Springtime is coming up! The first day of spring is March 20th. So, with spring coming up, here are some ideas for getting your home ready for the bright blooms and rainy days ahead:
Clean your kitchen from top to bottom – literally
Often people clean horizontally (meaning you just clean the counters or the floors). When you clean from top to bottom, you catch many little spots that you may have missed.
Prepare your windows for sunshine
Remove any storm windows, clean and store them. Rinse your screens and scrub them. Clean both sides of your windows. Remove any cobwebs or dust from your skylights.
Now that it’s warming up, open some of your clean windows and let the fresh air in.
Additionally, take down and clean your blinds or drapes.
Finally, if you don’t have enough windows, consider getting more installed – or getting a skylight put in. We are about to get more natural light, and you should try to take advantage of it as much as possible.
Clean out the gutters
In preparing for rain it’s vital to have clean, free-flowing gutters.
Clean and repair your roof
Moss and algae thrive in the springtime. Get a jump on them by getting your roof cleaned, as well as getting any debris removed from your rooftop before the bugs and beetles really come into their own. Additionally, with the rain we get every year in the Pacific NW, it’s always a good idea to ensure your roof is in tip-top repair.
Get your chimney checked
A chimney can be a source of leaks into your home. Make sure to get it looked at and repaired as needed. Additionally, since the season for fires is ending, you can likely get your chimney cleaned now faster than you would have at the beginning of the season.
Make sure your sump pump is operating
Sump pumps can get clogged – and no one wants a wet basement. Make sure yours are prepared for rain.
Perform any safety checks
Ensure your alarms are working and have fresh batteries, your fire extinguisher is up to date and that you have a first aid kit in a handy location.
Freshen up your home’s exterior
Replace any rotted siding or trim. Get the exterior power-washed and get bids for painting. Additionally, you can replace dented gutters, change the type of shingles on your roof, etc. This would also be a great time to install a rain barrel for watering your yard on dry days.
Deep-clean your carpets and rugs
It’s a great time to deep-clean your carpets. You can get this done, or you can rent a machine and do it yourself.
These are some of our springtime ideas for the home. Do you have any spring cleaning/home maintenance traditions?