It’s time for that dirty word again......spring-cleaning!

Say cheerio to harsh chemicals and hello to a healthier, greener home with these three easy-to-make natural cleaners. Perfect for allergy sufferers (achoo!), families with children and pets (woof! woof!), and anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact (hooray!).

These non-toxic cleaners are free of harmful fumes and toxic residues, making them safe for children and pets, while their biodegradable nature reduces plastic waste and is better for the environment. 

Let’s get rockin’! Here are three easy-to-make, natural home cleaners that will leave your home sparkling.

Citrus-Infused Cleaner

1. Fill a quart-size glass jar with 8-12 clean citrus peels of your choice (grapefruit, lemon, lime, and/or orange peels). Weck Jars are a good choice.

2. Add 1 cinnamon stick (optional) and 10 cloves (optional).

3. Cover the peels and spices with white vinegar.

4. Place the jar in a sunlit area or window for 2 weeks.

5. Give the mixture a gentle shake every few days.

6. Let the solution sit for 2 weeks.

7. Strain the liquid and pour the infused vinegar into a glass bottle. 

8. Dilute it by combining equal parts of the citrus-vinegar mixture and water into a glass spray bottle.

Use on bathroom showers and sinks, counter-tops, cutting boards, fridge, garbage cans, kitchen sinks and the tub. Heads up! Do not use this solution (which is acidic) on granite or marble surfaces.

“We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.” -Alfred E. Newman 

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1. Sprinkle a quarter cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl. The baking soda has scouring and deodorizing power – but doesn’t have anti-bacterial benefits.

2. Combine 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and ½ teaspoon tea tree essential oil (for additional anti-bacterial punch) in a spray glass bottle.

3. Spray the vinegar/tea tree oil mixture on toilet surfaces (handle, lid, toilet seat) and inside the toilet bowl.

4. Wipe the exposed surfaces with a clean, dry cloth.

5. Let the mixture fizz for several minutes. 

6. Brush and flush!

“What did one toilet say to the other? You look flushed!” ~ Anonymous

Glass and Mirror Cleaner

1. Combine 1 cup of distilled water (tap water can leave streaks) and 1/3 cup of white vinegar (antibacterial ingredient) in a 16-ounce glass spray bottle. 

2. Optional: Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for a natural scent.

3. Optional: Add ½ cup rubbing alcohol. Yes, it’s a bit toxic, but it is low on the toxicity totem pole. Rubbing alcohol quickly evaporates and gives a streak-free shine.

“I look in the mirror and think, ‘Wow, I really need to clean my bathroom.” ~ Anonymous

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: April 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #SaundersTremblayRealty #REMAX #WaterlooRegionRealEstate #RemaxTwinCity #cleaning #livinggreen #naturalcleaners #ecofriendly #earth #natural #planetearth #ecology #nature #savetheearth #greenplanet #sustainable #greenearth #savetheplanet #sustainability #plants #environment #homecleaners #green #ecologic

Eggs-citing! Easter is officially right around the corner! If you’re in search of fun ways to occupy and entertain your kids, there are plenty of fun Easter events in Waterloo Region.

From Easter Bunny Meet & Greets through to Easter Brunch aboard a heritage train, Waterloo Region offers lots of family-friendly events to keep you hoppin’ this Easter!

Check out these Family-friendly Easter Events in the Waterloo Region. 

Pre-Easter Event - April 12, 2025

Schneider Haus Easter Egg-stravaganza, 466 Queen St. S., Kitchener, ON

Take a hippity-hop through bunny lane! Watch the cutie pies in a peep parade as the baby chicks steal the show. Head out to collect eggs in the Rainbow Easter Egg Hunt. Doodle, sprinkle, and play – get creative with springtime crafts today.

Good Friday - April 18, 2025 

Celebrate Easter with your Furry Friend!

National Service Dogs’ Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs and their Families Fundraiser

Thousands of coloured eggs filled with treats and prizes for the pups are hidden in the park. Doggies (along with their humans) will search for and retrieve prizes from the collected eggs. This is a super-fun fundraiser to raise money for children with autism and to restore independence to veterans and first responders living with Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD). Loads of fun for Fido and the whole family!

Guelph Egg Hunt: Riverside Park, Guelph, 709 Woolwich St, Guelph, ON

Kitchener Egg Hunt: Knollwood Park, 155 Borden Ave N, Kitchener, ON

Register here.

