How Scents are Messing with Your Health

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080113_zps19eb8cf7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080113_zps19eb8cf7.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know what's in your home fragrances?<br />It's fun, frugal, and healthier to make your own. Try a scented spray, <br />a lime<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/want-some-holiday-scents-make-citrus.html" target="_blank"> pomander</a>, your own diffuser, and my citrus and salt potpourri. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If your home is for sale, it better smell good! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve blogged about how important it is to eliminate smells from <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-to-do-with-your-pet-when-your-home.html" target="_blank">pets</a>, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/07/mildews-deal-breaker-for-home-buyers.html" target="_blank">mold</a>, or cooking. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sanitation and ventilation usually take care of these problems. But most of us like to add another fragrance, whether it's an air freshener, a room atomizer, or scented candles. Department stores develop their own signature fragrances to get you in the mood for buying, so why not you?    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The problem is almost all these manufactured scents create health problems. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 8.35pt;">Artificially scented products like the ones I mentioned, as well as soaps, laundry detergents, spray cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, pesticides, preservatives, plastics, and a  host of other ordinary items, contain what’s called endocrine disruptors.<br /><br />An endocrine disruptor is a naturally occurring or man-made chemical that either acts like or blocks the hormones of your internal endocrine system. These false hormones are called xenoestrogens and the list of conditions they create is long: early puberty, lessened female fertility, endometriosis, cancer, and other disturbances to your nervous system, immune system and reproductive system. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 8.35pt;">You can see why it’s important to know where you’ll run across these pretender hormones. They can enter our bodies through our skin, the air we breath, and the foods we eat.<br /><br />You may already know about these ingredients and their effects on the body. If so, please help me spread the word. Rather than fostering paranoia, let’s all look for ways to rid our lives of these toxic chemicals. It’s important.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s especially important if you are a woman. And even more so if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zpsbb982a62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zpsbb982a62.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">On the left -- some of the cleaners that contain <span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">xenoestrogens. Yes, even Mrs. Meyer's <br />stuff contains artificial fragrances. On the right are harmless,economical<br /> substitutes that do the same work -- baking soda, vinegar, microfiber<br />cloths and essential oils (not to be confused with fragrance oils).    </span></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s How to Start</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><b>Read labels.</b> Check for fragrance ingredients. Manufacturers are not required to list all chemical additives by name. The only acceptable fragrance should be “essential oil.”</li><li><b>Avoid plastics.</b> Store and cook food in glass or stainless. Avoid non-stick cookware. Microwave in glass or ceramic. Use a fabric instead of a plastic shower curtain. Don't handle new plastic products that have a strong chemical aroma. </li><li><b>Don't touch.</b> Don’t handle the thermal receipt a store gives you. Instead, ask the cashier to place it in your shopping bag. Wash your hands after handling one. </li><li><b>Skip the canned goods.</b> Buy fresh or frozen foods so you can limit exposure to BPA in can linings. Favor organic foods.</li><li><b>Filter water.</b> It’s better than drinking spring water that’s been stored in plastic bottles. </li><li><b>Go natural.</b> Use natural insecticides. Purchase unscented bath, beauty, laundry and cleaning products. Do it yourself. Make your own air fresheners and cleaners.     </li></ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps240da487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps240da487.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">No one loves a deliciously scented soap more than I do. Check those labels. <br />You'll find that almost all supermarket soaps are not really soaps, <br />but "beauty bars" or "deodorant bars," whatever that is!<br />If you buy locally produced soaps,  you'll fare much better. <br />Yardley soaps and Dr. Bronners are good.<br />You can also create your own bath scrubs and skin care products. <br />I wash my face once a week with a teaspoon of sugar for an exfoliant.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Easy Formulas </span></b><br /><b><br /></b>Yes, you can create home remedies to replace the nasty but necessary home care products you count on. Read labels of "green products," and if you still don't like what you see, turn to DIY.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Natural air freshener</b>: Cut orange in half. Scoop out pulp (the part you would eat), and reserve the pulp and the remaining half orange for another use. Rub inside of empty orange half with 2 teaspoons salt. Place in pretty bowl and set where it will scent the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Natural oil diffuser:</b> Combine 3 parts mineral oil, 2 parts vodka or gin, and 1 part essential oil of your choice. Pour into container with narrow neck (the neck reduces evaporation). Insert reeds and invert the reeds every few days. Use the same formula minus the mineral oil to make an air freshener spray.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It's not true that natural essential oils won't bother chemically sensitive people -- people who might be coming to view your home on the market. To be safe, keep the scents in your home on the light side, never overwhelming.       </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps031a1bd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps031a1bd7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fabric softener sheets and liquids are prime offenders. So are the aerosols that claim to <br />"freshen the air." Below I've given you websites that will hook you up to<br />directions for making heavenly and user-friendly aroma sources, including sprays and <br />diffusers.  I love the "candles" that operate on batteries. <br />They don' t have any fragrance,  but they glow and flicker convincingly.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Call to Action</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">      </div><div class="MsoNormal">This post is not a go-green-or-die proclamation. Instead it’s a call to increase our awareness of environmental toxins, so that we can make changes to improve and protect our own and our family’s health. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Will I still bring out the Bar Keeper’s Friend to treat a rust spot that nothing else can tackle? And resort to Lime-Away to deal when hard water stains build up?  Probably. But I’ll limit my exposure as much as possible. I’ll ventilate, wear gloves, use sparingly, and continue to search for substitutes</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps9e274c98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps9e274c98.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Manicures. Will this be the one that's hard to give up? <br />Try the nail buffer for an alternative to chemical polishes and glues. I use one and I love it. <br />Natural, healthy-looking, shiny nails can be sexy, too!   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Links That Help</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />My research unearthed numerous support sources. We are not alone! Here are some sites that will give you details and encouragement. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you majored in chemistry, check the Wikipedia listing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are a teacher, check <a href="http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/">http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/</a>  </div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’d like a quick overview specifying the dangers of endocrine disruptors and what you can do to avoid them, go to <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp">http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp</a></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.15pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">If you are pregnant and want advice from a doctor, try <a href="http://nurtureparenting.com/pregnant-and-pre-polluted-eight-choices-for-a-cleaner-womb/">http://nurtureparenting.com/pregnant-and-pre-polluted-eight-choices-for-a-cleaner-womb/</a></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.15pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">If you want a quick list to the dirty dozen endocrine disruptors check </span><a href="http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors" style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you need a list of health ratings for common health and beauty products, the best one is <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/">http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want concise recipes for making your own cleaning products, visit <a href="http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm">http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to read what Glamour Magazine told women to do, read</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://notjustaprettyface.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/glamour.pdf">http://notjustaprettyface.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/glamour.pdf</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are into making your own bath and beauty products (great as gifts!) you’ll find recipes here <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5801/7-ingredients-20-diy-beauty-recipes/">http://wellnessmama.com/5801/7-ingredients-20-diy-beauty-recipes/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you like making your own air fresheners, try those at<br /><a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2012/11/small-measures-natural-room-spritz.html">http://www.designsponge.com/2012/11/small-measures-natural-room-spritz.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to know the post I like best for making diy air fresheners, it’s <a href="http://www.thankyourbody.com/homemade-air-freshener/">http://www.thankyourbody.com/homemade-air-freshener/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to buy reed diffuser sticks, you can get them from Yankee Candle  <a href="http://www.yankeecandle.com/flameless/reed-diffuser/reed-sticks">http://www.yankeecandle.com/flameless/reed-diffuser/reed-sticks</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">And from Amazon</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattan-Reed-Diffuser-Replacement-Sticks/dp/B003YDSTM6/ref=pd_sim_hg_50">http://www.amazon.com/Rattan-Reed-Diffuser-Replacement-Sticks/dp/B003YDSTM6/ref=pd_sim_hg_50</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to choose from a major list of quality essential oils, order from <a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.php">http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.php</a><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What's Your Story?   </span></b><br /><br />In today’s world we can’t eliminate all the things that compromise our health, but we can certainly reduce our exposure to them. I’m renewing a pledge to myself to substitute real fragrances and fresh air for chemical derivatives. I hope you’ll join me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What will be the artificially scented product most difficult for you to give up? And how can you find an acceptable replacement?<br /><br /></div></div>Don't forget to order my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i> If you are selling a home, it will take you through the steps that make a difference!<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

