Backyard Spring Cleaning Checklist By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela
It is that time of year again when we bring out the serious cleaning supplies and give our homes a good scrub down. While we are hunting down dust bunnies and cleaning ceiling fans, we tend to focus primarily on the interior of our homes. But, for those of us who enjoy spending plenty of time on the deck or around the fire pit, our outdoor living areas are just as important. If you would like to make this the year that you add your backyard to your annual spring cleaning routine, here is a handy checklist to get you started. 1. Clean your outdoor kitchen: Indoor kitchens get lots of attention during spring cleaning, but it is probably time to give your patio refrigerator and grill a good cleaning as well. Toss expired food, wipe up spills and get organized for easier entertaining. 2. Clean your eaves, fascia and gutters: Now is the perfect time to catch up on clearing your gutters, removing
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cobwebs and cleaning your home’s fascia and trim. While you are doing this, keep an eye out for dry rot, evidence of termites or other damage, since it might also be time for some routine home maintenance or a termite inspection. 3. Declutter your yards: It is amazing how quickly our backyards can collect dog toys, flowerpots, pool toys or children’s toys. Take this opportunity to thin out your container garden, invest in a deck box for storing toys and move your gardening tools into your shed. 4. Organize your shed: Speaking of your shed, you probably should add that to your spring cleaning list as well. Now is the perfect time to clear out the cobwebs, get rid of unused items and get organized. Clearing out and organizing your shed just might free up some space for those extra flowerpots sitting on your patio, and it will definitely make your life easier when you need to find your rake or potting soil.
OM — March 2022
5. Scrub your trash and recycling bins: These receptacles can get very dirty very quickly, and this is one job that most of us take great pains to avoid. But dirty bins can be unsightly and may give off an odor that is not the first thing you want your guests to smell when they step onto your patio, so give them a good scrubbing this spring. 6. Clean your fire features: Patio fireplaces and fire pits tend to get a lot of use during winter around here, which means now is the perfect time for a good cleaning and safety check before the next entertaining season begins. 7. Clean patio furniture, cushions and dog beds: It just wouldn’t be spring cleaning if we didn’t address our textiles. Take this opportunity to launder cushion covers and dog beds or to splurge on new ones if your current ones are a bit worse for wear. Keep an eye out for patio furniture that might need a good cleaning or a new coat of paint as well.
