Streaky and dirty windows? Here's a cleaning tip!

Are your windows trying to tell you something??

As the sun starts to shine more in Seattle you may begin to notice how streaky and dirty your windows are. 

Here is a quick tip for cleaning them... Instead of paper towels, use newspaper. It will clean better and there will not be any paper towel fuzz left behind. You can also use a vinegar and water solution if you find you are out of window solution. I find that newspaper holds up longer then paper towel and the windows get a better finishing shine. 

Spring Forward!!!

It's that time of year, Daylight Saving Time, the time where we lose an hour. It's okay though because the days are becoming longer and summer is on it's way. Make sure you turn those clocks forward at 2 a.m. on Sunday March 9th. Also it is a good reminder that you should check your smoke detector batteries as well as your carbon monoxide detector batteries as well. If you check them twice a year at the same time as you change your clocks you should always have good batteries in your detectors.

Smells you never want around when trying to sell your house

Home odors are one of the top complaints of potential buyers. Pet smells and smoke are at the top of the list with mold and mildew not far behind.

It is unfortunate that when you live with odors in your home for any given length of time it is harder to detect them then it is from the nose of a stranger. As embarrassing as it may be have a friend or relative come over and give your home the sniff test if you think you may have a problem.

There are many ways to get rid of pet odors, lets just list a few. Removing your pets from the home is a good start, if you are already in the process of moving start to transition your pets to their new home. Next start vacuuming. Get rid of all that unwanted pet hair, don't forget it likes to collect in carpets, under furniture and also in corners. You can also vacuum your furniture, if you notice hair still hanging around go ahead and try using a lint roller, it helps pick up the stragglers. After vacuuming, sweep up the rest, after that a good carpet cleaning and floor mopping is called for. Now you are almost done, lastly I suggest washing down at least the lower portion of the walls and door frames. This should really get a handle on the pet odor.


Smoke odors use a lot of the same techniques as above. Even though it doesn't seem like the smoke is in the furniture and on the walls it is. Smoke just seems to settle on everything. One additional thing to do along with the list above is to dust everything and/or wipe it down with a damp cloth. You will see the residual smoke appear on your cloth, and you know it is working.



One thing to note is that buyers do not want to smell fragrances. They just want to walk into a clean smelling home. Covering up the smell with scented candles, Lysol, or any other spray can also be a major turnoff because it seems as if you have something to hide.