Spring might be around the corner, but February can still bring plenty of chilly weather. (Yes, even in SoCal!) Some of the chilliest of the season, in fact. So that makes this month the perfect time to knock out some more of those indoor tasks to get your home ready for warmer times.

Realtor.com created a handy checklist of home maintenance tasks to give your home a lift in February. And if you’re struggling to muster up the energy to tackle these chores, we’ve provided tips for how to do them faster and easier—or with the help of a pro. (Source: Realtor.com)

Follow us @carealestategroup for more February Tasks and Shortcuts!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

CA REAL ESTATE GROUP | CALIBER REAL ESTATE

Spring might be around the corner, but February can still bring plenty of chilly weather. (Yes, even in SoCal!) Some of the chilliest of the season, in fact. So that makes this month the perfect time to knock out some more of those indoor tasks to get your home ready for warmer times.

Realtor.com created a handy checklist of home maintenance tasks to give your home a lift in February. And if you’re struggling to muster up the energy to tackle these chores, we’ve provided tips for how to do them faster and easier—or with the help of a pro. (Source: Realtor.com)

Follow us @carealestategroup for more February Tasks and Shortcuts!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

CA REAL ESTATE GROUP | CALIBER REAL ESTATE

Spring might be around the corner, but February can still bring plenty of chilly weather. (Yes, even in SoCal!) Some of the chilliest of the season, in fact. So that makes this month the perfect time to knock out some more of those indoor tasks to get your home ready for warmer times.

Realtor.com created a handy checklist of home maintenance tasks to give your home a lift in February. And if you’re struggling to muster up the energy to tackle these chores, we’ve provided tips for how to do them faster and easier—or with the help of a pro. (Source: Realtor.com)

Follow us @carealestategroup for more February Tasks and Shortcuts!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

CA REAL ESTATE GROUP | CALIBER REAL ESTATE

It’s time to look ahead to spring because home maintenance extends into beautifying your yard and garden! Swipe thru and let’s THINK GREEN! (Source: Realtor.com)

Stay tuned and follow us for more Tasks and Shortcuts in February!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

Home maintenance tasks aren’t going to be any easier at the start of a new year than they were during the holiday bustle of December. Still, homes must be maintained, even in January. Why? It’s always easier and cheaper to do home maintenance than to repair a home—sometimes to the tune of thousands of dollars.

Since we’re all about saving you time and money, every Monday, we’ll cover a home maintenance tasks that should be completed this month—plus tips for how to do them faster and easier, or with the help of a pro. So take a deep breath and dive into those chores. The good news? Many are inside chores, so you have no “It’s too cold!” excuses. (Source: Realtor.com)

Follow us @carealestategroup for more January Tasks and Shortcuts!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

Inside January 2026 Homeowner’s Update:

  1. Easy Home Efficiency Moves That Pay You Back
  2. All About Transitional Decor
  3. HOA 101
  4. Eliminating Dryer Odors Is a Breeze
  5. Recipe:  Kicked-Up Lentil Stew

Home maintenance tasks aren’t going to be any easier at the start of a new year than they were during the holiday bustle of December. Still, homes must be maintained, even in January. Why? It’s always easier and cheaper to do home maintenance than to repair a home—sometimes to the tune of thousands of dollars.

Since we’re all about saving you time and money, every Monday, we’ll cover a home maintenance tasks that should be completed this month—plus tips for how to do them faster and easier, or with the help of a pro. So take a deep breath and dive into those chores. The good news? Many are inside chores, so you have no “It’s too cold!” excuses. (Source: Realtor.com)

Follow us @carealestategroup for more January Tasks and Shortcuts!

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

Oosouji is the Japanese tradition of end-of-year cleaning that literally means “great cleansing,” and has its roots in Shinto beliefs. The Oosouji became a means of purifying one’s environment to welcome the New Year and the kami (Shinto spirits or deities). The ritual also symbolizes the end of bad experiences, regrets and failures of the past year, paving the way for a new beginning.

