Every Homeowner Should Do in November / December It’ s the‘ spring cleaning’ of fall, so to speak.
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Every Homeowner Should Do in November / December It’ s the‘ spring cleaning’ of fall, so to speak.
With guest season( also known as THE HOLIDAYS) coming at you fast and furious, you want to be sure your home is cozy, but with that fresh-as-spring feel— as opposed to that musty-damp-winter feel.
Here’ s how to make that happen( along with a few other timely tips):
WASH BED PILLOWS
# 1 You love your trusty, old, perfectly-snugged-to-your-head pillow. But guess what’ s also snug against your head? Fungus— four to 16 species to be precise. Gross! With fall being the height of guest season, you’ ll want your guest pillows fresh, too. Pop them in the washing machine and dryer for an all-over clean feeling.( But check manufacturer advice, too. Some pillows shouldn’ t be washed but replaced instead.)
CLEAN THE MATTRESS, TOO
# 2 Sleeping soundly gets even better when you know you’ re lying on a clean and fresh mattress. The yuck factor: Skin cells and sweat get into the mattress, then dust mites show up for a dinner party featuring those tasty skin cell morsels. You’ ll want your guest mattress to be at its freshest. It’ s easy to do: Vacuum it and then wipe it down with a cloth dampened with an upholstery shampoo. But be sure to let it dry; otherwise, you’ re inviting mold. Also, be sure to rotate it 180 degrees to help keep it lump-free.( Another option: if you have a flippable mattress, go ahead and flip it.)
INSULATE WINDOWS
# 3 Bone-chilling drafts seriously detract from the cozy vibe you
want. Keep it cozy by hanging drapes as close to your windows as possible to help you keep the heat inside. You can even add clear Velcro strips or dots to the back of the drape and attach to fasteners on the wall to help insulate. Be sure to cross one drape over the other when you close up for the night. Insulating shades can do the trick, too.
STOCK UP ON SNOW SUPPLIES
# 4 If snow is a given where you live and you’ re lacking supplies, take advantage of seasonal sales now to make sure you’ re not the one rushing to the hardware store at the last minute— only to find out it
just sold out of ice melt. If you have a snow blower, be sure to have it serviced and fueled up before the first winter storm arrives( and with it, price hikes on all the snow stuff).
# 5
TRIM TREE BRANCHES
The last thing you need is a winter storm letting loose the wrath of that mighty tree whose branches are angling over your roof. Long limbs also invite pests to explore your roof for excess water that can seep into cracks in the roof or siding. Keep limbs and branches at least three feet from the house. Plus it’ s easier to trim branches after leaves have fallen.( If it’ s an evergreen, well, sorry about that. It’ ll be a
prickly job, but the bonus is you’ ll have greenery for the holidays!)
# 6
GET A CHIMNEY SWEEP TO INSPECT THE FIREPLACE
It’ s time to dust off and sweep the chimney! Best to hire someone who knows wood-burning fireplaces. A professional chimney sweep will ensure that your wood-burning fireplace burns more efficiently and will help prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter. So yeah, it’ s pretty important. Tip: If you don’ t already have a chimney cap, this is also the time to add one to stop wild outdoor critters from crawling down it— and( yikes!) into your house.
I sincerely hope that you find these tips helpful as you prepare for guest season. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
This Industry Insight was written by Darlene B. Kruth, a Sales Executive with Northwood Realty Services. Darlene is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Pennsylvania and has designations as an Accredited Staging Professional(“ ASP”) and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist(“ SRES”). For more information regarding Darlene’ s services and qualifications, please contact her at 412.831.0100 x3013( office), 412.874.0415( cell), email her at dkruth @ northwood. com, or find Darlene’ s facebook business page at Darlene Kruth- Northwood Realty Services.
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