What Are you Crazy? Don't Put That in Your Dishwasher!

 

As wonderfully convenient as dishwashers are, they are not all-purpose miracles of technology that you can entrust with cleaning anything you can get your mitts on. It’s surprising how many people have to learn this the hard way. While some things may survive a run or two, certain items should never be put through a dishwasher cycle. Here’s a rundown of what not to do.

Never Put These in Your Dishwasher

• Cast Iron: The inside of an active dishwasher is hot and wet—two conditions that are disastrous for certain kinds of cookware. Not only will dishwasher cleaning cause cast iron skillets to rust, it will also wash away the seasoning—that protective, nonstick, and delicious layer of oil and lard. Unless you want your cast iron cookware to end up looking like some sort of prehistoric anvil, don’t put it in your dishwasher.

 

• Wood: Once again, dishwashers get hot—really hot. Heat causes wood to warp, so avoid putting wooden objects in your dishwasher. That includes utensils, bowls, cutting boards, and even pots and pans with wooden handles. Furthermore, the dry cycle may cause the wood to crack, opening up a breeding ground for bacteria.

• China and Delicate Glassware: This one should be obvious: Don’t put delicate wine glasses, china, or other formal wares in your dishwasher. What are you thinking? The chemicals in dishwasher detergents are abrasive, so they’ll wear away at delicate materials and cause them to crack. The intense heat of a dishwasher can also cause glasses and china to shatter, which is sure to put you at odds with whoever owns those precious family heirlooms you were too lazy to wash by hand. Not to mention, you’ll have to manually clean shattered glass out of the wash tub, which sounds like a blast but is probably hazardous, to say the least.

• Gold-Trim Dishes: What, are you stupid? They’re almost always delicate (see above), and even if they don’t wreck the entire plate, the water jets can spray away flakes or chunks of gold.

• Insulated Travel Mugs: Travel mugs have a vacuum seal between the inner and outer shell, which can be breached when it’s put through the dishwasher. Aside from filling the vacuum with water for an annoying sloshing sound, it can hinder the mug’s ability to retain heat, thereby defeating the whole purpose of a travel mug.

You Probably Shouldn’t Put These in Your Dishwasher

• Teflon: There’s a lot of debate over this one, but we’ll go ahead and say you probably don’t want to put Teflon in your dishwasher. Recent research has suggested that polytetrafluoroethylene—the chemical name for Teflon—is carcinogenic, particularly when it begins to break down. That reason alone should be enough to scare you away from the idea of agitating it in a high-temperature alkaline box. Manufacturers like Dupont say it’s fine, and dishwashing it a few times over several years is probably okay. But frequent washing is likely to hasten the breakdown process, coating other dishes and utensils with undesirable chemicals. And honestly, how easy is it to wash nonstick pans by hand anyway? Don’t be lazy.

 

• Stainless Steel: Most experts say it’s okay to put stainless steel products in the dishwasher—but with a few caveats. The general fear is that detergent and excessive humidity will corrode the metal, and that acidic food soils will tarnish its polish. It’s also recommended that, if you do choose to put stainless steel in the dishwasher, it should be placed in the upper rack or the cutlery basket and spaced far enough away from other materials so as to ensure proper washing and drying. However, we feel there are far too many precautions, and that you’re better off just washing stainless steel by hand. 

• Aluminum: Some aluminum products are specifically designated to be “dishwasher-safe.” These materials are probably fine, but others may be prone to scratching. They may also develop a dull finish over time. We’d recommend taking this category on a case-by-case basis.

• Knives: Knives turn into sporks when put through the dishwasher. OK, not really, but they do dull over time in the dishwasher. Then you have little more than a blunt object for cutting vegetables, and you’re no troglodyte, so wash your precious blades by hand. Just be careful.

• Plastic: If a plastic item is not clearly guaranteed “dishwasher-safe” by the manufacturer, then wash it by hand. The heat from the water and dry cycle can warp the material and possibly even melt it. Even if the item is deeded safe for the dishwasher it’s a good idea to place it in the upper rack—or as far away from the heating element as possible. But anyone who’s ever had to deal with melted plastic in their dishwasher might recommend staying on the safe side and avoiding it altogether.

