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Tips to make your home clean and presentable during the new season

With spring upon us and summer around the corner, it’s time to start preparing for the hotter months. You need to pull out your planners, mark a date for that beach vacation, take out all your light summer clothes, and look up recipes for your favorite chillers. However, more than any of this is preparing the house for the new season, and making it presentable is essential.

Our homes can get dusty, gloomy, and musty during the winter months and need some serious cleaning to freshen up again. A spring cleaning may seem like too much work, but walking into a fresh, sparkling, airy, and clean house can make you feel refreshed, unlike anything else. So, it’s time you get out all your cleaning tools and get to work. However, before you do, it’s crucial to have a clear list of areas you need to focus on to make the most of your cleanup. Below, we’ve listed some essential tips to help give your cleaning mission some focus.

Make some space

Before you get on with the rest of your cleaning process, you need to make some space and get rid of things you don’t need. Unnecessary clutter can make your house feel cramped and make it seem much smaller than it is. Furthermore, clutter is the perfect breeding ground for dust mites, bacteria, and other allergens that can seriously affect you and your family. You don’t have to be a chronic hoarder to have clutter piling up – it’s something that happens to the best of us. Luckily, getting rid of all your clutter without throwing it away is easier than it seems.

Getting a storage unit is an easy way to store away anything you don’t need this season. Whether it’s clothes, furniture, tools, or anything, you can keep each item away indefinitely in a storage unit. All units are temperature-controlled and located in incredibly safe facilities with no fear of theft. Furthermore, storage units are highly affordable, and they come in various sizes. Once you’ve stored everything away, you can get on to making your home look its best for the coming season.

Clean your bathroom

There can be nothing that sets a worse impression than a musty, damp, grimy bathroom. No matter how well-decorated and clean the rest of your house is, having a dirty bathroom can give the worst impression to any visitor. If you’ve skipped on deep cleaning of your bathroom in the winter months, now is the time to catch up.

Before cleaning your bathroom, it’s vital to get the right tools. It can help use a spray to scrub away at any lime-scale on taps, floors, and other surfaces. Getting a good toilet cleaner will help you cut away from any discoloration and keep your toilet bowl germ-free and sparkling clean. Once you’ve scrubbed away nicely, open up the windows and let the sunlight stream in to make the place seem fresher and airier. Scented candles or diffusers are also excellent additions to the bathroom and help deal with any smells.

Clean as you go

It can be easy to feel lazy and slow during the colder months and let the cleaning pile up. However, one of the best ways to keep your house looking consistently presentable no matter what the season is to clean as you go. Don’t let the chores pile up until the very thought of doing them fills you up with dread. Instead, be proactive and have a daily and weekly checklist. Make sure to do laundry at least once a week or more, depending on your needs, and dust and clean each room each day.

When you stay on top of things, you’ll significantly reduce your workload in the long run. Furthermore, regular upkeep can substantially increase the lifespan of your furniture and appliances alike. You can prevent wear and tear and make sure your home always looks immaculate.

Clean up after your pets

Having pets in the house is nothing short of a blessing – except for the smells. Even the cleanest of pets have a distinct odor, which can make your home seem dirty and unkempt. Sometimes the scent can be so persistent that even the strongest of air fresheners can’t do much to cover it up. However, the best cure to pet odors lies in your kitchen cabinets. Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors by reacting with the acids that produce smells. Baking soda can thus be much more effective than air fresheners. It combats the scent itself rather than covering it up with an artificial fragrance. Sprinkle some baking soda on your pet’s beds for 15 minutes, and vacuum it up. You can also sprinkle baking soda in the litter box to keep any unpleasant smells at bay.

Furthermore, when cleaning up after your pets, be sure to clean away any hair, especially as the shedding season comes around. A simple lint roller can help you clean up most pet hair from furniture, clothing, and any other surfaces.

Conclusion

Keeping your home presentable and clean doesn’t have to be a challenge with these valuable tips. They can help your home stay sparkling clean no matter what the season. Furthermore, these tips help make your home a much safer place for you and your family. As you follow a proper cleaning schedule, you don’t need to worry about any germs or allergies.

