How Clean Is Your Home? Do You Have Nasty Secrets Hiding That You Aren't Aware Of?

Today a lot of people seem to think that Spring Cleaning is old fashioned and not needed anymore. After all, we have these modern homes with modern cleaning appliances and gadgets, special cleaning agents, and our homes are so different from years ago. Our heating and cooling systems are so much different than in bygone times. We don't need to Spring Clean like people used to.

My response to that is...Think again!

Today, just as much as years ago, we still need to super clean our houses every so often and Spring is one of the best times. It's a great way to start off the warmer seasons of the year.

But seriously, why? Why do we need to Spring Clean?

Our houses are much more airtight, comparatively speaking than house were in the past, but they also can’t breathe because they are so airtight. They’re full of chemicals and gases, from floor wax to the microfibers of carpets, that our ancestors never knew of or used. You'd be surprised how actually dirty just your walls are and you are breathing it all in!

But there are other and even more serious things that may be lurking in your homes and I know that from personal experience. When we first were married we bought a lovely old farmhouse that was built in 1875. We loved that house and stated renovating it right away. What we found was not fun. All through our house we had something that can cause a very serious cancer called Mesothelioma. The thing we had in our home from previous renovations and additions was Asbestos!

What's asbestos?

Asbestos is a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials. it has been used in homes and businesses for over 100 years.

wrapped pipes                                         flooring

ceiling insulation                          cement board siding

We discovered that not only did we have pipes covered with an asbestos based product, several of the rooms in the house had flooring that contained asbestos. To say the least I was concerned and we sought out experts to help us deal with it. Checking your home for asbestos is a very important thing to do. The majority of homes built before 1970 have asbestos in them in many different forms which could include linings around pipes, insulation in walls, ceilings and attics, roofing, siding, and vinyl flooring. Any and all asbestos in your home can contribute to the possibility of you or one of your loved ones contracting Mesothelioma.

So how do you go about Spring Cleaning and checking for asbestos? It's actually pretty easy. I've been using the same system for almost 30 years and it has worked really well for me and lot of other people I have shared it with. You can read more about it in a couple of my past blog posts HERE and HERE!

But you can also receive some very helpful information from the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center. They have provided this fantastic graphic that you can copy and paste on to a paper for reference in helping you Spring Clean your home while being aware of things to look out for.

Cancer is a horrible disease and Mesothelioma is one of the worst forms of it. Make sure your home is safe for you and your family by checking for possible asbestos. Get help from an expert if you are concerned by checking with HomeAdvisor.  They can connect you with an expert in your local area that can help you identify, remove or treat problems you might have with asbestos in your home.

Don't wait! Now is the best time to give your home a good healthy cleaning. Your health and the health of your family will benefit from it in more ways than one!

Have you ever found asbestos in your home. Tell us about it in the comments below!

This is a public service post brought to you from the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center. No compensation was giving for the sharing of this information.

It's That Time Of Year ~ Spring Cleaning!!

It's that time of year....Spring Cleaning! This may seem a little strange to you, but I love to Spring Clean! Seriously. There's just something about freshening up my house, decluttering and organizing things. It makes me feel good and I know my home is well taken care of by doing it.

But where to start?

Well one place is with my spring cleaning list I do each year. I tell you all about it in 2 blog posts HERE and HERE!

Now when you go through those things in each and every room it may seem like a lot, but when it comes to taking care of one of the biggest investments you ever make, your home, the work is worth it.

Recently I found some more help to make the job of Spring Cleaning easier, spreading the work out over the whole year! I love that!!

The following checklists come from the IrvineHomeBlog.com – Southern California Real Estate and are chock full of great information and helps in keeping your home beautiful for a long time!

(to see in a larger format and to save to your computer click on the image)

The lists above can be adapted and changed to fit the specific needs of your home. We don't all have the same things as each other. Every home is different. Taking care of your home needs to be a priority, but it doesn't have to be a huge burden and learning what to do and when is one of the best ways to make a big job a lot more manageable!

