4 Reasons to Keep Baking Soda Around the House

It's 2017. Most people, by now, know that baking soda isn't just for baking: It's also a fantastic fridge deodorizer. (If you didn't know that, rename the title of this article "6 Reasons to Keep Baking Soda Around the House.")

But did you know that baking soda has about a bazillion other uses? To save us both some time, we narrowed down the uses we focus on to just four.
Here they are, in all their glory.

1. Use Baking Soda as Toothpaste
We know, we know – putting powdery baking soda straight into your mouth sounds like one of the least appealing things, ever. Hear us out: Just dip the tip of your toothbrush bristles into some baking soda, and start brushing those soon-to-be pearly whites. Baking soda whitens and brightens your smile like crazy.

If you're really having a hard time stomaching the flavor, you can always drop a bit of mint into your baking soda for something a little more toothpaste-like.

2. Use Baking Soda to Soothe Your Skin
Ever been stung by a bee or a wasp? There aren't many things that hurt like that hurts.
Baking soda can actually relieve the pain from stings. Take out the stinger first, and then apply a baking soda paste (mixed with water) to the wound.

This home remedy also works for itchy bug bites and even sunburn.

3. Use Baking Soda as Elbow Grease
Pans can be a pain in the pot to clean. Cooked-on food is basically human Kryptonite. Your mother always told you that everything can be cleaned with a little bit of "elbow grease," but if you haven't been hitting the gym lately, sometimes your "grease" is on short supply.

That's where baking soda comes in. Using a paste similar to the skin-soothing remedy, you can remove stuck-on food like you have, in fact, been hitting the gym.
Bonus feature: Baking soda also makes stainless steel pots extra shiny.

4. Use Baking Soda to Clean Your Bathroom
Sure, that name-brand spray cleaner gets the job done in your bathroom, but have you ever stopped to think what kind of chemicals are in there? What kind of chemicals you're breathing in every time you clean your porcelain throne?

Skip the poison shower, and just use baking soda. It's not just good for porcelain – it also cleans tile, counters, faucets and other stainless steel fixtures. If you want things fizzy clean, spray everything with vinegar first. Adding baking soda to the mix will fizz away all the grime, eliminating the need for the "elbow grease" we talked about earlier.

You want your house to be spotless when showing it to prospective buyers. If you need more tips on how to make your home sparkle before you sell it, give us a call.

 

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Learn All About the Top 4 Mortgage Questions

While you may be eager to start searching for your dream home right away, the first step in preparing to buy a home is understanding how much home you can afford. To figure this out, you should get pre-qualified or pre-approved by a lender, who will tell you the maximum amount you can mortgage. This will help you start searching within your price range. Now it's time to prep for your meeting with a lender, so make sure you know the answer to the following questions.


Do You Have Reported Stable Income?

Without a regular income, it is very difficult to get a loan of any kind. For a mortgage, it is important to be able to prove that you have a steady income by providing proof of income. This can be in the form of a paystub. The number of paystubs the lender would like to see can vary, but be sure you know how to access these documents so you can provide them. Also, if you are getting paid "off the books" or "under the table," you may have a difficult time getting a mortgage.

Who Will Be on the Mortgage?

If you are searching for a home not just for yourself and you have a partner involved, it is important to understand whether just one of you or both of you will go on the mortgage. In some cases, one partner may have better credit or financial standing than the other, so it may be beneficial to have just that one partner on the mortgage. On the other hand, combining two good credit scores and incomes can help increase the amount of the loan.

What Does Your Current Debt Look Like?

Take an assessment of what current debt you have and how much of your income it takes monthly. The lender will look at this to get your debt-to-income ratio, which can determine the confidence the lender may have in you as a borrower. If there is a debt you can easily pay off, then do it to free up more monthly income to put toward your future house and mortgage. It is also important to not take out any additional loans until after you close on your house, as this could change the amount of mortgage you can get.

What Is Your Monthly Budget?

It is important to understand what your monthly budget will be when owning a home. While you may be able to qualify for up to a certain amount on your mortgage, the monthly payment may be more than you can really afford. That is, it would leave you cash poor. Remember that you want to buy a house but also maintain a lifestyle you are comfortable with. Have in mind a monthly payment amount that would achieve this, and you can see what mortgage amount that could get you.
Also, it is important for negotiation purposes to know how much an extra $1,000 on the mortgage would add to your monthly payment.

If you would like me to refer you to one of the lenders I typically deal with, please feel free to reach out to me.

5 New and Improved Ways to Protect Your Home

While most people know that the best way to keep your family and home safe is to install an alarm system, new innovations in home security have made older alarm packages nearly obsolete. Because of this, it is important to know about all the must-have features for today's home security systems before you start looking to upgrade your home's security features. This includes easy, do-it-yourself additions, as well as more complex systems that may require the assistance of a professional.


Security Feature #1: Door Chimes
Many security systems will allow you to set a door chime to go off every time a door is opened or closed. This is useful because it is active at all times — not just when the alarm system is armed. Having a door chime will let you know anytime an exterior door is opened in your home. This chime can alert you to any number of things — from unwelcome intruders to wayward children wandering out of the house.

Security Feature #2: Video Surveillance Systems
While video surveillance systems have been in use for years, new advances have made them far more reliable and useful. You will be able to tap into your home's video system from your laptop, phone or tablet, making it easy to monitor the interior and exterior of your home on the go.

Security Feature #3: Doorbell Cameras
Many newer doorbells are equipped with cameras or video surveillance. For example, one popular model will send a photo to your phone every time someone steps onto your front porch. This will let you know who is there before you even open the door. This can be useful for security purposes, but also for more mundane purposes. For example, if you know that your visitor is just the delivery man dropping off a package, you will not need to rush to open the door.

Security Feature #4: Bluetooth Deadbolts 
Many newer door locks are Bluetooth-enabled. This makes getting in a snap — if you have your phone on you, simply tap the deadbolt and it will unlock due to the close proximity of your phone. This is more secure than a traditional lock that can easily be picked. You will also be able to remotely monitor your door using your smartphone. This way, you can double-check that the door is locked when you are at work or out running errands.

Security Feature #5: Floodlights
Having a motion-activated floodlight in your yard can help alert you to any nighttime activity outside your home. The threat of being detected can frequently scare away would-be intruders, so the floodlights alone are often enough to protect your home from a break-in.
Consider adding one or all of these features. They can provide you with both convenience and peace of mind.