Olga

As the brisk housing market heats up this summer, remember that buying a new home means an upcoming move. And let’s face it, nobody looks forward to packing up and moving to a new place, whether across town or cross-country. But moving doesn’t have to be a drag — it can be easier than you think and, dare we say it, kind of fun.

A professional mover can carry you through the hard part while you focus on the challenges and opportunities of your new home. Pros have the expertise to get ...

Winter can be tough on your carpets, even if you don’t live in a cold area. The hustle and bustle of the holidays bring a lot of traffic through your home, and more activities mean more chances for something spilling and damaging your carpets. And if you do live in a zone with a lot of snow, your carpets will see even more wear and tear as people track in salt and snow.

That's why winter is an ideal time to hire a pro to clean your carpets. You should hire a carpet cleaner about once ...

Sometimes you have fair warning when guests are coming over, such as for major holiday events. Other times people drop in with little or no warning. Whatever the case, you want your home to make the best impression. If you’re short on time, here are some tips on how to quickly prep your home for maximum comfort and give your guests a great experience.

Fear not — you can accomplish quite a bit of cleaning in a short amount of time if need be!

- Walk through your house and ...

Spring and summer are prime time for pests. When they come out after sheltering for the winter, it can be an overwhelming sight! Getting rid of bugs can be challenging, but fortunately, you can take a number of steps right now to prevent ants, roaches, rodents and other pests from invading your living space this year.

1. Maintain proper kitchen hygiene

Nothing attracts pests as efficiently as the smell of free food. When you leave food out or bags, boxes or Tupperware unopened, ...

With the advent of spring after a long and difficult winter, it’s time to think about a deep housecleaning. You can certainly handle it yourself, but by hiring a professional cleaner, you’re giving back to yourself the gift of time to spend on family, friends, hobbies — anything other than scrubbing every inch of your home!

One of your first decisions when hiring a cleaning pro is whether to go with a company or a solo cleaner. Each comes with their own pros and cons.

Cleaning ...

Your imagination can run wild thinking of the bacteria lurking in your home. But people tend to look in the wrong direction when it comes to fighting germs in the kitchen. Disinfect these seven germ sanctuaries as soon as possible.

Refrigerator

Your refrigerator harbors bacteria in some surprising places. Ice and water dispensers, vegetable crispers, meat drawers and door seals are some of the germiest spots.

To do: Use a disinfectant when you clean the fridge, ...