Some tips for an epic man cave

Creating a great man cave takes some planning. There are some things you definitely won’t forget – like the biggest TV your space can handle – but there are also things you want to remember – like a pool table or kegorator.

Sharon McCormick, of Sharon McCormick Designs, gave some tips on how to design a perfect space to watch the game.

One of the first things beside the TV you want to think about is seating.

How many people do you wish to seat comfortably in the room? If it’s a basement, you may have room for multiple couches or chairs. If it’s a smaller room, maybe a sectional would do the trick.

“Invest in comfortable seating like recliners or a large sectional sofa that will fit all of your fellow basketball fans,” McCormick said. “Support your back with team pillows for even more comfort. Bean bag chairs or floor pillows accommodate the younger spectators. An upholstered ottoman serves doubleduty – put your feet up or serve snacks on a tray.”

Besides a perfect high resolution TV, you want to consider the entire entertainment system. You will probably want to equip the room with a surround sound system, soundbar or a full-fledged home theater system, especially since you’ll want to hear the action.

Want the room not to feel like your average space?

“Add masculine touches to the space with sports memorabilia and other decor that reflects your interests and hobbies,” McCormick suggested. “Use a lighted display case if you have a large collection. Frame jerseys, caps, autographs, team coins and ticket stubs. Shadow boxes of helmets and balls placed on lighted floating shelves will wow your friends.”

Another aspect of the room you’ll want to consider is lighting.

“Lighting plays an important role in setting the mood of your man cave. Install dimmer switches or smart lighting controls to adjust the brightness according to your preferences. Adjustable pin lights will make your wall décor pop. Wall sconces and decorative ceiling lights add ambiance. Theme table and floor lamps can add a touch of humor,” McCormick said.

When it comes to drinks and snacks, you’ll want to be well-stocked and prepared. No one wants to miss the action because they were in the kitchen getting a fresh beer. Build a bar into the room, especially with a kegorator. You’ll also want a minifridge or refrigerator drawers along with cabinets, dishwasher and a stone sink. Some plush, upholstered bar stools will add extra seating to the room.

If you have enough space, it can be great to add a few extra entertainment options. This can include a foosball table, pool table or dartboard.

It’s a great way to pass the time during commercials or before the game.

They may be clutch for letting air inside while keeping bugs out, but when window screens get dirty, they can make your whole home look and feel dingy. Here, we’ve collected the top expert tricks for how to clean window screens – whether you’re looking for a quick-and-easy method or a real deep clean.

Screens take the brunt of both indoor and outdoor airborne particles – air passing through deposits everything from dirt and dust to pollen, cobwebs, fur, hair and even mold and fungus. And because screens are basically made up of thousands of tiny corners and crevices, grime has a lot of tough-to-clean surface area to cling to.

“Window screens really do pose a unique cleaning challenge,” says professional house cleaner Eliana Coca of Echo House Cleaning in

Massachusetts. “They act as traps for all sorts of outdoor pollutants and come with a risk of damage during cleaning, which further complicates the task.”

Luckily, the methods below are safe for all screen types and easy enough for anyone to do at home.

HOW TO CLEAN FROM INSIDE

This method works great for cleaning screens from inside your house, as well as any you can reach from the outside, but may leave the exterior-facing side of your upper floorscreens with some dirt. (You might have to consider removing those for a thorough clean!)

First, you’ll want to start by taking out your vacuum. “Use the brush attachment and swipe it over the screen from the top down to remove most of the larger particles, debris and cobwebs,” suggests Katie Barton, head of cleaning for Homedit.com. “This works better than wiping the screens to start because it prevents a lot of that collected dirt from being sent airborne and into the rest of your home.”

Next, grab a couple buckets and set up your cleaning solution. “Fill one bucket with warm water and add five to six drops of liquid dish soap,” says Coca. “Take a microfiber cloth and use it to apply the soap mixture to the screen – wring it out so it’s just damp, not soaking wet. This avoids water damage to the sill and minimizes the risk of screen damage while effectively removing surface dirt.”

The other bucket can contain just plain warm water: Use a second cleaning cloth dampened in the water to wipe the screen down after cleaning with the soapy cloth to remove any suds and remaining dirt. And you’re done!

FOR REMOVABLE SCREENS

You can use the same cleaning solution as above, but add a cup of white vinegar to the mix – the mild acids in the vinegar help break down stuck-on dirt and grime and even work some mild antibacterial and antifungal magic.

Many removable screens will just pop out from the inside.

After removing the screens, experts recommend either working outside on a clean, flat surface like a deck, patio or driveway, or cleaning the screens one at a time by placing them flat in your bathtub.

“Apply the cleaning mixture using a damp microfiber cloth, then let it sit for 15 minutes, so the vinegar can work to break down the dirt,” says professional cleaner Coty Williams, founder of

Maids in Eden in Chicago. “Next, take a soft-bristle brush and gently scrub both sides of the screen until all visible dirt has been removed. If you’re working outside, you can rinse them off using your hose; in your tub, use your shower head.”

Let the screen dry completely before placing back in the window.

Also, if you own a pressure washer, that can be a viable way to both deeply and quickly clean your screens.

FOR A FAST CLEANING

While this won’t get rid of stubborn stuck-on dirt and grime and isn’t a replacement for a real cleaning, in a pinch you can always try one of these methods:

“A can of compressed air – the kinds they sell to clean electronic equipment – can blow away loose dirt and debris from the screen in seconds,” suggests Sabrina Tretyakova, an ISSA-certified cleaning expert with Fortador. “Just open the window, aim the can outside and move it back and forth, starting from the top down. You also only want to use this method from the inside facing out, otherwise you’ll be blowing a bunch of dust into your home.”

Another option is to use a lint roller: simply swipe it over the screen and it will pick up a good amount of surface dirt.

AVOIDING ‘SCREEN BURN’

Most window screens are made from nylon, but some people still stick with old-school aluminum ones due to their increased durability. And while they do last longer than their nylon cousins, aluminum screens have one major downside:

They oxidize. You’ll know this has happened if you see your screens developing a white powdery substance on them – and if you leave them that way for too long, that oxidation can transfer onto the glass on your windows.

“Prevention is key here,” says Alex Varela, general manager at Dallas Maids. “Unfortunately, if you allow screens to oxidize, the only real way to remove it is through the use of strong chemicals and that should only be done by a professional.”

To avoid the issue in the first place, simply remove your screens during cold-weather seasons, since winter weather speeds up the oxidation process. Before putting them away, wipe them down with either pure white vinegar or ammonia and let dry; then repeat before hanging them back up in the spring.