Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s time to throw open those windows, let in some fresh air, and jump right into spring cleaning to awaken your home from months of hibernation. Still, do you really want to spend a beautiful spring weekend knee deep in dusting and laundry?  Exactly.

So to help ensure that you get your home sparkling clean in as little time as possible, here are 7 time saving tips and tricks.

1. Steam up your microwave. Cleaning dried on food splatters from the microwave can be a time-consuming task, but a little steam can make it all go simpler and faster. Simply boil a cup of water in the microwave to create a steam bath that will soften the dried-on gunk.
2. Vacuum window treatments. Give your curtains and drapes a quick cleaning – in between washing or taking them to the dry cleaner – by vacuuming them with the upholstery attachment. You can do the same for your blinds and pleated shades.

3. Use rubber gloves to ball up pet hair. Getting Fido to stay off the couch may be a losing battle, but cleaning up pet hair doesn’t have to be. Just put on a pair of rubber gloves and wipe your hands over the area. The pet hair will ball right up for fast and easy disposal.

4. Dust walls and ceilings with microfiber mop. Eliminate the need for a step ladder by investing in a microfiber mop with a long handle.

5. Use a pillowcase to dust ceiling fans. Keep the dust under control by sliding a pillow case over each blade. When you pull it back, you’ll end up dusting the blade and sending the dust inside the pillow case instead of onto your floor.

6. Clean your toilet with denture tablets. You read that right. Just drop a few denture tablets into the toilet bowl and walk away. Come back in about 5 minutes and flush. You’ll get a deep anti-bacterial clean that requires no effort at all.

7. Clean your dishwasher with a pantry staple. Even your dishwasher needs a good cleaning every once in a while to remove food scraps and soap residue, etc. Place a dishwasher-safe cup of white vinegaron the top rack of your dishwasher.  Run it through a full cycle on the hottest water setting possible and voila! You’ll have a sparkling clean dishwasher without harsh chemicals.

Spring is also the perfect time to have your AC system professionally cleaned and inspected so you can count on its full cooperation once the warm weather comes to stay.  And that’s the fastest spring cleaning chore of all, because all it requires is a call or email to Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air.  We look forward getting your AC season to a rousing and worry-free start.

If you’ve noticed some unattractive spots appearing and spreading on your bathroom ceiling or grout, you have a problem that is more than just aesthetic in nature. More importantly, the sooner you take steps to remove and prevent mold in your bathroom, the better.

As you may know, mold grows quickly and can be very destructive to your home and harmful to your health.  Mold, for example, can cause severe allergy problems that can lead to asthma.

What’s the first step in getting mold out of your bathroom once and for all? Finding out how and why it got there in the first place. Let’s have a look at the most common causes:

Mold loves moisture and warmth. If your bathroom is not well ventilated, then whenever you use the shower it creates an excess of moisture – ideal conditions for mold to form and grow. Does your bathroom have an exhaust fan? Is it working properly?

Is there an attic space above the bathroom? If so, perhaps that’s where the mold originated and now has spread downward to your bathroom. A small leak in the roof could be the cause, as can can a loose connection in the wiring of your ceiling fan.

Once you’ve found and corrected the source of the moisture problem, you can treat the mold without fear of it returning. First, treat the moldy spots with a bleach-and-water solution. You can put the mixture in a spray bottle or use a sponge to apply it without oversaturating.

After treating the spots, it’s a good idea to repaint the ceiling to prevent mold from returning. You’ll need to use a primer first that has anti-mold properties, and then repaint using a specially formulated bath paint, the kind that will create an effective and lasting barrier.

At Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re experienced and ready to assist you in preventing and treating mold growth in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.