Rural Living Today - Page 3 of 17

Visiting Canada 4 Things You Need to Know

Last Updated on May 17th, 2019

Visiting Canada or are you traveling to Canada for the first time? Or perhaps want to visit Canada someday?

First-time visitors to any country should know how to travel safely and smartly – and travelers to Canada are no exception to this rule.

The foremost crucial thing you need to know for a hassle-free traveling experience to Canada is that you need to get the Electronic Travel Authorization (eta) to enter the country.

While some countries are exempted from this requirement, you would want to confirm your country is among the Canada eta eligible countries before taking the leap – more on this later in the article!

Canada has been one of the most popular tourist attractions for decades.

Here are some Must Sees in Canada

Lively vibrant cities, kind people, breathtaking scenic beauty, and advanced quality of education are some of the main reasons why people from all over the world travel to Canada, at least once in their lifetime.

Here are some tips that will ensure you have a great time in Canada.

4 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Canada

It Is a Huge Country

Canada comes under Russia on the list of world’s largest countries and covers an area of 9.9 million square kilometers.

The fact that it is surrounded by three oceans i.e. the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific means that you will require more time and money to travel around the country.

While flying might be an easier and faster option, it is expensive.

Hence, the best way to enjoy your time in Canada without breaking your bank is to choose a region or two to explore in advance and spend your time there.

It Is Less Populated

Canada is large if we speak geographically but not many people live there.

The population density is only 3.7 people per square kilometer, which explains a lot of empty space around the country.

The majority of people live in big cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

This is why these cities are the top choice of tourists who are traveling to Canada for the first time.

The Requirement of eta

The eta is a must for all visa-free nationals with the exception of Americans.

You would want to confirm that your country falls in the category of Canada eta eligible countries before planning your trip.

Once you are sure your country is among the Canada eta eligible countries, you can travel to Canada without a visa.

However, if not, you would have to get an eta even if you just plan to pass through Canada on your way to somewhere else.

An eta is a travel authorization and not a visa – hence, it is easy to apply for and faster.

With an eta, foreign nationals belonging to visa exempt countries can live in Canada for up to 6 months.

Its validity period is 5 years but if your passport expires before that, it is deemed invalid.

Be Prepared for the Weather

While the natural beauty and wonderful parks of Canada may excite you to your core, you need to be prepared for the cold weather.

Yes, winter never really leaves Canada.

Especially if you are visiting between December and March, you should consider packing up many layers of warm clothes.

Even during the summer season, you are likely to feel cold if you are not a native Canadian.

With these tips in your mind, your time in Canada will likely be the best time of your life. It is such a picturesque place, which with the friendly Canadians becomes even more lively and welcoming. It may well be a welcome change from the rural lifestyle you are accustomed to.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your visit to Canada and brace yourself for a wonderful experience!

Just if you are a foreign national from any of the Canada eta eligible countries, make sure you apply for an eta first.

Ways to Make Your Home a Wellness Sanctuary

Last Updated on May 1st, 2019

Wellness sanctuary – How do you feel in your home?

Do you feel comfortable and relaxed, or is your home a source of stress for you?

If your living space doesn’t bring you peace, change it.

You can turn your home from distressing to a place of tranquility.

Photo credit: unsplash.com

Make Your Home Into a Wellness Sanctuary

It’s easy to come home after a long day and feel stressed out.

You might have dishes you’ve not gotten to, or there’s mail on the table you need to go through, laundry to put away or vacuuming that needs to be done.

You might just be tired of your old furniture and sick of looking at your walls.

You need a happy place.

What if that happy place could be your house?

All you need is a few small changes to achieve big results with house designs that are captivating.

Start with a deep clean to make your home into a wellness sanctuary

Deep cleaning is a lot of work but brings great rewards.

Remove dust and toxins, improve your home’s air quality and let the light in.

Your living space will look and smell better.

Declutter Your Home

2018 was the year of the purge for so many, and 2019 looks the same.

Go through your place and reorganize your belongings.

Remove the things you don’t want or use anymore and if they cannot be donated or recycled, throw them away.

You’d be amazed at how beneficial it is when you declutter.

Designate a spot to relax

Because your home is your happy place, create a spot just for you to relax.

It can be a sitting room, a library, or any place that makes you relax.

Use this space for your own personal endeavors and hobbies, personalizing the space.

Make it comfortable with a few candles, special pictures or a comfy throw.

Bring the outdoors into your sanctuary

Add natural touches to your home with plants.

They’ll improve the quality of your air and add a touch of the outdoors inside.

Create natural light

Clean your windows to maximize the natural light in your home.

Studies have proven the benefits natural light has on your mental and physical well-being.

Lighting can be a great and easy rural home upgrade.

Go ahead and let the light in!

It’s the perfect way to showcase your newly-cleaned windows.

Switch to non-toxic cleaning products

Who wants to breathe in chemicals?

You can easily make your own all-natural cleaning supplies, or purchase them at most stores.

They’re better for you, and for the planet.

Keep your goals in mind while shopping for homes for sale in Rio Rancho, NM.

Our agents here at Myers & Myers will help you find the perfect spot to create a wellness sanctuary.

Best Organic Dog Food Comparison – We Found the Best

Last Updated on May 10th, 2019

Best Organic Dog Food – Today more than ever, dogs are considered a part of the family. This means providing them with the excellent nutrition that is required to ensure a long and healthy life.

The pet food industry in the U.S. is virtually unregulated. This means just about anything can go into your dog’s food.

Finding the best organic dog food can be tricky.

Fortunately, there are dog food companies dedicated to creating organic, healthy, holistic, and wholesome pet foods.

Fun Outdoor Activities To Do With Your Dog

Which is the best organic dog food?

The short answer is: The best dog food depends on your dog.

If your dog has allergies, needs a special diet, or is a picky eater, you might have to try a few different brands of food to find the one that works for your pet.

All of the above brands make holistic dog food with your pet’s well-being in mind, so you’ll be able to find a healthy dog food that works for your dog.

Orgainc Food is not just for humans but also for your dog.

This list aims to give you the guidance you need to ensure that your dog gets the best possible nutrition without unnecessary extras.

Here are the top organic dog food…

Best Organic Dog Food Comparison – We Found the Best

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry

This organic dog food could for the basis for the healthy diet of any pup.

All nutrients and vitamins essential to wellness are found in this food.

Additionally, it is available in an astonishing range of varieties.

Choose from the original turkey and chicken mix or opt for something like duck, boar, rabbit, salmon or ocean whitefish.

Options for small breeds and large breeds are available in addition to reduced fat varieties.

This made in the USA product avoids artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

Processed meats are never involved, and you won’t find any soy, corn or wheat.

However, you will find probiotics and antioxidants in abundance, and your four-legged buddy is bound to love the delicious flavors.

Wellness Dog Food

Uses premium meats like deboned chicken, New Zealand lamb, and white fish
No artificial preservatives
Use high quality grains such as oatmeal and barley that provide essential vitamins and nutrients
No corn
Adds selected botanical extracts such as green tea and lycopene
No meat by-products
No artificial flavors, colors or dyes

30 lb bag of Wellness Complete Health Dog Food

Castor Pollux Organic Dry Dog Food

Castor Pollux Organic Dry Dog Food is wholly organic kibble is a great choice for health-conscious pet parents.

It contains an excellent mix of dietary fiber, healthy fats and lean proteins.

The original flavor features chicken and brown rice, and quinoa and flaxseed also are in the list of ingredients.

Suitable for puppies, adults and large breeds, your pup is bound to love this natural choice.

With real, organic chicken as the number-one ingredient, you can rest assured that your beloved dog will be getting the kind of nutrition that she deserves.

Quinoa is a rich grain that promises a multitude of health benefits.

It does not contain gluten.

Made in the USA, you can trust that this product is suitable for your pet.

Merrick Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food

The list of ingredients in this straightforward, healthy food is so impressive that it’s printed on the front of the package.

A mix of beef, lamb meal, potatoes, peas and sweet potatoes is bound to appeal to any pooch.

A total of nine different flavors are available, so if your pup is not into beef or lamb, you’re certain to find a combination that he does like.

Each variety of Merrick Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food boasts a balance of 70 percent protein to 30 percent fruits and vegetables.

That’s about ideal for maintaining healthy weight and guaranteeing energy and happiness.

One thing that is particularly admirable about the Merrick company is their dedication to locally sourced ingredients.

It’s only after exhausting all local options that they will cast a wider net.

This dry dog food is made in the USA without using any components from China.

It’s also grain free, so if your vet has recommended such a diet for your dog, you can trust that you’re giving him the right food.

AvoDerm Natural

This food is available in a variety of flavors for both large and small breeds.

It boasts plenty of high-quality proteins from an array of sources, so finding one that your pup loves shouldn’t be a problem.

What makes AvoDerm Natural stand apart from the competition is its liberal use of avocado.

A source of fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins, avocado is an incredibly rich food for your pet.

In addition to providing balanced nutrition, your dog also will benefit from an improved skin and coat.

Shiny hair and less itchiness often are the result of adding avocado to a dog’s diet, and this is an easy way to get the job done.

There are grain-free formulas to aid with good digestion.

Pet parents can rest assured that all ingredients are natural and healthy with nary a byproduct in sight.

With immune-system support as well, you can be proud to give your furry family member this food.

TruDog Real Meat Organic

If you want to feed your dog a high-quality food that focuses on protein, protein and more protein, then this may be the solution you’ve been looking for…TruDog Real Meat Organic Dog Food.

It’s available in two yummy varieties: beef or turkey.

All ingredients in this food are freeze dried to seal in freshness and optimal nutritional value.

You won’t find any grains or unnecessary fillers in the ingredient list.

That’s because TruDog is all about offering optimum nutrition and nothing else.

The virtually all-meat formulation guarantees easy digestion, which means less discomfort.

It also translates to better absorption of nutrients, so your dog may be healthier and more energetic than ever before.

All you have to do is add a bit of water to each serving.

Your pup will think she’s getting a delicious serving of raw meat.

Natural Ultramix Grain Free

Another selection from Castor & Pollux, Natural Ultramix Grain Free is available in both duck and chicken.

The meat is always the first ingredient on the list, ensuring that this is a high-quality choice for your friend.

One of the most impressive features of this kibble is the visible chunks of fruits and vegetables.

You can rest assured that your dog is getting the best possible nutrition because you can see the ingredients.

Every fruit and vegetable is carefully chosen to deliver the best nutritional value.

Once again, this food is made in the United States without imported ingredients.

It offers an excellent mix of protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

Natural Balance Dog Food

Grain-free options for dogs with allergies
No artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or bleached ingredients
High in Omega 3, a natural source of DHA
Natural ingredients to help rebuild a dog’s immune system

28 lb bag of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato and Chicken Dry Dog Food

Nature’s Variety Instinct Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

When Nature’s Variety designed this kibble, they first learned about what your pup’s ancestors would have eaten.

Everything that they discovered went into crafting the seven flavors of this outstanding dry dog food.

With beef and lamb, duck and turkey, chicken, salmon, rabbit and more, you can be certain that your dog will get high-quality protein from every formula.

This all-natural food is gluten and grain free.

You won’t find any fillers or artificial ingredients or grains.

This is a remarkably clean and healthy food for your pup.

