Archive for category: Home Improvement

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(BPT) – This year spring cleaning is more than ever about the deep clean. Spring typically inspires a little more time dedicated to cleaning. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by Bona and conducted by Harris Poll found that more than half of U.S. adults say that the start of spring triggers extra cleaning in the household. In the past it might have been more about simply dusting hard-to-reach corners and cleaning out the fridge. This year it’s also about deep cleaning and disinfecting for health and safety.

Here are a few tips to deep clean this spring for anyone tackling the task.

Focus on high-use areas first

It may not be realistic to deep clean your whole home in one weekend so consider targeting busy areas of your home first. Bedrooms, bathrooms, family room, kitchen and entry areas likely get the most foot traffic, so start there and leave lesser used areas of the home for later. Gather some helpers and set a timeframe to establish a clear goal and end time. Consider a second round of cleaning if you’re unable to complete the task.

Clear out the clutter

Create a system that works for you to clear out the clutter and make space to deep clean. Set up boxes or bags clearly labeled “Trash,” “Recycle,” “Donate,” and “Belongs elsewhere”. Go through each target room, putting anything that shouldn’t be there in one of the labeled containers.

Be sure to get these boxes or bags where they belong to avoid additional house clutter (we’ve all been guilty of moving a pile from one room to another!). You’ll feel lighter and happier just seeing those boxes and bags head out the door. Consider tasking a family member with trash or donation drop-off.

Prioritize large surface areas

Once you’ve cleared the excess clutter, wipe down the room from top to bottom. Clean the dust accumulated on top of bookshelves or ceiling fans first, then wipe down walls from top to bottom to remove dust and grime, using a microfiber mop or cloth. Prioritize large surfaces like countertops and tables as well as potential germ hotspots like the kitchen sink. Finish up with the floors by vacuuming carpet or by using a cleaner tailored for your hardwood or hard-surface floors.

Disinfect

At every opportunity look for areas to disinfect. Focus on high-use items and areas like remote controls, doorknobs, drawer pulls, and keypads. Consider using products that use hydrogen peroxide, a proven, healthier way to kill germs. Many traditional antibacterial cleaners use quaternary ammonium compounds or “quats.” This specific class of chemicals is linked to skin irritation and respiratory problems and use of quats is contributing to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance.

For example, Bona PowerPlus^® Antibacterial Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner is a new, hydrogen peroxide powered cleaning solution specifically designed to clean and disinfect hard, non-porous flooring surfaces. This ready-to-use antibacterial cleaner is formulated to clean and remove stubborn stains while killing 99.9% of household germs* with the power of hydrogen peroxide when used as directed. It also leaves your home smelling fresh and clean with no residue left behind.

Finishing touches

Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned and refreshed your rooms, brainstorm other ways to improve your living space:

•  Donate excess, little-used furniture to create more space
•  Identify tasks best left to professionals, like exterior window cleaning or hardwood floor refinishing
•  Display brightly colored artwork to renew your walls
•  Set out a vase or two of colorful flower arrangements

Let your deep cleaning this spring bring a little renewal and brightness to your home. A clean home is also a healthy home for family, pets and friends.

*Kills 99.9% of Influenza A H1N1 Virus, Rhinovirus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA], and Trichophyton mentagrophytes on hard, non-porous surfaces in 10 minutes.

(BPT) – The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature. It’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning.

“Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings you no longer want or need — it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.”

Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road.

1. Clean your gutters.

Gutters collect debris over time, especially when rain, snow and wind causes twigs, pine needles and leaves to settle on your roof and in your rain gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages that direct water into the home. In areas without much precipitation, this can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof.

“Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters — even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking your gutters is time well spent compared to the alternative.”

2. Trim branches and remove dangerous trees.

Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round. It’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance in early spring. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage.

“Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” said O’Rourke. “Also, in areas that are prone to wildfires, trimmed trees create a buffer zone to help lower the chances of flames easily jumping onto your roof.”

Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist. This assessment will determine their health and allow you to removed diseased trees before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty, but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy. However, they are a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety.

