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If the concrete structures of your Toronto home have stains caused by grease or grime – there are ways of cleaning them without resorting to a pressure washer. Although using a pressure washer to get ground in dirt and grease out of your driveway, walkway or siding might seem like a great idea, it can actually significantly damage your property if not done properly. Instead of of turning to the easiest, but most destructive solution right away, taking more time to do it properly is definitely worth your while. Although it will require a bit more effort on your part, it will preserve the integrity of your concrete structures thereby prolonging their life.

Oil Stains
If you need to remove oil stains from your driveway, the first thing to do is use a paper towel to absorb as much of the grease as possible. You can also use kitty litter to absorb the stain. Once that is done, spray the stain with either WD40 or a brake cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a rag to them wipe it up. Using WD40 or brake cleaner won’t damage your concrete or asphalt. Next use a little bit of dish soap on the stain and rinse with boiling hot water. Repeat these steps as needed until the stain is gone. No, it won’t go right away, but little-by-little you will be able to get rid of it and, best of all, your concrete won’t get damaged!

Tree Sap
Another big problem for homeowners is tree sap. If you find yourself faced with tree sap on your driveway or patio, get yourself a good petroleum-based hand cleanser and attack the sap with a clean cloth or scrub brush. Be patient and reapply the cleanser and keep scrubbing. The sap will come off. After that, you just need to rinse the area down with warm water.

Once you have removed the initial stains from your driveway or patio, then you can use hot, soapy water to give the structure a good scrub down. Rise it off with regular hose water and voila – you’re done!

Spring has arrived in Toronto and with it brings the urge to clean-up after a long and arduous winter. This year, instead of stopping at the usual clean-up of walls, windowsm, furniture, ceilings and floors, why not take it a step further? In the spirit of Marie Kondo, try decluttering to simplify you home and life.

Decluttering your Toronto home may sound simple, but can be harder than you think. However, if you follow the philosophy Marie Kondo espouses on her hit TV show, then you will keep only those things that spark joy in your life and get rid of anything else that is simply taking up space. Weeding out all of those items that are not longer useful or which you have stopped using is a great way of freeing your mind as well as your house. It will provide you with the space and freedom to enjoy those things that truly matter.

If you are loathe to simply get rid of your beloved stuff, you can always gift the things you consider still good to others who might appreciate them. Collect all of the items you no longer use, but which still have plenty of life left in them in one place and then take them all to goodwill or your local thrift shop. If you are more entrepreneurial, you might want to try selling it through your local online classifieds.

While there are those who cite studies showing that people with messy desks tend to be more creative and think outside the box, the organized people do tend to get more done and are more productive overall.

Regardless of how you dispose of your excess stuff, you will feel the benefits of a freer, less cluttered house.

With the rainy spring that Toronto has been hit with this year, many homeowners who live by bodies of water are scrambling to protect their homes from rising water levels. However, there are ways that you can protect yourself from rainy days and their devastating effects on a house. Whether you are just building your home or protecting yourself from future downpours, the following suggestions can definitely protect your investment.

Using sealants
Apply sealants to your foundation, walls, windows and doors. Coating the lower level of your residence in this manner is a form of “dry flood proofing”. Sealants will prevent water from seeping into your home through cracks or porous surfaces.

French Drains and Sump Pumps
If you don’t already have them, installing French drains and a sump pump will give you a way of keeping water away from your home when the water level rises. It is a convenient outlet for water that relieves the pressure it can place on windows and foundations. A sump pump will allow you to pump out excess water from the lower levels of your home. If you do decide to install a sump pump, make sure that it has a battery back-up so that it can keep working even during a power outtage.

Raise your electrical outlets/switches
Although it may not seem necessary, ensuring that your electrical outlets and all of your switches are at least a half meter above the highest flood level will save your home’s wiring and will prevent electrical damage.

Backwater valves
Make sure that all of the pipes have backwater valves so that water can flow out of the house but not into it.

Proper landscaping
Your lawn should always have a very gentle slope away from your home to prevent water from flowing towards it. You should also create space between any kind of mulch and your house so that standing water doesn’t have a chance to damage the foundation.

Downspouts
Your downspouts should jut out at least a meter away from your home so that water from your gutters doesn’t collect and/or pool close to your dwelling.

Lastly, if you are building your home near a body of water that has the potential to flood or if you are in a known flood zone, then you might want to consider raising it up on stilts or a pier. Such a measure can also be taken for an existing home if you want to be sure to protect yourself from any potential water damage. While such a step is quite costly, it will be well-worth the investment in case of flooding.

Spring is one of the most dangerous times of year for Toronto homes and water damage. Thawing snow has an insidious way of infiltrating roof seams, windows and doors to cause damage to interior structures and finishes. Unchecked water build-up from snow melt can also affect foundations and lead to severe damage if left unchecked. There are several ways to protect your home from the ravages that water can wreck on your property. Here is a top-level overview of what to do to keep your home dry this spring.

Keeping your eyes open for the signs of water damage is the number one thing you should do to protect your home. Water damage has some very obvious signs and if you spot any of the following, you should immediately follow up with a contractor to find out how the issue can be addressed. Clear warning signs of a problem include:

Water puddles
Water stains on the ceilings, walls or floors
Cracks that appear suddenly or increase in size in concrete floors or walls
Discolouration on floors or walls
Mould or mildew
Mustiness or dampness

Any of the above should automatically trigger a search for the cause and a remedy for the problem.