How Scents are Messing with Your Health

Do you know what's in your home fragrances? It's fun, frugal, and healthier to make your own. Try a scented spray, a lime pomander ...

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Checklist: A Dozen Must-Have Cleaning Tools

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040688_zps76d21b51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040688_zps76d21b51.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">You’re staged to sell. Are you cleaned to sell?<br /><br />Clean houses sell faster than less-than-sparkling ones, because buyers love a property that looks like the professional cleaning crew just left. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know that deep cleaning is hard work. Keeping the essential tools and equipment at hand makes the tasks easier, faster, and more thorough.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s a run-down of cleaning tools that will help you sell your home. I compiled this list based on my own experience and the advice I’ve researched from professionals and other neat-freaks. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Caddy.</span></b> An equipment caddy is like your purse. Get one you like to look at, and stock it with your favorite cleaning solutions. Keep it clean, organized, and handy.<br /><br />Some people like to store a caddy on each floor of the home, or in each bathroom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Microfiber cloths.</span></b> Who isn’t a fan! These miracle cloths are so effective at capturing and holding dust and dirt that they make harsh cleaning products unnecessary for many of your ordinary cleaning jobs. For wiping down doors and trim, give me a bucket of plain water and a microfiber cloth, and let the games begin! Easy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For big, reusable microfiber cloths at the best price, look in the automotive section of Wal-Mart.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rags.</span></b> I use rags for spot cleaning carpets, sopping up major spills, and tackling nasty jobs like wiping down porch railings or the undersides of a range hood. Disposable paper towels are temptingly easy but can get very expensive.<br /><br />Did you know that paper towels can actually scratch some surfaces, like Plexiglas and other plastics? And paper towels are no friend of the environment. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Got orphan socks? Cut them in half lengthwise, and use them for cleaning. They’re soft, absorbent, and reusable. Old T-shirts, diapers, and towels make good cleaning rags, too. Recycling feels good! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plastic Buckets.</span></b> My preference is a roomy one for floor mopping jobs, plus a couple of smaller ones to soak items or dilute solutions. Spray cleaners can build up after time, so once in a while a cleaning with clear water, rinsing as you go, calls for a handled bucket.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040712_zps27c8cbcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040712_zps27c8cbcb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">          I like equipment that I can wash and disinfect, like my little dustpan and broom.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brooms.</span></b> Many homeowners have tossed their brooms in favor of Swiffer-style sweepers, but nothing matches what a broom can do for floor corners, edges of carpeted rooms, exterior doors and steps, and other places where most vacuum cleaners won’t pick up.<br /><br />Soft, synthetic bristle brooms are easier to use and grab dust better than stiff brooms. For garage floors, driveways and sidewalks, a stiff push broom is best.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />A broom's kissing cousin is the dust broom, and a dust pan. They're a necessity unless you're sweeping debris under a rug, and I know you wouldn't! Well, maybe if your realtor is knocking at the door with clients in tow.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mops.</span></b> A mop’s essential for a thorough cleaning on washable flooring. A large-headed wet mop with a swivel base and removable microcloth takes care of maintenance cleaning. For deeper cleaning, use a traditional sponge mop, one with a sturdy replaceable head that will squeeze out excess water and lets you rinse floors as well as wash. The more money you spend, the better the mop. Read the reviews and pick your weapon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brushes.</span></b> They’re indispensable for embedded dirt, textured surfaces, and hard to reach places. I prefer a brush or a cloth to a sponge, which starts out looking all perky and then gets stinky if you don’t disinfect it regularly and then dry it quickly.<br /><br />I like Oxo brushes because they are designed well and last a long time. My dentist has forgotten that he recommended a Sonic toothbrush, so when I get free toothbrushes with each visit, they become part of my cleaning arsenal, perfect for getting into those tough spots. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040701_zps7f98cd2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040701_zps7f98cd2f.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This little, long handled, low-tech carpet sweeper could be your answer <br />to those short notice showings when your carpets need a quick once over.   </span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Magic Erasers.</span></b> Like any addict, I make sure I never run out of these. They are the only approach for some otherwise unsolvable cleaning problems. We’re talking glass shower doors, fiberglass shower stalls, stoves, porcelain and stainless sinks, and stains on vinyl and laminates. The post I wrote about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/the-truth-about-magic-erasers-are-they.html" target="_blank">how Magic Erasers work their magic</a> is one of my most popular posts.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacuum Cleaner. </span></b>Nothing sexy about it, but people have love/hate relationships with their vacuums. I love my Rainbow. I’ll never go back to using a vacuum that blows air over dirt and then out its exhaust. My Rainbow is a little heavy and a little awkward, but I don’t care. It makes the whole house smell great because I can scent the water that cleans the air. I don’t get paid to say these things.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A vac is your most important tool. If you’re in an unfulfilling relationship with yours, now’s a good time to invest in your future. Whether you prefer an upright or a canister type, I urge you to spend a little more money and get one that you can stay married to for a long time.<br /><br />Or does your present vac just need a thorough overhaul and cleaning? <br /><br />It's not a vacuum cleaner, but it's the ancestor of vacs -- the humble carpet sweeper. It could be included on this dirty dozen tool list as #13. Compact, lightweight, inexpensive, quiet, it will perform your hurry-up-tidy-ups between regular vacuuming dates.     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Long Handled Duster.</span></b> A microfiber duster on an extendable handle is the way to handle ceilings and walls on a maintenance schedule. Swooshing over these surfaces regularly gets rid of dust and cobwebs before they become visible.<br /><br />The telescoping handle is your friend if you have high ceilings. Use your handled duster for ceiling fans because they are a magnet for whatever is in the air. Knock the dirt down before you vacuum.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040704_zps5d643691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040704_zps5d643691.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite scents. If you've read my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">home staging eBook</a>, you know that I like to avoid </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">   strong chemical scents, and prefer essential oils for adding fragrance to a room.   </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You can download the book now and and learn all my tips to clean like a pro.</span></i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plastic Watering Can.</span></b> A real time-saver. If you have to use caustic solutions, like Lime-A-Way or CLR, to clean shower walls and doors, use a small plastic watering can with a spout to rinse them away. Tuck it away in the vanity.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nitrile Gloves.</span></b> Protect your hands and your health. Slip on some pretty gloves for all your wet cleaning tasks. Even pure water dries your skin, and cleaners in solution are absorbed by your skin. If you won't drink it, don't put it on your skin.     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040720_zpsd30173b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040720_zpsd30173b7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What? A girl can't have too many pairs of gloves. I have other glove collections <br />for painting and gardening. This is the watering can I use for rinsing shower walls.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Depending on your home, you’ll have favorites to add to this list --  a steamer, roller to remove pet hair, carpet shampooer, robot cleaner, hand-held rechargeable vac, pumice stone, special dry mop, a squeegee, your favorite dance music. What do you do to make the most of your housecleaning time?  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Getting your home to shine is one of the most important ways you stage your home. When a person buys a home, she envisions herself starting fresh, and moving up in the world. Cleanliness is part of that picture, part of what sells homes. You can't clean your home on the market too much, but you deserve the tools that let you do a better job, faster and easier. </div>

