Wallside Windows Gives Back to Detroit Community

Wallside Windows plays an active role in giving back to the community. Last month, Wallside partnered with non-profit company Life Remodeled as a way to provide career direction and charity to their fellow Detroiters. In doing so, Wallside took it upon themselves to contribute to the refurbishment of two homes in the neighborhood surrounding Osborn High School in Detroit by thoughtfully donating a set of twenty vinyl replacement windows. In addition to furnishing two homes with new windows, unemployed Detroit citizens were given a tour of Wallside’s factory in Taylor, MI, where they learned the ropes of window manufacturing and were given insight to the career opportunities as a contractor.

Watch the video below to learn more about our partnership with Life Remodeled and the career opportunities offered at Wallside.

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Five Tips to Eliminate Unwanted Smells from Your Home

In only a day’s time, our homes can take nosedives from smelling like fresh, welcoming abodes to gross messes our grandmothers won’t step a foot in. There are many factors that contribute to a house turning into a stink zone; the nice thing is, they can be avoided pretty easily. Read below to found out how

1. Store Trash Outside Pet droppings, rotted meat and fruit, and potent food dressings all make for a stew of gross, unwanted smells. The thing is, there’s one place we keep them: the trash. If you keep your garbage in a pantry or under the kitchen sink, a way to avoid a cocktail of putrid stenches is to relocate the trash to the garage; store the bags in trash bins (keeping the lid securely on top!) so that 1.) The smell is outside of your house and 2.) Flies and other insects are kept at bay.

2. Apply Thorough Carpet Upkeep Although not visible to the naked eye, odorous particles can be trapped within carpet that, after building up over time, can collectively lead to an unpleasant air. Avoid this by not only staying consistent with your regular vacuuming routine, but by also making sure to cover hard-to-reach spaces that you may normally overlook -- buildup can accumulate here. Furthermore, there are odor eliminator powders you can find at your local convenience store that serve as effective measures against an unsavory home aroma.

3. Clean the Garbage Disposal This is especially important if you do a lot of home cooking. With a smorgasbord of spices, textures, and pungencies, a rank smell is bound to afflict your garbage disposal every once in a while. To combat these instances, run cold water and inject a citrus-based fruit down it (like lemon); the combination should mitigate any noticeably foul or overwhelming smells.

4. Practice Tidy Bathroom Clean-Up The bathroom has never been a living space known for smelling good, which is exactly why it should be scrubbed with extra diligence. Make sure to arm yourself with the proper cleaning solutions and brushes to tackle dirty sinks, toilets, and showers (toilet bowl cleaner being an essential here). Also, clogs in your drains should be unblocked and broken up to avoid unwanted smells induced by a buildup of hair and grit.

 5. Use Candles Playing a key role in a home’s lighting, mood, and smells, candles are essential centerpieces to a home environment. There are literally hundreds of fragrances that you can select based off your scent(s) of preference.

Tips to Clear out Clutter

 

Is clutter invading your house and mind? Here are five tips to help you through the decluttering process.

1. Prepare to purge Central to the success of your de-cluttering mission is your willingness to let go of what you don’t need. Photograph each room and be firm about deciding what needs to be cleared away. Think about the big picture – you may have strong sentimental ties to that wobbly wooden chair, but does it really work in your modern living space? Take it to your local charity store bin once a month, or as soon as its full.

2. Everything in its place Whether you have kids, pets or passions, or live alone and are a total hermit, you’re likely to have accumulated a wide range of weirdly specific stuff. Look at your ‘before’ photos and think about what storage solutions might work for each space. Try to organize like things together in a convenient location. Keep your dog’s leash and bags in one area near the front or back door. Gather all your hats, gloves and slippers into a basket in a closet near the entranceway, so you can do all your winter layering in one spot. Use canisters, baskets and adjustable shelving to organize your linen closet, separating items according to room. Pack your decorations away in boxes according to their holiday, and rather than dismantling centrepieces and wreaths, wrap them in tissue or bubble wrap and cover with a plastic bag

3. The randoms Some things seem harder to organize then others…like the impossible knot of necklaces in your jewelry box or the bulging box of mementos that overflows more every year. Hang bracelets and necklaces on jewelry trees or other elegant hanging stands to stop them from getting tangled. Also separate expensive and cheap pieces and silver and gold jewelry into separate stands or boxes. As for those keepsakes, you can display treasured pictures and cards in a wood and glass display box, or transfer them to an organized file folder with labeled tabs.

4. Create storage space Asses your unused wall, door and floor space, to see where hooks can be hung, storage boxes hidden, and bulletin boards erected. Sturdy, inexpensive baskets are great storage option for the under the bed, or if you’re looking for a new bed, consider one that has a bed frame with shelving built in. In the foyer, you could consider a seating bench with built-in cupboards.

