This is the time of year to fix any leaky outdoor faucets. Why? Because you will be turning them off anyway before the ground freezes. In the Spring we want to be able to turn on the water to the outdoor faucet and already have it in good working order. Drain the hose really well and,  if possible, store indoors in a basement where it doesn’t get too cold. Temperature extremes will wear out plastic or rubber hose very quickly. They become brittle and split or crack after just a couple of seasons if not properly cared for. Carefully clean and dry the spray attachment and sprinkler attachment and store in a dry place so they won’t rust. You’ll be glad you did!

Good maintenance is good Feng Shui!

People notice dusty, grimy blinds. Whether you are staging your home to sell it or getting the house spruced up for the holidays, you shouldn’t overlook the details.

In the Winter, we need to maintain healthy indoor air and the dust mites increase significantly. To clean blinds at this time of year, fill a bathtub with hot, soapy water. Place the open blinds in the tub and sponge or brush them. Drain the tub and refill with clean, hot water. Take the blinds out and shake them free of excess water, towel dry lightly, and rehang them.

In the summer time, the best and easiest way to clean them is to lay them out on the sidewalk or driveway dump a bucket of water and pine sol mix over them and hose or power wash them clean. In Feng Shui, all the little details add up!

I had  a home that had been a business also to look at today. The owner had not checked on it’s condition for several months and it had been on the market for two years. Dust, dirt, cobwebs, dead bugs, dirty windows, and more were what greeted us as we walked through the house. The realtor should have been making sure that the building was clean and presentable. Staging was also needed and there were items in the attic that could have been used to make the building warmer and more welcoming. Doors that stick, windows that are painted shut and tiles broken or missing also detract from your home.

If you have property on the market, make sure that those who are selling it for you keep it clean and welcoming. In this housing market you need to make every effort to stay ahead of the competition!

This Fall, as you start to put away things like garden tools, patio furniture, weed whackers, lawn mowers, etc.; wash them, repaint them if needed, drain gas tanks, remove and safely store batteries, and any other maintenance needed.

You will really appreciate all this work next Spring when all your outdoor stuff is clean and in good shape…all you will have to do is enjoy!

Do you have a sticky window, a door that doesn’t shut properly, a loose board, dripping faucet, electrical outlets that don’t work, circuit breakers that continually trip, etc?

Your house is crying out for care! Listen to it! The time and effort it takes to fix small irritants like these pays off big in the long run. You may be preventing an accident, a fire, water damage, and more. The pay off of good maintenance is that you maintain the monetary value of your home as well. You may even be saving energy if you pay attention to how your windows and doors function and by keeping your heating and cooling systems cleaned and serviced.

Every time you encounter a stuck drawer or trip over a curled rug or catch your sweater on a nail sticking out you create aggravation for yourself and others. That negative feeling can build up in the space. These little irritants could be “the straw that broke the camel’s back!” So prevent these stressors before you blow!

That’s good Feng Shui!