Amp Up Curb Appeal

 Buyers are quick to judge a home by what they see on the outside. Are you ready for the scrutiny?     

A property’s curb appeal naturally makes a critical first impression. If everything within the front space is well-chosen and in perfect repair—from the mailbox and house numbers to the walkway and landscaping—buyers will think, ‘This house is obviously well-cared for.’  This message is imprinted on their brains, even if the rest of the house is actually not as well cared for. It’s very hard to change a first impression, and while most Sellers tend to the yard work, trim the trees, and put out a new welcome mat, they may miss other opportunities to help improve a home’s curb appeal. Here are some compelling ideas for sprucing up exteriors.

Front door

A front door can be a home’s focal point—but you don’t want that to be because of its peeling paint or dinged hardware. Replacing an entryway door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale (an average of 73 percent of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2011–2012 Cost vs. Value Report, which analyzed 35 remodeling projects’ payback potential).
Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint. Just don’t overdo it, and make sure that it complements the home. Make sure to update the handle and lock hardware, too. (Satin nickel and black or oil-rubbed bronze are more the trend these days.)

Windows

Wash them—inside and out—and remove the screens for added sparkle. Then, try dressing up the windows with flower boxes.  Also, consider a new color for shutters. The trend is a shift away from high-contrast green, red, or black to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house, according to the Paint Quality Institute.

Garage

Depending on its orientation to the house, a garage can make a huge impact. Does the door need paint or repairs? Should it be replaced? While you might not be willing to spend on a stylish new cedar wood door, you can find more budget-friendly options in metal or fiberglass. A new steel garage door can cost about $1,500, but sellers, in average, recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale, according to the Cost vs. Value Report. 

Driveway

Is the driveway covered with cracks and oil stains? If you can’t afford a complete resurfacing (which may cost about $2,000 for concrete driveways), look into patching up cracks using premixed concrete materials. Driveway cracks a quarter-inch or smaller may be able to be filled with asphalt or concrete that comes in caulk-like tubes. A patching compound for asphalt can be used for larger cracks. Some experts recommend kitty litter for removing oil stains, though hardware stores offer designated products, too.



After dark

Evening curb appeal also matters. Conceal a couple of portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree for low-cost, high-value impact. Have outdoor lights on a timer so they’re always on for nighttime showings. Interior lights, too, work to create a warm glow from the curb. If the home isn’t wired outdoors, line a pathway to the door with solar lights. The technology has improved considerably over the past few years, and solar lights are much cheaper to install than hardwired lights.  Plus, you can always take the lights with you when you move.

The Real Estalker: Iconoclast Comedienne Phyllis Diller's Digs

The Real Estalker: Iconoclast Comedienne Phyllis Diller's Digs: SELLER: Estate of Phyllis Diller LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA PRICE: $12,900,000 SIZE: 9,266 square feet, 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms ...

3 hot Home Trend Designs!

Maximize your space for socializing, storage

At San Francisco's annual Pacific Coast Builders Conference in June, which is always chock full of new products and ideas, a group of architects and other home design experts discussed what's new and hot in home design trends.

Some of it represents a bit of a departure from past years, and if you're thinking of building or you're planning on a remodel -- either for yourself or to make things more attractive for a potential buyer -- these trends might offer some valuable insights to help with your planning.

Garages are doing a lot more

 

 

Many home designers are looking at ways to design smaller homes with spaces that serve multiple uses, and that's now including the garage. With space in many homes at a premium, it's not too much of a stretch to consider cleaning up that vast cold expanse of concrete and making it more than a place to park the car. Garages are now sharing space with exercise areas, hobby rooms and other uses.

One of the most important uses for the garage is storage, but not just shelves tacked to the wall. Built-in storage cabinets with doors achieve a clean and uncluttered look that also protects the contents. There are a number of companies now offering sleek and sturdy garage cabinets, workbenches, and wall-mounted storage systems that are versatile and quite attractive. There are also ceiling-mounted platform lifts for even more storage.

Walls should be drywalled, textured and painted with a washable paint. Use ample lighting, especially in work areas. Consider an epoxy coating for the floor, or even a garage mat surface, which creates a brighter, more attractive area that's easier to clean.

