Holiday Success Starts at Home: Essential Tips for Your Appliance, Kitchen, and Home

Everything you need to get your appliances and home in top shape for a joyful, organized holiday season.

The holidays are almost here, and it feels like all of our time is being spent in the kitchen. That can be a wonderful way to foster togetherness and celebration with friends and family. But, given it’s the heart of all of the festivities, your kitchen appliances are working SO much harder. Possibly even harder than they do during summer. That makes it crucial to ensure they’re ready to handle the demands of the season. 

To help you making the most of the season AND keep your home running smoothly we’ve compiled the best of our holiday appliance tips into one ultimate guide. We’re hitting cleaning, troubleshooting, and how to organize everything. This roundup has everything to keep your home ticking like clockwork so you can focus on enjoying the season. 

Essential Preparations for High-Use Appliances

Courtesy of koolshooters

Our holiday meals are almost always center stage for holiday events. Everyone tries to make the best new recipe or to make the family favorites. Which means that your oven, dishwasher and refrigerator are the unsung heroes of your kitchen at this time of year. A little prep work ahead of the holidays can ensure they’re up for the heavy lifting. 

Before your guests arrive, check your dishwasher for clogs and clean out the fridge to make sure you have plenty of room for food. 

Dishwasher Tips: Help Your Dishwasher Clean Better – Just in Time for the Holidays!

As the holiday season approaches, your dishwasher is likely to get plenty of use. To help ensure it runs smoothly, start by running hot water first, sanitize with vinegar, and clean the gaskets and trap. Avoid overcrowding to prevent dirty dishes—these simple steps will keep your dishwasher in top shape for all the holiday meals ahead!

Kitchen Hazards Unveiled 

Oven safety is crucial in the kitchen, where common hazards include range tipovers, cookware injuries, and cooking fires. By taking preventative steps like installing anti-tip brackets, using heat-safe cookware, and staying vigilant while cooking, you can minimize risks and keep your kitchen safe. Don't forget, regular maintenance can also ensure your oven is in top shape, so you can focus on cooking up those holiday meals with peace of mind!

Chill Hacks Unveiled: Mastering Your Fridge's Microzones for Fresher Foods

Maximize your refrigerator's efficiency and reduce food waste this holiday season by understanding its various temperature zones. From storing dairy in the stable middle shelves to keeping meats on the bottom, organizing your fridge properly can extend food freshness and minimize spoilage. 

4 Tips to Get your Garbage Disposal Ready for the Holidays!  

As the holiday season brings heavy kitchen use, don’t forget to prepare your garbage disposal with these simple tips: scour for grime with ice cubes, avoid certain foods, clean with fruit peels or baking soda, and use it regularly to prevent rust.

Avoiding Holiday Appliance Mishaps

Nothing is quite as bad as a malfunctioning appliance in the middle of Christmas dinner. Thankfully, a few simple steps can help you avoid common issues, so you can focus on what matters most to you and your family. 

Remember some of most oft-repeated advice: 

Courtesy of August de Richelieu

• Unless it’s steam cleaning, avoid the self-clean button on your oven! 

• Keep an eye on your electrical outlets. Tempting as it is, don’t overload them or bring power strips into the kitchen when you’re handling lots of small appliances. 

• Keep your dishwasher clean of build-up and clogs

• Check the seals on all of your appliances, and make sure that they’re clean, free of grime, cracks or breaks. 

For a Stress-Free Holiday – Skip the Self Clean Mode!

While the 'self-clean' button on your oven sounds tempting, it's best avoided, especially before the holidays. High temperatures can cause damage and release harmful fumes. Instead, clean your oven manually to avoid repair issues and keep your holidays stress-free. 

Common Appliance Issues That Could Ruin Your Holiday – And How to Prevent Them

Prepare your home appliances ahead of the holiday season with simple maintenance tasks to avoid stress. Deep clean your oven, stove, fridge, and washer, watch for common issues like clogged filters, and ensure your electrical system is ready for extra holiday use. A little preparation can keep everything running smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying time with your loved ones.

Pre-Holiday Cleaning and Organization

A sparkling kitchen not only impresses guests but also makes holiday cooking and entertaining easier. Plus, addressing potential hazards ahead of time ensures a safer and smoother experience.

Focus on often-overlooked areas, like the oven’s drip pans or the back of your fridge, and ensure everything has its place before the holiday chaos begins. These small steps make a big difference when you’re juggling a house full of guests. And it doesn’t hurt to make sure the guest rooms are set up as well.

