Home Buying Tips Archives - Hanover Mortgages

Exterior home remodeling projects are necessary to solidify the curb appeal of your home and protect it from the elements. If you are struggling to find a place to start with your remodeling efforts, the 5 exterior remodeling trends listed below can help you get the most out of your remodeling budget in 2021.

Raincatcher Online, Partner

August 24, 2021

metal lap siding a strong choice, as it is extremely durable and will maintain its color throughout the life of the house with little maintenance, keeping the contrasts in your exterior just as pronounced as the day you made the renovation.

2. Pergola additions

The COVID-19 pandemic created the need for more functional space in homes. With nowhere to go, people quickly realized the need for diversity in their property to keep from going stir crazy. This has led to the continued rise of functional exterior living areas in 2021.

To ensure the livability of exterior spaces, a popular trend is to add an architectural pergola to decks, patios, and outdoor kitchens. This is especially relevant as summer quickly approaches and the need for shade intensifies. In addition to the functional protective aspect of pergolas, they can also help improve curb appeal when carefully selected to match your siding choice.

3. Extra windows

Bright, well-lit interiors have been a trend for a number of years and are set to remain en vogue throughout 2021. As homeowners continue to make environmental friendliness a top priority, those homes that are able to passively use the sun to light and heat their spaces are all of the rage. This puts windows on center stage for passively designed homes, as they are the essential element for letting the sun go to work.

If you are concerned that a window-heavy exterior will have a negative impact on your curb appeal, it may be worthwhile to consider composite wood shutter options. These innovative shutters allow you to maintain the bright and airy benefits of extra windows while also providing the touch of contrast that is popular in exterior color schemes for 2021.

4. Front porches

Building on the idea of functional exterior living spaces, the backyard and deck are no longer the only places to turn if you want to step outside and enjoy a change of scenery. Homeowners are increasingly adding larger front porches as one of their exterior renovation projects in 2021, creating the opportunity for more diverse furniture choices and accessories to spend increased time on the street side of the home. Another trend that took root as a result of social isolation from the pandemic, the bustle outside the front porch creates a favorable alternative to the classic tranquility of backyard privacy.

Another trend that took root as a result of social isolation from the pandemic, the bustle outside the front porch creates a favorable alternative to the classic tranquility of backyard privacy.

5. Innovative garages

The garage has come a long way over the years. No longer just a storage unit with bikes hanging from the walls and rake handles poking out of every crevice, the garage must have the potential to serve as space for the home offices and workout areas that have proliferated across the country. As noted by Houston Home Remodeling Pros, modern garages need to be welcoming, luxurious spaces that enhance a home’s comfort.

In order to make this a reality, the garage doors replacements must look the part and mesh with the home’s exterior decor. Functional windows, decorative hardware, and contrasting colors to match the rest of the house are great ways to make sure the comfort of your garage is evoked from an outside perspective.

We all know what it’s like to fall in love with a pair of shoes, only to scuff them up the next day. Instead of just accepting shoe scuffs as your inevitable fate, check out these five tips to remove scuff marks on shoes using lemon juice, nail polish remover, and much more.

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

June 1, 2021

vinegar.

Get Rid of Scuffs with Nail Polish Remover

Just about any scuff mark can be removed with the help of some nail polish remover. Wet a rag with some, then rub on the scuffmark lightly but quickly. You may need to give your shoes the once-over with a damp cloth afterwards.

See also: 4 Surprising Items You Can Clean in a Washing Machine

Get Stains off Suede

If you have suede (or faux suede) shoes, removing stains is easy. Just brush them with an emery board, like you’d usually use for your fingernails.

Remove Marks from Patent Leather

If your patent leather shoe or other item has a scuff mark, use rubbing alcohol to get it off. Dampen a paper towel or rag with some, then wipe the mark off. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can also use a window cleaner like Windex or hand sanitizer, both of which contain a lot of alcohol.

Check out Who Knew’s 6 Second Uses for Hand Sanitizer

How to Get Marks Off White Canvas Shoes

Are your white shoes suffering from scuff marks? Rub a little baking soda into the offending areas and the marks will practically disappear. If you have a white paint marker or even some old-school White-Out, you can use that to cover the mark as well.