What is a Livestock Guardian Dog
Do You Need a Livestock Guardian Animal
How to Be a Livestock Guardian Dog
Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit
Best Organic Dog Food Comparison – We Found the Best

Canidae Dog Food (No 1 Amazon Seller)

Nutritionally dense meals originate from meats processed in a human grade facility
All natural, high quality, holistic pet food
No corn, wheat, soy, grain fractions or fillers
Naturally preserved
Free-range and/or antibiotic-free meats

30 lb bag of Canidae Dog Food Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Deboned chicken, lamb or fish is the first ingredient, which means there is more real meat than any other ingredient
No chicken byproducts or poultry byproducts
Wholesome whole grains
Garden vegetables and antioxidant-rich fruit
No corn, wheat, or soy proteins
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

30 lb bag of Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Dog Food

Solid Gold Dog Food

Solid Gold may be the best dog food brand.

When our puppy had chicken allergies, we fed him Solid Gold puppy food and the allergies disappeared.

No chemical preservatives
Specialize in the development of “low allergen” products
Use USDA Choice meats, USDA grade I and II grains, and healthful monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils
Never add animal or poultry fat to our products
Use foil “barrier” packaging for all our dry food products, which means we don’t have to use chemical preservatives or flavor enhancers

33 lb bag of Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken Adult Maintenance Dog Food

HALO Dog Food

No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
No gluten, wheat or corn
Natural sources of soluble and insoluble fiber
No rendered meats, poultry or fish, animal or plant by-products
Home-style recipe with easy to recognize and understand ingredients

31 lb bag of Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food

Honest Kitchen Dog Food – Zeal Dog Food

The Honest Kitchen sent us some of their Zeal dog food for our dogs to try.

Murphy, our dog who is allergic to poultry, loves fish in his food.

He especially loved the Zeal food.

One thing that’s unique about the Honest Kitchen’s dog food with fish it contains wild-caught fish.

Unfortunately this makes it expensive at about $10 (dehydrated) per pound.

Obviously it weighs a lot more and becomes cheaper when you add water.

Grain free
Dehydrated
Gluten Free
Amazing ingredients

You can buy Zeal dog food on Amazon along with their full line of dog foods.

Quick Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit

Last Updated on May 7th, 2019

Here’s a Quick Way to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit

Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit – Pets, especially dogs, are so used to the home life that they too like their owners can carried away by the sedentary lifestyle.

As owners it is very important that you convey a day to day life that is makes both you and your pet healthy and fit.

Although most pet owners would blame their exceptionally busy schedule for not being able to regularly walk and exercise their dog, there are a lot of easy and fun ways that can be done.

When you find yourself too busy or always in a hurry, you can use some of these quick tips to maintain your dog’s health and fitness.

Start With the Grub

You may not realize it at first but the idea of leaving the house with your pet all alone spells guilt for you that you think leaving a lot of food in their bowls would help.

Sad to say being unable to control the amount of food that you give your dog is a big factor that contributes to the unhealthy and unfit daily living.

It may seem too harsh at first but leaving a substantial amount of food for your pet is a good start to make it remember the small amounts for each meal.

Also consider giving your pet small meals a couple of times a day instead of just leaving a large chunk as a single portion.

Heathly Dog Food Exercise ball for your dog Play with your dog

Make Time for Play

No matter how busy you get, ensure that you have time to play with your pet at least once each day.

This will help your pet have a boost in energy instead of just lazily lounging inside your house.

You can stay behind your computer and ask your dog to fetch a toy ball while you type away all your emails or you can even be answering your phone calls while playing catch with a Frisbee.

Remember that your pet can only do these activities with your encouragement, so make sure you guide them accordingly.

Exercise with your dog

Learn and Read

If you are unsure of what activities to offer for your fluffy buddy that will help them get interested, then why not read and learn all about it.

You can look through the library for informative book about pets or even visit sites online.

Applying what you have read and learned may not necessarily be that easy for our pet especially if these are new activities.

When this scenario happens, learn to be patient and try out different strategies to see which ones will work for your pet.

Run With your dog

Be Practical and Creative to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit

Work with what you already have at home and take the initial set of bringing your dog’s health and fitness back to optimum level.

Say you have very limited space inside your home then why not teach your pet to maneuver through the small spaces every time you are home.

Or in case you live in an apartment or condo that has a lot of staircases, why not get your dog moving with you to take the flight of stairs back home.

Think up of very simple skills but ensure that your dog is able to do it several times each week for optimal advantage.

Make Time for Play with your dog

Set a Good Example

You may not see it but your dog more often than not will be doing just about anything you will so if you manage to spend the entire day on the couch then trust they will be at your feet the entire day too.

So consider bringing your activity level a little bit higher than your usual too.

Take the time to head out for a quick brisk walk in the morning before you head to work and bring along your pet with you. Running will be very effective as well, but there are common runner injuries to be aware of.

Consider that health and fitness is something that both you and your pet have to do together and the effort will surely be much better and more fun.

Camping Green with Your Dog for a Fun Time

Bringing your furry friend along on a camping trip can be a great travel experience.

It is so much more fun for him than just sitting on a hotel room floor.

Remember though that traveling with a pet means thinking your pet’s environmental impacts, too.

Before heading into the woods, make sure you’re prepared for camping green with your dog.

Already by camping you are making a green vacation choice.

Think of all the wastefulness at hotels for things you don’t really need or even care about.

By choosing camping, you can have even more fun by including all of your family members and have a greener, closer to nature experience.

: 5 Tips for Camping Green With Your Dog

photo by Laertes

Hacks for Camping Green with Your Dog

Plan ahead

Camping is one of the most environmentally-friend ways to travel and there are tons of dog-friendly campgrounds and parks.

Just make sure your destination is one of them.

Call the park of your choice ahead of time to confirm that they allow dogs or search for a dog-friendly park in the US or Canada on DogFriendly or PetFriendlyTravel.

Pack reusable pet supplies

Instead of dumping your organic dog food into a bio-disposable plastic bag, look around the house for an old cloth bag that you can convert into reusable pet food container.

And if you don’t want to carry bulky dog bowls with you, you can invest in recycled, reusable, portable pet food and water containers.

Not sure where to start?

GreenPeople’s list of where to find green pet supplies across the world is a great resource.

Keep your dog on a leash.

Even if your dog is dandy off-leash at the neighborhood park, in an unfamiliar environment he might get excited and run away.

Remember that rules are there for your pet’s protection, too, especially when you’re hiking or camping.

If your dog runs off and barks up the wrong tree — say one with a bear in it — you and your dog could both be in real danger.

It may be hard to believe, but not everyone wants your dog, no matter how well trained and behaved, running up to say hi, jumping on them, etc.

Best Dog Leash

Don’t let your pup get out of control.

It’s easy to think that one dog can’t do any real damage, but disturbing wildlife or digging up trails can have real consequences.

If your dog start misbehaving, correct his behavior just like you would at home.

Pick up (and throw away) poop.

Yes, poop is natural and biodegradable, but your dog’s poop isn’t indigenous to the woods you’re hiking through.

When you’re traveling green camping, you strive to ensure the place you’re leaving is in same condition it was in when you arrived.

So preserve the environment by cleaning up after your dog and using biodegradable dog bags.

And make sure you dispose of your dog’s waste only in trash cans.

Another tip is to take your dog camping in the off season.

You will avoid crowds and other dogs, and less commotion will be all-around better for your pup.

You are probably already doing most of these things at home.

Just remember that your dog is going to be experiencing exciting new surroundings and keeping these tips in mind can make camping green with your dog a positive experience for everyone.

Hacks for Hiking with Your Dog

My favorite vacation involves packing up a small tent, a backpack and some food and heading out with my husband for a hike or a bike ride.

Even if we only manage a few days away, I really enjoy the seclusion, and the time to think and talk.

It feeds our relationship.

I love the quote, “Take only photographs and leave only footprints” and I always make the effort to leave the environment exactly as we found it.

On our last walking trip, we took our dog. It was quite a learning curve, because although we’d traveled with our dog many times, this was the first time we’d tried a green vacation with our dog.

Use Biodegradable Poop Bags

I always pick up my dog’s droppings when we’re out and about.

Plastic bags can last a long time in the environment, so I made sure to purchase biodegradable poo bags.

That way, if we were out on the trails, I could pick up the poo and bury it off to the side of the trail, and I’d know I wasn’t harming the environment with plastic.

Keep Your Dog on a Leash

I know our dog is well behaved, and would come back when he’s called, but I never let him off leash when we’re hiking.

Dogs are predators, and their instincts are strong.

Our dog is a whippet, and if he saw a small creature run across his path, he would be off after it, and would have a very good chance of catching it.

For the sake of the birds and wildlife that live in the forests, I keep him restrained.

No doubt he’d rather be running loose, but I’d feel dreadful if he killed something.

5 Tips for Hiking with Your Dog: A Green Vacation for the Whole Family

photo credit: cogdogblog

Know How Far Your Dog Can Walk

We can walk for miles with our dog.

However, walking does limit how far we can travel.

If we want to take him further than he can walk, we either need to take the car, or find an alternative means of transport that is dog friendly, as well as environmentally friendly.

Enter the bike dog trailer.

This neat little trailer attaches to the back of a bicycle, and is safe and comfortable for a dog to ride in.

When we stop for the night, it converts to a kennel for him to sleep in.

It’s not cheap, and you do need to train your dog to relax in it, but if you’re going to make a habit of biking trips with your dog, it’s a great investment.

Don’t Give Your Dog a Bath (Unless He Stinks)

Dogs can become quite dirty while they’re hiking.

They love to roll in dust and mud, and they find the aroma of dead animals particularly appealing.

I’ve found that the less I bathe my dog, the better his coat repels dust and dirt.

So, save water, don’t bathe him and the natural oils in his coat will allow you to brush the dirt off him.

Of course, that doesn’t apply to “eau de dead animal,” in which case you really do need to shampoo him.

Try to choose a dog shampoo that contains no parabens or sodium lauryl sulphate.

Think About Bug Bites

Depending on where you live, hiking along forest trails may leave you and your dog susceptible to attack by biting insects, including ticks and mosquitoes.

There are many shampoos and sprays that contain natural insecticides such as tea tree oil or neem oil which will help to repel insects, without the need to apply chemicals to your dog.

Take care with natural oils because natural doesn’t necessarily mean non-toxic.

Packing a first aide kit for your dog is a must.

We found that it really doesn’t take too much effort to enjoy a green vacation with our dog.

A bit of forethought means we can share our trip with our four legged family member, while taking care of our environment.

That’s a win-win situation.

What is a Livestock Guardian Dog
Do You Need a Livestock Guardian Animal
How to Be a Livestock Guardian Dog
Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit
Best Organic Dog Food Comparison – We Found the Best

Top Dog Travel Accessories

Are you ready to set out and see the world?

If so, you might be wondering what to do with your furry companion as you follow your travel bug instincts.

The good news is, with the right planning, your pooch can come along for the ride!

Thanks to modern dog travel accessories, it’s easier than ever to ensure that everyone in your family, including those who walk on four paws, arrives safe and sound to your destination.

Today, we’re delving into a few pieces of can’t-miss gear that will get your dog ready faster than he can bark “Bonjour!”

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Small dog maltese sitting in his transporter or bag and waiting for a trip

A State-of-the-Art Carrier

You want to sit in a plush and comfy seat while you travel, so why shouldn’t your dog?

One of the essential dog travel accessories to remember is a carrier that keeps your pet secure and surrounded by comfort for the duration of the trip.

If your dog is small enough to ride in style in your airplane cabin, his carrier will go under your seat, per federal guidelines.

If you’re traveling by car, top-quality carriers can actually serve as safety car seats, giving you peace of mind as you cruise the open road.

Looking for an in-cabin pet carrier that’s both stylish and functional?

