Bring the Spring Into Your Home With These Easy Expert Tips From Carter Oosterhouse

If your house has a case of the winter doldrums, it’s time to shake things up with a dose of spring cleaning. Lifestyle expert Carter Oosterhouse stopped by to share a few of his expert tips to get your home ready for warmer weather. A few simple steps and your home could be spring-ready in no time.

Tip #1 - Stain the fence
Sunlight degrades the lining that bonds wood fibers, allowing water to penetrate and causing the surface to gray. Knock debris and flakes off the wood with a broom, then brush on a nontoxic deck cleaner. Rinse the fence with water, then let it dry. Next, evenly apply a penetrating stain (“karate kid style”) to extend the life of the fence by 5-10 years.

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Tip #2 - Pick up some houseplants
Plants like aloe and spider plants function as air purifiers -- even NASA scientists use plants to clean their space equipment! Carter recommend a ratio of one plant per 100-square feet of space.

Tip #3 - Clean your gutters
This should be done twice a year -- so grab your gloves. The first step is to look in gutter bottoms for loose granules, a sign your roof shingles may be degrading and could be in need of replacing. Then, to clean out that gunk in the downspout gooseneck gutter, grab your garden hose. Take off the nozzle, turn on the water and then shove the hose into the downspout to power out of gooseneck bends.

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Tip #4 - Examine roof shingles...carefully!
Every year over 500,000 people have ladder-related accidents that require medical attention in the United States alone. Before ever climbing up a ladder to check your roof, grab a pair of binoculars and do your check from the ground. Some inventive folks are even using drones to check on their shingles. Look out for shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose, or are missing granules need to be replaced.

 

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