So what is your favorite Spring Cleaning project and what is you worst favorite?

How To Prepare For Spring ~ Part Two

One thing that a lot of us don't think a whole lot about is Spring Cleaning, and especially the outside of our house. Other than basic yard work, a little touch up with paint here and there, what is there really to do?

More than you think!

In the last part of this series I talked about each of the rooms in your house and what you could do to Spring Clean them. You need to think the same way about the outside of your house. Divide it into areas, say the front, east, south, front porch, back porch, etc... Simply think about the things that need to be done in that area to clean and spruce it up.

Now I am not talking about home improvement projects. That's a whole different thing! I am just wanting you to think about cleaning.

Here's an example from our place:

The Front Porch

1. Wash the front door and screen door. Remove the screen and scrub with a brush and the hose
2. Clean off all cobwebs along the roof line, posts, and around the porch light. 
3. Wash the porch light and wipe off bulb
4. Sweep off the porch and steps, then power wash if possible
5. Spruce up outdoor decorations on the porch and front door
6. Sweep the sidewalk leading to the front door (it makes a big difference when the porch is clean and the walkway too!)

That's not a whole lot, and it really makes a difference in the way your whole home looks. When the approach to your home looks nice people feel more at home and welcome. 

Some of the more specific things you need to think about when cleaning the outside of your home may also depend on where you live. In our subdivision we have to power wash our siding each year. It's just one of the requirements for living here.

Other things are cleaning off your air conditioning unit, checking to see if it needs to be serviced. Cleaning out your gutters, not a fun job but so needed. Washing the windows outside. Some people are not fortunate enough to have the kind that fold in to the inside. I have some very fond memories of my Mom getting outside as soon as the ground was solid enough to hold the step ladder and her washing the windows. 

Generally Spring Cleaning your home on the outside does not take that long and can usually be done in a day or two. But remember you don't have to accomplish it all at once if you don't have the time. Just do what you can, when you can.

But we are not done with Spring Cleaning yet! Here are a few things around your home inside and outside, you need to think about cleaning and may not have thought of.

1. Under the refrigerator ~ You'd be surprised what collects under there, especially if you have pets. I use a yard stick with some tulle rubber banded on one end. It works great and is thin enough to fit under.
2. Between appliances and shelves ~ If at all possible, pull out appliances to clean the sides of them and the sides of the shelves, especially your stove. Food particles and debris can easily get down there and accumulate adding to the dirt in your home!
3. Ceiling Fans ~ Take a good look at yours on the top not just on the bottom where you can see it. If there is a light attachment remember to clean that part too.
4. Reusable Grocery Bags ~ These should be washed on a regular basis, about once a month.
5. Hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens ~ Think about how much we sweat going in and out of the cold and warm wearing those things. Wash them before putting them away for the warm months.
6. Vent on front of furnace ~ You should know about changing the filter for your furnace, but on the front of a furnace are vents. They can collect a lot of dust and debris and that decreases the efficiency of your furnace.
7. Dryer vent ~ This is an absolute must. Not cleaning it can become a serious fire hazard. 15,000 homes burn each year because of dryer fires and most are caused by dirty dryer vents. Don't just clean the vent on the outside of the house, but the whole hose inside as well!                 
8. Small electronics ~ Have you looked at your phone or your television remote lately? I mean seriously looked at it? Even headphones can get pretty grimey. use alcohol wipes to clean these off on a regular basis. Also check the computer tower fans. They can fill up with dust and debris easily. Don't forget your mouse either. Have you emptied the crumb tray of your toaster lately?
9. Dust mop, broom, household trash cans ~ All the tools you use to clean around your house should be cleaned too. It's amazing how dirty and icky some of these things can get over time with use. 
10. Tops of kitchen cupboards ~ This is a major area that dust and grease like to accumulate and if you don't clean it, you could be breathing it in.
11. Stove vent filter ~ One of my least favorite things to clean, but so important to keep the vent working like it should. 
12. Wash window blinds ~ This is something that you should do at least once a year, but I add it to my Spring and Fall cleaning lists for each room. You can do these in your shower or take them outside and use a hose and brush.

