March Home Maintenance Checklist

March 1, 2018

As the transition month from winter to spring, March can bring snow, 70 degree days or both. Either way, warmer weather is right around the corner, so now is the time to freshen up your home with some spring cleaning and maintenance tasks.

Consider the following ideas to erase winter’s residue and get your home in top-notch shape this season.

  • Check your home’s exterior. Examine the outside of your home for signs of damage after winter’s storms have passed. Use binoculars to check the roof and high-altitude areas rather than climbing a ladder to do the inspection.
  • Set up outdoor furniture. Get a head start on the warm weather and bring your patio furniture out of storage, dust it off and go shopping for new or replacement pieces, as needed.
  • Clean the kitchen. Clear out the pantry, shine up the backsplash, wipe out the refrigerator and remove grime from appliances. Not only will your kitchen sparkle, it’ll be ready to prepare healthy spring meals.
  • Remove winter layers. Swap out heavy winter bedding for light-weight quilts and blankets. Exchange deep-pile rugs for flat-weave versions in brighter colors for the warmer months.
  • Freshen carpets, curtains and slip-covers. Launder washable curtains, furniture slipcovers, pillow shams and shower curtains. Send out heavy comforters for cleaning before placing them in storage.
  • Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans. Clean hard-to-reach pendant lights, chandeliers and fan blades using a vacuum with an attachment or a long-handled duster. Use a sturdy step ladder rather than a chair if you need to get closer to the fixture.
  • Revive your yard. Prepare for the lawn mowing season by removing branches and stones which may have accumulated over the winter. Pick up leaves and twigs using a lawn mower with a bag attachment. If you have rose bushes, prune them just after the final frost to remove any diseased buds and prevent the spread of fungus.

If you’re planning to sell your home this spring, you’ll want it to look its best. Contact your real estate agent for suggestions on any other repairs or improvements that will help to make your home picture perfect both inside and outside.