Create Less Stress by Organizing your Home for The Holidays

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Winter is here and the holiday season is upon us, whether you are ready or not! Most people tend to feel overwhelmed when this time of year hits, with so much to do and such little time to do it. Along with the shopping, decorating, cooking, baking, and visiting friends and family, we also have our regular schedules with work and family. Since the first step is admitting to yourself that you just can’t do it all and may even need to ask for help. Once you have accepted this fact, you can start to relax and get done what you can. The best way to do this is to prioritize your life and the things you want to accomplish during this time of year.

Three helpful pointers:

Quality Over Quantity
If shopping for gifts becomes stressful, consider making your own gifts—everyone appreciates hand-made items such as ornaments, flower wreaths, candles, etc. Or even consider buying less this year. Maybe spend a little more on one item and cut back on quantity. Try to personalize items, thinking of the person’s interests, personality, and hobbies. You will probably end up spending less money when concentrating on one gift at a time.

Budget Your Time & Money
Budgeting your time is as important as budgeting your money. Your time is equally as valuable to your family and friends and giving of yourself and your time is something they will remember. Spending quality time with friends and family will make meaningful memories.

Get Yourself Organized
Get your house in order and organize the rooms you will be using during the holiday season such as the kitchen, bath and bedrooms. Tackle the clutter on your kitchen countertops to make space for cooking and baking. Clean out junk drawers and organize your wrapping materials. Decorate the dining room and setting out china and silverware for holiday meals. Get bedrooms and bathrooms cleaned and ready for visiting guests.

Don’t forget to start right away with your cleaning and organizing and always ask for help when necessary. This will ensure a less stressful, and more fun holiday!

A Holiday Checklist for a Sparkling Festive Season

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The autumn season blows in with colder weather, colorful leaves, and… the holidays! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a good idea to get a head start on your cleaning and decorating now, so you are not so overwhelmed or stressed when the holidays do arrive.

This tends to be the busiest time of year, with many things to get done in preparation for the holidays. Starting now will allow you to clean and organize your home at your own pace so you are not rushing at the last minute while trying to finish the cleaning, decorating, shopping, and cooking. Being organized and prepared will allow you to relax and enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

POINTS FOR YOUR CHECKLIST:

Prioritize your cleaning strategy:
Start with the most important rooms that will be getting the most use, like the kitchen, dining room, guest bedroom, and bathrooms. Your family and guests will be using these rooms the most. Set out your china and polish the silver ahead of time for your holiday meals. Get the bedrooms and bathrooms tidy for any guests that will be visiting.

Clearing out your closets:
Start clearing out your closets now to make room for visitors. At the same time you can donate any unused or old items that you no longer use. Organize the remaining items with new shelving to make room for any new items and gifts you will receive during the holiday season.

Stock your pantry:
Get your grocery shopping done early with items to stock in your pantry so you will be prepared to feed guests who pop in to visit! Stock up baking supplies to start your holiday baking early.

Decorating early:
After your cleaning is done, you can get a head start on decorating your home. Starting early will make your home more festive looking and get everyone in the holiday mood. There will also be much less to do later on. You can start decorating with candles, festive lighting, garland, and wreaths throughout your home.

Home Services Enterprise can help clean and organize your home during these busy months. Please call us to schedule a cleaning: 301-674-9564

Celebrate National Kitchen & Bath Month by Fixing Things Up!

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Many people tend to put off home renovations, specifically in their kitchen and bathrooms, due to the inconvenience – after all, these rooms have the heaviest traffic in your home! The month of October is traditionally the most popular month for home renovations and may very well be the best time to tackle those renovations you have been avoiding.

Most real estate experts agree that renovating your home, especially the kitchen and bath areas, will greatly increase the value of your home… especially for resale. Any enhancements that you make in your home will be an added convenience for you and your family to enjoy. And better yet, it will increase your home’s value at the same time!

