|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
There’s Gotta Be A Better Way By Valentine J. Brkich
Unfortunately, that also means that it’s almost time for spring-cleaning—that dreaded yearly chore that has us wiping and washing and hosing and sweeping just about everything in sight. It’s exhausting. And what about all that junk and clutter that’s been piling up while you’ve been hibernating on the sofa all winter long? Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Don’t panic! There is a solution, and it doesn’t necessarily involve rolling up your sleeves and getting out the elbow grease. This year, instead of thinking of spring-cleaning as an insurmountable task, try looking at it as a fresh start. A time to cleanse, de-clutter and simplify our lives. It’s really not as bad as you think. Most of the mess and clutter around our homes is simply unnecessary “stuff” that we really don’t need. Unfortunately, most of us are terrible at throwing out items we rarely or never use. For example, let’s start with magazines. How many magazines do you have lying around that you’ve already read and will never look at again? Toss ‘em! They’re just taking up space when they could be recycled or donated to someone else that could actually use them. (Of Course, Designing HOME Lifestyle’s magazine is one exception to this rule. You never know when you’ll need a quick tip on a tasty drink, a new recipe, cleaning advice and other home resources!)
Where to start? There are some high-quality cleaning companies out there that are fully insured and take great pride in what they do. When considering a company, however, be sure ask for references and to possibly talk to other homeowners in your area who use their services. Make sure the company you choose is one that will do a great job not only the first time but every time. Make sure they maintain the standards you set the first time they cleaned your home. Beth Glidea is the owner of Let it Shine Cleaning and Carpet Service. “We like people to think of our services as ‘spring-cleaning’ every time we come into your house to clean,” said Beth. “And we don’t just do a great job the first time—we do it every time.”
A “cluttered” room is often confused with a “dirty” room; however, there’s a big difference between the two. A room can actually be “clean” but still look filthy due to clutter. For example, a clean floor covered with books, papers, clothes and other miscellaneous items can still look dirty. That’s why you have to get rid of the junk first. “Never clean a cluttered room,” says Glidea. “Take two garbage bags with you: one for trash and one for items that are still good but never used, and save them for Goodwill donations. Start at the right of the room and work your way around, working from top to bottom.”
Organization from the Pros!
If you simply take a room, remove a years worth of clutter, clean it and expect the clutter process to start all over again from a fresh start, are you simply not solving the problem. You are temporarily putting a band-aid on it. “It’s rewarding working with clients who are are looking for organizational solutions,” said Raymond Fry, owner of California Closets. “We will create a custom design to meet their needs – whether its simply giving you more space or making better use of the space you already have.” Seems like a simple concept but sometime it simply takes the advise from a professional to get the most of your organizational dollars. Once the organization is in place then what? At Let it Shine Cleaning and Carpet Service, they believe in “downsizing.” “Pitch, pitch, pitch…then pitch some more,” says Glidea. “If you can’t remember the last time you wore it, or if you’re waiting until you fit into it again, give it to your favorite charity instead. It’s not the time to be sentimental when you are replacing items into a newly designed organizational space.” Most important, when a room is completely emptied and the organizational experts are done, don’t junk it up again! It’s very important to keep your closets organized. But remember, they’re not the only areas of your house you need to address. The television area is one in particular that can quickly turn into a disaster area. Many families today have DVDs, CDs, video games and video game units, all of which can quickly clutter-up the room.
So, take the time to set your budget, hire a qualified professional and start getting organized for spring!
Spring-cleaning Quick Tips
Painting
Of course, in order to ensure the finest quality finish, make sure you prepare the painting surface first. It must be clean, smooth and free of defects and mold. Treat any mold or dirt with a 3-to-1 water-to-bleach mixture, and leave it on for at least 20 minutes. After that, rinse the walls completely, and be sure to wear proper skin and eye protection when you do. Pressure washers should be used on the entire surface for an exterior job. Removal of all dirt, treated mildew and dust is a must. Do the final wash with a detergent solution and rinse thoroughly.
Patching
Priming
Paint If you want to have fun with paint, go to the Pittsburgh Paint website ( www.pittsburghpaints.com ) where you will find a great resource for just about every painting question you may have. The site is easy to navigate, interactive and you will definitely use it as a resource every time you paint. You’ll find a section for homeowners and professionals, tips on trends for each room, paint calculators, advice, techniques and so much more!