Ditto for the laundry room

 

 

Another space in the house that's doing double and even triple duty is the laundry room. Rather than having a single room that's used solely for laundry, many of today's designers are looking at making this room larger and allowing it to handle multiple chores, which lets other rooms be smaller or even be eliminated.

Once again, storage is emphasized, with lots of cabinet space for everything from cleaning supplies to extra toilet paper. Space can be provided for just about any part-time use that doesn't require a large amount of square footage elsewhere, such as crafts or even a small home office.

For most situations, unless the bulk of the living space is on the second floor, the design pros felt that a first-floor laundry room was preferable. One designer adds a doggie door in her laundry room designs that goes through the wall to the backyard. "The laundry room is a great area for the dog during the day, and the doggie door provides direct access to the yard," she said. "It's been one of our most popular options!"

The designers also emphasized the importance of a transition area between the garage and the house: "The garage wants in," was the way one architect put it.

This transition area might be the laundry room, or it might be another intermediate space such as a mud room area, with a sink for washing up. The transition area should contain a bench or other seating for removing shoes, as well as storage for hats, coats, gloves and other outdoor essentials. It should also include convenient storage for things like keys, and perhaps a charging station for phones and other electronics.

Some thoughts on kitchens

 

Kitchens, of course, are one of the biggest sellers in home design. Some designers are getting away from traditional "work triangle" design, and are looking more at designs that work for specific users.

But one thing that all the designers agreed on was a growing emphasis on islands. Islands are very popular, and may incorporate a cooktop, prep sink or some other element that makes it easier for two cooks to operate at the same time.

Eat-in kitchens remain popular, with space at the island or at a peninsula for eating. But what's definitely changed is the arrangement of the seating. Designers are getting away from the "picnic bench" seating arrangement, with all the stools or chairs in a row, which is not conducive to conversation. That's being replaced by 90-degree seating, with stools along two or even three perpendicular edges of the island, the way they would be at a conventional table.

 

5 Low Cost Kitchen Redos Buyers Will Love

Kitchen remodeling sales were up 36 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the same time a year earlier, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. It’s no wonder: The kitchen is the focal point in many homes. 

Kitchens are one of the features buyers compare most closely when they’re shopping for a home. Here are cost estimates for some of the low-cost kitchen upgrades that listing agents often recommend to sellers:

1. Hardware.
Replacing cabinet hardware, such as handles, knobs, and hinges is a quick, DIY way to enhance kitchen space. According to HouseLogic.com, an average kitchen is 200 square feet with 30 linear feet of cabinetry, which equates to about 40 handles and knobs. Averaging between $2 and $20 per knob or pull, a home owner can expect to spend from $80 to $800 for this enhancement.

2. Faucet.
There are myriad options today in terms of height, spouts, pullout hoses, and folding necks, with quality faucets starting at around $200.

3. Lighting.
Adding an LED undercabinet light can have a dramatic effect for about $40.

4. Organization.
Buyers today choose functionality over elaborate decoration, says Jamie Goldberg, a National Kitchen & Bath Association–certified designer. Practical storage in the kitchen will go a long way. Over-the-door hooks, baskets in the pantry, drawer organizers, wall hooks for pots and pans, and stackable shelves for cabinets will add appeal, typically for less than $100.

5. Countertops.
Laminate can mimic the contemporary look of granite at a significant discount. The cost for an average kitchen with 30 linear feet of laminate countertop is roughly $1,575; the same space in granite would be about $2,400.

Don't forget to give me a call if you need any more ideas!

I'm always available...

IT'S FEBRUARY! ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY AND SAVE...

 Stretch Your Grocery Dollars with these Simple Solutions...

START FROM SCRATCH

Pull everything out of your pantry and set it on a counter so you can see what you have. Then clean the shelves, sweep the floor and separate the items you want to keep and donate from expired items you can throw away.

CREATE MORE SPACE

Use every inch. Add inexpensive wire shelving near the top and bottom of pantry walls (often wasted space).

Cover the door. Attach over-the-door hangers for grocery bags and a shoe organizer for items such as plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

Think outside the kitchen. If your pantry is small, store nonperishable items in the garage or basement using an outdoor cabinet.

MAKE A SYSTEM

Label everything. Put tags on shelves and bins so everyone in the family knows where foods belong—and when you’re running low.