Try a Sherpa Deluxe Pet Carrier or another customer favorite, the Sleepypod.

Collapsible Feeding Accessories

Chances are, your suitcases are pretty full as you embark on your new adventure.

Imagine trying to squeeze in several hard food and water bowls in there!

To this end, it’s worth it to invest in a few collapsible, portable silicone bowls that can be used for feeding as you travel.

Most of these come with a carabiner, allowing you to easily affix them to your leash or carrier to ensure they’re never too far out of reach.

This makes them extremely convenient for hiking or camping. You can even have an on-the-spot picnic wherever you choose!

Check out this travel bowl set by Buster Pet Co. to get started!

A Doggie Stroller

If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time sightseeing by foot, a doggie stroller is one of the dog travel accessories you can’t afford to miss.

Perfect both for injured and aging pets as well as those who might just need a break from prancing around taking in the sights, these strollers come in a variety of sizes and weight limits.

Most doggie strollers fold up easily and feature mesh sides to ensure your pet stays cool and shaded as he glides around.

Many also include bottom and side storage compartments, so you can keep other gear within arms reach.

Check out VIVO’s three-wheel pet stroller or this OxGord Carrier Carriage for inspiration!

Clean-Up Gear

Though your pet may be flying first-class and being wheeled around in a stroller, the reality is that nature will inevitably call.

When this happens, it’s best to be prepared with gear that allows you to take care of the mess quickly and conveniently, so you can get back to enjoying your trip.

It helps to pack a little “Clean Up Kit” to take along on your journey.

This might be one of the less glamorous dog travel accessories, but it’s an important one just the same.

From waste bags and deodorizing wipes to pee pads and household cleaners, arm yourself with the tools to keep your area neat and clean, so you don’t have to worry about a little spill upsetting your trip.

Compression Shirt

Even after you’ve read your pre-travel guide and fine-tuned your itinerary, you might still face a little uneasiness as you leave the comforts of home for a new place you might not have ever experienced — and that’s totally normal.

Similarly, being away from home and in a new environment might trigger a little anxiety in your dog.

To help him feel at ease, you may consider bringing along a doggie compression shirt.

Akin to swaddling a baby, a compression shirt wraps tightly around your dog to enhance feelings of security and comfort.

One of the most popular types of these dog travel accessories is the Thundershirt.

If you suspect your pet may take a while to warm up to your vacation digs, try one out!

Experts claim they’re one of the top ways to alleviate worry and tension in your furry friend.

Pet-Focused First-Aid Kit

You don’t have to bring the entire medicine cabinet, but don’t forget your dog when packing your first-aid essentials.

In addition to any medications your pet is currently taking, remember to also bring flea prevention, tick removal gear (try these tick keys), wound care supplies, a digital thermometer, and any other supplies you think you’ll need.

Don’t feel like packing everything à la carte?

Pre-packaged pet first-aid kits, like this 46-piece one from First Aid-USA, take care of everything for you, so there’s no guesswork.

Are there any toiletries, such as allergy-relief shampoo, that your dog can’t live without? Don’t forget to throw those in too!

Document Holder

From a pet passport to updated vaccination and medical history information, depending on where you’re traveling to, you could be required to present multiple forms of documentation on your pet.

In addition to ID data, you may also want to bring along the names and phone numbers of local veterinarians.

You never know when you may require their services while you’re away from your trusted care providers.

In addition, it’s helpful to bring along a list of your pet’s prescriptions, and his microchip registration information.

With so many items to track, you can easily misplace important documents.

Keep them handy and organized with a waterproof pouch that’s easy to take with you.

Dog Travel Accessories and More: Your On-the-Go Guide

Whether you’re venturing into a neighboring city or are embarking on a trip around the world, we’d love to help you get there.

We’re experts on everything travel.

We love sharing advice and insights on where to go, what to see, and how to do it all on a budget.

Let’s go on a new adventure together — Fido and all!

First Aid Kit for your Dog or Pet

Traveling with your faithful companion can be a very rewarding experience.

Pets enrich our lives, and they can offer a lot of comfort and joy.

But in today’s times we need to travel as green as possible while still providing for simple necessities.

And one such necessity you should consider when traveling with your pet or camping with your dog ~ hiking with your dog, is a first aid kit just for them.

After all, things do happen that are out of our control.

And we want to keep the safety of our pet in mind.

So, with a little effort, we can easily put together a pet first aid kit that makes traveling safer while being earth friendly in its design.

First Aid Kit for your Pet

When putting together a pet first aid kit, take some time to consider the container itself.

You will want a container that opens easily, since after all you may be occupied with a wounded pet.

Also try to find something that is durable and as close to waterproof as you can.

Finally, make sure that it can hold everything you need without undo force required to close the lid.

And make sure that the kit fits the intended travel – you may have to downsize things if you expect it to fit in your dog’s backpack.

Basic Contents for First Aid Kit for your Pet

Creating a pet first aid kit is not that different from one for a person.

You need to be able to apply basic first aid to your pet, so the materials need to be on hand.

For simple first aid, consider the following items:

Blankets –

An injured pet may need to be covered, and it can offer protection in the case of adverse conditions.

Masking Tape –

In the event of a spinal injury, your pet may need to be secured to a board by a means that will not harm fur.

Typical adhesive tape, such as those used for bandages, may prove to be too much when used to restrain the pet.

Muzzle –

Obviously required more for a dog than a cat, muzzles are good to have handy in case of an injury.

An injured or stressed dog is more likely to bite than it would otherwise, and it could help to protect the animal from any required defensive actions.

Activated Charcoal Tablets –

Activated charcoal can help with your pet’s diarrhea and gas while traveling.

In some cases kaeopectates could be used, but you should ask the advice of your vet first.

Also note that the absorption capability of activated charcoal could help in the case of accidental poisoning.

Antibacterial Ointments –

This will help with nicks and cuts your pet may experience in their travels.

Cotton Swabs –

For cleaning wounds and applying medicines as required.

Tweezers –

Great for pulling splinters and cleaning wounds.

Gauze and Gauze Pads –

Wound treatment – keeping a wound clean will aid in healing and prevent more serious infections.

Vet Approved Ipecacs –

In the case of serious poisoning this can induce vomiting, removing the toxins from the body.

But improper use can be dangerous, and some pets cannot be induced this way without injury.

So be sure to ask your vet first before inclusion or using.

Medicine Droppers – For drop by drop administration of medicines and flushing with a cleaner.

Scissors –

Scissors are essential to trim fur from affected areas as well helping with wound dressings.

Adhesive Tape –

This strong tape will secure the gauze and pads when dressing a wound, but be careful to not involve too much fur in the process.

This kind of tape can be hard to remove from such surfaces and may need to be cut free.

Saline flush –

Use this in place of Hydrogen Peroxide when cleaning a wound.

It can also be used to clean eyes from contaminants.

Destination Specific Items –

Not all pet first aid kits are equal, nor do they need to be.

For example, you may be traveling into an area that has poisonous plants or extreme heat that you would normally not need to prepare for.

Emergency Numbers –

Be sure to include not only the number of your regular vet but also the number of a close by pet hospital for the area you are visiting.

In the case of an emergency this can save valuable time.

A great place for this is on the inside lid of your pet first aid kit.

Extra Food Another thing to bring is extra food for your pet.

We always prefer the best dog food that’s organic.

What Not To Use in Pet First Aid

While first aid for a pet is not radically different from basic first aid concepts for people, there are nonetheless some things that should be avoided.

Hydrogen Peroxide kills white blood cells that would otherwise be fighting the infection.

Instead use a saline flush.

If you have a cat, then never give it aspirin or Tylenol (acetaminophen).

These drugs are toxic to cats, and should be avoided at all costs.

Ibuprofen should never be given to dogs, since it can cause kidney failure – even a little can make them very sick.

As you can see, it is easy to put together a pet first aid kit for your favorite companion that not only could prove valuable on a trip but also avoids components that are harmful to the planet.

It is one of the best things that you can have for your pet that you hopefully will never use.

Natural Flea Treatment Ideas for Dogs and Cats

It’s one of those things I thought would never happen to my dogs: They got fleas.

And we ran out to buy them those synthetic flea treatment collars just to realize that these are simply pesticides.

We take care not to use pesticides in our yard or home, but ironically, we’d just invited them in!

Because we didn’t like the idea of tying poison around our pets’ necks, we decided on another course.

Here’s what we learned about natural flea treatment ideas for dogs and cats.

Photo credit: AlyssssyLA

Best Natural Flea Treatment

First, you have to get rid of adult fleas and their larvae and eggs on your furniture, pet bedding, and carpets before you should even bother treating your pets themselves.

I know, ew.

But cleaning your home of fleas isn’t as difficult as it sounds.

In fact, you’re probably already taking care of the problem with general cleaning measures.

Here’s what to clean before treating dogs and cats for fleas:

Vacuum all carpets, couch cushions, or mattresses that your dogs or cats use

Don’t think they sneak up onto the bed while you’re not looking?

If not, your pets are better trained than mine.

Of course, that’s not saying much.

Mine pretty much have the run of the place.

Wash all pet bedding

Strip pet beds and machine wash with hot water, then tumble dry.

Don’t air dry: you need the heat to kill the fleas and larvae.

Sweep any other pet traffic areas that are not carpeted

You’re probably already doing most of this on a daily or semi-regular basis.

Now you’re ready to address the flea problem on your pets themselves.

Amid all the synthetic solutions for fleas on your grocery store shelves are three natural remedies:

Natural flea treatment remedies:

Organic pyrethrin:

Derived from the flower heads of Old World chrysanthemums, pyrethrin has been used for centuries to fight fleas.

If it’s hard to find, you can more readily find d-Limonene, which is a by-product of the citrus industry, and smells like grapefruit.

While in the pet aisle, look for ‘natural’ or organic flea treatments containing one of these ingredients.

Diatomaceousearth:

Much safer than pyrethrin (though even harder to say three times fast), diatomaceousearth is a form of dust-like algae.

According to Mother Earth News, it can be sprinkled on pet bedding and carpet, where it attaches itself to the waxy coating of a flea’s shell, dehydrating it.

Find it at a home and garden store under natural or organic agents.

Natural flea prevention:

Better yet is to not have a flea problem in the first place, right?

The following natural remedies go a long way toward keeping fleas at bay (though every pet’s general health and skin condition also play a role).

Brewer’s yeast:

add one small tablet to your dog or cat’s food.

The yeast will excrete through the skin, making the animal less attractive to fleas.

Apple cider vinegar:

add a spoonful to your dog’s water to make their skin more acidic.

If they balk at the taste, you can dilute it 50/50 with water and use it in a spray bottle as a repellent.

Rosemary flea dip:

steep a few cups of rosemary in boiling water, strain it, and add a gallon of warm water to the liquid.

Give your dog a bath in it, pouring it over him, then allowing him to dry naturally.

He’ll smell great, too!

Learn a quick way to keep your dog healthy and fit.

Fleas are both an incredible nuisance and incredibly unhealthy for your pets.

Preventative measures go the furthest.

Before trying any flea treatments, organic or otherwise, consult your veterinarian, who can assist with the right dosage for the size of your pet.

There are some excellent natural flea treatment ideas to help your pets.

Learn how to control and prevent fleas for happier dogs and cats.

Best Pet Carrier for Traveling With Your Dog

Those of us with pets know how hard it can be to leave them at home.

But, if you’re willing to fly your pet in the cargo space, or your pet is small enough to fit under an airplane seat, you don’t have to.