Organizing Your Home Before the Holiday Daze

"Get ahead of the holiday chaos with these easy tips for decluttering, organizing, and storing your decorations and gifts. From using bins and baskets to setting up a wrapping station, these tricks will help you stay stress-free and make your home holiday-ready in no time.

5 Spots in the Kitchen to Clean Before the Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner, so it's the perfect time to get your kitchen ready for all the entertaining and baking. Don't forget the often-overlooked spots like your range hood, small appliances, trashcan, oven, and refrigerator. 

10 Kitchen Hazards to Avoid this Holiday Season

The kitchen is the heart of holiday celebrations, but it can also be filled with potential hazards. From burns and knife injuries to spills and grease buildup, there are several dangers to watch out for this season. Stay safe while cooking by taking simple precautions and ensuring your appliances are in good working order before the holiday rush!

19 Essentials to Setting up a Gorgeous Guest Room

Courtesy of RDNE

Turn your guest room into a cozy, luxurious retreat for the holidays with thoughtful touches like extra toiletries, a luggage rack, and a well-made bed. Make sure your space is fully stocked with essentials to ensure your guests feel relaxed and at home during their stay.

Pro Tips from Appliance Rescue Service 

Our team at Appliance Rescue Service recommends scheduling routine maintenance ahead of the holidays to ensure your appliances are in peak condition. Think of it as a little extra insurance against unexpected breakdowns, so you can focus on creating holiday memories.

By following these tips, you can make your holiday season as smooth and stress-free as possible. Whether it’s prepping appliances, avoiding common pitfalls, or staying organized, you’ll be ready to enjoy every moment. And if an unexpected issue does arise, you can always count on Appliance Rescue Service to keep your home running smoothly.

Website

Call : (214) 599-0055

Prepare Your Home for Fall: Essential Maintenance Tips

 Prepare your home for the season and keep everything running smoothly as the temperatures drop

Fall is almost here and we are over the moon. Not because of the hordes of pumpkin spice lovers that will come out of the woodwork. Not because Halloween will come sooner than we can expect. But because fall means cooler weather. Cooler weather also means changes around the house and outside the house. So we are this week I'm looking at what changes you can make around your home in order to prepare for fall. 

We'll start by taking a tour outside since the weather is still warm. 

Exterior/Outside

• Clean and Inspect Gutters

You will want to clean and inspect your gutters. Summer rains can be crazy as we all know and it leads to a lot of wind blown debris on top of your roof and in your gutters. Which isn't a problem, at least until it's blocked by ice and that causes cracks, or tearing away from your house. And those issues then cause water damage.

So for this one the best time of year to do this is spring and fall. Spring to catch anything that winter tossed onto your roof and fall to catch any issues from Summer.  

• Check Roof for Damage and Clean Debris

While you're up there and looking at your gutters, you should also take a look around at your roof. You want to check for any damage and get rid of any debris while you're at it. As we mentioned summer in Texas often means hail and high winds so it's better to check now. This ensures that your roof is ready for winter weather and you can schedule any repairs if they're necessary. 

• Trim Trees and Shrubs

You'll want to contact an arborist, tree trimmer, or landscaper to take a look at your trees and shrubs. Although we try to keep up with our lawns during summer we don't always pay as much attention to trees and bushes. If you take care of it now not only does it keep any branches from causing damage during a storm, it also keeps vegetation away from the house which helps to keep out pests. 

• Inspect and Seal Cracks in the Foundation

Once your back down on the ground, take some time to walk around and look closely at your foundation. You want to look for any cracks that have formed due to heat and settling. This is again another preventative measure before we head into winter. Not only will you stop mold growth, you can also stop water from seeping in and causing Foundation damage. Just as the water in your freezer will expand, it will expand in any cracks in your foundation. Over time this will cause deeper cracks and breakage which is a massive trouble.

• Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Sprinkler Systems

During the summertime, you have probably taken the time to care for your lawn, keeping it well-trimmed and watered throughout the summer. Now, you may have done this with a simple garden hose and faucet on the outside of your house, or you may have a sprinkler system built outside to make the task a little more hands-off to keep you out of the heat. However, these pipes run the same risks as those inside your house, and may burst when exposed to freezing weather. So, while the weather is still warm enough to go work on them, it is a good idea to take some time to winterize these systems so you can avoid a costly burst and water leak out into your yard.

