Tag: Helpful Home Tips

Swim Safety

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The weather has been fabulous and the water is heating up making it more inviting for some swims! Do you and your family know and practice swim safety at home and at the beach? We recommend you review some suggestions below and add them to your swim safety repertoire:

  • Fence in your pool or pond areas to avoid potential water accidents
  • Tidy pool areas of toys as children can find them tempting and enter the water unattended
  • To combat Mosquitos breeding around your home, clean out standing water weekly in such areas as fountains, bird feeders and planters
  • Maintain a buddy system when swimming in the ocean or pool
  • Children and individuals who cannot swim should wear life jackets or a flotation device
  • Do not swim when intoxicated as anyone can drown in even an inch of water
  • Avoid glassware around the pool or ocean where shards can break and cut bare feet
  • Enforce no running around pools as people can slip on wet surfaces and get injured
  • Keep your CPR certification up-to-date (Click here to see available CPS classes provided by the Red Cross)
  • Take swim lessons (Click here to see available swim classes provided by the Red Cross in your areas)

Do you have any swim safety rules in your home? Please share below!

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Backyard Safety

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As summer quickly approaches, now is the time to freshen up on some backyard safety tips. Whether you have a backyard, gated entrance or front porch, it is wise to make sure you and your family are secure and safe every season! Locking pet doors at night to thwart unwanted animals from your home is a wise move if you have younger children in the home and reside in areas with coyotes. Putting gates around pool or bodies of water is a must to prevent young children or pets from falling into the water while unattended.

Have you noticed new plant life in your garden? Make sure your yard is free of any poisonous plants that can be consumed or cause skin irritation. Before cleaning up or mowing lawns, ensure rocks and debris are free from the area to avoid unnecessary injuries. Springtime brings new life to yards and extends your outdoor time but make sure to safely store chemicals and fertilizer out of reach of children. Notice dips in concrete and warped wood floors outside? Take time to level these areas in the hope of preventing potential tripping or personal injury.

Check back here for more summer safety tips!

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Spring Maintenance for your Home

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With Summer quickly approaching, now is the time to make improvements or routine maintenance to your home and outdoor space. Have you noticed any cracks in your foundation? How about leaves or debris overflowing in your gutters? Check out our infographic below for a few ideas!

Do you have any spring maintenance tips and tricks? Please share them below!

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Tax Day

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Normally, Tax Day is on April 15th but this year, you have until tomorrow to file your 2017 taxes! Since the traditional Tax Day fell on a Sunday and today is Emancipation Day, a public holiday in the District of Columbia, April 17th was declared the official Tax Day of 2018. What should you do with your extra time? Know that it is not too late to contribute to a retirement plan or take a deduction! Be sure to carefully read the fine-print for all actions you plan to take as some accounts have different contribution limits!

Are you looking to save money? Now is the time to take a closer look at our homeowners insurance policies. Visit our website at WesternMutual.com to learn more about our trusted coverages. Prefer talking to real person? Please call us at 877-WMUTUAL and one of our dedicated sales agents can assist you with any questions you may have!

Do you have tips for avoiding the mad dash of Tax Day? Please share them below!

Dog Bite Prevention Week 🐶

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​This week marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week and is dedicated to educating people on how to prevent it from happening. Dogs are lovable furry friends but it is important to know how to conduct yourself around them or an unfamiliar pup. There are many ways to prevent negative encounters with dogs and we would like to share a few with you:

• Be polite and never approach an unfamiliar dog—especially one who is tied up or confined behind a fence or a yard—as they might see you as a threat or intruder
• Do not pet a dog without letting them see and sniff you first
• Do not disturb a dog while they are sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for puppies

Also, it is important to be aware of a dog’s body language. A pup who is backing away from you, has his or her ears pulled back, teeth drawn and/or is growling is not one to pet. Make sure you put a safe amount of space between yourself and a dog if you notice these signals which indicate a dog is uncomfortable and feeling threatened. Sometimes small children do not know any better and are often the victim of these unfortunate events. Make sure to educate your family on how to properly interact with furry friends in order to prevent them from occurring.

