Clean with water and a cloth. Microfiber cloths are the best option to use when cleaning stainless steel because they absorb all of the water. They also avoid scratching steel surfaces. You’ll want to avoid paper towels or any cloth or towel with a rough surface intended for non-stick cookware. This especially includes steel wool. When drying, dry along the grain to avoid water spots. If you clean or dry aggressively against the grain with regular scouring pads, you’ll leave marks on your appliance or pan, so be sure to take it easy.

Only use a drop of dish soap. For most cases, a drop of mild dish soap and warm water is all you’ll need to clean a stainless steel pan or pot, so don’t overthink it. Just be gentle. Alternatively, using white vinegar as a cleaner has also been proven to work.

Glass cleaner is your friend. Fingerprints on stainless steel is one of the biggest complaints, and it’s a valid concern. No matter how careful you try to be, fingerprints will always end up on your fridge. Spray glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth to get the job done. Wipe away the fingerprint using a soft circular motion.  There are newer finishes of stainless steel that are fingerprint resistant, so if you’re buying new appliances, be sure to do your research and seek those out.

Keep a stainless steel cleaner on hand. If you need to remove stains or scratches from your stainless steel, using a steel cleaner is a great option. Read the directions on the cleaner, and be sure to test the product on an unnoticeable location.  Even if you aren’t trying to remove a stain or hide a scratch, stainless steel cleaner or glass cleaner will help your appliance shine. As always, rinse the area thoroughly afterwards and towel dry.

Stainless steel can be finicky, but with a little TLC, it will keep your kitchen looking sleek and stylish for years to come.

Arm and disarm the home security system. With thousands of burglaries happening each day, it’s wise to invest in a home security system. Teach your children how to arm and disarm the system and what to do should it go off when they’re home or sleeping.

Memorize the escape plan. Just like how elementary schools conduct fire drills, it’s important to have an emergency escape plan at home as well. Walk your children through the house to show them the safest exit routes, and designate a meeting place outside the home where family members should gather if an emergency occurs.

Know important emergency contacts. Post important contact information on the fridge or in an easy-to-access location. Teach young children how to use the phone, dial a number and ask for help. This list could include contacts such as 911, Poison Control, parents’ cellphones, a family doctor, or a trusted friend or neighbor.

Never answer the front door. Children should never answer the front door, especially if they’re home alone. Tell children to alert an adult when the doorbell rings.

Don’t climb on furniture. Heavy furniture, such as TVs, bookshelves and entertainment centers, can tip if children climb on them. You can secure these pieces to the wall studs and add nylon straps to increase security. It’s also important to teach children that climbing on furniture is always dangerous—even if safety measures are in place.

Use medicine safely. Store medicine in locked cabinets that are inaccessible to children. However, should children come across any medicine, they need to know never to consume anything unless it’s given to them by a parent or trusted adult.

Young children often imitate the actions and behaviors of their parents and siblings. Practice the safe habits you want them to emulate, and they’ll likely mimic your moves.

Source: Sage Singleton/RISMedia’s Housecall

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$990,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

If you’re spending a lot of money on the item, then a protection plan can give you some reassurance. But there’s no reason to be pressured to buy one at the checkout counter. Most companies will let you return within a few days to buy one if you want it, giving you time to check out competitors and read the fine print.

One reason to buy an extended warranty is because the manufacturer’s warranty usually lasts up to a year. If you want peace of mind for that large purchase for more than a year, then it may be worth buying this form of insurance.

Electronics, however, quickly depreciate in value, so it may be cheaper and smarter to buy a new, more high-tech TV if yours breaks in about two years. Phones, computers and other electronics also have short lifespans and cost more to repair, so an extended warranty may not be worth the cost if you expect to buy a new phone anyway. Or, you can take the opposite route and buy an extended warranty as a way to ensure that you can keep your phone for years to come.