3. Watch out for service lines.

Homeowners who want to plant gardens, trees or install additional landscape features to enhance their outdoor living space should be aware of potential underground utility lines. Most service lines — a network of exterior, underground utility lines or pipes that supply a home with electricity, gas, water and sewer functions — are only buried a few inches beneath the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury.

If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs. This damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.

“The average cost to repair a break to a service line is about $5,000 and most Americans wouldn’t welcome such a large surprise bill,” said O’Rourke. “Homeowners should definitely consider purchasing an endorsement to their insurance policy to protect against losses of this nature. Mercury offers this coverage as an addition to our home insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a year, depending on the home’s age.”

To be safe, homeowners should call 811 before digging. This will allow the utility companies can send a locator to mark the approximate locations of underground service lines.

4. Service your air conditioning unit.

Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is essential to ensure the equipment is working properly. This can save money on energy bills, as well as protect against expensive repair and replacement costs.

“No one wants to unexpectedly find themselves living in a sauna during the dog days of summer, so the start of spring is a great time to have your air conditioner inspected,” said O’Rourke. “You should also change your air filter to make sure it’s operating at its highest efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.”

Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages. The average cost for an inspection is about $300.

Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.

(BPT) – With more time spent in the comfort of our home, spring cleaning can take on an entirely new meaning this year. Consider the following hacks to make your household clean-up routine as efficient and thorough as possible.

Conquer kitchen crevices with lemon and baking soda

Crumbs, food residue and dirt can hide in kitchen crannies. Dedicate time to deep clean these commonly overlooked areas. In the microwave, chop a lemon into several chunks and add to three cups of water in a glass bowl. Microwave for about five minutes and keep the door shut after the timer to allow the steam to do its magic. Then, wipe down the interior with a microfiber cloth. The benefits of the lemon slices don’t end here. If your garbage disposal is starting to smell, carefully insert slices into the disposal and run. The acidity will combat clogs and leave your sink with a citrus scent.

In the refrigerator, sort through drawers and shelves and toss expired items. Use baking soda to remove caked on food and spills. Shake some baking soda on the spots, dampen with a few drops of water and let sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing off residue. This method will leave your fridge spotless and scentless — an important but often forgotten consideration, as you do not want foods to absorb the smell of cleaning products. Lastly, while dishes may be washed daily, germs often thrive in your wet sponge. Microwave your damp sponge for 90 seconds to eliminate bacteria.

“Suds-idize” the shower

While dedicated to get you clean, a shower can build up bacteria if the moisture-filled environment is not treated properly. Tackling the shower is labor intensive and easy to move to the bottom of the chore list. To simplify the process, choose a cleaning product that is both safe and effective on the surface, whether your shower is made of tile, ceramic or plastic. Conduct an initial spot test, but — generally speaking — the more versatile the cleaner, the better.

To scrub and wipe away suds in one quick gesture, consider the multipurpose Peerless SideKick Shower System, which you can easily install yourself. This shower head not only provides a drenching shower experience but also comes with a cleaning attachment where water flows through the pad, allowing you to scrub tile, wash away cleaning product and ultimately reduce cleaning time.

Implement closet methodology

A closet cleanout can be both daunting and, let’s be honest, emotional. For items you’re not willing to part with just yet, hang all clothes backward on the rack. Once you have worn an item, hang forward facing on the rack. After a few months, donate items that remain backward, as they haven’t been touched and aren’t getting any use.

When reorganizing clothes in drawers or bins, fold and insert items upright without stacking. This is the best use of space and allows for a quick view of your wardrobe options, eliminating the need to sift through drawers and make a mess.

Organize easily ignored areas

We all have areas of the home that seem to stockpile goods and are only cleaned out once in a blue moon: the medicine cabinet, junk drawer, storage room, linen closet, craft area, garage and laundry room, to name a few. First, completely clear out these spaces. Use bins and buckets to create a system of organization and implement labels, as needed. When you add items back in, place the most-used items at the front and only reintroduce essential items. Finally tackling these areas will give you a sense of comfort and relief.

With these hacks, your spring-cleaning checklist will be complete in no time, with long-lasting results.