Checklist: A Dozen Must-Have Cleaning Tools

You’re staged to sell. Are you cleaned to sell? Clean houses sell faster than less-than-sparkling ones, because buyers love a property that ...

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How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone to love you, that the magic is there, or not.<br /><br />But when it comes to convincing home buyers that your house is the one that will make them happy, the story is different.<br /><br />There's lots you can do to get them interested, and even excited enough to make a commitment, which in real estate terms means to make an offer. Here are the most enticing ways to create that magic.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Seduce from a distance.</span></b> Your home has to look good -- very good -- even from afar. Yes, we're talking <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-going-beyond-curb-appeal-to.html">curb appeal</a>. Again.<br /><br />Is your landscaping tidy and appropriate for the season? Is the area around your front entrance unobstructed, clean, and colorful? Do your siding and roof look problem-free? Have you removed all distractions, like bikes, garbage cans, and gardening equipment, from the front of your home?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wow them from the start.</span></b> Make buyers feel that they have just opened a delightful Valentine's card when they open your front door. First impressions count, and most buyers make a judgement about a home during the first few minutes of a home tour.<br /><br />Is the first sensation one of being crowded into a foyer, or is it one of being welcomed to a spacious home? Are the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/finally-simple-formula-to-help-you.html">paint colors</a> neutral enough that anyone could love them? Are your home's best features noticeable? Are its flaws de-emphasized? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Appeal to the senses.</span></b> Buyers make decisions based on sensory input. No matter how perfect the floor plan or how new the cabinets, if your home smells like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/01/cats-dont-have-to-stink.html">pets</a> or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/07/mildews-deal-breaker-for-home-buyers.html">mildew</a>, you're in trouble.<br /><br />Is the temperature right? Does your home smell good in every room -- closets and storage spaces included? Do doorknobs, countertops and other surfaces that will be felt, feel smooth and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-clean-like-professional.html">clean</a>? Is the clutter gone? Is the artwork non-offensive? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Create desire.</span></b> People like to believe the house they are buying is a step up the social ladder. Make them feel like winners by looking like a winner yourself.<br /><br />Are there some status touches, like thick towels, contemporary electronics, bedding that is <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/trends-that-can-update-your-home.html">on-trend</a>, and even name brand foods in a pantry? Buyers buy the lifestyle, so don't underestimate the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-your-bathroom-staged-to-impress.html">details that make your the home look luxurious.</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't them them forget you</span></b>. Prepare a takeaway. Work with your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">realtor</a> to have a printed single sheet that points out your home's best features. If your home is a larger one, consider a more extensive printout. Include at least one photo.<br /><br />Buyers might tour a handful of homes on one day, so make your home the one they'll remember. Have something memorable, like a big bouquet of bright flowers by the front door, a humorous sign by the back door, or mints on the kitchen island, to leave a friendly, lasting impression.<br /><br />I give specific advice for staging your own home in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. If your home is on the market, or you are thinking about selling, I'll walk you through the important steps to help you stage to sell. It's easy when you know all the subtle but powerful tricks of the trade! Download now and start staging today. <br /><br />

