Winnipeg Realtor and Real Estate Blog

 Tip #1. MOWING. Don’t set a final cutting date, well there are some grasses that stop growing in warmer climates, the mainstay grasses that are mostly used for lawns will still continue to slowly grow as the temperature gets cooler. It is beneficial to maintain a 10-14 day mowing schedule until to ground freezes.

Tip #2. AERATION. Aeration is important because it creates a healthy environment for the roots of the grasses. You can use the coring style to aerate your lawn or the slicing method this is completely up to you as they both get the job done!

Tip #3. FERTILIZATION. When it comes to fertilization you should be doing it every 45 days throughout the growing season which is from March until November. With each fertilizer application there is a different goal in mind and different fertilizer required. From the early Spring application that has a higher amount of nitrogen so the grass gets a quick green up along with pre-emergence weed control all the way to the final application of the year which has a lower level of nitrogen so we aren’t promoting too much growth, it also has a greater amount of potassium to help the roots of the grasses get ready to survive the harsh winters.

Tip#4. Perennial Plants. People spend so much money, time and effort to make their yards look beautiful! My thought is to let these plants flourish and grow until the very as close to winter as possible! This also helps them store up lots of energy to survive the harsh climate in the winter! When the time comes though to cut them back or remove them from you landscape be sure to use a sharp well maintained pruners. This will help so you don’t damage the plant or cut them in a way that may hurt the re growth next spring!

Tip#5. Tree & Woody Perennials. This is the perfect time to remove any dead wood from trees and woody perennials you have in your landscaped yard. Doing this will promote a healthier plant and a more vigorous plant when it wakes up from winter months. Some woody perennials do well pruning them back before winter and some prefer to be pruned in the spring. I would check with your local garden center to get precise information and advice for the plants grown in your garden.

I hope everyone stays warm during this winter season! Be sure to take great care of your lawns, trees and plants so you can enjoy them in the spring and summer to come! 

Selling Secret #1: Pricing it right

Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be flooded by buyers with all kinds of offers — even when the market is at its worst — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes a lot of strength and most seller won’t want to risk it, but it’s one of the best strategies when selling your home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #2: Don’t over-upgrade
Before selling simple quick fixes always pay off. Huge over the top makeovers, not so much. You most likely won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. For example a fresh coat of paint will always do the trick. Cleaning the curtains or buying some new inexpensive ones also help. Replacing the door handles or cabinet hardware to modern looking ones, or making sure the closet doors are on its tracks, also fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling Secret #3: Conceal the critters
A lot of people who are selling their home might think a cuddly dog or a sleeping cat on the window sill would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but that is just the opposite. Not everyone is an animal lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have clumps of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the sense that your house isn’t very clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a family or friends house for the day and definitely do a clean sweep of your home.

Selling Secret #4: Half-empty closets
One very important thing that all home buyers are always looking for is STORAGE, you can never have enough of it. If you can take half of your stuff that’s in your closets and neatly pack it away some place this will allow them to see how much room for their stuff there is. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Selling Secret #5: Light it up
Lighting is so important to a home buyer, so maximizing the light in your home will go a long way! Here are some examples you could do to make your home more bright and cheery, take down your curtains/drapes, cleaning the ins and outs of your windows, increase the wattage of your current light bulbs & maybe even trimming up some of your bushes outside to let the natural light in! This will all make your house more sellable.

Selling Secret #6: Play the agent field
Finding the perfect agent is so important to you when selling your home! Don’t take this lightly, do your research make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. Take a look at websites, all their advertising and most importantly their Testimonials, hearing what other people have to say always gives you a better understanding of the agent! They should always be monitoring the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the competition in your neighborhood!

Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. It’s important to make people feel welcome and safe as they approach the house. Dress up your home’s exterior with low cost shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can usually get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. The entry way in your home is also very important. It’s mostly used as a place to store your keys, shoes and jackets. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or a decorative mirror even a vintage coat rack would give it a little something else!

There are many different way and ideas for making the selling process of your house a little less stressful and tiring! Try out a few of these tricks and see if any of them work out for you or your family and friends trying to sell their homes!  

