HOME & GARDEN

By Family Features | ContributorUpdating your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system to cool your home in a smart and sustainable way involves several steps that not only improve energy efficiency but also reduce environmental impact.Consider these tips from the heating and cooling experts at Carrier to help make your cooling system more eco-friendly:Upgrade to an Energy-Efficient HVAC System. If your HVAC system is outdated, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model. Look for systems with an Energy Star or high SEER2 (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating, which indicates better energy efficiency. The higher the SEER2 rating, the more efficient the unit. Financial incentives for installing a higher-efficiency system are available through theInflation Red...

By Debbi Mayster| Contributor“Backyarding” – the act of taking activities typically associated with the indoors outside into the green space around us – will continue taking root in 2024, according to theTurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of green space, including our own backyards, community parks, green space, and school yards. But next year, the TurfMutt Foundation expects the practice of “backyarding” to evolve into an ongoing sustainability practice.“Now more than ever, homeowners are recognizing the power of their yards and parks doing environmental good, as well as benefitting their health and well-being,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation and its parent organization theOutdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “Homeowners are makin...

By Family Features | ContributorYour home’s first big impression is its curb appeal, so if your place is in need of some sprucing up, you may wonder how you can make some updates without breaking the bank.These 10 ideas are easy on budgets, but they can also make a big impact on your home’s exterior image.Paint your front door.As long as your front door is in good condition, there’s no need to replace it completely. A fresh coat of paint can instantly update your home’s facade. Go bold or stick with a classic hue – it’s all up to you.Dress up the windows.Add character and charm by enhancing your front windows. You might add wooden shutters, window box planters or both. Also look at the trim around the windows. If it’s chipped and peeling, adding a fresh coat of paint doesn’t just look nice...

By Family Features | ContributorA changing of the seasons may mean adjustments to your routine and updates to your home decor, but it also brings maintenance and upgrade opportunities for homeowners. As temperatures shift and seasonal weather rolls in, weatherizing can help you conserve energy, save money and improve comfort all while protecting the exterior (and interior) of your home from the elements.This checklist from the door experts atMasonite, a global industry leader in interior and exterior doors and door systems,can help you keep the outdoors out.Have Heating and Cooling Systems InspectedTurn to the professionals to have your furnace and air conditioning inspected before temperatures change. They can make sure the system is working properly so you can have heat or cool air when ...

ByDebbi Mayster | ContributorThe housing market always has its ups and downs, and home renovations appear to be hitting some record highs in the last few years. With more people staying home to work, relax and play, many homeowners have chosen to renovate rather than move to a new home to obtain their dream house and have it work better for their family. But what about extending those enhancements outside, into the family backyard?According to a recent poll commissioned by theTurfMutt Foundationand conducted online by The Harris Poll, more than three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76 percent) say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home. When it comes to design, it makes sense family backyards are being taken as seriously as the interior of the home.“B...

By Family Features | ContributorAfter months spent largely indoors while harsh elements battered your home’s exterior, many homeowners are throwing open the windows and embracing spring’s arrival.Every home requires ongoing maintenance to ensure it’s living up to its aesthetic and functional best. This checklist can help you create a comfortable home setting for enjoying the warmer months.Check gutters.During the colder months, debris can accumulate in the gutters, which can be problematic when spring rains arrive. Clogged gutters prevent water from flowing efficiently away from the roof and house. When they’re backed up, they can cause water damage in a short amount of time. Faulty guttering can also cause slow leaks that lead to damage you may not discover until major repair work is need...

By Janeen Lewis| ContributorWhat if the microwave cleaned itself, the shower never grew mold or stains disappeared from white clothing? The following green cleaning hacks deliver the look and fresh feeling of a spic and span house without harsh chemicals or hard work. In fact, some of these tricks are so effortless, parents can relax and enjoy some self-care time! Or, since there are no caustic cleaners, children can help. Either way, spring cleaning will be a breeze.Kitchen1. Remove dried on food particles from the microwave without scrubbing. Place two lemon halves and half a cup of water in the microwave. Heat five minutes. When time is up, wait 15 minutes with the microwave door shut. Open and wipe with a dry cloth. Watch baked on food slide off.2. Make a stainless steel sink sparkle b...

By Family Features | ContributorIf you’re like most Americans, health is an important aspect of your resolutions when each new year rolls around. While factors like diet and exercise are keys to healthy living, so are the ways you care for your home and belongings.Your home living environment plays a major role in your health and comfort, so incorporating some new habits like these from the cleaning experts atSwash Laundry Detergentcan help you establish a healthier lifestyle.Control Air QualityEspecially during the winter months when your home tends to be closed tight, air can grow stale. Do your best to keep air quality strong by opening windows on mild days to circulate fresh air, using an air purifier to remove irritants and pollutants, frequently vacuuming and sweeping to keep floor d...

By Family Features | ContributorIf you have pets that enjoy spending time outdoors, it’s important to make sure your yard is a safe place for them to be.Consider these hazards that can negatively impact the well-being of your furry friends.Poisonous Plants– Some common plants can be dangerous for animals, causing anything from mild oral irritations and upset stomachs to cardiovascular damage and even death. For example, these are some of the toxic plants the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has identified as harmful for either cats or dogs:Aloe – can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, anorexia and depressionAzalea – can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, cardiovascular collapse and deathBurning bush – can cause vomiting, diarrhea, ab...

By Family Features| ContributorThroughout the warmer months, many backyards play host to a variety of birds, including hummingbirds. When you see flowers and trees begin to bud and bloom and other migrating birds, like warblers, that’s nature’s way of letting you know it’s time to ready your yard for hummingbirds.It’s enchantingwatching hummingbirds – named for the humming sound of their fast-flapping wings – as their tiny size and speed make them natural wonders. Hummingbirds can fly 25-30 miles per hour, flapping their wings an estimated 70 times per second. They fly in every direction, even backwards, which only hummers can do, andfloat majestically in midair.The birds gettheir brilliant colorfrom the iridescence in the arrangement of their feathers, not color pigment.Plus, they have th...