Well, it might be April Fool’s Day, but our blog topic today is no joke! As we embrace spring and look forward to summer, there are some not-so-fun, but oh-so-important maintenance jobs that need to be considered around the house.

Trust me, I’d much rather get to the part where I’m deciding what color pansies and petunias to fill my window boxes with, or refreshing outdoor pillows with new spring fabrics. But to get to that kind of fun stuff, first we have to see what havoc winter may have wreaked on our outside spaces, and clean and/or repair any damage.

Here’s some tips for getting your home spring/summer ready:

       1. Clean out gutters - If you have rain gutters on your house, it's important to clean out leaves, sticks and other debris that may have fallen from the trees in the fall or found their way in during a wind storm in the winter. Not only will this allow spring showers to flow easily through the gutters, but it will cut down on potential mold in the gutters and near your roof line. 

       2. Rake out garden beds - Again, over the winter, leaves, sticks and gravel can settle in your flower and vegetable gardens. While these do make for good mulch over the winter, you'll want to rake these away from any structures (for example, if your garden bed is in front of your home, get the debris away from the foundation). At the same time loosen up the soil so that it's ready for planting! 

    3. Clean patio/deck furniture and surfaces - If you have a pressure washer, use it to clean outdoor chairs, tables and wood, cement, stone or composite or vinyl deck material. Getting rid of mold and mildew will help ensure that any new pillows or outdoor carpets you put down will also remain mildew-free. No pressure washer? A garden hose and some elbow grease will have the same result!

If you look around, there are probably some other outdoor projects that need attention. While they may not be the most enjoyable chores, getting these things done now, will ensure and bright, beautiful home for you, your family and friends to enjoy this summer!

Happy Spring!