Author: Platinum Team

In an ideal world, life at home would look a bit like this -
Every dish would come out of the dishwasher in pristine condition, glimmering in the morning light. The kids would make their beds like pros, and as far as every nook and cranny goes -- dust would never settle there. Each room would be draped in peace and poised for memory making.
Right...
The reality is - home typically looks a bit different. The counter is cluttered by a stack of bills, the kids shoes are strewn across the living room. And, as far as the dishwasher goes -- it typically spits out dishes caked either in a cloudy film or particles of who-knows-what sort of leftovers. Given all that, the peace and memory-making feel far from accessible.
But, they don't have to.
To us, home is the reality of daily living - accepting and learning to be at peace with the state of things. We're given a choice - see only mundane or find beauty in the ordinary moments. Knowing these things, the next few months will look a little different around these parts. We'll be discussing what it looks like to reclaim home as a place of warmth and comfort, even amidst the reality of daily living. Keep an eye on your inbox to be part of the conversation.
And, in the meantime, if you figure out how to convince the dishwasher to produce legitimately clean dishes, please let us know.
Warmly,
The Platinum Team

Every home owner knows they need to keep some common tools and safety items around the house to keep the house running properly.  Everyone should have a hammer, measuring tape, fire extinguisher, bandages, etc.  But, what about being prepared for an emergency?  Nobody wants to think an emergency could happen when they are home but, if one does, will you be prepared?
Earthquakes, storms, tornados, floods, fires, hurricanes and natural disasters can and do happen and when they do, every home should be prepared.   Every home should have an emergency preparedness kit and you do not need to go out and buy a pre-made kit.  You can assemble a kit to keep your home, and your family, ready in case of emergency.
Start your emergency preparedness kit with a rolling suitcase.  Or, if you have a large family, a few rolling suitcases.  This is a great option because it can hold everything you need whether it is safer to stay in your home, or, if you need to quickly leave your home, it is ready to go. Keep copies of any important documents you think you may possibly need in the suitcase as well as extra sets of important keys.
In an emergency, it is helpful to have everything ready in one place. In the suitcase you want to keep a complete first aid kit.  It is also important to keep a flashlight and extra batteries in case you lose power.  A battery powered or hand crank radio can also come in handy and phone chargers.
If anyone in the house regularly takes any important medications, it is wise to keep a back up supply in the kit in case you run out of medication.  An emergency blanket reflects heat back at you which will be important if you lose power during the winter.  Also, keep a small tool kit, pocket knife and whistle in case you need to fix something or try to help someone hear you.
One of the most important things you can have is non-perishable food (if they are canned goods, be sure to include a can opener) and bottled water.  Try to plan to have enough to feed and hydrate each person for three days.  A change of clothes and durable weather-resistant shoes.  And you should also pack some emergency cash in case you need to leave quickly and purchase something.
This is a list of just the basics you could and should include in your emergency preparedness kit.  There are many more things you can include in your kit if you have the room or want to go more in depth but if you pack these things you will be prepared for most emergencies.

 Many people love having tile installed in their home for the ease of cleaning it offers.  But, with tile comes grout and grout can really show dirt over time.  Whether it is on your floor, as back splash in your kitchen or used in your bathroom, grout needs to be cleaned over time to look its best instead of dirty and discolored.  There are products available for purchase that can clean grout but it is actually quite easy to make a cleaning solution right in your home with ingredients you likely already have.  Unfortunately, no one has invented a solution that does not require some scrubbing so you will have to put in a little elbow grease but with a home solution the dirt should come off easily.
Cleaning your grout can be accomplished using simple ingredients right from your own cupboard.  The basic recipe to clean your grout is to mix equal parts white vinegar and water.  Fill a spray bottle with the solution and spray on the grout lines.  Allow the solution to sit for about 10 minutes and then, with a sturdy-bristled brush, scrub away the dirt.  That is the basic solution for cleaning grout but, unfortunately, some stains and dirt are a bit more stubborn.
If you are still finding some trouble spots that need a bit of extra attention, there are some other options to use.  Try making a paste of baking soda and water and scrub the paste into the grout and then spray the grout lines with your solution.  The combination of vinegar and baking soda will create a foam so give it a minute or two to foam up and work its magic.  Then, scrub away the mess!  If you are still finding stubborn stains, try scrubbing with hydrogen peroxide and for the worst of the worst stains try oxygen bleach (for example: oxiclean) or chlorine bleach.  These should only be used for the worst situations but can prove quite effective towards those stubborn spots.  Once clean, rinse thoroughly with warm water so that the dirt does not settle right back into the grout lines again.
Now that you have beautiful clean grout, the last thing you want to do is spill on it and make a mess again so soon after cleaning it.  While spills and messes are inevitable, you can avoid having to constantly clean your grout lines by sealing them.  Tile and grout sealer is available at most hardware stores and can easily be applied to the newly cleaned grout.  Once the grout is sealed, you can keep up with your regular tile cleaning routine and should see a vast improvement in the appearance of your grout.  Now you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful appearance of your tile and grout and can easily treat dirt and stains regularly with common household items.

