Home In Progress

On Today's EpisodeAre You Moisturizing? [00:00 - 08:44]

Here's the video Dan was talking about at the beginning of the segment!

We talked about Dan’s smart humidifier last week

• How it can be an essential home appliance during the winter 
• Which reminded us there are simple maintenance steps many of us forget about during winter months! 
• Conditioning the wood and leather in our home

As wood or leather loses moisture, it shrinks, which can result in cracks in your beautiful wood cutting board or favorite chair. 

Even if you don't have leather furniture this same rule applies to leather bags, coats, shoes etc. 

Make a plan to oil your wood cutting boards and furniture once a month during the winter, or whenever they feel very dry to the touch. 

The entire process takes less than five minutes—and it could help preserve your cutting boards and furniture for years to come.

Cutting Boards:

1. First, make sure your cutting board is clean and thoroughly dry.
2. Using a clean cloth apply CUTTING BOARD OIL  to the surface of the board 
3. distribute the oil evenly  
4. let the oil soak in for a few hours or up to overnight
5. Using another clean cloth, wipe off any excess oil. Your cutting board should look shiny and revived, without being damp to the touch.

For Wooden Furniture:

Note: Follow these steps for oil-and-wax or stain-and-wax finishes, not painted or lacquered pieces.

1. Wipe the furniture with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or dust. Follow with a dry cloth to remove any moisture.
2. Apply wood polish to a clean cloth, then wipe it onto the furniture, working in the direction of the grain.
3. Let the oil soak in for about 30 minutes before buffing in and wiping away any excess oil.

Leather Furniture:

Leather lasts forever with the right amount of care and upkeep, so why not get the most bang for your buck

It’s recommended to clean light-colored leather every six months and dark-colored leather once a year. 

1. start by vacuuming the leather couch to get rid of any crumbs. Then dust it, if necessary, to remove any lingering dirt. 
2. Make sure it's completely dry 
3. Now it's time to get down to business and use cleaners.
4.  Leather cleaners can help break down the dirt and stains to make your leather couch look like new. 
5. Some products are 2-in-1 and contain both the cleaner and conditioner. 
6. This part is very important - Spray the cleaner onto a cloth, rather than directly onto the furniture!
7. Prevent it from leaving spray marks. 
8. Wipe lightly all around, making sure to clean the edges, nooks, and crannies.
9.  Work from top to bottom to avoid any uneven polish marks.
10. After you've cleaned, make sure to wipe away any excess cleaner before conditioning the couch. 
11. Grab your favorite conditioner, either in spray or bottle form, and apply a small amount onto a clean cloth. 
12. Conditioners are great because they contain healthy oils to make your furniture look fresh, smell phenomenal, and stay moisturized. Extends the life of your furniture!
13. Once you've finished buffing in the conditioner
14. Allow the leather to dry for an hour or so to let the product seep in
15. Avoid getting the oil on your clothing. 

Damaged Drywall Repair [08:45 - 18:59]

Ever removed some base board or maybe a backsplash or a toilet paper holder and ended up peeling off some of your drywall's face paper? If you've got brown paper exposed on your wall board, you'll need to seal it before you mud it or you could be dealing with annoying bubbling! Gardz is a waterbased product that comes to the rescue!

Here's a quick overview of the steps involved when using Gardz:

• FIRST: remove the curling paper mess. You can do this by running a joint knife over the surface or doing a light sanding. Sometimes, that paper will continue to peel. If that's the case, score around the damaged area with a razor. This will prevent the peeling from continuing past the scored line.
• SECOND: Get rid of the dust and apply a good coat of Gardz. It's quite runny, so don't use a thick-napped roller cover. A 1/4" microfiber roller cover is ideal! Roll an even coat over the damaged areas, but don't overapply. Let it dry for about 3 hours.
• THIRD: Gardz dries to a very hard finish. When the surface is dry, the curled pieces of brown paper that were not sanded off earlier will be easy to remove by running joint knife over the surface.  A light sanding would work too.
• FOURTH: Apply a light skim coat of drywall compound and apply more coats of compound as necessary.
• FINALLY: When finished, prime the area with another coat of Gardz, or even just a single coat of your finish paint. Then coat the entire area with an even coat of finish!

A Quick Step for Flawless Results [18:59 - 32:03]

We're joined by Benjamin Moore Territory Rep, Jon Potoski from the Metro Detroit area. Jon makes the case that a quick pole sanding between coats of paint will produce flawless results everytime!

The Anatomy of Trim [32:03 - 39:29]

Our homes are full of different pieces of trim. Many of us know the names of a lot of those pieces . . . but there are probably a few you don't know and possibly even a few you're referring to incorrectly! Knowing more about our homes is always better . . . so here's a quick discussion on trim!