Spring Cleaning can be one of the best ways to continually keep your house in good shape. Not only are you keeping your home looking it's best, but as you are cleaning you can inspect things and find small problems that need to be fixed before they become major and expensive problems. It's also a great way to keep your home a safe, clean environment for your family.

Start today making a list of some of the Spring Cleaning projects you can accomplish this year.

How To Prepare For Spring ~ Part One

I am one of those fortunate people who lives in the Midwest who has been blessed with a LOT of snow this year. From the weather reports for this week, we are going to be blessed with even more.

Most people would react pretty negatively to this, and I have to admit a little part of me does too, but I am reminded about how important good snow cover is for our area. We need the moisture. We need the cold to kill off things in the soil. But I am also reminded that Spring is not too far away and there is no better time to prepare for it than now.

I actually love being a little cooped up in my home now. I can spend time I would otherwise be running here and there planning. This is an excellent time of year to make plans for all kinds of things, but two in particular are my favorites to look ahead to: Spring Cleaning and Gardening.

Spring cleaning? Seriously???  YES!

Today a lot of people seem to think that Spring Cleaning is old fashioned and not needed anymore. After all, we have these modern homes with modern cleaning appliances and gadgets, special cleaning agents, and our homes are so different from years ago. Our heating and cooling systems are so much different than in bygone times. We don't need to Spring Clean like people used to.

My response to that is...Think again! Today, just as much as years ago, we still need to super clean our houses every so often and Spring is one of the best times. It's a great way to start off the warmer seasons of the year.

But seriously, why? Why do we need to Spring Clean? Our houses are much more airtight, comparatively speaking than house were in the past, but they also can’t breathe because they are so airtight. They’re full of chemicals and gases, from floor wax to the microfibers of carpets, that our ancestors never knew of or used. You'd be surprised how actually dirty just your walls are.

So how do you go about Spring Cleaning? It's actually pretty easy. I've been using the same system for almost 30 years and it has worked really well for me and lot of other people I have shared it with.

I divide my home up by the rooms. One at a time I tackle each room until the whole house gets done. In each room I have a list of things I do specifically, and that list may contain similar things I do in other rooms, like wash windows. Having the tasks written down for each room helps me remember what to do and to be able to check it off. Nothing feels better than checking off an accomplishment when I finish it. I think it's the OCD in me.

Here's a quick look at what I do in our bedroom each Spring"

1. Clean the ceiling for cobwebs
2. Wash the ceiling light globe and bulbs
3. Wash/dry clean the curtains
4. Wash the windows inside
5. Wash the walls (yes I really wash the walls each spring)
6. Clean the glass on all hanging or sitting frames, dust too
7. Clean the top of the baseboards
8. Wash the door and window casings
9. Pull out furniture (if possible) and vacuum/dust under. Dust the back of dressers while they are out.
10. Dust the tops and all edges of all furniture
11. Dust or wash all nick-knacks and table lamps, wiping bulbs too
12. Turn the mattress, vacuum and steam it before replacing bed linens (check  with your mattress manufacturer to make sure steaming is safe for your mattress) Also do the same for the pillows
13. Clean the heat/air conditioning vents
14. Vacuum and shampoo carpet

You may be looking at this list thinking there is no way you could ever get all of that done in each and every room, but I know you can. I know for one reason because I have done it for years and I don't do the whole house in one day. I take my time and spread it out. I may not even get a single room done in one day. But I do get it done. Plus not every room requires the same amount of cleaning.

Take a few minutes, make a list of the cleaning that should be done in your home. You don't have to do the same things I do, but you really should do some good Spring Cleaning. Your house will thank you. Your family will thank you. Best of all, there is a satisfaction in getting it done, knowing you have cleaned out all the chemicals, dirt and grime that has built up over the cold months (and maybe even longer than that), and you are taking care of your family.

So what room are you going to start with for your Spring Cleaning? Are you even going to Spring Clean?