Spring into Cleaning!
The History of
Spring Cleaning
In many areas of the world, spring is
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and open the doors and windows to let
some fresh air in after a long winter. In
the cold, people tend to keep their homes
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inside the home, so when spring comes
– people act like Cinderella –blowing
open the doors with a big smile as they
let the sun and fresh air invade their
space. The term “spring cleaning” can
be traced back to the Jewish tradition of
performing a thorough cleaning of the
home just before Passover. From Winter
to devotion – spring cleaning is real.
It’s A Gas!
Floridians don’t typically have severe
cold weather problems – that is why
people choose to live here, isn’t it? But
Floridians do have another invisible
culprit to deal with, Radon. Radon
gasses are produced naturally by
the breakdown of radium in soils
and can enter a structure through
small cracks. As the second
leading cause of lung cancer,
Radon is not something to ignore.
There are ways to test for Radon
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a good natural, preventative
measure is to let the home “airout.”
Keeping a house closed
in the winter to retain heat or in the
summer to retain cool air gives Radon
gasses a chance to engulf a home. What
makes this natural gas so dangerous?
You cannot smell it, taste it or see it.
Oh, the Yard Looks Tired
In Florida, the falling leaves stretch
all the way to spring. By the time spring
arrives, Florida yards can look a bit
bleak. Just like us, your yard is longing
for a bit of sunshine. It’s a time to rake
up the leaves, trim the trees and shrubs
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28 | LUTZ MAGAZINE | VOLUME II • ISSUE IV | TO ADVERTISE CALL 813-501-4894
According to the
University of
Florida’s Center
for Landscape
Conservation
and Ecology,
homeowners
should:
�� Check the
lawn mower:
spark plugs,
air filter, and
oil. Do the
blades need
sharpening?
Can you raise
the mower
deck easily or
does it need
lubricating?
�� Check your
irrigation
system: Do
a calibration
test to see if
any heads are
broken or are
turned the
wrong way.
�� Do a soil test before fertilizing:
Proper fertilizing is a science. A Soil
Test will help determine what level of
phosphorous and nitrogen your yard
needs.
�� Scout for weeds and evaluate
the yard: The University of Florida’s
Center for Landscape Conservation
and Ecology provides a handy
downloadable ‘Weed Management
Guide for Florida Lawns.’
You Cleaned the Yard.
What should you
do with the waste?
Check with your county or city
Solid Waste Department for collection
programs for yard waste. In Tampa, the
Solid Waste Enhanced Environmental
Program (S.W.E.E.P) collects nearly 3000
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County offers curbside pickup for yard
and wood waste (must be two cubic
yards or less). In Pasco County, residents
can visit the East or West Pasco facilities
where yard waste is disposed of at a rate
of $59.30 per ton ($2.97 per pound for
100 pounds).
Inside & Outside
Your Castle Walls
Most maintain a clean home all year
round, but spring is a good time to
address the areas that don’t get as much
attention. Here are a few handy springcleaning
reminders:
• Wash baseboards.
• Clean the walls and doors
(nasty little smudges at the
doorknob area).
• Wash the windows
(inside and out).
• Clean sliding door tracks.
• Power wash the home exterior,
drive, and walkways.