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Help protect your family with these home fire safety tips:

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside bedrooms, and test alarms monthly.

Cooking causes most house fires, so dont leave the kitchen with the stove on.

Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from fireplaces, wood stoves and radiators.

Never use frayed or broken power cords, and dont overload electrical outlets with too many plugs.

Place candles in sturdy holders out of reach from kids or pets, and blow them out before bedtime.

Create a fire escape plan for your family, and agree on a place outside where everyone can meet.

To stay safe and avoid house fires, keep these tips in mind.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When you flush the toilet, waste goes to a sewer or septic tank. Large objects are filtered out before water is treated. Items that are not meant to be flushed can clog pipes and lead to expensive plumbing repair bills. In addition, some forms of waste contain toxic chemicals that may not be removed during the water treatment process. They can then pollute the environment and make their way into the groundwater that people and animals drink.

Dont Flush These Items

Baby wipes, makeup remover wipes, etc. can clog plumbing systems, even if the package says they are safe to flush. Throw them in the trash. The same goes for tissues and paper towels.
Cotton balls and Q-tips dont break down if they are flushed. Instead, they can clump together and clog pipes. Discard them in a trash can.
Dental floss is not biodegradable. If it gets flushed down a toilet, it essentially forms a net that catches other items that are flushed, clogs pipes and harms the environment. Hair also does not break down in water. Like dental floss, hair can form a net and catch other objects.
Band-Aids are not biodegradable. Dispose of them in the trash.
Plastic has had a devastating environmental impact in many parts of the world. Flushing contact lenses can introduce microplastics into the water supply. Throw used contact lenses in the trash.
Dont flush cat litter or cat waste. Even if the package says the litter is flushable, it can cause a clog. Cat waste may contain parasites that a water treatment plant may not be able to remove.
You should not flush grease leftover from cooking. It may be in a liquid form when you flush it, but it can congeal later and block the pipes. Let the grease cool, put it in a jar and dispose of it in the trash.
Gum does not break down in water. It can stick to the insides of pipes like glue and create a clog.
Pills contain a wide array of chemicals that can pollute groundwater and harm wildlife. Instead of flushing them, look for a community program that will take back unused medication and dispose of it safely.
Cigarette butts can clog pipes. They also contain toxic chemicals that can pollute groundwater. Dispose of extinguished cigarette butts in a trash can.

Protect your plumbing by understanding the many misconceptions about what is and is not safe to flush abound.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are the most popular lifestyle properties among luxury homeowners.

City Living

Vibrant cultures, new restaurants and afternoons at museums are right around the corner.

Alpine Abode

Hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, there are endless outdoor activities in the mountains.

Country Club & Resort

Enjoy a full package of lavish amenities, from fine dining to golf courses.

Waterfront Getaways

Enjoy dazzling views from sunrise to sunset, and a wide variety of activities right in your backyard.

Vineyard Properties

A vineyard property is the perfect way to connect to your land (and perhaps enjoy some wine while youre at it!)

Equestrian Estates

A sprawling estate complete with equestrian facilities could be a dream come true.

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Who doesnt like a squeaky clean house? Yet, no matter how hard we try, no amount of elbow grease seems to measure up to the job done by professional cleaners. Here are some of their top secrets for a clean thats a cut above!

Add a drop of olive oil. Have you meticulously cleaned your stainless steel appliances only to step back and still find fingerprints? Place a small amount of olive oil on a clean rag or paper towel and buff with the grain to banish stubborn smudges. Remove any remaining residue with a clean paper towel and youll be left with a gleaming appliance.

Hone your vacuuming technique. Like to speed through the house with your vacuum? According to the experts, its time to slow it down. While its natural to focus on the pushing motion when vacuuming, dirt is actually removed when you pull it back, so be sure to do so slowly to suck up as much as possible.

Clean with steam. The pros say that for a really deep clean, put chemicals aside in favor of steam. As opposed to cleaning solutions, which can leave behind a sticky residue, steam cleaners remove dirt using heat. They can also be used in a variety of places and on many different surfaces, including, tile, grout, carpet, upholstery, showers, sinks, ovens, stove tops, mattresses and more.

Enlist some cornstarch. For the clearest windows ever, forget cleaning sprays. Instead, mix up a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water, then add a teaspoon of cornstarch. The fine abrasive texture of the cornstarch will help remove dirt and grime from glass.

Stick it in the freezer. Is there some melted candle wax stuck to your table linens? How about gum on a piece of clothing? Put your item in a large plastic bag and let it sit in the freezer for a while. This should make scraping it off a breeze.

Let these tips from the pros help make your cleaning easier and more effective.

Source: Real Simple

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Keeping a clean home is important for everyone, and even if you are a self-proclaimed neat-nick, there is a chance you have some areas in your home that could use some extra love. Make sure to add these areas to your next cleaning list and ensure that you give them the attention they need for a grime-free home.

Your Furniture
You know to wash your sheets often to avoid accumulation from gross residue and allergens. However, your furniture, particularly your couches and reclining chairs, is likely overlooked though you and your family spend a lot of time sitting on it. If you arent frequently vacuuming your furniture, you are harboring dust, crumbs and worse. Make it a point to frequently vacuum upholstered furniture. For added freshness, lightly coat your cushions with baking soda and let it sit before vacuuming.

Your Mattress
Keep your mattress as fresh as possible by using the same techniques you would use for your couch. Baking soda and a good vacuum can go a long way to reducing allergen accumulation, allowing you to rest and breathe easily.

Your Shower Curtain Liner
You likely give attention to your shower, but many people miss addressing the shower curtain liner in the process. If your curtain is ignored for too long, it can accumulate scum just like a dirty bathtub. Luckily, most liners do well in the washing machine, making it easy to address the problem.

Light Switches
There are few items in your home that your family touches as frequently as your light switches. Make a note to wipe them down semi-frequently to prevent the accumulation of grime. And if a member of your household is sick, its imperative to give a quick disinfecting wipe down to your light switches. Germs can live on surfaces for a surprisingly long time depending on the virus. Keep the rest of your family healthy by mitigating the spread of germs on your light switches.

Keep your home sparkling by addressing those too-often ignored areas throughout your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.