Welcome to spring! We Washingtonians get a jolt of energy like no other this time of year—the sun starts to peek out, our vitamin D gets a boost, and we’re eager to get our homes ready for that first 60-degree day when we’ll excitedly (and prematurely) pull out the shorts, sandals, and lawn chairs.
We’re here to help you seize that spring energy with a thorough (but certainly not exhaustive) spring maintenance to-do list. Below, we’ve outlined the DIY home maintenance jobs we consider the most important (and relatively beginner-friendly, for the most part) this time of year.
Trying to tackle these tasks all at once can be overwhelming, so we recommend breaking this list up into manageable chunks over several weekends—do the outdoor stuff on sunny days and the indoor stuff during April showers.
Start garden projects
Why
While you can plant in spring or fall, spring is the traditional garden starter season for many reasons: Generally, most plants grow well when planted in spring; it’s easier to find seeds and starters in plant stores and nurseries; and, spring planting gives you plenty of lead time to prep your garden.
When (and how often)
The specific timing for spring planting largely depends on the needs of the plant and the weather patterns of that specific year. For example, if we’re experiencing a warmer March, you may be able to start tomatoes or carrots.
How
There’s a gardening solution for just about anyone—even if you don’t have a yard. Below you’ll find a collection of some of our favorite DIY garden projects, from planters and wall hangers to gardening guides for helping you figure out what to plant and when.
How To Garden in Planter Boxes
Pacific Northwest Vegetable Growing Guide
How To Make an Herb Wall Planter
Remove moss and debris from roof, gutters, and downspouts
Why
Removing moss from your roof and cleaning gutters and downspouts are key to maintaining the health and safety of your home; neglecting any one of these things can lead to leaks, which can be detrimental to your home’s foundation, framing, and walls.
When (and how often)
The ideal time to treat and remove moss from your roof is when it’s growing and thriving—roughly October through April.
When it comes to gutters, we recommend cleaning three times a year to keep things working properly: summer, spring, and fall.
How
We recruited the roof-cleaning professionals of DAPrDAN, a locally owned home detailing service, to give you a step-by-step guide to cleaning your roof and gutters like the pros.
How To Treat and Remove Moss From Your Roof
Refinish your deck
Why
The best way to lengthen the life of your deck (structurally and aesthetically) is to take a preventative approach to maintenance and refinish your deck before it begins to look weathered. Just like skin, decks need protection from the elements, so it’s important to reapply that coverage before it’s worn away completely.
When (and how often)
The best time to refinish is in spring before the intense summer sun hits. Summer is when decks get the most use, so having a fresh coat of protection before outdoor living season begins will make the finish most effective.
How
Refinishing a deck is a three- or four-step process consisting of stripping, cleaning, brightening, and staining. You may be able to skip the stripping if your existing finish is in pretty good shape.
How To Remove Paint From Your Deck
Service your lawnmower
Why
There are several reasons to invest time into maintaining your power lawnmower. Just like cars, power lawnmowers have engines that, if neglected, will break down; on the flip side, a well-maintained lawnmower can last several years before needing replacement. My mower is more than 30 years old and runs like a top. Regular maintenance also keeps your lawn looking good. Most routine maintenance is beginner-friendly and takes only a little time to complete.
When (and how often)
We recommend servicing your lawnmower twice a year: once in the spring to get it ready for grass-growing season, and once in the fall to weatherize it for the off-season.
How
Before doing any sort of maintenance on your lawnmower, be sure to remove the spark plugs. For spring lawnmower maintenance, make sure to check these boxes:
- Change the oil. Remove drain plugs and drain or extract dirty oil into a safe container; then, replace with new oil.
- Clean the air filter. Lawnmower filters are either paper, foam, or a hybrid material. Depending on the material, the cleaning or replacement instructions with be different, so it’s best to consult your user manual.
- Sharpen blades. Your lawnmower blade dulls over time from coming into contact with the inevitable rock or branch. Blade sharpening can be done by hand with a file or bench grinder; or, you can enlist the help of a professional if you’re not comfortable handling the blade.
- Give it a good cleaning. Use a rag or brush to remove grass and dirt from crevices in the engine, around the engine housing, and around the wheels.
- Lubricate bearings. Wheel bearings and other moveable parts in the lawnmower engine can get stiff as they sit through winter, so it’s a good idea to apply an oil or silicone lubricant before you begin regular spring and summer use. Refer to your user manual for instructions.