Some people even need their pets near them to fly without anxiety.

The best case scenario is when your pet can accompany you into the airplane cabin.

Not having to say goodbye to them or worry about the condition of the plane’s cargo area before, during, or after your flight can bring peace of mind to any owner.

Those who want to travel with their pets need savvy carriers.

The carrier must be comfortable for them.

If flying in the cargo space, they need great conditions.

If the pet is by your feet, they need to fly in circumstances that will keep them cool to avoid over heating and heavy barking.

Most U.S. airlines and even many international airlines allow passengers to travel with an in-cabin dog.

Some require permits or Emotional Support Animal licenses.

Regardless of your situation, choosing a carrier that is right for you and your pet is important.

Pet Carrier for Travel

Here are a few great options when it comes to the best pet carrier:

Small dog maltese sitting in the suitcase and waiting for a trip

The Sleepypod

The Sleepypod is sleek and chic and is also a bed for your pet.

If your pet occasionally likes to sleep in this comfy little carrier, it will make traveling much less of an ordeal for them.

The Sleepypod is not only comfortable, it has been crash tested! It also transforms into a fantastic car seat with velcro positioning points that secure the seat belt over your pet carrier.

It’s easy to clean, you just use a wet wipe or damp cloth to clean the exterior.

Use a small vacuum attachment to get the pet hair inside.

You can even wash the foam padding in a cold gentle cycle.

The Sherpa

The Sherpa carriers are a true staple for any regular pet traveler.

They are reliable and have been perfected over the years.

You can choose from many colors and sizes.

They are airline approved and should fit underneath the regulated seating area with no trouble (considering it’s a small enough dog to fit in the cabin.)

Truly some of the best carriers for a jet setter, the deluxe version has top and side entries for your pet to get in and out.

The roll-down privacy flaps can give your pet a calming effect.

This helps on planes so they can’t see the many passengers constantly walking by them.

There is a seatbelt strap for your travel to the airport, and then an adjustable luggage strap once you are there.

The mesh panels for ventilation will assure your pet has a breathable, cool nap during their flight.

There is a Sherpa pet carrier with wheels as well, which makes for a very easy tote once inside the airport.

The Teafco Argo Aero-Pet Carrier

This is a great carrier for toy breed dogs.

It has a very modern design and is built with privacy mesh all around it.

It doesn’t look like a dog carrier, and many people won’t even know there is a pet inside the bag!

This pet carrier exceeds TSA requirements and is made from an 840 denier nylon fabric.

It’s extremely lightweight and has padded sides. The large zipper top entrance makes for easy access for letting your pet in and out.

It can fit all types of animals and is very easy to clean with a damp cloth.

While it isn’t collapsible, it takes up so little room that you won’t need to.

At $100 it isn’t the cheapest of pet carriers, but it is a high-quality one.

Petego Jet Set Carrier

This carrier is another that doubles for airline and car use.

It also includes mesh vents that are even scratch proof for your pet’s feisty moments.

A very cool aspect of this bag is that it looks like a duffle bag.

Carry this duffle-style bag around the airport and people will think you’re running straight to the gym once you land.

It’s lightweight and a really great option for small dogs.

The Bergan Wheeled

This comfort carrier is as luxe as they come.

You can carry it on your shoulders, back, or roll it easily on the ground.

It has rotating wheels that let the bag feel weightless as you tote.

The wheels are also detachable for your carrying moments.

The interior of the bag is lined with fleece and has a foam travel bed inside.

This bag will give your pet the maximum comfort while still able to fit underneath the seat in front of you with its flexible walls.

The interior bedding is easily removable for washing.

The bag features Pet Connect, a reach through access point opening for comfort petting while in flight.

This carrier can hold pets ranging from 19-22 lbs.

The Outward Hound Front Carrier

This bag is especially useful for camping trips or hikes as well.

It does work for airlines and will fit under the seat quite nicely.

It’s a great bag if you have a puppy that likes to be close to you.

It allows the dog to see out and see you, which is sometimes helpful for their first few flights.

The Pooch Pouch was made to ventilate, which is great for those extra toasty in-flight moments.

It doesn’t take up much room and even has a safety harness which adds security for your dog if you’ve got a jumping fido on your hands.

Ready, Jet-Set, Go

Traveling is many people’s favorite thing to do, but saying goodbye to their little friend is not.

With these great pet carriers, you can go anywhere with your pet with peace of mind that they are just as comfortable as you (ideally) are.

Avoid travel experiences marred by attempted escapes by your pet from your their bag.

Provide them with such a comfortable pet carrier that they’ll never want to leave.

Creating a serene and comfortable atmosphere within your pet’s traveling home can make all of the difference for both of you as you fly.

10 Things Hunters Don’t Know About Whitetail Deer

Last Updated on May 1st, 2019

Things Hunters Don’t Know About Whitetail Deer – The thrill of hunting whitetail deer is something that can’t properly be put in words.

These often elusive creatures can be tricky to hunt.

Most hunters will look to gain an advantage on these deer any way they can.

The proper knowledge can gain the hunter a measurable advantage over the whitetail.

Things Hunters Don’t Know About Whitetail Deer

Large Antlers are the Result of Three Factors

Large antlers on a whitetail deer are the result of proper diet, genes, and age.

This combination determines how large deer antlers will grow.

Deer Have Good Night Vision

Hunting whitetail deer in the morning is ideal because they are able to see better at night than in the day.

Deer are able to spot shapes at night accurately they may not be able to identify in the daylight easily.

Michigan is Perfect for Whitetail Hunting

Michigan is a hunter’s paradise.

This holds true for the whitetail deer hunter in particular.

Whitetail hunting is so popular there that there is hunting property for sale in Michigan.

Deer Change their Coat during the Season

Deer are able to brave some severe weather conditions.

The thickness and color tend to change with the seasons.

A deer may have a reddish-brown coat during the summertime and have a grayish coat during the winter.

Deer Don’t See Bright Colors Well

Deer perceive many bright colors as shades of gray.

At night time these colors are easier to spot in the nighttime by the deer than in the daylight.

This means that the deer may not be able to see the bright orange colored hunting clothes in the daytime if you are stealthy.

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Deer have a Diverse Diet

Deer are not the pickiest of eaters.

In fact, other than the apparent wild grass that deer consume, deer will also eat leaves, nuts, and acorns.

Adult Deer Have the Same Number of Teeth as Humans

Deer share one fantastic similarity with humans.

Just as adult humans have 32 teeth, mature deer also have 32 teeth.

Deer Feed Predominantly During the Daytime

On similarity that humans and deer do not share in the late dinner time.

Deer are most inclined to consume their meals during the daytime.

Deer Use Their Tails to Send Signals

The tail of the whitetail deer is obviously the reason for its namesake.

However, the tail of the whitetail deer is used to signal to other deer in their surroundings.

Twitching is a common sign that there is no danger to other deer.

Whitetail Deer Live a Long Time in the Wild

Many hunters are curious about the lifespan of deer in the wild.

Deer are able to live a surprising 15 to 25 in the wild.

Doe are actually able to live a bit longer; 20 to 25 years.

Hunting Whitetail Passion

Hunting whitetails is a passion and a labor of love.

Hopefully, these ten tips will offer you the hunter’s advantage.

No matter what type of deer you hunt or where you are, the edge will now belong to you, the hunter.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Plans

Last Updated on June 13th, 2019

Outdoor Kitchen Design Plans – Designing your perfect outdoor kitchen may need lots of considerations.

Sometimes you need the help from professionals too considering the complicated plumbing and electricity system.

But if you really want to set up one, these simple ideas on outdoor kitchen design plans can be your starting point to get to know the future kitchen of your dream.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Plans

The most important thing for your outdoor kitchen design plans is of course the lay out.

Check up the area where you want t set your kitchen.

Make sure that your plan includes an area which is easy for you to access water and electricity.

Adding a new plumbing and electricity system is possible but it will be costly.

Do not forget to check up the landscape and the surrounding environment which benefits your setting plan.

If you have a pool, you can set your kitchen nearby it for the sake of the view and the cozy atmosphere.

If you have trees and bungalows, you can make use the available conveniences as your shading which means that you do not need a new shading system.

Decide the function of your outdoor kitchen design plans.

Choose whether you will use your kitchen for entertainment or for private use only.

If it is only for daily meals and grilling time with your family, a simple kitchen table in front of your kitchen set will suffice.

You do not need to add unnecessary thing for entertainment, only add a fireplace when it is necessary.

Add shading facility to shade your family since the kitchen will be used often.

You can apply a permanent pergola which is more durable and reliable.

You do not need to constantly set them up.

If you will use your outdoor kitchen design plans for entertaining guests only, it means that you need to consider the plans for some entertainment elements.

Besides the basic appliances for outdoor kitchens such as grill, stoves, cabinets, sinks and fridge, you need to set the position of your entertainment area too.

Set your cooking area such as grill, stoves and prepping area away from your entertaining area to prevent smoke and smell.

You can make use of any kind of lay out start from the simple on wall until G shape one.

Set an island in the middle to separate working area and entertainment area.

You can choose to set your couches, televisions and sound systems across of it or back to back with your kitchen.

Make sure that your outdoor kitchen design plans include a thorough consideration on the functional first then the style.

Further reading and researching might help you with it.

Outdoor Summer Kitchens

Summer is coming!

It is time to update your kitchen in to a more summer friendly ones.

If you are bored with your old small indoor kitchen, maybe it is the time for you to look outside the window and consider making an outdoor kitchen.

Imagine having a cheerful and happy family dinner or barbecue party on your backyard there.

If you have no idea of how to make an outdoor kitchen, here are some tricks for outdoor summer kitchen ideas for you.

Decide the site.

You have to check the available space of your backyard.

If you have only a small space, make an on wall, L or U shaped kitchen lay out.

Check out your plumbing and electricity.

Make sure that you build your kitchen nearby the plumbing and electricity lines for a cheaper cost.

Check the surrounding area of you outdoor summer kitchen will be.

Make use all of the natural elements of it.

You can set your serving area under the oak tree for shade or nearby the pool for the scenery.

Choose the appliances.

To choose the appliances for your outdoor summer kitchen, you have to think about the budget, space and functionality of your appliances.

If you have limited budget, it means that you need to choose cheaper but still durable materials such as stainless steel.

If you have smaller space, it means that you can only choose small compact appliances rather than grand luxurious appliances.

Don’t forget to think about the functionality.

If you need a grill, then set one.

It is better for you to choose the wheeled portable aluminum ones than the grand brick ones if you want to entertain more people since it can be moved to an area away from seating when grilling to avoid smoke.

Consider the material.

Outdoor summer kitchen appliances must have these characteristics: highly durable, weather resistance and portable.

Since you will set all of your appliances outdoor, they need to withstand against the harsh weather.

Materials such as stainless steel, granite, and hard rock materials are perfect.

They are highly durable and easier to maintain and clean.

Remember that your appliances will get dirty and wet easily outside.

Choose accessories or decorations which can stand wet and dirt.

Make sure that the cushions, rugs and decorations are movable so you can take them out of your cabinets whenever you need them.

A patio or pergolas for shading can be a good option to protect the appliances and your family.

Careful consideration in choosing the durable and functional materials is the key for outdoor summer kitchen ideas.

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How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen

Designing an outdoor kitchen is indeed not that effortless.

Sometimes we need to consult the professionals to choose the right ideas for our new outdoor kitchen.

We have to choose the right appliances, setting of place, budget, styles and the kinds of activities we will do in it.

