10 Top Home & Self Improvements During COVID-19 Quarantine in Florida

Well I don't think any of us were expecting a major pandemic this year. Personally I've never experienced anything like it in my life. All I can tell you is 2 years ago I contracted influenza B. It took me 3 weeks before I was able to stand upright and a full 60 days before I started feeling human again. During this time my immune system was severely compromised and I contracted the flu 2 more times within 18 months.

So YES, I'm that person sitting isolated in my home dousing everything with Lysol, bleach, or any chemical I deem worthy of eradicating the invisible enemy. And YES, I'm also wearing my favorite face mask at home, alone. After being repeatedly sick, I ordered neck gaiters which I pull over my nose and mouth a little over a year ago. I've worn them every day since. And guess what!? I haven't gotten ill since I started this weirdness. Worn around my neck, I'll just pull it over my face if someone is showing signs of sickness, or if I'm in a crowd.

Anyhow enough of my virus OCD. I wanted to share with you a few projects I've been putting off until now.

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1. Lawn & Garden. Even if you live in a community with an HOA that maintains your yard, you can still plant potted plants or start a small spice garden. I've grown some amazing tomatoes and basil on my balcony with Miracle-Gro with wall planters I've attached to the railings with zip ties. And with Amazon delivering to your front door, you can find everything from small to enormous wall planters. Variety packs of seeds and even potting soil.

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2. Organizing Photos & Digitizing Media. I can't tell you how many boxes of old negatives, VHS and weird sized home movie tapes... (and what are these super small half sized DVD's?) I've found. I've unearthed droves of old photos too. 60 Minutes Photo offers full digitization to media of your choice. Flash, SD card or DVD. They can also make canvas, metal, acrylic and photo enlargements of any print or digital photo you have in your possession. Family owned for over 40 years, 60 Minutes Photo cares for your memories unlike a big box store and the quality surpasses any other service I've used in the past.

Here's another really cool thing they do. PUZZLES! Did you know that there is price gouging going on in puzzle sales right now, as high as $60.00 (are you kidding me?) due to this crazy COVID-19 insanity? Well not at here.

60 Minutes Photo will create a custom photo puzzle for you online with a digital photo from your phone or computer. Custom puzzles make great gifts too for only $24.95.

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3. Cleaning House. I don't know about you, but my morning routine now consists of spraying everything from door handles to light switches and microwave keypads with disinfectants like Lysol. Don't forget to wipe down the Keurig coffee maker also. Anything that gets touch by more than one person needs cleaned at least once a day!

 
I've extended my cleaning habits to include using a swifter on all my ceiling fans, closet doors and replacing AC and the water filter on my refrigerator. Stainless steel appliances have seen a new sheen with a quick spray of WD-40 and a good wipe down. Glass shower doors are crystal clear after scrubbing with CLR and slow draining drains are a non-issue after dumping Draino down the shoot. Toilet bowls are sparkling and I've even found an amazing grout cleaner. That's how freaking bored I am at the moment.

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4. Redecorating. Shy of talking to myself, I've taken down dated decor and patched and repainted walls for a nice blank pallet. I've researched color schemes on Pinterest and Houzz, brought home sample paint colors from Home Depot and I'm now creating an updated color pallet and decor that I love. I've sorted through my photos and have decided to convert my color pix to black & whites. In my boredom I've taken apart all of the frames, cleaned the glass and sprayed them black with a good Krylon paint. But you could pick your own color! It's all about you right now. Be happy and let your creativity shine.

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5. Vehicle Detailing. I never realized how incredibly neglected and dirty my vehicles were. From my car to bicycles and my Harley Davidson... yuck. I should be ashamed. But now is the time to thoroughly clean and wax the beasts. I absolutely love my Dyson cordless vacuum for the car. When the interior shines and the leather has been restored with a good coat of Armour All, the windows are cleaning in and out and the tires and rims are factory fresh, there's nothing that beats that feeling. As for my other modes of transport, the Harley has been detailed down to using Q-Tips. But skip the Armour All on the bike because it's just to slippery. The bicycles are now the most used mode of transportation since the gym is by the wayside. I've found myself using WD-40 on the chain often logging in over 100 miles week. I'm sure there's a better product, but for now both of the Cannondale's are doing just fine with this minimal maintenance.

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6. Flooring. Often neglected, carpet, tile and whatever else you're walking on. For me it's ceramic and fibers. I highly recommend gel grout cleaner which sinks into the porous surface and is mopped up when dry, leaving floors looking new. I picked up a Bissel deep clean carpet cleaner with a wand accessory for smaller areas. 

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7. Hone Your Cooking Skills. I've been trying new recipes and shopping at Trader Joe's because their COVID-19 protocols seem to be significantly more stringent than their competitors. Did you know that Trader Joe's website has an entire recipe section? Some of my new favorites are spinach & artichoke sweet potato gratin, and a close second is eggplant rollatini, using herbs from my balcony garden (see Tip #1).  With the shortage of eggs, I found Trader Joe's pint of pre-cracked egg product which does the trick just fine.

Sprouts is another one of my new favorite grocery stores. Some how they've fallen off the radar for panicked Coronavirus zombies. I scored some awesome fresh frozen salmon, shittake mushrooms, greens and rice. Holy cow, yes rice.... which is almost as rare as TP and paper towels. I absolutely love salmon with fresh ground pepper, salt and thinly sliced mushrooms encrusted, pan fried and served over rice with fresh greens. 

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8. Revamping Your Wardrobe. It's amazing how many items of clothing I don't wear and how a few additions to my closet have expanded the looks I can create (WHEN) I get back to work. Notice I did not say IF. I've boxed up items I haven't worn in awhile and donated them to a charitable organization. I absolutely love these new neck gaiters which double as face shields or masks. They come in beautiful patterns... and for the men, camo is in stock too.

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9. Bathroom & Kitchen Caulking.

OK this is probably my least favorite of all the things I'm currently doing to my home. I've carefully removed all old caulking with a utility knife, thoroughly cleaned the area and re-applied fresh caulk.

There are some great youtube videos that will help you complete this task without all the mess.

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10. Reading. After all that blood, sweat and tears of home improvement hacks, isn't it time to grab a nice glass of wine, sink into your favorite chair and devour a great novel? When was the last time you read something for enjoyment? Well it's time. A good book will clear your mind and take you to another place. Below are links to a few great books I've read in the past month. ENJOY!!!

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Denise Copeland is a 30+ year resident of Jupiter Abacoa  / Palm Beach Gardens area and has extensive local knowledge of everything from the housing market, schools and events. 

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Denise Copeland
Licensed Real Estate Professional since 1991

Specializing in the Jupiter & Palm Beach Gardens Areas.

HOME SALES PALM BEACH
2562 W. Indiantown Road #4
Jupiter, FL 33458

ph: 561-308-0007

www.JupiterOceanProperties.com

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Essential Reading for Home Buyers