to have some responsibilities.”

Chores for children ages 4 to 5

Any of the above chores, plus:

Make their bed

Empty wastebaskets

Bring in mail or newspaper

Clear table

Pull weeds, if you have a garden

Use hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs

Water flowers

Unload utensils from dishwasher

Wash plastic dishes at sink

Fix bowl of cereal

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Looking for information on after school snacks? Then checkout this article about after school snacks that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ideas click here: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/chores-for-children

Have Water Damaged Drywall? Learn How to Fix it Here!

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

People are surprised how little water it takes to damage drywall. If you have damaged drywall due to water then you’ve come to the right place.

We found this article in the Washington Post that describes how to repair the drywall and avoid mold damage.

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From the article:

Repairing water-damaged drywall is not too hard. Ceilings will present the most difficulty if you’re not a professional. Working over your head is not easy, and getting the repair to blend in with the rest of the ceiling will be tough to achieve if you’re not highly experienced at finishing drywall.

It’s best to try to cut out the wet drywall as soon as possible so that you minimize any mold growth. Mold spores are hidden in the typical ceiling; the temperature is perfect, and they have food. The only ingredient missing was water, and now that’s present. Mold can bloom within days if you don’t act.

Be sure to wear goggles or other eye protection as you remove the damaged drywall. The last thing you need right now is a scratched cornea from a nugget of gypsum falling into your eye.

One of the biggest challenges in getting the ceiling ready for a new piece of drywall is cutting back the water-soaked drywall to the center of one of the ceiling joists. This is accomplished with any number of tools, from a sharp razor knife to a reciprocating saw held at a low angle so the blade just cuts into the drywall and not the wood joist.

You can also cut to the side of a joist and then nail on a scab or sister 2-by-2 that will be the lath catcher for the new drywall. Just be sure the bottom of the framing material is flush with the bottom of the existing joist. If it’s lower, you’ll end up with an unsightly hump in the ceiling.

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Looking for storage ideas in your laundry room? Checkout this article with laundry room storage ideas for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Click here to read the entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/18/AR2011031805121.html

Need Storage Solutions That Don’t Cost a Lot of Money? Try These!

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Jeremy Leake

Storage solutions can be expensive depending upon how elaborate the storage system is. We found this article with storage solutions that won’t break the bank. Hopefully you’ll find something that will help you meet the storage needs in your home!

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From the article:

Pipe Dream
A length of PVC pipe is a hardware-store staple that can transform your dresser storage. Buy a length of pipe about 2-3 inches in diameter. Select pipe that has thinner walls, which is easier to cut and usually cheaper. Measure the height of your drawers and cut the pipe accordingly. Line a drawer with the pipe pieces and place rolled up stockings, leggings, and scarves inside the pieces.

Jewelry Hangout
Elegantly display necklaces and bracelets on a paper towel holder. Install it on the wall above a dresser or vanity for organization that doubles as a piece of art.

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Looking for more storage solutions? Checkout this article about storage solutions for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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See all the storage solutions here: http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/simple-storage-for-less/

Looking for Ways to Brighten Up Your Winter Blues? Try These Ideas!

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Some days it seems like winter will never end and can feel a little depressing for people who love warm weather. If that’s you then this is the article for you! We found this article with 10 different DIY ways to bright up your winter days. We hope it helps!

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If you need Hammond vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Oh, the weather outside???well, it sucks. Hole up and make some cute stuff to take your mind off of it.

Refresh your wardrobe???

???with a simple coat refashion project.

Bring the green???

???with some easy DIY terrariums.

Get ready to face the cold???

???with some cool secret stash mittens.

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Looking to travel this year? Checkout this article with top travel destinations of 2014 that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ideas click here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/kollabora/ways-to-brighten-up-winter

Looking to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten? Checkout These Ways!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

As a parent we want to do everything we can in order to help our children succeed. Making the transition into kindergarten might be one of the hardest things that a child does. Knowing ways to prepare them is very helpful and that’s why we wanted to share this article with you. We hope it will help you and your child better prepare for kindergarten.

From the article:

Let???s face it: Kindergarten isn???t what it used to be. Right or wrong, it is the world we live in. The following list is intended to help prepare your child in a variety of developmental areas to make the transition into kindergarten as smooth as possible. Believe it or not, just 15-20 minutes of playing and learning with your child can make a world of difference!