1. 1.    Tin Foil. A simple and easy way to prevent unnecessary heat loss from radiators, particularly on those attached to external walls, is to use heat reflective aluminum foil behind the radiator. It will help prevent the heat from disappearing through the wall by reflecting it back into the room.

1. 2.    Setting Timers. Setting your timer for your heater is important. "It's a myth that keeping it on all day is better. If it's very cold, the timer should be set to switch the heating on earlier, rather than turning the thermostat up to warm the house rapidly. Keeping a consistent heat throughout the house for the whole day will keep your home warmer.

1. 3.    Clear Your Registers. I know sometimes when you’re going for a certain look in your home or design it can be an eye sore to have furniture such as a couch or entertainment unit a bit away from the wall, but if you are trying to keep your home warm through the day and night avoid placing large pieces of furniture in front of them. If these items are directly on top or very close to your registers they will absorb all your heat! So try at least for the colder months pulling them away from the register.

1. 4.    Natural Sunlight. Try letting some of the natural sun light in during the day! It’s important to use this and bonus it’s FREE! Window shades and curtains should be kept open during the day, and then closing your curtains as soon as the sun falls will maximize your house's potential to retain that heat.

1. 5.    Thick Curtains. Curtains is one of the main ways to retain heat in your home! Curtains with a thermal lining are a relatively cheap option, "The thicker the better," If you don't want to spend too much on new curtains you can line them yourself with materials like cheap fleece. And it's not just windows that can have curtains. Placing a curtain in front of doors to the outside adds another layer of protection.

1. 6.    Close Doors. If you can try closing doors to UN used rooms. Keeping doors closed will prevent cold air moving into the rest of the house and contain the heat you've generated in a smaller area.

Hope these few little tips will help keep you and your family/friends a little warmer this winter without having to spend any extra funds! 

Rent DIY-friendly sanding equipment

You most likely won’t be sanding tons of floors in your life time so renting random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself floor refinishers. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your floor. With a random orbital sander, you can move with or against the wood grain. Just be sure to keep the sander level at all times. Even an orbital sander can “run away” from you and cause sander markings that are difficult to remove. 

Don’t get too aggressive
Begin with coarse-grit abrasives sufficient enough to remove the old    finish and most surface scratches. Try not to use grits coarser than 60; this will help prevent you from damaging the flooring. Proceed with abrasives that are gradually finer until you reach the desired degree of smoothness. (My preferred progression for a hardwood floor such as oak begins with 60-grit abrasive, goes to 80-grit, and finishes with 100- or 120-grit.) Sand like you are mowing the lawn. Proceed row by row, overlapping runs by half the sander’s width. You will have to make go over it numerous times with each grit.

Always remember the corners

A palm sander may be used to sand near baseboard moldings, but use a sharp scraper to remove any areas of old finish the sander may miss. Scrapers allow you to get into recesses without having to remove a lot of material with the sander.

Guard against dust and hair
After you have finished with the sanding step, remove all dust by vacuuming and wiping the sanded areas with a tack cloth. If you find a stray hair embedded in dried polyurethane and you still have at least one coat to go, lightly sand over the hair with a very fine (320) abrasive. Carefully dig out the hair with a pin or fingernail, if possible. Then re sand with the same very fine abrasive, taking care not to breach the stain layer. Upon recoating with poly, the hair mark will all but disappear.

 Apply stain evenly

Apply stain evenly, especially over a large space. I find that the best technique involves applying the stain with an applicator to one small area at a time (about 18″ x 3′) and then rubbing off all excess with a rag. Avoid letting the leading edge of your job dry; you will end up with lap marks. Try using Oil-based stains as it tends to stay workable longer, rather than using a water-based stain.

Thin coats are better than thick
An easy way for the do-it-yourselfer is to roll on the polyurethane using a foam roller, preferably a high-density foam roller. The coat will be thin, even, and will quickly dry to a glassy smooth finish. Use a good brush for cutting in around the room perimeter.

Have an exit strategy
Start your applications along the wall opposite the door you intend to exit. Work in parallel rows toward the wall with the door. When you get close, you will have to change your work pattern and work from the end walls toward the door. This makes it tough to achieve uninterrupted smoothing strokes, so apply a little extra poly and count on its self-leveling properties for a smooth finish.