Before the melt you should also check to make sure your sump pump is working properly.

Outside it is very important to clear any large snow build-up off your roof and to clear your gutters and downspouts so that any melt will have an easy path away from your house. Also make sure that your downspouts are at least two meters away from your foundation. Around your residence you should also make sure to clear away any standing water and to fix areas where water can pool – this is especially important around your foundation.

With just a little bit of effort on your part, you will be able to keep your home dry and secure every wet season for years to come.

Trends come and go, but sometimes they disrupt the very purpose of a room. The bedroom should always support healthy sleep. Getting enough rest is crucial for immune system health, clear thinking, and appetite control. Creating a room that welcomes healthy sleep means finding design trends that work with your personality and style while making your bedroom the sleep haven you need.

Light It Right
Not all light is made the same. Your sleep-wake cycle is largely determined by natural light. That’s why when it gets dark outside you start to feel sleepy. Artificial light that mimics sunlight throws off your natural rhythms. The bright, blue light from televisions, computers, smartphones, and e-readers can send conflicting signals to the brain. They shouldn’t be used in the bedroom or at least should be turned off an hour before bedtime.

Bedroom lighting should be adequate for tasks in the bedroom, including reading, but dim enough for a relaxed atmosphere that invites sleep. Lighting should also be adjustable so you can set different levels as you need less light. A sconce or other task lighting near the nightstand should be easily accessible from your bed.

Keep It Dark
While your lighting needs to be adequate, you also need the ability to block out the light from street lamps, signs, or headlights. This is especially important in areas where light pollution is a problem. Blackout curtains or heavy drapes can help you get better rest because they prevent that extra light from entering the bedroom. If you dream of sheer curtains, you might consider installing double layers so you can fully block out the light at night.

Bedding Comfort vs. Looks
Everything in or on your bed should be made for durability and comfort. The mattress should support your preferred sleep position and bedding should be breathable. If you’re not ready to invest in a new mattress, a mattress topper might be what you need to give your old bed new life. Adjust your bedding with the season to prevent overheating or becoming too cold during the night.

Color Schemes Have an Impact
Colors can have a powerful psychological effect. Special receptors in the eyes relay colors to the brain. Those receptors are sensitive to blues, which triggers a sense of peace and calm. Blues can reduce blood pressure and heart rate for a better night’s sleep. If blues aren’t amongst your favorites, cool neutrals can also be calming. On the other side of the spectrum, reds and oranges stimulate the senses and awaken the body. They should be used sparingly in the bedroom so as to not interrupt the sleep cycle.

Organize It
Chaos doesn’t promote good sleep. Clutter on the floor can cause clutter in the mind, which can make it hard to shut down the brain at night. Bedroom organization can be as simple as an under the bed tote or as complex as a custom closet organizer. Either way, the bedroom shouldn’t become a catch-all place for objects without a home. Clutter not only affects moods but can be a safety hazard. Stubbed toes and falls don’t lead to better sleep. The bedroom should be clear in case you need to get up during the night.

Article written by our guest contributor Katie Phillips from MattressReviews.net

When calculating car insurance rates in Toronto insurance companies take into consideration all of the normal criteria such as your age and gender demographics, your driving history, the make, age and colour of your vehicle as well as where you routinely park your car. However, in Toronto, one other factor comes into play – your postal code. There are several neighbourhoods that rank much higher when it comes to insurance premiums than others – and this cost should be taken into account when looking for a home as it will impact your bottom line.
 
According to a survey taken by the provincial government in 2016 the neighbourhoods with the highest insurance premiums are as follows:
 
1- Brampton
$2,392 estimated premium
65% higher compared to provincial average
 
2- Vaughan
$2,018 estimated premium
39% higher compared to provincial average
 
3- Mississauga
$1,930 estimated premium
33% higher compared to provincial average
 
4-a -Toronto
$1,886 estimated premium
30% higher compared to provincial average
 
4b – Markham
$1,886 estimated premium
30% higher compared to provincial average
 
5 – Richmond Hill
$1,783 estimated premium
23% higher compared to provincial average
 
6 – Hamilton
$1,683 estimated premium
16% higher compared to provincial average
 
7 – Pickering
$1,593 estimated premium
10% higher compared to provincial average
 
8 – Ajax
$1,556 estimated premium
7.5% higher compared to provincial average
 
9-a – Bradford
$1,484 estimated premium
2.5% higher compared to provincial average
 
9-b – Stouffville
$1,484 estimated premium
2.5% higher compared to provincial average
 
Even though Ontario already has the second-highest car insurance premiums in Canada (after British Columbia), within that distinction certain areas of the city rank even higher. The cost of insuring a car accounts for 4.5% of disposable income – a significant number that does make some people hesitate about owning a car.
 
The reason for this huge gap in premiums is largely based on the following:
High frequency of claims, lawsuits, and injuries
High level of fraud and organized crime affecting private insurance companies
So, if you are looking at buying a home in a new neighbourhood and your car insurance rates are already at the limit in your budget, then it is best to find out what the rates in the new neighbourhoods you are looking at are before making any offers – it just might influence your decision.