1. method Sweet Water Aroma Spray $5
2. PureAyre Odor Eliminator -kit for seeking scents includes a blacklight for finding fido’s urine $20 – $40
3. AirZyme Odor Eliminator – sweet! sugarcane and coconut dissolve smells $8
4. Homemade concoction – 3 parts fabric softener with 4 parts water in a spray bottle.

Certified Natural Cosmetics - meet European Union natural-ingredients rules and don’t have any of the 1,000 chemicals banned by the EU.

Ecocert – 95% of the farmed ingredients adhere to organic standards approved by the French government.

 FSC – Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, using at least 10% of the wood and paper from responsibly managed forests.

 Green-e – Icon that signals that renewable energy sources like wind and solar power were used in making the product.

Made with Certified Organic Ingredients – Similar to the USDA Organic label, Certified Organic, a USDA-accredited certifying agent, grants the seal to products that contain 70% organic ingredients.

Soil Association – A United Kingdom seal that certifies the product contains at least 95% organic ingredients.

 USDA Organic – The U.S. Department of Agriculture gives this seal to products that are 95% organic.

*The closer a product is manufactured to you, the more green it is. Shipping and packaging can make a big impact on the amount of pollution that a product really creates!

Check out this article on Spring Cleaning, Room by Room which includes 7 FREE printable checklists!

www.grrn.org

www.epa.gov

www.ecocycle.org

www.gpi.org

www.americarecyclesday.org

www.eia.doe.gov

www.idealbite.com

www.earth911.org

Here are some questions to ask before hiring the home inspector:
   1. How long have you been practicing?
   2. Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection?
   3. How long does the typical inspection take you?
   4. How much do you charge?
   5. Can I be present during the inspection?
   6. Are you a member of any professional associations?

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) suggests asking at least the following questions during the inspection:
   1. Is the house well insulated?
   2. What is the condition of the foundation? Is it sinking?
   3. Are the roof and all of its components in good shape?
   4. Are the joists, beams, and other structural elements in good condition?
   5. Is there any termite damage?
   6. Are the pipes and plumbing systems in good condition?
   7. What is the condition of the wiring?
   8. Is the furnace efficient, clean and running properly?
   9. Is there a mold or a moisture problem in the house?

Once you have these questions answered, it will give you a better idea of if you really want the house. From there you can draw up a purchase agreement that states which repairs must be made and the amount of reductions in asking price to fix problems.

…and that’s a good thing!

Why? Because winter is an excellent time to showcase one of your home’s selling features… the fireplace! A staged home will highlight the fireplace by making it a focal point (it already should be one) and keeping it free of obstructions. During a showing have the fire going to heat up the sale’s potential.

For another hot winter selling tip, click here.

Plastic Laminate Countertops - Use turtle wax to brighten plastic or buff with toothpaste.

Polishing Carved Furniture – To get into carved details use a soft toothbrush dipped in furniture polish.

Removing Paper from Wood – Dab vegetable oil onto sticker, rub off.

Removing Polish Build-up – Rub build up by rubbing with a wrung out cloth of a solution of equal parts vingar and water. Dry immediately.

Rust – Scrub rust spots with turpentine.

Scratches - Rub wood scratches with the grain with petroleum jelly or a wax stick or crayon that matches the wood.

Uneven Furniture Legs – Hot glue old buttons underneath the leg.

Upholstery – Shaving cream is a good way to remove everyday soil from upholstered furniture.

Vinyl Upholstery - Sprinkle baking soda or vinegar on a rough damp cloth. Then wash vinyl with mild dishwashing soap.

Water Rings - Polish white water rings on wood by dampening a soft cloth and adding a dab of toothpaste.

Wicker - To prevent wicker from drying out, splitting or cracking, apply lemon oil whenever it dries out.

Figures from K+BB January 2008 issue

• www.energystar.gov – energy efficient appliances
• www.bettencourtwood.com – building supplies, cork flooring, sustainable plywood
• www.greenbuilder.com – online green building source guide
• www.vetrazzo.com – colorful countertops made from recycled glass

In 2007, Faces in the Wild generated $26,000 for wildlife conservation, and since 2000, Faces in the Wild has raised more than $200,000, including matching donations by Humanscale.

Humanscale founder and CEO Bob King has served on WWF’s National Council since 1999. As a company, Humanscale is committed to environmental sustainability and continually strives to design, engineer and manufacture products that consume less of the Earth’s limited resources.

Create Art, Protect Wildlife

Faces in the Wild: Call for Entries

Calling all artists and designers, amateur and pro: Here’s your opportunity to do what you love most while showing support for a great cause.

