Spring Cleaning Brings Renewal

 

A couple weeks ago while taking a walk on the trails at Watson Lake, I looked all around at the dark, cloudy skies and the barren cold trees. As I looked a little closer, there was a hint of green on the very tips of the Cottonwoods. Could it be? I examined the trees up close, and sure enough, there they were, little green sprouts on the tips of the branches. I absolutely love Spring. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. Things start to bloom, and the overall feeling is that of energy and renewal.

We can feel this way at home, too, and explore the possibilities of rectifying any negative effect that the winter has had while preparing for the upcoming warmer weather and plan projects to improve our homes and yards.

The last several months have brought in dust and dirt from wet roads, wind and rain. Your home has most likely been closed for a while, without a lot of fresh air. Heaters and fireplaces have been running. It’s time to clean things up and start fresh.

If you have a fireplace, it is a good time to get it checked out and cleaned by a professional. The same applies to the duct work in your house that circulates the air from your heater and air conditioning unit. There are several companies in the area that can check out the duct work and make sure it is clean and nothing has come loose during the winter months. Another money-saving idea is to have the ductwork sealed after it is cleaned so that it is energy efficient. This is also a good time to have your air conditioning unit checked out. If you wait until the hottest month (usually June) and something goes wrong, you may have to wait in line for someone to come fix it.

Consider power washing any drainage areas in your yard, around your house and clearing out the gutters of debris. Power washing can also clean your driveways and walkways much better than just sweeping or rinsing down with a hose. It is also a necessary step in preparing for any painting fixes or projects you may have on the outside of your house. It will strip away the dirt and loose, peeling paint so that your new paint will look beautiful and last longer.

My favorite thing to have done once spring comes is to have all my windows professionally cleaned, including all the screens and tracks. It feels so good to have all that dirt and buildup cleaned away so that I can clearly see the gorgeous weather and views that our area offers. Having crystal clean and clear windows makes the whole house feel newer, cleaner and fresher.

Have carpets, rugs, upholstery and tile cleaned. There’s been a lot of traffic trampled all over your floors. There have been holiday parties, food spills, wet boots, dog paws, sweet but muddy kids and who knows what else going in and out of the house bringing in all the dirt and grime onto your floors and furniture. Having the carpets and upholstery cleaned will also help to extract any unwanted odors that have been lurking.

Enjoy spring! It’s finally here! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.