Spring Clean Your Home

Spring has sprung so it's time to spring clean your home.  Now that we have decluttered our space first (checkout our Declutter Your Life Post), it's time to tackle and clean some of the dirtiest items in our homes.  Here are some tips on how to clean those dirt traps in your home:

1) Cleaning Tools: Before you clean your home, ensure that the equipment you are using is cleaned and ready to tackle the entire home.

• empty vacuum canisters of existing dirt and dust
• clean interior of canister & wipe down exterior with water and vinegar (1:1 ratio)

2) Beds:

• Remove all bedding & wash in hot water (wash weekly at a minimum)
• Wash pillows seasonally & replace every couple of years
• Mattress: Sprinkle with baking soda & vacuum, flip mattress and turn 180oC seasonally, finally sprinkle other side with baking soda & vacuum

3) Fans: Fans are a trap for dirt & allergens plus they move are around, depositing those allergens in the air your family breathes.

• Cover area below fan with sheet or drop cloth
• Spray with Water & Vinegar (1:1 ratio) and fully wipe down
• Clean seasonally at a minimum

4) Carpets:  Did you know that carpets can hold up to 4 times their weight in dirt? 

• Steam Clean your carpets seasonally
• vacuum at least weekly.  More often if you have pets & young children

5) Tooth Brushes: They can carry more than 10 million bacteria on one brush.  YUCK!!!

• Replace every 3 months
• Don't flush where you brush.  Ensure your brushes are at least 3' away from the toilet & ultimately close lid on toilet before you flush.
• Use products like Vio Light for smaller bathrooms

6) Cell Phones: In today's society, we are taking our phones everywhere and I mean everywhere.  They can carry up to 25,000 germs per square inch.

• clean daily with microfiber cloth (be sure to remove case often and wipe down)
• Spray lightly with water & alcohol and wipe down (weekly).  The alcohol is a drying agent so as long as you spray lightly & wipe down immediately, there is no concern for water damage

7) Handles & Switches:

• Clean often with water & vinegar (1:1 ratio)

Staging for the Holidays

Selling your home throughout the holidays is often intimidating due to the weather conditions and hectic schedules. However, if staged correctly, the holidays can be a great time to showcase your home. Keeping in mind that one of the most important things while selling a home is to create an emotional connection with the potential buyer and the home, the holiday season can provide the perfect opportunity to do so. Here are some stylicious recommendations to stage your home and ensure the best possible offer throughout the holiday season:

• Colour Scheme – The colour scheme should be simple and classic.  Our rule of thumb is that 80% should be a neutral such as silver, while 20% should be an accent colour such as red. 
• Decorations – Keep all accent pieces tasteful and stylish, while staying religion neutral and avoiding figurines. Be careful not to over decorate or clutter.
• Baking – Just because your house is on the market doesn’t mean that you have to give up on family activities and traditions throughout the holidays. Get the family involved and bake some of your favourite treats before any open houses which will fill the house with a nice aroma. Lay out a tray of the baked goods for the guests to eat while viewing the home.
• Front Entrance – Flank festive urns on either side of the front door in the same colour scheme as your home.  Hang a simple wreath on your front door and be sure to keep all walkways to your home clear of ice and snow.
• Lighting – Exterior and Interior lighting should be all one colour tone and provide good ambiance without being overbearing. 
• Family Activities – Take advantage of the open house schedule to take the kids out for holiday activities and enjoy the holiday spirit.

The holidays can be an excellent time to sell your home since it’s a great time to display your home in a festive way that allows potential buyers to envision future family traditions in years to come. 

Household Items to Improve Your Garden

Improving your garden can be easier than one thought by using everyday household items.  The following items are not just great for the garden but they are items we use daily and, best of all, eco-friendly:

• Coffee Grounds - Sprinkle your used coffee grounds around the base of your plants to add valuable nutrients into the soil.  They are rich in nitrogen and tannic acids and acid loving plants like Rhododendrons respond the best to coffee grounds.
• Egg Shells - Place crushed eggs shells at the base of your plants to add valuable nutrients into the soil.  They are rich in calcium which aids in cell development in all plants.
• Vinegar - Spray on weeds especially on areas that are difficult to weed e.g. between interlocking bricks.  It will kill anything it touches so do not spray on grass or plants.
• Nylons - Use to tie back or support trees and bushes.
• Food scraps - Add to compost for rich nutritious soil.
• Dish soap - mix with water and wash the interior and exterior of your windows for a spotless view into your garden.
• Corn Gluten Meal - prevents the germination of weeds. Sprinkle around problem areas to prevent weeds.

Happy Gardening!