• Store or Cover Outdoor Furniture

Sitting outside and enjoying some time on your porch, or having a table outdoors for cookouts is a great thing in the summertime. However, these pieces of furniture, while pretty robust, are not made for harsh conditions and extreme weather. With that in mind, it will usually be best to store them in a shed or a garage until the springtime, or, if you don’t have the ability to do that, cover them with some sort of tarp or weather-proof sheet to keep them safe from ice, freezing rain, and snow during the coldest months of the year.

• Check Weatherstripping on Doors and Windows

Your home’s electricity bill is usually driven up by whatever climate controls you have in the house. Air conditioning during the summer and heaters during the winter can seriously impact how much you have to shell out on your utility bill. With that in mind, you should take the time to check your weatherstripping so that you can save as much as possible. Often, the seals on your doors and windows will be made of rubber, since it offers the best protective sealing for its cost. But, with it being near those openings, it also degrades over time, and will need some fixing or replacement every now and again. A little work to fix your weatherstripping now can save a lot on your utility bills later!

2. Garage

• Organize and Clean the Garage

Summer projects mean a lot of things coming in and out of the garage, and sometimes objects haphazardly thrown in just to get them out of the way for a bit. While it may seem daunting, taking a day or two to organize and clean the garage will help you out a lot when it comes to getting ready for wintertime. It can open up room for you to store things like mowers and outdoor furniture, and it makes it to where there’s less nooks and crannies for pests to hide when they decide that your house seems like the perfect way to get away from the cold. Cleaning the garage now means you’re far less likely to have mice later on in the winter!

• Inspect Garage Door and Lubricate Moving Parts

Your garage door is something you probably expect to just work, regardless of the situation. Like all machines, though, it has some natural wear and tear over time. Checking it out and making sure it’s maintained can save you some headaches when the first freeze of the season hits, or, if you lose power during the wintertime, it makes sure you can still manually open and close the garage with relatively little effort. Just like the rest of this list, a little work now will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

3. Kitchen

• Deep Clean Appliances (Oven, Refrigerator, Dishwasher)

Doing a deep clean of your appliances is something people usually think of when it’s time for spring cleaning. However, it is just as important and useful to do some cleaning before winter sets in. It’ll help your machines run more efficiently, once again saving you money on that all-too-important utility bill, and helps prevent nasty odors coming from something when you’re cooped up in the house during the coldest months. With that in mind, though, we’d like to bring special attention to the oven in particular. Chances are, you’re going to be running the heater, and trying to make good warm meals whenever you can. Taking the time to deep clean your oven can reduce the chance of any fire hazards, which is of the utmost importance when you’re going to be actively trying to warm up the house.

• Check and Clean Range Hood and Filter

Similar to our last paragraph and its focus on the oven, we would like to bring up the hood over your range. Checking out the air filter in it, and replacing it if needed, can help you a lot when it comes to preventing any grease buildup. Once again, this is done in the interest of fire safety, with an additional bonus of improved air quality in the home, which is hugely important when you want to stay in instead of braving the weather outside.

• Inspect and Replace Water Filters

There’s a good chance you won’t be going to the store as often during the winter. Be it because you just don’t want to toss on a coat, or because the roads are iced over, going and getting things like bottled water can be a hassle deemed not worth it during the frigid depths of wintertime. So, while you have the chance, make sure to check your water filters. Whether you have a filter pitcher, a filter for your sink taps, or a water dispenser on your fridge, it’s good to check them and switch out the filter media if you need, to make sure you have good, clean water for the winter.

4. Living Room

• Clean and Inspect Fireplace

Let’s face it, you probably haven’t even looked at your fireplace since the weather warmed up back in the springtime. However, with winter approaching, you’re going to need to use it again, and you don’t want to take the risk that it’s stopped up with soot from last winter. So, take the time now to clean the fireplace, and inspect it for damage, that way it works safely and you can live with the ease of mind that brings.

• Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With central heating, fireplaces, space heaters, or all three turned on in the winter, the risk of fires is going to be higher than normal. This is simply a fact of life with the season. So, taking the time to make sure that your home’s safety equipment is working correctly is best done now, before it is needed. When it comes to things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, ease of mind and the safety of you and your household take precedence. Test them now well in advance, and you can rest easy knowing that should a disaster occur, your safety equipment is functioning and keeping you protected.