How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other.  Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone...

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Want Some Holiday Scents? Make a Citrus Pomander

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1740-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1740-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You won't believe how easy it is to make a fragrant pomander!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Citrus tops the list of fragrances sure to please everyone. So why not greet visitors to your home on the market with the scent of fresh lemons, limes and oranges?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>For the holidays</b></span>, I like to mix citrus scents with the spicy aroma of cloves by making pomanders. They're pretty, they're easy to make, and the smell is natural so it won't offend anyone, even the chemically sensitive.<br /><br />These pomanders are exactly like the ones people used to put in closets and dressers to make things smell pretty in the time before Fabreeze or Lysol.<br /><br />Originally, pomanders were made and worn to ward off evil spirits and diseases, not to mention body odor in pre-deodorant days. Both men and women wore gold and silver containers as jewelry that held fragrant, stink-masking spices. As much as I love knights of bold in days of old, I'm glad I didn't live in those times.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now that your home is for sale</b></span>, I am sure you have cleaned and decluttered, and made it smell fresh. To add a pleasant layer of fragrance, hang a pomander from a ribbon in a closet, set one on a kitchen window sill, leave one on a bedroom nightstand, or just pile some on a plate in the foyer.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1803.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes and clementines all make great pomanders.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Once you see how festive and fragrant these citrus pomanders are, you may want to add them to wreaths, cluster them into centerpieces, or attach them on gift-wrapped packages.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remember high school </b></span>geography stories about European explorers sailing east to discover trade routes to parts of the world where spices grew? They needed exotic ingredients like cloves and cinnamon and pepper to preserve their meats, fruits and vegetables. Your inserted cloves will act as a preservative for your homemade pomanders. Unless you live in a very humid environment, the citrus rind will turn dark and leathery, and the fruit will be naturally preserved.<br /><br />If your fruits develop any signs of mold as they are drying, move them to a warmer, drier location with good air circulation.   <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1744.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These fruits are a week old, and show signs of drying. Eventually, the color will even out. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>My version of citrus pomanders is simple. If you like being more elaborate or more precise, it's your call. You can completely cover the fruit, or make intricate designs, or write a person's name or a word like "Noel," or roll the fruit in spices like cinnamon when you're done.<br /><br />Rather than buy whole cloves in cute little bottles at your supermarket, buy them in bulk for much less money at an ethnic grocer or a natural foods store. <br />  <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The supplies for this DIY project are ordinary and cheap.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What You Need</b></span><br />Fresh citrus fruit like lemons, tangerines, limes, kumquats, or oranges<br />Whole cloves<br />Skewer, ice pick, or fork<br />Small towel or rag <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to Do</b></span><br />Set yourself up by laying the towel or rag on your work area to provide an absorbent surface. Decide on your pattern, and begin by inserting the skewer, ice pick or fork to make holes. The fork will give you evenly spaced holes, but they will be in a straight line.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1754.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Make good sized holes, so that you don't have to push hard on the cloves.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After punching in ten or so holes, insert a clove in each. You can be as choosy as you want, using only those with seeds in the head, or ones without, or both. I use both. If you want to get fussy, you can sort by size, and use all large or all small cloves, or create a graduated design. Arrange them close together, or further apart. You're the artist!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1757.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You will find some cloves that are small or broken. Discard those, and use the best.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In a few days your citrus rind will begin to darken slightly, but your pomander will still smell delightful and look attractive. Some people save their pomanders from year to year, because the fragrance never entirely dissipates.  <br /><br />When <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/12/tis-season-for-thievery.html">your house is for sale, and it's holiday time,</a> keeping <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-stage-home-for-holidays.html">seasonal decorations</a> to a minimum makes good sense. Scented pomanders are one decoration that is simple and effective, yet inexpensive.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1799.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Who doesn't love the fresh scent of lime? And the color is perfect for Christmastime. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Discover more tips to help sell your home in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">ebook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/" title="Everything Under the Moon"><img alt="Everything Under the Moon" src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/niquealodeon/EUTMbedazzle-s.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>