Home warranties have many benefits for homeowners that protect their homes and offer peace of mind.  When it comes to buying and selling homes,  both buyers and sellers can benefit from having a home warranty.  One might think that, when selling a home, a home warranty would only benefit the buyer who will take over the home but, in fact, it benefits everyone.

The first and most important benefit for sellers is that it offers a competitive edge in the housing market.  When you go to sell your home, you want to sell it quickly and for top dollar.  With a home warranty, buyers will be that much more attracted to your home because they will feel safe and covered should something go wrong and they will also know that you have taken good care of your home.  If they are considering a similar home in the neighborhood, having a home warranty may give your home the competitive edge it needs to be out the other home.  Additionally, having a home warranty may help lessen the amount of negotiations with the buyer after an inspection because they will feel covered should something go wrong.  Another benefit for sellers is that the home will be covered and protected should something go wrong or break while the home is listed or in escrow.

The seller is certainly not the only one who benefits from a home warranty, the buyer benefits immensely from purchasing a home with a home warranty.  First, purchasing a home is very expensive and you will be spending money on not just the home but on moving expenses and decor. If you purchase a home that has a home warranty, you will not need to worry that a huge repair will pop up, costing you money you may not have readily available.  A home warranty protects home buyers from additional costs for surprise repairs.  Additionally, buyers will have peace of mind that their new home is covered should something break down.

When you move into a new home there is a lot to learn about the new home and having peace of mind that your home is protected is priceless.  An existing home warranty will also make home ownership easier.  When things break down, it can be very frustrating to try to find a reliable and knowledgeable handyman or repairman that can do the job. When you purchase a home with a home warranty, you simply need to call the home warranty company and let them handle it from there.  They will send a trustworthy and experienced handyman to handle your job and will handle all of the legwork.  A home warranty is simply a good choice for both home sellers and home buyers.

Hearing the words, "you have termites,"  is every homeowner's worst nightmare.  Nobody wants to have termites because they can do major structural damage to a home and cause major headaches, and expensive problems for homeowners.  There are some preventive measures that every homeowner should take to keep termites far, far away.
Ohio State University explains how common termites are and  just how important it is to prevent termites from entering your home, "Termites are the most economically important wood-destroying organism in the United States, with approximately $2 billion per year being spent for their prevention and treatment. This high-dollar amount could be reduced if homeowners implemented a number of relatively simple, inexpensive, practical measures around their home and outlying structures that reduce the risk of subterranean termite infestations. Such preventive measures are very cost effective given that a home typically represents one's largest monetary investment."
Termites love moisture so it is important to try to prevent moisture from accumulating around your home.  If you have any leaky plumbing around your home, it is important to have the plumbing fixed right away because each drip from the plumbing is like an open invitation for termites to enter your home.
Termites travel through the moist underground and find sources of cellulose (wood) and start making their way into the structure of the home.  Do not let any wood around your home touch the ground and do not pile up wood next to your home because termites will use it as their superhighway into your home.  In fact, keep piles of wood at least ten feet away from the exterior of your home.
Next, clean up any debris around your home.  This includes fallen leaves, branches and more that have accumulated near your home and could help moisture retain around your home. If you are building anything, such as a deck, involving wood, used only pre-treated wood to help deter termites.  Also, if you are planting a garden or doing lawn work, avoid using mulch near your home because it contains moisture and wood, two things termites love.  By following these simple steps, you can avoid finding those dreaded termite tubes or being told that you have termites.  It is also important to maintain regular pest control because they will be able to keep an eye out for termites and help offer tips and guidance when they see problem areas around your home that could potentially lead to termites.
If you are concerned about potential termites, you can use what are called "bait and monitoring systems.  Bob Vila explains how bait and montioring systems work, "Bait and monitoring systems such as Sentricon and Exterra reduce pesticide use dramatically by placing wood bait stations at regular intervals around the perimeter of the house. “We drill our stations every 10 feet around the house and use raw wood to bait the termites,” says Teri DiBella of PestAgon in Sarasota, FL. Once installed, specialists monitor the bait stations every two months to check for the presence of termites.
Once termites are detected in a station, the bait is switched with termiticide bait that they carry back and feed to the rest of the colony, eventually killing it off. The process is slower than soil treatment, but it applies pesticides only when needed and does not involve the use of liquid chemicals. “Once a bait station has a hit, we drill auxiliary stations near it to assure that the colony is dealt with immediately,” adds DiBella.
Bait and monitoring systems are effective preventive measures against termites, but they are limited in their ability to eliminate present problems. “Termites already feeding on the home have no reason to switch to the bait,” explains McAndrew.  If you think you may have termites, call your pest control service right away to remove termites and prevent damage to your home.
 