5. Bathrooms

• Check for Leaks and Inspect Caulking

Water damage is never fun to deal with, and when it comes to things like your bathroom, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially during the winter months where water leaks are a higher risk than normal. A little time spent checking the caulking in your bathrooms can help a lot in the long run, and help prevent you and your home from having to deal with things like water damage, mildew, and mold during the winter.

6. Bedrooms

• Rotate and Flip Mattresses

Rotating and flipping your mattresses is a good practice to help keep your mattress from having  divots and uneven wear from how you sleep. While we’re doing work to get the house ready for winter, it wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and make sure your mattresses are flipped and rotated, just to go ahead and get the chore out of the way for a while.

• Test and Clean Ceiling Fans

• Why: Prepares fans to run in reverse for winter, helping to circulate warm air.

• Chances are, you’ve been using your ceiling fans during the summer. However, now is a good time to make sure that, if they can run in reverse, they’re able to do so without issue. As well, take the time to clean the dust from them, that way when you run them in reverse to help circulate warm air through the room, they’re not also spreading dust around.

7. Attic/Basement

• Inspect Insulation and Ventilation

The attic is often a warm and dry place during the summer, what with the sun beating down on it all the time. However, it’s still good to check that it is insulated properly, as a cold attic can cool the entire house, which isn’t great when you’re trying to keep everyone warm and happy. As well, an improperly insulated attic can have more issues with moisture buildup and leaks, causing slow but significant damage to your home.

• Check for Pests

Pests will want to come into your house during the wintertime. Simply put, if it’s cold, they’re going to find whatever hovel they can hide in. With critters like rodents and termites being risks, this is something you want to catch early before it becomes a serious issue. Go ahead and take the time to check for pests now, and take appropriate measures to ensure they’re all gone before the winter hits. If there are already critters in your home, chances are, they’re going to have a lot more friends come in during winter.

8. HVAC System

• Replace or Clean Air Filters

As the weather cools down, it’s easy to overlook the importance of clean air filters. However, clogged or dirty filters can force your HVAC system to work overtime.This drives up your energy costs and puts unnecessary strain on the system. Plus, with temperatures getting cold, you’ll be spending more time indoors, and good air quality is essential.  By replacing or cleaning the filters now, you’ll ensure your system is running efficiently and your home has cleaner air. 

Schedule a Professional HVAC Inspection

Before winter hits, it's crucial to make sure your heating system is ready for the demands of the colder months. Scheduling a professional HVAC inspection now can save you from costly repairs down the road. A technician can catch any small issues before they become big problems, ensuring your system runs smoothly and efficiently when you need it most. Plus, no one wants to deal with a broken heater on a chilly day, so it's better to be proactive and prepared.

As fall settles in, taking care of these essential maintenance tasks will help keep your home cozy, energy-efficient, and ready for the colder months ahead. From improving air quality to safeguarding against costly repairs, a little preparation now can save you time, money, and headaches when winter arrives. And remember, if you need help with any appliances along the way, our team at Appliance Rescue Service is always here to ensure your home runs smoothly, no matter the season.

Website

Call ((214) 599-0055) 

Additional Reading
Halloween Horrors In Your Home? 

Taking the Pain Out Of Melted Plastic

Why Does My Oven Keep Flipping the Circuit Breaker? 

Bright Ideas: The Dos and Don'ts of Smart Lighting in Your Home

Get the Most Out of Your  Smart Lighting with These Expert Tips

Lighting in our homes is undergoing a thrilling transformation, all thanks to the integration of smart technology, like smart bulbs. These advancements not only bring numerous benefits to the home but also open up a world of possibilities. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the dos and don'ts of smart lighting, to help you make the most of this exciting technology.

Dos

Do Check Compatibility

Before you purchase smart bulbs, ensure they are compatible with your current light fixtures and home automation systems. Not all smart bulbs work with all setups, so doing your homework can save you from potential headaches. As an example, just think about the differences between Alexa and Google Home, and trying to get them to work together. 

Do Consider Lumens Instead of Watts

Courtesy of Cloudlynx

Traditional bulbs are measured in watts, but smart bulbs are measured in lumens. Lumens indicate brightness rather than power draw, like watts. Be sure to check the lumen output to get the right brightness level for your space.