 Easter Weekend - April 18, 19, & 20, 2025

Spring Fling: A Family Easter Celebration at McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Avenue South Cambridge, ON

Celebrate the arrival of Spring with enjoyable spring-themed games and crafts. Plant posies. Spring into creativity with fun, seasonal crafts. How about a game of Bunny Bowling or Carrot Toss? Get ready for loads of fun and lots of laughter at this lively family day on the banks of the Grand River in Cambridge!

 Easter Saturday, April 19, 2025

St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market Easter Egg Hunt, St. Jacobs Farmers' Market - Farmyard, 878 Weber St N, Woolwich, ON 

Get ready for bunny hops and giggles galore. Meet the Easter Bunny – it’s a hoppy affair! Explore the farmyard for eggs - egg-citing places for every little explorer!

The Easter Egg-spress, Heritage Train Adventure, WCR Farmers’ Market Station located at 330 Farmers Market Road, St. Jacobs

Hop aboard the Easter Egg-spress! Get egg-cited – the family fun train is leaving! Your Easter Eggs-pedition includes a stopover in Waterloo Central Railway Park where the kids get to hunt for Easter treats. Then, you’re off to ride the rails to Elmira. Special guest appearance by The Easter Bunny! A very hoppy adventure!

Uptown Waterloo Easter Egg Hunt, Uptown Waterloo, ON

Celebrate with free face painting, caricature sketches, and The Uptown Waterloo Egg Hunt. Get ready to tap your feet to the Live DJ beat!

 Easter Sunday - April 20, 2025

Easter Brunch Train, Waterloo Central Railway, WCR Farmers’ Market Station located at 330 Farmers Market Road, St. Jacobs

Enjoy a taste of the past on this beautifully restored vintage railcar for a round-trip eggs-cursion to Elmira. Hop on board for a brunch to remember!

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: April 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #SaundersTremblayRealty #REMAX #WaterlooRegionRealEstate #RemaxTwinCity #easterweekend #eastersunday #familyfun #easterholidays #easterevents #easteregghunts #egghunts #easteregghunt #events #easter #eastereggstravaganza #spring #easterfun #easteregghunting #easteregg #eastereggdying #eastereggs #josephschneiderhaus #waterloocentralrailwaypark #servicedogsfundraiser #cambridgeontario #kwlocal #wrawesome #waterloo #kwawesome #guelph #kitchenerrealestate #waterlooregion #explorewr #kitchenerontario #shoplocalkw #dtk #waterloofoodies #dtklove #kw #waterloorealestate #kitchenerwaterloo #downtownkitchener #uptownwaterloo #kitchenerevents #galtlove #supportlocal #explorewaterlooregion #kitchener #cambridge #kitchenerwaterloocambridge #waterlooontario #dtkitchener #guelphontario

Happy Anniversary to the

Best Real Estate Agents in Kitchener-Waterloo!

Congratulations to Looey Tremblay, 

Broker, RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc.

Phew!! Thirty years has whipped by in no time flat! This year marks Looey’s 30-year anniversary with RE/MAX Twin City. 

On behalf of our award-winning Waterloo Region real estate team, we’d like to congratulate Looey on his incredible success! 

As a consistent leader in the industry, Looey’s skill, determination, and ambition have served his many clients well, helping them to successfully buy and sell real estate in Kitchener-Waterloo and area. His skill in helping clients navigate the ups and downs of real estate cycles is the hallmark of his success. Clients love him.

Looey rose to the top of his profession by working hard and pushing his abilities to the limit. His dedication and warm personality shines through in every interaction. You won’t find a better or more capable real estate agent in Waterloo Region.

Click here to contact Looey directly.

Congratulations to Michael J. Saunders, 

Sales Representative, RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc.

Michael is also celebrating his 30-year anniversary as a Sales Representative with RE/MAX Twin City.

Saunders Tremblay Realty Team are delighted to congratulate Michael on this milestone marking a very successful career in real estate in Waterloo Region and beyond. 

Michael’s success stems from a foundation of repeat and referral-based business. His congeniality and dedication are legendary in real estate circles. Clients rave about him.

A hometown boy – born and raised in Elmira - Michael’s love for the community has served him well. He deserves the spotlight to celebrate his well-earned success.