5. Get your papers in order Piles of paper can bring on existential stress in anyone, so get your documents under control with a filing cabinet. It’ll save you time and sanity at tax time, plus filing cabinets have come a long way from the boxy, metal towers of two decades ago. To further cut back on paper, file your recipes in a clear plastic binder or store them electronically and recycle the yellowing hard copies. Donate or recycle old books and magazines when you’ve read them, and keep a central in tray to prevent post from piling up around the house.

Five Ways to Maximize Space in Your Kitchen Renovations

Are you remodeling a cramped, cluttered kitchen? Keep in mind that you don’t need to extend your kitchen to make it work more effectively. Instead, think about getting more creative with space you have. From maximizing natural light to using integrated appliances, following are five great tips to help make your kitchen user-friendly and space-efficient, whatever its size.

1. Break down walls and go open-plan Not only do open-plan kitchens look more spacious and inviting, they also add to your resale value. Tear down non-load-bearing walls in adjoining rooms to improve the dimensions of a cramped kitchen and open up the entire floor space. You can also go half the way, leaving a ‘peekaboo’ space that doubles as a shelf or servery opening.

2. Work your counter space Counters are prime kitchen real estate, and make a huge difference to your kitchen’s functionality. If possible, plan for least four square meters of countertop (including the sink and cooktop), with 15 inches on either side of the cooktop and refrigerator. Landing space is also important near the microwave. If you do a lot of cooking, a counter depth of 600mm or 650mm depth will allow for your wok and bulky pots. Alternatively, you can add valuable counter space with a kitchen island. Islands double as storage and serving spaces, and some come on wheels, so they can be moved out of the way when not in use.

3. Save space with integrated appliances Maximize kitchen space and achieve a clean, uncluttered look with ‘integrated’ appliances that are hidden from view. Consider carefully placed fridge and freezer drawers, which take up far less space than a freestanding fridge. Some models are multi-temperature, which means they can also be programmed to store everything from red wine to pantry items. Or opt for a dishwasher drawer, which can be conveniently located next to your cutlery drawer and crockery cupboard for space-efficient unloading. There are also lots of innovative, scaled-back kitchens appliances – from pint-sized microwaves to two-burner stoves and single sinks.

4. Introduce natural light Natural light will brighten up your kitchen and make it look larger than it is. If your current kitchen has a blank exterior wall, you have a great blank slate on which to add windows. Remember that window installation requires a building permit and the skills of professionals. Alternatively, you can enhance your kitchen’s natural light by installing glass panels in the wall between the overhead cupboards and benches. Glass bricks are a great option where you don’t want to be too exposed. Contact the experts at Wallside Windows at (313) 908-5243 to discuss transforming your kitchen with custom windows.

5. Add open shelves and storage Swap your high, hard-to-reach cupboards for open storage, such as shelving, pot racks or magnetic knife or spice holders. This turns a boxy, claustrophobic vertical layout into an eye-catching display space for your favorite crockery, pots, or artwork. You can also add a handy shelf beside or behind your cooktop, to store cooking oils, utensils and spices. Or consider placing hooks to hang your frequently used pots and pans.

Investing in Energy Efficient Windows

Do you want replacement windows that will cut your energy costs? The following are some key things to consider when looking for windows that deliver maximum energy efficiency.

Solar protection Low-emissivity, or low-e glass, is an energy-efficient glass that prevents the passage of heat in and out of your home. Low-e glass blocks natural sunlight in summer, and helps stop indoor heat from escaping during winter months. At Wallside Windows, our dual-pane windows are custom-designed using low-e glass, making them an excellent year-round investment. We can also apply an additional UV coating to your windows, to further reflect interior heat and/or external sunlight.

Insulation Insulation is one of the simplest ways that we can make our homes more energy efficient. Which is why Wallside Windows offer dual-pane windows with argon gas between the two panes for more insulation. Our innovative design keeps heat in during winter and sunshine out during summer, making them up to 50 percent more efficient than their single-pane counterparts.

Energy-efficient treatments You can extend the energy-saving benefits of your windows even further with treatments such as awnings, interior blinds, and window draperies. Install window awnings for extra UV protection during summer, and as a defense against damaging wild winter weather. With energy-efficient interior blinds, you can control the amount of light and heat entering through the windows, simply by raising, lowering, or opening the blinds. Choose medium weight window draperies in a darker shade, and hang them very closely to your window surface for optimum energy efficiency.

Tax credits Homeowners can receive cash rebates on qualifying energy-efficient improvements, including replacement windows. Visit the government’s Energy Star website to learn more about energy-efficient rebates.

Installation Installation is crucial to ensuring your energy-efficient windows perform as they should. Windows should be installed in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations and be properly air sealed, which involves caulking the frame and weatherstripping the components. It’s best to have a professional install your windows – so don’t hesitate to call the team at Wallside Windows for an energy-efficient window installation you can trust.

To learn more about energy-efficient windows and treatments, contact the team at Wallside Windows of Detroit at (313) 908-5243. Our home window replacement experts can help you design energy-efficient windows that are perfect for your home.