If you have troubles in designing the right outdoor kitchen for your summer, here are some tips on how to design an outdoor kitchen for your references.

First thing in how to design an outdoor kitchen is choosing the best area to set your outdoor kitchen up.

You have to consider the proximity and the difficulties you will get dealing with plumbing and electricity since it deals with your funding.

New plumbing means more money to spend.

Consider the environment surrounding your set.

Is it safe to set a kitchen there?

Is your weather condition allows you to build an outdoor kitchen?

Where does the wind come and how much sunlight it will get after you set your outdoor kitchen plan.

These questions will determine the necessary requirements of your kitchen such as kitchen sinks, counter tops, cabinets and roofs.

A functionality factor is essential in how to design an outdoor kitchen.

You have to consider what kinds of activities will happen in your outdoor kitchen.

If you need it for your family daily meals only, you might not need elaborated and fancy appliances and designs.

But if you want to entertain guests in it, you have to choose the luxurious and comfortable space for your guest to admire and enjoy your kitchen.

The kinds of activities will also determine the needed appliances in it such as whether you will need single or double sinks, smaller or bigger stoves, built in grills or portable smaller ones, where you set your bars to entertain guests and the grill position as not to get them disturbed by the smoke of your grilling.

The next thing in how to design an outdoor kitchen plans is choosing the right materials for your appliances.

Remember durability and easy maintenance.

Choose stainless steel or natural stones for your outdoor kitchen appliances such as cabinets, sinks, counter tops and grilling areas.

They are highly durable with different colors and designs and easier to maintain its cleanliness.

Consider also about the needed accessories and decorations.

Choose removable decorations such as removable cushions, rugs, chairs and tables to make you easier to prepare for the worst.

Get them out only when it is necessary.

How to design an outdoor kitchen is easy to do.

They only requires durable and easier to maintain appliances.

Style and designs can be adjusted with the need but the basic qualifications are the same.

Backyard Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Outdoor kitchens have their own appeals for homeowners.

Not only they give bigger space and freedom of design ideas, they also bring out the homey feeling and closer to nature sense.

Outdoor kitchens have their own set backs too.

You have to be careful in choosing the right layout, appliances and budgets according to your need.

Here are some backyard outdoor kitchen designs ideas that can be helpful for you.

Consider your budget.

Backyard outdoor kitchen designs require you to prepare lots of funds for plumbing and electricity applications and choosing high quality as well as durable appliances for your kitchen.

Since it is outside the house which means that it will be exposed to nature, your hardware should resist the harshness of nature.

Usually, they are more expensive than the regular ones.

You will also need to add your expense for shading too.

Shadings tricks such as positioning your seats under the trees is possible but if you do not have enough space for trees, you can choose a cheaper patio umbrellas which are cheaper and portable.

Choose stainless steel for cheaper kitchens, hard stone or granite materials for more expensive ones.

Choose the right appliances and ornaments for your backyard outdoor kitchen designs carefully.

Everything that you put outdoor will easily get dirty and wet.

This will distress your appliances too.

Make sure that you choose highly durable and weather resistant materials.

Do not choose wooden materials with difficult maintenance and cleaning.

Stainless steel sinks and cabinets with hard stone granite countertops are durable and easier for maintenance and cleaning.

As for decorations and everything, choose the ones that are simple and weather resistant.

Draperies, throw-pillows, rugs, cushions and other decorations are not necessary to display outside all the time.

You can keep them in a separate nearby cabinets and take them out when you need it.

Do not add unnecessary appliances for your backyard outdoor kitchen designs.

Grills although it is highly familiar in outdoor kitchen, are not a must.

However, if you still desire it to be present, choose the portable cheaper cart model grills instead of the hard stone grandeur built in grills which mostly displayed in magazines.

Make sure that you put them away from the seating area to avoid smokes from the grilling.

Do not be tricked with the grandeur pictures of backyard outdoor kitchen designs on magazines and televisions.

Most of them are set for the promotional purpose.

Be efficient and effective in designing your kitchen is important than the style.

Durability is the key for out door kitchen ideas.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Ideas

Outdoor kitchen is now gaining its popularity.

Most American families start to prefer eating and cooking outdoor than indoor since it can give them closer to nature atmosphere and bring out the sunny happy feel whenever you have your activities in your kitchen.

If you are planning to set one outside, you have lots to consider.

Some people think that an outdoor kitchen will cost more money but with a little trick here and there, budget is not a problem anymore.

Here are some outdoor kitchen design ideas that you can use as your references for your new outdoor kitchen.

Look outside the window and think about your dream outdoor kitchen design ideas.

Picture where you want to build it, what you will do in it and who will be there with you.

If you only have limited space, build a small kitchen then.

Be effective and efficient in choosing the right lay out, smaller appliances and fewer accessories and decorations.

Consider an on-wall kitchen, L or U shape when you are considering about the lay out for your outdoor kitchen design ideas. Add an island, double sinks and built in grilling station when it is necessary.

A small portable table and grill will suffice.

If your kitchen is for daily family meals only, basic appliances in a family kitchen are enough.

But if you want to entertain more guests in it, you might want to impress them with your grand luxurious outdoor kitchen and you have to mull over the things to entertain them such as setting, sound system and even a television!

The next thing to consider for your outdoor kitchen design ideas is choosing the right appliances.

They should be judge from these criterion: durability, functionality and budget friendly.

For the durability, choose highly durable materials such as stainless steel, natural stones or ceramics tile for your counter tops, cabinets, and islands.

The cheapest among them is of course stainless steel, but you have to choose the 304 ones to guarantee the quality of it.

If you want to have wide varieties of models and designs to add the natural look of your outdoor kitchen design ideas, tile is your answer.

They are less expensive than natural stones but be careful in choosing the right tile since some of them may not be made for outdoor use.

Natural stone is more expensive but it stands the weather well.

Functionality over the style is your magic mantra in creating the best outdoor kitchen design ideas.

It goes for your kitchen appliances too.

Single sink and portable grill are enough when those are what you really need in it.

Exciting and easy outdoor kitchen plans

Outdoor kitchen plans don’t have to be long and complicated.

If you want to have a party in the backyard or want to utilize an unused barn in your farmhouse, there are many ways in which you can build an outdoor kitchen.

Outdoor kitchen plans work for both temporary as well as permanent outdoor kitchens.

So if you are looking to remodel and use up the extra space outside the four walls of your house, take a look at these outdoor kitchen plans.

While building a kitchen outdoor, you need to make a list of the things you need.

These will depend of the kind of occasion you have on your hands.

Are you prepping for an outdoor barbecue?

Are you settling up a permanent kitchen?

If you are setting up a temporary kitchen, the things you’d want to keep in it would include a barbecue grill, a mini cooler and a filter.

You could also make good use of the portable kitchen islands in a temporary outdoor kitchen.

Outdoor kitchen plans would always suggest you keep one or more of these islands.

They come handy as storage as well as serving mediums.

Once done with the cooking, you can move the islands together to the center of the garden, put a tablecloth on top and use them as a table.

There are some great outdoor kitchen plans that help you in building a permanent outdoor kitchen as well.

You can have a heater stove, some wooden islands and a cabinets installed.

Get some tables and chairs.

Make sure you build a roof as this will protect the kitchen appliances and furniture from the rain and snow, not to mention the dust.

Outdoor kitchen plans help you build the perfect outdoor kitchen, whether you want to keep it forever or for a short while.

Outdoor Kitchen Island Ideas

Outdoor Kitchen Island Ideas – An island in an outdoor kitchen should not be a problem considering the availability of space when you built you kitchen outdoor style.

It can also create the focal point for your outdoor kitchen which will determine the look of it.

Aside from its decorative function, a kitchen island can be useful functionally as well, whether it is for storage or for serving as well as working area.

If you are planning on adding an island in your outdoor kitchen design, this info about outdoor kitchen island ideas can be your contemplation.

Choose functionality over style for your outdoor kitchen island ideas.

Decide what the function of your kitchen island is.

If your kitchen is for daily meals only, it means that you only need a small island which can also be used for working area.

With this function you only need basic regular kitchen appliances such as side burners, fridges and sink.

However, if entertainment is what you seek and you will invite some guests in it, you may need elaborated designs and advance expensive looking appliances such as grill and other accessories to mull over.

The next for your outdoor kitchen island ideas is choosing the set.

You may choose either the modular ones or the custom.

It depends on your budget.

Modular are cheaper than the custom ones since it is in a regular model and setting.

But you do not have to worry about the style.

You can add some custom touches on it by adding or changing its accent such as changing the regular tile counter top into granite or stainless steel ones.

As for a custom kitchen island, it is indeed more expensive but you can choose whatever models and designs you want for you kitchen.

Next for your outdoor kitchen island ideas is additional accessories and setting.

Consider about the use of an island in your kitchen.

If you plan on entertain your guests, you might need additional entertainment appliances such as television or sound system.

You may need some cushions, chairs or stools around your island to let them stay while you are cooking.

You can either put your grill away to avoid smoke or set an overhead range hood if possible.

Setting up a shade is also necessary.

A pergola can be set in one side of your kitchen island to protect your guests from the sun.

When we talk bout design and styles, it is all about taste and creativity.

Be creative in designing your outdoor kitchen island ideas can be really accommodating.

Try to browse for outdoor kitchen island ideas scattered around the net for more options to reflect on.

Outdoor Kitchen Island Plans

An outdoor kitchen seems dysfunctional without an island to complement your design both functionally and decoratively.

As grilling while spending your quality time together with your family is the most favorite activity during the summer, your outdoor kitchen island plays an important role in this.

You can make use your kitchen island as your serving area or even prepping area.

Although the importance of a kitchen islands is undeniable in outdoor kitchens, some people still confused about how to set one.

Here are some outdoor kitchen island plans to help you.

The most popular set for an outdoor kitchen island plans includes placing the island in the center of your kitchen set.

If you have limited space, this kind of thing will not be possible.

If you cannot do so, you always have the side of your counter top area for your island.

Make one leg of your L, G or U shape kitchen as your kitchen island by making longer or bent.

That area can be used as your kitchen island which is possible for you to use it as a prepping area or a serving area.

Add a drop leaf top, island table and small chairs or stools on it will do.

You can set your grill across your island to avoid smoke if you want.

If you have more options on space, a center some outdoor kitchen island plans is a perfect option.

You can use it as both the prep and serve area by dividing the area into two sides; one for your guest to chat while waiting for the food and one for yourself or cooking station.

Add some bar stools on the islands to add the cozy effects.

You can even make one side of your prepping area’s counter top lower than the serving area creating a ‘wall’ which keeps your prepping activities hidden from view.

To choose the best some outdoor kitchen island plans, you have to remember about the function too.

Remember the triangle working area.

Use your island according to the triangle working area which means that you have to put your sink, stove or grill, and fridge accordingly so that you have better access to your most important kitchen appliances.

You can use your island as a prepping area with sink, cooking area with grill or storage with under fridge.

Either way you choose you have to place the other main appliances according to its triangle position.

There are lost of options for some outdoor kitchen island plans around.

Make sure that you do a thorough research and consult with professionals whenever it is necessary for a better result.

Prefab Outdoor Kitchen Kits

Prefab Outdoor Kitchen Kits are quite rare.

This type of kitchen only feasible for those who have enough space in their backyard, and often hold garden party, barbecue grill, or any outdoor parties.

If you having this type of regular activities, or at least often doing an outdoor celebration, then you may should create an outdoor kitchen.

