Spring is Here!

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Thousand Hills Realty

Find a Great Place to Live!

It’s a great time to find the Apartment, Condo or Home that you’ve been looking for. This time of year serves as the largest volume of turn-overs in the rental market. We have more inventory in the Spring than any other time so contact your Leasing Professional NOW! 417-337-RENT.

Already Settled?

It is time to begin thinking about spring clean-up in the home you live in. There are a few things that you can do to keep the home in great shape.

It’s a great time to de-clutter and de-trash unwanted items. Often the city or county you live in has Spring Clean-up days where they come around to the various neighborhoods and pick up larger items or brush and limbs. Check your local municipal website or county website to find out dates and times. Below are some helpful resources.

City of Branson Annual Spring Clean Up April 20 ^th – 23rd http://www.bransonmo.gov/151/Engineering-Public-Works

City of Hollister Spring Clean Up April 14th
http://www.cityofhollister.com/areainformation/community_events/index.php

Taney County Annual Spring Clean up April 10 ^th and 11th
http://www.co.taney.mo.us/

Now is also a good time to replace the batteries in smoke detectors as well as replacing HVAC filters—doing so now also gives you a great opportunity to verify that the air conditioning is operating well. Give it a good test run before waiting until the heat really kicks in.

Other Helpful Spring Cleaning Tips

Sanitize the Sink: It’s hard to believe, but your dirty kitchen sink can have more bacteria than your toilet seat. To disinfect, clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let air-dry. (Don’t mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together—spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing. This prevents water buildup, which deters mold and keeps the sink looking clean longer.
Do Dishwasher Duty: : Once a week, shake baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe around the machine’s edges to remove stuck-on food or stains. To clean the inside, run an empty cycle with Dishwasher Magic, a product designed to kill bacteria like E.coli. During cold and flu season, add a quarter-cup of bleach to the regular dish cycle to kill bacteria. The dishes will be safe and sanitized after the rinse cycle is finished.
Love Your Oven: Keep the heart of your kitchen clean by lining the bottom of the oven with a nonstick oven liner specifically designed for oven use.
Disinfect the Disposal: To get rid of odors, drop in a cut-up lemon, some salt and a few ice cubes. The lemon deodorizes, and the ice and salt clean away residue. Or try Disposer Care products which are specifically designed for the job.
Clean your Screens and Windows: A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water makes a great natural window cleaner. Use crumpled up newspaper, rather than paper towels, to clean and dry your windows. Screen can be cleaned with a soft brush and soapy water. Be sure to clean out the window seals that tend to get mildew from lack of summer and loss of fresh air over the winter months.
Clean off your decks and walk ways: Check with your local hardware store on the best products. Get rid of leaves and be sure to move items that have sit dormant on the deck to let those areas have exposure to light and air.