*Dog bite prevention tips were found on the website of the Humane Society of the United States.

Spring Gardening Ideas

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As we are springing forward into the new season, so should our gardens! Now is the time to eliminate the signs of winter and revitalize your shrubs! Channel your green thumbs by cleaning out your gardens and planters of dead leaves and debris (and potentially snow). Try trimming old plants to promote new growth for the upcoming warmer season. Rejuvenate your lawn with seeds/fertilizer and fix surrounding fences and gates.

Are you looking to add new life to barren yards? Lilies, Daffodils, Tulips, Roses, Cherry Blossoms and Fruit Trees are perfect to plant during the month of March. Vegetables such as Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplants, Spinach, Peppers, Pumpkin, Summer Squash and Tomatoes are other options to start planting this season! Happy Spring to you and may your gardens be bountiful this year!

Do you have any gardening tips and tricks for us? Please share them in the comments below!

Home Safety Tips

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Security is an important aspect of daily life for any homeowner. Your home is where you and your loved ones reside, pets roam and valuables are stored. Keeping with the motto of “it is better to be safe than sorry,” we advise you and your family to familiarize yourselves with some home safety and security tips below. Be prepared and beat home invaders at their game!

  • Recently purchase a new home? Don’t forget to change your locks to unwanted guests who may have a copy of the key!
  • Make sure your wiring is concealed at home as burglars look for them to cut, disable and illegally enter your home.
  • Did you know that burglars like to stake out homes from the safety of large hedges and brush? Eliminate this vantage point and protect your home!
  • Are you using the typical hiding spots to conceal your valuables when you are away from home? Get creative and beat burglars at their game!
  • Leaving on a vacation? Create the illusion that someone is at home while you are away at play!
  • Check to make sure all doors and windows have reliable locks to keep out unwanted visitors! For sliders, place a piece of wood or metal bar the same length as the track of the door in the grooves for extra security!
  • Keep drapes and blinds shut so burglars can’t window shop from your front lawn!
  • Always look outside before opening the door, especially if you hear weird noises in the middle of the night.
  • Have friends or neighbors be on the lookout for packages, newspapers or trash bins left out in front of your home as they are clear signs of your absence!

Do you have any home safety and security tips you would like to add? Please share them in the comments below!

Home Cleaning Tips

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Spring is right around the corner and with it traditionally comes cleaning! Here is a list of helpful spring cleaning recommendations:

  • Properly clean and seal countertops
  • Clean and wipe down kitchen and bathroom cabinets
  • Wipe and clean down windows, both inside and out
  • Clean your bathroom and kitchen tiles with a mixture of baking soda and water
  • Organize your closet and donate pieces you haven’t worn in a while
  • Wipe off burnt food and scum on your range and oven
  • Disinfect your washing machine with white vinegar and baking soda
  • Spot clean your walls to keep your paint job looking vibrant
  • Pull out your refrigerator’s shelves and drawers to be able to thoroughly wash it with warm and soapy water
  • Clean your dishwasher with specialty cleaner to ensure it properly removes grime from your plates and silverware
  • Wipe down patio furniture as the warmer months will be here before you know it
  • Don’t forget to clean your brooms and cleaning equipment as you can’t expect them to optimally clean if they aren’t clean

Do you have any home cleaning tips? Please share them below!

Energy Saving Tips

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With winter, comes the cooler weather. Please see some energy (and money) saving tips below:

  • Try installing quilted curtains over drafty windows to help keep the heat inside
  • Use weather stripping, window film and calking to control heat loss around doors, windows and baseboards
  • Opening blinds and curtains during the day and closing them at night allows you to warm up your home and keep the heat in
  • When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as feels comfortable
  • Schedule service on your heating system
  • Replace your heater’s filter as often as recommended by the manufacturer
  • If you have working fireplaces, you should get your chimneys cleaned by an experienced chimney sweep as it will help decrease the risk of fire from buildup or blockages

Do you have any tips and tricks of your own? Please share them with others below!