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Spring n e d r a G & Home Excelsior • Shorewood • Plymouth • Wayzata St. Louis Park • Hopkins • Minnetonka

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Page 2 Spring Home & Garden • Thursday, April 23, 2015

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Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015 Page 3

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Spring house cleaning includes indoor, outdoor tasks

BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Memories of an honest-togoodness old-fashioned spring housecleaning are still fresh in the minds of old-timers. Rugs were beaten, walls were scoured, and every dish in the cupboard was removed, washed and put back. In short, the home was topsy-turvy for a few days, while everything got a thorough going-over.

Now, the whisking away of winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cobwebs and detritus often includes monitoring of heating, humidifying and air conditioning systems.

Mike Siefert, service manager at Southside Heating and Cooling in Bloomington, suggests that homeowners include checking the furnace filter and washing out the air conditioning unit as part of their spring to-do lists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some furnace filters are good for a year, though I would never go a whole year without checking on it,â&#x20AC;? Siefert said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some need to be replaced every 30 days.â&#x20AC;?

The outside area around the air conditioner should be checked to be sure no extra brush or shrubs are blocking it, Siefert said.

The bypass on home humidifiers should be reset for summer, as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basement registers should be closed off,â&#x20AC;? Siefert said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be sure the upper registers are open.â&#x20AC;?

Home Energy Resource MN maintains on online month-bymonth calendar (www.homeenergyresource.mn.org) to aid homeowners with maintenance tasks that need to be done.

Items for March and April include: â&#x20AC;˘ Check downspouts and gutters and clean if needed. â&#x20AC;˘ Inspect basement and crawl space for seepage and leakage. â&#x20AC;˘ Do safety checks on smoke detectors, fire escape routes, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide alarms and door and window locks. â&#x20AC;˘ Check and repair any damaged screens.

Other indoor maintenance items include checking caulking around all doors and windows, cleaning ceiling fans, and vacuuming behind coil-back refrigerators.

Windows and coverings Spring inevitably means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to wash windows inside and out. Drapes, blinds and curtains may need to be washed or dry-cleaned.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to shampoo carpets and clean wood floors, too.

Nate Wohl, general manager of Coit Services in Bloomington, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understand there are many methods of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cleaningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; out there, from the home units, ones you can rent from a grocery or hardware store, and even over the counter spotting prod-

ucts, although the latter we really do not recommend as they can cause permanent damage or staining by masking a spot or stain instead of properly removing it.â&#x20AC;?

These methods would be considered more of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;maintenance clean,â&#x20AC;? Wohl said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For a professional cleaning or restorative cleaning, industry averages taking into account homes with multiple children and pets suggest that it be done every 12-18 months,â&#x20AC;? Wohl said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every home environment is different,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A couple who lives without any children or pets, regularly vacuums, and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tend to leave windows open in the summer would not need a professional cleaning as often as a family with three children and two dogs that would create more traffic in and out of the home.â&#x20AC;?

Sometimes by the time a homeowner notices soiling or traffic patterns develop, it could be too late, Wohl said. For best results, cleaning before soiling becomes visible will help the life of your carpeting and keep the cost of cleaning down because it would require a less aggressive cleaning process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vertical blinds and window coverings in general are the hidden air filters in a home,â&#x20AC;? Wohl said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the time they are located directly above a heating and air system supply register.

Cleaning continues page 5

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Page 4 Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015

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Rake lawn lightly now; fertilize yard in early May

BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER One look at the matted-down brown covering on your lawn may have you itching to grab a rake and get to work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re telling people to wait,â&#x20AC;? said John Henning, senior buyer at Dundee Nursery in Plymouth.

However, he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If your lawn is dry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you can walk on it and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not squishy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can fluff up the grass and snow mold with a rake. If the lawn is still soggy, you should wait.â&#x20AC;?

In the meantime, he suggests that homeowners can pick up sticks, litter, dead leaves and stalks on perennials and other debris from the lawn and prepare their gardens.

Henning advises that homeowners wait until the end of April to the first or second week in May to begin fertilizing or applying crabgrass control. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weed killer only works when the grass is growing,â&#x20AC;? Henning said.

Once the ground is thawed, Henning said, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to begin planting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You need 50-degree soils for seeds to germinate,â&#x20AC;?

