March Home To-Do List

Laura Gaskill

The first official day of spring is March 20. So whether there’s still snow on the ground or flowers in bloom, you can rest assured that nicer weather is on its way. Usher in the new season with a bit of spring cleaning, some fresh flowers and — if you can get outdoors — a little dirt under your fingernails.

Lauren Ramirez Styling & Interiors

Things to Check Off Your List in an Hour or Less

1. Make mirrors and table lamps shine. Use a duster or soft rags to remove dust from table lamps and wipe down mirrors with a damp microfiber cloth. These freshened-up surfaces will enhance the light throughout your space.

Mailen Design

2. Refresh the entryway. As the weather thaws, begin putting away mittens and wool hats and make room for those mucky spring boots. Clean or replace the doormat, clear off the hooks (or hangers, if you have a coat closet) and be sure to put out an umbrella holder stocked for spring showers. A clean boot tray lined with river stones will help water drain away from your footwear.

Nick Callaghan Photography

3. Remove winter layers. Feeling a bit stifled under a pile of thick duvets? Swap out heavy winter bedding for lighter-weight quilts and coverlets. Also consider changing deep-pile rugs for flat-weave or natural-fiber versions for the warmer months.

Coverlet, Duvet, Quilt, Comforter: What’s the Difference?

James Hardie Building Products

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Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

4. Clean up patio furniture. Outdoor furniture can get really grimy over the winter, so be sure to give everything a good scrubbing before you start using it for the season. Launder washable outdoor cushion covers and replace worn-out pieces if needed.

5. Tune up lawn and garden tools. Sharp tools get the job done. Take your lawn mower and clippers in for a sharpening and tuneup before you begin work in your garden. 

Browse outdoor pillows and cushions

Arkitekturfotograferne / Martin Tørsleff

6. Clean slipcovers and soft furnishings. Smaller slipcovers and washable rugs can be laundered at home; drop off larger pieces with professionals. When laundering items at home, be sure to read the instructions carefully and err on the side of caution. Most items such as curtains and slipcovers can be put back while damp — for the best fit and to prevent wrinkles.

7. Dust high corners and baseboards. Using a vacuum attachment or the duster of your choice, remove dust and cobwebs from those high and low spots we often miss during routine cleaning.

Danielle Sykes

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8. Make a garden plan. There’s still time to get your garden growing! Sketch out a plan and jot down ideas for this year’s plantings, as well as any ideas you have for changes to the hardscape, such as putting in a new path or fence. Start some seeds indoors or pick up seedlings at your local nursery. Check botanical gardens for plant sales too, as these can be great places to find native plants that do especially well in your region.

Seeds or Seedlings? How to Get Your Garden Started

Atelier 616 Interiors, LLC

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9. Get ready for tax time. Tax-filing deadline isn’t until April 17 this year, but getting your ducks in a row this month will make things a lot less stressful. Sort through paperwork, update your files and gather all important documents in one place so you’re ready to go.

Touijer Designs

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10. Simplify the table. Cupboards feeling overstuffed? Simplify your life by paring back on dishes and glassware, letting go of mismatched and chipped pieces and sets you no longer love or use often. Keep a basket of fresh cloth napkins within easy reach of the table to make it more convenient than grabbing paper napkins, and invest in a living centerpiece (potted succulents work well) that will stay fresh and green with little maintenance.

10 Ways to Make Magic with Succulent Centerpieces

Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

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11. Spring-clean the kitchen. Give your kitchen a fresh start by cleaning some of the areas we often skip during quick daily tidying: Clean small appliances; wipe grease and grime from the range hood, backsplash and light fixtures; clean grout; and vacuum hard-to-reach places (like under the stove) using an attachment.

How to Keep Your Stainless Steel Clean

12. Streamline meal planning. Collect your favorite recipes in a binder (or online) and come up with several weeks’ worth of meal plans using your go-to favorites, plus shopping lists. When life gets busy, at least you’ll know what’s for dinner.

Simply Home Decorating

Maintenance and Extras to Budget for This Month

13. Treat yourself to spring blooms. Spring flowers such as daffodils are plentiful and inexpensive this month, so keep an eye out for bargains. And if you have blooms popping up in the garden, why not snip a few to enjoy indoors?

How to Grow Daffodils for Cheery Spring Color

Amy A. Alper, Architect

14. Plant a tree. Spring and fall are the best times to plant trees because wet weather and cooler temperatures make it easier for root systems to get established. Be sure to check with a nursery to determine which species will do best in your microclimate and to get detailed planting instructions. If your area has a late date of last frost, you may need to wait until all threat has passed before planting. 