Social/Emotional Development

Encourage your child to persist in tasks when encountering a problem by giving him tasks slightly above his current ability level. When your child cannot find a??solution on his own, encourage him to calmly ask for help.

Play board games to practice taking turns.

Set up several play dates with friends of various ages

Physical Development (Gross & Fine Motor)

Give your child plenty of opportunities for outdoor play: running, jumping, and climbing.

Play catch on a regular basis.

Practice skipping.

Stack blocks together

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Looking for chore ideas for your kids? Checkout this article on chore ideas for kids that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ways click here: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/06/33-ways-to-prepare-your-child-for-kindergarten/

Looking for Educational Electronic Toys For Your Child? Try These Ideas!

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Kids love toys. Parents love when their child learns something while they are having fun. So educational toys seem like an obvious solution. With electronic toys becoming the norm it’s important to find which electronic educational toys are the best. We found this article that we hope will help you and your child!

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From the article:

We selected the most educational electric toys from the current crop of kids’ electronics, from toddler picks to big kid gadgets

VTech InnoTab

Appropriate for: 4-9 years
Vtech offers another great kids??? tablet that provides endless entertainment and learning activities. The InnoTab comes with interactive reading, learning games, activities and engaging tools that are operated by the device???s 5-inch touchscreen. Unlike the LeapPad, the InnoTab does not come with a built-in camera, which may explain the price difference, but it does come with an MP3 and video player.
Vtech – InnoTab Interactive Learning Tablet, $79

My Own Leaptop

Appropriate for: Ages 2+
Incorporate a kid-friendly laptop into pretend play while allowing your child to explore the alphabet, pretend play, music, animals, and computer literacy with six learning activity stations. This kid-tough device allows parents to personalize play and connect to The LeapFrog Learning Path online to see what their child has been learning.
LeapFrog My Own Leaptop, $19.54

Sesame Street Video Games for PC, Wii, DSi

Appropriate for: Ages 3+
Preschoolers will have fun learning their ABCs with Elmo and counting with Cookie Monster in two brand-new games from Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment that engage kids through the same Sesame Street approach to learning. In Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure, kids head to the zoo with the Big E, Zoe and their animal friends as they explore games based on a variety of literacy skills, including letter identification, letter sounds and word families. In Cookie’s Counting Carnival, kids join Cookie Monster and Big Bird at a fun-filled carnival with gameplay steeped in math skills that include number identification, counting, shapes and pattern recognition.
Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure, $20
Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival, $20

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Looking for information on afternoon snacks? Checkout this article about afternoon snacks for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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For all the toy ideas click here: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/educational-electronic-toys

Mold 101

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Mold can be scary if you don’t know much about it. We found this article with a TON of information on mold. We know that it will help you in gaining more understanding about mold.

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If you need Hammond apartment associations vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Facts about Mold

What exactly is mold? Molds are living microorganisms and forms of fungi like yeasts and mushrooms. Now that we have a basic definition of mold, lets start debunking some common mold myths!

Most of the information you find in the media and internet on ???Black Mold??? is completely bogus and horribly misleading. The fact is that the color of the mold as it appears to the naked eye cannot tell you anything about whether its toxic or not. This brings us to point #3:

With over 100,000 species, mold comes in about any size, shape, and color you can think of, making it virtually impossible to tell what type of mold you have without a microscope.

While there are over 100,000 species of mold, the good news is that you do NOT need to know what kind of mold you have to eliminate mold growth. All mold is treated in the same way. Since mold is a living organism, it requires food and water to survive. But controlling mold by eliminating food sources is very difficult since mold can feed off building materials, and the tiniest of organic matter like dirt, dust and debris. Thus the best way to eliminate mold problems is to eliminate water problems.

Eliminating mold problems is important because the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that we spend 90 percent of our time indoors, and that the air we breathe indoors is more polluted than the outdoor air. So indoor air quality matters a lot to our health.