• Here's the blogpost Dan referred to about Chair Rail

On Today's EpisodeLaundry Bag Hacks [00:00 - 06:14]

You've heard of mesh laundry bags, I'm sure. And maybe you've had good luck using them for their intended purpose: laundry. But there are a lot of other creative uses for these cool, mesh bags! Here are just a few:

BABY STUFF

New baby in the house? It can be really tough to take care and keep track of all their gear once you've tossed it into the washer. If you've struggled with that, give this a try: toss socks, bibs, hats, nursing pads, and any of their other tiny accoutrements into these zippered washer bags and keep track of them while you wash them!

MORE BABY STUFF

Sticking with the baby theme . . . bottle parts, pacifiers, and other things like this are usually dishwasher-friendly. However, they're tiny and can easily fall through the gaps in the racks. Toss those pieces and parts (after confirming that they're dishwasher-safe) into mesh laundry bags and run them through the dishwasher that way.

BEACH TOYS

Beach toys are a mess! The sand gets everywhere. So, toss them in one of the big, drawstring mesh laundry bags and carry them around that way. When the kids are done playing with them at the beach, pack them into the mesh bag, and before you toss it in the car, walk it out into the lake and rinse everything off in the bag!

BATH TOYS

Bath toys can end up filling the whole tub . . . Instead, get one of the big, drawstring mesh bags hang it from the shower head. Use that for toy storage! Even though they're stored wet, they'll easily dry through the mesh.

BIG PUZZLES or TOYS with PIECES

Big, wood-block puzzles are fun, but it's not long before all the pieces are shuffled everywhere. Store those puzzles in separate zippered bags and keep everything together. Or, what about Mr. Potato Head toys or other things like that? Want Mr. Potato Head's eyes and mouths and his little tie and feet to all be available for the next day? Store him and all his parts in a laundry bag.

There are tons of other mesh laundry bag hacks! If you have a few that you use on a regular basis, let us know! You can email us at [email protected].

The Humidifier [06:15 - 18:58]

Dan bought a new guitar and quickly realized that in order to maintain it throughout the winter months, he was going to need a humidifier. After doing some digging, he purchased the humidifer in the links below as well as an accompanying hygrometer.

Together, the system is working brilliantly: He can set the desired humidity and that's it. The humidifier and hygrometer work together to maintain the room at exactly that relative humidity. The unit is quiet, easy to fill and clean, and because the humidifier turns itself on and off as necessary, he finds he doesn't need to fill it as often as other humidifier that simply run all day until their empty or manually turned off.

• Govee Smart WiFi Humidifier
• Govee Bluetooth Hygrometer

Bold Colors Without the Blues [18:59 - 39:21]

The 2023 Color Trends from Benjamin Moore are bold! Many of the colors in that palette are saturated and powerful. With rich color being on trend for the year, it's important to understand some key concepts regarding how to work with bold tones. After all, we don't want you to do all that work to paint a room only to have to wear sunglasses whenever you're in the space!

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCALE

It's easy to forget or fail to realize, but just because a bold color looks great on a small photograph, or in a piece of art, that doesn't mean it will look great in your room when it's painted on every wall.

Colors look and FEEL differently when we're immersed in them versus just looking at them in a contained area like a picture frame or on the pages of a magazine.

This is true even for photographs of rooms that demonstrate the color you think will look amazing in your space. You're still only looking at a single, small-scale representation of that color. You're not seeing it in your periphery as you stand in a space. It's one thing to look at a yellow picture held out in front of you. It's something else entirely to stand in a yellow room where the color streams at you from every angle. The yellow in your room--even if it's the same yellow as what's on the photograph--will feel significantly more powerful because there's so much more of it!

So remember that scale matters when choosing bold colors and consider opting for a more muted version of the color you think you want. A great place to start is with Benjamin Moore's Williamsburg Collection. There are a lot of rich tones here, but they're made to scale well!

GET INPUT FROM EXPERTS

At all the RepcoLite stores in West Michigan and in the Metro Detroit area (formerly Teknicolor Paints), you'll find experts who work with paint colors all day long. We've helped people find the right color for their home--and have steered others away from the WRONG colors--for years.

We can give you some solid input regarding your color choices and work with you to make sure you get something you will love! Don't overlook the benefits of that free assistance!

SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE

Benjamin Moore Color Samples are 1/2 pint samples mixed up to any color you need! They run around $5 and they're a great way to actually get the paint you'll be using and put it on the wall so you can make sure this is the right color for you.