Click here to contact Michael directly.

Congratulations to Robert Hooton, 

Sales Representative, RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc.

Bob joined RE/MAX Twin City five years before Looey and Michael did. 

So, the team at Saunders Tremblay Realty have the pleasure of congratulating Bob on his 35^th anniversary with RE/MAX Twin City!

Bob loves to guide clients through the process of buying and selling real estate in Waterloo Region. He is a well-liked and integral part of our award-winning Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph real estate team. 

Bob’s clients whole-heartedly recommend him and appreciate his dedication, energy, and professionalism.

Click here to contact Bob directly.

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: April 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #SaundersTremblayRealty #REMAX #WaterlooRegionRealEstate #RemaxTwinCity #realestatewaterlooregion #kitchenerwaterloorealestate #waterloorealestateagent #kitchenerrealestateagent #cambridgerealestate #guelphrealestate

What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)? 

CSA is the shortform for Community Supported Agriculture. 

Small scale local farmers grow high-quality produce. In turn, they sell shares to community members who pay for their shares (produce) in advance.

This creates a mutually beneficial “partnership” between the grower and the community members. The farmer can focus on growing the seasonal produce while the members cover the farmer’s seasonal start-up costs. 

Members then reap the season-long fresh bounty of vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers – which varies from CSA to CSA.

Why buy a CSA food box share?

• Support local farmers

• Eat fresh, hand-picked flavours 

• Enjoy nutritious produce

• “Know the story behind your food”

• Feed yourself well

• Discover new vegetables and recipes

• Interact with friendly farm vendors
  (sure beats the dead stares at the check-out counters at Big Box stores, eh?)                            
  
  

CSA Food Boxes

Fertile Ground Farm, Neustadt, Ontario/St. Agatha, Ontario

“No pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers”

Vegetables, Eggs, and Garden Seedlings

https://www.fertilegroundcsa.com

Granskou Greens, Kitchener, Ontario

“Fresh produce, seedlings, tours”

https://www.granskougreens.com

Green Hart Farms, New Hamburg, Ontario

“40 kinds of vegetables”

Veggie Box Program and Flower Share

https://www.greenhartfarms.ca 

Little Fields Farm, Bright, Ontario

“Vegetables, cut flowers, and eggs”

Diverse small-scale ecological farm

https://www.littlefields.farm 

Milky Way, Woodstock, Ontario

“Fresh Local Vegetables and Fruit”

Farm Share Program and Online Store

https://milkywayfarm.ca

New Leaf Market Garden, Waterloo, Ontario

“Fresh, Nutritious, Hand-picked Vegetables Every Week”

Farm Boxes from mid-June to mid-October

https://newleafmarketgarden.ca/csa-food-boxes/

The Caring Mushroom, Kitchener, Ontario

“Specialty Mushrooms, Functional Mushrooms, Microgreens”

Locally Grown and Organic

https://thecaringmushroom.ca

Online Markets in Waterloo Region

Bailey’s Local Foods, Waterloo, Ontario

“Online Farmer’s Market”

Year-round Service with Easy Online Ordering

https://www.baileyslocalfoods.com 

Nith Valley Organics, Plattsville, Ontario

“Online Market”

Certified Organic Vegetables and Eggs

https://nith-valley-organics.localline.ca/retail-catalog 

The Sustainable Market, New Dundee, Ontario

“Home Delivery Options to K-W, Cambridge, and Guelph”

https://sustainablemarket.ca

Wild Leek Farm, Puslinch, Ontario

“Online Store and Farmstand”

One-acre market garden

https://wildleek.farm/about/

Further Afield

Coyote Song Farm & Forest, Erin, Ontario
“Home Delivery from Guelph to Erin”

Healthy Fresh Produce and Beautiful Blooms

https://www.coyotesong.ca

Hoppy Fields Farm, Fergus, Ontario

“Delivery to Fergus, Elora and Guelph available or pick up at farm or at the Elora Farmers' Market.”