Sometimes the best fertilizers for houseplants are homemade. Care for indoor plants with these six unexpected fertilizers and keep your plants alive and well.

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

August 17, 2021

cleaning your fish bowl or tank, use the old water to fertilize your plants! It contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus—all three function as natural fertilizers for plants. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Club soda for houseplants

If it’s been a long time since you’ve replaced your plant’s potting soil, help it get back some of the nutrients it lost with club soda. The minerals in the soda are some of the same that soil is enriched with. Just make sure to bring the soda up to room temperature before using.You can even use flat club soda!

Prevent mold and fungus

Most powdered flower “food” works by lowering the pH level of the water, so that it’s still good for fresh flowers, but bad for any bacteria that may want to grow. If you notice fungus or mold cropping up on your plant or its soil, lower its pH with aspirin. Just crush one tablet into approximately one quart of water, and stir until it dissolves. Then use this water to water your plant.

See also: 10 Hacks for Beautiful Flower Arrangements That Last

Put produce peels to work

You don’t need a compost pile to use fruit and vegetable peelings to fertilize your plants! Instead, save peels from produce in your fridge or freezer. When you have at least a cup of them, soak them overnight in cold water. Remove the peels and the water left behind is now a fertilizer for your plants that’s rich in nutrients and minerals and completely natural.

For more tips like these, follow our Gardening and Yard Tips board on Pinterest and don’t forget to to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

The perfect home is one where you can relax and unwind, escaping from the common stresses of day-to-day life. If you’re thinking of making some changes to your home, the following options might be ideal for you.

JJ Watt, Partner

July 20, 2021

switch your bath to a shower, so you don’t have to worry about spending time to fill an entire bath when you’re rushing to work? Make your bathroom into a place that’s perfect for your needs. Don’t forget to invest in your plumbing too. Installing a whole-house filtration system doesn’t just make your water taste better, it can also reduce the risk of dry skin and hair from your shower.

Invest in a good night’s sleep

Life is easier when you sleep well. Unfortunately, too many people fail to invest properly in a good night’s sleep. We choose beds and mattresses based on their affordability and can sometimes ignore things like bedding. Next time you have some spare cash set aside for updating your home, ask yourself how you can make your bedroom more welcoming. If you are constantly struggling to find the right level of comfort on your existing bed, then it might be time to update with a new frame or mattress. If your bedroom feels cluttered, think about how you can open up the space by transforming cupboards into built-in storage spaces.

The more comfortable you are in your bedroom, the more likely it is that you’ll sleep well.

Invest in a passion

We all have things in life that we enjoy. For some, it’s reading a good book, for others, it’s spending a few hours on a video game. If your home doesn’t have the perfect space for you to indulge in that passion, it’s tough to achieve the best quality of life. Ask yourself what you wish you could spend more time doing when you are at home, and how you can bring that passion into your space. If you have a love of gaming, for instance, you might decide to turn a spare bedroom into a games room, where you can relax with friends without disturbing your partner if they are watching the television in the living room. If you love sewing but you struggle to keep all of your equipment organized in your bedroom, transform your spare bedroom into a crafts space. You can even look into converting your garage or your loft into an extra room.

Ask yourself what you wish you could spend more time doing when you are at home, and how you can bring that passion into your space.

Install a home lift

No matter what kind of life you imagine for yourself in the years to come, the chances are that you will want to have control over where you live. As we get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain our independence, particularly if we suffer from health and mobility issues. Making investments now so you can comfortably age in a place you’re familiar with is an amazing way to reduce the stress associated with getting older. One of the best ways to do this is to look into domestic lifts advice so you can install your own home lift. A home lift isn’t just a way to get up and down the stairs if you have mobility problems – although that is an excellent benefit. This investment can also help with things like cleaning your home (transporting equipment between floors) and reducing the impact on your joints.

Transform your garden

For many people, their home is not just a building with four walls and a roof; it is also the surrounding space around that property too. Whether you have a small yard or a large garden, making the most of your exterior space can significantly improve your quality of life. Spending more time with nature can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels. Plus, a garden gives you other ways to invest in your wellbeing. For instance, with your own garden space, you can make a vegetable patch where you can grow your own organic foods and save money on your groceries. Even if you have a limited amount of space, you could use it to grow herbs that spice up your kitchen routine and give you more flavor in your day-to-day life.

