Ah, February. Love is in the air. Spring is right around the corner, and for those of us living in the Southwest desert, that means getting ready for Summer. There is a lot of maintenance done in the Fall, but Spring maintenance addresses different concerns.
Open those windows and air out that stale air. This is an ideal time to address cleaning the vent ducts, possibly having the system blown out and really getting everything cleaned out. The weather in this neck of the woods is on our side. It's warmer, not a lot of rain to deal with, and really freshens up the entire home. Replace all filters, and if you're feeling spicy, add the filter air freshener in the mix. You stick it on top of the filter and as the air circulates through your home, it adds a fresh scent. Yankee Candle makes several scents to choose from.
If you did not paint your house during the Fall, now is the perfect time to put the covers over the furniture, open the windows, and freshen up your space with a fresh coat of paint. Do not neglect your ceiling, please. Ceiling and trim, these often-neglected corners always benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Take this time to address nail holes or other slight imperfections. Not only does painting revamp your home, but it can also help revamp your mood. There are many studies regarding color and our moods, but really, when your home feels fresher and cleaner it can help you feel better about living in it. We spend so much time at home. It should be your sanctuary from the world.
Spring is a great time to declutter and rearrange furniture. A little change up can be just the thing to get past those Winter blues. Decluttering your space has also been proven to provide stress relief. When we see our spaces cluttered and full, it can be overwhelming and be a silent source of stress. Adding storage space to your home with shelves and cabinets can be a great way of creating space for our belongings. Of course, bins are a great way to organize and switch out seasonal clothing or holiday decorations. They come in many sizes and dimensions to fit your life. Rearranging our space can help streamline the flow of our home. There are so many different ways of arranging a room, how it feels when you walk into it, and where it leads as you go from room to room. Feng Shui is all about the arrangement and flow of the energy in your home, life, and work. The Lunar New Year is a great time to make adjustments for the year of the Fire Horse.
If you have solar panels, take this time to clean them before the most productive time of the year. This will ensure that you get every bit of energy from the sun and saving money. While you're at it, the windows that have been open this whole time need to be cleaned too. A pressure washer can help immensely with these tasks. Long-handled cleaning supplies are available online at a less expensive cost.
Performing routine maintenance on your home not only helps retain the value of your home, but it also makes living in your home more enjoyable and relaxing because you have that peace of mind.