Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Spring Cleaning Your Vacation Home

There is only a short time before the lake area will start to hustle and bustle again and Summer will begin with full force. As you get the Lake itch and start making your plans for utilizing your vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks, start by thinking about Spring cleaning. Even if you hire a company to do regular cleanings at your vacation home, it is always a good idea to take time to perform a deep cleaning. You can think of this as an investment in your property that will pay off in the long run, and a few good deep cleanings a year can also help improve the reviews left by renters. Here are a few key things you can deep clean before the busy season gets here.


Shampoo the Carpets

Carpets receive a lot of wear and tear, especially when you allow additional guests (and pets, if allowed) to stay in your Lake of the Ozarks vacation home. This is especially true for lake homes, as wet and sandy lake shoes track dirt across them. Cleaning your carpets can help lift stains and make your place smell fresh and ready for you and your visitors.

Wash the Window Treatments

It is no surprise that dust and allergens will build up in the window treatments all year round. Take down the drapes, curtains, and blinds to give them a good deep cleaning at least once per year. This is even more important for the windows in the kitchen or dining room. It is likely that there is residual cooking grease on the curtains - make sure you do proper research on getting this out of the material safely.

Remove and Clean Light Fixtures

Dirty light fixtures are one of the fastest ways for a home to look unkempt. Help your vacation home look pristine by cleaning out the light fixtures to prevent grime from building up, and replace the burnt out bulbs as you go. This will also help the rooms to look brighter and more inviting!

Clear the Vents

Now is a great time to remove the covers and clean the vents for your HVAC and bathroom exhaust systems. Clean any dust that has collected along the grates and replace filters that look old and dirty.

A clean vent will most likely go completely unnoticed by a guest, but a dirty one is likely to end up in a review at some point.

Clean out the Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Take some time to remove everything out of the cabinets and drawers to give them a thorough clean inside and out. Once you have everything out, you can also do an inventory check. Take an inventory of the silverware, utensils, cookware, glasses, and table settings.

Depending on how frequently your Lake of the Ozarks vacation home is occupied, you may want to do this inventory a few times a year around the peak seasons. This will ensure that you have plenty of utensils for larger groups and are not short on anything.

Move Major Appliances

Now is a great time to pull out your stove, refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer to clean behind them. While you are at it, you can scrub down all surfaces on your appliances, especially those in the kitchen. Do not forget the oven warming drawer, and you can also run an oven cleaning cycle to clean away any leftover cooking debris. Check into having your dryer vent completely cleaned out by a professional as this will help keep that appliance running longer and avoid the possibility of it starting a house fire.

Tackle the Time Consuming Bathroom Tasks

If you hire a cleaning service to come in routinely, they will get the basics like wiping down the toilet, shower, and mirrors - as well as replenishing the supplies. However, sometimes bathrooms have some unique cleaning requirements that do not get taken care of regularly. One example would be a jacuzzi tub. It is always a good idea to deep clean the jetted components by removing them and soaking them. You can also run a cleaning cycle through the lines. This is not just a great way to detail clean your tub, but also help reduce the need for more expensive maintenance down the road.

Clean the Nooks and Crannies

Finally, inspect every last inch of your lake home for dirt and dust. Look over the closet shelves, vaulted ceilings, and those hard to reach corners where the dust bunnies collect. A deep cleaning can take anywhere from 2-4 days, so plan accordingly next time you plan on coming out to stay in your home! 


Vacation Home Mortgages at the Lake of the Ozarks

Do you need a vacation home? Now is a great time to buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, and Team Lasson is ready to assist. The Summer season is coming fast, but there is still plenty of time to start your home search and secure the vacation home of your dreams. Visit our website to learn more about our mortgages, as well as to apply for the pre-approval process. It is the perfect first step if you are ready to buy a hoe at the Lake of the Ozarks!


For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 



Michael Lasson
Senior Loan Officer
NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211





**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

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