Episode 350 AskJasonGelios Show

By: Jason Gelios

It's a debate amongst many real estate agents. 

One side believes that open houses are effective while the other side doesn't believe in them.

It's my belief that open houses, for the most part, are not really effective and tend to cater more towards the real estate agent then the actual home for sale. It's rare, in my experience, that a solid buyer will come into an open house and write an offer. Typically when a home hits the market it get's a ton of showings. This is why the first week a home hits the market is crucial. The most attention a home will receive is within this time frame. 

So, when a homeowner is asking the age old question "Does an open house work?", one should know that it really only benefits the real estate agent, in most cases.   

By: Stacey Freed

Wow. What an olfactory difference cleaning with a small box of baking soda can make.

How many of those hanging car air fresheners would it take to stop the fishy smell from last night’s dinner? Too many! Before you decorate your kitchen like a cardboard pine forest, take a deep breath — preferably through your mouth — and open your cupboard. Enter baking soda. Odds are you already have what you need to nix food odors in one inexpensive little box. That unassuming baking soda can work a miracle in your kitchen.

Baking Soda Absorbs Odors
This household staple acts as a molecular sponge, eagerly soaking up and neutralizing a wide range of odors. Baking soda, unlike most commercial air fresheners, doesn’t mask odors, it absorbs them, says Mary Marlowe Leverette, an experienced cleaning and fabric care expert.

Not only does baking soda absorb odors, but it does so with a scientific finesse that makes it a go-to solution for maintaining a fresh and odor-free environment in various corners of your home.

How Does It Work?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate in a convenient box) neutralizes stubborn acidic odors — like those from sour milk — as well as other funky smells lurking in your home. It’s a natural odor eliminator, but it’s not instantaneous. Depending on how pervasive the scent is, baking soda can take anywhere from a few hours to a whole day to remove unwanted food odors.

The secret to the absorption lies in the chemical composition of baking soda, scientifically known as sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is amphoteric, meaning it can react with both acidic and alkaline substances. The acidic or alkaline molecules that often cause odors are neutralized by contact with baking soda.

7 Household Items to Clean With Baking Soda
From banishing odors in your dishwasher to rejuvenating your microwave, baking soda can elevate your cleaning routine, especially cleaning kitchen appliances.

Bonus tip: A vinegar-baking soda combination can boost cleaning power: the acid in the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, causing it to break down and release carbon dioxide gas. This gas can lift dirt from the surfaces undergoing the cleaning process.

Let’s delve into the myriad ways cleaning with baking soda (and sometimes vinegar) may refresh and revitalize items around your home:

#1 Dishwasher
Dishwashers are supposed to be hallowed havens of cleanliness. If you don’t run the dishwasher every day, those rotten food smells can build up. Stop the stink by dumping a cup of baking soda into the dishwasher and running it through a rinse cycle. The soda eliminates foul smells and unwanted food odors from the machine. Ah! That’s a nicer-smelling place for your dishes, no matter what type of dish detergent you use.

#2 Oven
If you avoid using your oven because of that special burning smell, it might just be time for a scrub. The oven can be responsible for a lot of household cooking, which means it can hold onto a lot of food smells. Cleaning the oven with baking soda can be done in just a few steps:

Cleaning Your Oven with Baking Soda 

1. Scrub the oven with a paste made of one-half cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water.
2. Coat the oven with the paste, and let it sit overnight.
3. Wipe the paste away with a damp cloth.
4. Spritz any stuck-on paste with vinegar in a spray bottle.

#3 Range Hood
That greasy range hood could also be adding to your kitchen’s odor. Clean it with a mixture of about one-quarter cup baking soda, a good squirt of degreasing dish soap, and the hottest water you can stand (but be careful not to burn yourself!).

#4 Drains and Disposals
When you can’t source an odor, drains and disposals are often the culprits. Make them stink-free and (bonus) clog-free with a mix of one-quarter cup of baking soda, one-quarter cup of vinegar, and some kosher salt. Give the drain a slightly abrasive scrubbing and follow up with boiling water.

