Use Coffee Grounds to Clean? Say What?!

Hate to clean? Yea, I hear ya'. So, here are some quick fixes with items you already have in your house...

Try coffee grounds to keep your refrigerator smelling nice and fresh, just as you do with an open box of baking soda. Place them, new or used, in a bowl and remember to replace them every month or two.

Use ice to cleanse the blades in your garbage disposal and break up the grease that collects on the rotors. Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes, turn on the disposal and run cold water. Add some orange, lemon or lime peels to ward off odors.

Get baked-on foods off pots and pans with a dryer sheet. Just place one in a pot, fill with water and let sit overnight, then sponge off the next morning. The antistatic agent weakens the bond between the stuck-on food and the surface of the pan, while the fabric softener works its loosening magic.

Cover the bottom of your trash can with old newspapers. It's an easy way to keep clean and soaks up leaks and odors.

I'll see you all later, I'm off to find some coffee grounds, ice, dryer sheets, and newspapers. Happy cleaning!

What's Eating You? Maybe it's Termites...

Don't let termites prevent the sale of your home.

There are a few signs that may indicate there might be an infestation. Termites tend to be most active in states with warmer climates, but can be found nearly anywhere and the varieties of the insects differ depending on the area and climate.

Many homeowners don't think about the possibility of having termites until they're getting ready to sell their home. Unfortunately, a history of termite issues can eat away at the sales price. Being prepared and understanding what to expect from an inspection is not only helpful but could help ensure a better price and smoother home sale.

Here's what you should know about termites.

If my neighbor's home is infested; will mine be attacked next? TermiteInstitute.com says not necessarily. However, the risk is, of course, high. Preventive treatment is recommended.

How are homes treated for termites? The methods vary depending on the severity and the professional company that you choose but a couple different methods include, termite bait systems (requires termites to eat poisonous food) and, liquid termite treatment (poisonous liquid applied throughout the structure and surrounding soil).

Will my homeowners' insurance pay for treatment? It's not likely. Although, in some areas of Louisiana some insurance companies have covered termite treatments for those structures that suffered hurricane damage.

While termites are annoying and can certainly eat away at your sale price. They can cause severe structural damage, but they are not harmful to humans. It's best to know right away whether you have an infestation and what your options are to resolve the problem. It could save you money and frustration when it comes time to close the sale on your house.

How to Prepare for Open Houses

Many sellers love houses, but having to clean and get their home organized to possibly snag a buyer.

But preparing for an open house doesn't have to be difficult. If you're living in your home and trying to show it, here are a few quick tips to get you organized.

- Coil it up! This might not come to mind right away but, until everything is wireless, we have to deal with those unsightly long cords. Using devices, such as the Cableyoyo or even twist-ties, will clean up the clutter and leave your electronic areas looking much better. When you have electrical cords in a jumble behind your entertainment center (but still in view) it creates a feeling of chaos and clutter--not to mention, the cables collect dust and then can create an impression in the buyer's mind that the home is dirty.

- Off the table into the portable bin. Get a portable file cabinet--small but one that can hold about a week's worth of papers. Leave it in the living room and instruct family members to place their papers in their labeled folder when they're finished reading them.

Homework, newspapers, documents that need signing should all be placed in the family member's folder and not stuffed in between couch cushions, entertainment center shelves, or left on the coffee table. Just before the open house, you can easily and quickly do a sweep of the rooms, picking up papers and storing them in the appropriate folder in the portable file cabinet.

- You don't want Guns 'n Roses singing "Welcome to the Jungle". Go green selectively. We're talking house plants in this next tip. The folks at HGTV recommend that your house plants be placed on a cute stand or in several decorative pots. While plants are usually seen as a welcome addition, creating a jungle with too many big, sprawling plants in your living room won't go over well.

- Put all your personal care products out of site in the bathroom. Clutter is not attractive and no one wants to see your anti-fungal foot spray.

Implementing these quick tips can help you be prepared in a moment's notice, saving you hours of searching for items that would have otherwise been swept up and crammed into any hidden place.

But What About The Floors?!

Ah the age-old question... with at should I cover my floors? Carpet? Hardwoods? Throw rugs? Linoleum? Burlap? Well maybe not burlap, but I did show an eclectic city condo where the floors were covered with bamboo mats, wall to wall.

There is no "right" answer, it's all a matter of taste. Well, sometimes it is a matter of affordability as well.

For price, low and medium grade carpet may cost less up-front, but the average lifespan of carpet is only 10 to 15 years, so you will be looking to replace the carpet several times over your own lifetime. And you must figure into that cost the yearly cleanings that are a necessity to keep healthy and attractive carpets.

Hardwoods range widely in price, depending on their popularity, but there are affordable options for most any project. In addition, hardwoods can last a lifetime with proper care, even if they may need to be sanded and refinished down the road.

Hardwoods are low on the maintenance scale, with "proper maintenance" being key to a beautiful, long life for your hardwoods.

Additionally, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends that house dust allergy sufferers "remove wall-to-wall carpets from the bedroom if possible." Have a child with asthma? Ninety percent of asthma sufferers are allergic to dust mites. And dust mites love carpet.

Carpet installation itself also rears another ugly head. There are chemicals used in most modern carpets that emit fumes for months and years to come. These fumes can cause headaches and runny eyes and nose. There are, however, natural options available for more eco-friendly carpets. These options, though, will more than likely add to your overall cost.

The choice is entirely up to you on which flooring option is right for you. Be sure to do your due diligence with research and price comparisons before making any final decisions!

John Lennon's Killer Denied Parole Again

I know this maybe a bit of a different topic than usual, but I thought it was interesting...

John Lennon's killer has again been denied parole, nearly 30 years after gunning down the ex-Beatle and iconic musician outside the singer's Manhattan apartment building.

A parole board today denied Mark David Chapman his freedom after an interview at Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York.

It was Chapman's sixth appearance before the parole board since becoming eligible for release in 2000. He's eligible again in 2012. Chapman had been scheduled to appear last month, but the hearing was postponed by parole officials. They said at the time they were awaiting additional information. It's not known what that information was.

Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for shooting Lennon four times in December 1980. Four times, as if he were an assassin. He was an assassin.

So, what do you think? Has he served enough time? Or is he hopelessly mentally ill and dangerous? I wonder what the experts say.