Humanscale is now accepting original artwork submissions for Faces in the Wild, an annual art auction and competition aimed at raising awareness and money for World Wildlife Fund, the leader in international efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats.

Original artwork in any tangible medium depicting the face of a non-domesticated animal is eligible for entry. All artwork will be auctioned and judged by a panel of design and architecture leaders in Humanscale’s New York showroom in late April/early May. The artists behind three winning entries will each win a $1,500 credit toward Humanscale products. So unleash your best beast and take comfort in preserving the creatures that inspire your designs.

Due to space limitations, the number of entries is limited to a maximum of 75. To participate, contact Karen Brooking at 212-353-1383 or karen@bdeonline.biz.

> Learn More About Faces in the Wild
> Read Complete Call for Entries Details
>; See Previous Art Submissions

1. Clear out the clutter! We can’t reinforce this enough. Less is more. If a shelf is completely full then nothing on it stands out and it gives the impression that there is not an inch of spare space. A buyer will think that there is no room for their belongings in the home. Pack up the collections. Create small groupings of two or three items and have tons of free space to show off shiny surfaces. Which leads me to the next tip…
2. Make it shine, all of it. Surfaces should sparkle and reflect light. Pearly or light paints on walls are another bonus. We’ve all heard that light paint makes rooms look larger. It’s tried and true.
3. How about making walls look taller? Make the room look bigger still by hanging window treatments as close to the ceiling as possible all the way down to the floor. It is very dramatic!
4. Clean your windows (everything shines and sparkles remember). Be sure to let in the light and expand the view by opening blinds and curtains during showings. Views and space help sell a home.
5. This is one people have trouble with, make sure the furniture is to scale with the room. Too big of furniture can dominate a room. Too small can look cheap or out of place. Make sure there is space to walk with a good traffic pattern. Professional interior designers and home stagers will choose the right furniture for the room and arrange it in the best way possible.

The wirebound hardcovered book is published by Firefly Books and sells for $29.95.

Time to vent! I refuse to throw away plastic bags and I just won’t use paper grocery bags. Now I have bags of bags of bags, especially during this shopping season. The collection is getting out of control but there is an answer! No, I am not going to break down and throw them in the trash. (Speaking of break down, it takes plastic bags as much as 1,000 years to break down in landfill and 450 in water.) I plan on taking my bags to a local recycling bin (as seen in many Medina, OH parking lots) or to the local Giant Eagle grocery store which also has a bag-recycling bin. I will also stash a folded-up fabric shopping bag in my purse. Maybe this will relieve me from the funny looks I get when I reuse or refuse a bag at the store! 

Furthermore, I will now give preference to retailers that sell reusable shopping bags, like Giant Eagle. When I am not at a green store, I tend to apologize to clerks about my proactiveness, but why should I? I think I am hip and ahead of the crowd, kind of like the city of San Francisco who recently banned plastic grocery bags. You can read more about that in this past post by Sharon.

My friend’s think I’m crazy, but I know I am just more educated and aware about the issue. Now you are too.

More facts on plastic bags and their unfriendly impact on the earth:

• Plastic bags don’t biodegrade because their components do not biodegrade (especially oil). They actually break down into smaller toxic bits which become consumable contaminants for animals, even humans.
• Other than oil, plastic bags contain metals like chromium and copper. Exposure leads to diseases.
• Oil is expensive! Can avoiding plastic bags lower gas prices? Yes, if more people change their ways! 12 million barrels of oil, remember?
• My fave environmentally friendly, earth-loving, life-changing website ever - IdealBite – is chock full of facts like the one at the beginning of this article. 

1. Sub-Zero refrigerators
2. Solid surface, granite or quartz countertops (not tile).
3. Fully integrated appliances
4. Pullout pantries
5. Warming drawers
6. Timeless, not trendy designs
7. Wine refrigerators
8. Stainless-steel appliances
9. More storage
10. Products clients pull from K+BB

Home Staging is NOT:

“…Decorating – Anyone can make a home look decorated. Staging is about marketing your home to your target buyer. In fact, personal taste has nothing to do with it. It’s about making a great first impression that creates an emotional connection with buyers and helps them imagine themselves living there.”

“…Just for high-end homes – Every home deserves the best chance at selling quickly and for top dollar whether a starter home or a mansion. Remember, you are competing with other homes within your price range!…”

The list continues with 8 more facts on what staging is not. Check out Susan’s blog to read the rest. You’ll be surprised!

Note – One general rule of staging is not to run appliances during showings, so having a dehumidifier exposed is like raising a red flag. Hide them during showings.

VOC’s are defined in another part of our blog. You’re sucking them in, you might as well find out what they are.