Tips to Clean Stubborn Windows

 No homeowner likes to take a Saturday to wash their homes’ windows but it is a chore that has to be done. Most of the time once you are finished, you see that they seem to never be completely clean. Here are some tips from the pros that can help you get them to sparkle and shine.

Get Rid of the Streaks

The trick is in the squeegee. You want to use a window-washing squeegee that has a smooth and soft rubber edge or if this is not an option, you can count on the trusty newspaper to do the trick. To use a squeegee you need to first dry the top or side of the window about an inch in and start to squeegee there. Another thing you want to do is make sure to wash windows in the shade and not in direct sunlight. If there is never shade, then choose to wash your windows on a cloudy day or in the evening.

Dusty Blinds and Midlewy Frames

If you dust your blinds to find them dusty again the next day, this is for you. In order to keep the dust at bay, spray your blinds with antiseptic spray. A good example is Static Guard. Using this on your window blinds immediately after dusting will keep them cleaner longer. When it comes to dusting your shades, you will need to do this once a month. Using a soft cloth or a Swiffer does the trick. If you do not have one of these, using a vacuum and its dusting brush will also work.

Mildew is a homeowner’s nightmare. To get rid of black or gray mildew spots on your window frame, use this cleaning solution. Take two ounces of household bleach and one ounce of laundry detergent in a quart of water and start cleaning. Remember when using this bleach-detergent solution, you should wear rubber gloves. To also keep your window sills clean, apply a coat of floor wax on them or spray them with a coat of WD-40 which will protect them as well.

Prolonging the Length of Clean Windows

If you notice that your windows seem to get dirty quickly, then you might want to think about changing your HVAC filters. Doing this once a month is the best practice because our homes today trap in a lot of dust, pollen, dander and other burdensome particles. Secondhand smoke is another problem that can shorten the life of a clean window. To clean you will need an ammonia solution that is the only thing that will cut the nicotine film. To make the solution you take one cup of lemon-scented ammonia in two and a half gallons of water.

These tips will help reduce the ever-annoying window cleaning problems. Not only do windows have these problems, but kitchen glass can also use these tips. Remember if you do this monthly you will keep a nice home with pretty windows.

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A Great Way To Relax and Enjoy Louisiana Nature

 Louisiana Tours and Adventures is the place people can go to relax and enjoy Louisiana nature at its finest. Captain Mike Jones loves exploring the Tchefuncte River and is a native of Madisonville.

“The river was always a cool place to be. I’ve always enjoyed everything about the water. I feel at home when I’m out there,” Capt. Mike said. “I love to ski and fish and see all of the wildlife. I think it’s the best place around. Growing up, that’s where I spent all of my time and where I learned so much about nature and the area’s rich history.”

Small groups of family or friends can go along on Captain Mike’s pontoon boat to see what the river has to offer. He has been doing tours through the Tchefuncte and its surrounding waterways. Wildlife along the tour can consist of turtles, deer, wild hogs, raccoons, alligators, owls, nesting ospreys and much more.

“I have a standard two-hour tour where we leave and make a big loop along the river and through a maze of cypress swamps. During the tour, I provide a narration on the history of the area and point out alligators and other wildlife,” Capt. Mike said. “I’m good at spotting them and pointing them out to people. It’s a way to see the region in a different way.”

“I really enjoy it personally because I get to see the animals progress over the years and see how their populations change,” Capt. Mike said. “We’re able to get really close to them. It’s always a real treat for people.”

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A New Owner For Netchex

 GrowthCurve Capital has purchased Covington-based Netchex. Netchex, a leading provider of cloud-based human capital management and payroll software, has been acquired by GrowthCurve Capital.  

Netchex was established in 2003 and is the leading provider of human capital management and payroll software solutions. The company focuses on small to medium-enterprise markets.

“Netchex is one of the fastest growing HCM technology companies in the industry, and we’re proud of the significant differentiation and strong brand that we have developed in the marketplace,” Boudreaux said in a news release. “GrowthCurve is the ideal partner to support the next phase of Netchex’s growth, and their expertise in AI, human capital, and scaling data-centric companies will provide a strong foundation for our vision to make HCM easy, intuitive, and a core value driver for the SME market. We also thank Primus Capital for their partnership and support while they were investors in Netchex.”

