Organic Cleaning

HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS

ORGANIC CLEANING

BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY

Before you buy all new cleaning products, check your fridge and pantry for items you may already have that can be used for cleaning.

Vinegar works like an all purpose cleaning solution and deodorizer. Make sure you dilute it with water and dispense it in a spray bottle. Don’t worry about the smell because it goes away after use. You can use it in almost any area of the home including the bathroom, kitchen and laundry rooms.

Vinegar is great for bathrooms because it can get rid of soap scum, toilet bowl rings and hard water stains. It can also be used as a glass cleaner. It may not be suitable for tile grout so test before using. Always test new products on surfaces that are inconspicuous. Do you have sensitive skin? Vinegar can also be used as a fabric softener. Add ½ cup to the rinse cycle. This can work well for children who tend to have more sensitive skin than adults.

BAKING SODA

Baking soda is known for its deodorizing capabilities. Many homeowners’ refrigerators contain baking soda to get rid of funky smells. Baking soda can also be used as an alternative abrasive cleaner for surfaces. Food containers can sometimes have hard to get rid of smells. Fill the container with water and a little baking soda and let it sit overnight. Baking soda can be used to clean silver and scuffs on laminate flooring. Sprinkle baking soda on carpet, let sit for about 15 minutes and then vacuum. In no time, your carpet and home will smell fresh! Baking soda is great for getting rid of smells from a cat litter box or ashtrays.

LEMON JUICE

Many household cleaning products contain a lemon scent, so using lemons to clean seems natural. Lemons can be used to clean many areas of the home from the sink drain to the laundry room. Lemons are acidic and can bleach many surfaces, so be sure to use it wisely. It can be used to clean brass and copper. Use lemon juice to clean water stains on copper bottoms pots and pans. It can get rid of hard water stains and soap scum. Love using vinegar but hate the smell? Add a little lemon juice to your spray bottle. Lemons can also be used in the laundry room. Add some lemon juice to white linens and clothing for hard to get rid of stains. The lemon juice will work as a bleaching agent. Lay the articles in the sun and the stains will disappear. With all of the food that gets thrown down the kitchen drain, it can be difficult to get rid of the smell. You can drop lemon rinds down the garbage disposal to freshen up the drain.

PESKY PESTS-INSIDE AND OUT

The warm weather of spring not only brings flowers, but also brings out different kinds of pests. While there are many pest control products on the market, natural herbs can help to keep them away. Gardening in the yard can be difficult to enjoy when you’re getting attacked by bugs. Planting an herb garden in your yard or placing potted herbs on the kitchen window sill may help to repel these pesky pests. Mosquitoes are an annoyance to many homeowners who spend time in their yard, but basil and rosemary can help to keep them at bay. Rosemary is also said to deter the carrot fly and the bean beetle. Lavender is thought to repel ticks, while basil can keep flies away. Sage can repel the carrot fly and cabbage moth while tansy can keep ants away. These herbs can repel bugs and make for a pleasant scent and can also be used for cooking.

Are ants invading your kitchen? Those tiny ants seem to come from nowhere and can be difficult to get rid of. Try a few natural home remedies to keep them away. First of all, be sure that counters and cabinets are kept clean and free of food. Cucumbers are said to keep away ants, so cut a few slices and place them in areas that you suspect the ants are coming in from. Mint tea, cloves, lemon juice, or even coffee grounds placed in these areas could keep them outdoors. For more ideas on how to repel pets the natural way check out www.eartheasy.com

know IN THE

BURD WORTMAN

DOLLENBERG PROPERTIES & KELLER WILLIAMS LUXURY ADD 2 MEMBERS

Matt and Whitney Wortman have joined Dollenberg Properties of KW Luxury Hilton Head. Matt Wortman has been in the real estate business for a year, and previously owned a mechanical contracting company. Whitney Wortman recently earned her real estate license.

COASTAL VACATION RENTALS HIRES OFFICE COORDINATOR

Cali Hildebrandt was hired by Coastal Vacation Rentals as its office coordinator. Previously she was an outdoor hospitality manager serving as the resort general manager at an RV resort in Arizona.

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES HIRES GROWTH OFFICER

Kerry B. Walsh was named chief growth and development officer at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Street Realty Group. She began her real estate career 15 years ago with Berkshire Hathaway, in her hometown of Malvern, Pa. She created a real estate team focusing on luxury and equestrian properties.

HILDEBRANDT DELOZIER WALSH

WEICHERT REALTORS ADDS 3 AGENTS

Tish DeLozier, Debbie Burd, and Ashli Godfrey have joined the team at Weichert Realtors as agents.

DeLozier will work out of the Sun City office. She earned a business degree from the University of South Carolina. DeLozier worked in the pharmaceutical industry and later founded Tish DeLozier Designs.

Burd, who will work out of the Hilton Head office, grew up in the Midwest. She has years of experience in mortgage lending, business management and customer service.

Godfrey, who will work out of the Beaufort office, received a master of arts degree in philosophy from Georgetown University. Prior to pursuing her real estate license, she worked for Beaufort County for two and a half years.

INVENTORY LEVELS ON THE RISE

According to the November Housing Supply Overview from the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors from December 2021 to November 2022, pending sales in the Hilton Head region were down 23.3 percent. The price range with the largest gain in sales was the $375,001 to $650,000 range, where they increased 2.6 percent.

The overall median sales price was up 18.9 percent to $480,000. The property type with the largest price gain was the condos/villas segment, where prices increased 20.3 percent to $385,000.

Market-wide, inventory levels were up 76.6 percent. The property type that gained the most inventory was the single-family segment, which increased 82.1 percent

STUDY FINDS 5.1% INCREASE IN LOWCOUNTRY POPULATION SINCE 2016

A study by Inspection Support Network finds our area among the fastest growing in the country. The analysis shows that the population on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton grew by 10,803 during the study period between 2016 and 2021—a 5.1% increase, compared to the national increase of 2.8%.

FAIR MARKET RENT INCREASES

The Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area is among locations in the U.S. that have seen rent increases. According to Consumer Price Index data, U.S. rents have risen at their fastest pace since the 1980s. This area saw a percent change in fair market rent of 25.3. percent, a Construction Coverage study found, compared to 24.1 percent in the country.