Here are two good reasons to renovate and make improvements to your home now:

If you are staying in your home:
If you are a homeowner and you are planning on staying in your home long term, creating the ideal kitchen and bath situation is one of the advantages you and your family will be comfortable in and enjoy for many years to come. Whether it’s adding new cabinets or an island in the kitchen or an updated shower in the bath, any enhancements made will be worth the time and inconvenience, while adding value to your home.
If you are planning on moving:
If you are planning to move, updated kitchen and bathrooms are two things potential buyers are typically looking for. Whether its new appliances or up-to-date technology, any improvements will appeal to the new home buyer. Not only will you feel proud to show off your newly renovated features, but you will also most likely receive a return on investment with a top dollar sale for your home.

We at Home Services Enterprise can assist with any organizing and cleaning of your home, before, during and after any renovations. To schedule a visit, call us today: 301-674-9564.

Tips for Green Cleaning in Your Home & Office

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Many cleaning products can be found just about everywhere in our homes and offices: on furniture, clothing, floors, windows, doors, and basically every single surface we come into contact with. Waging a war on dirt and germs may actually be making things worse instead of better!

Most conventional cleaning products we use every day contain petroleum-based substances that can be harmful to both our health and our environment. Cleaning products are meant to kill germs, but they don’t necessarily have to be made from strong and toxic ingredients. There are many good options for using natural products and cleaning methods available to us.

Four Tips for Green Cleaning:

Begin using green cleaning products
As we are starting to realize the impact conventional cleaning products have on our health and the environment, more and more brands are now offering healthy and effective green cleaning products. It’s also easy to make your own: vinegar and baking soda mixed with water can also be used to clean almost anything.
Improve your indoor air quality
Keeping the windows open and airing out your rooms is one way to freshen up the air to remove any indoor toxins present, leaving the air you breathe healthier and fresher. This is especially important while you are cleaning your home or office.
Be careful not to overuse antibacterial cleaners
Antibacterial cleaners and overuse of them don’t necessarily make things any cleaner but do run the risk of breeding “super germs”, which are bacteria that can survive most cleaners. It has been proven that antibacterial soaps do not work any better than plain soap and water.

Employ a green cleaning service today. Hire a cleaning service that uses only green cleaning products and practices green cleaning methods to keep your home naturally clean and healthy.

Hire a Cleaning Service for More Free Time

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Do you often spend your Saturdays trying to catch up on housework, and not having the freedom to spend quality time with your family or get together with your friends? Whether you work full-time or part-time, have a large family or a small one, keeping a house clean and tidy is never an easy job for anyone. Most people tackle the biggest areas of concern in the house first, and may not have time to clean other areas, leaving much of the house messy all of the time. If you have been considering hiring a cleaning service, there are some factors to take into consideration which may help your decision.

FOUR POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A CLEANING SERVICE

Benefits of a Cleaning Service
Once you hire a regular cleaning service, you no longer have to worry about doing it yourself. You can finally relax in your home and enjoy your life. This will leave more free time for relaxing, exercising, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Cost of a Cleaning Service
A regular cleaning service can be as flexible as you need to fit into your family’s budget. Whether you get a monthly or weekly cleaning, you can decide how much you want your house maintained and schedule cleanings accordingly.

Productivity
Getting a regular cleaning service allows you to be more productive in your home. You will be more organized, and know where everything is. You won’t have to stop what you are doing to clean up or move things around every time you want to begin a task or project. This is especially true for people who are self-employed and work from home.

Inspiration
When your home is consistently clean it inspires you to keep it that way. A clean and tidy house gives you a feeling of order in your life and your environment.

Living in an untidy house can actually cause health problems including anxiety over lost items, as well as a buildup of dirt and dust which causes allergies, among other things. Having a clean and organized home eliminates stress in your life and contributes to a healthier household. To schedule a cleaning, give us a call today.

A Checklist to Get Ready for Summer Travel

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Getting your home ready for summer travel always tends to be a hectic time of year. We all look forward to getting away and relaxing at our favorite resorts and getaways with family and friends. But… preparing to leave town usually requires some organization and planning on your part. There are many details to be taken care of, including arrangements to be made for pets, plants, or any other living thing that requires attention while you are away.

