MAY CHECKLIST

Put in screen doors. Get ready for warmer days by hanging screen doors at every entrance. If you already have screen doors, now is a good time to check for holes and tears. Learn more about the maker of this screen door here. Enhance curb appeal. Small changes like swapping out house numbers and refreshing window box plantings can make a big impact.

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Clean out the shed and garage. This is a biggie! Divide the job over several weekends and plan a yard sale at the end to get rid of excess stuff.

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Maintain and repair garden paths. Create neat edges, fill in gravel paths with fresh gravel and replace or reposition broken stepping stones. Check irrigation systems and hoses. Turn on the irrigation system and take a walk through your yard to make sure everything is working properly. Make adjustments and repairs as needed.

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Stain decks and fencing. Protect your wood and prepare for a season of outdoor lounging by washing decks and wood fences thoroughly and giving them a fresh coat of stain. Clean the grill. Uncover your grill and give the grates a good scrubbing to get ready for barbecue season.

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aunder curtains and slipcovers. Toss machine-washable items in the washer and take the rest to the dry cleaner, or hand wash and air dry them. If you don't want to iron curtains, try hanging them up while they're still slightly damp — their own weight should help the wrinkles fall out within a day or two.

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Clean the washer and dryer. If your washing machine has one, run the cleaning cycle on it; if not, run the washer with a few cups of white vinegar on the hottest setting to clean it. Scrub inside the lid of the washer and remove lint from the dryer hose.

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Clean items on open shelves. Items not frequently used can gather a crazy amount of dust and grease if they are stored in the kitchen on open shelves. Give each piece a quick wash in a tub of warm, soapy water. Rinse and allow everything to dry before replacing. THIS IS URGENT IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM

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Touch up paint. Try out a fresh new interior color, give the trim a glossy new coat or simply fill holes and touch up chipped spots.

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