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Published with permission from RISMedia.

As many enjoy the spring and summer weather, full of sunshine and a light breeze, its only natural to want to open your home to let in the fresh air. Unfortunately, screens in doors and windows can catch lots of dust, pollen and bugs, making them a piece of your home that should be cleaned regularly. Its important to take the time to clean each and every screen before opening up your home to the elements”and those pesky mosquitoes”at the beginning and end of each season.

Removable screens are going to be easiest to clean, however, you will want to start with a clear plan. Whether you plan to do one screen at a time, one floor at a time or bring them all out, be sure to mark each screen and window with a number, letter or other form of marking to ensure each screen is placed in the correct place when finished. This will help with any possible size differences, as window measurements can vary.

Once you remove your screens, lay them out on top of a tarp, preferably on a deck, driveway or other flat, hard surface. If you dont have a flat surface or cant wash your screens outside, use your bathtub lined with towels to avoid any scratches or damage to the tub. Next, gather all of your cleaning supplies and tools.

What You Need:

Garden hose with spray attachment (or shower sprayer for indoor cleaning)
Bucket filled with clean water
Ammonia
Vacuum with dusting attachment
Sponge or microfiber cloth
Dry towels (preferably old)
Gloves (optional)

To start, you will want to use the vacuum cleaner with the dusting attachment to remove any dust, pollen and cobwebs. Be sure to flip each screen to clean both sides.

Next, in your water bucket, mix in household ammonia. For best results, use three parts water and one part ammonia, and stir well. Dip your sponge or microfiber cloth into your cleaning solution and wipe down every part of the screen, including the frame.

With the spray attachment on your hose or shower head, rinse down each screen, again flipping to ensure you get both sides. Be sure the water pressure isnt too high, as this can warp or damage the screens. Lay out to air dry or use old towels to pat each one dry.

Before reinstalling your screens, wipe down your window frames. Focus on corners and crevices, as most dust, pollen and insects tend to collect here. Ensure each screen and window frame is completely dry before installing.

For non-removable screens, most commonly found on doors, you will follow a similar process, just without a vacuum cleaner or garden hose. First, place old towels or tarp on the floor where you will be cleaning to protect floors and carpets.

Next, instead of causing any potential warping or damage to the screen, replace the vacuum with a handheld duster to remove the dust and pollen. Be sure to dust both sides of the screen. For second floor windows, this may require a ladder. Use the dusting attachment from your vacuum cleaner to remove and dirt, dust, pollen and insects from the window frame before cleaning.

With the same water and ammonia mix, dip your sponge or microfiber towel into the solution and clean the screens. Once you are finished with the cleaning solution, dip a new sponge or cloth into clean water and wipe to rinse. Use a clean, dry towel to pat dry each window frame and screen. Ensure it is completely dry before closing the window, as this can cause mold and mildew to form.

Once all your door and window screens are clean, you will be able to enjoy fresh, cool and breezy air throughout your entire home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Are you interested in the idea of minimalism, but unsure of where to start? Consider the following…

Get your family on board. You’re fighting a losing battle if only one person in your household wants to minimize. Chat with your spouse, kids or roommate about why a minimalistic home space is important.

Once everyone is on the same page, go room by room and itemize your belongings.

After youve taken stock of everything in your home, start the purging process. Begin by ditching duplicates to get you on the right track.

And, most importantly, aim for dual function furniture, like a kitchen island that opens into a dining room table.

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For many homeowners, the attic is a place to store items that they use infrequently. Issues are often missed since most people dont think about their attic unless they need to look for something stored there and since many homeowners dont know how to spot signs of problems. You should regularly inspect your attic, or have it inspected by a professional, to identify issues before they become too serious and require costly repairs.

Ventilation
Moisture travels through the walls and ceilings and winds up in the attic. The area can also become oppressively hot on a summer day. Ventilation is necessary to allow moisture and heat to escape. Insufficient ventilation can lead to high heating and air conditioning bills. Several types of vents can be used in an attic, depending on the style of roof. Check to make sure your attic has enough vents and that they arent blocked by dirt, dust or belongings stored in the areas around them.

Insulation
The R-value, which measures insulations efficiency, can change over time if the insulation is compressed or disturbed. The effect can be particularly stark in older homes. Insufficient insulation can cause your home to lose heat in the winter, which can lead to high heating bills. Check to see if your attic has enough insulation. If not, have more installed to make the house more energy efficient.

Framing
Since the houses framing is exposed in the attic and in few other areas, an inspection of the attic framing can provide a good indication of the roofs overall condition. If the framing is damaged, the roof may have more widespread damage that may become even worse if a storm brings strong winds.

Leaks
Areas around the chimney and vents are prone to leakage. Water stains on the roof or vents or changes in insulation are signs of a leak. Even a minor leak should be taken seriously because it can quickly become much worse. Water leaking into an attic can cause wood to rot and can cause mold that can endanger your familys health.

Pests
Birds, raccoons, rats, mice, squirrels and bats often choose attics when looking for warmth and shelter. If one gets in, others are likely to follow, and some may give birth. Pests can leave urine and droppings that may spread diseases. In addition, they can damage insulation, wires, sheetrock and wood and may even chew through electrical wires, which can create a fire hazard.

Are You Paying Enough Attention to Your Attic?
Problems in the attic are frequently overlooked since its a part of the home that many people dont enter or think about much. That is precisely why its important to regularly inspect your attic for signs of trouble or to hire a professional to conduct an inspection. If its been a while since your attic was inspected, get it thoroughly checked as soon as possible.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Overstuffed and disorganized drawers can be frustrating, especially in the bedroom. Whether you’re searching for the perfect top or hunting for a matching set of socks, its never easy finding a needle in the haystack, especially when the haystack is a pile of mismatched clothes. Learn how to properly organize your dresser drawers with these simple tips.

Start at Empty
The first rule of decluttering is to clear the space of all items. Start by removing all of the clothing in each drawer. Starting with a blank canvas will help to not only organize, but decide whether or not you want each item in a drawer, on a hanger or in a donation box.

Declutter and Donate
Now that you have emptied your dresser drawers, its time for the hard part”deciding what to keep and what to let go of. There are many ways people navigate this process, but one in particular comes to mind. Do you wear it? Look at each piece and determine whether or not youve worn it in the last year. If yes, place it into your keep pile. If not, set aside for donation.

Categorize Clothing
Once you have decided which items you are keeping, its time to separate them into groups. Socks and underwear can usually share a drawer, so these can be designated as one category. Next, divide your tops into tank tops, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and sweaters. Even take an extra step further and group them by color. The more specific you get with your categorizing, the easier it will be to find the item you want in the shortest amount of time.

Hang Bulky Items
Folding up a bulky sweatshirt or jeans can take up a lot of room in one single drawer. Consider hanging these items or adding a shelving unit into your closet to create more space. Even utilize the space under your bed for oversized clothing.

Rotate Seasonally
If you live in an area where the weather changes seasonally, consider storing out-of-season items in another area of the home. This will make it easier to navigate your clothing without digging in drawers and creating a mess. If you have an unused suitcase in your closet or storage bins in your basement or garage, utilize them. As the seasons change, swap out clothing you wont wear for clothing that is seasonally appropriate.

Published with permission from RISMedia.