“We awaken sleeping symphonies whose audiences will be those who notice spring” Flavia
Spring is a time of renewal, of brightening moods and warmer temperatures. It’s a time when the birds return from their migration. When children fly kites in the March breeze and wade through rain in rubber boots. It’s also the beginning of spring training and baseball season.
It’s also the ideal time to plan your garden, enjoy a makeover, do home renovations or start any new activity. It is a transitional time to clear away winter, after being cooped up indoors for an entire season.
It’s been said that perhaps one of the best parts of winter is receiving the seed catalogues for the upcoming season; a time when one can sit down and experience the joy of planning on getting your garden plotted and, the upcoming joy of getting your hands back into the dirt!
This winter has been a particularly harsh one, with cold temperatures and record snowfalls. We have spent a lot of time indoors and the urge to run, walk, bicycle, plant that garden and greet spring is perhaps a louder call this season than in the past few years.
The promise of a fresh start is always both exciting and inspiring. It provides us with new ideas and new goals, coupled with creativity and renewed energy. There’s a reason they coined the phrase, “spring fever”.
In this region, March 9 is when Daylight Saving begins again. The clocks move forward one hour and the days are longer and brighter. When springing ahead, remember to change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s also a good time to do a full inspection on your home after the winter season.
On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, a time to focus on making both your lifestyle and home more “green.” You may want to finally make that decision to replace those old appliances that are no longer energy efficient and replace them with newer models which translate to financial savings while using less energy.
Green cleaning also means that your indoor air will be of a better quality. Our homes have been sealed all winter, which breeds mold and pollen, as well as the fragrances from our cleaners. Natural cleaning products include baking soda, white distilled vinegar, lemon, essential oils and salt, which are all healthy for our environment and well being.
When using natural products, make sure that you label each container with all the ingredients you have used. It is also important not to mix homemade and commercial products together.
Spring is a great time to declutter your living spaces, while preparing for the warmer weather. Heavy throws and rugs in your living areas should be exchanged for lighter and brighter fabrics and colours to herald in the summer season.
Anticipate the joy of opening your windows by replacing your heavier winter drapes with light and airy ones. Natural light makes your rooms look larger and more inviting. A hint of greenery can also add life to a room whether you are adding a fern, a pot of hydrangeas or a vase of fresh flowers.
With the arrival of spring, you may want to shift your attention to home improvement projects outdoors, where you’ll be spending more time entertaining. You can add to your home’s value by cleaning and making minor repairs all around your home.
Painting will revitalize any room with little cost or effort, so make that effort and take the time to finally tackle the job. A few gallons of paint can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home.
Kitchens and washroom updating can be as easy as replacing the hardware on the cupboards and, perhaps changing the faucets. These are lower budget ideas that can provide a makeover that takes little time to tackle, but it can make a tremendous difference in the look and feel of the room.
Changing up your rooms also makes a fun project. Turn a spare room that isn’t being utilized into a small office or a room for your hobby. It’s a simple DIY project that can add added pleasure and value to your home.
You can also spruce up some old outdated items that may have accumulated in your garage and breath some new life into them. A coat of glossy paint can certainly update and transform an old wooden table or picture frame into a new addition to any room.
March is a wonderful time to start your seeds indoors. It will save you money, as well as provide a head start to the traditional growing season.
When germinating seeds light isn’t required but you will need heat. Fill the peat pots with starter mix. With the addition of the plastic cover to keep the moisture evenly spread, you are ready to move your trays to the top of your fridge or place them on a heated plant mat. When the greens start to sprout, you’ll want to move the tray to a sunny window.
Moving outdoors, you may also want to take stock of the “curb appeal” of your home. Is it clean and tidy from the view from the street?
A good first impression is important to the neighbourhood and there may be some projects than need attending to. Does your front or garage door need painting? Would a gas post lantern, a couple of big flowerpots filled with geraniums or a wreath on the front door make a difference to the overall look and feel of your place?
Don’t’ forget the importance of cleaning out your garage, garden shed and car after months of winter use. They all need a polish and a sparkle to meet spring. It’s also time to change your tires from winter to all season.
Your lawn is another area that will need some TLC after the cold winter. When it is dry enough to walk on without leaving an imprint, you’ll want to give it a good raking. This will lift the blades of grass up and allow the oxygen to filter through. If there are bare spots due to winter salt or animals, spring is an ideal time to over seed with a grass mixture.
Have a regular maintenance done on your lawn mower and take a good look at your garden tools. Did you know that tea can be used to scour an rust that may have accumulated? Brew some strong black tea and when cooled, pour into a bucket where you’ll soak them for a few hours. Wipe each one clean with a cloth. Wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.
Once all your projects are done, you can sit back and enjoy your hard work and know that summer is rapidly approaching.
At Maid In Windsor, we are available for your spring cleaning as well as regularly scheduled jobs. We look after your home or office and if there’s a move in your future, we’ll be there to ensure that you leave one property clean while moving into your new place.
We wish you a safe and healthy spring and summer 2014!
To reach us: http://www.maidinwindsor.com or 519-971-2114