Do Set Up Routines and Timers 

Smart lights come with the ability to establish timers and routines. Yet many people forget this not long after they get them, and lose out on some of the best features.  Take advantage of these in your own home to customize your lighting, save energy and create moods for various events. You can also use them to enhance your security by giving the appearance that someone is home. 

Do Focus on Color and Warmth

Your smart bulbs offer a full-color spectrum, and it’s lots of fun to play with different color set ups. However, when you’re looking to give your home a new look, make sure and pay attention to the warmth of your light as well. Warm lights like yellows or soft whites help make your home feel cozy and comfortable, while cooler blues help you  stay alert. Additionally, you have to consider how different tones of light can give you a headache.

Do Track Your Energy Usage 

Courtesy of Haus Automation

There are many smart bulbs that allow you to monitor the energy output that they are using. This can make your life easier when it comes to finding spaces where you can cut consumption and lower your electric bills. 

Do Prepare Your Network

Smart bulbs are hooked directly into your Wi-fi network all the time. Before you bring them into your home, make sure that your network can handle the additional load of the bulbs you’re getting. If not, consider upgrading to a mesh network. A mesh network is a Wi-Fi system that uses multiple access points to spread the signal evenly throughout your home, ensuring a stable connection for your smart bulbs.

Don'ts

Don't Neglect Proper Installation

Like any piece of technology there are ‘right’ ways to use it and ‘incorrect’  ways to use it. One of the most common issues people run into is not researching the proper installation methods before purchasing. Doing this can lead to the bulb overheating, or the fancy bulb you bought…dying long before it should have. One key tip to avoid is recessed fixtures that don’t allow head to dissipate from the bulb. 

Don't Overlook the Learning Curve 

Smart bulbs are indeed smart, with a plethora of features that everyone is eager to explore. However, it's important to remember that there is a learning curve. Take the time to familiarize yourself with them before you start using them, so you can dive right into the fun stuff. Most importantly, be patient with yourself as you learn-you've got this. 

Don't Use Dimmer Switches

Smart bulbs are controlled from the app. In addition to being able to chose your color and timer settings, you can also change how bright your lights are. From the app. Let’s say that again, from the app. Many people love dimmer switches prior to converting to smart bulbs, and after. The problem is that using a dimmer switch with a smart bulb can damage that smart bulb.  Using them with traditional dimmer switches can cause flickering and reduce bulb performance.

Don't Ignore Security Concerns 

Smart bulbs are part of the Internet of Things. Just like we’ve talked about with smart appliances, smart bulbs are gaps in your internet security. Before you connect them into your network, make sure that you use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Also make sure that you keep up with upgrades to your network and the smart bulbs 

Don't Ignore Connectivity Issues 

Are there any spots in your home that your network is less than ideal? Or where it goes out entirely? Prior to getting smart-bulbs you need to fix that. Smart bulbs require a stable Wi-fi system. If your network goes down due to those lovely Texas power surges,, you can lose control of your lights. Plan ahead of time to avoid losing your lights out of the blue. 

Don't Buy on Promises 

Just like any other new piece of technology, companies often make promises that don’t always come to fruition. Instead of buying based on future promises, make your smart bulb purchase based on what they can already offer your home. This cautious approach will ensure you make informed decisions about your smart lighting technology. 

Don't Forget to Manually Reset When Needed 

Courtesy of Gerd Altman

Just like any other piece of technology, sometimes, smart bulbs will bug out. When in doubt, don’t assume that the bulb is broken, try a manual reset following the manufacturers’ instructions to get things back in order. 

Smart lighting technology can offer incredible efficiency and convenience for your home. However, it also comes with its own challenges. Follow our dos and don’ts to make the most of your new technology and avoid the most common pitfalls. 

At Appliance Rescue Service, we're all about sharing helpful tips for managing your home. Just a friendly reminder that connecting lots of devices, like those cool new smart bulbs, to your Wi-Fi can affect how well your smart appliances work. While we can't sort out your internet issues, we're definitely here to help fix any problems with your appliances. Our goal is to keep your home running smoothly, so please reach out if you need expert appliance repair and maintenance. We're always happy to help!

Additional Reading

Kickstarter in the Kitchen

The Planned Obsolescence Debate

Unlocking Home Harmony: The Role and Benefits of Professional Organizers

How Professional Organizers Can Transform Your Living Spaces

Ever found yourself staring at a cluttered room, overwhelmed by the thought of organizing it? Enter the Home Organizer—a professional wizard of order and functionality. These experts aren't just tidying up; they're transforming spaces, whether it's a chaotic closet or an entire home in disarray. But how do they work their magic? And more importantly, how can they turn your stress and clutter into serene, organized bliss? Let's delve into the world of Home Organizers and discover how they can bring peace and clarity back into your life.

