Last weekend, clocks sprung forward which brings longer days and soon warmer temperatures. This can trigger feelings associated with Spring Fever.

While patiently waiting for the season to officially spring, I find myself wanting to clean, organize and freshen up inside. That way, my family is ready to relax and have fun in the sun!

As I consider how to tackle this year’s spring cleaning, I thought it would be helpful to share some insight found on Zillow’s blog. You may already do many of these things as part of your spring-cleaning routine, but it’s always helpful to get a fresh perspective to get you started.

Earlier this month, Zillow posted a blog titled, “Spring Cleaning 101: Make it Fast, Easy and Effective.” The post includes seven suggestions for tidying up your home as we move into the new season.

1. Create a plan: Assign jobs and select areas to clean and organize.
2. Minimize cleaning supplies: Take inventory of what you already have and buy cleaners that can do more than one job.
3. Clean room-by-room: Focus on one space at a time to feel more accomplished.
4. Focus on the most important areas: Select the most visible and used areas of the home first.
5. Work smarter, not harder: Think about how to make a task easier before starting (i.e. self-clean setting on the oven).
6. Get rid of clutter: Create four categories when sorting items to help you decide what is important and needs to be kept versus what can be donated or tossed.
7. Create more efficient habits: Decide on one new way to help keep things clean (i.e. go paperless).

If you are on a roll with spring cleaning, you may also find this Zillow post helpful covering how to organize and declutter the garage.

The most important takeaway is to tackle spring cleaning area-by-area and day-by-day. This makes it more manageable to feel you’ve accomplished something as you work towards your goals.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

The post Spring Cleaning Goals appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.

When spring arrives, especially in New England, we are all ready to open our houses back up and let in the fresh air. This is true now more than ever. Spring also brings the task of “spring cleaning.” We may all be thinking that we’ll make this year’s task more of a deep clean. After all, currently we are spending more time at home.

What to clean with and where to clean comes next. With cleaning supplies in high demand, what can we do if the cleaning spray or wipes we want aren’t available? And, are we sure we cleaned every nook and cranny we could get to?

Luckily we found two posts online to answer these questions! First, the cleaning supplies which have become quite the commodity in recent weeks. Realtor.com posted a recent story with five DIY hacks for sold-out cleaning items. There are several household essentials, mentioned in the post, that make great cleaning products, including:

1. Alcohol
2. Baking soda
3. Vinegar
4. Olive oil
5. Lemons and limes

I regularly use a few of these DIY cleaning hacks at home. For example, I don’t even buy shower cleaner anymore. I’ve found that a mixture of vinegar and dish soap works even better. In a pinch, see for yourself how well these essentials clean.

The second post comes from Houzz.com and addresses the where to clean. If you are ready for a deep spring clean, they list 20 spots you might want to look at, including:

1. Light fixtures and lamps
2. Doors, knobs and handles
3. Wall scuffs and dings
4. Tops of window frames
5. Bookshelves
6. Underneath area rugs
7. Picture frames and mirrors
8. Upholstered furniture
9. Oven and range hood
10. Small appliances
11. Grout
12. Inside kitchen drawers
13. Food storage jars
14. Underneath beds and behind furniture
15. Laundry room dust
16. Vents and hoses
17. Kids’ toys
18. Shower and tub walls
19. Bathroom shelves
20. Tech

Pick a few or clean them all. I’ve definitely added a few to my spring-cleaning list, and will be enlisting the help of my “cleaning crew!”

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

The post Right Time for a Deep Spring Cleaning appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.

One way New Englanders usher in the end of winter and prepare for the warmer spring season is cleaning and organizing our homes. We’ve all talked about spring cleaning! Does your home need more than a cleaning? Maybe a spring refresh or makeover.

I’m right there with you. Ready for warmer temperatures, outdoor adventures, and a fresh look and feel at home. One project we are starting is a minor makeover to the bedroom our boys share; hoping it will give them more space, organize their “stuff” (those with little ones know what I mean!), and brighten their space up a bit.

Refreshes like this don’t have to be major renovations. They can include little fixes that freshen up out-of-date rooms or décor. I recently came across this slideshow on HGTV.com that gave some good insight and tips for updating out-of-date spaces. Check it out…it might just spark a project at your home that helps you get through the last few weeks of winter and gives your home a much needed spring refresh!

Photo credit: iStock-askmenow.

The post Is Your Home Ready for a Spring Refresh? appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.

As the flowers and trees bloom in spring and we shed our winter boots for sandals (or snow shovels for rakes!), we also need to think about spring cleaning and maintenance. The winter thaw brings new tasks in order to get a home and yard ready to be enjoyed in the warmer spring and summer months. And, while we get it, you’d rather just get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, it also helps to get these tasks out of the way before the summer season arrives. Just think, get them done now and you can grill with friends, relax on your lawn chair and hit the beach.

To help you organize your to-do list, the writers at realtor.com have put together this handy home maintenance checklist for May. Are the following items on your spring to-do list?

1. Inspect brick and stone patios and walkways
2. Feed your lawn
3. Repair wood fences and gates
4. Mulch flower and vegetable beds
5. Wash windows
6. Get your grill in gear
7. Make sure your AC is cool

Be sure to check out realtor.com’s post which includes useful tips for tackling these tasks in time for summer.

Photo Credit: Backyard Hair Cut | by seantoyer

The post Home Maintenance Tasks to Check Off Your List in May appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.