How to baby proof home?

You won’t really need to take any action until baby is able to crawl usually from 6-7 months onwards, if a child does something naughty like starts pulling on trawling floor wires don’t shout but gently explain that it is naughty. If you have a big reaction they will just do it again, find calm ways of teaching babies and young children right from wrong.

Fireplace – if you have a fireplace or back boiler it may be worth buying a barrier to form around the area to prevent little ones from getting too close. They are cheap and can be made by yourself if you are a good tradesman

Oven – ovens can get hot and when children start crawl and walk you may need to buy a sheet that protects the oven door so if little hands were to get too close they don’t get burnt

Sockets – sockets that are low level can cause problems as little fingers like to poke into the small holes, you can get bundles of socket protectors off the internet cheaply

Stairs – as babies learn to walk they will be eager to climb up and down the stairs, this is dangerous without adult supervision as they can tumble down the stairs causing serious injury, a stair guard can prevent this from happening. They sometimes come in packs of two and double up as a room divider

Sharp furniture corners – not all tables and chairs have rounded edges, you can take purchase clear bumpers that stick onto such edges to prevent bruises

Floors – if you have wooden or laminate floors then check that there are no dangerous connections as babies will end up scraping knees and elbows on poorly laid flooring. Also check the floor strips that connect rooms as they sometimes have nails that stick out over the top, they can cause serious injuries to little knees

There are so many dangers that lurk within the home but you won’t know exactly what they are until your child is old enough to explore. Don’t buy child proofing kits from supermarkets or baby shops as they will overcharge you, look on the internet as you can buy most of these essential items are used.

There are many agencies that are marketing empty homes to squatters for them to ‘choose’ from for free and help to break into the property for a small fee. It is known that many young students from all over the world have come to England with the intention of squatting as it is legal, yes you read right, it is legal to squat in England and Wales.

It is strange as many of the houses that are vacant are in affluent areas where middle class owners are a target. On a regular basis million pound homes have been ‘watched’ and taken over. Guy Ritchie recently had his multimillion pound home taken over by squatters until they ‘peacefully’ moved on a month later. Having squatters take over a property can be extremely time consuming and heartbreaking as many empty properties have just had renovations carried out or are in the process of being renovated.

A father of two recently told of his anguish when he purchased a £1 million pound house which was then taken over by squatters because he chose not to move in right away and carry out renovations first. This is extremely popular where homeowners delay moving in, in the attempt to decorate and carry out some remedial works first. If you have young children this may be an option to you but with squatters continuously targeting empty properties you may want to think twice and move in straight away.

If you can prevent your home from being taken over from squatters you should, if you were to take legal action you would need to cover the costs yourself but squatters on the other hand are eligible for legal aid if they are from and EU state. It is also unfair as in Scotland it is illegal to squat and the home owner has the right to remove you or call the police to take you away. If you are worried about squatters taking over your home then read up on how to prevent them from taking over by reading this article.

You can save money by buying a microfibre cloth they are specially designed to clean and not leave behind and smear marks. They work well for windows too so you can use the same cloth for different purposes.

If you have stainless steel items that require a solution to clean them with then try stainless steel cleaners, though they are a little expensive you don’t need to use it as much or as often as you would other cleaning products. Appliances such as the coffee maker, kettle and toaster are sometimes harder to clean if they have built up grease and dirt, stainless steel cleaners will clean off the dirt and restore the metal so that it’s shiny and clean again.

A cheaper method is to use white vinegar as this also works well on stainless steel, cuts through grease while also making it shiny and new again. Always try cleaning stainless steel using a cotton cloth if this doesn’t help shift the grease or dirt then move on to a non-scratch sponge so you don’t damage any of the surface.

Stainless steel cleaning products also help stop the appliance building up dirt and grease by creating a protective layer around it. They can smell a little strong so make sure windows are open and the room is well ventilated.

If you have tips on cleaning stainless steel then share them here by adding a comment below.

Many people spend a small fortune on their oven to make sure it looks nice and is also functional but in time grease will build up on it making it harder to shift and leave it looking old and dirty. Ovens quickly build up grease and food stains but because the glass door conceals the ugly truth we are more likely to give it a miss most weeks cleaning.

Although there are endless cleaning products advertised that claim they cut through grease and dried food stains not all of them actually do the job it claims to. I have spent too much money on different cleaning solutions for my oven to help it regain its shiny appeal it once had 2 years ago. After using probably every cleaning product available I have found that only one actually does the job.