Henning said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a frost, pansies can take a little frost.â&#x20AC;? Kohlrabi, cauliflower and lettuce can be planted early, too, he said.

Some people play it safe by starting their plants in pots that can be moved inside in case temperatures plummet, Henning said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A hard frost can knock them off,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He suggests holding off on pruning spring flowers, such as lilacs. Shrubs that bloom in the spring have buds now and pruning those branches could result in losing the flowers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You could cut off the flowering heads,â&#x20AC;? Henning said.

Perennials can be cut to ground, and trees and shrubs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but not evergreens -- can be pruned a little now to remove dead limbs and winterkill, he said, though he suggests checking with a garden center or online to get information about specific species.

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Spring tree care As for preparing trees, Rainbow Tree Care in Minnetonka has the following suggestions on its website: â&#x20AC;˘ Rinse out salt from the soil.

If you have trees near sidewalks or other surfaces where de-icing salts have been used over the winter, irrigate them

well after the ground has fully thawed. This will help to rinse the salt from the soil that can damage roots and harm the health of your trees. â&#x20AC;˘ Check for broken, hanging limbs or other defects that can be resolved with pruning.

Proper removal of damaged branches can help avoid them falling on their own and causing further tree injury through tearing of bark.

Trees that are not susceptible to diseases spread by insects can still be pruned outside the dormant season, the website said. â&#x20AC;˘ Renew mulch around trees.

As the snow melts from your yard, you may find that you need to refresh the layer of mulch around your trees. The ideal depth for mulch is 3-4 inches. â&#x20AC;˘ Collect and dispose of leaves.

In most cases it is best to allow fallen leaves to stay in the yard to replenish organic matter that trees naturally rely on for nutrients. However, if your trees have a history of fungal disease from apple scab or anthracnose, it can be helpful to rake and dispose of fallen leaves near these trees.

Since the disease fungus survives the winter on fallen, infected leaves, cleaning them up can reduce the amount of fungal spores in the vicinity of your trees. â&#x20AC;˘ Protect your trees from fungal diseases.

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Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015 Page 5

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Cleaning

from page 3

Just as the air passes through the filter in your household furnace, this same air is passing through your window coverings.

Your window coverings act as filters for dust, pet dander, common allergens, cooking grease and oils, and more. The fabric that makes up the vertical blinds or window coverings also can be subject to UV damage and exposure from sunlight. A professional cleaning will strengthen these fibers and help protect your investment in your window coverings.â&#x20AC;?

Professional cleaning of window coverings should be done every two to three years, depending on the amount of sunlight exposure, according to Wohl.

Air ducts Cleaning the air ducts will make a huge difference in a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indoor air quality, according to Wohl. Cleaning should be done when the system shows signs of a buildup of loose contaminants, he said.

Professional air duct cleaning should be done after new home renovations or remodels, when a resident moves into a previously occupied home, if there is a history of asthma or allergies in the residents, pets living in the home that shed or share time going inside and outside the home, smoking takes place in the home, or if there has recently been water damage or smoke damage in the home.

curred over the years.â&#x20AC;?

Professional maintenance can help avoid the high cost of replacement, he said. Cleaning of the wood floors is recommended on average about every two years based on wear and appearance.

For information about easy spot removal, to go www.coit.com/residential/ spot-removal-guide

Exterior checklist Your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior needs attention, too: â&#x20AC;˘ Look for possible damage to the roof, including missing, cracked or broken shingles. â&#x20AC;˘ Check for and repair cracks in driveway and sidewalk. â&#x20AC;˘ Check garden hoses and inspect hose faucets.

Decks and patios Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time now to pull out the patio furniture and set it up, and clean the outdoor grill.

Homeowners with outside decks should be conducting a safety check to make sure floorboards and railings arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t loose, according to Bill Barton, owner of uglydeck.com.

Maintenance of the decks may include pressure washing and then applying a good external stain, Barton said.