You can buy an outdoor kitchen style designed by a landscape professional or architect along with the prefab outdoor kitchen kits like lighting, plumbing, cabinetry, counter tops, sinks, BBQ packages, storage and accessories kits by more than $60.000.

If you intend to design in on your own, the basic design of good outdoor kitchen consists of lighting, shelter, counter tops, hearth, materials, appliances, and layout.

The lighting needs to be designed to lighten the most active areas on the cooking areas, eating areas, including the pathway from and to the cooking area.

It usually uses the halogen track lights.

The shelter is functioned to protect your cooking process and eating time both from sunny heat, rain, or snow without block the breeze.

This can also be useful to protect

The counter tops usually set with the U shaped kitchen work floor.

Prefab heart sized for eight and half foot oven can be the focal point for the kitchen.

You can place box for wood chips, stainless steel gas grill, prefab outdoor kitchen kits and storage as standard appliances.

Use concrete slab as the flooring, poured concrete terra cotta as the counter tops and any durable material that can withstand with the weather.

Use triangle layout floor to make good movements

Prefab outdoor kitchen kits considered as the recommended kitchen appliances to complete your outdoor kitchen, because they are offer more benefits than if you choose the custom design.

Benefits of a Prefab Outdoor Kitchen Kits

Easy to be installed
Portable and easy to be move here and there
Easy to be use and placed, even if you don’t have much planning or design preparation
Doesn’t require labor cost

By using the prefab outdoor kitchen package, it will be like having portable outdoor kitchen to be carry and everything is easy to get because it is widely available in the market.

Modular Outdoor Kitchen

As the economy is getting worse by the hit from the global crisis lately, the need to be more economical becomes essential.

We have to cut off our budget for almost everything: our meals, clothes, appliances even for our kitchen.

Since the summer is coming, we cannot help ourselves from dreaming of a warm friendly and natural outdoor kitchen.

However, hiring professionals to install our appliances will cost much of our budget.

Do it yourself style by getting a modular outdoor kitchen is the best solution for it.

Here are some tricks in having your modular outdoor kitchen.

A modular outdoor kitchen should be easy to make.

Before buying one, you should consider whether you will be able to do it yourself or do you need any help from your family.

No matter how handy you are, you still need help for this one since you are building a kitchen not just painting a cabinet.

Call your friend to help you install the outdoor kitchen

Measure your available space and the modular outdoor kitchen set you need.

Make sure that you choose the right size which fit your outdoor kitchen space plan.

You do not want to throw away your modular kitchen just because you choose the wrong size for the wrong available space.

Measure your kitchen area, put them in blue print and bring it to the store where you want to buy the outdoor modular kitchen set.

Thorough measurements and the detailed ones will come in handy in the installation of your kitchen modular outdoor.

Choose the best modular outdoor kitchen product and the best materials

You have to make sure that the product you will buy is easy to install and read carefully on the detail explanations of the product.

You have to check the materials, warranty, the steps needed to install it and the complete parts of your modular kitchen.

Try to avoid woods since they are harder to handle and difficult to maintain.

It is better for you to choose stainless steel or polymer ones.

They can stand harsh weather better and easier to install and maintain.

You probably want to match your modular outdoor kitchen set with portable appliances since they are not fixed or permanent.

You can remove them when the winter is coming.

Choose cheaper stainless steel appliances ones since they are easier to install and maintain.

They come with simple kitchen designs and various shapes which goes to your kitchen too.

Do it yourself modular outdoor kitchen needs a hard work.

Do not hesitate to seek for help when you need it, make sure that you have both enough knowledge and tools to do it before you start it.

Outdoor Kitchen Counter tops

Outdoor Kitchen Counter tops – Building an outdoor kitchen is the dream of everyone but most of the times, that dream never comes true for people are afraid of the amount of budget they’ll need to install one.

It is true that an prefab outdoor kitchen kits needs more budgets for its special needs and function but we still can do some tricks here and there to tame down our budget.

One of which is choosing the right counter tops for your kitchen and your outdoor kitchen sink.

If you do not know what to do, this simple info about outdoor kitchen counter tops might help you.

When talking about outdoor kitchen appliances, durability and functionality always come before style.

Do not be tempted with the grandeur looking designs on the magazines and stick your mind on your own kitchen plan and budget.

If you only have limited budget, the best option for your outdoor kitchen counter tops is the tile counter tops.

They come with various colors and design which can be easily matched with the other appliances in your outdoor kitchen.

Nowadays, you can even have luxurious natural stone looking counter tops with cheaper price.

Tile is easier to install, clean and highly durable.

You can easily set it yourself but remember to be careful when you buy it.

Make sure that your tile is especially used for outdoor kitchen.

Otherwise, it’ll crack easily.

The next one is concrete outdoor kitchen counter tops.

This one is not as expensive as natural stones, highly durable and easier to maintain when it is finished well.

Some designs with pieces of glass or fiber-optic lighting are available to create sparkling look for your kitchen.

Concrete outdoor kitchen counter tops will cut your budget for sink too since you can set an integral sink on it.

Remember that your concrete counter top must be installed and sealed correctly to avoid cracking.

The most expensive one is the natural stone outdoor kitchen counter tops.

Be careful in choosing the right natural stones for your counter tops since not all of them are perfect for outdoor use.

Some stones are softer and cannot stand the harsh weather.

Choose the ones without pores and bumpy surface for easier maintenance and durability.

Granite can be a perfect option since it is not only good looking but also it has no pores, very strong and weather resistance.

Choose the ones with less veining and brighter colored ones since highly veined granite is not good against the UV and darker colors absorb the heat of the sun.

Practicality, functionality and durability are the key for your outdoor kitchen counter tops.

No matter which countertop you finally choose, careful maintenance and professional advice when necessary will assist.

Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets Ideas

Summer is coming and having a barbecue party in your backyard with your friends and family seems like an excellent idea, isn’t it?

It will bring the whole family and friends together and give you a bonding moment together under the warm summer sun.

It’s time to start to plan your outdoor kitchen now!

If choosing the right cabinets is your problem, these tips on outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas can be your references.

It is a public knowledge that cabinets for an outdoor kitchen is like the flour in your cookie dough.

You cannot make one without one.

To choose the right outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas, you should consider its functionality first.

Will it going to be storage for food supplies and cooking wares only or will it be the storage for your cushions and outdoor decorations?

If you only need them for cooking supplies and wares, you only need the smaller ones and the bigger ones for your cushions, which also means much more money to spend.

The next thing that you should not forget in choosing the right outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas is the material.

Remember that your kitchen will be set outdoor which means that it will stand against the harshness of nature.

Thus, your kitchen appliances including your cabinets should be durable and easy to maintain.

Choose stainless steel ones as the most durable material for you outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas.

They are presented in various coating colors and patterns even some wooden colors are available.

They are also easier to maintain than the wooden cabinets which are more expensive and harder to maintain.

After choosing the right materials, the next thing you need to do for your dream outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas is getting the style.

Decide on the kind of outdoor kitchen you will have.

If you want it to be a farmhouse country outdoor kitchen, you can choose a stainless steel cabinet with wooden pattern.

They blend well with your traditional color tone.

If you want to have a sleek modern outdoor kitchen, you might want to consider metal or painted stainless steel cabinets.

You can choose contrasting and bold colors for this kind of style to sharpen the edges of your kitchen and create the sleek impression of your kitchen.

As for your vintage outdoor kitchen, you can choose natural with bright and cheerful color for your outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas to give the cheerful feel of your kitchen.

Function over style is the thing that you have to consider in your outdoor kitchen cabinets ideas choice.

Browse some of their samples on the net will be of assistance to get your finest outdoor kitchen ever.

Outdoor Kitchen Cabinet Designs

Outdoor kitchen cabinets designs are getting more popular these days.

The idea is coming from the garden party that is quite very popular for the last few decades in European country.

The garden party usually doesn’t require large area but they don’t put the kitchen outside they need to walk quite far just to serve the food and drinks on the table outside.

BBQ party created by the Americans adapted this habit by put the BBQ grill place as the small kitchen.

This way, they should not have to carry to many things from the kitchen outside.

This later on, developed such way into outdoor kitchen designs.

The first designs of outdoor kitchen design, the kitchen area only consist of sink, the counter tops and the table.

You still have to move some of the cooking tools and equipment outside, because they do not build a kitchen cabinet there hence, you will still easily cooking.

However, this type of kitchen still considered not efficient enough to accommodate the needs of garden or backyard party.

The only way to make it at the maximum rate is by creating the whole outdoor kitchen cabinet designs.

There are many things that will hamper people in designing outdoor kitchen.

First, it is only easier if you live in a home, not in an apartment.

Every apartment has their own rules and provisions, and apartments that are allowed you to make outdoor kitchen can be very limited.

If you have a home, it should have enough space to build the kitchen.

Remember that the kitchen is not the only thing needed in an outdoor party.

You still need to set some place to eat, to sit and gather besides cooking space.

You may adjust the size, but larger yard or space is better because outdoor kitchen cabinet designs require larger spaces.

The most common material used to create the outdoor kitchen cabinet designs are stainless steel, concrete, and natural stones.

Any material use for outdoor kitchen should have to be durable and can keep up with the weather; on rainy days, summer, including the winter.

Although place and use for an outdoor activities, it will be better if you build a shelter or small roof to protect them from the weather.

This will help you maintain the kitchen and extend the life of your kitchen cabinets.

Building outdoor kitchen cabinets designs are require more things to consider.

Plan them carefully to get the best shoot.

Outdoor Kitchen Sink Hacks

Outdoor Kitchen Sink Hacks – Kitchen sinks have become an important appliance in your kitchen set.

A perfect placement and choice of kitchen sink will definitely enhance both your kitchen performance and your own performance as a cook for your family.

When choosing the right kitchen sink for your kitchen, functionality comes before styles, but for an outdoor kitchen, durability comes first.

Choosing the right kitchen sink for an outdoor requires careful considerations.

If you do not know what to do, these tips on outdoor kitchen sink ideas may help you.

Consider the plumbing system for you outdoor kitchen

Water is indeed very essential for your kitchen.

Before going out to buy a new sink, you should consider about the water access for your outdoor kitchen.

If you think that creating a water line is expensive for your outdoor kitchen sink ideas, you can use a hose to link your kitchen water system with your indoor water system.

It will be less expensive and highly practical since you just need to cut them off when the winter comes to avoid freezing.

Outdoor Kitchen Sink Hacks

The next is the functionality.

Setting up a kitchen sink will help you a lot since you do not need to run in and out of your house just to wash your dishes and food.

Use a small single sink if you think that it is enough to accommodate your need but if you have bigger space and need to entertain more people, you might need double sink or bigger ones which can hold more dishes.

An integral kitchen concrete sink is perfect for your outdoor kitchen sink ideas since it can be used as your ice box to keep beverages when you entertain more guests.

Materials are the next thing to consider for your outdoor kitchen sink ideas.

Choose stainless steel as the most durable and easiest to maintain.

In choosing a stainless steel kitchen sink, choose one which has higher resistance on corrosion and sturdy.

Make sure that you choose grade 304 or 18/8 stainless steel.

Use magnets to check the right grade, if it sticks, it means it is 304 grades stainless.

Grade 430 is cheaper and noisier but it is more susceptible to pitting and rust.

20 gauges stainless is thick enough and if sprayed with undercoating sound dampening substance, it will give the same performance as the more expensive heftier 16 gauge bowls.

No matter what kind of kitchen you have, a sink is necessary since you will need it most of the times for your kitchen activity.

Outdoor kitchen sink ideas might need thorough consideration to choose but it is worth the trouble when you start to use it for real.

