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Depending on where you live in the country, you likely need to turn on your furnace during the colder months. For most homeowners, the goal is to keep their home warm while keeping their energy bill low. If it seems like your home is always chilly but your energy bill is high, you may be losing heat. Here are some of the most common places heat can escape from your home and how to address the issue:

Around Windows
Your windows are one of the prime places for heat loss. Old windows are known for letting heat out while letting drafts in. By installing triple-glazed windows, you can add an effective three-layer barrier against the elements. However, if you can’t afford window replacement, invest in high-quality curtains to help keep warm air inside. It’s estimated that drapes can reduce heat loss by approximately 10 percent during the colder months. You can also install weather stripping, which helps to fill in ill-fitting windows.

Doors
Similarly, doors in need of repair or replacement are a leading source of heat loss. To prevent this from happening around your door, make sure the perimeter around the door frame is insulated well. You can use weather stripping or foam tape to fill in gaps. You should also install new door sweeps to keep cold air from entering underneath the door. If your doors are past the point of repair, replacement doors may be in order.

Through the Roof
Even if your windows and doors are tightly insulated, you may still be losing a good amount of heat through your roof. If your roof is old or in need of repair, heat can easily escape through cracks in the shingles or worn-out insulation. If only minor repairs are needed, you can easily seal up any holes and add insulation.

Power Outlets and Switches
Areas around power switches and outlets are also prime areas of heat loss. If the outlets aren’t insulated well, heat may be escaping through the walls. However, adding insulation is usually a quick fix. If you’re handy around the house, simply disconnect the power, remove the face plates and carefully add on external outlets and light switches. If you aren’t handy, enlist the help of an experienced electrician to avoid injury.

Keeping your home warm and toasty during the colder months is easier than you may think. Take time to ensure your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at you!

Source: Anita Ginsburg/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If your house has limited space, your kids may have to share a room. Bunk beds can help you make the best use of available space and give your family options in the future, but there are possible problems to take into consideration.

More Space for Play and Storage
Young children need lots of space to play, as well as room for a toy box, shelves and dressers. With two single beds taking up valuable floor space, the rest of the room can feel cramped. With bunk beds, you could maximize the use of vertical space and make the entire room feel bigger. In addition, many bunk bed designs feature built-in drawers and shelves where kids can arrange their belongings.

Privacy and Independence
For kids who share a bedroom, privacy can be hard to come by. With bunk beds, each child will have an individual space to read, do homework, write, draw or sleep. If your kids have different sleeping schedules, the overhead light can be off, and one child can use a clip-on lamp.

Sleeping Options
If you have one child who invites friends to sleepovers or a young relative often comes to visit, a guest can sleep on a bunk bed instead of on a couch or an air mattress. Some bunk beds have a built-in trundle bed that can be stored underneath and pulled out if a third bed is needed.

Many bunk beds are designed so they can be separated. If you move to a larger house or build an addition with another bedroom in the future, you wont have to buy your kids separate twin beds.

Safety
Parents often worry about the possibility of a child falling from a bunk bed. Rolling out of bed while sleeping shouldnt be an issue as long as the top bunk has railings on each side, and they are undamaged and securely attached.

Falling while climbing the ladder is a more likely possibility. The child on the top bunk should be at least 6 years old and must be able to safely climb up and down. Regularly check the ladder to make sure its secure. Explain to your kids that horsing around on the bunk beds is dangerous and not allowed. Strictly enforce that rule.

Other Potential Problems
Making the bed on the top bunk can be tricky. You may need to help until the child who sleeps on top gets the hang of it.

Some kids feel claustrophobic when they start sleeping on a bottom bunk. If your child is uncomfortable, consider moving the bunk beds away from walls so there is open space on all sides.

Are Bunk Beds Right for Your Family?
Bunk beds can give your kids more room to play, privacy and independence, but they can be dangerous if not used correctly. If youre considering buying bunk beds, ask yourself if your kids are old enough and, if so, have a clear and direct conversation about rules and safety.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When it comes to cleaning your house – the seemingly never-ending task – you most likely find a spot thats almost always missed. Some people bring a professional house cleaner into their home, however, not everyone can afford to do so. These tips will help you clean your home, and keep it clean, like a pro.

Declutter, Then Clean
The first task you should tackle before you start the cleaning process is to declutter. Instead of moving things around while youre dusting or vacuuming, move clutter and small items out of the area. Take this opportunity to wipe down and dust off knick-knacks, frames and other decorative items to place back into the clean rooms once youre done.

Always Clean From Top to Bottom
No matter which room youre cleaning, you always want to start at the top. Upper cabinets in your kitchen, the top of your medicine cabinet in your bathroom and high shelves and tall dressers in your bedroom are just a few examples of where to start. Work your way down to the floor to avoid any dust or dirt taking over clean spots.