Want Some Holiday Scents? Make a Citrus Pomander

You won't believe how easy it is to make a fragrant pomander! Citrus tops the list of fragrances sure to please everyone. So why not gre...

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Cats Don't Have to Stink

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Skippyclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Skippyclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>The famous Skippy. She is a lady and she never leaves an unpleasant aroma in her wake. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm spending a few days babysitting my two young grandsons where they live. We're "home alone," while my daughter and her husband take a well deserved vacation. I'm also sitting for Skippy and and Jenga, their two tiger cats.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cats in the Staged Home</span></b><br /><br />Since I have never owned a cat, having to feed and clean up after one is new to me. Kids, yes. Kitties, no. What else is new to me is that a cat box doesn't have to smell up the whole room.<br /><br />Have kitty litter formulas changed over the past few years, or have I visited only cat owners who never scooped poop?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Catstuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Catstuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I have the kind of nose that, if I walk my dog on a summer evening, I can tell you what each neighbor is cooking for dinner, and what is blooming in their yard. And I will be triple bagging what I have to pick up after Misty. I have a sensitive nose, and if I can't detect any nasty cat bathroom scents, no one can.<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Animal Smells Are a Turn-off</span></b><br /><br />Home sellers with pets, there is NO reason for any unpleasant animal aromas in your home. None. The product that Skippy and Jenga use is Fresh Step brand, Premium Multiple Cat Scoopable. It contains carbon for odor absorption. It's lightly scented. It makes easy work of what could be a stinky chore.       <br /><br />This post is short because I'm scheduled for a reading of <i>Goodnight, Moon. </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Jengaprone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Jengaprone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jenga likes a bedtime story, too. </i></div>

Cats Don't Have to Stink

  The famous Skippy. She is a lady and she never leaves an unpleasant aroma in her wake. I'm spending a few days babysitting my two youn...

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Tips for You If Your Home Is Staged But Vacant

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/thevacanthouselook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/thevacanthouselook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Poor upkeep means this property will have a difficult time</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>attracting </i></span><i style="font-size: medium;">a buyer and getting a good offer.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When you do not live in the home you have staged to sell,</b></span> you have advantages over those people who are living in their staged homes. You're not tucking away your toiletries and polishing faucets on a daily basis, but you have a separate set of challenges.<br /><br />You'll want to keep your property from looking vacant.  Vandalism can be a problem in rural, suburban or urban settings.  On one hand, you don't want people to be able look in windows, but you also want people who tour the home to be able to see rooms flooded with as much natural light as possible.  Some sort of sheer curtains are a likely choice for window treatments.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I suggest</b></span> investing in some programmable timers.  It's easy to set timers to make lights and radios come on and go off at various times to create the effect of people being in the home.  You can find one <a href="http://www.smarthome.com/2046/Programmable-Receptacle-Timer/p.aspx">here </a>for less than $10.  <a href="http://www.smarthome.com/2046/Programmable-Receptacle-Timer/p.aspx">http://www.smarthome.com/2046/Programmable-Receptacle-Timer/p.aspx   </a><br /><br />Obviously, the owners of the property pictured above didn't hire a reliable lawn service.  When a home's exterior shows neglect, a house hunter begins calculating just how low he can go if he decides to make an offer.  Many will just tell their realtor to drive on by.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But a lawn service company</b></span> won't solve all exterior maintenance problems. If debris blows into the entranceway, mildew grows on the siding, cobwebs surround the door, and windows are getting dirty, the home is losing appeal, and that translates into dollars lost.  Some homeowners in this position ask a neighbor or pay a person to stop by on a regular basis and tend to their home's exterior. <br /><br />Inside the home isn't safe from looking neglected.  Ideally, someone will walk through the property to check for things like dead bugs, stale air, and dirt brought in by people touring the property.  You cannot always count on a realtor to turn off every light, straighten chairs, plump pillows and close closet doors when necessary.  If you live too far away to check your property, someone else should.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Once you've staged your home</b></span> for the real estate market, the game isn't quite over.  But the better-looking your home stays, the faster you'll see that offer to buy.

