Here comes the warmer weather. It’s time to break out the bikes, swap out your heavy winter bedsheets for lighter “spring-friendly” ones, and start thinking about summer just around the bend.
Springtime is also a good time to start seriously thinking about doing some major housekeeping. Chances are, you did not think about taking too much care of the exterior of your home, your roof, or undergoing any serious decluttering work while the days were short, and the sky was frosty. That’s okay! There is no better time to whip out the mop and broom and get started on some housekeeping when the snow finally melts. Depending on where you live, that might not be first thing in March, but you can get started whenever works for you or when the average temperature is finally starting to feel a bit more like spring!
Tip #1: Time to declutter.
Spring is always the best time to “start anew.” Commonly, spring is associated with new beginnings, and for good reason. The weather is warming up, the snow is beginning to melt, and it just feels right to take on a good spring decluttering project. This not only helps keep your house in tip-top shape, but it can promote and preserve your own wellness. We all know how much easier it is to focus on the present when our homes are spick and span.
Decluttering doesn’t take that long and it can really open up your space, helping you to get rid of all the things you do not need any longer and neaten up the things you own that you wish to keep. Empty out your fridge, clean it, and organize it. Go through your closets and determine which clothes you want to keep, and which might be better off donated. Have a room that’s been piled high with boxes and bins? Take a breath and clear it out. You can organize once everything is laid out in front of you. The best way to doing this is to separate items into piles of keep on hand, put in storage, donate, sell, or trash.
Tip #2: Hop on those seasonal chores.
Those seasonal chores may be the most arduous tasks, but it is a good idea to get them over with as soon as you can. Seasonal chores may include clearing out your gutters (essential for allowing that spring meltwater to flow through!) or doing a roof inspection. You can take the time to do a once-over of your entire home, especially parts that may have been “hibernating” through the winter. Assess any trees on your property for damages that may need to be inspected by a professional, or any outbuildings you own that may need to be looked at. Take the time to wash the windows – both inside and out! If your oven has been used a lot during the winter months for some cozy soul food, it might be a good opportunity to give it a deep clean.
Tip #3: Get home insurance!
Many people balk on home insurance because of the added cost and the fact that it can sometimes feel as if it is intended for folks whose cash is burning holes in their pockets. In reality, home insurance is nothing next to the amount of money that you would need to pay outright for rebuilding or repairing if your home was damaged or destroyed entirely due to an unforeseen disaster.
Home insurance does not come in a single, neatly-wrapped package – it needs to be tailored to fit the budget requirements and coverage needs of every family and their home. An urban home in Vancouver may require higher coverage limits to reflect the increased replacement cost of the property, whereas home insurance in Oshawa may need to protect homeowners against the risks that come with living on a shoreline – adjacent to a large body of water. Naturally, an insurance broker would be your best resource for advice on what coverage is most helpful for you.
However, home insurance isn’t the be-all, end-all – you still need to look after your home. Moreover, home insurance can cost more if you have made numerous claims in the past, so you will want to preserve your future premiums by making claims only where necessary!
Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to hire a professional.
Sometimes, you need an extra hand. If there are aspects of your housekeeping chores that may need a professional eye, don’t be afraid to enlist the help of one! This is particularly helpful if your roof is starting to see its years and is gradually wearing out and you want to ensure it isn’t at risk of any water damage, mold growth or seepage, or if your trees are looking a little worse for the wear after a winter of particularly heavy snowfall. A roofer and an arborist, respectively, may be great for the task and can give you advice on what next steps to take.
Tip #5: Lay it all out.
Housekeeping – never mind a full-on spring-cleaning project – can be a seriously daunting task. When you try to keep all the odds and ends together, it can feel like too much. To spare yourself from going absolutely crazy, try to lay your housekeeping plan out on paper. List it out room-to-room. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, hallways, living room, and outdoors. Include appliances, inspections of your home’s plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems, decluttering, sweeping, etc.
There are so many spring-cleaning checklists and guides out there online, ranging from simple and traditional to detailed and complex! If you feel as though you are missing out on several crucial chores, it isn’t such a bad idea to go through a pre-constructed list as an example.
Now that you’ve read all our springtime housekeeping tips, it’s time to get cracking. Goodluck!
