Give Your House a Real Makeover This Summer

Thanks to America's aging housing inventory, more and more homes are in need of improvements to bring them up to date with the times. Now that summer is here, it only makes sense that home remodeling projects are on a lot of people's minds.

TheHomeMarketplace.com

Based on predictions from the National Kitchen and Bath Association, for the second year in a row, remodeling the bathroom will be the most popular home improvement project in America. Experts say that's because the majority of homes in this country were built before the 1990s, when builders really started emphasizing luxury in the bathroom.

No matter what kind of update you're planning to do -- repainting the room, replacing the vanity and fixtures, or knocking out a wall or two to make the room bigger, it's sure to leave behind a big mess. Sure the room will look great when the work is done, but it will lack that all important new bathroom shine.

"The contractor will remove and dispose of the old materials, paint buckets and the like, but they won't clean the windows, scrub the chalky residue out of the grout, remove construction dust or scrub the floor. That's something you either have to do yourself, or hire a cleaning service to do," says Howard Purdy, vice president of operations for the Maid Brigade housecleaning service. With people so busy these days, a lot of people are choosing the latter. Maid Brigade's "Deep Clean" service is extremely popular this time of year, especially among people who've just gone through home remodels.

"During a 'Deep Clean,' we can do almost anything the homeowner needs done," says Purdy. In a bathroom they typically start by vacuuming the room, top to bottom, then wiping away the fine dust left behind by drywall and grout. Next they scrub and sanitize the sinks, toilets, tub and shower. They also wipe clean the inside and outside of vanities and all the woodwork, plus scrub the floors and windows.

Deep Cleans are also popular in the kitchen, and not just after remodels. "There are so many places dirt and grime can collect in the kitchen, and since it's the place where you prepare and often eat food, you should really keep it clean," says Purdy. Among the cleaning services available for kitchens: all the countertops are washed, polished and shined; the cupboards and drawers wiped down or washed inside and out, the floors mopped or scrubbed; and the oven and refrigerator cleaned. "Our crews will take all the food out of the refrigerator, clean the shelves and drawers, then put everything back for you," says Purdy. Maid Brigade cleaning crews bring along all the cleaning supplies they need, even the special solutions required for such solid surfaces as granite, chrome and Corian.

Once the Deep Clean is done, Purdy says it's a good idea to bring the team back either weekly or bi-weekly to keep things clean. Here are some tips to keep in mind between visits:

* Dedicate 5 minutes a day to checking your home's cleanliness. Use anti-bacterial wipes to quickly remove stains, spills or smears.

* Keep your cleaning supplies close at hand, preferably in a tote to carry the supplies together. Keep bathroom cleaning supplies on a bathroom shelf, kitchen cleaning supplies in the kitchen cabinet, etc.

* Use professional-quality cleaning products. The products are very efficient and work well on most surfaces. It is extremely important to read the label on the product to confirm the product is appropriate to use on a specific surface.

* Use a routine to clean. Go from top to bottom in the room, and work your way left to right around the room. Start at the same place every time so you do not miss anything.

For more cleaning tips, or to locate the Maid Brigade nearest you, call (866) 843-1841 or log on to www.maidbrigade.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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