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Interested in maintaining your home this summer? Checkout this article with more information about summer maintenance for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read all the facts and information here: http://www.moldmanusa.com/106-tips-about-mold-mold-remediation-mold-removal-mold-testing-and-mold-prevention

Learn Household Safety and Prevent Injury

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

No one wants to think about themselves or their loved ones getting injured in your own home but unfortunately it happens. Preventing injury of any kind is a parent’s number one priority. We found this article with information on keeping your family safe from injury from fires and burns. We hope it helps prevent injury to you and your loved ones.

From the article:

In General

Make a fire escape plan with two ways out of the house, plus a designated meeting place once out of the house. Practice the fire escape plan regularly.
Keep an emergency ladder on upper floors of your home in the event of a fire. Keep the ladder in or near the room of an adult or older child capable of using it.
Make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and in each bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and remember to change the batteries twice a year.
Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older.
Install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.

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Interested in finding out the most common causes of fire and how to avoid them? Checkout this article about common causes of fire for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read all the ideas here: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safety_burns.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle

Maintain Your Home This Summer With These Tips!

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

It’s important to always maintain your home. Summer isn’t any different even though most of us would rather just sit back and relax during the summer months. We found this article with specific things that you can do this summer to maintain your home!

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From the article:

KEEP YOUR DECK HEALTHY
Your deck provides a great place to hang out in the summer, but it needs a little TLC to stay in good shape. Visually inspect the boards to look for curling, cracked, or rotting wood. If you see a board that’s damaged, remove it and replace it with a board that you’ve cut to fit the same space.

Go underneath your deck to make sure the support structure is in good shape, and keep an eye out for cracked boards and missing screws or nails. If you see signs of insects or unwanted animals, such as spider webs or chewed boards, call a pest-control expert to take care of the problem.

Lastly, if your deck is sealed or stained, some experts say you should refinish it annually. Start by power washing the deck, then letting it thoroughly dry. Remove the finish or seal with a remover/stripper, and let it dry again.

With a sander and medium-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the deck, then remove all of the dust before continuing. Before you apply your finish, do a small test area to make sure you’ve got the right color. If you do, apply the finish with the wood’s grain and don’t stop in the middle???that can cause uneven coloring and streaks.

Two things to remember: make sure you’re wearing a mask to prevent inhaling dust and fumes, and don’t do any of this work if it’s going to rain.

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Looking to maintain your laundry room? Checkout this article about laundry room maintenance for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read all the ideas here: http://www.allstate.com/tools-and-resources/home-insurance/home-maintenace-for-summer.aspx

Replace Old Rubber Hoses on Your Washer

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

It is important to maintain your laundry room but it can be difficult to know exactly what to do in order to maintain the appliances in your laundry room.

We found this article that lists exactly what should be done in order to avoid any damage to your machines and to your home.

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From the article:

Burst washing machine hoses have to be one of the most common causes of catastrophic water damage in homes. When I find rubber hoses used to connect the washing machine, I often mention to my clients that it’s a good idea to replace them. It’s downright disturbing how often my client then goes on to share a story with me about how they already had a flooded house or knew someone who’s house flooded because of a failed washing machine hose.

As rubber ages, it loses it’s flexibility. After being subjected to water hammer over and over for many years, the rubber washing machine hose is eventually going to fail, and it’s going to be one heck of a mess. Here are a few suggestions to lower the risk of your washing machine hoses suddenly bursting.

Turn off the water supply when not in use
Washing machine manufacturers actually tell you to do this in their installation instructions.

Replace your old rubber hoses regularly
I???ve heard that a good rule of thumb is to replace rubber washing machine hoses every five years. That sounds good, but how do you remember? Another tip I???ve heard is to replace your washing machine hoses every leap year. Not a bad idea.

Install an emergency shutoff kit
You can purchase an emergency shutoff kit, such as the type sold by Floodstop, which will almost surely prevent any type of catastrophic leak. These devices come with a water sensor, so if a leak is detected, an alarm goes off and the water supply valves automatically close. These kits are battery powered, and according to the web site, can be installed in about 10 minutes. Not a bad idea.

Install stainless steel braided hoses
This is the simple advice that I usually give during home inspections. Stainless steel braided hoses are much more resistant to bursting, and they???re fairly inexpensive.

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Still have questions about caring for your dryer? Checkout this article about troubleshooting your dryer for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.structuretech1.com/2012/07/rubber-washing-machine-hoses/