4 Dramatic Home Improvement Projects to Start Planning for Spring

Let spring fever spill over into your home improvement plans for 2020. Try these four projects to give your home a dramatic lift this spring:

Spruce Up the Backyard

With warmer weather approaching, an update to your outdoor living space may be in order. One way to liven up an outdoor setting is to set up a bird bath, bird feeder and/or birdhouse within view of a nearby window, deck or patio. This will encourage birds of all kinds to visit your home, giving your backyard a woodsy atmosphere.

Another way to make your backyard more inviting is to add an outdoor swing. Spending time in an outdoor swing is the perfect way to unwind after a busy day.

Update the Mudroom

One way to give your home a fresh look is to paint the walls and trim of the mudroom or entryway. Choose paint colors that complement your home decor and are welcoming. Consider light blue and ivory for a combination of calm contentment and classic comfort, respectively. Use a color guide like the one from House Beautiful for inspiration.

Give Your Windows A New Look

With spring around the corner, you may find yourself looking out the window more and more to witness the changing of the seasons. This may be the perfect time to update your window treatments. You may choose to switch from roman shades to plantation-style shutters or from long, flowing drapes to static wood blinds. Even the smallest change, say in fabric weight or color, can have a significant impact on the look of your home.

Inspect and Repair

Winter is roughest on the parts of the home that are exposed to the weather. Spring is the time to inspect items like the roof, the gutters and the doors, even the garage door, for any damage that may have occurred during the winter months. A garage door repair may be a project that you decide to tackle this spring. In that case, you may want to work with a certified technician to identify and remedy the problem. Fixing the problem sooner rather than later may extend the life of your garage door for years to come.

Let spring be your guide for home improvement projects in 2020. Think practically and aesthetically when considering which projects to tackle that will add value to your home and enjoyment for you and your family.

Looking Ahead: 4 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Warmer Months

Looking Ahead 4 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Warmer Months

As the warmer months of the year approach, the need to prepare each home for the change from cold to hot is vital to be ready for every eventuality. Preparing a home for the warmer months can do more than making sure one is ready for any emergency situations, it can also save the homeowner money on their utility bills.

Maintain HVAC systems

Most HVAC companies recommend undergoing a maintenance checkup twice a year during the Fall and Spring to make sure the system is working effectively before reaching peak use times. If the homeowner is not wanting to deal with a professional HVAC company, the first step to take for some home repairs is to turn on the cooling system and ensure it is working effectively before it is needed in the warmer months of the year. One of the major trends for preparing for the warmer months is to install a programmable thermostat in a bid to save on bills. The Department of Energy recommends turning a programmable thermostat as high as possible in the warmer months and presetting a temperature for times spent away from home.

Check decorations and shutters

When preparing a home for the warmer months, one often overlooks what are often seen as decorations around the home. Dusting and switching ceiling fans to circulate air for the warmer months is the first step to take to ensure cooling is undertaken in many different ways. A second issue to consider is the use of shade to protect against the heat of the sun using shutters, which should be checked for damage following the cooler months of the year.

Prepare for storms

Warmer temperatures are usually accompanied by storms and heavy rain for many parts of the world. An area often overlooked is checking for leaks and areas which could be damaged by a storm or heavy rain, such as cracks and holes in walls and roofing systems. Gutters play a role in protecting against storm damage and should be cleaned and checked for damage as the warmer times approach.

Protect against bugs

The problem of bugs is one we are all worried about as the warmer times of the year roll around again. Bugs of all kinds are unable to survive during the cooler months and appear in the Spring meaning a homeowner should seal their home and consider employing a pest control service if needed.

Taking a few small steps in the months before the warmest times of the year come around can have a major impact on the success felt during the Summer. Shutters provide shade from the radiant heat of the Sun and should be considered for areas of full sun throughout most days.

5 Easy Spring Home Improvement Projects

5 Easy Spring Home Improvement Projects

Spring is the sign of new life and new beginnings, and even your homes can reflect that change! And while you may be looking into heavy renovations such as gutter cleanup or roof repairs, even your smaller furnishings can also use a little updating to make your home more spring-like. Spring into action this Spring with these home renovation tips that can take your home to a breezier, lighter atmosphere befitting the season!

