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With the change from winter to spring comes a new flurry of activity: Warmer weather will draw the family outside, which is why it’s important to clean and maintain your outdoor spaces now (and maybe get some window washing done). It’s just as timely to turn your attention to cleaning the carpets and organizing your closet now, before blue skies and sunny days keep you away from your tool belt and cleaning caddy.
1. Clean the Carpets
Your family has probably tracked all sorts of ice melt, slush, and even mud indoors throughout the winter months. Be sure to give your carpets and rugs a deep spring clean for a fresher start to the season. You can rent a carpet cleaner, or buy your own machine if you have a busy household and lots of feet—or paws—making tracks on your rugs and carpets. (Our tested guide to the best carpet cleaners is a good place to start browsing.)
Best Carpet Cleaner
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner
It couldn’t be easier to operate: Push forward to clean the carpet, and pull back to dry—no knobs to figure out!
Buy it at Amazon Buy it at Walmart2. Get Exterior Home Projects Under Way
If you’re thinking about repaving your driveway, repairing your roof, installing central air conditioning, or undertaking other major exterior home projects this year, now’s the time to start getting estimates (if you haven’t started already) and booking the repairs. This way, the work can begin as soon as the weather permits. If you wait too long to get the ball rolling, your choice of contractors and products (not to mention favorable pricing) may be limited.
3. Prep Your Patio Furniture
Get ready for barbecue weather by rescuing your outdoor furniture. Remove rust from metal furniture using a wire brush and sandpaper, then repaint it for a fresh, new look. Clean patio cushions of mold or mildew using a mixture of 1/4 cup of Borax and warm water. Now you’re ready to fire up the grill!
4. Stage Your Home
With weather warming up, March is a prime season for home buying and selling. Listing your home? Properly staging your home can help you sell the place at a higher price. If your style won’t appeal broadly to buyers, try putting your furniture in storage, then rent neutral pieces from a professional stager until you can close the deal.
5. Tidy the Garden
It’s not too early to start your spring gardening routine: Trim dead and damaged branches from trees and shrubs. Arrange for bulk soil or plant deliveries, if need be, and ready your garden beds for early plantings. Be sure to lay down a layer of mulch or cardboard to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.
6. Maintain Detectors and Extinguishers
Daylight savings time begins this month, so be sure to follow the tradition of changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on Sunday, March 8, 2026 or “spring forward” day. If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it is accessible, hasn’t expired, and the pressure is at the recommended level. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, now’s the time to get one while safety is top of mind.
Best Carbon Monoxide Detector
Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide/Explosive Gas Alarm
We love this digital unit from Kidde because it detects CO and explosive gases, and can be plugged in or battery operated.
See It7. Repair Damaged Deck Components
In most areas of the country, it’s warm enough to comfortably work outdoors, but it’s still not quite backyard hangout season. If your deck needs repairs, now is the time to do them. Start by inspecting deck boards for signs of deterioration: Soft, spongy, or cracked boards should be replaced with new pressure-treated wood or composite. Make sure the deck handrails and posts are secure, too: If they feel wobbly or have rotted, repair or replace them.
8. Replace Outdoor Faucets
If this year’s frigid winter temperatures caused your exterior water faucets to leak or burst, take the opportunity to replace the outdoor faucet now. You’ll be glad this task is done when it’s time to hook up your garden hoses and water the lawn. (Not replacing a leaky faucet, which is a fairly easy DIY, and allowing the faucet to continue leaking could impact your water bill in a big way.)
9. Level the Yard
Low spots in the yard can turn into soggy messes after spring rains. Not only do these depressions lead to muddy, damaged portions of lawn, but they also encourage mosquitoes and other pests to settle in the yard. Here’s how to level a yard: Fill large low spots by cutting pieces of sod away from the area with a spade. Set the pieces of turf aside and add topsoil, bringing it level with the rest of the yard. Replace the grass and water it to conceal your work.
10. Wash the Windows
Whether you choose to use a store-bought or homemade window cleaning solution, improve your outlook by cleaning your windows inside and out. Apply cleaner with either a squeegee or a soft cloth. Remove and wash your window screens with mild detergent. Lay the screens on a dry surface (on the driveway, for example) to air-dry before putting them back in.
