There’s nothing better than a warm fireplace on a cold winter’s night! Take a look at our tips on how to protect your fireplace it from pests, give it a yearly inspection, and which wood to burn (yes, there is a specific type)!

Inspection First!

Shine a flashlight up your chimney before using it. Check to see if there’s any build-up on the chimney’s walls. Of course there will be black marks, but there’s a difference between black walls and black, fuzzy build-up. The fuzzy stuff is creosote starting to build-up on your chimney’s walls. Creosote is flammable, and will catch fire when temperatures in your chimney get hot enough to light it. If you see shiny stuff built-up, this is bad! Shiny creosote is more flammable than the regular black stuff, and it would be wise to get your chimney professionally cleaned.

Get the Right Wood

Experts recommend burning good, seasoned hardwood. If you decide to just throw in a random tree that you chopped down yourself, you will get moisture in the smoke. This only encourages creosote build-up.

Keep Pests at Bay

If any pests such as raccoons, birds, or squirrels make a home in your chimney, it can block the flow of smoke. The smoke will be blown back into your home, and also the animal’s nest could catch fire. If the nest catches fire, chances are that your home will too! Chimney caps are useful in keeping pests out, along with leaves, rain, and other debris. If you start to hear animal noises, or see animals walking around your chimney, it would be a good idea to get a chimney cap.

Photos: Stovax, Ventura Cast Stone, Britannica, B and B Renovations and Chimney Sweep.

Weeds. Every yard has them. They are stubborn, pesky, and ruin your lovely lawn and flowerbeds. Buying generic weed killer from the store isn’t exactly the safest way to go about getting rid of weeds, as they are full of toxic chemicals. Keep your family and pets safe with these 5 easy solutions:

1. Boiling Water and Salt

This is the easiest and cheapest method. Simply boil tap water in a pot and add a cup of salt. Mix until the salt has dissolved and pour over any weeds. Be sure not to get it in contact with other plants, though, as this will kill anything that grows.

2. Weed Killer Spray Recipe

This spray is sure to kill any weeds it comes in contact with! Simply add 4 oz of lemon juice to 1 litre of apple cider vinegar. Pour into a spray bottle and spray thoroughly onto weeds.

3. Baking Soda

Since baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, it’s extremely deadly to weeds. Simply sprinkle a generous amount over weeds, and avoid other plants or grass.

4. Dish Soap

Dish soap breaks down weeds and makes them vulnerable to the sun’s rays. Add 6 tbsp of dish soap to a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray this mixture onto weeds on a sunny day when the sun can help dry them up.

5. Fire

Another method that is widely used is burning the weeds with fire. Sometimes this method has to be done several times before the weeds are completely gone.

Photos: Dobies, Craftsy, Organic Gardening.