Samples are great to do with any color change, but with bold, rich colors, we strongly recommend painting not just a small 2' x 2' square, but rather as much space as you can! You want to get a good look at that color before you commit!

On Today's EpisodeVillage Custom Interiors: Which Countertop is Right for You? [00:00 - 13:34]

Dan and Hailey are joined by Darin DeHaan and Tara Ezinga from Village Custom Interiors to discuss the pros and cons of popular countertop materials for kitchens and bathrooms. 

Steam Cleaning Saved Me Again [13:34 - 19:00]

Hailey’s New Years Eve celebration almost ended in tragedy. Hear all about how a steam cleaner saved the day and why everyone could use a steamer. 

Paint Color Tips for New Builds [19:01 - 32:53]

Dan and Hailey discuss a recent color consultation and the tips everyone needs to know when picking paint colors. 

Order of decorating 

Paint color selection should come last

Make sure lighting is in place 

Start with Neutrals 

Makes sure you have samples of all of your finishes 

• Flooring 
• Cabinets 
• Tile
• Counter 
• Upholstery 

Always Sample!

Tips to Follow When Asking for Decorating Advice [32:53 - 39:30]

Dan and Hailey discuss a quote they recently heard “before someone had an opinion you had a goal”. Asking for decoration advice can be tricky but there are a few tips that will help you navigate those waters without losing sight of your own goal.  

On Today's EpisodeRodents and PEX Piping [00:00 - 06:37]

PEX piping is becoming more and more popular and for good reason! There are a ton of pros to using PEX . However, there is one BIG CON. Dan and Hailey discuss how to avoid running into problems if you have PEX plumbing in your home. 

Are You Paying More for Your Water Than You Should? [06:38 - 19:00]

Dan and Hailey are Joined by Mark from Great Lakes Plumbing to discuss plumbing maintenance and common signs that you have a plumbing issue that is costing you money every month!

• Contact Mark at the Plumber is Here!

Give Yourself a Break (and Other Lessons from 2022) [19:01 - 39:31]

As we say goodbye to 2022, Dan and Hailey look back at the year and discuss the most important lessons they learned. If you’re a DIY’er or an aspiring DIY’er, these are  rules to live by.

On Today's EpisodeThe History of the Christmas Orange[00:00 - 08:12]

Many of us decorate with oranges for Christmas. A few of us even continue the tradition of giving them out as gifts. But where does that tradition come from? Hailey has some answers....

The History of Snowmen [08:13 - 18:59]

Snowmen are not a new concept. In fact . . . SOME archaeologists postulate that they were possibly a favorite past time of primitive man! We've got the whole story here!

A Christmas Carol [19:00 - 30:55]

Dan's favorite Christmas tradition is watching every rendition of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" that he can find! It's a great little Christmas story AND, surprisingly, it quite possibly inspired the Christmas celebrations we enjoy today!

Also, as promised, here are a list of Dan's favorite movie versions:

• Scrooge with Albert Finney (1970) Yes, it's a musical and yes, there are a number of prominent critics who hated it. But this is the version I grew up with and it's my family's favorite.
• A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott Although just a made-for-TV movie, this one is also great. No singing, but George C. Scott is a pleasure to watch!
• A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart Another TV movie, but it's still great.

Finally, here's the play we found online!

Christmas Memories and Contest Winners [30:55 - 39:30]

Before we announce our contest winners from our big Christmas Giveaway, we reminisce about some of our favorite (and most brutal) Christmases!

On Today's EpisodeThe Best Dishwasher Detergents [00:00 - 06:50]

The right dishwasher detergent matters--not just for sparkly results, but also in the protection of your dishwasher and even the prevention of food poisoning!

Hailey's done the research and here are her recommendations:

1. Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods
2. Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Tablets Zero
3. Finish Hard Water Detergent

A Ceiling Paint and Primer Chat [06:51 - 18:59]

Kevin Hermann from Benjamin Moore joins us to chat about ceiling paint, primers, paint and primer all-in-ones and more.

Last Minute Winter Checklist [19:00 - 30:57]

Are you ready for winter?? In West Michigan, we had an early snowfall that may have thrown you off your schedule. Here's our checklist to make sure you're prepared for another Michigan Winter:

• Add fuel stabilizer to your lawnmowers
• Remove the mower batteries or put on a trickle charger
• Put battery-powered lawn equipment batteries inside but NOT on charger!
• Is your snowblower ready?
• Are your gutters cleaned out?
• and more....

Ceilings: Always the Forgotten Wall [19:00 - 30:57]

Whenever we do a repaint of a room, it's good practice to throw a coat of paint on the ceilings first, to freshen them up! But many of us (Dan and Hailey included) don't do that! Here's why it's a good idea....

