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Spring is (finally) in the air. It seems that this winter was one for the Florida record books. The cold, wet and seemingly never-ending gloomy weather is now on its way out for good. Temperatures are rising, sunshine is consistently peeking out from around clouds and Jacksonville residents are preparing for springtime. Sure you’re looking forward to backyard cookouts, beach trips with the kids and dusting off the bikes, but what about dusting…or let’s be honest, deep cleaning, the house? You guessed it. We mean spring cleaning. We understand that it doesn’t generate the same energy as fun outdoor activities do, but with a little help and a solid plan of action we think you will be just as excited once it is done! We’ve compiled the best cleaning tips to prepare your house for spring and advice for when to call in the pros’ help.

Do you find yourself unable to relax in your own home? Your home should be your place of peace, your sanctuary, but instead you feel anxious and easily distracted. What’s up? It may be your stress level! Chances are your clutter is at an all time high, the blinds need to be dusted, and the carpet needs to be deep-cleaned. Are we right? If you can’t even unwind in your own home, where can you?

Let's face it -- over time, every homeowner will see dirt, grime, mildew and other unsightly stains accumulate somewhere on their property. From the house exterior, driveway, walkway, fence, deck, or patio -- it's bound to happen.  You can even rent them by the hour. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you should take the job of pressure washing your house yourself. Some things are better left to highly trained professionals like those at First Coast Home Pros.

Contrary to what many big box stores will have you believe, unskilled pressure washing service can actually be dangerous, and can even cause more damage to your house than it would cost you to hire a professional. You are working with a machine capable out outputting up to 4,000 pounds per square inch of water. That's a lot of power! 

There are few better ways to remove accumulated dirt and grime from the outside of your home than with pressure washing.  Unfortunately, not all pressure washing companies offer quality services. Some use outdated equipment that no longer offers a thorough cleaning, while others may not properly vary the pressure as they clean different parts of your home. At First Coast Home Pros, we take pride in offering our customers the highest quality, most effective pressure washing services in the area. However, we don't want you to just take our word for it. Take the time to interview other pressure washing services before hiring them to pressure wash your home. Make sure that you ask these five questions to ensure that you get a thorough, safe and effective cleaning for your money.

Understanding Upholstered Furniture

Upholstery is the often-padded, covered part of furniture. While it needn’t be cushioned, it typically is, thus it’s multi-layered. This makes its care more complex than rigid, single-strata furniture, such as wood or metals. There’s usually some sort of surfacing material -- most commonly fabric, leather or synthetic -- over springs or webbing, with a pad between the two. Traditional padding may be animal hair or a dried plant product, while modern furniture uses manufactured material.

Why Take the Trouble?          

Furnishings represent a large part of the investment we make in our homes. Proper care increases the service period of almost everything, while neglect will shorten useful life. If you have children, or pets, or your furniture sees heavier-than-average use (perhaps you host regular get-togethers or study groups in your home) then the furniture will need extra care. This way, it will last longer and look better.

Most of these tips apply equally to indoor and outdoor furniture, but there’s a section at the end dedicated to patio and lawn chairs and chaises, and that's taking care of upholstery cleaning Jacksonville, FL-style.

From pressure washing to roof repairs, it's more practical to undertake some outdoor improvements to your Jacksonville, FL home while temperatures are cool.

Caulking – It's more effective to complete exterior caulking while it's cool outside. During hot weather, caulk and wood both expand, and they both contract during colder weather. So, in order to prevent gaps from appearing between the caulk and the wood in winter, do exterior caulking during colder weather.

When it comes to house cleaning, Jacksonville, FL residents have very high standards! Therefore, it may surprise you to learn that many of us – even those most comfortable with household chores – are probably doing some of our tasks incorrectly, or out of order. Here are some cleaning habits that you need to change.

All-Natural and Organic

We’ve all heard that it’s better for the environment if we use organic cleaners in place of chemicals. However, this doesn’t mean that just because something is all-natural that it’s ideal for cleaning, or for cleaning a specific item. Case in point, vinegar and lemon juice are both organic but they are also very acidic. To avoid ruining the finish on certain types of stone, keep lemon juice and vinegar away from the following: marble, travertine, limestone and onyx. Your cleaning products (natural or man-made) should be appropriately paired with your project.

Everyone loves the look and smell of a clean home, especially regarding furniture. Deciding when is the right time to clean you furnishings is a personal choice based on individual preferences. Certain types of furniture really absorb odor and pet dander, even if it's not covered in dog hair. Allergens can also collect and irritate certain individuals if upholstery is not properly maintained in a routine manner. Below is a list of five signs that you should get your upholstery cleaning done by a professional service in Jacksonville, Florida.

Fuzzy Furniture                               

Generally speaking, if you own a dog or two and your armchair has become as furry as a grizzly bear, you're probably overdue for a cleaning. Vacuums don't easily strip off pet hair, especially regarding loose dog hair. A little is always left behind each time you try to clean your furniture. Also, since dogs that shed commonly lie on furniture, removing the hair only leaves the furniture with a dirty appearance.  

Lint brushes are great for peeling off lint and pet hair, but, as with a vacuum, the brush won't nab everything. Even if you used a combination of both a vacuum and a lint brush, there will still be some surviving pet hair (and of course all of the dirt and bacteria you won't be able to see), which is why you should invest in a professional upholstery cleaning service.  

Cleaning your upholstered furniture doesn't have to be a daunting task. Life is busy enough. There are several things you can do that will make your life easier and restore your furniture to its previous glory all at the same time! Below is a collection of simple tips for upholstery care in Jacksonville, Florida that will have your furniture looking its best in years!

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Not all furniture is completely covered in fabric. Some wooden furniture is only partially upholstered. Using simple household ingredients you can whip up a natural solution to rid yourself of almost any stain. Cornstarch is one such example that can be used to polish furniture but can also be used to shampoo carpets and rugs. For the fabric portion of your furniture, use white vinegar to remove certain stains and pungent odors. However, you should always check for cleaning instructions before using any kind of cleaner on your upholstered furniture.

Last night’s dinner party was a great success, but now it’s time for upholstery cleaning in Jacksonville, FL. The superb spaghetti sauce has stained the upholstery, along with the vintage burgundy wine on the carpet. Many stain removers use a combination of chemical strategies to either remove the stains entirely or camouflage them. There isn’t one single method to remove stains, but they can be made worse. Much worse. The following are eleven stain removal blunders to avoid when it comes to upholstered furniture cleaning in Jacksonville, FL unless you plan on replacing your upholstery entirely.

1.  Postponing                         

Acting quickly to remove a stain can prevent it from being absorbed by the upholstery fibers or seeping through to the underlying padding. Stains are more difficult to remove if they are allowed to dry and set. If possible, act quickly when there is a spill; the quicker the reaction time, the greater the chance of removing the stain completely.