Cutting through the grease in the oven

I find that if I spray Cif a leave it for two minutes all the grease comes off effortlessly with a measly cloth, no need for scrubbing or elbow grease. After all the grease is cleaned off I use a glass cleaner to make the viewing window clean and clear. I sometimes have to take the oven door apart so it can clean in between the glass panes where grease builds up but I only need to do this once a year if that.

Cif also works brilliantly inside the oven cutting through a year’s worth of build up dried food, the oven is now gleaming. The oven shelves are also sparkling and I am amazed that for less than £5 I have an oven to be proud of. Just be careful of using cheap sponges on stainless steel they can leave scratches, use a good quality non-scratch sponge on such appliances.

To clean the stainless steel surface use a stainless steel cleaning product it will retain shine without leaving any smear marks, they work well with the toaster and kettle too.

Many people have been trying to sell their homes for the last few years and have still yet to sell them, it is mainly due to banks not lending or buyers not having enough cash to pay for the asking price. So many homeowners have put off doing any renovations as they cannot guarantee they will get their money back. There are some buyers out there who have been through the process before so do not want the hassle of changing the windows or roof when they buy it.

Roof replacement

On average a roof can last for 30 years before there are signs that it needs to be replaced completely. There may be times when a tile becomes loose but this is no reason to replace the entire roof, you just need to make sure that the loose tiles are secured. Other signs may be:

• Damp appearing on the walls and ceilings
• A strong draft on the first floor or near the attic
• Leaking from the attic

You should get a few quotes before accepting the first person that comes to assess the damage. It is also good to have a quick look yourself if you can as builders are known to make situations look worse than they seem. They may try to make you take them on there and then saying things like ‘it won’t last another month’ ‘the entire roof has rotted through’ and show you loose tiles that are nothing to be worried about.

You should never accept work from an uninvited salesman, this is someone who turns up at your door trying to sell you their services or new doors and double glazing. They will make is seem like they are offering a good deal because they are in the area or claim that they are working on the neighbours house a few doors away. In fact they are just touting for business and need you more than they need you, do not let them intimidate you and let them know politely that you are not interested.

But what happens if you suspect someone of being a benefits cheat?

A long time ago there used to be many adverts warning people that the Department of Works and Pensions was keeping tabs on them, there was also a nationwide campaign asking local communities to report anyone they thought was claiming benefits when they were not entitled to. In the last two years due to funding cuts there are no longer adverts urging people to do so.

In a recent case an elderly couple suspected that their neighbour was claiming incapacity benefits when he wasn’t allowed to do so. Their neighbour claimed to be an ex-builder who suffered from health problems that caused so much pain he was unable to work. But when he was spotted climbing ladders with heavy bags of cement his neighbours were horrified. Having worked for years and paid their taxes they were shocked and thought it was their duty to report their neighbour for being a benefits cheat.

As a result of an investigation carried out by DWP the ex-builders benefits were reduced from £850 to £270 a month. When the case went to court the benefit cheat was handed a statement made by the neighbours who reported him so he knew where to seek revenge. It has been four years since he was caught and he has made life hell for his elderly neighbours.

How can DWP be so callous and let the cheat know who reported him, now as a result of this they will lose even more money each year as people will not dare report suspected benefit cheats for fear of being caught out. The DWP say that you can call, email and write to them anonymously to report a suspected fraud, but by making and signing a statement it is the cheats right to know who reported him!

If space in your room is an issue then opt for a crib instead, they can be used on average until the age of 6 months, and then after baby outgrows the crib you can start to put them in their own room. If baby is going in a crib then this can be used up until the baby is 3 years old, the sides can be taken down when the child is old enough to get in and out safely. If you want you could also put baby in normal bed then put up side guards so they don’t roll or fall off. Make sure that the cribs has teeth safety rails as they will start to chew on the sides after 6 months, if not you can purchase protection so that it stays clean.

Make sure that all furniture with sharp corners has safety guards on them as babies tend to bump into tables and furniture a lot. If you have electrical sockets that babies can stick their finger into cover them to prevent electric shock because as baby starts to crawl it will be harder to keep up with him/her.

If you have a small house or flat then buy a changing station on wheels so you can move it from room to room, most of them have a bath concealed underneath so this comes in handy. Most of the changing stations will last until baby is 12 months and starts to outgrow it. Changing stations also come with plenty of storage so you can store nappies, wipes and toiletries in the same place.

When baby starts walking then it may be a good idea to have a fire guard for the fire place or back boiler. You may also need a stair guard so he/she doesn’t try and to climb up the stairs unsupervised. A travel cot or play pen is also a good option to keep young children in a secure place, these can usually be used until the child is 3 years old so a worthwhile investment.