Hopefully this will help anyone who is thinking of keeping those beautiful hardwoods maintained and refined! Enjoy!

Buying Secret #1: Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan

When buying a home there is actually quite a big difference when it comes to being pre-qualified verse being pre-approved. Mostly anyone can get pre-qualified for a home loan/mortgage. Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at all of your financial information and they’ve let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend you. Getting pre-approved first will definitely save you a lot of time and hassle so you are not running around looking at houses you can't afford. It also gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates

Buying Secret #2: Don’t Try to Time the Market
Try not to get caught up in timing the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. It is impossible to try and figure out the housing market (buying a house can be stressful enough without adding any other pressure.) The best time to look/buy is when you feel it’s the right time & you can afford it, the housing market continuously fluctuates, it goes up then it goes down then up again, relying on the market to pick a time for you may make you potentially lose out on something great & a perfect for you!

Buying Secret # 3: Bigger Isn’t Always Better 
It goes without saying that everyone dreams of having/buying the biggest most luxurious home on the block! But bigger is usually not better when it comes to houses. There’s an old adage in real estate that says don’t buy the biggest, best house on the block. The largest house only appeals to a very small audience and you never want to limit potential buyers when you go to re-sell. Your home is only going to go up in value as much as the other houses around you. If you pay $600,000 for a home and your neighbors pay $350,000 to $400,000, your appreciation is going to be limited. Sometimes it is better to purchase the worst house on the block, because the worst house per square foot always trades for more than the biggest house.

Buying Secret #4: Check out the Neighborhood
Before you buy, get the lay of the land – drop by morning noon and night. Many homebuyers become very upset/angry because they had thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. If you are choosing a brand new location quite a ways away from where you are currently living, then I would recommend doing a daily commute for a week or so to see if it’s something you will be able to handle on a regular basis (friend’s homes, shopping, family homes, & most importantly WORK!) Even if you don’t have kids, research the schools because it affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus bad school district even in the same town, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent.

Buying Secret #4: You’re Buying a House – Not Dating It
One of the worst things you could do is to buy a house based on emotion! Doing this can sometimes persuade you to make some not so good financial decisions! Your instincts and emotions are to totally different things! Going with your instincts means that you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard. Buying a house is an investment, so make sure to make wise and smart decisions! (Plus you can always change the color of a wall!)

Buying Secret #5: Give Your House a Physical
Think about it, would you ever buy a car without checking first what’s under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. The best thing to do is to hire a home inspector. It’ll cost about $400 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) I know that sounds like a lot but in the end it potentially could end up saving you thousands of dollars. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information so that you can make a decision as to whether or not to buy. It’s really the only way to get an unbiased third-party opinion. If it turns out that the inspector found any issues with the home you are looking at purchasing, you could use that to your advantage as a bargaining tool for lowering the price. It’s always better to find out sooner rather than later if there is going to be any major issues in the future that could cost you big time!

Buying Secret #8: Avoid a Border Dispute
It is very important to remember to have a survey done of your property so that you know exactly what you’re buying. Knowing where your property lines are will potentially save you from having a dispute with your neighbors. Also, your property tax is likely based on how much property you have, so it is best to have an accurate map drawn up.

Happy house hunting everyone, and try not to stress out, as this is a great step toward your future for the better! J

 1.  Unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Remove the cap from the bottle, you can pour out half into a container to save/reuse as you do not need a full bottle for this method! Cover the opening in plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Then, poke a hole for the fruit flies to enter (does not have to be a big hole by any means). They can't resist the scent of vinegar, and they won't be able to exit once they're inside.

2. Vinegar and dish soap

If you find your fruit flies are impervious to the plastic wrap, you can try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar, (any size bowl will be just fine) and leave it uncovered. The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies will sink and drown.

3. A paper cone and a piece of fruit

Place a little vinegar and a chunk of very ripe fruit in a jar. Then, roll a piece of paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, placing the narrow opening down. The fruit flies will be drawn in, but won't be able to get out.