SIX HELPFUL TIPS FOR PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR VACATION

Give the illusion that someone is home: Using timers for lighting outside and inside to turn on and off at different times during the day makes it appear as if someone is living there. Stop the newspaper and mail or have someone pick them up for you, so it is not piling up in the mailbox outside.

Turn off the water: It’s always a good idea to shut off the main water valve to your home and the washer/dryer water valve to be safe.

Unplug appliances & adjust the thermostat: Unplug computers, stereos, toaster oven, and the TV. Fires can start easily and summer is a time of thunderstorms and power outages. Don’t forget to adjust the thermostat to save on energy.

Set an alarm: If you have an alarm company, be sure to call them with the dates you will be away. Also, inform a neighbor that you are away. In the event that your alarm goes off, they can contact your alarm company.

Arrange for a pet sitter: Arranging for a pet sitter to stay at your home while you are away will be an added security. If this is not necessary, arrange for a neighbor to come in once a day to care for your pet, water the plants, and keep an eye on your residence.

Arrange for a cleaning service: Arranging for a cleaning service to come in to clean and tidy up your home and water your plants while you are gone so that your home will be fresh and tidy upon your return will make a perfect ending to a perfect vacation.

The key is to prepare ahead of time and your household will be running smoothly while you are enjoying your time away – and so you can enjoy your return. To schedule a cleaning, give us a call any time. 301-674-9564

Tips for Combating Spring Allergies

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Tips for Combating Spring Allergies

Springtime is the season of renewal… with flowers blooming and spring rains here to help things grow. Of course, that also means that the trees, flowers, weeds, and grass that are blossoming spread pollen throughout the air – which makes springtime the height of allergy season for many people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Often times, along with the rains making everything green outside, we are also renewing our homes inside with spring cleaning. This has the potential to bring out dust mites, and may cause some allergies to worsen.

With all of these factors in mind, here are some tips to help reduce allergens in your home:

Clean Air in Your Home
Keeping your indoor air clean is important so that you don’t allow more pollen to seep in through doors and windows. Keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible will help reduce the pollen inside, and the air you are breathing will be cleaner air. Be sure to change filters in air conditioning units and vents frequently.

Cleaning Rugs and Carpets
Area rugs can be washed once a week, and this will help remove any pollen brought in from outside. For the wall to wall carpeting, professional steam cleaning is best to have done mid-season. This will help to remove pollen tracked in from outside. It’s also a good idea to wash bedding once a week in hot water to remove any allergens.

Clean Surfaces in Your Home
Hiring a professional cleaning service to come in and clean, dust, and vacuum all the surfaces in your home will not only create an inviting space, it will also greatly reduce allergens. This will help keep all your surfaces that you touch on a daily basis free from dust, allergens, and pollen build-up.

Remember to follow these simple tips during spring and summer seasons to help reduce your pollen levels and any other type of allergens that are present during these months. You will be breathing a little easier! To schedule a cleaning with us, please visit our website: www.homeservicesenterprise.com

Storage Solutions to Organize your Rooms

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Whether for home or office, the possibilities seem endless for storage solutions for getting rooms organized. By now, your spring cleaning is well underway and you have cleared out some unwanted items in your rooms.

The best way to determine how to store the items you are keeping is to focus on the room and its specific function. Will the room be a private retreat room, like a bedroom, or will it be used for family and friends, like the kitchen or family room? In an existing home, getting creative with the space you already have is the best solution. Shopping for storage items can be daunting because you will encounter endless aisles of containers, both large and small. All sorts of containers and storage ideas are available and can solve most storage problems.

Choose the right furnishings – When deciding on furniture for a room, take into consideration the unused space in the room so that it does not become overcrowded with too much furniture. Not only will the room feel closed in and cramped but can also become a safety hazard for children with too many things scattered about. You might settle on foot rests, stools, and coffee tables with built-in drawers that pull out for extra storage. Cabinets and tables with lots of drawer space also work well for storing items.

