Imagine you’ve just finished cleaning your home…what does it smell like? Fresh and clean or bleachy and toxic? Did you know that the cleaner your home, the more toxic it may actually be? Harmful chemicals in common household cleaners wreak havoc on your respiratory system and some even contain carcinogens. These chemicals are then washed down your drain and make their way into our ground water, wildlife and eventually back into our homes via the food we consume. Using green cleaning products is the best and safest method to keeping your home safe and allergen-free. What is green cleaning you ask? Green cleaning refers to the practice of using environmentally friendly products and procedures which help preserve human health and environmental quality. Using products with ingredients that are naturally occurring and non-harmful to the environment will go a long way in protecting your loved ones, and also the world we live in. With the increase in awareness of the harmful ingredients i...

The last thing you want to do when you step out of a nice warm shower is dry yourself off with a nasty-smelling towel. The stench can be overwhelming, and it really puts a damper on that “fresh from the shower” feeling. Luckily, this problem is easy to solve! With a few strategic cleaning cycles, the musty stench can be a thing of the past. Here’s how: The Golden Towel Rule: Do not let your towels stay wet! For each of these methods, it’s important that the towels are dried immediately. Set a timer to ensure that your clothes are switched from the washing machine to the dryer promptly. If you line dry, hang the wet towels in a sunny spot until they’re completely dry. Method #1: Vinegar Riding Solo Musty, smelly towels don’t play well with others, so give them their own load. Add one cup of white vinegar to the load – no detergent or fabric softener – and run the washer on the hottest possible setting. The vinegar will kill any lingering bacteria. Then, leave the clothes ...

We’re heading into the home stretch of winter! There’s probably only a few more big snow falls in our future, which means it’s time to start planning for spring - which is probably the most fun home maintenance season. However, one thing that often gets overlooked, with catastrophic results, is preparing for the spring thaw. Make sure your home is prepared with these tips for both inside and outside of your home to make sure you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on repairing damage, or even worse, that your valuables get damaged by the water. Here are 17 ways you can prep your home to ensure you aren’t the victim of water damage this spring: Outside Your Home Get any remaining snow away from your house. Check property for anything that’s preventing the melting snow from draining away from your house and make sure there is a clear path for it to follow. Make sure your eaves and downspouts are in good shape and don’t need any repairs. Get them cleaned...

On average, you spend ⅓ of your life sleeping. That means more than ⅓ of your life is spent in your home. For the health of you and your family, you should consider your home a sanctuary. There are small things you can regularly do that will help to keep you healthy - especially as cold season approaches. Get rid of the allergens, dust, and mold in your house today to keep you and your family healthy throughout flu season. Additionally - keeping your home clean and clutter-free will help you mentally attack the upcoming busy holiday season. Everyone talks about spring cleaning, but all year round cleaning is equally important. Here are the 5 places you should start cleaning today for a happy, healthy family: 1. Duct Cleaning Cleaning out your ducts won’t necessarily improve the dust situation in your house, unless you’ve just done a renovation or you’ve built a new house. But it will improve energy efficiency, improve air quality in certain circumstances, and will improve ai...

Hazardous chemicals can be found in a variety of environments, even within the safety of a home. Over the years, these “hidden” substances can affect the occupants’ health in several ways. Below is a list of some of the most notable of these dangers, including tips on how to prevent them: 1. Lead causes serious health issues and can often be found in lead-based paints (in older homes), soil, dust and tap water (if the home has lead pipes). The members of a family should be tested for lead levels, and, in the case of older homes, hiring a certified contractor to remove lead paint is recommended. 2. Mould exposure is especially harmful to those with respiratory diseases. Mould grows in damp areas with poor ventilation. A professional company, such as Inspect it All can be hired to check the levels and type of mould in your home and recommend next steps to remove it. 3. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas released from burning organic fuel in wood stoves, fireplaces, gas heaters...

In the winter, the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning is at its highest, because it’s almost always related to the heating systems.  Although some governments in Canada have taken regulatory actions on carbon monoxide, fatal accidents still occur, that is why it is extremely important to understand some facts about carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. Breathing it can poison people and animals in these spaces. Because CO is basically undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever).  They include:  headache, fat...

Most modern cleaners contain dangerous chemicals that could cause health problems to sensitive individuals. Many of these cleaners also contribute to indoor and outdoor pollution. Luckily, there are various inexpensive alternatives to home cleaners that are less likely to damage one’s health and the environment. Here are some of them: All-purpose cleaner:   this solution is made by mixing ½ cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda and ½ gallon of water. It can be used to clean, deodorize and disinfect surfaces. For dirtier surfaces, only white vinegar should be used, but a spot test should be performed first. Tile cleaning:  First, a paste of ½ water and ½ baking soda should be applied to the grout. After waiting a few minutes or up to 2 hours (for very dirty grout), the grout can be scrubbed with water. Oven cleaning: Use a solution with 1 teaspoon of borax, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 2 cups of hot water. Once the solution is applied, it should be w...

Homeowners renovate to update, add value or prepare their homes for sale. But no one wants to invest in a renovation only to see it cost more money later in revisions or repairs.  A CIBC poll done in 2016 suggested that 37% of Canadian homeowners planned to renovate or improve their home.  If you are considering a renovation to your house, a home inspection can help you prioritize your requirements and actually save you money in the long run. DO YOUR RESEARCH A home renovation can be fun and exciting, but it’s also a time when clear planning and forward thinking are most important. Going over budget, unforeseen mishaps or delays, disputes with builders and contractors – these aren’t what you envisioned as part of your dream renovation process. Careful research, investigation and planning are required in the decision making process. The Canadian Homebuilders Association (CHBA) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) are excellent resources. According t...

When a condo is bought and sold a condo inspection is highly recommended to alert both buyers and sellers to the condition of the property in question. The condo inspector’s role is to enter the condo and analyze all of the major operational and structural elements of the property which usually spans three hours for detached single homes, and two hours for condominiums, but can depend on the size, age, and complexity of the property. I always encourage clients to attend the inspection as an opportunity to hear verbal feedback from the inspection, as well as a last opportunity to be within the condo before waiving conditions for a more prolonged duration than the viewing.  Typically, the participant requesting the inspection will be provided a detailed report of findings with written and visual components. Below I’ll discuss some myths regarding condo inspections as well as how to select a trained professional that can advise you on one of the biggest purchases of your lifetime...

Water damage is one of the most common and costly repairs for homeowners to deal with, leading to increased maintenance costs, decreased property value, and a decline in indoor air quality. It can strike indoors as well as outdoors, and the longer you leave it the more expensive it will be to fix. Water damage needs to be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of mildew or mold, which are not only unsightly but have been known to cause considerable health hazards. This article provides information on identifying and eliminating excess moisture that could potentially lead to water damage in the home. THE BATHROOM The first place to inspect is the bathroom. Bathrooms have a number of areas where water commonly causes problems, but you have to look carefully. The most common areas are tiled shower stalls and tub enclosures. Moisture behind tiles, unless severe, is not usually visible. Ceramic tiles are quite waterproof, so the problem area is the grout betwee...