#5 Food Containers
Containers that once held strong-smelling foods can retain those odors. To rejuvenate them, wash them with a solution of water and baking soda. Let the containers air dry, and voila — a fresh start for your leftovers.

#6 Microwave
Does your microwave still smell like last weekend’s bacon? Clean and deodorize it with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a cup of water. Put the solution into an uncovered, microwave-safe container and zap on high for three minutes. Then, simply wipe down the interior.

#7 Refrigerator
A little fridge baking soda box isn’t just an old wives’ tale — it helps keep your refrigerator smelling crisp. Place a full box in there with the top tab open to let air flow into the bicarbonate powder. The soda eliminates strong smells from foods like onions, cheeses, and yesterday’s leftovers.

Pro Tips: Removing Odors With Baking Soda

• Toss a handful of baking soda into your kitchen garbage pail and recycling container to control ongoing odors. Refresh every few days.
• Composting may be virtuous, but it can attack your nose every time you open the bin. Fight back by tossing a handful of baking soda into the compost bin before each deposit. Occasionally clean the bin with vinegar. When it’s dry, cover the bin’s bottom with a layer of baking soda.
• Making fish tonight? Prevent odors before they start by soaking raw fish in one quart of water with two tablespoons of baking soda. Leave it in the fridge for about an hour, rinse, and pat dry before cooking.

Baking Soda: A Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Deodorizer
The best thing about the cheap, odor-zapping wonder of baking soda is you can use it guilt-free. “You’re not going to harm humans or animals or ruin anything using baking soda,” Leverette says. “Plus, after you’re done deodorizing, mix it up with vinegar or lemon juice and some red dye, and make a cool volcano. The kids will love it.”

So, the next time you reach for that box of baking soda, remember that you’re not just adding a pinch of freshness to your baking —– you’re unleashing a cleaning superhero into your home!

By: HouseLogic

Gutter guards can keep the leaves out of your gutters, so you have less cleaning to do.

Rain gutters help prevent water from pooling around your home and damaging your all-important foundation. But clogged gutters can be a pain to clean, and if left unchecked, they can cause damage as water trickles through cracks in the siding. That’s a problem you seriously want to avoid.

A gutter guard is designed to prevent gutters from getting clogged by pesky leaves and debris, keep your home dry and safe, and avoid costly foundational repairs. They’re easy to install and can reduce the cleaning and maintenance.

What Are Gutter Guards?
A gutter guard is a device that keeps rubble like dry leaves and pine needles out of your rain gutters. That rubble can build up and even become a fire hazard, especially if you live in a wildfire-prone area. Gutter guards can also keep critters like mice, bats, and birds from nesting in gutters, reducing the risk of water damage to your home.

Let’s look at a few types of gutter guards, including prices.

Brush Gutter Guard
These inserts resemble pipe cleaners or bottle brushes that lie in your gutters. The stiff bristles catch larger twigs and leaves while allowing water to pass through undisturbed. These are easy to install and relatively cheap, at $1.25 to $4 per linear foot. However, since the bristles of the brush guards trap debris that can build up over time, they may be less effective than alternatives and still require regular cleaning.

Foam Gutter Guards
Foam gutter guards also sit in the gutter, allowing water to pass through while trapping debris. They are easy to install, but be wary of low-end products. Poor-quality foam gutter guards aren’t a good choice. They can trap small debris leading to decay, which can become a hotbed for mosquitos. Expect to pay about $1.50 to just under $5 per linear foot of foam for your gutter guard installation.

Reverse Curve Gutter Guard
Also known as a surface tension gutter guard, this device features a sheet of metal that curves over the gutter opening, leaving only a small gap accessible. The curved guard allows water to flow into the gutter while dead leaves roll off the sheet and fall to the ground. These gutter guards cost around $3.50 to $6.50 per linear foot.

Mesh Gutter Guard
A mesh guard sits on top of your gutter and prevents rubble from entering. You can choose from materials like aluminum or steel and opt for different mesh sizes. Micro-mesh tends to be the most effective, but installation is more tedious. Prices range from 46 cents to $4  per linear foot based on the type of metal, the type of mesh, and whether the mesh is precut or on a roll.

