• Start at The Top – Always start at the top and clean your way down the room. This way dirt and dust fall to the lower-level, uncleaned surface. For example, you will want to begin by dusting your ceiling fans first, then cleaning the furniture below it. This way you do not have to do double the work in the end. Once the dirt and debris fall from your ceiling, you can wipe them away while you clean your furniture. 

• Kitchen – In the kitchen, you will want to begin by loading the dishwasher. Fill the sink with hot soapy water and a small amount of cleaner. If your stove has burner frames, remove and put in the sink’s soapy water. Next, you will want to dust off your ceiling fans, light fixtures, and windowsills then clear off all of countertops and tabletops. After they are cleared, dip a clean sponge into the soapy water and wipe down cabinets and counters from top to bottom. Be sure to rinse the sponge in hot water, and you will be amazed at how much dirt rinses out of it. Lastly, wipe down all kitchen appliances from top to bottom. By wiping down appliances, you will help to eliminate fingerprints and remove excess dirt. 

• Bathrooms – Cleaning all bathrooms at one time is vital. Dust light fixtures and windowsills, clear and wipe down counters, and clean the bathtub and toilet bowl with cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit while you go to the next bathroom to clear clutter and spray down the areas. Go back to the first bathroom clean and wipe down the mirrors. You can also wipe the bathroom’s baseboards and floors before you have clean the floors to help not add extra work for yourself. After you wipe the baseboards, you can take a broom and dust away any debris. Lastly, you will want to mop the space working your way out of the room. 

• Living & Dining Room – Clear all clutter before you begin the living room and dining. Start dusting in one corner of the room and work clockwise. Clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and dust windowsills and all furniture from top to bottom. Use your vacuum cleaner attachment on upholstered furniture for an extra good cleaning. 

• Bedrooms – In your bedrooms, you will want to strip bed linens, wash the sheets, and remake bed. Clear all visible clutter by placing it into a basket or its designated area. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, window sills, and all furniture top to bottom with dusting spray and microfiber cloth. Afterward, you will want to use a vacuum or dustpan to remove any leftover dirt and debris from the floor.

• Floors – We recommend cleaning all of your floors of the same type at the same time. For example, you would clean hardwood floors at one time and clean tile floors at one time and so on. When vacuuming carpeted floors, work your way backward out of the room and try not to overlap with a vacuum; this eliminates dust settling in the air.

• Steam Mop– Steam mops make cleaning floors much faster than using a basic mop and bucket. Plus, you are using water to steam away dirt and germs, instead of cleaners. We recommend investing in a steam mop to help speed up your cleaning routine. 

You put time into how your home looks, how it feels, and the energy the atmosphere portrays, but how much time do you invest in making your home smell beautiful.  The fragrance of a home can be one of the quickest influences on changing how an environment is portrayed.  If you have animals, you may need to be overly cognitive of scents in your home that you may have grown accustomed to smelling.  We put together some tricks and tips on how to eliminate odor, some great smelling remedies, and natural methods to bring indoors.

N’odors (No Odors)

If your home has a bad scent, it can really hurt your overall atmosphere.  You can either mask a smell or try to eliminate it.  Try to locate the odors throughout your home.  Are they coming from your carpet, maybe the trash, or even your furniture?  You will want to tarnish the source, eliminate the smell, and prevent the return of unwanted odors.

• If you have pet-damaged carpet, you will need to replace it to remove the smell.  If it soaked through to the subfloor, try putting baking soda down before installing a pad.  
• If your trash is smelling bad but continues to smell after you take it out, you will need to deep clean the inside of your trash receptacle.  Take it outside or in the tub and wash it out.   Wipe down the inside with a disinfectant wipe and vinegar.  Make sure you dry it properly to prevent mold.  At the bottom of your receptacle, put some banking soda to absorb odors and place in a new trash bag.  
• Furniture can be as simple as washing your sheets, but some furniture can trap bad odors.  You can try cutting an apple and sitting it face down on the odor to absorb it.  Also, baking soda can be applied and left overnight and vacuumed off in the morning.  Abolishing the odor at its source is key to making your home smell better.  Consider investing in an air purifier.  Air purifiers also can help clean out the old scent and leave your home with a fresher air aroma.