15. Inspect your home’s exterior for winter damage and make repairs as needed. Once winter storms have passed, carefully inspect the exterior of your home. If you had an ice dam on your roof during the winter, now is the time to repair any damage it caused. Ice dams form when the edges of a home’s roof are colder than the upper regions (where more insulation sits below the roof), causing ice to form around the eaves. The best way to prevent them is by upgrading insulation and ventilation in the attic.

Warning Signs that can lead to problems around the house

Jessica Greaves

Picture this: You’re having a big dinner party for some very important people and you want the evening to be perfect. An hour before the guests are set to arrive, you can’t help but notice an unpleasant odour coming from the basement. You open the door leading down to your basement only to discover a foot of water and the source of that smell. If only you had seen the warning signs that your pipes were about to burst before you scheduled this very important party…

Unexpected issues always seem to arise at the most inconvenient times with a heavy price tag attached to fix them. While you can’t stop your home from encountering the odd issue here and there, you can learn the home warning signs that lead to big problems.

Electrical

Image courtesy of Realtor.com

Smoke or sparks.

A burning smell coming from anything electrical is immediate cause for concern. The smell could be the start of an electrical fire. If you can smell burning coming from your outlets or switches, it’s important that you turn off the power from your electrical panel. The problem could be something minor like a faulty device, but it could also be something more extensive like a wiring problem. Until you know for sure, do not plug anything into the outlet you are suspicious of.

The occasional spark when you first plug in a new appliance is normal and shouldn’t stop you from using the outlet. However, if you see sparks that are larger than normal or they happen frequently, it could be signs there’s a problem with your outlet or circuit. Listen for a popping sound, this could be due to a loose wire.

Electrical work is something you should not attempt to DIY, especially if you’re concerned about an electrical fire. The best way to ensure your home’s electrical system is up to date is to have a qualified electrician take a look and make any repairs that are necessary.

Warm light fixtures.

Did you know that something as simple as a light fixture in your ceiling using the wrong bulb can result in a fire hazard? It’s important to know what wattage is required and that you do not exceed the maximum recommended wattage. Using the wrong bulb can result in the fixture overheating and potentially starting a fire.

To check if your ceiling light fixtures are over heating, you will need to feel the ceiling around the light. If it feels hot to the touch you may have an insulation problem. If you’re concerned about the fixtures in your home, it’s always best to call in a professional to assess them.

Plumbing

Changes in water flow.

The water flow in your taps should be consistent day-to-day. If you notice a sudden change in your kitchen sink, it could be something as simple as a clog in your aerator, but what that clog is is where the trouble starts. If you have galvanized steel pipes, a sudden low flow of water could be due to a mineral build up. A mineral build up will continue over time until there’s nothing left to do but replace the pipes. If you notice a change in your water flow, have a plumber assess the situation so you know how big the problem is and what steps need to be taken to address it.

Hidden leaks.

Hidden leaks can result in multiple forms of damage to your home and your health. From warped floors to mold, small drips over time add up to big issues. If you notice your floors are warped or discoloured at all, this could be the sign of a new hidden leak. Have a professional take a look and find the source of the leak. The sooner you catch it, the less damage there will be to resolve, and you’ll be able to keep that emergency savings fund intact.

Roofing

Image courtesy of Atlas Roofing

Rotten roof.

How often do you think about the health of your roof? If you’ve never experienced a roofing issue before, it’s like you’ve not considered the possibility of one. Most of us spend very little, if any, amount of time on our roofs. This means that issues aren’t spotted until it’s too late and thousands of dollars of damage is already done.

You can catch roof problems ahead of time by doing a simple inspection and looking around your home for the warning signs of damage. Common signs of roof problems include loose or broken roofing materials, curled shingles, sagging roofing, loose flashing and depressions near pipes. Attic leaks are also indicators of a roofing issue. These can appear in the form of ceiling spots, damp insulation and wet or stained interior walls.

It’s a good idea to set up an annual roofing inspection with a professional. A roofing professional will know exactly what they’re looking for and be able to spot any potential for problems before they happen. If you experience any severe weather like hail or ice storms, it’s a good idea to call an inspector to make sure nothing was effected during the storm.

While we can’t always be prepared for everything our homes throw at us, we can take preventative action. It’s important to know what’s normal in your house and what’s not, and to take the proper steps when something seems off. If you’re ever concerned with an issue in your home, it’s better to be safe now than sorry later. Hire a service professional who’s trained in their field and will be able to help you through any home issues.

www.teambluesky.ca