- Oil the cylinder. Before starting up for the first time after winter storage, I always remove the spark plug, pour a little oil into the cylinder, slowly pull the starter cord to lubricate the cylinder, and reinstall the spark plug. Your mower will blow blue smoke for a few minutes after start-up, but it's better for the engine.
Prune fall-blooming trees
Why
Pruning is essential to keep trees healthy and beautiful. Effective pruning stimulates and directs growth, reveals beauty when a tree is overgrown, and creates more airflow and sunlight to the underside of the tree.
When (and how often)
For blooming trees, the best time to prune is about six months before blooming season. For example, trees that bloom in fall should be pruned in early spring. You should prune dead or dying branches year-round.
How
Pruning boils down to three basic steps: cleaning, thinning, and shaping. It’s important to use your best judgment here, though, as you may not need to do all three steps (”less is more” is a good rule of thumb when it comes to pruning).
Organize your home
Why
There’s a good reason we clean in spring—several, actually. Spring cleaning is motivated by cultural and religious traditions that date back several decades (if not centuries); it’s also the return of the sun, which scientifically boosts our energy and motivation.
When (and how often)
Whatever your reason for spring cleaning, we’re here to remind you: It’s that time of year again! The sun is out and it’s warm enough to open those windows, air out your home, and organize with fresh eyes.
How
Spring cleaning can be overwhelming, so we’ve pulled together our best tips for tackling it bit by bit.
4 Tips That Will Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze
Clean dryer vents
Why
Only some of the lint generated in a dryer gets caught in a lint trap (that thing you’re probably used to cleaning out with every load), but there’s a whole lot more that ends up in the dryer vent duct that connects the dryer to the outside vent. Too much lint buildup in your dryer duct restricts airflow, creating a fire hazard and a much less efficient dryer.
When (and how often)
We recommend cleaning your dryer vent duct at least twice a year to keep your home safe and dryer efficient.
How
Luckily cleaning your dryer vent duct is simple. We recommend purchasing a dryer vent cleaning kit. These kits typically come with a synthetic brush head and a set of rods you can attach to extend into the duct. Some models can also attach to a power drill to give the brush a spinning motion as it moves through the duct.
Before you begin cleaning, be sure to shut off your dryer’s power source (unplug electric dryers and shut off gas flow for gas dryers). Behind the dryer, you’ll see a silver snaking duct connecting the dryer to the wall. Detach the wall end of this duct (usually held on with a band clamp). You can insert the brush into the duct either from this end (less effective) or through the outside vent (more effective). Where your outside vent is located might dictate which end you start at—most are near the ground and easily accessible, but others are on the roof and harder to get to.
Once you’ve located your vent entry point, simply follow the instructions that come with the cleaning kit. (There are also several good video tutorials on the internet.)
Re-caulk windows and doors
Why
According to the Department of Energy, heat loss through windows and doors accounts for up to 35 percent of a home’s energy use. Caulk is the easiest and most accessible way to cut that percentage down. By regularly applying a fresh coat of caulk around windows and doors, you not only prevent air leakage, but also keep water, noise, and insects out of your home.
When (and how often)
The best time to apply caulk is during dry weather when the outdoor temperature is above 45º—aka, springtime in Washington! Warmer temperatures are preferable for allowing the caulk to gun out and set properly. Some caulks do fine in temperature extremes; check the label of the caulk you are planning to use.
We recommend inspecting your caulking as part of your annual spring maintenance checklist. Generally, caulk lasts several years, but that depends on a lot of things: seasonal weather patterns, the quality of the last caulking application, and the type of caulk used. As a general rule, it’s best to inspect and be prepared to reapply annually.
How
First, apply caulk remover and scrape off the existing caulk (you can purchase a caulk remover tool for this, typically pretty inexpensive). Clean the surface once the caulk is removed, then use a caulking gun to apply a fresh coat around the window.
How To Choose and Use the Right Caulk
Service AC units
Why
Our summers are getting increasingly warmer each year, and air conditioning units are becoming more common in Pacific Northwest homes. If you have an AC unit, it’s important to maintain its filters, coils, and fins regularly to ensure it’s working properly (because there’s nothing worse than waiting until a hot day to realize your AC needs a new filter).