Spending more time with nature can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Improve your air quality

Finally, do not underestimate the power of air quality when it comes to improving your health and wellbeing. It’s easy to assume that we’re exposed to more pollution and contaminants outside than we are when we’re in our home – but the opposite is actually true. The air in your home can quickly grow stagnant, and it is often exposed to a range of substances that can make it harder to breathe easily. With that in mind, look to improve your air quality. Get a set of filters for your air system or conditioning products if you have one with HEPA filtration levels. If you don’t have air conditioning, look into adding new vents to your property to help move air around as effectively as possible. You can also look into other tools for improving air quality, like air purifiers, dehumidifiers, or humidifiers.

Stung by a bee or other insect? Check out these eight pain relievers that you probably already have around the house.

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

August 10, 2021

quickanddirtytips.com

Buying a new home at the same time as you’re selling your old home is all about timing — and some luck, of course. And while you can’t control everything that happens during the complicated buying and selling process, there are some things you can do to set yourself up for smooth closings — maybe even on the same day!

Consider this key information on how to buy and sell a house at the same time.

Evaluate the local housing market

The state of the real estate market in your area is often the biggest factor in timing your home purchase and sale correctly. Knowing what kind of market you’re in is important whether you’re just moving across town, or if you’re moving across the country. If you’re selling in one market and buying in another, you’ll need to factor that into your timing. The length of time it takes to buy and sell can vary dramatically depending on the local real estate scene.

What is a buyers market?

In a buyers market, there are more homes available than people looking to buy. In a buyers market, you’ll likely have an easier time finding your new home than you will selling your old home. Sellers may be willing to accept a contingent offer, which means you agree to purchase their home contingent on selling yours first — more on that later.

What is a sellers market?

In a sellers market, there are more buyers in the marketplace than there are homes available. In a sellers market, your current home will likely sell more quickly than you’ll be able to find a new home. Consider asking your buyers to do a rent-back after closing to allow you time to find your new place.

If you’re in a…	What to do
Buyers market	Make an offer with a sale contingency
Buyers market	Request an extended closing
Sellers market	Make an offer with a settlement contingency
Sellers market	Ask for a rent-back agreement

Choose an experienced real estate agent

Buying and selling at the same time can be complicated and at times overwhelming, so it’s helpful to have a pro by your side. An experienced local agent will not only be able to help you determine the market value of your home, but they’ll be able to talk you through timing, strategy, and negotiation.

An agent can guide you to a listing price

In addition to answering questions about process and helping you negotiate, one of the most important roles your agent plays is to help you find the perfect listing price — one that will help you sell on your desired timeline and for enough money to help you take that next step. They’ll use their local market expertise and comparables to inform the price.

Remember to interview

Don’t just go with the very first real estate agent that comes your way. Especially when you’re buying and selling at the same time, it’s important to give your business to a true professional, one who can really help you make smart decisions. And, if you’re buying and selling in the same market, consider using the same agent for both transactions to help streamline communication.

Understand your financials

After you’ve chosen an agent and gotten a feel for your local market, it’s time to know your numbers. Reach out to both your mortgage lender and your financial planner to see what’s feasible based on your financial situation. The amount of liquid cash, the amount of equity in your home, and the loan products you qualify for can all factor into which path you take.

Determine your home’s likely resale value

Part of researching your equity is knowing how much your house will reasonably sell for in the current market. Consider completing a pre-inspection so you know how much work needs to go into your house before selling, or the types of concessions you’ll have to make to a buyer to cover those repairs.

Know how much equity you have in your home

If you’re selling a house with a mortgage, do some initial research to find out how much equity you have — meaning the amount left over when you take the current market value of your home and deduct what’s remaining on your mortgage. Also, consider if you’d be able to purchase without tapping into that equity. Remember, the equity you have in your home won’t be accessible until after the sale closes.