Perforated Screen Gutter Guards
This sheet of perforated plastic or metal blocks objects from entering your gutters while water flows in easily. You can choose from materials like PVC plastic (51 cents to 86 cents per linear foot), aluminum (99 cents to $4 per linear foot), or steel (about $1 to $4 per linear foot).

How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?
The national average cost to install a gutter guard is $335, and the average range is $69 to $600. Professional contractors may charge around $82 to $149 per hour for installation.

Labor costs vary depending on the type of home you live in. A single-story ranch home with a medium pitch roof may be a simple installation. On the other hand, a multi-story home with climbing vines or steep roofs may require safety equipment, extension ladders, or scaffolding, which will increase labor costs.

What Are the Downsides of Gutter Guard Installation?
Nothing is perfect, including gutter guards. Here are some of the potential downsides you’ll need to consider.
Gutter guards:

• Aren’t foolproof: Shingle dust, fine leaves, and other debris can still find their way into your gutters and cause clogs. A gutter guard may give you more breathing room between gutter maintenance and cleaning jobs, but you won’t be rid of them.
• May obstruct your view: While debris is building up over time, a screen or mesh gutter cover could obscure your view. That makes it harder to see when it’s time for a cleaning, which could lead to leaks or overflow.
• Make it harder to clean gutters: If you’ve installed mesh or screen covers, you’ll have to remove them every time you need to clean your gutters. This may require professional help.
  
  

How Do I Install Gutter Guards?
Installing foam or brush guards is simple enough for most people, as long as you’re comfortable on a ladder, since this type of installation is a matter of laying the guard into the existing gutter. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, like screens or mesh, you’ll need experience. Measuring the gutters, cutting the mesh, choosing the right materials, and attaching the covers are all important steps in the task. In most cases, this is a job best left to the experts.

Let’s look at a few key questions to ask before hiring a pro.

How to Find the Right Contractor
If you’re considering hiring a professional to install a gutter guard, it’s a good idea to verify their expertise. These questions can help you make an informed decision.

• Do you offer a warranty or guarantee?
  A warranty protects you from faulty or inferior quality materials. A guarantee from a reputable contractor may entitle you to a refund if their work proves shoddy.
• Can you provide references?
  An experienced contractor will have a strong portfolio of work and will be willing and able to share images of completed gutter guard installations. They’ll refer you to previous clients who can talk to you about their experience working with the contractor and how the work has held up over time.
• Are you a licensed contractor?
  Make sure your contractor is licensed to perform work in your state. Licensed contractors must carry general liability insurance and workers compensation, so you’re protected if any accidents occur on your property.
  
  

FAQs About Gutter Guard Installations

How Well Do Gutter Guards Work?
Efficiency depends on the type of gutter guard you’ve chosen. Brush and foam guards won’t work as well as micro-mesh screen guards. All gutter guards can reduce the collection of foreign objects in your gutters.

What Is the Best Type of Gutter Guard?
Micro-mesh gutter guards tend to do most effectively prevent clogged gutters, which means you can spend less time unclogging your gutters. That said, they’re not ideal for everyone, since cleaning them will likely require professional removal of the guards to access the gutter.

What Should I Consider Before Installing Gutter Guards?
Before jumping into a gutter guard installation project, think through your home, property, landscape, and needs.
How often do you usually clean your gutters? Can a cheaper DIY with foam serve the purpose? If you live in a relatively dry area, pricey gutter guards may not be worth the spend.

On the other hand, a gutter guard system may be worthwhile if you have a water drainage problem, you’re facing potential water damage from neglected gutters, the climate is more prone to precipitation, or leaf-shedding trees are located near the home.

The Final Word on Gutter Guards
Gutter guard installation may be a great idea if you don’t have time to clean your rain gutters regularly. They’ll help keep your rain gutters functioning well and your home free of water damage. But you’ll still have to clean your gutter occasionally, and mesh or screen gutter guards will probably complicate the task. You may want to try a cheaper option and decide later if you need a lasting solution.

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