  1. Experiment with character

Wall textures such as exposed brick or grunge walls and accent walls are all the range these days. They are great accents that can bring life to a space, can make for a great background (especially for pictures!) and can add character to otherwise plain walls. Peel-and-stick wall panels (for textures) and peel-and-stick paper (for accents) are great for this job as they won’t need you to take down a wall and have it rebuilt with your chosen texture – just peel and stick to your existing walls, and they’re up!

This can also be done with floors. Peel-and-stick tiles or wood plank flooring can give your house a different kind of edge and personality depending on what character you’re going for, and they can make the whole room look refreshed and new as well.

  1. Update your fixtures

Sometimes, a little difference between your fixtures can mean the difference between a suffocating, drab home to an airy, comfortable one. The style, color, and the way you group together fixtures can drastically affect the way any room looks with them. A big player in this are light fixtures: even changing the tint of light that you get can make your room look more open and bright as opposed to dimmer lights that would probably work more with colder seasons.

If you’re not ready to invest in new couches or cabinets, consider replacing some accent fixtures such as lights and other small decorations for ones that fit the season. Changing sofa covers or having cabinets, chairs, and tables repainted can also be inexpensive ways to add a new image to your home!

If you’re not sure that the pieces you pic go well together or if you can find them all in one place, don’t worry. As it is one of the most commonly-bought items online, home furnishing and decors that you need can be found with a few clicks. The internet can also help you find what you’re looking for based on your past searches, interest, and preferences.

  1. Lighten up your windows

A key characteristic of changing your home atmosphere lies with your windows. When they are closed or accentuated with heavy drapery, it can look heavy, cold or drab. Heavy curtains are perfect for colder seasons, but for a season such as Spring, lightweight curtains are the way to go. Curtains made of lace or other thin cloths (often in light shades as well) can let more light to flow into the room, as well as added ventilation from outside. For an added touch of nature, you can also go with bamboo shades, or even bold and graphic with geometric panels.

  1. Update even small details

Even the simplest details in your home can make enough of a difference. Vases, statuettes, frames and even mirrors can change the way the entire room looks and feels depending on how well they accentuate a certain theme or mood. In fact, even a simple space such as a living room have certain points that need to be taken into consideration when redesigning it.

And even if you’ve never really thought about it, handle pulls and knobs can also affect the way the overall room looks. Old-fashioned, worn, and dirty handles can spoil an otherwise freshly-updated cabinet or door. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to use eccentric, out-of-this-world styles for them to stand out. As long as they complement the rest of their surroundings, you’re well on your way to having a visually-appealing room!

  1. Don’t neglect your backyard (or your small outdoor space)!

Spring is all about enjoying the great outdoors, and that goes without saying that your outdoors should reflect that, too! Plant flowers and shrubs, have some outdoor seating or lounge, and even decorate it with outdoor lights and garden knick-knacks such as bunny or fairy statuettes! For those who don’t have rolling lawns, project the image of nature with a few potted plants – the more colorful, the better! If you are worried that you have very little time for maintaining plants with your lifestyle, don’t worry – there are plenty of low-maintenance plants that you can cultivate!

Spring is definitely the best time to update your house. From the warm, cozy, but heavy setup from last winter to the airy, bright and cheery vibes of spring, it’s like being one with the change! So go ahead and give new life to your homes for the turn of the season!

Guest Post By:

I am Carlton Coleman and I am the owner of SIGN WITHIN superstore, which is an e-commerce business under the umbrella of the The Sign Within Academy, LLC.  This company seeks to not only provide an online shopping experience with great deals, discounts, and rebates but to partner and support non-profit organizations that speak to hearts, stretch minds and serve the whole of humanity to further their causes.  I am a strong believer that you make a living by what you get but you make a life by what you give.

How to Keep Pests Away From Your Garden

garden

Springtime marks the beginning of another gardening season. You are out and about planting, pruning and making sure that every inch of your garden looks just perfect. You are just admiring your flower garden, when a cat runs right through the flowers and rips them to shreds. And cats are not the only animals that can ruin your garden. Many types of animals come out during the spring, so here are some ways in which you can defend yourself.

Mole repellents

All the tips here are going to be humane, telling you simply how to keep the animals away, rather than kill or harm them. The best way to get rid of moles is to simply plant the right things in your garden. Plants like daffodils, marigolds and alliums have contents that are natural mole repellents, and will surely keep those pesky moles out if planted around the perimeter of your yard.

