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Many of us have the same resolutions year after year, but, this year, here are a few things to get you away from the usual “lose weight” or “join a gym” resolutions. Jacksonville homeowners can get a lot accomplished in a new year, and, oftentimes, the momentum of a fresh start is all you will need to stay motivated. Practicing good housekeeping can help you decompress from the holidays and tie off loose ends in the new year!

Home Gardening

Doing some simple at-home gardening can help you to:

• Spend more time outside
• Eat healthier
• Save money

What more motivation do you need? Raised plant beds are a great option for gardening because you get to control the soil more easily than doing it in your lawn, you don't have to worry about weeds or pesticides, and you can more easily control the nutrients and water intake of your plants. In reality, all you need is some wood, a saw, a drill, and some elbow grease.

Here at First Coast Home Pros, we take the prevention of dryer fires very seriously. It’s important to sort fact from fiction where dryer fires are concerned. There is a lot of information on the Internet about dryer fires and their causes. Some of this information is undoubtedly true, while some is simply false.

It’s been said that the use of fabric softener sheets can cause the heating element in your dryer to fail and potentially cause a fire. There is no evidence that suggests fabric softener sheets can cause your dryer’s heating element to fail. It is, however, proven that the use of liquid fabric softener has been found to add to the flammability of fabrics such as cotton, terry cloth, or velour.

Another online claim states that the use of fabric softener sheets will create a buildup of invisible film on your dryer’s lint screen. This alleged buildup prevents the water from flowing through the lint screen properly and creates a backup, which can also lead to a dryer fire. The claim further states that dryer owners should remove the lint screen and brush clean with a soap and water solution at least every six months. A thorough cleaning is always a good idea. These claims, however, can be misleading, and, even though, they contain some useful tips, they are not entirely accurate.

Every homeowner knows that no matter how much you clean the outside of your home, over time, dirt will accumulate that you just can't remove on your own. Oil from vehicles and rust from machines or downspouts can stain your driveway. Dirt, mold and mildew can darken your siding and your roof. Decks can age from damage from the sun and rain. These things can make your home look old, tired and undermine your curb appeal. Now there's no doubt that you will have to deal with this, but many homeowners face the question of how?

A pressure washer is one of the best tools for jobs like this. If you've gone to one of those car washes where you hold the hose to rinse off your car, you've used a pressure washer before. Pressure washers used at home are usually gas-powered devices that pressurize water and send it through a hose to a wand with a trigger where the user can direct the spray. Sometimes the pressure washer has attachments that are used for adding detergents and many times there are a variety of nozzle tips and attachments to use on the end of the wand. The nozzle tips restrict the water flow making the pressurized water more or less powerful. Some end attachments can be used to pressure wash your driveway in Jacksonville. Used properly, they can clean driveways, siding and decks.

For a working mom, the job is never done. Once you leave the office it's time to pick up the kids, attend sports activities or practices, and then there is the cooking and house cleaning. It seems there is never enough time in our busy schedules to get everything done. Keeping the house clean and tidy is a job that is never complete, but here are a few tips to help make daily housekeeping a little easier.

Congratulations on your new home! It’s bright and clean and just what you wanted. But, as we all know, time goes by and things begin to change. With regular maintenance, you should be able to keep your yard and siding looking new, but your roof may begin to develop dark brown or green streaks over time. While some of this is dirt, dust and pollen, much of it is lichen and algae. And while the dirt may wash off the next time it rains, the algae is there to stay. This can make your home look much older and detract from the overall appearance. Not only that, but algae and lichen can shorten the lifespan of your roof, causing you to replace your shingles more often. If you notice your roof beginning to look streaked and dark, you might want to consider roof cleaning Jacksonville FL with First Coast Home Pros.

Cleaning your roof isn’t something you want to make a quick decision about. Many cleaning services offer roof cleaning, but, in many instances, choosing the wrong one can void the warranty on your shingles and even damage the underlayers of the roof. In other cases, strong chemicals can damage the adhesive that holds particles to the shingles and kill the vegetation around your home. Picking the correct method can help lengthen the life of your roof and save you money.

There are three main types of roof cleaning Jacksonville FL and a large debate on which to use.

For many homeowners who suffer from allergies, they find that air duct cleaning Jacksonville Beach FL helps them to breathe easier after the cleaning is completed. Even though many homeowners report an improvement in the quality of air inside of the home, many people aren’t convinced about how effective the cleaning truly is for their home. Air duct cleaning Jacksonville Beach FL can help to improve overall health and prevent the symptoms of asthma. Even though it might cost you a little out of pocket for the cleaning initially, the benefits can exceed the amount of money you have to spend in the beginning.

Many experts will tell you that getting rid of mold, which is one of the common triggers in asthma attacks, is one of the main reasons to have your ducts cleaned. If you notice visible signs of mold on your ducts or other components of the HVAC system, if the system has had a lot of mice making their way through it, or if you notice an extensive amount of dust exiting through the supply diffusers, you need to get an air duct cleaning Jacksonville Beach FL. Visible mold growth is going to occur if there is a lot of moisture entering the HVAC system somewhere along the line, so you want to get everything inspected and taken care of right away to prevent further problems.

You will be surprised to learn how many people overlook their air duct system. In an effort to complete your fall cleaning and decorate for the holidays, you might actually forget to clear your system.

However, forgetting to clean your air ducts can create problems for you, your family, and your cooling unit over time. The most important reason to get your air ducts cleaned is for indoor air quality control purposes.

You want the air you breathe to be fresh and clean, not stale and dry. For some people, their allergies are triggered by the particles in the atmosphere that are disbursed when they turn on their air conditioning units.

Now that fall is over and the trees have shed their leaves, you can start the last of your outdoor cleaning projects before winter. After the yard is raked, the leaves are bagged, and hauled away, it’s time to clean up one last mess that leaves leave behind: gutter cleaning for you Jacksonville, Florida home.

Gutters are an important part of maintaining your home, one that for the most part, goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. And when gutters become damaged, it affects the way your house looks, can become dangerous, and costs you money.

Your home's dryer vent should be routinely cleaned and maintained in order to avoid hazardous situations, such as fires, and to ensure that your dryer works as efficiently as possible. By inspecting your vent and cleaning it when necessary, you can prevent these issues from becoming a serious problem. These tips from First Coast Home Pros can help you to identify and correct any issues that may arise with your home's dryer unit.

If you're considering a cleaning service to help keep your home tidy, there are a few things you should consider. Whether you're looking for one-time jobs like tile and grout cleaning in Jacksonville, or a full cleaning of your home on a regular basis, these points will help you make sure you find the right fit.

1. Determine How Much Help You Need

If your home generally stays clean, or you have the time and ability to handle most of the tasks yourself, you may be looking for someone to come in and help with targeted tasks and special projects. Spring cleaning, preparing for the holidays, or deep cleaning certain areas, like bathrooms and kitchens, are just some of the services you may want. If you're looking to cut down on the number of hours you spend every week cleaning, then a regularly scheduled, full-service cleaning is what you'll need.