September Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

 
Safety first:  In Massachusetts, a recent Law requires that when you replace your battery smoke detectors, the replacement detector must have a 10-year battery. Please don’t assume the battery will last 10 years; for your safety, test the detectors regularly. It’s probably a good idea to keep the the receipt so that if the detector doesn’t work for 10 years, you might be able to get it replaced for free. Another reason to keep the receipt is for a record of its installation, especially if you might sell your home. That thought then then brings up the question: When you buy a property, how much time has lapsed since the installation of the “10-year” detector in your new home? Test your detectors regularly! 
 
Be aware that detectors have a shelf life, even hard-wired detectors. If you have a hard-wired system for smoke, security, etc., have the metal box containing the mechanicals checked regularly to be sure the fuses are working. Just because your electricity is on doesn’t mean that your system is in working order.
 
Photoelectric detectors were developed for installation within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom. These detectors are not as sensitive to steam from showers and cooking smoke; the detectors were created to keep residents from dismantling nuisance detectors and having no alarm at all.
 
 
Buy king-size pillows for your single, double, queen-sized beds–much more comfortable and luxurious than regular-sized.
 
 
When you buy a bunch of radishes, add the green tops to your other salad greens. Radish greens are chock full of vitamins. Your radishes will last longer with the greens topped, too. Click Here
 
 
Alea Air has developed a little machine to clean the air and to regulate the temperature of your room. The product won’t be available until January, but early orders are possible. https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/alea-air-smart-vent-system/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-brief
Have a good end of summer!
 
Best,
Bonny Lamb



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April Home Tips

​​​​​​​​Hello, Everyone!
 
From Consumer Reports on Health:
 
An almond a day can help to deter Alzheimer’s; kiwis can help lull you to sleep; canned pink or red salmon has more omega-3’s than fresh.
 
 
It’s almost white sneaker time and here is the recipe for cleaning white canvas or leather sneakers:
 
 
 
The best portable chargers for juicing your devices:
 
 
 
The 4 photos below show how destructive English ivy can be. English ivy is an invasive plant which strangles the tree; starves it of water; and within a couple or few years, depending on the size of the tree, kills it. The owners of this tree removed a good portion of the ivy which had encircled the tree but still need to saw one very large line of the ivy. The ivy clings to the bark with centipede like pincers, insinuating itself into the grooves of the tree, making thick lines impossible to pull off without seriously damaging the bark. The leaf of the English ivy is distinctive; there is a lot to read on the web. If your tree or the tree of a friend or neighbor is affected, do let them know. For some obscure reason, Harvard still plants the ivy and their trees along Garden and Linnaean are ivy-covered. Trees are beautiful; provide us with shade and comfort; add value to properties; and their leaves absorb pollution. 
 
 
 
Happy Spring!
 
Very best,
 
Bonny 
 
 



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February Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

This month’s tips will deal with food safety and the way to shop in a grocery store, courtesy of Consumer Reports:

  • Wash or clean the inside of your reusable bags monthly and keep them in the cleanest part of your car.
  • Wipe the cart handle with the disinfectant item the store provides or bring your own. The Journal of Food Protection Trends found E. coli on 50% of shopping cart handles (astounding!).
  • Check your eggs. Open the carton to be sure they’re all intact. If an egg breaks on the way home, cook it within 24 hours.
  • Bag meat of any kind separately and, at home, keep it in the same separate bag until ready to use.
  • Organize your cart; keep meat/poultry separated from other foods around it. After you have handled meat, disinfect your hands before shopping for other items.
  • Keep frozen foods together to help to keep them cold longer.
  • Get your food home in 2 hours; 1 hour in hot weather.

Very best,
Bonny




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January Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

We tend to hibernate in the winter and use our mobiles to order take-out food more often. According to Consumer Reports, the unhealthiest types of pizza from takeout brands are:

  • Pizza Hut’s Meat Lover’s Stuffed Crust
  • Domino’s Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch
  • Papa John’s John’s Favorite
  • Little Caesar’s 2 Meat Treat. 

The healthiest store-bought frozen pizzas are:

  • American Flatbread Tomato Sauce and 3 Cheese
  • Amy’s Cheese Pizza
  • DiGiorno Original Rising Crust 4 Cheese Pizza
  • California Pizza Kitchen 4 Cheese Crispy Thin Crust

If you’re thinking of buying a new TV to watch the Superbowl, Consumer Reports suggests you buy a leftover 2017 model because the 2018 models aren’t likely to offer important technologies that weren’t already built into the 2017’s, especially in larger TV’s from major brands. For instance, in 2016 a 55″ Samsung was selling for $899 in the Spring and $699 the following January.

Have a good week. GO PATS!

Best,
Bonny





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December Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

Life is getting less complicated with the year winding down and the transition to Compass less hectic, so I’m back to my monthly home tips.  We’ll be settled in our new and beautiful office on the east end of Harvard Square, at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Trowbridge, this week.  I hope you find the tips helpful; I have the names of local contractors if you need them.  Please visit me at our new office.

Debate continues on the deleterious effects of cell phone use.  Users are advised against storing your phone in the pockets of your clothing.

This link is worth reading, especially if you travel a lot for business.

Unless you live in an area with little change in the seasons, now is a good time to prepare your house for the winter:

Have your heating system inspected;

Check your windows for loose caulking and have ill-fitting windows repaired or replaced;

Drain exterior spigots and irrigation systems;

Have your gutters cleaned and downspouts cleared (I personally know of several instances in which homeowners have been badly hurt by attempting to clean gutters themselves.  Do hire a professional to do it.);

Have  your chimney cleaned and checked for creosote buildup.

Best,
Bonny





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