Spring is in the air in Sandy Springs, Georgia, which means flowers, baseball games, and diets to shed that winter weight.  Also, it’s time for some home maintenance after a winter of neglect.  Get motivated and use these simple tips to put the inside of your home into tip-top condition. 

Home Cleaning Tips

Sometimes it’s considered a labor of love.  Cleaning out that junk closet can be very refreshing mentally as well as an opportunity to get extra space to store your future junk.  Here are some time saving tips that will help you make the tasks of spring cleaning a little more fun and fulfilling.

• Clean everything from Top to Bottom!  Yes, that means cleaning underneath the kitchen sink, the hard to reach place in the tub and that batch of clothes that you have piled under your bed that you’ve avoided.
• For better air quality use non-toxic cleaning products.  There are a lot of green products out there that are environmentally safe and that also has more cleaning power than your typical over the counter products.  Click Here to view a list of products that are economically price and friendly to the environment.
• Verify that you have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your homes.  Perform a maintenance check and supply new batteries as needed.
• Check and clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and kitchen exhaust hood and filter.
• Change your air filters for central air conditioning.  And clean off the coils from window units.

**Helpful Hints:  Do yourself a favor and try out your air conditioning system early.  Otherwise, there’ll be a long, smoldering wait for an overbooked repairman.  Also, change the filter, inspect hose connections, and make sure the drain pans are draining freely.

Freshening Your Home: Space Decoration Tips

The top three considerations to make when decorating your space is: style, system, and color palate.  If you follow these three tips you will successfully decorate any space in your home.  

1. Style:
a. To enlarge a space use a torchiere lamp to bounce light off the ceiling.
b. Track lighting and recessed lights work best for small spaces.
c. Choose pieces of furniture with open arms and legs to enhance the size of the space.

2. Coordinate:
a. Make the most out of your space with multifunctional furniture. 
b. Purchase an ottoman that functions both as a sitting place and an area for storage.

3. Color Palate:
a. Match the color of the furniture with the color of the walls. 
1. For better results, stay away from contrasting colors with your main pieces, such as furniture, chest of drawers, and bedding.
2. For accessories, choose your favorite colors and splash them throughout your space.
3. Get monochromatic by painting the walls, trim and detail in different shades of the same color. 

Curb Appeal:  Lawn and Garden Care

Make your lawn and garden the envy of the neighborhood.  The next time you come home, stop across the street or far enough down the driveway to get a good view of the house and its surroundings.  Make a list of the problem areas you discovered.  Put some time into projects that make the grounds more attractive.  Use the steps to make your neighbors jealous:

• Tackle clean up and repair chores first.
• Mow the lawn.
• Get rid of weeds.
• Clean windows and gutters.
• Kill mold and mildew on the house, driveway, sidewalks, and roof.
• Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.
• Rake and dispose of leaves.
• Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof.