Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Experts recommend replacing batteries twice a year, and testing alarms each month.
Review your fire emergency plan.
Make sure everyone knows the best way to exit each room, and where to meet afterwards.
Check fire extinguishers to make sure they have not expired.
Scan for leaks in bathrooms and kitchens.
Look underneath sinks and make sure that plumbing fittings are secure.
Check washing machine hoses and fittings.
Any dry and brittle hoses should be replaced, especially before you leave on vacation. Verify that fittings are tight.
Clean bathroom vent fans.
Clean the clothes dryer vent.
The entire vent leading to the outside should be cleaned every year. A sign that it needs to be cleaned is when clothes take longer to dry.
Clean refrigerator coils.
Check grout and caulking in bathrooms.
Most experts recommend sealing grout every one or two years.
Check countertops to see if they need to be sealed.
Here's an article that explains which countertop materials require sealing to begin with, and how to tell when they're in need:
click here to read it.
Have fireplaces and chimney flues cleaned.
Check ventilation in the attic.
Make sure that exterior vents are not blocked, and that ventilation ducts leading to the outside have not become disconnected.
Flush sediment from the water heater.
Spring Exterior Maintenance
Replace rotten siding or trim.
If you can easily push a screwdriver into any wood, chances are it is due for replacement.
Clean gutters and downspouts.
Make sure downspouts channel water away from the foundation.
Check caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows.
Clean silt off of window sills.
Silt on window sills encourages water accumulation, which in turn leads to expensive decay problems if not corrected early.
Test automatic garage door openers.
Make sure that the automatic reverse safety feature works correctly.
Check the roof for any damage or wear.
Be sure to also inspect flashings around vents, chimneys, and skylights.
Pressure wash driveway and walkways.
Caulk around any openings that insects could use to gain entry.
This includes cracks and openings where wires or plumbing enter your home.
Cut back any foliage that comes into contact with your home.
Any plants that touch your home create an avenue that pests can use to invade your home.
Secure screens over attic and crawl space vents.
Remember, this is the season when birds and rodents are looking for a place to start a family! It's far better to keep them out than to have to get them out later.
Take photos of any evidence of cracking or shifting in the foundation or walls.
Comparing photos between years will help you track any conditions that may need to be addressed in the future.
Spring Indoor Plant Tips
Check the soil around your houseplants.
If the soil is dry and cracking, remove an inch or so and replace it with fresh, high quality soil.
Consider re-potting.
If you see roots poking out of the bottom, increase the pot size by about an inch. Make sure you loosen the roots when you put the plant in the new container.
Fertilize more frequently.
Use a half-strength liquid fertilizer every four weeks throughout the spring and summer.
Clean dusty houseplant leaves to improve photosynthesis.
If leaves are smooth, you can gently wipe both sides of each leaf with a soft damp cloth. Hairy leaves, such as those on African violets, should be dusted with a soft paintbrush or cosmetic brush.
Spring Outdoor Plant Tips
Trim back heather, some heaths, and old lavender blooms.
Cut the flower stems of these plants back to where the leaves are densely packed on the stem in order to not end up with a leggy, straggly-looking plant.
Remove old stalks and dead leaves from perennials.
It may be easier to use scissors for the thinner cuts, since they don't tire out your hands as quickly as hand pruners can.
Apply corn gluten to lawns to aid in weed control.
Bait for slugs.
Consider using a non-toxic bait, such as
Sluggo.
Weed!Never leave pulled weeds on the ground. They will simply send down new roots and end up as healthy as ever.
Maintain hydrangeas.
This includes taking off old blooms, as well as cutting out a few of the oldest, thickest canes if the bush is very full.
Mulch before perennials begin to grow above the surface of the soil.
You should only have to mulch every two to four years if you select a good mulch, and apply and maintain it properly.
Prune rose bushes.
Old rose bush leaves can harbor disease even through a cold winter, so always collect and dispose of rose clippings after you've pruned.
Buy bare root roses now in order to get the best selection.
Fill in low areas in your yard.
Plants are likely to grow best if you use native soil from another area of the same yard.
