You don't have to spend all your time indoors this spring – enjoy the weather and take your spring-cleaning outside! Have fun uncovering that summer furniture and preparing the outside of your home for summer entertaining.
During the winter, the garage tends to be a place where things seem to get stored. Separate items in piles depending on category. Gardening tools, winter equipment, sporting equipment and tools should all be separated. During the sorting process put into action the phrase "when in doubt, throw it out." Make a note of which items you use more often, such as the lawn mower, bikes and pool/beach items, and keep those items in a more convenient and easy to access location.
Check shrubs and trees for winter damage and prune accordingly. Remove deadwood or broken branches. Replant any shrubs that have come out of the soil during a freeze-thaw cycle. Give the yard a fresh look by cleaning mulch in the yard. Remove the top layer of mulch, pull any weeds and put down a fresh coat or your favorite mulching material. Plant some spring flowers and prepare pots for new plants and flowers. Some plants may have to be potted indoors so they start out healthy before moving outside. Mow the lawn if it is tall in some areas, but don't cut it as short as you normally would in the summer.
Sweep away leaves, dirt, and twigs that have accumulated over the winter from your patio, porch or deck. You may want to spray the area with a garden hose if the debris has piled up significantly or if it is difficult to remove. once the area is clean, tackle your outdoor furniture. Wipe down each piece with a wet cloth before applying your cleaning solution. With the right cleaning solution and a little elbow power, you can restore your outdoor furniture to its pre-winter condition.
Clean the grill to ensure a safe barbecue. If you use a gas grill, first you want to be sure the gas connection is still safe. Mix some dish soap and water and brush it onto the connection. If any bubbles form when you turn on the gas, you will know there is a leak and it is not safe. When using a gas grill or charcoal grill, the next step is to use a wire brush to get off as much of the baked-in grease and food that you can. Sometimes it is easier to do this if the grill is hot.
Now you re ready for the long lazy days of summer. Enjoy!