Spring Cleaning with a Powerful Punch
With warm weather right around the corner many families shake out the dust from a long winter inside. But spring cleaning is not just about fluffing pillows and dusting the knick-knacks, it can actually save you money year round.
Lou Manfredini, “Mr. Fix-it”,shares his top power-cleaning tips for welcoming spring and saving some serious cash. Lou’s tips include:
· Invest in a quality power washer. There are many models available for under $100. Patio furniture, wood decking, concrete, vinyl siding; avoid buying new outdoor items this year by rejuvenating your home’s existing exterior.
· Give your heating ducts the once over. Having your ducts professionally cleaned once a year will help make your house more efficient, saving you money on your heating and air conditioning throughout the year.
· Give your bathroom some extra TLC. Sediment from minerals in your water can build up in pipes and fixtures, causing problems with flow and function, and making them less efficient. Use an environmentally friendly Calcium, Lime and Rust remover to clean out shower heads, faucets, and clogged ports under the rim of the toilet bowl.
· Work on your core. Check out the space around your furnace, water heater, and other core items. For safety reasons this area should be free of debris and clutter. And while you’re at it, lower your water heater’s temperature from the typical 140 degrees to 120 degrees, this slight change could save you more than 10% of your total energy usage.
Lou's helpful tips about home care can be heard on more than 100 radio stations across the United States. A regular contributor to NBC's Today Show, he is also a contributing editor to USA Weekend Magazine with his "House Smart" column. Lou owns his own development company that builds rental properties and manages the construction of custom homes in the Chicago area.
Lou Manfredini, “Mr. Fix-it”,shares his top power-cleaning tips for welcoming spring and saving some serious cash. Lou’s tips include:
· Invest in a quality power washer. There are many models available for under $100. Patio furniture, wood decking, concrete, vinyl siding; avoid buying new outdoor items this year by rejuvenating your home’s existing exterior.
· Give your heating ducts the once over. Having your ducts professionally cleaned once a year will help make your house more efficient, saving you money on your heating and air conditioning throughout the year.
· Give your bathroom some extra TLC. Sediment from minerals in your water can build up in pipes and fixtures, causing problems with flow and function, and making them less efficient. Use an environmentally friendly Calcium, Lime and Rust remover to clean out shower heads, faucets, and clogged ports under the rim of the toilet bowl.
· Work on your core. Check out the space around your furnace, water heater, and other core items. For safety reasons this area should be free of debris and clutter. And while you’re at it, lower your water heater’s temperature from the typical 140 degrees to 120 degrees, this slight change could save you more than 10% of your total energy usage.
Lou's helpful tips about home care can be heard on more than 100 radio stations across the United States. A regular contributor to NBC's Today Show, he is also a contributing editor to USA Weekend Magazine with his "House Smart" column. Lou owns his own development company that builds rental properties and manages the construction of custom homes in the Chicago area.