Prep Your Home for Spring
Westboro
March 26, 2021
Richmond
April 8, 2021
Prep Your Home for Spring
It’s that time of year again! Things are warming up and new life is starting to pop up all over the place. The sun is out and the birds are singing, it’s finally spring again! Now is a great time to start prepping your yard for the summer, cleaning the inside and outside of your home and most importantly, it’s time to start enjoying time in the great outdoors once again! Check out these great tips on how to prep your home for spring!
Clean Your Gutters
Though cleaning your gutters doesn’t really sound like the most fun job to do, it really is important to keep your drainage working properly. Over the winter, rain gutters get clogged with leaves and pine needles and ice and then once it all melts, a lot of debris can get stuck. This also makes for a great spot for rodents and birds to nest. If you don’t clean your gutters, you could end up with a sagging eavestrough, mold growth and/or a wet basement. You will need a ladder to get up to check out your gutters, so make sure you have one tall enough. Check out this great article on how to clean your gutters at home.
Deep Clean Your Interior
It’s time to come out of the winter hibernation and give your home a good scrub. Before diving in to do your deep clean, you will want to remove any clutter that may be in the way. Too much clutter? Check out this great article on purging your things. A few places that often get missed when cleaning are faucets, inside drawers and closets, window treatments, shower doors, grout, hood fans, microwave, baseboards, ceiling fans, the list goes on! This awesome article will help you for figuring out what all needs to be deep cleaned in your home!
Wash Your Exterior
Don’t forget about the exterior! There are lots of things outside that also get overlooked. But, isn’t it great to be outdoors once again in the warm air! Cleaning or not, at least you get to enjoy some fresh air. A few great ideas for outside are taking a pressure washer to your siding, cleaning out the BBQ, washing the outside of your windows, washing down your deck or shed, cleaning window screens, washing the garage door and driveway.
Wash Your Car - Inside & Out
In the winter, it is so tough to keep your vehicle looking shiny and nice. With all the sand and ice and salt, your car always ends up being a lovely shade of grey. Springtime is great for getting out the garden hose and cleaning the car! It is a great idea to grab a vacuum and bring it to the interior of your car. There will most likely be a ton of dirt that needs to be sucked up. Once vacuumed, you will want to clean the glass and the interior. Depending on if you have cloth or leather seats, you will want to clean those properly. For a great article on cleaning your vehicle for spring, check out this link!
Test Your Smoke Detectors
Spring is also a great time to test out your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You will want to press and hold the test button on the detector and then you should hear a loud beep. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, it is time to replace your batteries. You should be changing your detector batteries every 6 months, but make sure to test them regularly. If your detector is getting old, it may be time for a new one. These units generally have a lifespan of about 10 years.
Switch up Your Decor
Spring is a great time for a change, and positive change can be reflected within your interior decor! Try out some pastels and fresh-cut flowers for your windowsill and coffee table. Swapping out the winter throw pillow covers and blankets is another easy way to add spring to your home! A fresh new centrepiece or table runner is also a great idea. It is also the perfect time to switch out the warm wintery sheets for something a little lighter. For a full guide on refreshing your decor for spring, check out this article. Happy decorating!
Prepare Your Garden
Get out the gloves and gardening gear! The first thing you will want to decide when preparing your garden for spring is if you want a raised or ground-level garden. If you are going the raised route, you will need to either purchase or DIY your raised bed. Your next step will be plan out and source your seeds. Do you want a vegetable or a flower garden? Which kinds of veggies or flowers do you want? Do you want a garden that showcases different flowers as the seasons change?
Check out this great post that explains which flowers bloom at each time of year.
Service Your Lawn Mower
It is a good idea to tune up your lawn mower after bringing it out of storage for the winter. A few simple things you can do to service it are: changing the oil, checking the spark plugs, sharpening the blades, filling the tank with fuel (and an extra gas tank or two), and lubricating the axles and controls. For a full list of tips on servicing your mower, check out this post.
Aerate & Seed Your Lawn
Spring is also a great time to prep your grass for the year. You will want to make sure to wait until the ground is moist and soft, rather than wet and muddy before you prep your lawn. It is a good idea to give your yard a quick mow to allow for a clean slate for aeration and seeding. You can aerate the soil using a push or pull aerator, or a spike aerator. Some people have even been known to jump stomp all over their yard wearing a pair of cleats (not sure we recommend this one). Once your lawn has been aerated, it is time to seed and fertilize. When choosing your grass seed, be sure to consider how much sun or shade your lawn receives when making your choice. Apply a generous amount of seeds, as according to the package. Once the seed has been spread, you will want to fertilize your lawn using a lawn spreader if possible. Once your lawn has been aerated, seeded and fertilized, it is time to water it and watch it grow!
Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
The winter can be hard on all things outdoors, including your patio furniture. Now is a great time to get out the hose or pressure washer and spray down your tables and chairs. If you have fabric cushions that need to be cleaned, here is a great article for doing so without ruining them. If the stains are just too hard to get out, maybe it is time for some new cushions instead.
We hope that you and your families are getting ready and excited for spring! It truly is an amazing time of year when new life and new growth are in the air. Sitting outdoors in the fresh air is always such a lovely treat after being stuck inside for so many months.
This is also a fantastic time to start thinking about either selling or purchasing a home. Now that we are exiting hibernation mode, it is time to start thinking about making changes. If you are looking to buy or sell, The Susan & Moe Team is here to help you navigate this competitive market.
Contact us for more information!