Apply Products, Then Let Them Sit
As you make your way through each room, apply your cleaning products and let them sit before wiping. For example, spray down your coffee table and walk away. Dust your shelves or vacuum your furniture and give the cleaners time to disinfect and do their job. Following this step on all surfaces throughout your home will ensure a deeper clean.

Use Cloths Instead of Paper Towels
Save money – and trees – by trading in the roll of paper towels for soft, microfiber cloths for cleaning. Cloths are washable and reusable, making them a more environmentally conscious option. Also, due to the softness and fabric and fibers, a more even clean can be achieved, especially on glass, stainless steel and other smooth surfaces.

Utilize Your Dishwasher
Your dishwasher doesnt have to be strictly for your dishes. If you happen to find dog toys under the couch, garden tools covered in mulch or even sandy flip flops from you latest beach trip, your dishwasher can clean them in no time. During your declutter step, items that are dishwasher safe should make their way to the kitchen for a quick, deep clean.

Vacuum the Furniture
Most vacuums come equipped with different attachments for different purposes. Utilize the tools for your furniture to clean up hidden crumbs, pet hair and dust trapped in the fabric. Dont forget the top to bottom rule! Shake out cushions, pillows and throws onto the floor and deep clean your furniture before you start on the hardwood or carpet.

Clean in Natural Light
The best way to ensure your house gets its cleanest is to have enough natural light, usually between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Open up the curtains and blinds in every room and you will get the correct light to spot the most dust. In a low-lit, dim room or under a bright white light bulb, dust, stains and hair can be missed. Plus, sunlight is a natural disinfectant and youll be saving on electricity!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Porches are very popular, but a screened porch is a must-have for some because of bugs and weather that is more worrisome than before. Screened porches offer an outdoor sanctuary in an age of increasing concerns about pest-borne diseases, which is one of the reasons they have been increasing in popularity over the years.

They will provide protection against bugs, but also offer shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. Additionally, a screened porch will lower ground temperatures, saving on cooling costs in the summer. A screened porch will also reduce the sunlight that reaches adjacent interior rooms.

Lighting options are greatly increased as well. During the day, you can still rely on the sun, but at night, you can use recessed lighting, pendant lights or even a ceiling fan to give the room even more light and comfort.

Sellers or those who recently purchased a home might even consider building an entirely new porch if there is space available, say between the garage and house. But keep in mind that it doesn’t add to the home’s total square footage.

If you do decide to go this route, there are numerous options when deciding on the materials to build with. A quick look around the web will provide advice on designing the porch in three phases: flooring, exterior materials and interior trim. Everything from pressure-treated Yellow Southern Pine to vinyl and to up-cycled composites can be considered.

When getting started, know what you want in the look of your ceiling from the beginning. Flat ceilings can give a screened porch that interior room feel, whereas a vaulted or cathedral ceiling is spacious, allowing for better ventilation.

Also, think about doors carefully. Do you want one leading directly to the house, or do you want it to wrap around the side for easier entry from a pool or outside entertaining area? Aluminum doors are highly recommended because wood doors tend to warp over time.

While this might seem like a project you might want to tackle yourself, using a professional contractor is probably best, as they will know the zoning laws, can deal with any issues of wires that might pop up, and can create something in less time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Maybe youre moving and want to properly stage your home. Or perhaps you just want to enjoy your home more, with less stuff interfering with your dcor. In any case, decluttering your house or apartment can create a more peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment that everyone who enters your home will appreciate. Here are some easy tips to help you get started:

Set Goals/Make a Plan
The first step is making a list of the areas in your home”problem zones”that need your attention. Plan a day to tackle each area (or two, if its particularly troublesome). Setting aside an hour every morning before your day gets going (or one morning a week, depending on your schedule) can help.

Look for Things That Give You Joy or Efficiency
For each item, consider the last time you used it, how useful it is and whether you enjoy using it. If the answer to these three questions is over a year ago or no, toss or donate it.

Invest in Attractive Storage
From a new hamper to shelving, spending a bit of money on organizing tools that double as dcor can help your home feel less cluttered and help you keep it that way.

Pare Down Collections
Some items have sentimental value”childhood collections like dolls or trophies are common dust gatherers and waste space. Choose 2 or 3 to keep and you wont agonize over the decision or lose valuable shelf or storage space.

Check All Expiration Dates
Double check the dates on food, spices and medicine. Prescription meds can be turned into most police stations for proper disposal.

Start Small and Slow
If youre someone who has hoarding tendencies (no judgement here!), acknowledge it and dont give yourself anxiety by bringing half your wardrobe to charity or throwing out half of your childhood mementos all at once. Take one box at a time and youll stay the course without giving yourself additional stress.

Published with permission from RISMedia.