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Spring Cleaning Hacks

Spring Cleaning Hacks

The spring season is finally here and for some it means warmer weather and sunnier days, but, to others it means spring cleaning!

There is a lot to talk about when it comes to clutter in our homes. Often, what seems like clutter is simple disorganization. Take a little time to put some systems into place and all of that clutter will magically disappear. Here are some quick organization hacks to help make your home orderly.

  1. Put a wine rack in your laundry room. Organize items like dusters, cleaning gloves and flashlights by installing a vertical wine rack on the wall. It will corral those items you use frequently and keep them in easy reach.
  2. Make your bed. One of the first things all new military recruits learn to do is to make their beds properly. It may sound trite but having a made bed instantly make the room look neater, and you will feel better too.
  3. Divide and conquer. Use clear plastic boxes in your drawers and on shelves to organize. For example, place shoe boxes side by side in a drawer to sort socks by color or store camisoles, wristlets or scarves.
  4. Tame your Tupperware. The plastic storage food containers we use in the kitchen gets notoriously messy. Use a clear box to store all the lids on their sides, like a file. Next, stack the containers inside one another.
  5. Get a utensil holder. Add a round ceramic pitcher near the stove to hold all the utensils you most frequently use. The rest? Put them in a drawer.
  6. Organize kitchen drawers. Add dividers or containers to keep your items from being jumbled.
  7. Tackle bathroom counter chaos. The bathroom counter is often the scene of a beauty product explosion. Curb the chaos by adding a lazy Susan in the cabinet. If all you have is space under the sink, go for a double lazy Susan. The top rail keeps small items from toppling over.
  8. Use magazine racks. Libraries and airline clubs know that keeping papers and magazines organized keeps the whole place neat. Get a standing magazine floor rack with multiple sections to put all your reading materials in one place instead of spread out on top of tables, end tables and night stands.

Will spring cleaning be at the top of your to do list this spring season?

 

Melting Snow and Water Damage

Melting Snow and Water Damage

The snow storms that recently hit New York State has left us with snow, sleet, ice and slush! As the snow begins to melt, it is important to protect your home from potential flooding and water damage. A few small actions taken now, will help ensure a dry house!
  • Move snow on the ground away from your home. The farther away from the structure of your house, the better.
  • If you have a sump pump, be sure to examine, test, and clean it! Test your sump pump by pouring water into the pit. Make sure the discharge hose carries the water several feet away from the house to a well-drained area.
  • Remove snow from your gutters and be sure to check your gutters regularly to make sure they are clean.
  • Most importantly, consider where your surrounding snow is going to melt! Using this strategy will help you locate where the best spots are for all that left over snow.

A flood can happen at any moment, to anybody! Call our office today and speak with one of our Flood specialists in regards to a flood policy for your home. It is better to be safe than sorry. Protect your home today.

(516) 249-5200
www.chedwards.net

Are Your Smoke Alarms Working Properly?

Are Your Smoke Alarms Working Properly?

Having a smoke alarm in your home is more important than you think. House fires kill on average 4,380 individuals every year. Ensuring that your detectors are working properly are vital when it comes to saving you and your family’s lives in the event of a disaster.
The answer to these three questions could save your life:
  1. Do you have a working smoke alarm with functioning batteries in your home?
    If you answered yes, that’s a great start. If you answered no, head to your local home improvement store and pick one up immediately. Sooner is better than never.
  2. Are they in the right room?
    Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in hallways, kitchens and living rooms.
  3. How old are they?
    You should change your alarms out every 10 years. If your current alarms are older than 10 years, its time!
If you want to avoid forgetting to change the batteries, you can purchase lithium batteries for $5-$10 dollars and they work for 10 years.
What will be your first step towards a safer home?
Simple Winter Hacks To Help You Save

Simple Winter Hacks To Help You Save

Colder days are ahead of us, and that means a higher utility bill, due to hot water and heat. Experts say that this winter season could significantly increase your bill compared to other years due to the rising fuel costs.

If you want to save some of your pennies this year, follow some of these simple hacks you can do around the house that will help you save big.

  • Put weather stripping around windows and doors to stop air leaks. Air strips are only a few dollars and they take seconds to install.
  • Turn your thermostat down when you’re not home. If your entire family is away from your home during the daytime, there is no reason to have the heat up. Instead, open your drapes and let the natural light and warmth in from the sun.
  • Set your ceiling fan to turn clockwise. This will allow the hot air that has risen to be pushed back down to warm you.
  • Check the setting on your hot water heater. Lowering your temperature 20 degrees can help you save up to 11 percent on your utility bill.
  • Take shorter showers. Although the hot water feels good, money in your pocket will feel even better. On average, an entire family can use up to 150 gallons of hot water in the morning while showering.
  • Perform an energy audit to see exactly how much energy you’re wasting and where the biggest problems are. You can either hire an expert to do this or you can do it for free by clicking here and seeing how, https://energy.gov/energysaver/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audits.