4. Red wine

Like vinegar, fruit flies love the smell of wine (kind of like most of us who love the taste of it!). Try leaving out an open bottle with a little liquid — the skinny neck will keep the flies trapped. Or instead of using fruit in the paper cone idea you could also pour a little red wine into the bottom of the jar instead.

5. Milk, sugar and pepper

For this method you will want to make sure everyone in the household knows that this milk isn’t for dipping your cookies in! Follow these steps; Combine a pint of milk, 4 ounces of raw sugar and 2 ounces ground pepper in a saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes. Then, pour into a shallow dish. The flies will be drawn to the mixture and quickly drown.

Now hopefully everyone out there who loves the taste and smells of the seasonal produce can actually enjoy it without having to swat those like bugs away! 

#1.  Use cotton drop cloths rather than plastic, here’s why. The thick canvas stays in place, so you don’t need to tape it, and you can use it to cover any surface. Plastic drop cloths are slippery to walk on or set a ladder on and don’t stay in place. Even worse, paint spills on plastic stay wet, and they can end up on your shoes and get tracked through the house. 

#2. Mix several cans of paint in a large bucket for a consistent color throughout the room. If you have to open a new can in the middle of a wall, the difference may be noticeable. Mixing the paints together eliminates the problem and gives you a more even look.

#3. Always clean the dirty surfaces on the wall first so the paint can form a strong bond. If you paint over dirty, oily surfaces, the paint will easily chip or peel off! Clean areas using a deglosser or heavy-duty cleaner intended for prepaint cleaning.

#4. Paint the trim first, then the ceiling and walls. This is because it’s easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls, and you definitely wouldn’t want to have to tape them both off!  You want to let the trim dry for at least 24 hours before taping it off to do the walls, this will avoid the tape peeling off the paint from the trim.

#5. ROLL paint along the edges for consistent texture. Corners and areas next to trim that are painted only with a brush have a notice-ably different texture than the surrounding paint. Brush on the paint, then immediately roll it out before the paint dries. This will give it a smoother more matching look with to rest of the walls.

I hope this helps everyone out there who like to “Do it yourself” Happy Painting and remember always be creative! 

 #1. Paint is the classic makeover option. Instead of repainting a whole room, try focusing on one wall in a focal/bright color or paint a contrasting rectangle over a sofa to use as a “gallery” space. You can also paint the insides of bookshelves in an unexpected color or paint your ceiling a lighter version of the wall color. You can also use sponges or stencils to give a plain wall a little bit more of an eye catching look.

#2. You can try something as simple as replacing your bathroom shower curtain and curtain hooks, for an instant fresher look for even the most dingy bathrooms. Try picking a style or color that was completely different from the one you had previously, just to keep you surprised and your guests guessing on what your next look will be!

#3. Here’s a trick made famous by Woody Allen in Annie Hall: Change the lightbulb in your bedroom lamp with a pink one for a rosy, romantic glow. Or you can replace the entire lampshade in any color you desire, which can produce somewhat of the same affect!

#4. Spruce up your entrance by painting your front door a cheerful color. Pair it with a new lighting fixture, a season coordinating wreath, mailbox and house numbers - all available at stores like IKEA, WAL-MART & RONA.

#5. Take a stroll in the park, woods or venture down to the beach and pick up interesting (and free) seasonal accents for your home. A tray filled with pinecones, a tall vase of dried pampas grass stalks, a bowl of colorful pebbles (which you can also paint to match any existing home décor you may have already), beach glass or shells also make eye-catching home decor accessories.

#6. Replace overhead lighting with thrift-store (or box store) chandeliers. (Note: it’s recommended to hire a professional electrician to install them.) A dated-looking chandelier can be painted white. You can also add extra crystal drops, available at lighting stores. This idea may be a little more costly but still less expensive then purchasing brand new.

#7.  Peruse Craigslist, eBay or Kijiji regularly for finds. It’s amazing what shows up at a bargain or even free – but like any good second hand shopper, be sure to check regularly, as good things go fast! One plus of buying second hand is that if you want to change/add/repaint/sand/stain or recover with fabric, you don’t feel as bad to make those changes, then buying something brand new and end up not liking it later on.