Going Outside
“People have remodeled and organized every room in their home and often the extra stuff ends up in a cluttered garage, creating unnecessary, unsafe hazards,” said Ben Bennett, of PremierGarage. “For some people, the disarray of their garage can become so discouraging that just the thought of tackling the problem is paralyzing.” A proper workbench area, cabinetry, new flooring and specialty hangers can help you organize miscellaneous items such as sporting goods, bikes and other odd shaped items. “Store often-used items such as garden tools where they can be easily seen. If you can see it, you can find it,” said Bennett. “Use overhead space for storing items used infrequently. Items such as holiday decorations can be stored in higher cabinetry to allow for more eye-level or easy-access storage space for frequently used items Ski equipment, mountain bikes, sports helmets, work tools—just name the item and allow our design specialists to suggest the solution. These systems are versatile and expandable.” If you can fit a new garage design into your springtime budget, your garage will be a lot easier to maintain. If everything “has a home,” as they say, then you’re well on your way to solving your organizational problems. “When cleaning your garage,” adds Bennett, “start by removing everything in your garage—and we mean everything! Once you have everything removed and in your driveway, you will be able to determine what to keep and what to pitch. Spring is a great time to schedule a consultation.
Don’t Forget the Roof Don’t wait for a roof problem to happen. This spring, get up on the ladder and take a look at the condition of your roof. If you think it’s time to replace or repair your roof, the best time to do it is in the spring. Many times, large branches could have landed on your roof during the fall and winter months. These seasons often have winds that can cause the branches to break away from trees and damage your shingles or roof. While checking your roof, don’t forget to take a peek in the gutters. The gutters often collect leaves and debris from the fall and winter months. Clean and clear gutters will help prevent future problems from occurring. Use extreme caution when inspecting your gutters and roof. Leave it to the professionals who are well trained and fully insured.
A word of caution: Be careful with what you do on your roof. This is one area that we strongly suggest you leave to the professionals. A slip from a roof can cause serious injury or even death. Always call a professional to repair or replace your roof, especially if it’s high and has a steep pitch. “Consider using Burns & Scalo for all of your roofing and exterior needs,” adds Swegal. “We have the trained professionals that can do the job efficiently and safely to the customers’ complete satisfaction.”
Conclusion If you set out to accomplish a few major goals each spring, in a few years you’ll have a well-organized home that is easier to maintain and harder to re-clutter.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spring-Cleaning – Leave it to the Pros!
Okay, take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves…and pick up the phone. With our busy lifestyles, who has time to dedicate to cleaning? Most of us barely have enough time to catch 40 winks now and again. This spring, don’t waste time cleaning when you could be spending time with your family—hire a cleaning service instead. If you can fit it into your budget, it’s a great way to keep your house “spic and span,” so to speak, and it frees up your time for more important things.
If you can’t afford to hire someone to handle all your spring-cleaning, you can also just have them do some of it. In order to decide what you are going to do and what you are going to leave to the professionals, start by making a list and coming up with a budget. Your budget should not only include the financial details, it should also include your available time. For most of us, time is precious. Therefore, put some real effort into creating a working budget, and get advice and help from the professionals. Use the spring as a time to get serious about your organization. Your hard work will really pay off in the end.
So we’ve cleaned the inside of your house and the garage, too. One additional area that we suggest you address, just not by yourself, is the roof. When you’re planning your spring-cleaning, don’t forget this very important part of your house. Unfortunately, we often wait until there’s already a problem with our roof, instead of practicing preventative maintenance.
A home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, so it’s important to make sure problems are addressed before they happen. If you wait until you have problems, you’ll be paying heavily later. Just ask Gary Swegal, Residential Sales Manager of Burns & Scalo. “Whether you are re-roofing, adding a new addition, or needing repairs,” says Swegal, “we can handle all of your business and residential roofing needs. We can perform steep slope work on churches, schools, country clubs and large estates. Burns & Scalo specializes in large, high profile, steep and difficult slate and tile projects typically featuring specialty sheet metal components.”
|
