The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, May 7, 2014 www.theprogress.com 17

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Spring is a time of year when many people resolve to give their homes or apartments a thorough cleaning. Spring cleaning projects help people revitalize their homes for the warm months ahead, when windows are once again opened, fresh air pervades homes and items that might have accumulated over a dark and dreary winter have become a distant memory.

Many families have spring cleaning rituals that allow them to effi ciently clean their homes in a single weekend. But it’s just as important for spring cleaners to place as great an emphasis on the envi-ronment as they do on effi ciency when cleaning a home. Eco-friendly spring cleaning practices produce less waste and rely on less chemicals to rejuvenate a home and get it ready for those seasons when huddling inside under the covers takes a backseat to lounging around the house as fresh air washes into the home. The following are a handful of ways to effi ciently clean a home while also pro-tecting the environment.

• Clear out the clutter. Clutter is an en-emy to homeowners and the environment alike. That’s because addressing clutter is often an ineffi cient process in which

homeowners methodically go through items that have accumulated over the years, individually choosing which items to keep and which items to discard. Clut-ter can also prove harmful to the environ-ment because rooms fi lled with clutter tend to collect dust, reducing air quality and leading to more indoor air pollution that can prove harmful to human health.

When sifting through clutter in a home, discard those items that have gone ignored for years, as they likely have little or no fi nancial value and it’s safe to assume they serve no practical purpose as well. Once clutter has been cleared out, prevent more of it from accumulating by making a conscious effort to discard items once they no longer serve any prac-tical purpose. This includes old newspa-pers and magazines, as well as any other items that are likely to sit in a pile or on a shelf for months on end. Preventing the buildup of clutter reduces the amount of time you need to spend spring cleaning next year while also improving indoor air quality.

• Use cleaners only when windows are open. Many people get a head start on spring cleaning in late winter, when the weather might have started to warm up

but has not yet warmed to the point when windows throughout the home can be opened. Though there’s nothing wrong with starting early, avoid using cleaning products on days when you can’t open the windows. Many cleaning products contain ample or even just trace amounts of chemicals that can compromise indoor air quality and may exacerbate existing medical conditions like respiratory ail-ments. When using cleaning products, try to do so only when the windows are open and fresh air can enter the home.

• Ensure appliances are working at peak effi ciency. Spring cleaning is a great time to inspect appliances to make sure they are operating effi ciently. Clean or replace fi lters on window air condition-ing units. Dusty or dirty fi lters will force the air conditioner to work harder and use more energy to cool a room. In addi-tion, dirty or dusty fi lters make units less effi cient, which means rooms won’t cool as quickly on those scorching summer afternoons. Appliances forced to work harder also cost more money, and those costs can be considerable.

When checking appliances, be sure

Tackle spring cleaning withthe environment in mind

Homeowners should periodically inspect their appliances, including vacuum cleaners, to ensure they are working at peak effi ciency and not expending excess energy.

“ more page. 18

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to check the refrigerator as well. Refrigerators are plugged in all day long, and those that are not operating at peak effi ciency can cost you a lot of money in the long run. Periodically clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator so it can oper-ate more effi ciently, saving energy and money.

Vacuum cleaners should also be inspected before each use to make sure reels are not covered in hair, which can

make it nearly impossible for the machine to collect dirt and dust from the fl oors.

• Use reusable cloths. Another way to turn spring cleaning into a more eco-friendly affair is to forgo using paper towels in favour of reusable cloths. Reusable wash cloths can be just as effective at wiping down counters as paper towels, which require more and more trees to be cut down and eventually end up in landfi lls. If you are feeling especially eco-friendly, you can go the

extra mile and create your own reusable cleaning cloths out of old clothes or linens, saving you money and mak-ing use of items that might otherwise have been headed straight for a landfi ll.

Spring cleaning can rejuvenate a home after a long winter. Emphasizing eco-friendly techniques when cleaning can ensure your home’s revival is as benefi -cial to the environment as it is to the home’s inhabitants.

“ from page. 17

Beautiful nights make for great opportunities to invite some friends over for a starry soiree under the nighttime sky. Unlike house parties at which guests will be spending most of their time indoors and in various rooms throughout the house, outdoor parties are often lim-ited to smaller areas, such as patios. That can make things much less taxing on hosts, who won’t have much prep work to do to get an outdoor hosting area ready for guests.

But even an impromptu party requires planning and a little elbow grease before guests arrive. The following are a few areas to address before guests arrive for your next outdoor get-together.

• Clear the walkways and patio of debris. The walk-ways and patio may not need too much attention, but give them a once-over with a broom to clear any debris. When clearing the patio of debris, move all furniture, making sure to sweep up any debris, including food, that might have fallen beneath tables and chairs since your most recent party. If the patio is especially dirty, consider power washing it to remove stubborn stains that can rob the area of its aesthetic ap-peal.

• Clean the furniture. Whether it’s been months

since your last party on the patio or just a few days, the furniture must be cleaned. Unless items have been stored in a garage or shed, patio furnishings are exposed to the elements, and that means dirt, soil, soot or pol-len may have accumulated on the furniture. Wipe down all cushions, using a mild detergent when necessary. Cushions may need some time to dry, so make this one of your fi rst tasks, and leave cushions out in the sun so they dry more quickly. Once the cushions have been cleaned, wipe down the furniture with a wet towel to clear them of any dirt or debris.

• Clean and inspect the grill. The grill is a go-to accessory when hosting an outdoor party, so give the grill a thorough cleaning before the fi rst guests arrive.