#8. A great area rug is another eye catching decorating idea. Carpet stores often have remnants of high-end carpet at rock-bottom prices that make a great area rug. The store may bind the edges for you, or you can do it yourself with carpet binding tape and some tidy hand-sewing.

#9. Purchase an inexpensive but attractive frame, or rescue an old one from an antique store or your parents’ attic. You can paint it a flat white or again any color you want and attach small rings to the upper corners. Place hooks on the wall to correspond and hang. Hang a couple of vintage plates or smaller framed pictures artfully inside, or leave the framed space as-is, for an artful and simple focal point. The great thing about this idea is you can literally hang/attach anything you want to make it your own master piece!

#10. Sometimes it’s the small details that can make all the difference: Beautiful coasters, interesting desk frames, a small but exquisite crystal vase filled with fresh flowers, fake fruit in a wooden bowl on a coffee table or sofa table. Little things that make the room pop!

Let your imagination run wild & enjoy recreating your home with these simple & cost effective ideas!

Do you have smelly kitchen sink odor? If so here are some simple inexpensive steps/tips on how to kick that smell to the curb!

#1. Put a stopper or plug in your sink, turn your tap on and fill with HOT water several inches full. Measure out a teaspoon of dish soap (any brand is fine) pour in. If you have a disposal turn that on and unplug your sink and let water flush through! If you don’t have a disposal use exact same steps but fill sink full of HOT water and use 1 tablespoon full of dish soap.

#2. If you still have that smelly odor coming through you need to make sure that your disposal blades are clean. Try freezing in an ice cube tray lemon peels and water! First throw some kosher salt down your disposal then take a couple of your lemon cubes and run those through. This should do the trick. If you want an even fresher smell you can run some FRESH lemon peels through your disposal as well.

#3. You can also try 1cup baking soda then pour on top 2 cups vinegar. Let stand for a few minutes or you see it start to bubble. Turn on your HOT water let run for about a minute then pour your mixture slowly down your drain. Or you can pour down 1 cup baking soda into your drain let sit for 15 minutes. Then pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down disposal and let sit for another 15 minutes (you can hear it fizz and see it bubble). Once you have waited your 15 minutes after the vinegar step boil a large pot full of water and pour that down! This should keep it nice and smelly free for at least 6 weeks (repeat when necessary).

#4. Still dealing with that terrible smell and all you want is to smell something really great, then why not pour a few drops of your favorite essential oils down the drain? You can dump in about a half-cup of baking soda, then dribble in a few drops of those essential oils (eucalyptus, tea tree, and mint are some suggestions I would try). Let it sit an hour or so, or overnight for best results, then rinse down with boiling hot water.

#5. Like vinegar, lemon juice also creates a bubbling reaction when it comes in contact with baking soda. It's not as economical in this case as vinegar (being without a garbage disposal, you'd have to actually juice a lemon since you can't grind up an already-juiced-and-zested wedge), but it does smell much nicer! The baking soda thing is legit. Whether you use lemon juice (which smells pretty yummy) or vinegar (not nearly as yummy a smell, but just as effective) it’s really up to you! Just add both ingredients and down the hatch it goes! 

Hope these 5 easy tips help you with that smelly sink issue! 

 #1. Cooking! Do you ever start making dinner for your family or friends but then something happens or you get distracted and have to leave it unattended for a minute or even longer? Here try doing this before you have to run; turning the heat off first before leaving, then there is no chance for anything to over boil or catch fire! Or you can try something as simple as setting a timer to remind yourself there is something still on the stove!

#2. Smoking! If you or someone in the household tends to smoke indoors maybe it’s time we take it outside or someone institutes a no smoking in the house policy. There is so much in the household that can catch on fire very quickly for example upholstered furniture or carpeting. It may be cold in the winter months to have to go outside, but this way everyone stays much safer and healthier!