Keeping your plants safe

Plant-eating animals are mostly small and not really easy to catch, so you have to protect your plants in a different way. A popular remedy is chopping up and boiling some hot peppers, then pouring the water into a spray bottle and spraying it over your plants. This is safe for your plants and will keep any bugs off. Still, this is not a good solution when it comes to edible plants – imagine putting fresh mint in your lemonade and tasting a hot pepper! For an alternative, you can use turmeric. Grate it and infuse it with some water, then repeat the spraying tactic on all of your plants!  If spider mites are your problem, a mixture of flour, water and buttermilk sprayed on your trees once a week will keep the mites at bay!

Recycling food scraps

Organic scraps are not only good for compost, but also great for many other things. You can bury banana peels two inches in the ground next to the plants that are attacked by ants or aphids to make sure your plants will be safe. And if your problem is more of the slimier kind, use crushed eggshells to form a fence against any snails and slugs that want to enter the forbidden territory.

How to repel bigger animals

If you have a problem with raccoons, remember that they do not go well with dogs. If you don’t have a dog of your own, fake it by placing some dog hair around your yard and kiss the raccoon problem goodbye.  For cats or squirrels, flour mustard and cayenne pepper is your solution. Place the mixture around the perimeter of your yard, or mix it with water to make a spray.  Another option that requires much less effort is using high tech defence. Having an ultrasonic pest repellent, like the one from Bird Control Australia, will make your life a lot easier. You won’t notice it, but potential intruders of the animal kind definitely will! It can keep away insects or any animals, depending on how you set it up.

You are now ready to continue with your daily gardening activities without worrying about any pests, big or small, ruining all your hard work. Try and be as humane as possible with all of the animals, because there are always ways to simply drive them away without exterminating them – and placing various poisons around your garden can also be dangerous if you have kids or pets, not to mention make all of your produce less enjoyable. After all, a few birds chirping around your garden might just be that special touch that is missing for a real fairytale garden!

 

Blooming Gardens: 4 Of The Best Flowers To Plant This Spring

Blooming Gardens 4 Of The Best Flowers To Plant This Spring

When the spring season arrives, you begin to see the green leaves sprout on the trees and colorful flowers growing from the ground. Flowers need warmth and light to grow, which is why they tend to do a bit better in the spring with the longer days. There is often more water in the form of rain in the spring, which is another component that flowers need to grow. There are a few flowers that grow best during this time of the year compared to others, adding brightness to the lawn.

Pansy

This is a dainty flower with large petals. The center of the flower is usually yellow or light in color. Many of the pansies that you see are pink, purple or red. This flower grows best in the cool mornings of the spring season. The leaves are slightly curved along the edges, making it easier for them to capture raindrops and water that is given to them during the day. Plant the pansies in an area of the yard that sees a bit of shade as they don’t do well with the full sun beating down on them.

Iris

The iris is a flower that can grow to a tall size. They are best placed near a porch where they can climb up a trellis or a column of the porch. There are a few colors to choose from, but you usually see purple, light pink and white. The flowers blend easily together to create new colors. Most flowers will tend to get their full blooms toward the end of the spring season. The strong petals work well with an irrigation system, like those offered by Hydrotech Irrigation Co, in the yard. They need to be in an area that sees a good bit of the sun during the day.

Daffodil

Nothing will put you in a cheerful mood like a bright flower. The daffodil looks almost like a lion if you look at it from a distance. There are several sizes and shapes of the flower, such as those that have a trumpet design to those that look like a mane on a lion. Don’t water the flower too often, and keep it in the full sun.

Tulips

If there is a flower to use as a symbol of spring, it’s the tulip. You can plant the tulip along a sidewalk, around a tree or anywhere else in the yard to give a bright look to the house. There are numerous colors available, giving you a variety of ways to accent the home with the delicate flower.

Flowers in the spring often cheer up anyone after the dreary winter months. It’s best to plant the flowers at the end of winter so that the flowers have time to grow in the warm weather that arrives in the spring. Take care to add just the right amount of water to the soil as the flowers grow.

What Preventative Maintenance Does an HVAC System Require?

