Late-season snowstorms and deep freezes notwithstanding, #winter will end one day. Embrace the #spring by getting started now on a few tasks to ease your schedule when the #weather takes a turn for the better! Check your home’s exterior for roofing damage, peeling paint, rotten wood and loose siding, and take note of anything that looks like it’s in need of repair, TNT suggests. Inspect your pipes and schedule spring #cleaning. Continue to avoid the contagious illnesses that are in the air. And if there is anything you meant to do outdoors in the winter weather such as walking, skiing or snowshoeing, get on it before it’s too late. #EndOfWinter
Tag: spring clean-up
Get a Headstart on Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a tradition that’s likely as old as civilization itself. Certain cultures even incorporate spring cleaning into their religious practices, but the imperative is more likely a byproduct of brighter days and warmer weather. People naturally want to shake off the cold, dark days of winter and make a fresh start.
You don’t have to wait unit March 20 to begin a thorough spring cleaning, however. In fact, with unusually warm months ahead predicted for much of the U.S., it may feel like spring in your area sooner — and that means you can take advantage of the weather to make everything spotless.
The Simply Organized Home suggests starting spring cleaning in February — that’s now — with a thorough #decluttering. “There is no reason to start deep-cleaning if you are surrounded by clutter,” it says. “There is no point in cleaning things that you don’t need, use or love.”
Go through the house room by room and get rid of the things that are just taking up space — clothing you don’t want or need, small appliances you don’t use, knickknacks that hold no real sentimental value. Box and bag your lightly used castoffs and visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free #donation #pickup.
With that #junk out of the way, you can start #deep-cleaning. Take a single room and dust, vacuum and clean everything in it, from the window treatments to the windows to the linens to the baseboards to the floors. Proceed to the next room (not necessarily on the same day) until everything is clean.
Alternatively, Apartment Therapy has a single-day spring cleaning plan that refreshes bedding and household fabrics while also sanitizing windows, woodwork and other seldom-scrubbed parts of the home that may have accumulated dirt and grime over the winter.
Spring cleaning is a once-a-year opportunity to freshen your space and make it more livable. But you don’t have to wait — start it now, and you’ll be in a great position to fling open your windows and enjoy the gentle breezes.
It’s Finally Spring (Cleaning) Time
Spring begins — officially, at least — tomorrow, March 20. And the news couldn’t be more welcome for people in many parts of the country after enduring what turned out to be an unexpectedly severe and snowy winter.
As the temperatures warm and the days lengthen, however, you might discover that a few things on your late-winter to-do list have gone undone. After another cold, snowy day, you may have decided the couch was too comfy to leave and binged Netflix instead of starting a new project.
Now’s the time to shake off those winter doldrums and snap into action. There is no time like right now — the very start of spring — to begin a spring-cleaning plan. Wait, and you might miss a perfect summer day.
The weather is just getting good enough for you to begin a thorough, whole-house deep-cleaning. Start with the windows; recipes for a cleaning solution vary (dish soap or vinegar and water are two good options), but authorities including Clean Mama agree that using a squeegee and lots of rags is the best plan of attack.
Once the windows are clean, the spring sunlight will reveal just what else might need a deep-cleaning. Pick a mild day and fling open those windows, then go room by room and dust from the top down, clearing cobwebs, moving to flat surfaces such as shelves and tables, and finally, vacuuming.
Once you’ve dusted and vacuumed, wash all of the linens that have been busy catching winter dirt, including throw rugs, bed linens and blankets. Vacuum and/or shampoo any upholstered furniture that has gotten dingy and dirty during the darkest nights.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that has piled up in the last six months, set aside some time to #declutter as you clean, the Sylvane blog says. “Clutter has psychological influences. It signals to your brain that work isn’t done.”
Put that decluttered extra stuff in boxes and bags and contact ClothingDonations.org for a donation pickup. It only takes a few minutes to arrange, and takes most of the hassles out of decluttering. Plus, the donation is tax-deductible.
Finally, wash and wipe all of the hard surfaces inside your home: backsplashes, counters, cabinets and appliances in the kitchen and bathrooms, wood and tile floors, and utility shelves. Feeling ambitious? Powerwash the garage floor and deck.
Starting is the hard part, but the beginning of spring provides a fantastic reminder that a deep-clean may be in order. Once you begin, you’ll be able to shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy a fresh, decluttered space all season long.
Prepare Your Soil for Spring Planting
The second step in getting your garden ready for the growing season is to prepare the soil. Wait until your soil is dry, then till the garden areas 8 to 12 inches deep, removing rocks and other debris; mix in organic matter such as compost or manure to nourish it. Many kitchen by-products can help nourish your garden, too, says Beekman 1802. Coffee grounds, for example, are full of nitrogen, which in aids plant growth, and eggshells can prevent root rot. Leftover cooking water (at room temperature, of course) adds nutrients, and a spritz of chamomile tea will ward off funguses produced by moist spring weather.
Declutter the Garden to Get It Ready for Spring
Spring is almost here (at least on the calendar), and most areas of the country will soon warm beyond the overnight frost. That means that it’s time to start preparing your garden for a fruitful growing season. Like any area of your home, the garden will only flourish with a little forethought to tidying up. The first thing to do is to remove debris and clutter such as decaying leaves, weeds and invasive plants, Huffpost says. It’s “also a good time to sharpen your garden tools, if needed, because you’re going to require them for plant maintenance and soil care.”