8 Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Spring
Embrace spring with a few simple chores that, done in advance, will make your summer a warm, leisurely breeze. Here’s a check list to get your home ready for spring. If it all feels to daunting, get a little extra help!
1. Clean Windows
Interiors can be made summery with just washed windows that have sparkling-clean glass. Thoroughly wash your windows with an equal parts water-vinegar solution and a squeegee. Using coffee filters or newspaper to wipe will give you streak-free results. Avoid washing when the sun is hot and shining, it will dry too fast and there will be streaks.
2. Organize and Clean Garage
The best way to clean your garage is to take everything out and start with a empty space. Go thru the contents and make piles: what to pitch, donate and keep. While contents are removed, start cleaning. You can remove oil stains from your car using kitty litter, dish soap and a brush. Scrub light stains with dish liquid.
You can also use Griot’s Oil & Grease Cleaner for grease spots or the entire floor. It’s mild enough that it can be washed down the sewer. You could also opt to use this with a pressure-washing systems. You can rent these at Lowe’s and Home Depot and your floor will look like new. Spray the liquid, let set for 5 minutes and then spray with the pressure washer.
3. Next, Flip the Shed
Once your garage is clean, begin organizing its contents. Move snow blower, shovels, salt and skis, to the back and bring forward summer gear like sports equipment, lawnmowers, fertilizer, hose, sprinkler and garden tools. Have them upfront, organized and easily accessible, so you won’t be rummaging through the remnants of winter to access to your outdoor summer needs.
4. Freshen your airflow
Ensure a cool, cool summer. Replace your air conditioner’s filter or have your central air professionally checked. Remove lint from the hose attached to the back of the clothes dryer, dust radiators and vacuum refrigerator grill and coil.
5. Make room in your freezer
Empty your freezer and defrost it fully, melting any icy build-up. Do an audit of what’s in there, certain products lose texture and flavor over time, so throw out anything that’s been in there for too long. With the extra freezer capacity, you can stock up on ice pops.
From Backyard Living in Ridgewood, NJ.
6. Spruce up your deck or patio
Most patio cleaning can be tackled with warm, soapy water, a scrub brush and a hose – your deck, outdoor upholstery, furniture, walkways, and even your hammock. After cleaning and arranging your furniture, create a mood with outdoor lights, flowering planters, candles and pillows.
7. BBQ Boost
Give your barbecue a deep clean. Disconnect the gas, and clean with soapy water. Tackle the grill separately with a hard-wire brush – use oven or barbeque cleaner on particularly tough build-up. After cleaning, heat the barbeque, letting it run on high for about 10 minutes, before it cools fully. Finally, wipe the grates with a thin layer of cooking oil. Your grill may not sparkle like new, but you and your guests will enjoy better-tasting burgers.
8.Overwhelmed? Get Help!
If it all seems to overwhelming (it does to me!), recruit some good help. You can work side by side to relinquish the tasks to someone else! Quad Jobs. You can hire college students to help with any of the above tasks for a rate that you decide. Simply post the job and Quad Jobs will find a local student to come to your rescue.