Nothing brings a party to a halt like hunger, and guests may begin to grow antsy if they are not served food in a reasonable amount of time. If you are using a propane grill, check to make sure the tanks are full as you clean the grill. Running out of propane is a summer soiree faux pas, so you might want to keep an extra tank handy just to be safe.

• Clear the entryway to your home. Your guests will likely be using the same en-tryway over and over again during the party, so focus on cleaning this entryway so guests don’t trip or have to jump over toys on their way to an indoor restroom. Once the entryway has been cleared of potential trip-ping hazards, make sure the indoor path to the restroom is clear as well.

How to spruce up outdoor space before hosting guests

Patios, including furniture and walkways, should be cleaned and cleared of debris before hosting your next party.

The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, May 7, 2014 www.theprogress.com 19

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When designing their land-scapes, homeowners may en-vision grandiose gardens and lush lawns that are the envy of the neighborhood. But such designs can be diffi cult to maintain, and homeowners often fi nd they are not worth the time or money.

Avoiding such costly mistakes allows homeowners to fully enjoy their lawns. The following are a few landscaping mistakes home-owners may want to avoid so they can spend more time enjoying their landscapes and less time working around the yard.

• Planting the wrong trees and shrubs: When planting new trees and shrubs around your property, choose variet-ies that won’t overwhelm the property by growing too large. Such trees and shrubs can mask other elements of a landscape, and they can also take a substantial amount of effort to maintain. Avoid spending too much time pruning trees and shrubs by opting for those that only grow to a particular size.

• Choosing non-native plants: It’s always best to choose plants that are native to a particular region. Native plants have already adapted to the local climate, meaning they can withstand the worst weather that climate has to off er without homeowners having to put in much eff ort. For example, if you live in an area where drought is com-mon, avoid planting trees, shrubs, fl owers, or grass that need ample amounts of water. Instead, opt for those varieties that can survive without signifi cant amounts of water. Exotic plants might add aesthetic appeal to a property, but that appeal is oft en short-lived or costly to maintain when a plant is not in its native climate.

• Too much lawn: While a large and lush lawn appeals to many homeowners, a yard that is all grass can be difficult and expensive to maintain. Lawns with-out trees are susceptible to damage from the hot sum-mer sun, and homeown-ers often respond to that threat by overwatering their

lawns. Overwatering not only weakens root systems, but it also leads to higher water bills. Homeowners can downsize their lawns by planting more trees around the property, adding a gar-den in the backyard or even adding landscape features to their property.

• Planting without a plan: When planting new trees around a property, some homeowners plant without first considering the ideal locations for new trees. This can prove an expensive mis-take. Planting too close to your house may eventually threaten your home’s foun-dation, as roots grow deeper and deeper into the ground. Planting too close to a home also may prove a security threat down the road, when the tree has grown to full height. Such trees may threaten the home during a storm, so consult a landscap-ing professional when plant-ing new trees so the trees are located in a place that does not threaten the value of your home or the safety of its residents.

Landscapingmistakes to avoid

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As winter slowly winds down, many gardeners cannot wait to soak up the springtime sun and get their hands dirty in the garden. Such excitement is not just good for gardeners, but can benefit the garden in the months to come as well.

Late winter or early spring is a great time to get a head start on the gardening season. Even if gardening season is still around the corner, com-pleting the following projects can ensure your garden gets off on the right foot.

Clear debris - One of the best things you can do for your garden as winter winds down is to clear it of debris. Winter can be especially harsh on a landscape, and gardens left to the elements are often filled with debris once spring arrives. Dead leaves, fallen branches, rocks that surfaced during the winter frost, and even garbage that might have blown about in winter winds can all pile up in a garden over a typical winter. Clearing such debris likely won’t take long, but it’s a great first step toward restoring the garden before the time comes to plant and grow the garden once again.

Examine the soil - Soil

plays a significant role in whether a garden thrives or struggles. Examining the soil before the season starts can help gardeners address any issues before they plant. Ignoring the soil until a prob-lem arises can turn the upcom-ing gardening season into a lost opportunity, so test the soil to determine if it has any nutrient or mineral deficien-cies. This may require the help of a professional, but if a prob-lem arises, you might be able to adjust the acidity or alkalin-ity of the soil and still enjoy a successful gardening season.

Another way to examine the soil is less complex but can shed light on when would be a good time to get back to work. Reach into the soil and dig out a handful. If the soil quickly crumbles, you can start preparing for gardening seasoning. But if the soil is still clumped together, it needs more time to dry out before you can begin your prep work.

Initiate edging - Edging is another task gardeners can begin as they get ready for the season. Edge plant and flower beds, but be sure to use a spade with a flat blade or an edger designed to edge flower beds. Such tools will cut deep

enough so grass roots that may eventually grow into the flow-er bed are severed. Depending on how large a garden is, edg-ing can be a time-consuming task, so getting a head start allows homeowners to spend more time planting and tend-ing to their gardens once the season hits full swing.

Fight weeds - Though weeds likely have not survived the winter, that does not mean they won’t return once the weather starts to heat up. But as inevitable as weeds may seem, homeowners can take steps to prevent them from turning beautiful gardens into battlegrounds where plants, flowers and vegetables are pitted against unsightly and potentially harmful weeds. Spring is a good time to apply a pre-emergent weed pre-venter, which can stop weeds before they grow. Though such solutions are not always foolproof, they can drastically reduce the likelihood of weed growth.

Though gardeners might not be able to start planting their gardens in late winter or early spring, they can still get outside and take steps to ensure their gardens thrive once planting season begins.

How to guarantee your garden starts off on the right foot

The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, May 7, 2014 www.theprogress.com 21

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