As the summer temperatures soar we often watch our lawn and gardens turn from beautiful vibrant and alive to dried out, brown and dead. The scorching summer sun and heat make it difficult for lawns and gardens to thrive and often, no matter what we try, we have to give up and wait it out for cooler temperatures. But, there is hope! You do not have to give up on your yard, you can have a beautiful lawn and garden to enjoy all year round.

Fertilize:

We all know about fertilizer but how often should we do it? Fertilizer can breathe life into a dying lawn or garden and only needs to be done a few times each year. Today points out why it is important to fertilize and makes some recommendations for fertilizing your lawns, " I only fertilize my lawn a couple of times a year, once in the spring and then again in midsummer with a food specially blended for lawns. You'll find these blends higher in nitrogen than other elements (the first number in a series of numbers on the fertilizer bag). Nitrogen is what stimulates vigorous growth and deep green color.
I feed only a couple of times a year because I discovered that fertilizing more often meant too much growth — I was working myself to death trying to keep it mowed and watered. So, by reducing the amount of fertilizer, I've saved myself time and energy. Also, by allowing my grass to grow longer, just by an inch or so more in summer, I've reduced my watering a bit more. The taller blades of grass cut down on water evaporation from the soil. Fertilizing can be confusing because there are so many different blends out there to choose from. For instance, there are some that actually have pre-emergent herbicide mixed with the fertilizer to keep weed seeds from germinating. Turf growers have told me that if you are going to use pre-emergents, it's better not to use the blends because they're not as effective as applying pre-emergents separately from the fertilizer."

Mow:

Don't worry about mowing as often as you do during the winter when things are thriving. But, do not be neglectful of your yard either. Grass needs to be mowed and maintained to grow properly and stay healthy.

Garden By Climate:

Do not go by traditional gardening calendars, go by your climate. If your spring is more like everyone else's summer, adjust your schedule. If it says to plant certain plants in the summer because of favorable conditions but you live in a climate with extreme heat, it is probably not wise to plant. When you adjust to your climate's natural calendar, your lawn and garden will be much healthier.

Water:

Be consistent with your watering and adjust for extreme heat. Most lawns and gardens need one inch of water per watering so be sure to keep up a consistent watering schedule. Do not drown your lawn and garden though, increase frequency of watering not how much water you use at each watering.

The temperatures are warm, the sun is shining, the days are longer, kids are home for school and home projects are calling your name. Nobody wants to take on a home project when it is freezing cold and possibly even raining or snowing during the winter. When the summer months arrive, it is an ideal time to take on some home improvement projects you may have been putting off. With the extra time that often becomes available during the summer, there a quite a few easy home projects that can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively.

1. Paint

The hard winter weather can really take a toll on exterior paint. Take a walk around your house to see if any touchups are needed to keep your home looking its best. And not only do the extra summer hours make it easy to get exterior painting projects accomplished but they will dry very quickly thanks to the added sun and heat. And, being trapped inside during the long cold winter can mean extra wear and tear on your interior walls. Take a walk around the inside of your home and make any necessary touchups. If, during the winter months, you became bored of your paint color or decided you are ready for a change, the summer is a great time to give your interior walls a facelift and try out a new paint color that will brighten up your interior home decor.

2. Outdoor Entertaining Space

During the summer it is always fun to have friends and family over to grill or take a dip in the pool. Create a space you can enjoy entertaining your guests in and that they will enjoy visiting. You can create a sitting area in your yard or extend your patio with some pavers. It will look nice and is a fairly inexpensive update for your yard. Also, you can purchase, build or pay someone to build a fire pit. With your fire pit, you will create the perfect space for guests to sit and relax, spend time listening to the fire crackle, make s'mores and enjoy a nice warm summer evening. Not only will you be able to enjoy your new outdoor entertaining space but it will add value to your home.

3. Exterior Maintenance

It is easy to neglect the exterior of your home when it is freezing cold outside. But, once it warms up it time to make your yard look nice again and maintain the exterior of your home. During the fall and winter, gutters can collect quite a bit of debris. Now is the time to clean gutters out so that water can flow freely away from your house, which will help prevent potential damage. Next, get rid of any weeds or overgrowth and plant some fresh flowers to give your yard the lively and vibrant summer look it needs. Lastly, walk around and see if any fresh caulk is needed. It will help keep bugs out and keep your home more energy efficient. Start your summer projects now and enjoy your home all summer long!