Oosouji is much more than a routine house-cleaning. It’s an exhaustive cleaning of the entire house, where every nook and cranny is carefully treated. From windows to baseboards, from the underside of furniture to the back of appliances, nothing is left to chance. Japanese families take this task very seriously, and it’s common to see all members actively participating in the housework.

The process also involves the sorting and elimination of unnecessary or cumbersome items, reflecting the Japanese concept of “mottainai,” which expresses regret at waste. This step creates a more uncluttered and serene space, ready to welcome in the New Year. In the offices, old papers are discarded and files reorganized. As for the students, they tidy up their desks, taking part in the collective purification effort.

HOW TO PERFORM OOSOUJI AT HOME

Here practical advice for integrating this spirit of deep cleaning into your end-of-year routine:

  • Planning and preparation: Set a date for your big clean and prepare all the necessary tools in advance.
  • Zoning: Divide the work by dividing your home into several zones, either by room or by category of object.
  • Decluttering: Take the opportunity to sort through your belongings and get rid of unnecessary items.
  • Deep cleaning: Clean every nook and cranny, including often overlooked areas such as behind appliances or the tops of cupboards.
  • Organization and tidying: Reorganize your spaces to create a more functional and serene environment.

Don’t hesitate to involve all family members in this process, as the Japanese traditionally do. This can be an excellent opportunity to prepare together for New Year’s Day in Japan (their biggest holiday), creating an atmosphere conducive to celebration and renewal.

TIPS ON HOW TO CLEAN

  • From top to bottom. Start with the heights of the furniture and gradually go down to the final step, which is sweeping and mopping the floors.
  • Follow clockwise. The goal is to start and finish in the same place to have the feeling of having closed a circle.
  • Use boxes and try to donate. That’s better than throwing away. You never know which person is going to use something that you no longer need.
  • Have trash bags on hand. It is to easily throw away everything that we do not need and the dirt that we have removed.
  • Fix little things. A snag on a cushion, a stain on a carpet or a scratch on a piece of furniture. Fixing those small details goes a long way. Damage affects our mood.
  • Let the whole house participate. Never decide about the personal belongings of your family members; let each person decide for themselves.

ADAPTING OOSOUJI:  LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Although Oosouji is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, its principles can be adapted and appreciated in other cultural contexts. The idea of an annual cleansing as a means of purification and renewal can be universally appealing. It offers an opportunity for reflection and refocusing, while creating a clean and orderly environment for the year ahead.

In an international context, Oosouji can be seen as a practice of mindfulness and gratitude towards one’s living space. It can be combined with other end-of-year traditions, such as the festival of seven herbs (Nanakusa no sekku), to create a meaningful personal or family ritual. The key is to capture the spirit of Oosouji: a moment of pause to clean up, tidy up, and prepare mentally and physically for a fresh start.

By adopting certain aspects of Oosouji, we can not only improve our physical environment, but also cultivate an attitude of respect and gratitude towards our living space. This practice can help us to leave behind negative energies, as the Japanese symbolically do, and welcome the New Year with a renewed spirit and harmonious environment.

Sources:
  1. I.D.O. “Ôsôji: Japanese-Style Cleaning.” Japan Experience, Japan Experience, 18 May 2024, www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/understanding-japan/osoji-le-grand-nettoyage-a-la-japonaise. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
  2. “Oosouji. The Japanese Method to Clean Your House.” Home Healthy Home, Home Healthy Home, home-healthy-home.com/en-gb/blogs/blog/oosouji-el-metodo-japones-para-limpiar-la-casa-que-cada-vez-siguen-mas-personas. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.

Christmastime can be a little chaotic, a little messy, and the addition of new toys and other gifts might make your home feel extra cluttered.

Having a concrete post-holiday cleaning and organizing strategy BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS can help make the holidays feel less messy and more relaxing! If you love and are motivated by checklists, this one’s for you!

Follow us for more home maintenance tips, real estate advice, and fun family ideas at @carealestategroup — we are more than just real estate!
———–
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
Christine Almarines @christine_almarines,📱 714-476-4637, DRE #01412944
Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor,📱 949-391-8266, DRE #02179675
Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate,📱 562-879-4181, DRE #02174000

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

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