Fresh Vegetables and Eggs

https://www.hoppyfieldsfarm.com

Red Rabbit, Erin, Ontario

“Various pick-up locations”

Fully Customizable Vegetable Share

https://www.redrabbitgardens.com/csa

Reroot Farm, Harriston, Ontario

“Seasonal local organic vegetables plus herbs, flowers, and berries”

CSA Program and Online Store

https://www.reroot.ca

River Run Farm, Elora, Ontario

“Pick-up Options: The Farm and Guelph Farmer’s Market”

Abundance of Fresh and Seasonal Produce

https://www.riverrunfarm.ca/csa

Wicked Welly Farm & Apiary, Belwood, Ontario

“Vegetables, herbs, microgreens, flowers”

Veggie Box Program and Farmstand

http://www.wickedwelly.ca/csa/

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: March 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #SaundersTremblayRealty
#farmersmarket #certifiedorganic #eatlocal #farm #buylocal #sustainableagriculture #communitysupportedagriculture #csa #csabox #food #farming #farmtotable #farmfresh #organic #organicfarming #supportlocal #pesticidefree #knowyourfarmer #farmer #farmlife #healthyeating #csafarm #localfood #produce #regenerativeagriculture #sustainablefarming #vegetables #smallfarm

Concerns about Coyotes in your Neighbourhood?

Coyote numbers continue to increase in urban areas such as Kitchener-Waterloo as food and water are readily available. Coyotes view domestic animals as prey.

With their mating season in full swing, they become more territorial. Avoid any coyote and pet interactions by keeping your cats indoors and your dogs on a leash when you are walking them. Don't leave your dog unattended in your yard.

Coyotes often travel through hydro corridors, ravines, walking paths, conservation and natural areas. They are most active during dawn, dusk, and throughout the night.

They can be threatening or alarming with their barks, woofs, huffs, and haunting howls.

Coyote predator-control measures frequently have the opposite effect – increasing rather than decreasing their population. Coyotes are wildly adaptable. They can extend their breeding season in response to a predator-control purge, boosting the size of their litter from roughly six to nineteen pups! 

Omnivorous and highly adaptable, they eat everything including apples, beetles, berries, chipmunks, deer, domestic cats and dogs, fish, garbage, grass, groundhogs, livestock, mice, possums, rats, snakes, and voles. Rodents comprise 75% of their diet.

They are highly prone to diseases such as mange.

Research indicates that urban coyotes have a 60% chance of surviving for another year, compared to only a 30% chance for their rural counterparts.

Their acclimation is so advanced that coyotes even comprehend the flow of traffic when crossing the street! Now, that’s wily!

When pursuing prey, adult coyotes can reach speeds up to 70 kmh. So, running away from a coyote is futile. If you encounter a coyote, do not turn your back on it. Stand still, wave your arms wildly, and slowly back away while remaining calm.

If you have concerns about coyotes in your neighbourhood, contact the City of Kitchener at 519-741-2345. If you see a coyote in trouble, contact Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge at 519-587-2980; or Wildlife Haven at 519-590-3676.

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: February 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #SaundersTremblayRealty #coyotes #cityofkitchener #hobbitstee

Taking a peek at the year ahead, here's a snapshot of the Kitchener-Waterloo Housing Market Outlook for 2025 compliments of RE/MAX Canada.

"First-time buyers are expected to drive market activity in 2025, with townhouses seeing the most sales activity in the region.

First-time homebuyers are typically purchasing detached homes in the $600,000 – $700,000 price range. Move-up buyers are also in the market for detached homes, though at a higher price point of $800,000 – $950,000. Meanwhile, retirees are buying condominiums and apartments, ranging between $600,000 – $700,000. 

Developers are primarily focusing new construction projects on small detached single-family homes, stacked townhouses and traditional townhomes. 

Heading into 2025, home sellers are feeling hopeful as interest rates and inflation continue to decline rapidly, bringing more buyers back into the market. There is a potential for a local real estate market similar to 2021, with a robust spring season and a steady increase in home prices as interest rates stabilize.  

For first-time homebuyers, the 30-year amortizations and lower interest rates will make it easier to enter the housing market and purchase a home in Kitchener-Waterloo." 

If you'd like to kickstart the New Year by buying or selling real estate in the Waterloo Region, we're poised to assist you! Shout out to any of our team members – by phone or text:

Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Blog Post: January 1, 2025

#Kitchener #Waterloo #RealEstate #KitchenerWaterlooHousing Market #SaundersTremblayRealty #RemaxCanada #WaterlooRegionRealEstate #homeskitchenerwaterloo #kitchenerwaterloohomesellers #kitchenerwaterloohomebuyers