Kids grow faster than you think; you better get the most of the precious family time you have. Improve your family ties with these New Year’s resolutions.
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The cold weather is here and that means it’s time to close the windows and turn on the heating. Also, our shoes and boots will be dirty all the time and bring unwanted slush. As you may know, these factors could cause a stuffy smell in your house. So, keep reading to discover how to circulate air during winter and get rid of those bad odors.
To avoid a stuffy house in winter, perhaps you want to keep all windows and doors closed, but this prevents fresh air from getting inside your home. Now and then, open your windows a little during the day. That will get new air circulating in your home, and the bad odors will lower.
Not only is the dirt on your floors causing your furniture to always be covered with dust, but also it can make the air stuffy too. During winter, when our boots are dirty and our windows closed, it’s really easy to have stained floors and poor air ventilation. Keep your vacuum cleaner handy and give a quick clean every day to your floors.
If you leave your clothes a little wet in the interior of your house (perhaps, after washing or a winter storm), inevitably that will provoke that characteristic smell of humidity. To avoid this, put your soaked clothes in the dirty clothes basket or used the dryer machine to eliminate the moisture.
Surely, hot summer and windy autumn left your air filters dirty. When the first cold night of the winter arrives, you won’t want to use your heating without checking it first. Buy those new filters for your HVAC system, take your time to change it, and get it working properly. Say goodbye to that musty smell provoked by your dirty filters.
In addition, having a few houseplants can make a difference. Not only a little green friend can be a fresh and cute decoration for your home, but also their breathing process can eliminate toxins from the air. There are lots of plants that can help you with that and are very easy to take care of, like Spider plants, Boston ferns, and peace lilies.
A dirty fireplace is going to produce a bad smell when you use it. If it’s the first time in months you’re lighting up your chimney, there’s a big chance you need to clean it first. When the interior walls of the structure are black or sticky with kerosene, that’s another sign your fireplace needs a cleanup. Furthermore, a stuffed smell can be the least of your problems, for a dirty chimney can increase your risk of a house fire accident.
Following these good practices will make the stuffy sensation in your house disappear. Remember that the main principle is to get the air circulating. Also, if you need help with your cleaning chores this winter, contact us, and we’ll get the job done.
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Shopping, cooking, preparing to welcome the guests; there’s a lot to do on Thanksgiving. Follow these useful tips to make it easier.
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Spending time with family during the holidays is a good-hearted tradition that we have to appreciate more. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to be all day at home. Ann Arbor has plenty of holiday events waiting for your whole family to attend.
So, if you’re looking for Ann Arbor December events near to you, where your kids can meet Santa and you can taste delicious pie and drink hot chocolate to the light of decorated trees, this is the blog post you have to read.
November 23
Want to buy some locally-made Christmas presents? One of the first Ann Arbor Christmas events will be the Annual Holiday Craft and Vendor Show. You’ll see more than 50 vendors, many of them are local artisans who spend a lot of time and effort on their creations. You won’t find any of these unique gifts in any store. Admission is very cheap and part of the proceeds will be destinated to a local charity.
November 30
Beginning at 3 pm, this Saturday, November 30, the 8th Annual Festival of Light will be a parade of holiday recreation for all the family to enjoy. The schedule will include small business Saturday shopping, several spots for craft activities (called “elf stops”), a parade, tree gala, gingerbread house contest, tree lighting ceremony, and of course, the one and only Santa Claus will be greeting and spending time with the kids.
December 07
Ever wanted to celebrate at a museum? This December 7 your wish will come true. The whole family can join the Wayne Historical Museum in an afternoon full of holiday joy. There will be a Christmas tree lighting (sponsored by the Historical Society and local businesses), also yummy cookies and hot chocolate, firepit warming stations, Christmas market, carriage rides, and the presence of our beloved Santa.
