shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com April 12, 2016 • Page 11 Freshen up your home for the spring season Fresh flowers, new throw pillows and lightweight draperies are some easy ways to transform a home in time for spring’s arrival. After a few months of chilly temperatures, come spring, many homeowners are eager to throw open their windows and doors and breathe new life into their homes. Simple changes made now even before the weather begins to warm up can improve interior spaces and brighten the atmosphere of a home. • Go plant shopping. Research from NASA suggests adding at least one plant in your home per 100 square feet is efficient enough to clean air. Fresh foliage also makes a home feel warm and inviting. Watering and misting plants introduces moisture into indoor air, which can make rooms overcome with dry air from heating systems feel comfortable. Just be sure to avoid overwatering plants, which can lead to mold growth. • Swap out throw pillows. Accent pillows on beds and sofas are quick and inexpensive ways to add new bursts of color to rooms. You may be able to make over a roomÕs entire color scheme with new pillows. Invest in pillows that you can switch with each season so your decor will never look tired or dull. • Clean existing light fixtures. Another way to brighten the mood in a home is to periodically clean light fixtures to make sure they are working effectively. Spend time dusting them and cleaning off any accumulated debris. If need be, switch out old lamp shades for newer ones that let more light shine through. If inadequate lighting is a problem no matter how many lamps you have, consult with an electrician about installing more overhead and accent lighting. • Give rugs and floors a deep cleaning. Recirculated air may be full of dust and other microscopic particles that end up blowing throughout your home. Also, itÕs easy to track in dirt and other materials on your shoes that become imbedded in carpeting. At least once a year, rent or enlist the surfaces of carpet and upholstery cleaners to give floors a thorough cleaning. You may be surprised at how clean and fresh a home looks and smells once rugs and carpets are deepcleaned. You also can make a dry carpet cleaner using baking soda, corn starch and desired fresh herbs for fragrance. Sprinkle and then vacuum up after a few hours. • Color-coordinate bookshelves. Group all books with similarly colored covers together for an instant and eye-appealing look. • Simmer some homemade home deodorizer. In a large pot, boil water and some scented herbs, such as rosemary, citrus rinds, vanilla, or lavender. The aroma will waft through the home, creating a pleasing scent. • Invest in new window treatments. Lightweight draperies or new blinds or shades can transform the look of a room. Be sure to keep curtains and blinds open during the day to maximize the hours of sunlight. Homeowners can make some simple changes while theyÕre stuck indoors and reap the benefits when the weather warms up again. Wash your car like a pro to protect its value Vehicle owners know maintaining a vehicle can be a lot of work. Taking the time to properly care for a vehicle can prolong its life expectancy and help owners avoid breakdowns and other issues along the way. Regular washing is an aspect of vehicle maintenance that some may classify as a purely cosmetic benefit. Certainly a car wash can keep the vehicle looking its best, but there are other advantages to washing as well. Washing offers preventative maintenance for the car’s paint and can help prevent rust and corrosion resulting from dirt, acid rain and road salt. Rust can compromise hydraulic brake and fuel lines, as well as many moving parts in the chassis and frame. Corrosion of electrical connectors and other parts under the hood can lead to leaks, electrical shorts and a host of additional problems. It’s easy to see how washing the car is more essential than one might have suspected. If you live in an area with a high amount of dust or industry, you may need to wash your car as frequently as once a week. Drivers who live along or near coastal areas may need to wash their vehicles frequently to combat sea salt buildup. Garage-kept vehicles may be able to go longer between washes, but in general washing a vehicle every two to three weeks is a good rule of thumb. In addition, a good sealant will protect the paint and other trims throughout the year. The following are some other car-wash tips to follow. • Always use a proper washing soap solution. This will preserve the car’s finish better than other homemade soaps. Avoid using dishwashing liquid, which can strip protective wax coatings. • Be prompt when cleaning off bugs, sap and bird droppings that may stick to the paint and become difficult to remove over time. • Wait until a car has cooled down before washing. Heat speeds up the drying of soap and water and can make it more difficult to clean. • Always use a clean, non-abrasive sponge. Resist the urge to move the sponge in circles as you clean. Doing so can create noticeable swirl scratch marks. Instead, move the sponge lengthwise across the body panels and hood. • Keep a separate rinsing bucket to clean the sponge or washing mitt so that dirt is not mixed into the clean, sudsy water. • Consumer Reports suggests using a soft squeegee to remove most of the water on the body of the car after washing and rinsing. Blot up any extra water with a chamois. • Wax the car every season to ensure it has maximum protection. In between, apply a liquid spray wax to touch up spots. Water beading is not an ideal indicator of whether or not the car needs a coat of wax. • Don’t forget to pay attention to the interior. Vacuum the carpets regularly to prevent ground-in dirt and routinely clean the upholstery with a product specific to your vehicle’s interior, whether that interior is leather or fabric. Protecting a vehicle investment involves keeping the car clean. Know the right ways to help a car or truck look and perform like new. PIROUETTE® WINDOW SHADINGS PIROUETTE® WINDOW SHADINGS From glare to glow. Sunlight, beautifully transformed Sunlight, beautifully transformed with Hunter Douglas window fashions. with Hunter Douglas window fashions. or more withrebates on qualifying rebates Save $100*purchases, April 12 on qualifying purchases, June 27, 2016. Save $100* or more withApril12 ––June 27, 2016. Hatch Furniture Inc. Hatch Furniture Inc. 109 E 3rd St 109 E 3rd St Yankton Yankton SD 109 East Third, Yankton • www.hatchfurniture.com SD M-F 10-6 M-F 10-6 Sat 10-5 605.665.4416 • 800.798.4663 Sat 10-5 Evenings by Appointment Monday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5,Eveningsby Appointment 605-665-4416 605-665-4416 Evenings by Appointment www.hatchfurniture.com www.hatchfurniture.com 57206 57206 *Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. *Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. SPG16MB4 reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. SPG16MB4 Stop in to see our wide variety of Hot Tubs available for every size & budget! LEISURE WORLD, INC. Spas • Swimming Pools • Saunas 1900 Broadway Ave, Yankton, SD • 605-665-1240 2500 S. 13th St., Norfolk, NE • 402-371-8425 w w w.leisureworldsd.com