Buying a house before selling

If you choose to buy a second home before selling your current home, here are some ways to make it happen:

Make an offer with a sale contingency: In this scenario, you’ll focus on finding a new home before you list the old one. Once you find a house you love, you’ll submit your offer with a sale and settlement contingency, which means you’ll buy the home only if you can successfully sell your existing home. Typically, the sellers of the home you’re buying are still allowed to seek other offers. Contingencies typically work best in buyers markets, when the seller is less likely to get another offer.

Request an extended closing: If you’re confident that your existing home will sell in a short period of time, you can request to extend the closing date of your new home, past the standard 30-45 days. This will give you enough time to sell your current home and use your home equity to buy another house. Just like with contingent offers, you’re more likely to have success with this strategy in a buyers market.

Purchase with savings: If you’re in the financial position to do so, the simplest route is to use your savings to pay your new down payment, then sell your old home after the dust settles. Keep in mind that you’ll also need money to cover closing costs, inspections, and moving expenses.

Purchase with a HELOC: A HELOC, or home equity line of credit, allows you to borrow against the equity in your current home. If you qualify, you could use a HELOC to access money for your down payment, then pay it off when your home sells.

Purchase with a bridge loan: A bridge loan is a short-term loan offered by a bank to cover your down payment, just until your sales close. Make sure to talk to your banker about this option early in the process, because not all banks offer this product and it can be hard to qualify.

Rent out your first home: If you don’t need the money from your first home to make your down payment on the new home, you could always find renters for your old home, which would allow you to cover the mortgage costs while delaying the need to sell at the same time as you’re buying.

Sell your house with Zillow Offers: The Zillow Offers program makes it possible for you to sell your home quickly and with less hassle. If you’ve already made an offer on a new home, Zillow Offers can be a great option, as you can receive a competitive all-cash offer in less than 72 hours. You can also choose your closing timeline, making it easier to close the sale on your old home in time to apply your equity toward your new purchase. Plus, you may be able to save thousands if you’re eligible for the Zillow 360 program.

Pros of buying before selling

You have somewhere to move right away.
You only have to move once, which allows you to save money on storage units or temporary housing costs.
You’re less pressured to make quick buying decisions, as you can always stay in your current home a little longer if you don’t find a property you love.

Cons of buying before selling

You may feel rushed to sell, which may lead you to take a lower offer than you would otherwise.
Contingent offers are less competitive, especially in fast-paced markets.
You may not have enough cash to make a competitive offer if your money is tied up in your current home.
If you decide to rent out your current home, being a landlord isn’t always a walk in the park. And, when you do decide to sell, it can be a challenge to sell while tenants are living in the home.

Selling a house before buying

If you’ve decided to sell your current home first, here are some steps you can take to make the process a bit smoother.

Make an offer with a settlement contingency: In this case, you’ll list your house first, then once you have an offer in hand (but before closing), you start looking for your new digs. When you find a house you love, you’ll submit an offer with a settlement contingency, which means you’ll buy the home contingent on the sale of your existing home closing. This works best in a seller’s market, where you can expect to receive offers on your existing home fairly quickly.

Find a temporary rental to live in: Yes, you’ll have to move twice, but sometimes closing one sale before starting another one can be the least stressful option, as it takes the pressure off the timing and gives you the time to find a home you really love.

Sign a rent-back: A rent-back provision is when you go through with the sale of the home, with the agreement that you can rent the home back from the new owners (and keep living in your home) for one or more days. This option can give you more time to shop for your new home, while still giving you access to the money from your sale. Keep in mind that this option works best in a sellers market, where buyers have to be more flexible with contract terms in order to get the home they want.

Pros of selling before buying

You know exactly how much equity you’ll have available to put toward your new home.
You can easily roll your existing equity into the new purchase.
It can be less stressful to close the book on one chapter before focusing on your next move.

Cons of selling before buying

You’ll likely have to find a temporary living situation.
Storage and double moving costs can add up.

Source: zillow.com

You’ve probably heard that you can use a banana peel and other compost to fertilize your garden, but did you know some items—like gelatin, coffee grounds, and even a matchbook—can have specific benefits for your plants?

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

April 20, 2021

hydrogen peroxide—the extra pump of oxygen from the peroxide prevents root rot and over-watering. Just mix a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups water, and water your plant with the solution. Its disinfectant properties will fend off bacteria, mold, fungus, and other nasty soil-borne diseases.

