February is Valentine’s month and that means love is in the air … or maybe that’s just the windchill. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now that we’re in the home stretch of winter and it’s an ideal time to get your home ready for spring by freshening it up a bit.
How do you freshen up your home in anticipation of spring? Let’s dive in!
1. Spiff up the paint
Freshen up indoor paint on walls, cabinets, doors, and trim.
Spiffing up paint doesn’t necessarily mean repainting. You might try to just do some spot washing with a Magic Eraser sponge (or whatever cleaning product you prefer) to remove marks and smudges.
If you do feel you need to repaint, you can mix a tablespoon of clear vanilla extract into a can of paint to help make the smell less noxious during this time when you can’t open your windows.
Spring is a busy season for indoor painters, so you may be able to hire one at a discounted rate if you do it in winter.
2. Give the laundry room a redo
Clean and reorganize your laundry room so it’s roomier and more efficient by scraping dried-on laundry detergent from the ridges in your washer, replacing damaged sorting bins and responsibly disposing of laundry products you never use. Store the ones you do use in out-of-reach places to protect the kiddos.
If you don’t have room for a drying rack, extend a curtain rod over your washer and dryer to hang delicate clothes, and put a narrow cart between your washer and dryer to hold cleaning supplies. Store bins, buckets, and laundry bags on wall hooks to free up space.
3. Clean out dryer vents
Clean the duct that connects the back of your dryer to outside vents. Lint inside this vent decreases your dryer’s efficiency and increases your energy bills. In extreme cases, it can even lead to a fire. Birds and other animals also sometimes make homes in these toasty vents, so cover them with a fine mesh to keep the critters out.
4. Clean refrigerator coils
Clean the refrigerator condenser coils on the back or bottom of your fridge. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean the coils and use a duster or refrigerator coil brush to clean between the coils.
5. Give your mattress some love
Vacuum box springs and mattresses top and bottom. Flip non-padded mattresses every two months so you’re not always using the same side or rotate padded ones so they age evenly.
If your mattress is looking especially bad, try cleaning it with a damp sponge and soapy water and then drying it by pressing towels into it.
Sprucing things up in February will make your home a little fresher and get you prepared for the inevitable coming of spring next month.
While you’re freshening up your home, it may also be time to start thinking about adding or replacing awnings and shutters. Please contact us to schedule a time to discuss your awning and shutter needs