Think placement. Put heavier items such as bulk purchases on the floor in waterproof, pest-proof bins. Keep breakable containers and products you use less frequently toward the top, and group like items—such as canned goods or kids snacks—together.

Organize by expiration. If you have more than one can or box of the same item, store the older ones in front.

Stash away. Extend the life of nuts, grains, flour and other dry goods (and keep pests at bay) with airtight containers.

TRACK IT

Tape a list to your pantry door that notes the quantity, expiration and location of everything within. Download the free template at faithfulprovisions.com to keep track of when you use and add items.

Charly says...

"Enjoy the Month of February, don't let the wind get in your eyes

 and let my "Mom" know if she can help you in any way!"

Remodeling? Don't forget the Permit...

Home owners who fail to get a building permit for a remodeling project can jeopardize a sale. 

Example of work done with permits

When home owners take on a remodeling project, they’re often far more focused on choosing glistening fixtures for a new bathroom or debating the type of granite to use on a kitchen countertop than, say, navigating the intricacies of the building permit process. That could be a huge mistake, however, and it may not even come to light until the house is put up for sale. Ignoring local approval requirements not only poses safety and legal problems but also can potentially derail an otherwise smooth sale.

Home owners using licensed contractors for remodeling work typically don’t have to get involved with permitting. Most licensed contractors will handle the cumbersome process for them—filling out the paperwork with the municipality, collecting fees, and being present for the required inspections, says Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. But when home owners tackle do-it-yourself projects or use unlicensed contractors, they risk problems later.

 

 

Ask Sellers Before You Buy

 

Home owners have to disclose any work that was done without a permit when in the process of selling a home. A home inspector evaluating a property for a buyer may also want to know whether a permit was obtained. Furthermore, the buyer’s appraiser may want to see permit records to check the legality of any home renovations.

“If no permits are found and it’s obvious the home has been renovated, the bank will likely refuse to make the loan,” according to the American Bar Association’s book Legal Guide to Home Renovation (Random House Reference, 2006). If the permitless work isn’t discovered until after closing, the home’s value could even be subject to a lawsuit, such as in cases when an addition added extra square footage to the home’s value but the construction wasn’t done legally with a permit. 

That’s why contractors and legal experts say buyers are well advised to ask sellers before they make an offer for a renovated home: “Did you get a permit for that?” 

Some home owners, however, are tempted to sidestep the permit process not wanting to pay the fees (municipalities generally charge a minimum issuing fee—such as $25—as well as an additional fee—sometimes 1 percent—of total construction costs), or they might not want to risk delaying a project or a sale by waiting for city inspections (obtaining permits can take anywhere from a day to six weeks or more).

The permit process varies widely from city to city and state to state). But the purpose of the document is the same everywhere: It offers ­assurance by a municipal building department that the work being done meets all safety codes.

FOUR WAYS TO EARN MONEY FROM HOME!

Learn how to make extra money from home by finding a flexible job that suits your personality and skills

If you are outgoing and persuasive...

Host product parties. More than 15 million people in the U.S. sell items for direct-sales companies, according to the Direct Selling Association.  This isn't just restricted to the handy reusable plasticware of yesteryear; there is likely a direct selling company for whatever your interest.

Here's a list of popular businesses that are offering sales jobs

If you are organized and efficient...

Be an administrative assistant.  Often business owners can save money by hiring independent contacts to perform tasks such as data entry, transcription and scheduling out of a home office.

Go to virtualassistantjobs.com to find out more.

  

If you are artistic...

There are plenty of sites to let your arty side shine and make some money in the process.

Etsy.com is a virtual marketplace where the craftier among us can sell their wares to shoppers from all over the world for a percent transaction fee.

Cafe Press allows you to design and sell your own graphic T-shirts, mugs and other printables from home for the cost of materials.

If you love writing...

Many websites need part-time writers.  Examiner.com pays people to write reviews for restaurants, shops, parks and concerts in their area.

If reviews aren't quite your thing, ProBlogger has listings of sites that are willing ao pay semi-professional writers.  Over time, good writers have found this sort of freelancing can be quite lucrative.  Every website has a different application process, so log on and get paid.

Hope these suggestions help - remember, I'm always just a phone call away!