What is a Home Organizer? 

A professional organizer is someone that is trained to help get the physical spaces in your life organized. This might be a specific room like a craft room or a guest room, or you could hire them to help with your entire home. A professional organizer will talk with you to figure out what you need and what will work with your home and value in order to create a strategy that fits you. You might also see them advertised as clutter coaches or home organizers.

The best home organizers will take into consideration what matters to you, how much space you have, and what will best utilize this space. But I'll also look at how much clutter you have in comparison to the amount of space you have. Their job is to come into your home and get the space that you requested their help for organized in a short period of time. This helps you avoid burnout and decision fatigue, which many of us end up with when trying to organize ourselves.

Is it regulated? Or is it just a thing people do? 

It's a little bit of both. There is the National Association of Professional Organizers. However, you don't have to be certified to become a professional organizer. This means that while the (NAPO) boasts 32 chapters and 4,000 members, that number is most likely much higher than the number of people who actually do the work of a professional organizer.

How does a Home Organizer benefit me? 

Do any of the following sound like something you struggle with?
You struggle to keep your home tidy and clean. No matter how much you work at it, you just can’t keep everything organized.

You feel overwhelmed by all of the stuff. Your house would be clean, but there’s just so much to be done! 

You’re busy! You’ve got a career and a family, and keeping the house neat and tidy is just too much to expect on top of it.

You’re moving or remodeling already. In the middle of trying to move houses or doing remodeling work, things go EVERYWHERE, and trying to find or keep track of it all is next to impossible. 

You feel like you can’t get anything done because your life is chaotic and stressful. And because your brain is chaotic and stressful, you can’t get anything done. It’s a vicious cycle that never ceases and it drives you mad. 

You’re tired and need a major change in your home. You’re tired of the clutter and chaos and want to make a clean break. 

You’re going into a new stage of life. Whether that’s moving in with someone, having a new baby, getting married, moving to a new state, or downsizing, life changes are a great time to change up your home. 

If any of these had you nodding along, then a Home Organizer would be of help.  All of these are good examples of times when they can help you get your home back into shape or into shape for the first time in a long while. 

How does a Home Organizer work? 

To start with a Home Organizer will schedule an in-home consultation with you. This way they can see the space you want them to work with and, more importantly, get an idea of what your vision of the space is. They’ll ask you questions about your day to day life, your pain points, the things that frustrat you, and what your core goals are for the space and your home in general. 

From there, they’ll help you figure out how how they can best work with you and your budget. Some home organizers might suggest work on an hourly basis or on a per-project basis. Another option you might discuss is a DIY model. If you can’t quite figure things out but you don’t want someone going through everything for you, this might be for you. Some Home Organizers will offer a roadmap plan that you can implement rather than going through it all with you. 

This is also the stage to discuss what your goals are and what milestones would be for the project. Is this something they think will only take a few hours? A few days? Or will it take more time than that? If so, what can they point to that will help you see the progress? You’ll also want to ask questions about exactly how involved you’ll be in the process. Will it be during the decluttering stage only? Or will they expect you to be there every step of the way? Every Home Organizer will work differently, so it’s an important thing to bring up before you start the work. 

Courtesy of Liza Summers

Many Home Organizers mention that their clients are nervous about bringing someone in without having cleaned beforehand. Don’t be. They’ve seen all sorts of homes, from ultra sparse homes with nothing to organize, to hoarders who can’t tell the difference between clutter and sentimental items.  They’re not here to judge you, they’re here to help. That’s part of what you get by enlisting professional help; no more than a doctor would judge you for having a broken bone.

Here’s one thing Home Organizers won’t do, though: Clean your house. That’s just not what they’re there for. They might help with the decluttering process, but that’s about sorting through ‘things I have to keep because they hold sentimental value or use” vs. “I never use this, but I MIGHT, someday” sorts of things. 

If you do opt to look for a Home Organizer, here are the three things that you absolutely want, and three that you need to avoid.  You want to look for someone who has credibility and experience and is able to show it. You also want someone who is able to communicate with you exactly what they see as the starting place and how they’re going to help you. Finally, you want someone who is flexible and puts making you comfortable first. 