On Today's Episode:Making Christmas Brighter [00:00 - 05:13]

Christmas is rapidly approaching! And while that fills many of us with excitement and anticipation, there are many families in our community who will struggle! Angel Tree is a ministry run by the Salvation Army that allows us to help make Christmas just a bit brighter for kids in our area.

It's a great opportunity for us to get involved and help someone in a very tangible way. Find an Angel Tree donation site, grab a tag from the tree, buy an appropriate gift and return it unwrapped! The Salvation Army will make sure it gets delivered to a child or teen in need before Christmas!

We've got Angel Trees at 4 different RepcoLite locations:

• 473 W. 17th Street in Holland
• 860 84th Street SW, Suite 2 in Byron Center
• 2840 Broadmoor Ave SE in Grand Rapids
• 912 Fulton St SE in Grand Rapids

You can find other locations as well as gift ideas here!

The 5 Most Common Reasons Your Dryer Isn't Working! [05:14 - 18:59]

When an appliance quits working, it's frustrating. It's concerning. It's inconvenient. And it's usually expensive. Happily as DIYers, there are a number of appliance fixes we can implement on our own--for very little money. Today we talk about dryers and 5 of the main reasons yours may not be working right now.

Start Troubleshooting with the Simple Stuff

• Is it plugged in?
• Did the breaker trip?
• Is it just overloaded with clothes?
• Is an obstruction preventing the drum from spinning?
• Is the door closed firmly?

Common Problem 1: Is the Door Switch Working?

Once you know the simple stuff isn't the problem, you need to dig deeper. One place to look that could be a cause of the problem is the door switch. Every dryer has one--it's a little lever or button that's visible when you open the door.

• Is it physically broken? Sometimes the tab/lever breaks off and will no longer catch when the door closes. Replacing it is easy!
• If it's not physically broken, it still could be faulty or defective. Look online and determine how to access your door switch and test with a multi-meter.
• **IMPORTANT: If the door switch isn't physically broken, before I took the dryer apart to test the switch, I'd instead pop the bottom access panel off and check for a broken belt (Common Problem 2 below).

Common Problem 2: Is the Drive Belt Broken?

Another common problem is the drive belt. You access this by removing the lower access panel on the dryer and finding the belt that loops over the drum, around an idler pulley and then to the motor.

• In many dryers, the idler pulley is on a lever switch.
• When the belt is in place and taut, the switch is engaged and the machine works.
• When the belt is broken, the switch is disengaged and nothing happens.

Common Problem 3: Is the Thermal Fuse Tripped?

Another common problem is the thermal fuse. Since the 80's, these are installed on dryers as a safety mechanisms to prevent fires. If the dryer is overheating, the thermal fuse trips and shuts off power. It's not a device that can be reset--it needs to be replaced. Happily, it's inexpensive.

• Consult your owner's manual or search for your model online to find the location of the thermal fuse.
• With the machine unplugged, remove the two wire leads and test the fuse with a multi-meter.
• If it's not working, it has to be replaced.

Common Problem 4: Is the On/Off Button Defective?

A last common (and simple) reason your dryer could quit working is a faulty or defective switch.

• Consult your owner's manual or search your model online to determine how to access the on/off switch
• With the machine unplugged, check the switch for continuity with a multi-meter

Common Problem 5: The Motor? Is it the Motor?

Finally, if none of those problems seem to be the reason your dryer isn't working, it definitely could be the motor. Usually this is a job for a service tech!

RepcoLite's Biggest News Ever! [19:00 - 32:48]

We're joined by Dan Altena, president of RepcoLite to talk about some huge news! RepcoLite has just acquired the 5 Teknicolor Paint stores in the Metro Detroit area, making RepcoLite West Michigan's largest (and favorite) Benjamin Moore dealer!

4 Steps to Flawless Touch-ups [32:48 - 39:29]

We're heading into Christmas and we know that many folks aren't thinking about tackling big repaints right now. However, you may be looking at some spots that need touch-ups. Here are four steps to ensure you get great results!

On Today's Episode

Today's a HUGE day! We cover a cool project, talk about some great board games, and finally (and more importantly) launch our big Christmas Scavenger Hunt for 2022!

The Pros and Cons of Painting the Subfloor [00:00 - 9:17]

Watch on YouTube

An interesting project that's making the rounds on the internet is turning your subfloor into a finished floor by painting it. Is it a good idea? Or is it one of those really ridiculous internet projects? We talk pros and cons--you decide!

