1 Spring clean the lot
There’s no better feeling than walking into a spick and span house, and – in the same way that your phone can conjure up a taxi or a food delivery order – there’s an app to help with housework, too. Hassle matches people with rated, vetted cleaners in your area, for a flat rate of €12 an hour. The app even calculates how much time it will take your home to reach turnkey condition. “All our cleaners are independent, self-employed cleaners,” it says. “You’re always in a direct relationship with your cleaner. Think of us as an introduction service for cleaners in Dublin.” The service has rolled out to Cork and Kildare, with a view to expanding nationwide. See hassle.com
Also try: Sproose.ie – Ireland's new dry cleaning and laundry collection service. From curtains to duvets, the whole lot will be back with you within 48 hours.
2 Sweep the chimney
Patrick Cowan is currently investigating chimney fires all over the country – just one of the side effects if a chimney hasn’t been cleaned after a hard winter’s work.
“To avoid chimney fires, home owners should consider inviting a CSAI registered chimney sweep to their home to inspect and certify their chimney,” he says. “It’s also recommended that homeowners consider fitting a cap over the top of their home’s chimney to ensure that debris can’t get in to obstruct air flow.” Cowan is based in Co Wicklow, but works nationwide. See chimneysolutions.ie or telephone 0404-69766 for details. Also try: The Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland (csai.ie) has the contact details of professional sweeps across the country.
3 Clear out the wardrobe
Paring down is all the rage, and Breda Stack, aka The Declutter Therapist, teaches and motivates people to let go of their 17 navy jumpers, so they can enjoy simpler, happier lives. Stack has developed a unique range of decluttering services and online courses.
“Clutter in our homes weighs us down in all areas of our lives, and the energy of spring is very much about a fresh start,” she says. “So many of us struggle with decluttering and the key to my work is helping people to overcome blocks such as being overwhelmed, guilt and sadness, so they can create freedom and joy in their wardrobes, homes and lives.” See decluttertherapy.com, or call 086-239 5056.
Also try: Marie Kondo's book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying, which has sold 6 million copies. The devotion of her followers is legion, while dyed-in-the-wool cynics have also found themselves Kon-verted. When Kondo came to Dublin, wannabe Zen minimalist Roisin Ingle invited her to come around, never expecting she would say yes. But she did. With thousands of clients and a six-month waiting list for her decluttering advice, how does Kondo fare when faced with Roisin's clutter mountain? Tune in to The Women's Podcast on irishtimes.com from Sunday, April 3rd, to find out.
4 Tidy the garden
In an ideal world, Diarmuid Gavin would work his magic on your yard, but Raheny-based Kevin Dennis of Cityscape Gardener is rated consistently by his growing army of fans. The horticulturalist and garden designer does most of his work in small-scale city gardens and yards, specialising in vertical planting and imaginative furnishings. Gardens can be turned around in as little as two weeks, says Dennis, who will also offer design advice and drawings, as well as general garden maintenance. New gardens start from about €5,000. Also try: A whole host of garden designers can be found at the Garden & Landscape Designers’ Association website on glad.ie, or at houzz.com.
5 Ask people to take stuff
So you’ve done the clearout and you’re now staring down 25 refuse sacks and an old sofa. Now what? The best thing to do is to arrange for a charity pick-up. Age Action collects items for free within the M50 area of Dublin. Tel. 01-4756989 or email stockcollection@ageaction.ie. Age Action also runs a free Care & Repair programme, where Garda-vetted volunteers and community partners will call out to help with minor jobs: “the sorts of things someone might have been able to do by themselves when they were younger but find a bit trickier as they get older,” says Justin Moran of Age Action. “Things such as hanging curtains, installing locks, a bit of painting or gardening.” See ageaction.ie/ how-we-can- help/ care-and- repair Also try: the Irish Charity Shops Association (icsa.ie) also list the charities nationwide which will collect donations from your home.
6 Get a handyman for small jobs
Galway-based Brian Carey has a background in service/electrical engineering, but can do any job from exterior lighting and bathroom refits to small fixtures and fittings. See galwayhandyman.com Also try: Onelinetradesmen.ie is a nifty way of getting a number of quotes from qualified tradesmen within a few hours. And the services they provide run the full gamut.
7 Paint the house
Brian Flanagan, based in Churchtown south Dublin, has put brush to paint at buildings such the Mansion House, but is also available for residential work. As a fourth-generation painter, Flanagan – according to his ever-expanding client base – can be relied on for friendliness and attention to detail. Tel. 01-2966150 or see brianflanaganltd.com.
8 Clean the windows
Much as their name suggests, We Wash Windows are experts in getting the outside of your home sorted for spring.
“After winter you will see plenty of activity with home owners busily preparing for what we hope will be a long, hot summer when external areas such as decks and patios become an important extension of your living space,” says Terry Lockyer of WeWashWindows.
“Keeping the exterior of your property clean and fresh is not only aesthetically pleasing but also makes good sense as it can also reduce maintenance costs, and in the long term avoid costly repair problems.”
From sorting gutters and clearing pathways to power-washing windows, WeWashWindows ensure that your house gives the right first impression. See wewashwindows.ie or telephone 01-2542774 or 041-9882787. Also try: GM Services in Cork offers window cleaning, roof/gutter cleaning and even roof painting. See gmservicecork.com
9 Assemble outdoor furniture
Flatpack.ie has been assembling furniture for more than seven years, and are the go-to guys if you want to give your garden a facelift with outdoor furniture. “The bulk of our work is based on Ikea furniture. Ikea has a huge display in the store at the moment pushing garden furniture and summer living,” says Jonathan of Flatpack.ie.
“Our service now includes shopping, delivering and assembling flatpack furniture. The customer sends us the Ikea codes for the items that they want. We go to Ikea and shop for the goods, deliver at a time of their choosing and also assemble the items if required. Who wants to spend an afternoon in Ikea and another few hours at home struggling with an Allen key when this can all be completed from the comfort of your couch?” Tel. 085-2718851 or see flatpack.ie. Also try: Flat Pack Solutions will tend to your assembly needs in Cork and beyond. See flatpacksolutions.ie.
10 Get rid of damp/mould
It stands to reason that, after the winter months, there may be slight mould/damp build up in your house. Often, this occurs when moisture and heat collide.
“My business is particularly busy after the winter as people realise that the effects of winter have left their home and gardens in a bit of a mess,” says Mark Wildor of Job Done Handyman services, 087-9831332, job-done.ie), who works in Cork and neighbouring counties.
“This year has been particularly busy dealing with garden sheds that need re-felting, dampness inside houses and green growth on exterior walls, from all that winter rain and storms we’ve had. I recommend adding anti-mould additives to paint for damp areas prone to black patches.
“My top tip is to make sure the insulation in the attic is spread out properly and evenly and not leaving any areas of the plasterboard exposed, as this can lead to condensation forming on the ceiling below, encouraging mould to form.” Also try: Horizon Preservation (horizonpreservation.ie) specialises in damp-proofing, mould remedy and condensation.