On average, protection plans almost always cost more than what repairs would cost. That’s why it’s smart to research the average lifespan of what you’re buying. Various websites will give you an idea of how long kitchen appliances, for example, are expected to last. Gas ranges have the longest life expectancy—15 years—while dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years.

Before signing an extended warranty contract, read the fine print to see what’s excluded. Accidental damage and spilled liquids may not be covered in a smartphone plan, which begs the question: what protection does the plan really offer?

Kathie Aldunate Realtor
Century21 New Millennium
1730 West Street, Annapolis.21401
C:443-717-0292
O:410-266-905
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Not Budgeting
With your income likely being cut in half after a divorce, it’s a good time to set up a budget and adjust your lifestyle.

Start a budget and keep track of how much money you’re spending and how much you’re bringing in. You may have to pay alimony, which should be included in your new budget. You may also want to go back to school so you can get a better job and earn more money, or switch to full-time work if you worked part-time while married.

Using Retirement Savings for Living Expenses
Divorce is expensive, costing $15,000 per person on a national average in 2019. Your expenses may also rise after a divorce. You’re now responsible for paying an entire mortgage or monthly rental, so your housing costs could double.

While these money problems won’t last forever, it can be tempting to pull money out of your retirement accounts to pay for them and other daily living expenses. Withdrawing money from most retirement accounts comes with a 10% tax penalty. Even if you pay the money back, you’re still losing interest during the time you take the money out.

Keeping Joint Accounts Open
Married couples often have all kinds of accounts open together. Bank accounts, credit cards, retirement accounts, loans and a home are some of the things they own jointly.

It’s best for both of you to decide who is now in charge of each debt and to remove the name of the ex-spouse no longer on the account. If your ex is an authorized user on your credit card, remove them so they don’t buy a lot of stuff without intending to pay for it.

For loans, you may have to refinance the loan in one person’s name only. Bank accounts can be easier to deal with. Divide the balance and close the account.

Not Dealing With Taxes
If you were married most of the year, each if you may have to file tax returns separately. Your tax status is based on your marital status on the last day of the year. So, if you’re legally divorced by Dec. 31, you’ll file as a single person or head of household.

Changing your filing status affects the capital gains you’ll pay on the sale of your house. As a married couple, you both avoid paying capital gains tax on the first $500,000 from the sale. If single, the exclusion drops in half to $250,000.

Is concierge medicine for you?

From finance and consumer advisors, here are five things to know that may help you decide for yourself:

• While retainer fees for concierge medical service vary, based primarily on where you live, average costs range between $1,200 and $1,800 per year for quick and personalized access to your physician.
• Doctor-patient relationship is a plus. Because your doctor has fewer patients, and you communicate more often, there’s a good chance your doc will know you very well—and your annual physical may include preventive procedures that insurance plans are not required to cover. As a result, diagnoses—and treatment—may be quicker than is usually the case.
• Patients who sign up report satisfaction as well as fewer visits to emergency rooms and specialists, some studies say. But because the patient must still initiate calls and/or doctor visits, there’s not enough research yet to prove that they receive better care overall, or that they stay healthier or recover faster from injury or disease.
• Find the right doc. Check the American Academy of Private Physicians to locate concierge doctors in your area, or find one affiliated with such networks as MDVIP.com. One advantage of MDVIP: If you become ill while traveling, you may visit the nearest MDVIP doctor.
• Check your insurance, because your retainer won’t pay for everything. You may have to pay out of pocket or buy additional insurance to cover drugs, lab tests, diagnostic screenings or hospitalization costs. If you don’t have a health savings account or flexible spending account, and you’re under 65, you may be able to purchase a high-deductible plan from your employer or through a state or federal marketplace. If you are 65 or older, you can enroll in Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

ile, organic material can react with metal in landfills and pollute groundwater. Vehicles that are used to transport waste to landfills release carbon dioxide, and organic material that breaks down in a landfill releases methane. Carbon dioxide and methane are both greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.