Cereal Crumb Fertilizer

Did you know that cereal crumbs are great for plants? They supply much-needed nutrients to the soil, which makes sense given that they’re grains that came from the soil in the first place! Instead of shaking the box over the trash before ripping it up for recycling, dump the remains of the flakes into your houseplants or garden for a treat they’ll love.

Wondering what else you can do with leftover cereal? Check out Clever Cookstr’s 93 Ways to Cook with Crispy Rice Cereal

Make Your Own Bonemeal

As you may know, bonemeal is an excellent source of nutrients for your plants. But instead of spending $8–$10 on a bag at your local gardening store, make your own! Bonemeal is just bones, after all. Save bones from chicken, turkey, steaks, and stews, then dry them out by roasting them in a 425ºF oven for a half an hour or microwaving them on high for 1–6 minutes (depending on how many bones you have). Then place them in a plastic or paper bag and grind them up by hitting them with a hammer, then rolling them with a rolling pin. Mix the resulting powder into your soil for a life-producing treat for your plants. And you didn’t spend a cent!

A Must-Have for Growing Carrots and Tomatoes

The best thing you can give your carrot and tomato plant seeds is also what keeps you going during the day—coffee! Carrots and tomatoes both need extra nitrogen, which coffee has in spades. Mix the seeds with coffee grounds (used is fine) before you plant them. The coffee will provide your growing plants with the nitrogen they need, while having some extra bulk to plant will ensure they don’t end up all lumped together.

What else can coffee do? Read Ask Science’s Health Benefits of Coffee

Slow-Release Nitrogen

For plants other than carrots and tomatoes, extra nitrogen can give them a boost, but too much can harm them. So use this nitrogen-rich DIY fertilizer that releases the nitrogen slowly into the ground. Dissolve a packet of unflavored gelatin in 3 cups warm water. Then use it to water plants in need of a little TLC. You’ll get all the benefits of an expensive fertilizer without the price tag!

Epsom Salt Lawn Fertilizer

Did you know Epsom salts are one of the best natural lawn fertilizers around? They’re composed of magnesium and sulfur, both of which are highly beneficial to grass. Magnesium kick-starts seed germination and is also a player in manufacturing chlorophyll, the substance that plants create from sunlight in order to feed themselves. Sulfur, meanwhile, also helps with chlorophyll, while simultaneously enhancing the effects of other fertilizer ingredients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also deters certain pests such as ground worms. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that savvy lawn care specialists have been using Epsom salts for years. You can either sprinkle them on your lawn using a spreader or make a liquid solution out of them by adding some water and putting the mixture in a spray bottle.

Healthy Pepper Patch

This advice definitely sounds like an urban legend, but it’s such an easy way to grow fantastic peppers that you have to try it. A matchbook buried near the roots of each pepper plant will transmit sulfur, a great fertilizer for them.

Eggshells for Plants

Save eggshells for your garden plants. Just crush them up and spread them around the stems of your vegetables or flowers, then cover with a small amount of soil. They’ll not only provide fertilizer, they’ll help keep slugs and snails away. You can also use water that you’ve used to boil eggs in—when you’re finished cooking, just use the cooled, nutrient-enriched water to water your plants!

If you need something to do with the eggs inside the shells, read Who Knew’s 8 Tricks for Perfect Breakfast Eggs

A Second Life for Seafood Shells

Shells from mussels, clams, or other shellfish are also great for gardens. Just crush them up and spread in your garden like the egg shells. The calcium in the crushed shells is also great for grass!

A Little Fat for Your Roses

Rose bushes can be one of the hardest plants to grow, but an extra dose of nutrients can help. A small amount of fat drippings buried at the base of a rose bush will keep it healthier and make it bloom more frequently. Just beware that this can be a terrible tip if you have a dog who likes to dig!

For more great outdoor tips, check out our Gardening and Yard Tips Pinterest board, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for our Tip of the Day!

The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only. The Authors and Publisher do not accept liability for damages arising from the use, attempted use, misuse or application of any of the suggestions included on this website.

Throughout the approval process, push yourself to maintain your credit while lenders pull it.

Navigating the purchase of a home can be overwhelming for first-time buyers. Lenders require documentation of seemingly every detail of your life before granting a loan. And of course, they will require a credit check.