December 07
Going to Greenfield Village is like traveling back in time when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and the only way of transportation was a couple of well-fed horses. This December 7, you will have the opportunity to spend the night in this historic place. It’s $45 per person and it includes roundtrip transportation and the ticket for the village, not to mention the firework show than will be held around 10 pm.
December 14
For those of you who preferred events when you eat delicious food, the Kensington Hotel on State Street is inviting you to have Brunch with Santa. Bring your kids to meet Santa while you taste all the yummy dishes in the Carving and Omelet Stations and vegetarian options such as the Michigan apple cherry salads. All the children will have their time with the Christmas man but remember to bring your own camera.
More info here
Everyone deserves to spend these holidays with family and the city of Ann Arbor gives plenty of options to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season. If you plan to spend a couple of days out of home, don’t worry, we are prepared to maintain your house clean and neat for you to return. Contact us for our Home Cleaning Service and forget about cleaning chores these holidays!
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Don’t let family disputes get out of hand. Engage and resolve these problems using communication, patience, and empathy.
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The cold months are almost here. And we want to welcome the new chilly weather with some hot chocolate and a crackling fire. Home, sweet home, right? Well, it’s time to dust off our fireplace! But you bump into a problem: your chimney is not working at full potential or, let’s say, it has a smoke leak. That means your chimney is dirty, something normal if you didn’t use it for a long time.
How can I tell if my chimney needs cleaning? In many cases, the fireplace apparently works okay. Nevertheless, a dirty chimney comes with some risk that you’ll want to consider and might be hidden from plain sight. Coming up next, you’ll learn some tips to clean your chimney and avoid unwanted situations.
What happens when the interior of the chimney is dirty? Well, it can happen both ways: either you get some smoke inside your house or nothing happens for a while. The first scenario is annoying and you’ll quickly check your fireplace. It usually happens when dirt or debris blocks the smoke to get outside. But the second case is a silent one.
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the lack of maintenance is the primary cause of chimney fires. When the chimney is dirty, the interior walls might catch fire causing high temperatures that can damage the flue. If the chimney remains unclean, there’s a high risk of a chimney fire accident.
You might think that because you didn’t use it last year your fireplace is good to go. Think again. Ashley Eldridge, CSIA Director of Education, recommends inspecting the chimney every year because branches and leaves can enter the ventilation system, not to mention small animals such as birds and squirrels.
Not everything is soot: clean the creosote
The black and ugly soot is well known to anyone who owns a chimney. Sometimes, it can leave a blackened trace in the front view of your fireplace. Ruins the aesthetic, yeah, but soot has a more problematic and hidden brother.
Creosote is a black or brown residue, caused by wood combustion, that sticks in the interior walls of the chimney. It can be drippy and sticky, crusty and flaky or shiny and hardened. All forms are highly combustible. You better check it because if you let enough creosote accumulate you could have a chimney fire without realizing it.
DIY chimney cleaning: You’ll need a dust mask, safety glasses, and more tools.
To clean the interior walls of your chimney is no easy work. You can do it yourself, but make sure you have everything you need and the necessary time and support.
This task basically requires you getting up on the roof, with a dust mask and safety glasses on, chimney brushes, fiberglass extension rods and a shop vacuum with a dust filter. Be sure to first seal the fireplace with plastic and duct tape to prevent the debris and soot from getting into your house.
If it has not been cleaned in a long time, it’s wise to have a chimney sweep service do the first cleaning. Then, get a professional to clean the surroundings and the entire house while they’re at it.
Clean your fireplace at the this first signs
Not sure if your fireplace needs cleaning? Or if you have chimney fire risks? Here’s a list with the main signs:
Or simply because you are about to use your fireplace after a long time.
So there you have it! Hope this information about cleaning your chimney/fireplace is useful for you this upcoming winter. Take care of your house precious fireplace and remember to watch out for the chimney fire signs.
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If you want to get closer to your family without depending on binge-watching a series, then we have the activities that you need right here.
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