These are the three things that you need to avoid, however. You don’t want someone who claims to have a ‘magic’ system. If they’re saying that it’s ‘magic,’ it’s likely they aren’t going to be willing to explain just how that system works. At that point, what good does it do for yo, if you don’t know how that system works?  Next up, avoid anyone who wants to do the work without you being part of the process. It won’t help you to have a system in place if you don’t understand why it is there or how it’s supposed to work. Finally, decluttering is just as important as organizing. If there isn’t any space to organize, how can you organize what you own? All of these are things that you want to avoid when you’re searching for a Home Organizer to help you. 

As you embark on your journey to a more organized and harmonious home, remember that professional guidance can make all the difference. Whether you're tackling a single cluttered space or transforming your entire living environment, a Home Organizer can bring clarity and peace of mind. For more tips and insights, join the conversation on our Facebook page, where we discuss all things related to maintaining and enhancing your home. And if you ever find yourself in need of expert care for your major home appliances, remember that Appliance Rescue Service is here to ensure your home runs smoothly, from organizing solutions to reliable appliance repair and maintenance. We’re here to help you get your home running smoothly again. 

Website
Call ((214) 599-0055)

Additional Reading
Which of These Four Styles is Best For Your Bathroom Renovation?

Kickstarter in the Kitchen

Why Mice Invade Your Home and How to Stop Them

Protecting Your Home and Appliances from Mouse Damage

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of scurrying feet. You turn on the light, only to catch a glimpse of a tiny, furry invader darting behind your appliances. Mice can be more than just a nuisance; they can cause significant damage to your home and appliances. So, how do these pesky rodents find their way inside? What draws them in, and most importantly, how can you get rid of them for good? In this guide, we’ll delve into the sneaky ways mice infiltrate your home, where they like to hide, why they’re attracted to your space, and effective strategies to evict them once and for all.

Where Do Mice Enter Your Home?

Answer our first question, is in short, anywhere there's a hole. Mice can compress their bodies down to get through anything that is the size of a dime or larger. So this means holes and cracks in walls, floors, and foundations. They can also come in through gaps in your windows, or through drainage pipes. They have even been known to get in via entry holes around gas lines or electric lines that haven't been sealed properly. The worst case scenario in our opinion is when they get in from climbing up a tree and onto your roof. Because that is much harder for you as the homeowner to spot.

. 

Common Hiding Spots: Where Mice Nest Indoors

Most of the time, mice come into your home during fall and winter. Sometimes though such as if you have a nice piece of land with lots of growing things, they'll start coming in as early as late spring when they have found plenty to eat and now they need places to nest and have all of their horrible little children. 

Once a colony enters your home and finds it safe, they aren't going back outside. They will raid anything and everything they can get their teeth into as food or bedding. This can of course lead to horrifying numbers of mice inside your home without you even being aware of it.

So where do you look? Where can you observe to try and confirm whether or not you have my spot yourself? 

Behind anything large such as kitchen cabinets, appliances, furniture that's not used all the time. These are great places to hide a mouse line, the past that they'll scurry along while moving from place to place. In addicts, basements, and crawl spaces are great places for nests when they're dry and warm. And so are around closets and fireplaces. 

Why Mice Invade Your House

Courtesy of domeckopol

You might have noticed right now that my son are much like you or I. They come looking for three things food, and a cozy place to sleep. 

Food left on counters or on the floor is a draw for mice. Whether this is in open containers, or cardboard boxes, or pet kibble bags, if it is left out you can bet that mice will be interested.  

Courtesy of Roland Kuck

Another reason mice come in is because unintentionally, you've left away in. This might be holes in your foundation or siding, all of the beautiful plants that are pressed up tight to the side of your house. Holes in Windows, or the frame of your doors, or in your attic. All of these are options that given half a chance they will take because inside your house there is a significantly smaller chance of them running into an owl or snake or just a particularly large and aggressive rat.

 
Effective Strategies to Get Rid of Mice

Now that we know where they're coming from, and why they're in your house, let's tackle the real question. How do you get rid of them? 

 The good news is that you can get rid of them. The bad news is that it's not easy. The problem is that there are so many mouse repellents and deterrence on the market not to mention myths perpetuated online, that it's hard to say what will and won't work without a lot of testing. 

Let's start off by tackling the things that won't work, and then we'll move into what should give you some hope.