When you buy a home it’s wise to think ahead to how a baby would fit into your lifestyle and choices of furniture and room arrangement. Knowing beforehand means you will spend less and not over buy unnecessarily.

What many people do not take into consideration when considering gold bathroom fixtures is that the maintenance is higher than standard chrome bathroom fixtures. In time the gold colouring on the taps, toilet lever and bathtub will fade and look unsightly, this is the point when people will decide to upgrade or change their bathroom suit for a modern one.

A new bathroom can cost a lot of money depending on the style, colour and place of purchase so many families choose to live with what they have until it’s time or necessary to change. If you are unfortunate enough to live in a home where the previous owners also thought it better to have a coloured bathroom suite then it would be better to change everything and start again, if however you have a plain suite with hideous gold fixtures then it is possible just to change the gold to chrome instead.

How to clean gold bathroom fittings?

This is how most gold accessories and fittings lose colour and end up needing to be replaced. You cannot use abrasive and standard cleaning products on gold bathroom fittings. They will tarnish and make your fittings look old and worn out when in fact they are only a few years old. Here’s the best way to preserve gold bathroom fittings:

• Clean with a cotton cloth regularly
• Mix salt, flour and vinegar to make a paste and scrub using a cloth
• Use some ammonia to clean gold fixtures by applying to a cloth and wiping
• Use commercial gold fixtures solution to keep them gleaming

How to restore gold bathroom fittings?

In most cases once the gold taps and other bathroom fittings start to lose their colour there isn’t much you can do to restore them other than replacing just the fittings and taking care when cleaning and maintaining them. The only other thing to try are colour restorers that can be found in DIY shops and hardware stores, they are like a polish that is applied to the fittings that help them build up colour. It is only a temporary solution as in time they will lose colour again.

To prevent gold bathroom fixtures from losing their colour its best to look after them properly from the very beginning, avoiding household cleaners and wiping them down regularly. Prevention is better than cure!

Causes of mould in bathroom?

Mould is caused by lack of ventilation or condensation when the warm shower air hits the cold air then leaves a misty residue everywhere. An extractor should be in the bathroom to remove all condensation or a window in the bathroom that can be opened should be present.

How to get rid of mould in bathroom?

Mould can grow anywhere, the ceiling, the walls and in between the grout in the tiles. Unfortunately if you have mould on grout most household cleaners will not remove this. You can spend as much money or scrub until your arms hurt, the best thing to do is to remove it and start again. Some people find that inexpensive solutions such as vinegar and water do the trick but it involves a lot of elbow grease and time.

How to prevent bathroom mould?

The best thing to do is to keep the bathroom ventilated as much as possible whether using the shower or not as the humidity from the radiator can also cause mould. If you have an extractor then use it and if you have a window open it before, during and after having a shower. If you find condensation on the walls then it’s also best to wipe it off rather than leaving it to dry.

Many people find that the sealant around the sink, shower and bath will also start to show signs of mould growing, this is normal and a good sealant should be used to replace the old one. Cleaning the areas that are prone to mould with a good cleaning product such as bleach on a regular basis will also stop mould from attacking.

Other things to consider are removing carpets from the bathroom as they increase the level of humidity especially when wet. Taking plants out of the bathroom as they also enjoy and attract moisture, renting a dehumidifier as it will help the air quality. Making sure the extractor fan is on as mould will not grow on dry surfaces.

Making your own compost from food scraps, cardboard and garden waste is a good idea for those who have the room, waste and time to do some gardening but what many people fail to realise is that it smells and attracts pests such as rodents and bugs. Foxes are also attracted by the smell which can cause problems for those who have small pets such as rabbits and cats.

How does recycling cost householders money?

If you do not have a driveway, side access or room for a wheelie bin in front of your home then you will need to buy special garden waste sacks that will be collected by the council on their scheduled day. These sacks cost money usually £15 for two, seems like a lot of money for something that will only go on to get recycled. Other things such as food caddies to collect perishables need to be bought by some councils costing on average £7, then a liner such as a brown bag or recyclable plastic one needs to be bought to prevent it getting dirty costing another £10. If you have a compost bin then councils also sell a liquid that helps speed up composting time but this costs around £10, the compost bin itself starts from £20 including delivery.

On average you can spend £32 a month just buying caddie and brown bin liners and liquid to help speed up composting. I understand the importance of changing the way we live so we can have a more environmentally friendly earth but some of the costs just to start recycling are crazy, then add the cost of monthly maintenance it is too much, no wonder many give up recycling at the end, there are too many costs involved.