Tips for You If Your Home Is Staged But Vacant

Poor upkeep means this property will have a difficult time attracting  a buyer and getting a good offer. When you do not live in the home yo...

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Mildew's a Deal Breaker for Home Buyers

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2008/02/29/smell460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2008/02/29/smell460.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mildew has a distinct aroma -- the scent of home buyers walking away. </span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> It's enticing to think </span></b>of home staging as simply rearranging furniture and making things look pretty, but the truth is we DIY home stagers have to get down and dirty sometimes.  Cleaning is one of the essentials of staging.  A clean home has a certain glow about it and it smells fresh. </span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mildew does not smell fresh</span></b>.  Mildew smells musty.  Buyers hate mustiness.  Mustiness means the house has not been cared for.  Buyers offer less for a house that's not been cared for.  See where I'm going with this? </span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;">Mildew is a fungus that can grow on many different surfaces. It is a thin, black, or sometimes white, growth produced by mold.  Though molds are always present in the air, those that cause mildew need moisture and certain temperatures to grow. They commonly develop in humid summer weather, especially in closed houses.  Mildew loves to live in cellars, crawl spaces of houses without basements and clothing closets -- any where it is damp and dark, and the air doesn't circulate.  </span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;">Mildew can also grow on draperies, rugs and upholstered furniture in basement recreation rooms, or on shower curtains in a bathroom that doesn't get good air circulation.  Mildew will discolor and deteriorate these fabrics and leave that musty odor we all know and hate.  Natural fibers like cotton, silk, wool, and linen are more susceptible to mildew than synthetic fibers.  Leaving a large, open bucket or bowl of a 50/50 solution of bleach in a musty room or closet for a few days will help absorb mustiness by "cleaning" the air.      </span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;">Mildew likes to grow on dirt, and it doesn't take much to keep it happy.  If there is enough moisture in the air and the temperature is warm, mildew will thrive on even any slightly dirty surfaces.  Greasy films such as those that form on kitchen walls, also contain the food mildew eat to live. </span><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">To keep mildew at bay</span></b>, keep your house clean and dry.  If you have a damp basement, repair the cause, whether defective mortar, leaking casement windows or condensation.  Make sure rainwater drains away from your foundation and that downspouts are not dumping water near the foundation.  <br />  <br />Sometimes a moldy crawl space is all that's needed to discourage buyers.  What's called for is a layer of moisture-barrier material over the soil in crawl spaces under houses. You can use heavy roofing paper or polyethylene plastic film. Good ventilation is important. If possible, do not enclose the crawl space. In extreme cases, a fan or blower may be needed to move the humid air from under the building.</span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_PubContent_Pub" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To remove musty odors</span></b> from carpeting, sprinkle on chlorinated lime (commonly called chloride of lime or bleaching powder).   Concrete floors or floors covered with ceramic tile or vinyl can be washed with a solution of solution of one cup ordinary household bleach to a gallon of water.  Even painted walls can be washed with this solution.  I have had success with Tilex Mold and Mildew Killer spray on many different surfaces.  It costs more than bleach, but it's handy.  Use all these products with good ventilation.  </span><br /><br />Exterior surfaces like wood, brick, stucco, stone and vinyl can be cleaned with bleach and water solution.  The worse the mildew is, the stronger the solution should be.  Sometimes agitation is necessary to remove mildew from decks, soffits and railings.  An old broom usually does the trick.  I write about pressure washing to remove dirt and mildew<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/05/pressure-wash-for-better-curb-appeal.html"> here</a><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>Getting rid of smelly, unsightly, and damaging mildew is part of home staging, one of the important steps to getting your home sold. Read more tips to help sell your home in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i>

Mildew's a Deal Breaker for Home Buyers

Mildew has a distinct aroma -- the scent of home buyers walking away.  It's enticing to think of home staging as simply rearranging fur...

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