Paint Stories: We All Start Somewhere [9:18 - 18:59]

Watch on YouTube

We're joined in the studio by Bob Troszok, Manager of RepcoLite's Plainfield Avenue location and host of The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast. In this segment we talk about Bob's favorite paint project of all time and how much he's grown and learned as a painter. The bottom line is simple: nobody starts as an expert. But you're never going to get good at anything unless you jump in!

Board Game Shenanigans [19:00 - 32:01]

Watch on YouTube

Bob Troszok, host of The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast joins us to talk about his top recommendations. Whether you're looking for a party game, or a great gift, Bob's got you covered!

• Learn more about The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast

The RepcoLite Christmas Scavenger Hunt 2022 [32:01 - 39:30]

Watch on YouTube

It's time to launch our big Christmas contest for 2022! We've got all the info and a HINT that can help you get your first entry!

• Learn more about the contest here!

On Today's Episode

It's time for our annual gift guide: a time-honored classic! In this episode, we discuss Dan-and-Hailey-approved Christmas gifts. If you're looking for something that's a step above the usual, check out our guide!

We'll also dig into the 5 D's of Home Staging with home staging expert, Natalie Kaman from At Home Design and Staging!

No Fail Christmas Gifts [00:00 - 18:58]

Watch on YouTube

Buying gifts can be tough! It's difficult to find something unique, intriguing, or interesting. We've got a few recommendations that are definitely "off the beaten path!"

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE

Hygge has been described as everything from "the art of creating intimacy", "cosines of the soul", "the absence of annoyance" to "taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things", "cozy togetherness" and "the pursuit of everyday pleasures".

This book is for anyone wanting to slow down a bit and find more joy in the simple things!

STAR WARS -- SHAKESPEAREAN EDITIONS

Dan stumbled into these books by accident. They are renditions of Star Wars movies we all know and love, but done with a Shakespearean twist! Each book is written as a play in Shakespearean meter and language. His entire family has had tons of fun sitting around the kitchen table, taking roles, and play-acting some of their favorite movies. It's a great introduction to Shakespeare (even though it's NOT Shakespeare), and it's a great opportunity to break out the voice-actor inside each of us! Check them out! You'll thank us later.

FAMILY PASSES to the BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER

There's so much going on at the Blandford Nature Center, it's tough to say it in just a few sentences. They've got trails to walk, but so much more! With everything from various classes and workshops to a community-supported farm, they're definitely worth checking out! A family membership may be the perfect gift for someone looking to spend a little more time away from a screen....

DAN'S TOP GUN CHRISTMAS

OK. Dan finally saw Top Gun: Maverick and he was over-the-moon excited. Having just received his motorcycle endorsement, all he needs to fully embrace the supreme coolness of the movie, is to get a pilot's license. That's surely no small feat. And so he wrote it off as something that just isn't to be.

And then he discovered the concept of Discovery Flights! A number of piloting schools in our area (Lavion Aero in Zeeland and West Michigan Flight Academy in Sparta, for example) offer an opportunity to fly a plane!

Ranging from $99 to $170 (and up), you can purchase a gift certificate for one of these flights. The lucky person who gets it will do everything from taking part in a pre-flight check, to taxiing down the runway, to actually flying the plane, and bringing it in for a landing. All with close supervision, of course! But it's still a great way to see if piloting is for you. AND, it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas gift!

The 5 D's of Home Staging [18:59 - 39:10]

Watch on YouTube!

We sit down with Natalie Kaman from At Home Design and Staging out of Grand Rapids to talk about what sellers can do to get the most for their homes!

Here's a sneak peak at Natalie's tips:

• Depersonalize
• Declutter
• Don't Darken
• Detail
• Design

Check out the interview for all the info!

On Today's Episode

It's been a monumental week. And it all started with a very lucrative offer from Keanu Reeves....

Avoiding Scams [00:00 - 06:53]

The Holidays are rapidly approaching. And with them . . . come the scammers! Every year, these people crawl out of the woodwork with schemes and tricks, hoping to harvest information from the unsuspecting. Don't fall for it! We'll talk about a few common scams and what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe!

Real Estate Check-In [06:53 - 31:40]

The housing market has been all over the place throughout the year. We started with a crazy seller's market and now, the year is ending with the advantage swinging toward the buyers! We sit down with Ginger Herman from Sue Prins Group Five-Star Real Estate Leaders to get the scoop. Whether you're a buyer or a seller (or both), this segment is crammed with great info!

Our Favorite Projects (and Why) [31:40 - 39:29]

Dan and Hailey have tackled a LOT of home projects. But in all of that work over all of those years, which project stands out for each of them as their favorite? And why?