Outdoor Kitchen Roof Hacks

Outdoor Kitchen Roof Hacks – Cooking outdoor is a fun activity to do, especially in the summer.

It will enhance the atmosphere in the family and it will also give you pleasure when you prepare your food.

However, having an outdoor kitchen can be problematic.

We need to be able to choose the best outdoor kitchen roof ideas.

Below are the alternatives that you can use in your outdoor kitchen.

If you need more economical outdoor kitchen roof ideas, sun umbrellas or patios are the best.

You only need not more than three sun umbrellas and set them up on the floor by using special stands.

These sun umbrellas will provide you shelter from the sun and it is portable.

Another option is retractable awning which is foldable.

For this one, you will need to hire a professional for the installation.

It works just as well as the umbrella when it is installed to your outdoor kitchen and protects your kitchen from the rain and sun.

The biggest advantage of this outdoor kitchen roof idea is that they are foldable and can simply roll them back whenever you want and enjoy the scenery.

A green shade cloth is another inexpensive option for your outdoor kitchen roof ideas.

You can easily fix it with some binding wire on nearby areas.

You can create a basic structure and then lay the cloth on it.

This cloth is commonly used for greenhouses but you can also use it to create shade for your outdoor kitchen.

This cloth is made of plastic so it is washable with water.

Pergola is made of wood and is basically a wooden logs frame which is installed on four sturdy wooden pillars.

It is better if you use the sturdy wooden materials, and then paint it according to the theme of your outdoor roof kitchen design.

You can grow some vines over the pergola and your outdoor kitchen will be shaded against the sun just like a kitchen wall.

As an alternative, you can install synthetic roof tiles or place glass or metal corrugated roofing tiles on the pergola roof.

This will protect your kitchen both from the rain and sun.

If you prefer to add greenery to your outdoor roof kitchen ideas, you can simply hang plenty of colorful plants near the roof or on the pillars of the pergola.

A solid roof is the last option for your outdoor roof kitchen ideas.

This job calls for a lot of hard work and it will cost you a lot too.

However, once you have installed a solid roof over your outdoor kitchen it will stand the natural forces better.

And it will stand for many years.

Clever Ways to Extend the Space of Your Rural Home

Outdoor Stainless Steel Sink Cabinets

Outdoor kitchens offer you the sense of closer to nature and provide more inspirations and wider space for working or gathering.

Choosing the right appliances for an outdoor kitchen needs thorough calculations and considerations since you need to choose durable appliances.

Remember that you will put them against the power of nature.

For an outdoor kitchen, stainless steel sink is the best option.

Here are some tricks on outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets choice.

Before choosing the right outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets, you should decide on the budget for your kitchen budget first.

Making an outdoor kitchen will cost you more than the regular ones since you have to spend more on plumbing and electricity.

If you don’t have much fund, regular stainless steel a sink cabinet with single bowl is enough, but if you have enough budgets, a double bowls is possible too.

Better buy a single bowl sink with good quality than buying a double bowls sink with inferior quality with the same price.

The next thing to consider is the materials of your outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets.

Choose a kitchen sink which has higher resistant on corrosion and resilient.

Consider the grade.

Make sure that you choose grade 304 or 18/8 stainless steel.

But if you want the cheaper ones grade 430 stainless will suffice.

It is more susceptible to pitting and rust.

Use magnets to check the right grade, if it sticks, it means it is 304 grades stainless.

You do not need to buy the thickest outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets for durability.

20 gauges stainless can be your option since it is thick enough and if sprayed with undercoating sound dampening substance, it will give the same performance as the more expensive heftier 16 gauge bowls which performs resistance to the weight of heavy objects.

Choosing the right size and style of your outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets is the next thing to do.

Look at your kitchen lay out and the theme of your kitchen.

Although kitchen sinks do not consume lots of space, make sure that you install them according to the triangle position.

Choose the right kitchen sink’s size to go with the needed free countertops space you want.

The smallest will be bar sinks, and then single bowl sinks, double bowl sinks are the biggest.

They are provided with various shapes and models.

Adjust it with your kitchen’s style.

Applying appliances outdoor requires durability and quality of your appliances.

Adjust your outdoor stainless steel sink cabinets with your budget and thorough calculation will facilitate.

10 Home Maintenance Tips that Will Save You Tons of Money

Last Updated on May 10th, 2019

Home Maintenance Tips – Just like your car, your home requires proper maintenance, or you’ll end up paying a big price with it coming back to bite you in the end.

A house is the biggest purchase most people ever make, and regular maintenance helps to ensure that you protect that asset, avoiding expensive repairs later.

One of the primary reasons a home doesn’t sell when it’s put on the market is that it’s been poorly maintained, resulting in many repairs that the buyer will need to make – or forcing the seller to make them before the sale can close, which may prove too costly.

For example, as Kiplinger reports, replacing a roof in Florida runs around $6,000 for a 1,500-square-foot home, or $25,000 for one that’s 4,000-square-feet.

Buyers, particularly first-time home buyers, are likely to be scared off by that.

The good news is that home maintenance doesn’t always have to be costly. Essential DIY Skills for Every Homesteader

Home Maintenance Tips that Will Save You Money

There are ways to do-it-yourself that can save you money now, and in the future, keeping your home in good working order for many years to come.

Keep Your Roof in Shape

As mentioned, it’s important to keep your roof in tip-top shape.

By periodically checking it for damage and quickly replacing any worn or discovered shingles can prevent the need to replace it.

Pay special attention to shingles around the chimney, vents, and skylights as they tend to be most prone to leaks.

Protect Hardwood Floors with Area Rugs

Area rugs can help your hardwood floors stay in good condition as well as provide cushioning on the hard surface.

While there are plenty of pricey rugs you can buy, there are cheap giant rugs that can be purchased to suit every budget.

Taking Care of a Wooden Floor

Replace Weather Stripping

Most doors and windows come with weather stripping, the lengths of mental or rubber that seal gaps while allowing the door or window to open and shut properly.

It tends to wear out after time, so you’ll want to be sure that it’s redone on a regular basis.

Caulking on Windows and Doors

Sometimes it’s better to use caulk than weather stripping to keep doors and windows insulated.

It’s cheap and can be used indoors and out to help seal any cracks.

Change HVAC Filters Regularly

Filters for cooling and heating systems should be changed once every month or every two months, depending on how heavily they’re used.

You may need to change them even more often, every two weeks, if your a/c is running all the time during the summer, or if you live in a northern climate subject to harsh winters and use the heat continuously through the season.

Always Clean Out Your Dryer Vent

Allowing lint to build up in your dryer’s vent not only means clothes will take longer to dry, reducing its efficiency and requiring more energy, it could possibly lead to damage.

Replace Worn Out Washers in Faucets

The primary cause of a leaky faucet is worn out washers as they’re made up of rubber.

They’re easy to replace, just turn off the main water supply by unscrewing the handle that controls the flow of water to the spout, remove the washer and drop in a new one.

Touch Up Interior Paint

While you can transform the look for your home by repainting the entire interior, it can be rather costly and take quite a bit of time.

Instead, be sure to save paint from the current paint job, and then you can use that to do simple touch ups, rolling it over dirty spots on the wall. When it dries, it will look as though it was freshly painted.

Prevent Hair Clogs in Bathtub Drains

Strainers for your bathtub drains are extremely cheap and can prevent clogged drains. Guide to Composting Toilets

It will allow you to easily remove any hair that accumulates after a shower to reduce the amount that gets into the plumbing.

Keep Gutters Clear

Be sure to clear out your gutters on a regular basis.

If you don’t and they end up clogged, it can lead to wood rot, bug problems, roof leaks and even a cracked foundation.

Best Home Maintenance Tools

I shop for tools primarily online at ToolBarn.com and Amazon.com.

Ways to Save Energy this Winter

It can seem easier to save energy in the warmer months, but it’s just as important (and even more economical) in colder weather.

To get advice on ways to save energy in the winter, I asked the eco-friendly home performance experts at Air Heating and Cooling for their advice on reducing our carbon footprint in our homes from December to June.

Their best tips, as well as our our advice for work, school, and travel, are included in our 10 easy ways to save energy this winter:

Here are easy ways to save energy

Turn your thermostat down just a few degrees

This will give you an excuse to break out the hot cocoa or that favorite fuzzy bathrobe, and will save you hundreds over the course of one winter.

It’s surprising how quickly you can get used to a new ‘baseline’ temperature in your home.

Have your heating and cooling system maintained and cleaned yearly

A thin layer of dirt on the inside coil of your system can reduce efficiency by 10% or more.

Few people think about this hidden efficiency issue, but almost all local heating and cooling industry professionals will offer this service.

Replace your most used lighting with CFL or LED lightbulbs

LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs.

Get over the initial sticker price and change out your bulbs this winter!

Ride your bike to work

Yes, you can still commute to work by bike in winter!

Wear rain gear over work clothes to make the transition into the office easy, and make sure you have a quality safety light if your commute will be in the dark.

When going on extended vacation, turn down your hot water heater to “vacation mode”

Or “low”, unplug unused/un-needed appliances or electronics to combat “vampire” usage, set your thermostat to 60-65, and turn your thermostat down on your pool or spa.

Have your home “performance tested”

Determine any duct leakage, under-insulation, or excessive air leakage in the house.

In our area of the northwest, for instance, duct leakage is 25-40% on average.

This can cause efficiency concerns obviously, but also health, safety, and comfort issues in the home.

Make sure the air you breathe the most–the air in your home–is not making you sick this winter!

Carpool to school or work

My family is involved in no less than four different car pools to accommodate my kids’ school and activity schedules.

While sometimes difficult to keep track of, carpooling saves us hundreds of dollars in fuel costs and reduces our carbon footprint.

Don’t block registers, radiators, return air, or baseboard heaters

Be sure to check the vents under beds and in closets, which can easily become blocked by blankets, clothes, or boxes.

Buy (and prepare) seasonal produce

Instead of having your fresh fruit shipped from abroad, find out what’s seasonal locally.

Look up recipes using seasonal ingredients, and find inspiration at your local farmer’s markets.

Light candles instead of switching on lights

I’m not suggesting you do everything by candlelight, but winter candles can add a nice touch to the dining room during meals or the living room while you’re only needing low light.

Only do this when there are adults present, not when children will be around and especially not around toddlers.

Accidents happen in just a second.

These are very simple and easy ways to save energy that you can implement immediately.

What ideas do you have for reducing energy use during the winter months?

Saving Money with an Outdoor Wood Furnace

Last Updated on May 1st, 2019

An outdoor wood furnace is an investment that many people are turning to these days in order to save money on heating their home.

It can save you thousands of dollars each year, not only on fuel, but even with your home insurance.

This is what started me on my quest to find the perfect unit for my home.

But a word to the wise, it’s important to do your research because not every outdoor furnace is manufactured to the same quality, standards, or efficiencies.

Saving Money with an Outdoor Wood Furnace

After a year of researching I chose Crown Royal Stoves RS7300E Pristine Series Outdoor Wood Furnace, and I have to say, I couldn’t have made a better choice.

This outdoor furnace is definitely built to last, and simple enough to operate that my neighbor’s kid could operate it if I was away for the weekend.

The best part, aside from all the money I’m saving, is how extremely efficient it is, in the amount of wood it consumes.

The Crown Royal Stoves RS7300E is a sleek looking, modern furnace with flush mounted doors with an integrated silicone rope gasket and a roller bear latch system, giving it one of the tightest seals I’ve ever seen.

