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Isn’t it a great feeling when you get a compliment for something you’ve worked hard on? Nothing is more gratifying than someone recognizing your hard work and complementing you for the effort you’ve invested into it. The appearance of your home is one of those things. As homeowners, we take pride in the look of our home and the countless hours we spend trying to keep the interior clean and the exterior manicured. However, sometimes our schedules get in the way and we aren’t able to spend as much time on it as perhaps we would like. This spring, take a vow to change that! With First Coast Home Pros’ full line of exterior services, you won’t even have to do the work! As spring is officially underway and spring cleaning at the top of everyone’s mind, check out these services to help you boost your homes’ curb appeal.

It's just about time for Spring Cleaning again and we understand that it can be overwhelming, at best. What if, instead of cleaning the house, you could be enjoying yourself while the professionals at First Coast Home Pros did the work for you? Check out our full list of housekeeping, interior and exterior services here and contact us to schedule an appointment. Spring is calling your name...let us freshen up your house for you!

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.