Connections. Community. Community. Six Simple Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home CONTACT US. The Villages at Belvoir April Tip 1: Less is Better

Transcription

1 The Villages at Belvoir April 2016 Connections CONTACT US COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT OFFICES Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dogue Creek Janet Mooneyhan, Manager Serving residents of Dogue Creek Village Fairfax Duke Ainsworth, Manager Serving residents of Belvoir, Cedar Grove, Fairfax, Gerber, Jadwin Loop, Rossell, and Park Villages George Washington Jakeina Price. Manager Serving residents of George Washington and River Villages Lewis Sasha Majano, Assistant Manager Serving residents of Lewis Village Vernondale Suubi Barlow, Manager Serving residents of Colyer, Herryford, and Vernondale Villages Woodlawn Carmen Adams, Manager Serving residents of Woodlawn Village MAINTENANCE Hour Maintenance FAMILY HOUSING WELCOME CENTER Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Six Simple Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home Spring has arrived, and while cleaning indoors may be the last thing you want to do now that the days are warmer, spring cleaning can help reduce allergens and bacteria in your home. Following are six tips to help you whip your home into shape for spring as shared by professional organizing expert Dorothy The Organizer Breininger that will help you get your home clean in a snap so you can go out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. Tip 1: Less is Better Before you pick up a broom or start any cleaning project, take time to de-clutter. The less stuff you have in a room, the less time it takes to clean it and the fewer cleaning supplies and products you will need to get the job done. So rather than clean, clean, clean, try delete, delete, delete. It is easier than you think. Just walk from room to room, scanning the space from left to right and top to bottom. Eliminate at least 10 items from each room and immediately take that collection to your favorite charity (or call for a pickup). This momentum will provide you the energy and enthusiasm to get your home cleaned and organized. Tip 2: Divide and Conquer Start with the most important or most difficult room and set a timer for the number of minutes you will spend cleaning it. Prioritizing your rooms ensures you get the most meaningful rooms done first, and doing the most difficult room first creates a feeling of easy street for the remaining rooms with no worries or dread looming overhead. The timer gives you a mindset of beat the clock, and keeps you on a mission to complete the job. (continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 Six Simple Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home (continued) Spring Conservation Tips USE WINDOWS TO GAIN COOL AIR AND KEEP OUT HEAT Take advantage of cool evenings by turning off your cooling system and opening your windows while sleeping. When you wake in the morning, shut the windows and blinds to capture the cool air. USE YOUR WINDOW BLINDS Prevent heat gain in your home during hot days by closing your window blinds. DON T FORGET TO CLEAN YOUR REFRIGERATOR COILS WHEN SPRING- CLEANING YOUR HOME When dust and pet hair build up on your refrigerator s condenser coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity. As part of your spring-cleaning routine, make sure the coils are cleaned and air can circulate freely. Tip 3: The Method to the Madness As you conduct your spring cleaning, follow that same left-to-right method used for decluttering. Stand in the doorframe of each room and begin to organize and clean. As you make your way around each room, remember everything behind you is now considered a clean, clutter-free zone and everything ahead of you still requires attention. Using this method allows you to measure what you have done and what is left to do. Tip 4: Rock Out Select music that will make you move quickly. Slow classical music creates slower movements, while up-tempo music literally changes your physiology and apce. When you are up and dancing and smiling, you automatically move faster! Tip 5: Focus, Focus, Focus Minimize distractions. One way is to keep a notepad next to you as your make your way around the house; that way you can jot down to-do s, ideas and reminders that come to you, and you don t have to stop and go to another room to write. Another way to curb distractions is to keep a basket with you as you clean. When you find items that don t belong in the room you are cleaning, toss them in the basket and keep cleaning. You lose time when you walk each individual item back to its proper location. Tip 6: Call Out the Vinegar Plain white vinegar is one of nature s miracle cleaners and can be used to remove odors from a room, remove stains and spills from carpets and fabric, and clean windows. Here a just a few uses of this wonder cleaner. To clean your toilet, pour a cup of vinegar in the bowl before going to bed, then, in the morning, just brush and flush. To make linoleum and tile floors sparkle, mop with a mixture of 1 gallon of warm water and 1 cup of vinegar. Make a glass cleaner that is 50 percent water and 50 percent vinegar; apply it directly with a squirt bottle or a clean cloth and then wipe with a dry cloth. Remove stains from coffee mugs and teacups by scrubbing them gently with a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent baking soda. If you should ever experience a MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY at your home, please call our 24-Hour Maintenance Service Line at

3 Page 3

4 Page 4 A Look Back at a Few Recent Fun-Filled Resident Events There is Always Something Great Happening at The Villages at Belvoir! -Easter Egg Hunt- Hosted at All Neighborhood Centers -Take and Bake Pizza- Hosted at All Neighborhood Centers

5

6 Page 6 FREE MARCH RESIDENT EVENTS Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THE APRIL BIRTHDAY BONANZA CLUB at all six Management Offices 1 ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THE MAY BIRTHDAY BONANZA CLUB at all six Management Offices CEL SURVEY LAUNCH Check your and complete your survey for a chance to win $500 off a month of rent! 8 BREAKFAST ON THE GO Breakfast delivered to you carside- Watch for Details! TEEN JEWELRY MAKING CLASS- At the George Washington office from 5 to 7 p.m FIRST $500 WINNER DRAWN- Complete your survey for your chance to win! 15 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE! 16 COMMUNITY- WIDE YARD SALE 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 17 COMMUNITY- WIDE YARD SALE 8 a.m. to 1 p.m SECOND $500 WINNER DRAWN- Complete your survey for your chance to win! THIRD $500 WINNER DRAWN- Complete your survey for your chance to win! PLEASE WATCH FOR EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOLLOWED BY A ONE CALL NOW MESSAGE WITH EVENT DETAILS FOR THE ABOVE AND MANY OTHER FREE RESIDENT EVENTS WE HOST EACH MONTH!

7