We have all been there, something breaks and needs repair or we want to do some home renovation and we wonder - should I try to do this myself or hire someone to do it? To DIY or not to DIY? When it comes to home repair and renovation, there are certainly many things can be done by someone who is fairly competent with tools and home projects. But, there are also many things that should not be attempted. When a do it yourself project or repair goes awry, you may end up creating an even more expensive problem than you began with. So, you have to sit down and really take a good look at your experience, ability and time to determine whether or not you are capable of DIY, or should bring in the professionals to get the job done.
First, when considering whether or not to DIY a home repair or renovation, you need to determine whether or not you have time. The most handy person in the world may be very capable of handling a repair or renovation, but, do they actually have the time to do it? If you do not have the time to do it, do not even try to start the project on your own or you will end up with a frustrating, never ending nightmare trying to get the job accomplished.
Next, you need to determine if you have the skills needed for the job. If you need to do some basic repairs in your home and have some home repair knowledge, the appropriate tools and feel capable of handling the job or following directions to complete the task, then you are probably quite capable and it is a great opportunity to save some money. But, if you do not have the skills needed for the job or it is outside of your comfort level, it is best to hire a professional.
There are many things, such as plumbing or electrical repairs, that need someone experienced to handle the job not only to ensure it gets done correctly, but to ensure it is done safely. When these repairs are done wrong, you will be left with the same problem and possibly, even worse problems. Do not let the abundance of DIY television shows or online tutorials fool you though, not every project is simple and can be done in one day. Many tasks need special tools and require an immense amount of knowledge. It may be very popular to try to DIY everything these days but it is important to know yourself and your abilities. Lastly, it is important to consider the costs. Will you really be saving that much money by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional?
If the savings are minimal, it may be worth the extra money to know it is being done correctly and saving you the time, energy and stress of trying to do it yourself. When you evaluate all of these things, some smaller home repairs or renovations may be very manageable for you. But if something is not within your wheelhouse, it is probably best to hire a professional to get the job done.

The kitchen pantry is one place in the house that can quickly become disorganized. You go to look for a box of cereal only to realize you cannot find one, or the one you do find only has three pieces of cereal left in it. Or, you get halfway through a baking recipe only to realize you do not actually have any sugar in the house. A kitchen pantry is great for storing food in one location and keeping things out of sight, but, when it becomes cluttered and disorganized, it becomes a fast source of frustration. But, if you invest a little time and effort into your pantry, you can have an organized oasis for your food that will be a helpful kitchen space instead of a headache.
The best place to start when preparing to organize any space is to clean the area out. Take everything out of your pantry, yes....everything. Once you have removed everything you will be able to wipe down shelves and start with a completely blank slate. And, when you clean everything out, you can get rid of anything that you no longer plan on eating or that has expired. Say goodbye to that box of crackers that expired one year ago. You will not put anything back into your pantry that you do not plan to use or eat in the foreseeable future.
Next, determine what types of things you keep in the pantry and how you would like to organize. If you tend to keep a lot of canned goods, you may want to purchase a canned good organizer to keep things the way that you like them and ensure everything is organized and visible. Once you have organized things by category outside of your pantry, you will know what types of organizational items you need and now you can head to the store to purchase any necessary items.
A spice rack or airtight containers are always handy for almost any pantry. If you store a lot of grains such as pasta or rice or keep a lot of dry cereal, airtight containers will help keep everything fresh and deter any bugs from trying to make your pantry a home. Clear containers are great because you will be able to see exactly what is inside at all times and will be able to anticipate when a refill may soon be needed. The next important thing to do is to organize like items. There is no sense in having different kinds of kids snacks on different shelves. If you know your kids are going to reach for a granola bar, but you have a few different types, keep them in a basket at an easy-to-reach level for your kids.
Have four different kinds of pasta and two different kinds of rice? Put each one in their own airtight clear containers on one shelf near each other so you always know where to find a grain for a meal. Similarly, keep all of your baking goods in one area so that you do not miss an ingredient when you are baking your next cake. Additionally, one way to save time during the week and make your life immensely more organized is to have a few bins dedicated to meals. Each bin can be filled with any pantry ingredients you may need for a designated meal for the week.
Do you always have baked ziti on Tuesday nights? Keep your pasta and sauce in one basket along with the croutons for that nights salad. It will help encourage you to meal plan which will save time and money and also help encourage you to use your pantry items rather than letting them go bad. If you have a small pantry, you can add additional storage by using some over the door pantry storage options. When you organize your pantry with your family's needs in mind, and always use the oldest things in your pantry first to prevent things from going bad, you will have a clean, organized pantry that is not only pleasing to the eyes but functional for your family.