#3. Electrical Cords! Faulty or deteriorating cords are another cause of house fires! They often and easily can become frayed, damaged or cracked! Be sure to check everything on a regular basis and make sure it’s all in good safe working condition! If you notice anything that can become an issue or fire hazard replace it right away! In addition try not to overload your circuits “Rule of thumb, one plug per receptacle”

#4. Heating! When using portable or electric space heaters here are some tips for to ensure you are using them safely! Make sure the heater is far away from any objects such as “drapes, furniture, bedspreads, people and pets” at least 3 feet! If you have a log burning fire place you should get it professionally cleaned out every year to make sure there is nothing inside that can be potentially dangerous or lead to an unexpected fire!

#5. Candles! Who doesn’t love to burn candles? The smell, the light it gives off, the overall warm soothing feeling you get when sitting next to it! Unfortunately it is one of the leading causes of house fires! Solution; consider switching to a battery operated one instead, it may not be as fulfilling but definitely much safer! If you choose to use the traditional fire burning candle then always make sure to extinguish it before leaving the room!

Stay safe out there everyone and try to avoid those fire causing habits! 

#1. Try not to use fabric softener or dryer sheets when cleaning your cloths or cleaning rags! This minimizes its ability to hold or attract dust and absorb liquids!

#2. Instead of using a regular house hold rag to clean/dust with try using a microfiber cloth instead! These types of cloths are made of tiny wedge shaped fibers (100 times smaller than human hair) that grab and hold dirt way stronger, making this a much easier way to clean and reduce dust build up!

#3. If you haven’t done that spring cleaning your always trying to tackle but seem to have quite a dusty living area then there is no better time than to toss/donate dust collecting items that you no longer have use for. Especially in rooms where you spend a lot of time like your living room or bedroom!

#4. Consider changing out your drapes or fabric curtains for something a lot easier to clean and maintain. Such as Wood, Metal or even plastic blinds! These types of blinds don’t trap and hold in that dust like your drapes or curtains do! But if you do want to keep your drapes dust or vacuum your rods or valances first, then clean the fabric length wise with your vacuum brush on lower suction.

#5. Try using air purifiers in your most used rooms! This helps suck up the dust before it settles and keeps your air fresh and clean!

#6. Instead of using cheap furnace/air conditioner filters, choose pleated filters with a high MERV rating (mean efficiency reporting value) instead. Ask your furnace technician for suggestions as well so you don’t go over your furnaces abilities!

#7. If you have an allergy to dust and wake up with a stuff/runny nose, consider encasing your mattress and pillows in a zippered allergen-reducing cover. You can also wash your sheets and blankets in Hot Water twice a year to help get rid of those pesky dust mites!

#8. Which is better a dry mop or damp mop? The answer is a wet mop! Although water can be harmful to some surfaces such a wood, you can switch to a microfiber mop which comes in both dry and damp varieties!

Here are just some simple tips and tools for reducing that annoying amount of dust that just doesn’t ever seem to go away!

Happy Dusting Everyone! 

Have you ever noticed a slight or not so slight odor emanating from your dishwasher?  It can become unpleasant, especially since this is the very machine that is meant to clean your dishes, so why so smelly?  It only makes sense, as the dishwasher does its work to remove leftover food particles from your dishes, that some of that food doesn’t drain properly and can get stuck in nooks and crannies in your machine.  Here are 4 easy tips to keeping your dishwasher free of food odors:

1.  Open up your dishwasher fully, and clean off the bottom edge of the door and the metal lip area that sits below the door. 
2. Clean out your dishwasher filter.  Most dishwashers have a filter at the bottom of the tub – these are in place for preventing large food particles washed off in the cycle from clogging up your drain.  Simply pull out the filter and rinse it off and clean out the trap.
3. Sometimes small food particles can get stuck in the small water ports in the sprayer arm.  Simply grab a toothpick or cotton swab, and dislodge any food stuck in these little ports.
4.  Lastly – after cleaning these three areas, run a dishwasher cleaner through your dishwasher (with no dishes).  You can buy these almost anywhere, we know Cascade and Finish both have a dishwasher cleaner in the dish soap aisle.  You can also use vinegar and baking soda for this step as well (you can find many recipes by just googling it online!)

Having a dirty filter can also hinder the proper cleaning of your dishes, so before calling a repair man if your dishes aren’t getting as clean as they used to be, we recommend trying to clean it first!  Good luck!