They tidied up, swept and washed and cleaned and in return got the nod from the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association for this year’s Sparkle Week.

The event which takes place the first week of every June, aims to encourage businesses to finish their spring cleaning to get ready for the summer and clean up after the winter.

Winning first place in the windows category was Taste of Hawaii Coffee Shop on Dewdney Trunk Road, with Lotus and Lemongrass gift shop, also on Dewdney, as runner up.

Winning the curb appeal category was Lava Dining and Lounge, with Joe Blow’s Seafood as runner up.

The winners were given $50 gift certificates from local businesses, while runners-up got $25 gift certificates and a “sparkle broom” to help keep things tidy.

All BIA businesses were invited to do a different cleanup chore around their business each day of Sparkle Week, whether it be cleaning sidewalks, washing signs and windows or creating displays.

Judges, though, noted many business owners got the idea and gave honourable mentions to Mark’s Work Wearhouse, Harris Leib Insurance, Trendy Tots, Pebbles Cafe, Quiltopia, La Trattoria, Partners in Health, Bodacious Baskets, Sweets, Monkey Business, Gingerly.

“I think we definitely had more people do it this year. It’s kind of friendly competition between business,” said Kelsea O’ Connor with the BIA.

She said it’s important for businesses to look welcoming to customers as they drive or walk by. “Curb appeal is really important because it gives a sense of variety to the downtown.” Window displays, meanwhile, give people an idea of what’s in their shop, she added.

Sparkle Week was preceded by a downtown-wide effort to powerwash the main sidewalks in the downtown area.

The BIA also launched its facade improvement program, businesses can get up to $10,000 to pay for half the cost of fixing up the front of a building, cleaning or painting it, repairing or replacing walls, windows and doors.

For this year, the BIA has $27,000 in the kitty for the purpose, with the municipality kicking in $12,000 and the BIA adding $15,000.

The BIA also is working on its Gateway Project, with banners welcoming motorists to the downtown at each end of Lougheed Highway and Dewdney Trunk Road.