by Dane
O’Leary
As another long winter (finally) winds to a
close, it’s time to think about letting out some of that stale and stagnant
air, doing some spring cleaning to give your home a freshening-up, and of
course getting some routine maintenance done. With mild weather right around
the corner, your home is mostly likely in need of some upkeep in preparation
for the hot summer. Here’s a list of maintenance essentials for you to get your
home ready for spring.
Starting at the Top
Perhaps the best
place to begin your spring maintenance is on the roof. Winter tends to be a
punishing time for your home’s roof, especially those years when snowfall is
heavier and more frequent than others. The dawning of mild warmth is the
perfect time to get up there and check things out. Chances are that you
probably already know if you have a leak — one of those things you usually have
to learn the hard way — so you can take steps to get your roof back in tip-top
shape. In particular, you’ll also want to look for shingles that are loose,
broken, or missing and need to be replaced.Starting at the Top
via Gutter Supply |
On
the Ground
Once your roof is in good shape again, you
can take your battle to the ground. In particular, you want to look at all your
landscaping and shrubbery that hasn’t gotten any attention for six months or
more. Spring is a great time for weeding. The
soil is moist, but it’s not too cold so all those pesky weeds should slide
right out of the ground. It’s also a good idea to trim back any dead annuals
and perennials if you didn’t already do that in the fall. If your plants have
been occupying the same areas for several years, it might be a good idea to mix
some fertilizer into your gardens and flowerbeds so that new growth has plenty
to eat.
Fresh
Paint
You’ve tended to your roof and gutters,
given your gardens a trim and prune. Now it’s time to consider giving your home
a fresh coat of paint. If you paint your home’s exterior, this is probably the
first painting project you’ll want to tackle since it’s the biggest. On the
inside, it’s probably not necessary to paint your entire home, but it’s definitely a good idea to paint key areas
like the kitchen and bathrooms since these areas see a lot of moisture and
build-up of miscellaneous airborne funk.
via The Guardian |
Rooms like the office, living room, and
bedrooms don’t necessarily need a fresh coat of paint, but if you’re ambitious
it certainly wouldn’t hurt. If you’d rather not paint those rooms, you could
consider giving the walls a good once-over with a hot, soapy rag. Just make
sure you ring the excess water from your cleaning cloth before putting it to
the walls so that it’s not totally saturated. This is a great way to get all
the dust and build-up off your walls while also making your paint more vibrant.
It’ll look almost like you’ve give your entire house a fresh coat of paint.
Spring
Cleaning
Last but certainly
not least is the infamous springtime cleaning extravaganza. This is one of the
most notorious cleaning sprees known universally throughout our entire culture.
Though most of us aren’t enthusiastic about cleaning, there’s something
unquestionably invigorating about getting rid of excess clutter, re-organizing,
vacuuming, shampooing carpet, and moving fall and winter decor back into the
attic. Perhaps it’s fueled by the excitement of summer being just around the
corner or anticipation of not wearing socks for the foreseeable future.
via Sustainable Lafayette |
*****
Dane O'Leary is a writer for Modernize.com. Visit their website to find inspiration for your home. If you are in the U.S. this site is also a great resource to connect with home improvement professionals in your area.