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Tickets Sales to Covington Filmmaker's Movie Goes to St. Tammany Art Association

 The movie, by Covington filmmaker and photographer Andrew Boyd, is about a retired sugarcane farmer and his family. Joe Judice and his family have been in the sugarcane industry in St. Martin Parish since the 1800’s.

“You spend a career meeting and filming and photographing people, and you know a good story when you see one. This looked like a great story,” says Boyd.

The movie is called Sugar in Their Blood and was funded by Boyd himself. He tells their story through interviews of the family and of professionals in the industry. You learn of the history and challenges of the industry. Joe and his brother Robert own Judice Brothers Farms which opened in 1964 between Loreaufille and New Iberia. The 2,600 acres is now run by Robert’s son Robert Jr. and Joe’s sons Jim and Justin. The family allowed Boyd to film the day to day operations of the farm.

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Better Affordability Brings More Buyers

 The first quarter of 2023 saw 56% of prospective home buyers actively in the process of purchasing a home. This is up from the fourth quarter of 2022 at 46%. This is due to the improved affordability expectations.

With the improved affordability, buyer demand is up as well as the competition. Unfortunately, this leads to potential buyers having a harder time finding the home of their dreams. In fact, 71% have spent 3+ months searching for a new home which was up from the 65% reported in the fourth quarter of 2022.

As for each region, the number of prospective buyers actively looking for a home rose in every region in the first quarter of 2023. The Northeast went from 50% to 63%, Midwest from 42% to 45%, the South from 47% to 51% and the West from 44% to 66%.

These results are derived from the Housing Trends Report (HTR). This report is produced by the National Association of Home Builders’ Economics team. The team measures prospective home buyers’ perceptions about the affordability and availability of homes for sale in their market. The Housing Trends Report runs every quarter to track changes in buyer’s perceptions over time.

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All of Tammany Trace Is Now Open For Summer

 This spring the entire length of Tammany Trace has now been fully opened to the public. The new bridge that runs over Little Bayou Castine in Old Mandeville, part of Tammany Trace, is now open. The ribbon cutting was April 20th on the $1.7 million bridge project. The bridge is one of the thirty two bridges that run along the thirty one miles of Tammany Trace.

Tammany Trace is actually Louisiana’s first Rails to Trails conversion that began in 1992 with federal money. The parish purchased the abandoned rail line from the Illinois Central Railroad for $1.4 million. The project was completed and opened in 1994.

The bridge that was there was a wooden structure that was not in good condition and needed to be replaced. In fact, there are other bridges along the trail that will also need to be replaced in the future. The area that was replaced was a 265-foot span that is over the marshy area that crosses over Jackson Ave. The bridge was redone with metal and concrete that was built offsite to reduce the cost. The design is not impacted by pilings so there is no negative environmental impact.

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An Increase in Housing Demand Sparked by Lower Rates

 It is reported that the share of prospective buyers increased by 5 points in a single quarter at the end of 2022. The retreat in mortgage interest rates during the first quarter of 2023 (from the 20-year peak reached in the fall of 2022) led a record share of adults in the US. 

This meant that 18% of adults said that they plan to purchase a home within a year. The share rose in every region across the country from the last quarter of 2022 to the beginning quarter of 2023. The Northeast rose from 11% to 19%, the Midwest from 10% to 14%, the South from 14% to 17% and the West from 14% to 23%).

This also was the case with first-time buyer share which also rose in all four regions between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. The Northeast saw an increase from 64% to 66%, Midwest 58% to 67%, South 60% to 68% and the West from 62% to 75%.

These results are derived from the Housing Trends Report (HTR). This report is produced by the National Association of Home Builders’ Economics team. The team measures prospective home buyers’ perceptions about the affordability and the availability of homes for sale in their market. The Housing Trends Report runs every quarter to track changes in buyer’s perceptions over time.

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