Easy, Fast, and Effective Cleaning Tips

If you’ve been thinking about giving your house a good clean, here are some fast and easy tips to make your house really sparkle.

After trying out some of the tips myself, I have to say that most of you will be pleasantly surprised with the results, and keeping your house clean and sparkling will be easier, no scrubbing required!

• Stinky, Crusty Microwave: Fill a bowl with water and add several slices of lemon. Pop in the microwave and heat on high for a few minutes. Thick gunk will be loosened enough to wipe off and the lemon will get rid of odors, making it spring fresh!
• Scratched Pots and Pans: Use steel wool on the outsides of your pans, it cannot be used on the inside of non-stick pans. The steel wool will make the pans look shiny and new, and to prevent this from happening again use paper towels or shelf liner.
• Mustiness: Try out the new odor-killing light bulbs, brands such as Fresh2 and O-ZoneLite have a coating of titanium dioxide that destroys biologically based, odor-causing molecules. These bulbs last up to 10,000 hours and are eco-friendly, but can cost $10-$40 each.
• Pet Fur on Fabric: To un-cling this statically charged pet fur, mix 1 oz. of liquid fabric softener and 6 oz. of water. Spray the air near, not on your surface and then brush the fur down to the floor so you can vacuum it up. Or, your can put on rubber gloves, wet your hands and run them over the surface.
• General Dirty Stuff: Using the dishwasher is a good way to clean things like toys, just be sure to place them on the top rack. Using normal dishwashing detergent is fine.
• Dishwasher Stains: Using lemon-flavored Kool-Aid or white vinegar in your dispenser while running the dishwasher empty is a good way to get rid of lime deposits and iron stains.
• Dusty Wood Floors: Find a push broom and wrap an old, damp rag around it. Run it over the floor to pick up particles that would normally be missed. Then mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar to 2 gallons of hot water, with a couple of drops of lemon juice and 1/8 cup of dish soap. Bonus, you don’t have to rinse it.

I hope you find these tips useful and easy when it’s time to clean house!

Spring Cleaning Your Garage

Since May is National Home Improvement Month, there’s no better time to get started on some spring cleaning. The first place many people need to start on is their garage. Has your average two-car garage become a no-car garage?

Well it’s time to get busy, having an organized garage can be both valuable and convenient, and if you’re trying to sell your home, a well-organized, multi-purpose garage can be a key selling point.

Sometimes cleaning up a garage can seem overwhelming, with all the boxes of knick-knacks and things you haven’t seen for years scattered about. However,  with the help of resources like  Garagez.com,  you’ll  be parking your cars in there in no time, and have room to store your possessions.

Do you really want to have to rent a self-storage unit, like the 9% of U.S. households that did in 2005, according to the Self Storage Association? The self-storage industry is grossing about 23 billion dollars a year, mostly because people have cluttered garages. Garages don’t always have to be for just storing your cars and things either. There has been a new trend in extending the garage as a living space, incorporating stations for crafters and gardeners and creating auxiliary play space for kids.

If you’re trying to sell your home, having a well-kept garage could be vital in shortening the property’s time on the market. Many buyers are looking for “Great Garages,” which was listed as one of the top home trends by the National Association of Home Builders in 2006, and at this year’s International Builder’s Show, the NAHB forecasted an increased demand in three-car garages. Overall, it’s the fact that when people look at a garage, it sort of sets an overall tone for how the house is being kept. So now more and more sellers are focusing on their garage by incorporating better organization systems into their homes in order to differentiate themselves during a slower real-estate market.

So use that long Labor Day Weekend, take advantage of the nice weather, and start cleaning your garage. It will make your home more appealing to you, and (if you plan to sell) more appealing to your buyers.

Checklist For Showing Your Home

“Marketing a home is not the same as living in one.”

Keep this quote in mind when you’re preparing your home for showing. There are a lot of little things that need to be done around the house to make it appealing to prospective buyers.

So read on and take a look at the handy little checklist I’ve included for day-to-day pre-showing “must do’s,” and pass this list on to anyone who will be responsible for preparing your home for a buyer showing.

Show Time

• During daylight open all draperies, shades, and blinds, and make sure they’re clean- wash windows to make them sparkle! Natural light is at the top of most buyers’ wish lists.
• At night turn on all the lights. Dark homes are not inviting. Don’t forget outside light by the front door. First impressions are important so make sure the front yard is neat and the steps are clear.
• Have photos of your garden available.
• Consider displaying before and after pictures of major remodeling projects.
• Use feature cards around your home to reinforce home benefits such as air-conditioning or nearby parks in winter months.

Keep it Clean

• Clean sinks, bathrooms before each showing.
• Vacuum rugs and carpets before each showing.
• Wash dirty dishes and put them away.
• Empty waste baskets and trash.
• Put away clothes and personal items.
• Organize mail, magazines, and newspapers.
• Fold towels and make beds.
• Eliminate offensive odors from pets or cooking. No smoking in the house when your “on the market.”
• Keep landscaping neat and mowed. Sweep driveways and sidewalks. Shovel snow.
• Pick up litter on the property.
• Clean litter boxes and pet food and water bowls.
• Pick up animal droppings in the yard.

Also remember to keep your house neutral. Minimize religious effects or anything else that could possible be offending to prospective buyers. You want anyone to be able to see themselves living in your house.

Give the Gift of No More Clutter

Around the holidays, clutter becomes more noticeable. As you decorate and rearrange for entertaining, every little thing stands out. Now is the perfect time to declutter… and to help loved ones who may be hesitant to become a bit more clutter-free and carefree!

Here are a few tips to help…

Facts about Clutter

1. Clutter drags us down emotionally — getting rid of it makes us feel better.
2. Reducing clutter makes us feel more “in control” of our lives
3. Consider the old Real Estate Saying… “Clutter Eats Equity” it’s important if you are planning to sell your home soon

How to Begin “Clearing the Clutter”

1. Use the six months rule — if you haven’t used it for six months you probably don’t need it
2. Give any cold-weather clothing you don’t need to a nearby shelter or your favorite charity
3. Clear and donate unneeded items before the end of the year for charitable tax credits
4. Begin with a single place — one room, one closet, even ONE DRAWER!

Starting small and making regular progress is much more effective (and more likely to succeed) than trying to do it all at once. Doing one small section per day will get you cleared out by the end of the year. If you are expecting holiday guests, start with the public areas first. Begin in the entryway and organize based on what visitors see first.

How to Help Prevent Additional Holiday Clutter:

1. Ask others not to buy you physical gifts — tell them you already have too many things!
2. Plan an outing together as a gift — having a day to spend with a loved one, eating a meal together, working on a project — will build memories that form a lasting gift that doesn’t gather dust or add to the clutter
3. If you know someone who is clearing their own clutter, consider a criss-cross shredder as a gift — it’s one of the few gifts that can help eliminate clutter
4. If you have someone on your gift list that would also enjoy a clutter-busting, consider “giving” them a day of your help to clean out that closet, that pantry, or the kitchen that they simply can’t face alone
5. Ask someone to help you clear clutter for a few hours rather than giving you a gift

If you are creative and open-minded — and remember that the holidays are about family, being thankful and giving of yourself — this holiday may help you to rightsize your home and may help your loved ones do the same.

However you decided to clear the clutter, I’ll guarantee you will feel better for doing it! Best wishes for a lighter, more clutter-free holiday season.