Use all areas wisely – Bedrooms tend to accumulate most of our possessions, and therefore have the biggest shortages in space. Tap into the space underneath the bed by using long storage containers for clothing and other items, especially if your closet space is limited. Using storage bins in your closet will help keep shoes, handbags, belts, and any other accessories organized so they are not cluttering the floors of the closet.

Multi-functional pieces – In the kitchen area, using storage bins underneath the kitchen island will keep cooking items organized. Using kitchen drawers for all kinds of items, such as cookbooks, platters, cookie sheets, and more can help conceal some of the larger cookware items.

Getting creative with existing space and making the best use of what space you do have will give you functionality and tidiness in your home.

Freshen Up Your Environment – Spring is in the Air!

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As the spring season comes, it invites changes to your home with fresh spring decorating – changing up your decorating will brighten up your environment and lift your spirits. Spring often calls for delicate colors, fresh florals and soft fabrics. Of course, everyone’s taste is different, so always do what works for you.

The great thing about these updates is that decorating your home can coincide with your spring cleaning. This is the perfect time of year to decorate because you are probably already in the process of spring cleaning your home, reorganizing it, and hopefully getting rid of some of the clutter. Starting with a fresh clean living area, you can begin to imagine the possibilities!

HERE ARE SOME GOOD DECORATING IDEAS

Paint Walls & Trim
Freshen up your rooms with a new coat of paint. Introduce colors from the outdoors such as blues, greens, and neutral colors – bringing “mother nature” indoors.
Add Color & Patterns
An easy, inexpensive way to give a room a new look is to add a splash of color with some colorful, patterned pillows and throws. Also, adding some sheer draperies or blinds to the windows will make the rooms appear light and airy.
Have the Floors & Carpets Cleaned
A clean floor is a good base for a well decorated room. Schedule a professional cleaning for your hardwood and tile floors, and have your carpets professionally steam cleaned. This will freshen up the room, while adding some new area rugs with spring colors will give the rooms an updated look.
New Comforters, Duvet Covers & Pillows for the Bedroom
A quick and easy way to decorate and freshen up your bedroom is to add a new comforter or duvet cover in a nice, neutral color. Include some complimenting pillows for a nice touch.

Don’t forget to schedule your spring cleaning first with your professional cleaning company. They will come in, reorganize, and de-clutter your rooms for you. Starting with a clean and spacious living area will allow you to add to your existing décor or start over with new and exciting ideas.

How to Begin De-Cluttering your Life

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Spring is just starting to come in with the breezing March winds to refresh and renew us. Refreshing our lives can be as simple as spring cleaning our homes and throwing out some unwanted things that add clutter to our environment.

Why is de-cluttering your life so important? When we are bogged down with too many “things”, we may start to feel like we are losing control of our environment. A good session of de-cluttering will make you feel accomplished and give you breathing room because it will open up your living space. One of the easiest ways to get rid of clutter, of course, is to simply give it away! For most people, starting in either the bedroom or the kitchen is a good starting point. After you’ve accomplished that, you can move on to different areas in your home:

Bedroom – Changing seasons comes with changing clothes. Go through your closets, try on any clothes you haven’t worn lately and give away anything that no longer fits or that doesn’t feel good on you. This includes clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. A clearer space will make it easier to begin to organize your closets.
Kitchen – Start with your refrigerator, clearing and throwing out any old or expired food items. Wash shelving and drawers with warm soapy water to clean.
Pantry – Clear out the pantry and go through all food items for expiration dates, throwing out any that have stayed beyond their welcome. Any other food items that you will not use but that have not expired can be donated to a soup kitchen or local shelter.
Basement – Basements tend to accumulate the most clutter. If you don’t know what to do with a particular item, usually it gets stored in the basement! Go through these items and hold an estate sale or give away anything you won’t be using.
Garage – Garages can also accumulate a whole lot of things. Sort through these items and either throw them out or donate anything you will not be using in the near future.

Starting with a couple rooms will make a big difference and open up your living space. Your house will feel more airy and the breezes of spring will sweep through and freshen up your home.