What Preventative Maintenance Does an HVAC System Require

Maintaining your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system helps to lower your monthly energy bills. Preventive maintenance also extends the system’s lifespan and protects breakdowns that make an impact on your comfort. There are four key steps to HVAC preventive maintenance that should be performed at least twice per year.

Changing the Air Filter

Changing the air filter is essential to an HVAC system’s performance, efficiency and longevity. The air filter is usually housed in its own chamber or within the air blower portion of the system. It may be framed with cardboard and disposable, or it may be reusable. A reusable filter will be cleaned and put back into the unit. A disposable air filter will be replaced. The filter should be changed every 90 days.

Cleaning the Condensate Line

In air conditioners and heat pumps, the condensate line is responsible for draining the water that is condensed during a cooling cycle. The condensate line can grow mold and algae. If the growth gets too thick, the condensate line can become obstructed. If it gets obstructed, water can back up into the equipment and cause a malfunction. Cleaning the condensate line consists of bleaching the interior of the pipe, removing algae and mold and rinsing it with plain water.

Checking the Refrigerant

Air conditioners and heat pumps use a chemical refrigerant such as R-410-A. Some companies, such as Classic Air and Heating, know that if the refrigerant tubing or chamber develops a leak, the system will not operate efficiently. The system could freeze up or simply blow room-temperature air. HVAC technicians use special equipment to check the level of the refrigerant. If it is low, the refrigerant can be charged after the leak is found and repaired.

Cleaning and Lubricating Motors and Fans

Furnaces, air conditioners, ventilation units and dehumidifiers all have motors and fans. The motors and fans can collect dust and debris that inhibits their motion. These parts are cleaned and lubricated during a maintenance visit. Proper lubrication of the motors and fans reduce the risk of overheating and minimize the amount of noise made by the unit while it operates.

HVAC maintenance should be performed by a licensed, bonded and insured provider. It is a good idea to schedule maintenance for the air conditioner in the spring and a checkup for the furnace in the autumn. Heat pumps and other equipment that is used all year long should be serviced twice per year, also in the autumn and spring to identify and repair any defects.

Easy Springtime Fixups Homeowners Should Put on Their Checklist

Easy Springtime Fixups Homeowners Should Put on Their Checklist

With spring come warmer temperatures and more items on one’s to-do list. While homeowners may want to bask in the glow of a sunny spring day, there are a few easy projects that they should look into first. These should be quick and easy now and will ensure that homeowners are not hit with costly repairs later.

Garage Door Reinforcement

The spring is the perfect time to look into a home’s garage door mechanisms. For one, garage door springs can be weakened from winter’s cold temperatures. Replacing one or two springs now will keep undue pressure off the rest of the garage door system. In addition, homeowners may want to look into reinforcing their garage doors to protect from wind damage during spring and summer storms.

Roof Repair

Early in the spring before torrential summer downpours arrive, homeowners should scan their roofs themselves to see if the shingles and other materials are wearing down. Most roofs are designed to last approximately 15 to 20 years although steel roofs last longer. Even if it is not time for a full re-roofing, homeowners may still benefit from minor repairs and replacements of some shingles, which should only set them back $200 or less.

Gutter and Soffit Cleaning

If the gutters were not cleaned out in the fall, the spring is prime time for doing this to ensure that rain does not cause leaky gutters that pull away from the house. Some companies, like D.S. Bahr Construction Inc., realize how important it is to keep your soffit in good repair, especially when it comes to leaks in the roof. Cleaning out the soffits and vents will also provide circulation to the attic to cut down on cooling expenses in the summer.

Air Conditioner Maintenance

Homeowners should have a technician check out their air conditioning units before the start of the hot season. It is better to take care of problems now than to have the unit break down on the hottest day of summer. Homeowners can also clean off their units with a hose while it is off. This will take care of leaves, pollen and other items that have gotten stuck in the housing.

Once homeowners have taken care of these tasks, they can be sure that their homes will be cool and comfortable all summer long. Most of the time, these easy repairs can preclude major, costly repairs later in the year and can ensure that one’s home stays in prime condition should a family ever want to sell. Plus, a well-maintained home is the perfect place for summer relaxation and parties with friends and family.

