Nathan and Carissa Kessel of Oglesby take pride in their Oglesby home. In addition to spring cleaning, they also procure unique and attractive furniture to make their home their own.
Clean
FROM PAGE 18
up the room and your mood.” The outside of your home deserves consideration for spring cleaning too. The warm temperatures make handling landscaping improvements put off by the cold winter chill easier. Planting a flower garden, bushes, and other natural elements can change the entire look and feel of a lawn. Sweep the front porch and wipe down outdoor furniture and decorations. Winter often adds dirt and debris. If a home has a deck, then power wash it and reseal it to protect it until next year. Most people don’t think about garage doors for spring cleaning, but they are often neglected for years and have layers of dirt and grime. Power wash the doors as well as siding to take years off the home and make it bright and pristine. People mow their lawn
Spring cleaning is about going beyond regular chores and deep diving into both cleaning and making your home feel warm and inviting. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
“When you finish spring cleaning a room, consider adding yellow, orange, or pink flowers or decorations. Any bright, warm colors will help cheer up the room and your mood.” Teresa Anderson Illinois Valley Clean Team in Peru countless times during the spring, but don’t forget to pull weeds and fill in gaps with sod or grass seed. Unless there is something obvious like a leak in the ceiling, homeowners don’t think much about their roof. Get a free roof inspection from a licensed and insured roofing contractor to catch roofing problems early. “A roof is a tough thing to see what’s wrong with it,” Josh Lund, manager at AGG Construction in LaSalle, said. Unless the damage is obvious such as missing or damaged shingles, homeowners have a difficult time seeing issues. Lund said the best time to call for an inspection is after a large storm. The roofer provides homeowners with a
20 April 2021 | HG&L in the Illinois Valley | A NewsTribune Publication
complete inspection of their roof, siding, gutters, and more. “I’m always going to find more than the homeowner,” Lund said. Instead of looking up at the shingles from the ground, a roofer looks at them from the roof for a close view. Roofing issues get worse over time, so finding a problem early can save the homeowner considerable money on repairs. Once a leak appears, the damage could be extensive and require a completely new roof. Clogged gutters can also accelerate and cause roof damage. The gutters route the water away from the roof and onto the ground. Leaves, branches, and other materials fill the gutters, creating a clog. Without a place
to go, the water overflows onto the ground and creates foundation problems and basement flooding. It can also create puddling on the roof. “The water is eventually pushed back behind your shingles,” Lund said. According to Lund, gutters need cleaning every year unless the homeowner purchases gutter guards that keep debris from entering. Spring cleaning is far more than a simple dusting of the inside of a home. The goal is to not only clean the interior and exterior but also make improvements and oversee repairs. Homeowners only get a few weeks of temperate weather before the blistering heat of summer, so it’s time to get to work.