Not only is this unit going to provide my home with heat for the next decade, but it will look good doing it at the same time.

The control panel is conveniently located to the left of the loading door and features a basic aquastat with simple setting.

pristine series secondary combustion chamber

My favorite feature on the control panel is the Load Switch which turns the blower fan on for about 90 seconds, forcing all the smoke through the chimney when I go to load more wood.

No need to worry about getting a cloud of smoke in the face anymore.

A water level indicator is located at the top of the furnace, which I can easily see from looking out my back door.

It even includes a Stainless Steel chimney that allows for additional lengths to be attached, or a chimney cap, to stop the rain from getting inside.

The firebox and water jacket are both constructed from 409 Titanium Enhanced Stainless Steel making it highly durable.

Something included in this wood furnace, that I haven’t seen in others, is something they call “Air Panels”.

These individual panels are hung from a single hook and are meant to help destitute the air flow around the fire and take the brunt force of the heat without damaging the water jacket or poured refectory.

pristine series roller bearing door latch

Plus if anything happens to them, they can be easily replaced.

Gasification Outdoor Wood Furnaces

When they say they have the “most advanced Gasification process” in any Outdoor Wood Furnaces they weren’t joking.

Their poured refectory is literally a ‘gasification manifold’ injected hot air directed into the combustion zone, igniting even more gases, creating a hotter flame in the second combustion chamber.

Included in the Crown Royal Stoves RS7300E are Heat Exchanger Cleaners which have a dual purpose.

Not only do they self-clean the Heat Exchanger Tubes with a simple pull of the cleaner handler at the front, but they force the hot air to slow down by spinning through the Heat Exchanger Tubes, increasing the amount of heat transfer.

I’ve had my Crown Royal Stoves RS7300E Pristine Series Outdoor Wood Furnace installed for nearly two months now and I can already tell this coming winter is going to be one of cheapest I’ve had in years.

If you decide an outdoor furnace is how you want to heat your home, just make sure you do your homework.

This is one investment you don’t want to cheap out on.

How to Survive Blackouts In Rural Areas

Last Updated on May 1st, 2019

Hacks to Survive Blackouts In Rural Areas – Have you ever been to the rural areas when there is a power outage?

There is no light at night, the food going bad in the fridge, the livestock-especially the chicken suffering from the effects of cold temperatures and such dire consequences.

The worst power outages are the ones that occur in winter.

The extremely low temperatures can predispose you and your loved ones to various medical conditions.

Therefore, it is always imperative to be prepared.

Silver Heavy Duty Grizzly Tarps

Hacks to Survive Blackouts In Rural Areas

Various causes of power outages:

Extreme Weather conditions
Interference of the power lines by animals such as birds
The planned blackout during maintenance

In 2017, Hurricane Maria left millions of people in the dark.

Most of the people stayed for weeks and months without power.

This incidence goes to show that it is essential to be prepared for such eventualities.

During a blackout, it is necessary to have a power back-up.

Having a generator is the best way to ensure that you are prepared.

There are different types of generators: some generators are big enough to provide power to the all the power requirements at home.

The large standby generators can be very useful in lighting the house, controlling the temperature inside the house and even for the livestock and pets.

You can get either the gas-powered generators or the solar powered ones.

The standby generators are usually quieter than the portable ones.

Also, they are automatic and are connected to the gas or propane lines.

You can also check out smaller and portable generators that can be moved to power specific equipment.

They can be used to power equipment such as the fridge, freezer and so on.

This helps to make sure that despite the blackout, you can still feed your family.

Not having food to eat during an outage is usually one of the significant causes of panic and it only worsens the situation.

You can also have batteries for backup power.

Batteries have a few advantages over the auto-start generators in some regard.

Firstly, do not produce any noise.

They also do not use any fuel and therefore are friendly to the environment.

The batteries just store power.

Usually, they are connected to a solar power grid.

The primary disadvantage of the solar power batteries is that they are not as useful on a sunless day.

Also, they do not last as long as the generators.

Top three solar-powered generators:

Goal Zero Yeti 1400

Nature PowerPak 1800W Powered Generator Outback Radian

inverter generators vs conventional generator - Goal Zero Yeti Solar Generator Inverter — inverter generators vs conventional generator – Goal Zero Yeti Solar Generator Inverter

Preparing meals is also quite a challenge during blackouts.

Therefore, always ensure that your gas tanks are refilled.

It provides backup gas supply in case of blackouts.

With adequate gas supply, you can use the Barbecue Gas Grills.

You can also use the charcoal grill to get the authentic flavor of Barbecue.

Therefore, always ensure that you have enough charcoal reserves.

The Smokey Joe is one of the best charcoal grills, and it is also portable.

So you can carry it to your friend’s barbecue party.

Other survival hacks during a blackout are:

Avoid opening the refrigerators

Ensure that you have food that does not require refrigeration

Inspect all electrical appliances and unplug them from the power sockets.

All appliances that produce carbon monoxide should be used outdoors where there is plenty of air.

These include the charcoal grill, generators and stoves.

Most people claim that they would want to purchase items to help them prepare for such emergencies.

You may not have enough funds to buy and may opt for a quick loan, and due to your credit score, you access it at insanely high-interest rates.

Today, poor credit shouldn’t hold you back from preparing and getting the items you need.

Creditrepaircompanies.com is one of the best companies that can help you to repair your credit rating.

You have no reason not to prepare adequately.

In conclusion, in the rural areas, there is a communal lifestyle.

Therefore, ensure to check on your neighbors.

You should also see the local medical supply to plan on how you can get any medicines and how to store your medications that require refrigeration.

Yamaha EF3000iSE vs Honda EU3000iS Generator Review

Last Updated on June 11th, 2019

Yamaha EF3000iSE vs Honda EU3000iS: Yamaha 3,000 watt vs Honda 3,000 watt inverter generators – When you’re looking to buy a 3000 watt generator the two names that spring to mind are Yamaha and Honda.

Both Honda and Yamaha manufacture 3000 watt generators but which one should you choose?

The gas powered Yamaha 3000 watt features inverter technology to stabilize the power that’s delivered.

The generator has a 13 liter fuel tank, fuel gauge, electric starter.

You can use it to charge 12v batteries.

The Yamaha generator is very quiet when it’s running with noise levels of 48 – 52 decibels.

The Honda 3000 watt also uses inverter technology and it runs on unleaded gas.

Like the Yahama, the Honda unit has the same 13 liter fuel tank as well as a fuel gauge, electric start and a charging point.

The Honda generator is also very quiet when it’s being used with noise levels of 48 – 58 decibels.

Both of these portable generators are designed to be used to power various electrical items.

The units are particularly useful to power appliances when camping or as a backup power supply for your property.

Honda Generator vs Champion Generator vs Yamaha Generator

What is a Portable Generator?

A portable generator is a mobile unit that’s powered by a gas engine to provide electricity.

When the engine is running, it turns an alternator that provides the power.

You are then able to plug appliances directly into the generator or you can hook the unit up to a motor-home or trailer.

Who needs a Portable Generator?

You may need to use a portable generator when you’re travelling in a motor home or when on a camping trip.

Portable generators can also be used as a backup if the power to your property fails.

Generators are also useful for providing power on construction sites or when you’re refurbishing a property.

You can also run a portable air conditioner with a portable generator.

What to look for in a Portable Generator

Before you buy a generator it’s handy to know some details about each model so you can make an informed decision.

Here is an at a glance list of things to look for when choosing a portable generator:

Price
Output
Efficiency
Reliability
Weight
Portability
Generator Extended Warranty

Yamaha EF3000iSE vs Honda EU3000iS Generators

When it comes to choosing a portable generator, the two brands that stand out are Yamaha and Honda.

Both are established brands known for their quality products.

Of course, this is a major factor in choosing any product, having a brand you feel you can put your trust in to ensure a certain level of quality and durability is an important point to consider.

Both offer their own options that inch above the rest in the market – but how do you choose which one is right for you?

Let’s look in detail at both generators to get the real facts to help you choose a suitable power plant.

Yamaha EF3000iSE Generator

The Yamaha EF3000iSE is currently available on Amazon and the price is subject to change.

You can search for the generator on Amazon and check the price when you plan to buy.

Yamaha EF3000iSE Generator Efficiency and Output

Running at ¼ load, the Yamaha will run for 20.5 hours on a full tank of unleaded fuel.

The generator has a built-in smart throttle that adjusts the engine to maximize fuel efficiency.

The 2800 watt output provides enough power to run air conditioners, washing machines and other appliances.

Yamaha Generator 3000 Reliability

The Yamaha generator is very reliable and looking at customer reviews there have been no problems with reliability.

The generator is sturdy and well made to Yamaha’s high standards.

Yamaha back their generator with a 4 year warranty which is always useful.

Yamaha 3000 Generator Weight and Portability

The Yamaha EF3000iSE generator weighs 67 kg with an empty fuel tank. Two people can typically lift it.

The generator has a built-in set of wheels which are useful and make the generator more portable.

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Honda EU3000iS Generator

You can find the Honda EU3000iS on Amazon.

You’ll need to search the site and check the price at the time of buying.

Generator Efficiency and Output Honda 3000

The Honda 3000 is a little more expensive to run and will operate for 20 hours at ¼ load on a full tank of gas.

Honda generator also has a smart throttle to match energy load which helps with fuel efficiency.

The 2800 watt output is adequate for powering appliances in motor-homes, trailers or for emergency backup power.

Honda Generator EU3000iS Reliability

The Honda generator EU3000is is also reliable and no customers have reported an major problems.

The unit is sturdy and built well, just as you would expect with any Honda product. Honda also offers a 48 month warranty to cover mechanical or electrical failures.

Honda 3000 Generator Weight and Portability

The Honda 3000 generator weighs 60kg when the fuel tank is empty.

Two people can lift this generator. You can purchase aftermarket wheels to make the unit more portable.

When to choose the Yamaha 3000 Generator

If you need a generator that’s easy to move around the Yamaha 3000 generator is the one to go for.

The wheels make it easy to move and takes away the need for lifting.

This generator is a good choice when you travel in a motor-home or parked at a campsite.

The Yamaha is also slightly more fuel efficient than the Honda but the difference is minimal.

When you’re running generators on more than ¼ load they’re both going to use a similar amount of fuel to provide power.

Pros: Built-in wheels, Sturdy, Smart Throttle

Cons: Expensive, Heavy

When to choose the Honda EU3000iS Generator

If you need a reasonably priced generator that’s well made the Honda EU3000iS generator is a good choice.

If you’re not looking for a generator that needs to be moved a lot the lack of wheels is not a big issue.

The Honda is suitable for use on the road but it can be difficult for one person to move.

The Honda EU3000iS also has parallel connection capability which the Yamaha doesn’t. This parallel connector allows you to connect the generator to another one when you need more power.

Having this option makes this generator versatile and more useful for powering larger motor-homes or properties.

Pros: Compact, Well built, Parallel connectivity capability

Cons: No wheels…but you can purchase a Honda 3000 Wheel Kit

Final thoughts on Yamaha 3000 vs Honda 3000 Generators Review

The Honda and Yamaha generators are very similar in design and the way they work.

These are established manufacturers who make reliable, solid, sturdy, durable and dependable generators.

We’d have to say that after weighing up all of the options, the Yamaha EF3000iSE is the best choice for portability due to the built-in wheels.

On the other hand if you want a generator that’s versatile then the Honda EU3000iS generator offers one extra feature.

The fact that you can hook it up to another unit for more power makes it better value for money.