Category: Home Maintenance

Now that Summer is fast approaching, it’s the perfect excuse to refresh and brighten your home. It’s time to put away the faux fur throws and plaid wool pillows and bring in some vibrant colors and light, airy fabrics, and textiles. To help you freshen your home this Summer, we provided you with a list of ideas to freshen up your space!

Clean Windows
It’s finally time to let some light in! Now that the sun is shining, it is important to clean and open your windows to let the fresh air in. Washing and dusting your windows will help decrease the dirt and debris blowing through your house when it comes time to open the windows. During this time, if you notice your window screens have holes or rips it may be time to purchase and install new screens. If you’re feeling extra fun, you can even purchase new summery curtains to make your window space pop with color!

Check HVAC System
What’s worse than a 90-degree day with no air conditioning? To ensure that nightmare doesn’t happen to you, check your home’s HVAC system to ensure it’s working well before temperatures get too hot. That way if you run into a problem, you should have more than enough time to have a professional check it out for you.

Put Seasonal Stuff in Storage
Simplify your life!  Store away items that aren’t useful in the summer, such as blankets, thick Afghans, and heavy quilts, so that you can make space for things that are!  Lightweight throws are the perfect summer sofa or chair accessory because you can curl up in them comfortably, even when it’s hot outside!

Add Some Greenery/Fun Accessories
Flowers and plants are your best friends when it comes to bringing charm, beauty, and fragrant smells into your home. Pull out your vases, and stock fresh flowers of all kinds and colors in every room that you can! You can even get faux plants if you don’t want to buy the real thing!

Additionally, you can brighten up your space with fun summer accessories. Beachy wall art, summer scented candles and fresh fruit arrangements are all great ways to decorate for the summer months.

New Bedding
Bulky, heavy, warm bedspreads in the summer are bad news. Thick bedding ends up on the floor anyway because it’s too hot to try to sleep with.  Put it away for the next few months and use a thin down comforter for a cooler night’s sleep. And by the way, if you have access to simple white bedding, use it!  It’s the perfect peaceful bedroom color for the summer months.

The best way to celebrate the season change is revamping your space. Hopefully these tips will help you brighten your space for summer!

Spring cleaning might seem like a daunting task, but with a little love, your home will be looking brand new! Spring cleaning is essential to a happy and healthy home. From the bedrooms to bathrooms, to the living room, use this checklist to tackle every room in your home.

Home Maintenance
– Change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
– Check all electronics and make sure they are working properly and plugged into a surge protector.
– Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher.

Porch and Patio
– Power wash surfaces
– Wash outdoor furniture
– De-grime screens
– Plant flowers

Bedroom
– Wash all bedding and pillows
– Flip mattress
– Clean out under the bed
– Organize closets and drawers
– Dust
– Mop/Vacuum floors

Bathroom
– Clean and disinfect tub and shower
– Wash bathmats and towels
– Dust and clean sink and toilet
– Wash or replace shower liners and shower curtains
– Organize medicine cabinet/drawers

Kitchen
– Clean out pantry
– Wash kitchen cabinets
– Deep clean the oven
– Move the fridge- mop and vacuum behind it
– Deep clean fridge and get rid of unwanted food
– Clean countertops

Laundry Room
– Clean dryer vents
– Clean inside of washing machine
– Wipe down iron
– Tidy up shelving

Every Room
– Wash baseboards
– Dust blinds, windowsills, doors, and walls
– Wash windows, inside and out
– Replace light bulbs
– Wash drapes and blinds
– Mop and vacuum floors

When it comes to spring cleaning, be realistic. Go at your own pace. It’s not a race after all. Your reward will be an uncluttered, clean, and healthy home for yourself, and a feeling of accomplishment and pride. This guide should help you accomplish all the rooms in your home, plus the spaces you forgot about!

You might have noticed that subtly longer days and milder temperatures have been creeping back onto the scene lately. It’s true, spring is on the horizon. But we’re not in the clear just yet. In fact, in addition to those days of sunshine and fresh air we’ve been treated to recently, many of us also have been battling end-of-season cold and flu germs.

Once germs infest your home, they typically take a turn in each member of your family. To get your crew through to spring’s fresh air, here are eight ways to keep your home safe from germs:

1. Set (and keep) a cleaning schedule. Our first and best defense against germs is to keep a clean house. Of course, on top of your work and school schedule, home cleaning duties can be overwhelming. To make sure you’re not feeling like every Saturday must be devoted to cleaning your house from top to bottom, set a cleaning schedule where you tackle a task or two each day. This way, cleaning your home will be less of a chore—and more about keeping out germs that can make you sick.

2. Change your air filters. This chore is on every seasonal home maintenance task list out there. Though it might seem unnecessary at times, changing your HVAC system’s filter can help keep you safe from harmful germs. So, instead of dreading this regular home maintenance task—just make sure you do it on time each quarter.

3. Circulate the air in your home. In winter, there can be a major lack of fresh air in our homes. Combat stagnant air by continuing to run your ceiling fans throughout the season. This will help improve your indoor air and keep those flu and cold germs from settling in your home.

4. Increase indoor humidity. Speaking of improving your indoor air quality in winter, make sure you invest in a humidifier for your home. The moisture in the air can help prevent sinus infections and other germs from manifesting.

5. Start spring cleaning early. Home cleaning tasks like vacuuming and dusting are easy to remember on a weekly basis. However, did you know that regularly wiping down your blinds and ceiling fans can help to prevent germs from finding a resting place in your home? Instead of saving these tasks for spring cleaning, tackle them before the warmer season arrives.

6. Always put the toilet seat down. Here is an easy defense against flu and cold germs—and any other germs for that matter. Simply keep your toilet seat down. Lowering the lid before you flush and when your toilet is not in use will help keep germs away from you and your family members.

7. Look at light switches, doorknobs, and remote controls. From your smartphone to your remote controls to doorknobs and beyond, so many things in our homes involve our touch. Take a look at your bathroom light switch for instance. You might be surprised at how much dirt and dust can compile in such a small area. Make it a habit to wipe down any devices, doorknobs, and other hand-friendly parts of your home.

8. Wash your hands. It’s advice that probably has come from every parent out there. Routinely wash your hands to prevent them from collecting and spreading any germs throughout your home. The advice is no different during cold and flu season. Step up hand-washing efforts around your home to help keep germs out.

The moral of this healthy home story? Give your home a little extra TLC – cleaning, maintenance, and care – to be sure you and your family stay germ-free for the remainder of cold and flu season. A healthier season will be here in no time at all!