Spring is for Curb Appeal: 4 Ways to Make Your Home Pop

Spring is for Curb Appeal 4 Ways to Make Your Home Pop

When the spring season arrives, it seems like everyone wants to get outside and do something to improve the look of the outside of the home. Instead of just getting outdoors and doing several random jobs, it’s best to have a plan of action for what you want to put as a priority so that the exterior of the home pops after a dull winter season. If necessary, seek the help of a professional landscaper or another company to help with the ideas that you have in your mind.

Flowers

Add a little color to the outside of the home with flowers. Don’t plant a lot of different colors as this can make it hard to focus on the beautiful types of flowers. Instead, try to use one or two colors in various shades so that the garden that you make has a uniform appearance.

Place mulch around the flowers that you plant in front of the home and along the pathways to bring out the colors even more. Landscapers can help with planting flowers and making sure that the proper details are given to the way that they look.

Doorways

Touch up the exterior of the entry doors with a fresh coat of paint or stain. Change the color of the door to match the rest of the home if needed. You can look at J&D Door Sales Inc. and similar companies that sell garage doors to get a modern design for the garage instead of one that is plain and ordinary. When it comes to the garage door, you want it to be in a color that is neutral so that it blends with the other components of the house.

The Small Details

From changing the mailbox to changing the design of the numbers on the outside of the home, it’s the small details that people will notice. These are inexpensive transformations that you can make in a short time. Change the numbers so that the finish matches that of the rest of the home, such as the light fixtures.

New Furniture

If you have a large front porch, then it’s worth an investment to add a swing or even a few rocking chairs. You want to make the home look as charming and comfortable as possible. When you have furniture outside, it gives the look that it’s a home where people enjoy time outdoors.

The exterior of the home is a fun place to work on in the spring. You can add bright colors to everything from the railings to the garage. When you take the time to focus on one area at a time, you can tie everything together in an easier fashion for a delightful outdoor look.

Guest Post By:

Anica Oaks
Freelance writer and web enthusiast
Read some of my published work on my Google+ page.

How to Weld Your Own Barbecue Together for Spring Entertaining

barbeque

There is nothing quite like the taste of world-class barbeque, and now is the perfect time to start thinking about what type of hardware you want in your backyard this spring. Welding your own barbeque together gives you full control over its size, cooking power, appearance, and features. With a little patience and some hard work, you will be able to start cooking up mouthwatering meals for your family and friends in the customized barbeque of your dreams.

Choosing the Right Materials

One of the most important steps of building a barbeque is choosing the right material. Not only are some materials inefficient at maintaining a consistent temperature, but they might even be dangerous when exposed to flames. As a general rule, barbeques should never be made from aluminum, copper, or brass. Many professional pit masters prefer stainless steel barbeques that have been coated with a high-temperature sealant.

Tools

Anyone who doesn’t regularly work with metal will most likely need to purchase at least a few new tools including a stud welder, calipers, a small machinist’s square, center punches, and a drill press. Some companies, like Northland Fastening Systems, knows that if you are not sure of which tools you would like to invest in, then you might want to see if there is a local metalworking shop that allows does equipment rentals. Once you have spent a few hours learning how to cut sheets of metal and weld them back together, you will know exactly which features you would like to see in your own tools.

How to Weld Your Own Barbecue Together for Spring Entertaining

Dimensions

It might be tempting to build yourself an enormous contraption, but larger barbeques are very difficult to use properly. Most home cooks will only need a grilling area of around 500 square inches. Trying to control the temperature of a barbeque that is much larger than that is very difficult. When you are working on the height, you want to be sure that the grill itself is as tall as your midsection so that you don’t have to bend down or lean across open flames.

Additional Features

After you have chosen a type of metal and decided on the overall size, you can then start adding any features that you would like to see on the barbeque. At the very least, you should plan on having a small preparation table where you can put plates, sauces, and seasonings. Many pit masters also like having a warming chamber that will keep their food warm without overcooking it.

Once you have finally put the last few pieces on your barbeque, you should then heat treat it for at least a few hours before cooking any food. Even if you carefully clean the barbeque, there might still be lingering contaminants in the smoke chamber or firebox. Bringing the barbeque up to a very high temperature should destroy any dangerous toxins or chemicals.

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