Spring Cleaning Day 4 - Windows

 Task for Day 4 is windows.  Not just Windex and paper towel cleaning of the windows...but soapy water and squeegee cleaning.  I am half and half on this task.  Half of my windows have nifty tabs that allow me to tilt the window in.  This is such a nice feature...I am able to get areas I can't get to on the windows that don't tilt in. 

I love how clean the tracks look now! The picture above only shows how the window tilts out and doesn't capture how squeaky clean that trim is...outside and in! I should have taken pics at night so you could see it in all its glory.  I also have to admit...our landlord sends someone to clean our windows yearly. That time is now and I couldn't be happier!  Its perfect timing!  When you see the picture below you will understand why its worth it

to have someone clean the windows...

...look at all those windows!  And that's just the back of the house!  I almost live in a glass house.  I can't even reach to the top of the bottom row of windows! We lack a really really tall ladder or scaffolding required to reach the top levels of windows.  Thank goodness for fantastic landlords!

What's your window situation?

Easter then Spring Printables

I adore printables!  They are such an easy decoration for your home or party.  You can print them out at home and immediately frame them for instant decor.

I do sometimes, opt to upload to a printing website and have them printed on photo paper.  Arts Cow is my favorite for the price...and tons of free stuff (pay S&H).  Like right now, everyone I refer to Arts Cow  will get 1200 free prints credits & 3 8"x8" photo books & other great photo gifts credits!  So go ahead and sign up! 
What I love about these, is that I can change my decor frequently without hitting the checkbook.  I just print out and replace the old printable with the new one!  So, here are a couple Easter prints that are free to you. 

Easter Printables: 






Easter Subway Art from Lolly Jane Boutique

My Redeemer Lives Egg from A Little Tipsy

When Easter is over, and the eggs have been hunted you will want to change out your Easter decor to some Spring items.  Since you didn't spend a whole lot of cents on the Easter printables, you can quickly change to these Spring printables!


Less Cake More Frosting made this great Daisy print!


Spring has Sprung from Itsy Bitsy Paper


This looks like an expensive print I've seen in stores!  I'd use this as year long decor!
Our Humble Abowed

Happy Decorating!

Spring Cleaning Day 3 - Vents

 Day 3 is about the air vents in my home.  I have to admit that we are pretty good about keeping the intake vents clean.  Anytime I have the vacuum out around one, I vacuum the dust away.  Depending on how bad it is, I may open it and get inside to.  The outgoing vents...I get those when I get the fans (every few months).  However, I have never taken them down and washed them.  In our current house, 80% of the outgoing vents will have to be taken down by someone with and brave enough to climb a really really tall ladder.  I can reach some from upstairs with my vacuum hose extended, but as fas as getting a screw driver up there....I think not.  Here's a look at one of the intakes I tackled today.  I vacuumed it first, then got the q-tips out. 


Before



After

 The last time I dealt with ceiling vents, I broke a globe light hanging next to the vent I was getting at.  It shattered all over my face!  Thank you Lord I only received a minor scratch across my chin.  It could have been really bad for my eyes. 

Doing this reminded me of something I think very few people know to do.  Go take the cover off your thermostat, so you can see the inside parts.  Go on, I will wait.

 To the left is mine, before cleaning it.  It looks pretty good now, but you should have seen that bad boy the first time I ever opened it up! WHOO!  If only I had taken pics! I have two in my house...one old style.  The other is modernized and the inside doesn't look quite the same.  Awhile back we had two of these older style thermostats.  One (which is now modernized) was giving us problems.  My brother showed me how dust gets on the glass covering the mercury.  That dust is heavy to the "oh so sensitve" mechanics.  It can weight it to one side, giving your thermostat an incorrect reading, keeping your heat/air on longer than it should....raising your electric bill, or in our case, ruining the thermostat.  We eventually had to have that one replaced. 
So, I highly suggest getting out the Q-tips and cleaning yours periodically. There are a lot of holes for dust to make a home in.   Here's mine spic and span! 

Happy Cleaning!