DIY Methods That Don’t Work

Does soap keep mice away? 

No. As lovely as Irish springs soap May smell it's not going to kill the mice. Now a core ingredient in many soaps is animal fat and if they were to eat a large quantity of that the mice would die. The problem is that unless they are starving, mice won't eat enough of it to die. They will stop once they start feeling ill and they certainly aren't going to take it back to feed their colony in the extent that it would get rid of all of them.

 chow down on enough soap to be harmed.

Does bleach repel mice?

Does it repel mice? Yes, just like you, the strong smell of bleach is not pleasant for mice. And if you could somehow guarantee that the mouse would consume it, it wouldn in fact kill it. The problem is that the amount of bleach that you have to leave out it would be harmful to you and any children or pets within your home. So while this one would work, we don't advise as the risks outweigh the benefits.

What color do mice hate?

We are rather confused as to why this idea came about. Mice are colorblind, so it doesn't matter what color you paint your baseboards, it won't stop them. 

Does peppermint oil repel mice?

Peppermint oils and sprays are lovely if you want to make your home smell nice. Even at strong concentrations, they won't linger long enough to deter rodents.

Do mothballs keep mice away?

Mothballs are for moths, as they contain naphthalene. In large concentrations this can repel mice, but the amount needed a) hasn't been tested and b) would reach a level that would make your home inhospitable to you long before it made the rodents leave.  

If you’re trying to prevent rats or mice from entering your home or trying to get rid of a current rodent infestation, there are lots of suggestions for DIY and home remedies. However, many of these DIY rodent control treatments aren’t based on factual evidence.

Natural Mouse Repellents: What Really Works?

There are a variety of scents that mice hate, and can be useful for keeping mice out of your home. 

Some smells that mice hate include:

Pepper

Cinnamon

Citrus

Vinegar

While the list above contains some of the most effective scents that mice hate, there are many other scents that may also work. If you're looking for an at-home way to deter mice, you can try using one of these scents. Keep in mind that these may work for repelling mice before they get into your home, but there is no sign that they will help after you already have an infestation.

Do dryer sheets repel mice and keep them away?

Dryer sheets are like the list of strong scents. They provide a temporary deterrent, but they're only going to keep rodents from coming in, they won't drive them out. 

Setting Traps and Bait: Best Practices

If you want to catch and actually remove mice from your home, traps and bait are a place to start. Many professionals suggest setting traps and bait stations as a sort of ‘diagnostic’ throughout the year. This will let you know that they are finding a way in.  You can use any variety of traps you want, from catch-and-release traps to glue traps to bait stations. We will advise against poison traps indoors or out as indoors can be dangerous if you have children or pets and also lead to the mice dying inside the walls of your home, and outdoors can poison far more than just the mice you intend. 

Sealing Entry Points to Keep Mice Out

As we mentioned further up, mice and rats can compress their bodies to fit through a hole no larger than a dime. This means that it’s ridiculously easy for them to find entry points into your home through walls, your roof, even crawl spaces underneath. These tiny holes can be easy to miss, and require going over your home with a fine-toothed comb. Once you find them though, covering them over is relatively easy. Wire mesh or steel wool are good for covering the hole, and then you cover that with caulking or cement. (Don’t use expanding foam though, as they can and will chew through it.)  You will also want to carefully go over doors and windows, for any cracks and fill those as well. 

Landscaping Tips: Trim Shrubs and Bushes to Deter Mice

While lovely thick bushes and flowers are amazing to look at and add character to your home, they’re also a mouse’s best friend. They act as a protective pathway into your home, and cover from predators. You don’t need to get rid of them though, just keep them properly trimmed. 

Dealing with a mouse infestation can be a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and strategies, you can reclaim your home from these unwelcome guests. Remember, sealing entry points, maintaining a clean environment, and using effective traps are key steps to keeping mice at bay. While Appliance Rescue Service doesn't handle mouse removal, we understand the frustration and damage these pests can cause. If your appliances have suffered from a mouse invasion, don’t worry—we’re here to repair and restore them to perfect working order. Reach out to Appliance Rescue Service for all your appliance repair needs and let us help you get your home back to normal.

Website

Call: (214) 599-0055

 

Additional Reading

Household Hauntings: The Frightening Reality of Appliance Neglect

The Labyrinth of Limescale

Bugs of Summer: Fleas, Lice, Ticks and Bed Bugs