By Relocation.com
Summer is just a few months away. Flowers are blooming and the weather’s getting warmer. However, your home seems to be stuck with the winter blues. So before the sun finally shines again, you want to have your broom and rags ready for spring cleaning!
The start of spring marks the best time to clean our homes. With all those leaks and damages brought by the snow, it’s time to do some fixing and de-cluttering. Because of the fine weather during spring, it has become a tradition for majority of Americans to clean their houses thoroughly this time of the year. Nonetheless, spring cleaning can be extremely strenuous. Many people often go puzzled and stressed out on determining where to start. If you own a big house with lots of clutter, you might find it real hard to begin spring cleaning. Fortunately, there are several ways to cut the burden and make cleaning more effective, less-time consuming, and more enjoyable. Let’s talk about them on this article. Are you read? It’s time for spring cleaning!
Getting Started
Organization is the key to an easy and smooth spring cleanup. Before you start dusting the furniture or scrubbing the floors, you want to come up with a strategic plan which tells what areas should be cleaned first, when they should be cleaned, who’s in charge, and how they will be cleaned. It’s always best to have the whole family involved in the entire cleaning process. Aside from reducing the time and effort, it can also be a great time for family bonding. So back to organizing – the best way to do this is to gather the whole family and assign an area for each one. For instance, you and your spouse will be the head of the spring cleanup drive while your youngest child will be responsible for final inspection. Don’t try to finish the activity in one day or everyone in your home will get severely exhausted. You want to take everything slow but surely. Most people usually start with the dirtiest part of their house up to the areas which only require minimal cleaning. For instance, you can start with the basement or attic (which usually is the hardest to clean) down to the living room.
Don’t hesitate to seek help. There are things that no matter how much you wanted to do will be done best with the help of cleaning experts. For instance, you may have huge items that needed to be hauled or removed from your home. You may also have big trees that need to be trimmed or cut. So in the planning, you may need to identify what things should be done by a cleaning expert. Aside from saving you time and energy, doing so will eliminate the possibility of accidents and mishaps.
Spring cleaning can be a great activity when done correctly and safely. You should also wear proper clothing whenever you clean. When it comes to the choice of cleaning products, it’s ideal to go green.
Image Credit: MyMove.com
By Dawn Allcot, Guest Blogger
More than 12 million unmarried people in the US have moved in with a significant other, sometimes as a predecessor to marriage—but sometimes not. Either way, combining households presents challenges…on top of all the regular challenges of moving! Follow these tips to make the moving and cohabiting process go more smoothly.
Money Matters When You Move In Together
Couples who talk about money have fewer conflicts, overall. Open discussions about money may prevent messy situations should you decide to break up or end the living arrangement. Here are a few money tips to get you started before you move.
1. Be honest about your finances, including income, expenses, debt and your credit score. If you’re buying a home or leasing an apartment together, this is mandatory. But it can also affect day-to-day living if one partner isn’t honest about their salary and then cannot afford their share of the expenses.
2. Decide how you will split expenses. There are many ways to manage money when you’re moving in with a significant other. 50/50 split, much like roommates? Joint bank account for household expenses? Or something else? If a break-up occurs, what happens to items purchased while you were together? Married couples have legal rights, but when you move in with a significant other, you both get to lay down the law.
2. Know your rights. In some cases, domestic partners are entitled to health insurance. Does your partner have a living will—and do you have the legal right to enforce it? Do you have power-of-attorney if something happens to your partner? It’s important to consider these things before moving in, especially if the relationship is serious.
Yours, Mine, Ours?
Three more tips for moving in with a significant other:
1. Discuss chores. Couples in one study reported that they fought more frequently about taking out the garbage than about money. You may not go as far as creating a chore chart as roommates might, but definitely discuss who will do what around the house.
2. Discuss how to divide personal space. Whether you’re moving in to a new apartment or home, or if one of you is moving in to the significant other’s existing space, decide how that space will be shared. Is it okay if his 800-watt stereo system makes its home in the formal living room? Will there be a man cave? Where will the crafting supplies go? Even in small apartments, you’ll want a space to call your own.
3. Decorate so the space reflects both of you. Having a discussion about the décor—and redecorating, if necessary—can prevent one partner from feeling as if they are a visitor in their own home.
This philosophy of remembering that the space belongs to both of you is the most important key to successfully moving in with a significant other.
This article was provided by MyMove.com, an online resource where you can find the information, products and moving coupons you need to streamline and save during a move.