Scents You Need

Now, that the bad odors are gone, its time to create the scent you want in your home.  Candles are a great solution to apply to your space to have a great smelling area.  You can also get fragrance or sprays to put them in areas where you do not want to light candles.  This can keep the room feeling fresh throughout the night or while you are away.  Another great natural remedy is adding flowers, put eucalyptus leaves a vase or burn scented oils.  Adding the scents to your home will make it warmer and more inviting to your guest.

Make sure you eliminate bad smells before trying to create new ones.  Seasonal scents are great ways to keep festive but no matter what you do make sure it is not too overwhelming.  Fragrances in your home should tease a pleasantly scented atmosphere.  For more great tips and tricks, visit us at https://proudtobuild.com. 

Arizona has beautiful, colored scenery, unique plant life, and dazzling landscaping.  Yet, many homeowners get intimidated by customizing their landscape and adding plants because so many plants cannot survive in the desert heat; however, there are so many kinds of native, beautiful plants that can withstand these harsh climates and can have your landscape looking like a desert land dream oasis.  Consider these three principles in customizing your landscape into the curb appeal you desire: 

• Irrigation System

You will need to make sure you have the proper irrigation system for your landscape.   Making sure that the drainage is adequate for your landscape is key to plant life. Ordinary landscapes can consist of gravel, concrete, rocks, or even some turf or grass.  Keep in mind that most of the native plants do not need to be watered as much but should have proper drainage, irrigation, and landscape care.

• Pool or Firepit 

Add some personalization and class to your backyard by adding a fire pit or even a pool.  Add to your patio and make it a welcoming hangout for guest and family. You can customize your backyard into a focal feature for entertainment with some minor tweaks of seating and lighting.  A well-lit patio will keep the entertainment outside even after dusk, where you can enjoy your firepit.  A pool is another great addition to help compensate for Arizona’s intense heat.

• Plants

Your curb appeal starts with your landscape.  There are many desert plants that you should consider including in your landscape to personalize it and make it feel stunning.   Cacti and shrubbery can be used as the foundation of your landscape, but beautiful palm trees, lemon trees, and orange trees can help add height and color to your yard.  Different flowers can also add to the value of your home and can be added around your property.  

Your landscape is your first way to express yourself and your style.  Adding the perfect balance of trees, shrubberies, gravel, and cacti can make your curb appeal spectacular.  Make sure to keep up and maintain your landscape, so it does not get out of control.  Your curb appeal is just as important to your home and expressing yourself as the inside; therefore, you do not want to neglect it. 

Congratulations on your brand new Fulton Home! This is an exciting moment. Owning a new home rewards homeowners with exciting change and unique opportunities for design. But for some, moving can seem like an overwhelming project. To help comfort you on moving day, we want to share our top ten packing and moving tips so you can have ease of mind. Let’s take a look! 

10 Packing and Moving Tips: 

1. Get The Packing Supplies + Moving Accommodations. 

Before you begin packing, you want to prepare for the move by gathering all of your supplies and finishing your moving accommodations. Accommodations can include a moving day schedule, the truck rental, moving route, etc. Once you have everything organized, you can begin packing. 

2. Load The Moving Truck in Order. 

If you decide to rent a moving truck and load it yourself, you will want to follow a distinct order when loading the truck. All heavy items will go in first. You want your boxes to cap off at around 50 pounds (any bigger may cause tearing in the box or an issue with lifting). After your truck is almost full, you want to load your essential items in last. These items can include cell phone chargers, toothbrushes, etc. 

3. Add a Protective Barrier. 

Sometimes, you can use the budget-friendly alternative of bubblewrap by utilizing extra socks, pillowcases, and linens to fill out the box. These items will help to add a protective layer without costing an extra dime! 

4. Write an Inventory List. 

You may find it valuable to write an inventory list before you move. The list will say what each box contains inside of it.

5. Leave Dressers as Is. 

Instead of purchasing extra boxes and taking up room in the moving truck, you will want to leave your contents inside of your dressers and tape up the outside of it. This allows you to unpack easier once you get to your new place. 

6. Have Important Documents on Hand. 

There is no better person to trust than yourself with essential records and documents. Do not rely on movers or family members to hold onto your important papers. Take them with you in your hands during the move to ensure their safety. 

7. Buy Heavy-Duty Trash Bags.

The last thing you want on moving day is a torn or ripped trash bag. Be sure to invest in heavy-duty bags for moving day to ensure everything gets there safely. 