Wood floors

Closets

Wood flooring also needs attention, Wohl said. Most wood floor maintenance done in the home is done with a cleaning solution and microfiber pad, or a vinegar and water combination, or something else similar, according to Wohl. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As this type of cleaning can be beneficial in keeping the appearance of the wood floors clean and tidy, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unlikely all the moisture gets absorbed in the cleaning process and excess moisture is absorbed into the wood floor,â&#x20AC;? Wohl said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible that over the years of cleaning wood floors with household products, your floors would benefit greatly from a professional cleaning and it would extend the life of your floors, help avoid costly repairs, and restore some of the lost luster that may have oc-

With the change of seasons, decluttering and reorganizing, closets and wardrobes usually need to be changed from winter to summer. Laurel Hanson, business director at ARC Valu Village Thrift Stores, said business is picking up as people sort through their clothing and furnishings and decide on items to donate. The thrift store has donation centers in Brooklyn Center, Bloomington, New Hope and Richfield. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take a little bit of everything year-round, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting an increase in winter clothing now as people are cleaning out their closets and getting ready for spring,â&#x20AC;? Hanson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thrilled to get kitchen and utility items, too. People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to overthink whether or not to donate those items.

We do a lot of recycling,â&#x20AC;? Hanson said.

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Page 6 Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015

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Digging in your yard? Call 811 first and avoid 911 later April is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Safe Digging Monthâ&#x20AC;? in Minnesota Inspectors on scene after a natural gas emergency hear it often: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I noticed a strange smell but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what it was so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything.â&#x20AC;? That rotten-egg smell could mean there is a natural gas leak â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and it could be deadly.

The best way to avoid an emergency or unintentionally striking an underground facility is to call 811 before you dig.

April is Safe Digging Month

Lawn

in Minnesota. As winter-weary homeowners get ready to enjoy the warm weather and tackle their spring yard projects, The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) reminds Minnesotans to call before they dig. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning your spring project do not forget to call 811 at least two business days prior to digging,â&#x20AC;? State Fire Marshal and MNOPS Director Bruce West said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a free service in place to protect you, your family and your community.â&#x20AC;?

Building a deck, planting a tree or replacing your mailbox can be dangerous if people

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s below before they start digging. Buried underground facilities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including electric and natural gas lines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can run inches from the surface and be easily damaged with household tools.

State law requires anyone ex-

cavating to notify Gopher State One Call (GSOC) at least two days before beginning a project so utility companies can mark the approximate location of potentially hazardous underground facilities.

Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities increases the likelihood of unintentional damage, which can cause serious injuries, service disruptions and repair costs. Call 811 first so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to call 911 later. Or go to the GSOC website and request underground utilities near the area youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re digging be marked.

Signs there may be a gas leak â&#x20AC;˘ A rotten-egg smell â&#x20AC;˘ Dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground â&#x20AC;˘ Blowing or hissing sounds â&#x20AC;˘ Dead vegetation If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak â&#x20AC;˘ Stop digging and ensure everyone clears the area. â&#x20AC;˘ Do not use electrical devices like light switches, phones or garage door openers. â&#x20AC;˘ Call 911 from a safe location and alert your neighbors. ¡

from page 4

Proper timing is of the utmost imporBy the first of April, many people were tance in applying control measures for preparing for upcoming lawn care. disease and insect conditions, the website â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen people so happy to said. do yard work,â&#x20AC;? said Karen Mueller, store manager at Frattallone Ace Hardware in Getting ready

Bloomington. Grass seed and yard bags were big sellers early in April, she said.

Deliveries of mulch and garden soils arrived in the store April 1, she said.

Some homeowners were retrieving

lawnmowers that were left at the store over the winter to be tuned up and blades sharpened. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People bring them in in the fall and we tune them up and store them over the winter,â&#x20AC;? Mueller said.

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10917 Valley View Road Eden Prairie MN â&#x20AC;˘ 952-829-0797

OUR NEWS CYCLE IS ALWAYS RUNNING

Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015 Page 7

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Hiring a professional organizer? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some tips to guide you The start of spring and the promise of â&#x20AC;˘ Check out companies at bbb.org bewarmer weather to come kindles enthusi- fore signing a contract. asm in many people to create more orgaâ&#x20AC;˘ Ask the organizer if they are a memnized living and office spaces But when it ber of NAPO-MN and about their crecomes time to actually do the work, we dentials, experience and training. realize organization takes more patience â&#x20AC;˘ Find out if the organizer is insured. than some of us have and a professional â&#x20AC;˘ Ask the organizer to explain their organizer might be helpful.

Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota offers tips to home and business owners before hiring someone to come into their space to sort through valuables and confidential paperwork. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting things organized can be a daunting task but one that often helps us feel much happier in our surroundings,â&#x20AC;? said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to be clear about what an organizer does â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x201C; do, and how he or she operates before you allow them access to your home or business.â&#x20AC;?