When (and how often)
We recommend servicing your AC unit at least once a year, ideally twice: once in spring to ensure it’s up and running for summer heat, and again in the fall. If you prefer to hire a professional to service your unit, scheduling in spring gets you ahead of the summer rush.
How
There are several things you can do to keep your AC unit running efficiently. Before rolling up your sleeves, it’s crucial to shut off power to the unit to avoid the danger of working around electricity and moving parts.
- Clean out debris from inside the unit. Remove the fan cage from the unit and clear out any dust, dirt, or leaves that have gotten inside the unit. A vacuum cleaner works well here.
- Clean around the outside of the unit. Rake dirt and leaves away from the exterior to allow for proper airflow (the closer dirt and leaves are to the unit, the more debris will get into the air inside your home.
- Change the filter. The filter in your AC unit should be changed twice per year. The filter is usually located within a filter enclosure—refer to your user manual to ensure you remove it correctly. Replace with a new filter, being careful to match the direction of the airflow arrows to the arrows on the unit itself.
Wash windows
Why
Dirty windows not only look bad when the sunlight hits—but they can also lead to window damage and decreased energy efficiency. Sliding windows and hinges can build up dust and grime that can cause windows to not function properly, and ultimately shorten their lifespan.
When (and how often)
Here in the Pacific Northwest, where we see a lot of rain, it’s best to stay on top of window cleaning and pick up the rag and squeegee every few months. Spring is a critical time for window cleaning as the weather begins to let up after the harsh precipitation of winter.
How
For indoor cleaning, we swear by homemade window cleaner (find our recipe below), as several store-bought window cleaners contain toxic chemicals like ammonia that aren’t necessary to create a powerful cleaner. For outdoor cleaning, Windex Outdoor is a solid go-to that attaches to your garden hose, making it easy to wash and rinse your outdoor glass surfaces clean. Be sure to wipe the sliding tracks and hinges, too!
Clean barbecue
Why
A dirty barbecue doesn’t just look yucky—it weakens your grill’s efficiency and can even be a safety hazard. Barbecues tend to build up grease and grime over multiple uses, which can spark unexpected flare-ups while you’re cooking that can burn you or start a fire. That buildup can also harbor harmful bacteria, rust, and mold, which can transfer to your food. And beyond the health and safety risks, grease and grime will weaken your grill’s ability to heat up and stay hot.
When (and how often)
No matter how often you use your grill, you should start every grill season with a thorough cleaning. If you grill often during the summer, give your grill a scrub every month or so to keep it fresh.
How
Grill-cleaning is practically a sport—there are thousands of online tutorials and hundreds of products and tools out there that perform well. We always stand by simple, though: A wire brush, warm water, and dish soap can usually get the job done.
- Fire it up. Before beginning the scrub session, heat up the grill to full temperature for at least 30 minutes (this will help to burn off grime and loosen things up).
- Scrub. Dip your wire brush in warm soapy water and scrub until you remove all carbon and rust. If you have stuck-on grime, try making a 1:1 paste of white distilled vinegar and baking soda, apply to the stains and let sit a few hours or overnight, and scrub off with a wire brush.
- Let dry completely before using.
Fix window screens
Why
Screened windows obviously keep bugs and birds out in summer, but they do a lot more to help protect your home—like deflecting dirt and water from windows, which can lead to damage.
When (and how often)
Summer is mosquito season in our neck of the woods, so it’s always a good idea to patch up those window screens before the first warm evening of the year.
How
Fixing or replacing window screens is an easy DIY project. For larger rips or tears, it’s best to fully replace the screen. Dunn Lumber sells various types of window screen rolls, and they’re widely available online. You’ll also need a screen rolling tool.
- Remove screen. Remove the smaller screen frame from the window, then pry out the screen out of the spline using a screwdriver.
- Roll and cut screen. Roll out your new screen material over the frame and cut so that you have at least a few inches of overhang on each side.
- Install new screen. Use the screen rolling tool to push the screen into the spline where you pulled the old screen from. Make sure to pull the screen taught across the frame as you go.
- Cut excess screen. Once everything is installed as you want it, cut the overhang and replace the screen frame in the window.
We hope this list helps make spring home maintenance more manageable! Looking for more home maintenance tips? Check out our fall and winter home maintenance guides.
