House to House: Happy New Year’s from the Arkansas Realtors® Association

It’s time for us to start thinking about our New Year’s Resolutions. Lose a few pounds, save more money, start a new hobby. I’m sure we’ve all got plenty of things that we’d like to start or change next year, but how about making some New Year’s resolutions for your home? Here are a few suggestions that I’ve found on www.houselogic.com.

Time to Organize

No excuses — that clutter has got to go! Start by creating more storage space so you can stash stuff easily.

At wit’s end for new storage space? You’ve probably got storage solutions you didn’t know you had. Put up a high shelf between the walls of a narrow hallway, and tuck storage in out-of-the-way nooks, such as under-stairs spaces and between wall studs.

If your small home is pinched for space, don’t despair: There’s still room for storage. Shoe organizers ($20) do more than hold shoes — use them to store keys, notepads, and cell phones. At about $300 per drawer, have a cabinetmaker install drawers in the toe kicks of your kitchen cabinets for napkins, cookie sheets, and appliance manuals.
How to Clean Gutters

• Wear a shirt with long sleeves. Wear rubber gloves.

• Have a good extendable ladder available. Standoff stabilizers (ladder “horns”) are ideal to keep the ladder from damaging the gutter.

• Use a small plastic scoop to remove gunk. Buy a gutter scoop from the hardware store ($25) or try a child’s sand shovel.

• Spare your lawn by dumping the stuff onto a plastic tarp.

• After you’ve cleared the muck, flush the gutters and downspouts with a garden hose — also a great way to spot any leaks.

Green clean your refrigerator’s inside

To green clean the interior of your refrigerator, whip up a batch of non-toxic solution by combining equal parts vinegar and tap water. To boost the solution’s cleaning power, warm it in a glass bowl in the microwave. At $4 for a 64-ounce jug of food-grade vinegar, you can mix up big batches for just pennies. In contrast, commercial green cleaner like Seventh Generation sells for about $5.

Find more New Year’s resolutions for your home at www.houselogic.com.

On behalf of just short of 7,000 Arkansas Realtors®, I hope you have a happy and healthy 2016! Happy New Year’s!

House to House is distributed weekly by the Arkansas REALTORS® Association.  For more information on homeownership in Arkansas, readers may visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.