8. Organize Items by Room. 

Your boxes should be organized by room. This will help make unpacking more manageable and ensure that everything is kept in place. 

9. Ask for Help.

Moving can be overwhelming and stressful. There is nothing wrong with asking for a little help from family and friends. Promise them something like a pizza dinner if they help you with the move. The odds are that they will pitch in and be willing to help! 

10. Keep Tools Nearby. 

Lastly, you are going to have to reassemble furniture once you get to the new place. Be sure to keep your toolbox nearby and ready for use by keeping it with you during moving day. 

For more advice and expert tips, be sure to check out our other blog posts at https://proudtobuild.com. 

Has your bedroom’s organization gotten out-of-hand lately? Are you struggling to find a place for everything? Do not worry! With our top five tips, you can reclaim your space and have it looking great. Let’s take a look! 

Easy Tricks for Bedroom Organization: 

1. Start off The Day Right. 

There is nothing better than coming home to a freshly made bed. Make your mother proud by setting aside time in the morning to make your bed. Not only will it help you to keep the rest of the room organized, but it will also feel great to lay down in a made bed each night. 

2. Declutter Your Life. 

You cannot begin the organization process until you have removed excess clutter from your bedroom. A good rule of thumb is to remove anything that you do not need or use. Whether it is old clothing or shoes you never wear, put it in a box to donate. Not only will someone benefit from your donation, but you will have far fewer items to organize once you remove unwanted/unused items. 

3. Every Square Inch.

There is a lot of extra space to be utilized for storage purposes. The space, underneath your bed and over your doorway, can be taken advantage of for extra storage. We even recommend adding shelving and hooks on your walls for the maximum amount of storage. If you currently do not have space under your bed, you can purchase a bed riser to accomplish this elevation. 

4. Out with The Old. 

Once you have decluttered your room, it is time to organize your closet. You want to only have items inside of your bedroom closet that actually belong in there. This will help the closet to stay organized and efficient. Afterward, we recommend buying a couple of closet organizers and even a shoe rack to tame the mess. You can even store last season’s clothing items in a box underneath your bed for extra room inside of your closet. 

5. Bedside Dreams. 

Your nightstand’s organization should be taken into consideration when you are purchasing it. If it only serves as a decorative piece, pass for now and move onto a more functional piece of furniture. Ideally, you will want a nightstand that has drawers for organization and storage. You can remove the clutter from the stand’s surface and store it inside of the nightstand. Items like tissues, notepads, books, and beauty essentials should be stored inside of the drawers for a more organized look and feel. 

We hope you enjoyed these five easy tricks for better bedroom organization. Check back weekly for more expert advice! 

While whipping up a fast family dinner, your refrigerator can get messy and out of sorts. To help keep things looking crisp and clean, you can follow our five tips for maximum fridge organization. 

How to Organize Your Refrigerator: 

Tip No. One: Let’s Make it Clear.

An easy way to find the things that you are looking for is to put the items in clear bins. Your fridge probably already has a few clear drawers installed, but it is never too late to add more clear bins. They can help you organize and maintain your food system without breaking the bank. Add the bins on top of your shelves to help organize any clutter. 

Tip No. Two: Groupings.  

To navigate quickly throughout your refrigerator, you will want to organize items by category. Place fruits in one bin/drawer and dairy items in a different bin/drawer. Make sure your family is clear on the system and encourage them to put things in the correct spot. 

Tip No. Three: The No-No Zone.

Dairy should not be placed in your refrigerator’s door, because the air and temperatures fluctuate a little too often for comfort. To keep your dairy products safe, make sure you have a place on the shelves for them.

Tip No. Four: The Safe Zone.

Meats can contaminate your other food products if they come into contact. A good way to prevent any dripping or contamination is to place your meat products on the lowest shelf possible. 

Tip No. Five: Labeled. 

Keep track of eggs, milk, and meat expiration dates by writing them on the product. You will only need to write on one egg and it will be the last egg you use. For example: if you buy a dozen eggs and they expire on August 17, you will write “August 17” on one of the dozen eggs. Throughout the week, you will use every egg except for the “August 17” egg. You want that to be the last egg that you will use. This will help you efficiently keep track of your egg’s expiration dates. Your other products you can simply use duck tape and a permanent marker to write down their expiration dates on their packaging. 

Have you found any personal organization tips that work for you and your family? We would love to hear about them in the comment section!