How to Properly Store and Protect Your Warm-Weather Wardrobe

If stored incorrectly, your warm-weather wardrobe could fall prey to moths, mice, mold, and mildew! To ensure that your clothes make it to next spring intact, stick to these tips during and after packing away your apparel this fall.

1. Wash all of your clothes before storing them.

Moths and mice find dirty clothing much more appealing than fresh, clean clothing. Before storing your clothes for the winter, wash them in water that’s as hot as the fabric can handle. Washing clothes at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will destroy the larvae that female moths lay into the fabric.

2. Store your clothes in airtight, plastic containers.

Airtight, plastic containers are the best way to keep your clothing safe until the weather gets warm. Rodents can easily chew through cardboard boxes. Plastic garment bags, while effective at keeping out moths, can trap moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.

3. Store clothes with cedar balls or sachets of lavender.

Steer clear of mothballs and moth crystals, as these products contain pesticides that can harm people and pets--and even unborn babies. Instead, opt for all-natural cedar or lavender products. The oils in these plants help repel moths without the use of toxic gas.

4. Vacuum often.

Vacuuming helps to suck out the moth larvae from places where female moths lay them. While vacuuming rugs and carpets is a given, make sure to also vacuum underneath beds and behind radiators, as moths are attracted to the warmth there.

5. Monitor the humidity levels in your home.

Both moths and mold thrive in homes with high humidity. To make sure your clothes stay free of larvae and mold growth, you may need to lower your home’s moisture levels with a dehumidifier. You can also reduce your home’s humidity through other means, such as covering your crawlspace’s dirt floor.

Having trouble with crawlspace mold and moisture? Contact the professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for an effective, bio-friendly solution.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Attic

Who couldn’t use a little bit of extra space? Adding new rooms to your home is expensive, but you might already have an unused space that’s full of potential right about your head: your attic! 

Here are four creative ways to turn your dreary attic into a great room.

Brand New Bedroom

Are your kids constantly fighting over their shared space and close proximity? Do you have a new bundle of joy on the way? In either case, you can convert your attic into a new bedroom. Of course, you’ll want to make sure it’s a safe and clean environment. You can do this by meeting your area’s building codes and hiring professional attic cleaning services.

Creative Office Space 

Separating your work from your personal space can be difficult, especially when you work from home. Your attic is the perfect place for a private office. If you’re in the creative industry, you can even convert your attic into an art gallery or photo studio. It’s a spacious area that can fit all the furniture and supplies you need. What’s even better is that it’s far enough from the rest of the bustle of your home while still being close.   

Fun-Filled Recreation Area 

Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, they’ll love having a designated recreation area. With just a few additions, you can turn your attic into the perfect playpen. Just add fun board games, toys, and a lounge section. If you want to invest in something larger, you can even get a ping pong table. Your home will be the hot spot where everyone in the neighborhood wants to hang out.  

Entertaining Media Room 

If the living room doesn’t fit your entire family comfortably, transform your attic into a media room. The dark, enclosed attic space will replicate a movie theater’s environment perfectly. Add a comfy sectional, storage for blankets, and a large-screen TV. You can complete your new home theater with a snack bar. 

Feeling Inspired?

Just remember that when it comes to transforming a dusty, old attic into a habitable place, the most important thing is the safety and health of your family. Turn to GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, the experts in attic and crawlspace cleaning, to help you transform your attic into the perfect addition to your home.

Ideas for Organizing Your Cleaning Supplies

Keeping up your home’s cleaning routine is a lot easier when you have well-organized cleaning supplies. The question is: what is the best way to organize your supplies? The answer will depend largely on your home’s storage options, but your personal preference will come into play as well.

Below, we’ve gathered some brilliant ideas for storing and organizing the odds and ends of your cleaning arsenal.

1. The Basics

A lot of us own duplicate cleaning supplies without even knowing it. Before attempting to organize what you have in the smartest way possible, make sure you’re only keeping the supplies you actually need.

2. Lazy Susan

If you store your cleaning supplies underneath your sink, it can be hard to reach the items stored toward the back. A Lazy Susan is a perfect solution. Instead of fumbling through bottles and brushes, simply spin the item you want to the front.

3. Tension Rod

Maximize the space underneath your sink by installing a tension rod. It’s a great place to hang brushes and the handles of spray bottles.

4. Towel Rod

Add a small towel rack to the inside of your cabinet doors for more hidden hanging space. (It’s a great way to store rubber gloves!)

5. Shoe Organizer

Short on space under your sink? Try an over-the-door shoe organizer. Each shoe pocket can hold most standard-size cleaning supplies and keep them all within easy reach.

6. Baskets with Handles

Store cleaning tools and products that you take from room to room in plastic baskets or caddies with handles. This will allow you to complete your tasks around the house more efficiently. If your kids have chores, make a basket for each of your kids with the supplies they’ll need inside it.

7. Broom-Holder

To prevent long-handled cleaning supplies from getting in the way and falling over, mount them on a wall. A broom-holder with multiple slots will do the trick!

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we're taking eco-friendly cleaning solutions to a higher standard and striving for cleaner indoor air quality for all of Long Island. Contact us today to learn about our “green” cleaning solutions for attics, crawlspaces, and air ducts.