Outdoor Spring Cleaning Jobs To Tackle

As the weather slowly starts to warm up, the next few weeks offer a great chance for an early spring yard cleanup. While getting the lawn and garden ready for the season seems like a big job, spreading it out over a few mild weekends early in the year can make it much more palatable. Plus, the vitamin D, fresh air, and exercise will do your body and mind a world of good after a long winter indoors. 

If you didn’t clean out your beds in the autumn, now is the time to do it. Cut back any dead debris and prune any shrubs or trees that are overgrown or have been damaged by winter. It’s a lot easier to do this before buds and leaves come which makes it more difficult to see what you’re cutting. With that being said, don’t start chopping away at spring bloomers until the buds have formed. If you’re worried about weeds, now is a good time to lay down your landscaper's fabric and mulch new beds. Just be careful to leave space for the plants that you want to come through. 

Don’t let those dead leaves and plant debris go to waste. You can fence off a small area for composting or purchase a tumbler. All that easy-to-break-down yard waste and future food scraps will make fantastic soil for later spring and summer planting. 

If you didn’t reseed your lawn in the fall, it’s not too late. Start by raking up any leaves and branches that have been left behind. Raking also acts as a massage for the ground as it allows oxygen to circulate. I always take it one step further and use an aerator to break up tough, cold soil which gives grass seeds the best chance for survival. Finally, reseed and fertilize to keep hungry birds away.  

If your yard is susceptible to crabgrass, using a pre-emergent will keep weeds at bay. Just make sure you take the proper precautions and don’t apply it near your new grass seedlings as it will kill them off instantly. 

Hardy veggies like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are best for early planting, as the same goes for peas as long as the ground is fully thawed. Spinach and lettuces are pretty tough too and can generally be put right into the ground in March if the weather cooperates. 

Finally, it’s too early now, but soon it will be time to start mowing. I always recommend setting the blade as high as it will go, especially if you’ve recently reseeded the yard. It’s smart to tread lightly in the first few weeks to make sure that the grass has time to properly root and get comfortable. Go too short too fast and you’ll have a complicated relationship with your yard for the rest of the season. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Spring Cleaning Windows

Window washing is such a dreaded task that most homeowners don’t bother doing it. But there is nothing like clean glass to help bring the outdoors in and make your house feel really clean. If it has been awhile since you gave your windows some love, here are ten of my favorite tricks, tips, and hacks to simplify the job and get your glass gleaming again.

1. Never clean windows when it’s too cold or too warm. A cloudy, overcast day is your best bet for this job. 

2. Instead of relying on reams of paper towels, stop into your local hardware store and grab an eight-inch squeegee for those small panes. They make the job a lot easier with much less waste.

3. Don’t forget to wipe your squeegee blade between swipes to remove access cleaning solution and dirt. Otherwise you’ll just be spreading it around.

4. Here is a great DIY window cleaning solution. Combine one cup of hot water and one cup of white distilled vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle and there you have it. For very grimy windows, clean with hot soap and water first, followed by the vinegar mixture for a nice shine. 

5. To get rid of really pesky streaks, use a dry board eraser. Unlike paper towels, an eraser can do away with streaks without leaving lint behind. 

6. If you really hate washing windows, take an extra step, and apply a window protectant. The clear polymer coating will help protect the glass from dust, dirt, and grime for longer. 

7. Hard water spots can be tough to remove with a regular window cleaner. A dryer sheet will do the trick, just buff in circular motions. It works on mirrors and shower doors too. 

8. Caterpillars love building nests in window tracks. Clean them out with a thin screwdriver and then follow up with a firm, toothbrush-sized bristle brush. 

9. Hate cleaning blinds? Wrap a pair of kitchen tongs in two microfiber cloths and secure them with an elastic band on either side. Run the tongs between each slat to remove dust and pet dander. 

10. Have a can of WD-40 in the garage? A quick coat on freshly cleaned window sills will prevent dirt and grime from sticking.

If you swear that this round of window washing will be your last, consider upgrading to vinyl windows. The seamless, tilt-in design makes them so easy to clean and they are energy efficient too. It’s one of the best upgrades you can make to your home to save both time and money in the long run. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Mold on Siding, Not Just Unsightly

Here in this part of Connecticut and in most of New England, vinyl siding is a popular cladding option for many homeowners. Starting in the 1950s, it became a favorite aluminum replacement due to its low maintenance and high durability. With a wide variety of colors and textures, it continues to be a fantastic option, offering personalized style without having to worry about sanding, painting, or major maintenance. 

While vinyl siding is beneficial in so many ways, one complaint is the potential for mold growth, often on the north side of a home. To be clear, mold can grow anywhere, but the north side is the area that’s most susceptible because it gets the least amount of sun exposure. Constant shade, high vegetation, or anything that stops a house from getting regular sunlight is an invitation for mold to grow in that area, whether it’s clad in vinyl or not.

In addition to lack of sunlight, excess moisture is another mold inhibitor. The cause could be as simple as trapped rainwater that’s unable to drain properly. Another possible issue could be a faulty drain pipe or a gutter that’s dripping on the siding, causing constant dampness. Either way, a moisture problem is something you’ll definitely want to deal with as the water will continue to feed the mold, which will then spread. 

Another reason for mold growth on siding is a build-up of dirt, which is actually a food source for all different types of fungus. Something as simple as a dryer vent can cause dirt and dander to stick to the siding. Tree sap is also common and can be tough to remove. Homes on high-traffic roads tend to get dirty more easily as well. Any of this debris will quite literally make a meal for spores to feast on. 

So what can you do to keep mold at bay and ensure your vinyl siding looks great for years to come? Assessing your sunlight and moisture exposure is key, but what if you don’t want to cut down a tree or you happen to live in an area where moisture is a problem? A professional will be able to inspect your siding and treat the mold using a cleaner and blocker that removes spores and keeps them from coming back. It’s important to use a specially designed cleaner that is strong enough to tackle mold but not too harsh that it will damage the house. You also want to be careful not to use bleach-containing materials to not harm the vegetation surrounding your home. 

Once your house is cleaned, maintain your vinyl siding by assessing your home for moisture, treating leaks promptly, and keeping your gutters clear and free of debris. An annual inspection will help to ensure that any problems are dealt with promptly so they don’t get out of control. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.