WAXHAW, NC – Have you gotten the itch to start spring cleaning yet?  If you have, look below for some helpful hints about how to freshen up your home.

HVAC
Many forget that after the long winter months it is important to make sure your air conditioning is up to task for a North Carolina summer.  Caleb Hudson with Charlotte Heating & Air recommends, “pouring a cap full of bleach, or another type of drain cleaner, into your A/C drain followed by water. This will help prevent growth and eventually a clog in the drain line.”  It’s important to make sure the outdoor unit is fit for service, too.  “Make sure your outdoor unit has plenty of room to breath, with no bushes, grass, or other items touching it. A foot of space is ideal,” shared Caleb.  You should also make sure your air filters are clean and the batteries in your smoke detector are fresh.  You can contact Charlotte Heating & Air at (704) 330-3177 or email office@charlotteheatingair.com.

Kitchen
Make sure your fridge is ready to keep your sweet tea cold!  Many don’t people don’t realize that your fridge should be cleaned often to improve and maintain efficiency.  The fridge’s cooling coils will either be on the back of the fridge or under a toe kick-plate in the front.  Open it up and use a vacuum or duster to clean the coils.  You should also go through your condiments and toss any that are open and expired.  Linda Hill, Owner of Move Pack Clean, has a great tip about cleaning your stainless steel appliances: “To make your stainless steel surface sparkle again, mix a solution of 1 tsp dish detergent and 1 qt hot tap water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.” If you do find that you need some help with spring cleaning, please reach out Move Pack Clean at (704) 907-1777 or movepackclean@gmail.com.

Laundry Room
When did you last clean your dryer exhaust duct?  If you can’t remember, it’s time to do it again.  You can hire a professional, or many stores sell cleaning kits so you can do it yourself.  2,900 clothes dryer fires are reported in homes each year, causing an estimated $35 million in property loss. This is also a great time to wash and put away winter clothes for next year.

Ceiling Fans
When you switch the direction of your fan blades (usually a small switch on the fan itself), make sure to clean the fan blades too.  Even if your fan is always on, it will still accumulate dust and gunk, so make sure to wipe them down.  Its also a great time to replace any burned-out lightbulbs and make sure everything is screwed on tight.

General Tips
When cleaning, always clean top to bottom; this way, any dust or debris won’t land on something clean.  Clean your tools, too: the laundry machine, dishwasher, and your vacuum all require maintenance and cleaning.  Clean and replace filters.  Carry a bag while you clean for donations (if you haven’t touched it in a year, it may be time to donate it!).  Blast some upbeat music to get you in the mood, and make sure everyone in the house helps.  Many hands make work easy.

If you do find that you need some help with spring cleaning, please reach out to Charlotte Heating & Air at (704) -330-3177 or email office@charlotteheatingair.com and Move Pack Clean at (704) – 907-1777 or movepackclean@gmail.com.
Good luck and happy cleaning!