How much energy and money do you plan to save this winter season?

 

Is your Heart Healthy?

Is your Heart Healthy?

February is Heart Health Month. There are many contributing factors that cause heart disease and heart attacks. Do you know if you are at risk?
If you answer yes to 3 or more of these questions, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately.
  1. Do you smoke?
  2. Do you have high blood pressure?
  3. Do you have high cholesterol?
  4. Do you have diabetes?
  5. Are you overweight?

These are all possible risk factors of heart disease and heart attack. If you answered no to these questions, then you are off to a good start. However maintaining a healthy heart is important.

Here are some tips to follow when ensuring a healthy heart.

  • Avoid smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco.
  • High blood pressure is one of the largest risk factors. Limit your salt intake and be sure to exercise regularly.
  • Keep your cholesterol low. To lower your cholesterol, reduce the saturated and transfats in your diet.
  • Control your blood sugar with dieting and exercise.
  • Exercise on a regular basis. Start out slowly. Even just 10 minutes a day of exercise is helpful.
  • Control your stress with meditation, or exercise. Stress is another leading factor in heart disease.

How do you plan to take care of your heart? For more information on heart health and heart health awareness visit http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

 

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas – Without Breaking The Bank!

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas – Without Breaking The Bank!

It’s important to make your significant other feel special on Valentine’s Day. In fact, it’s even better when you don’t have to break the bank for it.
Here are some inexpensive yet thoughtful date ideas to try this Valentine’s Day:
  • Dine in before going out. Heading out to a restaurant on Valentine ’s Day is a recipe for fighting off crowds. You can easily avoid this by ordering in your favorite food or even cooking dinner for that special someone. Not only will you feel relaxed and comfortable in your own home but you will be saving money too.
  • Consider using coupons. Using restaurant coupons on a first date is a bit awkward. However, for long term couples who are comfortable with each other, this could work to save the both of you a little bit of money.
  • Splurge on cocktails and dessert. Instead of spending on a huge meal, eat and spend light on your main course. Then, head out or even stay in, and enjoy more of your favorite mixed drink and sweet treat!
  • If concert and theater tickets are out of your range of spending, try going to an art gallery, wine tasting or even the movie theater. In most places these centers are open late.
  • If you are looking to have a unique and reasonably priced Valentine’s Day, try some of these money saving options.
Happy Valentine’s Day from C.H. Edwards, Inc.!
Shopping Safely Online this Valentine’s Day

Shopping Safely Online this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means shopping for s special gift for that special someone.  Although you may be heading to your local florist or candy shop to pick up a gift, others do their shopping online.

Let’s face it, shopping on line is fast, easy and your items ship right to your front door. However, we can’t forget about the lurking thieves who aim to steal your credit card, bank and other personal information.

Follow these basic guidelines and you can shop online with confidence this Valentine’s Day:

  • Use familiar websites. If you know the site, chances are you won’t be ripped off. Websites such as Edible Arrangements and 1-800 Flowers are well known sites and chances are you will be making a purchase on a secure site.
  • Never buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) you can see if the site has SSL if the site starts with https:// instead of just http://.
  • Never give more information than needed. No online store needs to know your social security number or your birthday to do business. If thieves get this information along with your credit card information, it can do a lot of damage.
  • Check your credit card and debit card statements regularly. Make sure you don’t see any fraudulent charges. If you do, contact your bank immediately.
  • Install an anti-virus program onto your PC and be sure to do regular updates.

Shop safely this Valentine’s day and every other day of the year. You never know who could be lurking in the shadows!

 

Safety Tips for Winter Walking

Safety Tips for Winter Walking

Winter walking means icy sidewalks, snowy paths, bulky clothes, bulky shoes, and more. There are several steps that you can take to enjoy a safe winter season.

  • Avoid distractions from your phone and other hand held devices. Be sure that you aware of your surroundings.
  • Avoid shortcuts and snow covered paths. Always aim for cleared sidewalks and walkways.
  • Use caution when stepping from one level to another. Especially on stairs!
  • Wear non-slip boots or footwear.
  • Take small steps and take your time. Rushing will only put you in danger for a possible accident.
  • Use handrails and guiderails when available.
  • Maintain three points of contact whenever possible.
  • Distribute weight of bags evenly for balance and keep hands out of pockets in case you need to catch yourself.

The winter season on Long Island can bring many different types of weather. Make sure you know how to stay safe when commuting in them. Taking these small steps now could save you a trip to the doctor in the future.

How do you plan to stay safe this winter season?