Hardwood Floors: How to Clean and Care for Them

After purchasing a home after over a decade of living in various crappy rentals, I realized that I might be a bit in over my head.  While viewing houses on the market in anticipation of buying them, wood floors stood out as classic, beautiful, and charming.  Fastforward to a month after move-in and oh-my-goodness-I-don’t-know-what-on-earth-I’m-doing.

So research I did.

In my rentals, I had used a Roomba vacuum on both carpet and laminate, with great success. I love that it uses the little weed-eater-type-dust-flicker to really get into the corners and edges of the room, preventing me from having to use the hose-attachment to the regular vacuum and 20 minutes per room that I don’t want to spend vacuuming.  It also gets under the beds, a plus for keeping dust to a minimum.

Right before moving in, after a solid year of happiness with my Roomba, I invested in a swiffer-type robot that is designed to pick up crumbs, pet hair, and some dirt.  The Braava is a lighter duty and much quieter version of the Roomba, and it swiffers automatically, also getting under the chairs and couch with ease.  It keeps the floor barefoot-walkable without any extra work from me.

On my rental laminate floors, I had used a steam mop happily for years.  I loved the hiss of the steam coming out and assuring me that any bacteria on my floor would be quickly boiled beyond harm, that the mop easily picked up even old spills with a few quick strokes, and that the pad were washable.  To clean laminate flooring, I would go around and spray any spots with a 50/50 vinegar solution, drop a few drops of tangerine essential oil on my steam mop, and go to town, finishing the job in less than 10 minutes.

WOOD FLOOR CARE

I wasn’t sure if steam was okay to use on hardwood, though, so I checked with some experts to find out. Even though most brands of steam mops claim that they can be used on hardwood floors, it turns out that experts recommend NOT using them.  The heat used is hard on the finish, causing your floors to need to be refinished more often and wear quicker. In addition, if your floors are not completely sealed, especially in high traffic areas where the seal may have been worn off, the steam will be absorbed by the wood and will cause damage to the wood floor, and even the particle board subfloor underneath.

WITHOUT STEAM MOPPING, HOW ARE WE TO CLEAN OUR FLOORS?

If your floor is well finished with a polyeurethane sealer, you can use a water-based cleaner on it. Woodwash is recommended for this well-cared for floor. The steps for cleaning are to vacuum well, swiffer up any remaining dust or crumbs, and then spray woodwash on an area that you can reach (approx 4 ft x 2 feet) and use one rag to wash with the cleaner, another dry rag to dry immediately after.

You can also use just plain water to wash, using the same 2-rag method to clean and dry. To preserve the life of your finish, using a cleaner that is closest to a neutral phas possible is recommended. If you get either an alkaline or acidic cleaner, it will cause more wear on your floors.

If your floor has some worn spots, as I noticed mine did as I was sitting on the floor stocking the bookshelf upon movein, you can test the floor using a water test.

To test, drop a couple drops of water on the most worn part of the floor. If they stay beaded up over the next couple minutes, you can use water-based cleaners as described above. If the water soaks in, you can use odorless mineral spirits to clean until you get a chance to refinish the floor.

To clean using odorless mineral spirits: vacuum the floor well, swiffer or sweep to pick up any excess dust or crumbs. Next squirt a small amount of mineral spirits on the dirty parts of the floor, and wipe clean with multiple rags until all the mineral spirits are picked up.

DAILY MAINTENANCE

If you’re like me, there’s nothing as annoying as coming down with bare feet to get the coffee started and having crumbs, dirt, or pet hair cling to your feet. Ick.

To keep my floors barefoot friendly in less than 5 minutes a day, I follow the following routine:

1. Remove shoes at the door. I don’t ask my guests to, but most people will when they see a couple pairs of shoes lined up next to the door.
2. Vacuum under the table and/or in the kitchen daily (2 minutes)
3. Before bed, or while watching TV at night, set the Braava to run with a reusable microfiber cloth or swiffer pad.
4. Once a month, or once a week if you have pets or children in your house often, spot clean the floor, on hands and knees preferably while the sun is directly shining on your floor so you can easily see any spots.

--from singlewomanhomeowner.com/

If you're interested in finding a home with beautiful hardwood floors -- and there are plenty of them out there -- call or text Adam at 630-697-4500. Or visit our website at www.MyHappyHomeSolutions.com to see our currently available homes. 

Women as Homeowners: Why Women Buy Homes (It's Not the Same Reasons as Men)

While both genders are attracted to the idea of owning a home, their reasoning is often slightly different.  It’s important to understand this, so when you are talking to your dad, brother, or male friends about your decision to purchase a home, you aren’t offended when they say, ‘that’s not a good reason to own a house’.

It’s not that your way is wrong, it’s just that the two genders tend to think about home ownership for different reasons.

Single women are buying homes at twice the rate single men are, we are responsible for 1/5th the housing purchases in the united states this decade.  We buy as an addition to our investment portfolio, to secure a place in a safe neighborhood, to get the size (bigger or smaller) that we need, and to be close to work.

Men tend to buy thinking in the immediate future, planning on being in the home for less than 5 years before moving up.  Women, on the other hand, look more long term and into a place where they intend to stay for over 5 years.  Single women choose sububurbs over cities, and for single moms, school district quality is a big determinant in where she buys.

