Is it Time for You to Clean-Out Your Attic?
..Attics in the US have been generally used as storage space by many homeowners. The sometimes cramped space that these rooms have. Also, the fact that it can be too hot or too cold at times may have contributed to this. Whatever reason people may have for using their attic this way, the fact remains that over time, it can get overcrowded and will need to be cleaned out.
You don’t actually have to wait for your attic to fill up to the rafters before you clean it out. As it turns out, cleaning your attic on a regular basis is beneficial not only to you but to all the people in your home. Having an attic that is cluttered can bring about a long list of problems which you wouldn’t want to be saddled with.
Why Regularly Cleaning Your Attic of Clutter is a Must
An attic, or any storage room for that matter, that is left to accumulate items that are no longer of use to you or your family can actually be harmful. While the clutter won’t actually bother you since you can’t see it, it still brings with it some serious issues that may cause everyone in your home serious problems. Here are some of the possible issues that may arise from an attic that has not been cleaned for ages:
Dust and dirt accumulation
A room that is closed up and has not been touched for a long time will accumulate dirt and dust. You may have seen movies and TV shows where people explore old attics and are greeted with clouds of dust when they enter. This or worse can happen to you when you don’t clear up your storage space regularly. Not only will you find dust and dirt on the stuff and floors in your attic, but you may also be greeted by cobwebs as you enter and explore this room.
Mold and mildew growth
Attics can sometimes be moist, which is why it is also possible for both mold and mildew to grow there. Mold growth is nothing to scoff at since it can actually bring about serious illnesses, such as respiratory problems, headaches, allergic reactions, and in some worse cases, even hallucinations. Keeping your attic clean with regular frequency will help prevent this and help keep you as well as your family from such health issues.
Energy problems
Did you know that a cluttered attic can actually impact the energy efficiency of your home? With all the stuff occupying the spaces of this room, air flow will be impeded. This can result in your home not having ample cooling or heating, depending on the season.
Rodent and pest infestation
Clutter is something that pests like, particularly rats and mice, since they can hide in them. Roaches, mosquitos, and other insects can also make a cluttered attic their home. To avoid the health problems that come with such infestations, cleaning your attic of its clutter every few months should be considered.
When and How to Clean Your Attic
To ensure that you don’t suffer any of these problems, it might be a good idea to clean out your attic once every six months. You can do this once a year if you don’t store much in it, but twice annually is could be best. Cleaning will mean the removal of any stuff that you can throw out. Hence, sorting of boxes and bric-a-brac, and the thorough cleaning of all surfaces.
The first thing you will need to do is to clear the room. Remove everything in it and sort the stuff as you go along into keep and toss piles. Next, you will need to sweep and vacuum the floor. You will also need to dust off all surfaces, which includes the beams, baseboards, columns, window sills, and walls.
You will then need to mop the floor to remove any stubborn dirt that may be sticking to its surface. Wait for the floor to dry before sweeping. You should be vacuuming it once again to gather all of the surface dirt that mopping removed. After finishing it, you will need to inspect all of the nooks and crannies of your attic for holes. Also, check insulation damage, mold growth, and evidence of rodents.
When you finish with these, return the items that you want to keep in your attic. If you can, place these in new boxes and sturdier cases, like those new plastic cases that can be locked. The other stuff that you want to toss can be sold at a garage sale. You can sell those online, or throw away with the help of a junk removal service.
Who to Contact When You Need Junk Hauling
If you have quite a pile of stuff to dispose of, and these won’t all fit in your car, you will need to get in touch with a junk removal company for help. In Cleveland, the company to trust with this task is Junk Junkies. We are a junk removal company that operates under the Junk Removal Authority umbrella. This means that we use the same equipment and junk hauling methods that our affiliate company uses.
To find out how we can help you with your attic cleaning task and to schedule when we can haul away your junk, simply contact us at 216-201-9350.