The following tips were compiled by Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota in consultation with the National Association of Professional Organizers-Minnesota Chapter:

process so you can gain a clear understanding of what they do and how they go about doing it. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask how you can best prepare for a professional organizer to come to your home or workplace. Find out specifically what the organizer needs from you (you

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may need to commit personal time to get your home prepared for the organization process). â&#x20AC;˘ Ask about the fee structure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is it by the job or by the hour? Be clear about your budget and do not sign any contracts until you fully understand what is or isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t included in the service. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask for clarification on what their services include, for example, purchasing of supplies for the organization process. â&#x20AC;˘ Think about what kind of person you want to work with (example: will you work best in a drill sergeant environment or with someone who treats you like a friend?). Ask the potential organizer about their style. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask for an estimate on how long the projects you have in mind will take to complete. Inquire about what might change/modify the timeline. â&#x20AC;˘ Find out how the organizer disposes of items removed from your home or office and if there are additional fees (are the items recycled, donated, shredded?).

Make sure you feel comfortable with the plan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially if items are personal or confidential in nature.

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Page 8 Spring Home & Garden â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, April 23, 2015

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Follow the label on fertilizers, pesticides

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Whether you are doing spring fertilizing yourself or hiring a professional, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture urges the safe use of pesticides and fertilizers by following all label directions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In other words, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the label is the law.â&#x20AC;?

Pesticide and fertilizer labels specify how to use products safely and effectively. In Minnesota, it is unlawful to apply products without following label instructions.â&#x20AC;?

If you hire a professional lawn care provider, the MDA advises that you â&#x20AC;&#x153;do your homework.â&#x20AC;? State law requires applicators to be licensed by the MDA in order to commercially apply weed and feed products, plant nutrient fertilizers, or pesticides to control weeds, insects or fungi. To be licensed by the MDA, applicators must possess knowledge and demonstrate qualifications to safely perform lawn, tree and garden services, the website said.

The MDA websiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tips for a safe spring gardening season include the following: â&#x20AC;˘ Licensed professionals must carry a valid ID card, so ask to see it before they start work;

â&#x20AC;˘ Be wary of people who claim their products are completely safe, or pressure you to sign a service contract; â&#x20AC;˘ Recognize posted warning flags in areas that have been chemically treated; â&#x20AC;˘ Review written records provided by applicators to document their work, including products used and amounts applied; â&#x20AC;˘ If you do it yourself, do not apply products in windy or adverse weather conditions. High wind can cause products to drift and potentially harm people, animals or plants; â&#x20AC;˘ Sweep sidewalks and hard surfaces of unused product and reapply to their intended site; and, â&#x20AC;˘ Buy only what you need and store unused product safely.

Consumers can call the Better Business Bureau at 800-646-6222 and check customer satisfaction history about lawn care companies. For information about applicator licenses, call the MDA at 651201-6615. To report unlicensed applicators, you may file a complaint on the MDA website (www.mda.state.mn.us) or call 651-201-6333.

Practice garage and workshop smarts Completing home improvement projects on your own can be both rewarding and financially responsible. As more and more homeowners perform their own renovations and other improvement projects, many are outfitting their homes with state-of-the-art workshops and transforming garages into a do-ityourselferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise.

Safety is vital in any workshop. Following safety rules can reduce the risk of injury.

Wear safety gear

Know your tools

Keep a clean shop

Before novice do-it-yourselfers begin working with power tools, they should familiarize themselves with their ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; manuals and the operating instructions.

Some home-improvement retailers offer classes in various home renovation projects and may be able to teach tool usage.

Do not use tools for purposes other than what the tool was intended to do.

Power cords strewn around the workshop present a tripping hazard. They also make it possible to drag sharp or heavy tools off of tables and workbenches if the cords are pulled or tripped over.

A neat workshop is a safer workshop.

Pay attention to where tools are kept and keep cords manageable.

Eye, ear and breathing protection are key in any workshop environment. Dust and chemical gases may be present when working with certain products, and debris can be kicked up and enter the eyes, causing irritation or even blindness.

Loud power tools can damage sensitive ears, especially when used in a contained room. Always wear goggles, sound-muffling earphones and dust masks when working.