-- from SingleWomanHomeOwner.com

If you're ready to explore your options for purchasing a home -- whether you do so with conventional mortgage lending, or through seller financing, or Rent to Own -- Happy Home Solutions can help. Call or Text Diane at 312-213-8137. We always have Rent to Own homes available!

10 Reasons to Buy Instead of Rent

With rents going up and interest rates at an all-time low, renters should consider taking the plunge.

Home buying has earned a bad rap in recent years: The subprime mortgage crisis and ensuing economic meltdown left many homeowners underwater, unable to pay their mortgage, and even facing foreclosure. Home ownership rates fell throughout the recession, and are currently around 63 percent, compared with almost 70 percent in 2004, according to the Census Bureau. That's the lowest level since 1967.

But the great American dream of owning a home appears poised for a comeback. Real estate company Trulia reports that in many parts of the country, rents are rising while housing prices are falling, making buying a home more affordable. Trulia found that in 98 out of 100 major metropolitan areas, including Detroit, Atlanta, and Cleveland, buying has become more affordable than renting.

If you're struggling with whether to buy versus rent, consider these 10 reasons to take the plunge into home ownership:

1. You can ramp up energy efficiency.

Energy-efficient improvements, from adding insulation to upgrading your air conditioning unit, can reduce your monthly utility bill, says Jane Hodges, author of the new book Rent Vs. Own. While renters can make plenty of green improvements on their own, from unplugging appliances to turning off lights, homeowners can make bigger changes, such as adding solar panels or installing an energy-efficient roof. (Of course, a renter living in a one-bedroom apartment likely uses far less energy than a homeowner in a three-bedroom house, so size can trump energy improvements.)

2. You can customize your space.

Whether you need to knock down a wall to make a larger master bedroom or redo the bathroom to reflect your Art-Deco tastes, owning the space you live in means you have the freedom to do so, without worrying about losing your security deposit.

3. Homeowners buy less furniture.

"Often when you're renting you need custom furniture that fits the space," says Hodges, such as room dividers for a loft or miniature furniture to fit into a basement apartment. "When people move a lot, they can end up buying a lot of furniture," she says. If you buy a home and settle in for the long haul, you can likely purchase a few pieces that will stick around.

4. Owning a home forces you to save.

The so-called "forced savings" argument is a widely-held one: Since homeowners have to pay their mortgage every month, they are routinely putting money away (and into their house, which they own), instead of squandering it on new shoes or fancy meals. Then, if you eventually sell your home after the mortgage is paid off, there's a good chance that "you'll walk away with a payoff," even after subtracting the costs of ownership, says Hodges. (Of course, homeowners who face foreclosure or declining home values often find themselves without such equity to show for their monthly mortgage payments.)

5. Home ownership allows you to build a second income stream.

From taking in a renter in a spare bedroom to renting out driveway space to commuters, Hodges says homeowners are increasingly finding ways to monetize their homes. In cities with scant green space, some homeowners even rent out small patches of grass for people who want to grow vegetables.

6. No landlord can kick you out.

Renters can face an unexpected eviction notice if their landlord suddenly decides to sell the home, rent to someone else, or otherwise end the lease. That's one reason Boston University economics professor Laurence Kotlikoff says that for older people with a fixed income in particular, he recommends home ownership (and a paid-off mortgage). "It's important for older people to be in a home that they own as security against a landlord," he says.

7. In fact, you don't have to speak to a landlord, ever again.

Landlords can take ages to fix a broken dishwasher, let the air vents fill with dust and particles, or leave pesky messages about repairs. If you're the homeowner, then you're in charge—which means you have to be home when the plumber calls, but the plumber reports to you. (And, of course, you also have to pay the plumber.)

8. Unlike rent, a fixed mortgage can't go up (even if inflation does).

Fixed mortgage rates don't go up, even if the cost of everything else does. To protect yourself, Jack Otter, author of Worth It… Not Worth It? suggests making a 20 percent down payment and taking out a 30-year fixed mortgage to lock in today's low interest rates. "Mortgage rates haven't been this low since GIs were heading home from France. Lock in a low monthly payment, and you've just taken a huge step in protecting your family against inflation," he writes.

9. Homeowners can take tax deductions.

The chief tax benefit of home ownership is the ability to deduct mortgage interest payments, but the perks don't stop there. Homeowners can also deduct eligible expenses (certain energy-efficient improvements, for example) and in some cases can avoid federal taxes on earnings from the sale of a home.

10. You can take advantage of currently low interest rates and prices.

Interest rates remain at historical lows, and at the same time, home prices in many areas remain soft. Trulia points out that deals are especially appealing in suburban areas, compared with the more expensive cities. Overall, Trulia says, asking prices on homes went down 0.7 percent over the last year, while rents went up by 5 percent.

Of course, buying isn't for everyone. If you might move soon, or you want the flexibility to upgrade your digs with just a month's notice, or your job outlook is uncertain, then renting can be ideal. Hodges says potential buyers should first consider the transaction costs of home ownership, which can add up quickly, especially if a buyer doesn't plan to stay put for very long.

"During the bubble, people were looking at homes as a tool to make money," says Hodges. Now, they just see it as a place to live.

By Kimberly Palmer

from Money.USNews.com

If you're ready to explore your options for purchasing a home -- whether you do so with conventional mortgage lending, or through seller financing, or Rent to Own -- Happy Home Solutions can help. Call or Text Adam at 630-697-4500. We always have Rent to Own homes available!