A question many buyers have is whether a lender pulls your credit more than once during the purchase process. The answer is yes. Lenders pull borrowers’ credit in the beginning of the approval process, and then again just prior to closing.

Initial credit check for preapproval

In the first phase of acquiring a loan, pre-qualification, you’ll self-report financial information. Lenders want to know details such as your credit score, social security number, marital status, history of your residence, employment and income, account balances, debt payments and balances, confirmation of any foreclosures or bankruptcies in the last seven years and sourcing of a down payment. This is only a portion of the total information needed for your mortgage application.

Once you’re ready to get preapproved for a loan, lenders will verify your financial information. During this phase, lenders require documentation to confirm the information in your application and pull your credit history for the first time. You may be required to submit a letter of explanation for each credit inquiry in recent years, such as opening a new credit card, and for any derogatory information in your history, like a missed payment.

Once you find a home within budget and make an offer, additional or updated documentation may be required. Underwriters then analyze the risk of offering you a loan based on the information in your application, credit history and the property’s value.

Second credit check at closing

It can take time for your offer to be accepted, and for your loan to pass underwriting. During this period from the initial credit check to closing, new credit incidents may occur on your history. Many lenders pull borrowers’ credit a second time just prior to closing to verify your credit score remains the same, and therefore the risk to the lender hasn’t changed. If you were late on a payment and were sent to collections, it can affect your loan. Or, if you acquired any new loans or lines of credit and used those credit lines, your debt-to-income ratio would change, which can also affect your loan eligibility.

If the second credit check results match the first, closing should occur on schedule. If the new report is lower or concerning to the lender, you could lose the loan. Alternatively, the lender may send your application back through underwriting for a second review.

It’s important for buyers to be aware that most lenders run a final credit check before closing, so the home-buying window is a time to prudently mind your credit.

Related:

Source: zillow.com

Tired of pimple popping and frustrating acne? We’ve got 18 natural remedies you can make at home that could help.

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

January 28, 2021

4 Common Skin Problems and How to Deal

Banana peels for pimples

As we shared in our post on the many uses of a banana peel, you can rub the pulpy side of the peel right on your face to help get rid of pimples.

Acne attacker

Got a pimple problem? Don’t head to the skincare aisle of the drugstore just yet—not only are those treatments costly, they also contain tons of chemicals that your skin does not need. Instead, reach for a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. This common (and cheap) over-the-counter antiseptic is a miracle-worker on acne. It kills the pimple-producing bacteria living in your skin and oxygenates your pores to prevent new bacteria from setting up shop. First, wash your face with soap and water to remove dirt, oils, and any make-up. Gently pat dry. Then soak a cotton ball in peroxide and dab it over any blemishes or apply it all over your face. Let sit for about two minutes, or until the peroxide stops bubbling, then rinse off with water and apply oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.

Experiment with what you’ve got in your pantry and see what works best for your skin.

DIY pore strips

Here’s an affordable alternative to commercial pore strips, which help keep skin clear and free of pimples. Mix together 1–2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin with equal parts milk, and heat until warm. Spread this mixture on your skin, and allow to dry completely. You will be able to peel it off in strips, removing blackheads in the process!

Glue pore strip

Here’s another cheap and easy DIY pore strip: white glue like Elmer’s. Spread a thin layer on the problem area (avoiding the eyes), let dry, and peel away. It works on blackheads, and it’s actually pretty fun!

Potato acne fighter

Sprouting pimples like they’re going out of style? Try this neat trick to clear up your face. Cut a raw potato in half and rub the flat end over your face. Leave the juice on for 20 minutes before rinsing off. The starch in the potato will help dry out your oily skin.

RELATED: Which Type of Potato Should You Use?

Nourish with nutmeg

This nutmeg-milk scrub provides a double-whammy of skin nourishment: Nutmeg works as an astringent, exfoliant, and anti-inflammatory (goodbye blackheads and acne), while the milk’s lactic acid works as a peel to eliminate dead skin cells. To make the scrub, combine nutmeg and milk until the mixture resembles a paste. After washing your face with a cleanser, massage the nutmeg scrub onto your skin in gentle circular strokes. Exfoliate for 5–10 minutes, then rinse.

