Here are a few life hacks to help you navigate the changing season of spring. If you’d like to share yours, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

​

 

​When we’re sure that pollen season’s over, that’s a good time to do some freshening up for spring. Use a handheld vacuum wand or microfiber cloth wrung out in mild, soapy water to go over the window screens, removing all of the pollen and dust. When you’re ready to start opening the windows, wash them (inside and out) with mild soapy water, followed by an inexpensive solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar to remove streaks. If you used heavy, heat-retaining curtains/drapes, now’s the time for replacing them with light, airy sheers or light-filtering curtains that encourage more sunlight to come in.

​

 

Your indoor plants are probably waking up to sunnier days; you can help them breathe by gently wiping the dust and outdoor pollen from the leaves with a soft, damp cloth. If you notice roots poking out from the bottom, it’s probably time to repot the plant in a larger container. Add a bit of fertilizer to encourage new growth.

 

 

You don’t need chemicals to chase away the stagnant odors of a cooped-up winter season—try simmering a pot of water on the stove with some sliced lemons or limes. Experiment with a few springs of rosemary or a few dashes of vanilla extract or essential oil. Open your windows and let the fragrances travel throughout the house.

 

 

Let spring take over your bedroom by freshening up your mattress once you’ve laundered your winter blankets and comforters. Vacuum the surface followed by a sprinkle of baking soda. After an hour, carefully sweep up as much as you can with a whisk broom and dustpan; then vacuum up the rest. (Some people say that baking soda can mess up vacuum cleaners, so try to remove as much as you can with the whisk broom.) If you’re able to, try rotating the mattress (head to foot) or even flipping it over for even wear. 

 

 

When going over your surfaces in the kitchen (cupboards and counters), skip the expensive cleansers by using the same 50% water/50% vinegar solution I mentioned earlier. More natural solutions are better for both children and the environment. If you need something more abrasive, make a paste from baking soda and a bit of lemon juice. Your house will definitely smell like spring! 

 

 

Prepare your porch and/or deck for outdoor relaxing by washing your outdoor furniture with warm, soapy water (make sure pollen season is over). Put your seat cushions out in the sun for a few hours for a nice refresh and wipe down all of your porch and lawn accessories (solar lights, decorations, etc). 

 

 

Stand back and take a critical look at your entryway(s). Once the winter coats and accessories are cleaned and put away, you might think of ways to manage springtime gear like gardening shoes, umbrellas, etc by adding baskets, small shoe organizers, or hooks.

 

 

Common household pests like ants and spiders often enter homes and apartments via window frames, door thresholds, and other small openings. Keep them out by mixing several drops of peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Lightly spray some of the mixture everywhere you’ve seen or suspect insects are coming into the house. Bugs are very sensitive to strong scents and usually avoid areas taking on those odors. Ant scent trails can be broken with thin lines of cinnamon, used coffee grounds or residue from sprayed-on lemon juice or white vinegar.

 

 

Sometimes fruits sit around so long that they start attracting small, obnoxious fruit flies. They can be hard to get rid of, but you can make a nontoxic trap by pouring some apple cider vinegar into a jar, followed by a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Cover the jar with plastic wrap, using a rubber band to hold it in place, and then poke a few holes in the top. The fermented scent of the vinegar will lure the fruit flies in through the holes and they’ll then drown (the soap breaks the surface tension and the flies will fall through).

 

 

As the weather starts to warm up, people start breaking out their grills. Make sure your grill is ready for spring—if you have a gas grill, brush soapy water over the hoses and connections. If you see bubbles while the gas is on, there’s a leak that needs to be fixed. If you have a charcoal grill, clear out the old ash for proper airflow and scrub the grates of old food residue with a wire brush or crumpled ball of aluminum foil.

 

 

Keep bugs at bay while you relax outdoors by creating a natural barrier with citronella candles. Use an inexpensive box fan to keep mosquitoes from landing on you; they’re weak fliers and can be kept away by the moving air. 

 

 

If you’re pretty sure that you drove through areas treated with road salt this past winter, make sure that you spend some time spraying out the wheel wells and the undercarriage for your vehicle’s first spring wash. Salt is very corrosive and can eventually create patches of rust out if it’s not washed off. If you use a drive-through wash service, get the package that includes an underbody blast.

 

 

After driving with the windows rolled and the heat blasting, you might find your vehicle’s interior smells a bit stale. Use a microfiber towel and gentle cleanser to wipe down the dashboard and plastic trim and vacuum the carpet. If you’re able to replace the cabin air filter, which traps dust, pollen, and spores, do that after pollen season to freshen the air. (Make sure to do a search or check your manual to check first—not all older models have one.)