Stop a zit in its tracks

If a giant pimple sprouts up at work or school, here’s a way to make it less noticeable without applying a face mask at your desk: Place an ice cube on it for 30–60 seconds, and/or place a few eye drops onto a tissue and hold it on the spot for 3 minutes. This will cause the blood vessels below your skin to contract, making the pimple less red and easing some of the irritation.

Honey for pimples

We love this all-natural remedy for skin blemishes—it’s easy, effective, and cheap! Simply apply a drop of honey on top of the affected area and cover with a band-aid. Honey is loaded with healing enzymes that kill bacteria and toxins, reduce inflammation, and moisturize the skin. So the next time your skin acts up, just reach into your kitchen pantry for some sweet stuff.

No ifs, ands, or butts

Who knew diaper rash cream could help get rid of pimples? Dab a bit on offending areas, and the zinc oxide in the cream will dry up oil and kill bacteria, while the moisturizers will soften your skin. Meanwhile, it costs less than most store-bought acne treatments with the same ingredients.

Tea tree + toothpaste

Fear you’re getting a pimple? Dab the offending spot with a little tea tree oil (available at many drugstores), then cover it with a bit of toothpaste. The tea tree oil is a great all-natural remedy with proven results similar to over-the-counter acne creams, and the toothpaste has an anti-inflammatory effect. Repeat three times a day for an ongoing acne problem.

If you have rosacea, avoid tea tree oil because it may aggravate your condition.

Bag those blemishes

Both chamomile and mint have anti-inflammatory properties, so try soaking a tea bag in water and then applying to your acne for a few minutes several times a day. You can also use green tea, which is both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. Supercharge this remedy by making ice cubes out of the tea! Chamomile, mint, and green tea work great, but you can also use hibiscus or even basil tea. Experiment with what you’ve got in your pantry and see what works best for your skin.

SEE ALSO: Who Knew’s 5 New Uses for Used Tea Bags

Get rid of acne scars

Do you have acne scars or other dark spots on your face? Erase them with home remedies. You can use the enzymes in certain foods to help lighten them! Here’s a soothing mask to try. Stir together 1 teaspoon each lemon juice and honey plus 2 teaspoons plain yogurt in a small bowl. Apply to your face, and leave on for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

For more all-natural remedies from all around the internet, check out our Health and Beauty Tips board on Pinterest.

The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only. The author and publisher do not accept liability for damages arising from the use, attempted use, misuse, or application of any of the suggestions included on this website.

Turn your yard into a paradise using these easy DIY tips.

Bruce and Jeanne Lubin

June 3, 2020

quickanddirtytips.com

2. Pergola additions

3. Extra windows

4. Front porches

5. Innovative garages

Get Rid of Scuffs with Nail Polish Remover

Get Stains off Suede

Remove Marks from Patent Leather

How to Get Marks Off White Canvas Shoes

About the Author

Club soda for houseplants

Prevent mold and fungus

Put produce peels to work

About the Author

Invest in a good night’s sleep

Invest in a passion

Install a home lift

Transform your garden

Improve your air quality

Evaluate the local housing market

What is a buyers market?

What is a sellers market?

Choose an experienced real estate agent

An agent can guide you to a listing price

Remember to interview

Understand your financials

Determine your home’s likely resale value

Know how much equity you have in your home

Buying a house before selling

Pros of buying before selling

Cons of buying before selling

Selling a house before buying

Pros of selling before buying

Cons of selling before buying

Cereal Crumb Fertilizer

Make Your Own Bonemeal

A Must-Have for Growing Carrots and Tomatoes

Slow-Release Nitrogen

Epsom Salt Lawn Fertilizer

Healthy Pepper Patch

Eggshells for Plants

A Second Life for Seafood Shells

A Little Fat for Your Roses

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Initial credit check for preapproval

Second credit check at closing

Banana peels for pimples

Acne attacker

DIY pore strips

Glue pore strip

Potato acne fighter

Nourish with nutmeg

Stop a zit in its tracks

Honey for pimples

No ifs, ands, or butts

Tea tree + toothpaste

Bag those blemishes

Get rid of acne scars

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