Invest in your lawn.

Spring lawn care is essential to your home and its curb appeal, so it’s important to know how to care for the grassy areas around your house. After a harsh winter, your lawn needs specific nutrients and maintenance to  help it grow lush and thick for summer. Be sure you are seeding your lawn properly and raking away any dead grass, that could be doing more harm than good. Getting a jump-start on this will allow you to target problem areas and repair them before the heat of summer kicks in.

Touch up the exterior.

The harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on your home,  this means siding, windows, screens, roofs, and more could have experienced significant damage. Once the weather gets warmer, take some time to inspect the outside of your home and look for areas that need repairs. For instance, do you need to replace any windows or screens? How does the exterior of your home look? Does your siding need a new coat of paint or stain? Does your roof need to be repaired or replaced? Taking care of these issues in the spring, lets you take advantage of the mild weather to get your house looking spectacular for the summer season.

Spruce up the landscaping.

Aside from your grass, the rest of your home’s landscaping will need some love too. Spring is the time to clean up any debris or dead leaves that have used your yard to hibernate all winter. You should also purchase some extra mulch or rock to freshen up your landscaping, especially if those areas have been damaged during the winter. In addition, you should plant more flowers and trim bushes around your home. Doing this will get your home ready for outdoor living and make your yard look spectacular..

Give the inside a deep cleaning.

It’s not just the outside of your home that needs some TLC after the long winter. The inside of your home does too. Be sure to give your home a deep cleaning, whether you do it yourself or search for cleaning services near you that can tackle the job.  According to Amazon Cleaning near Atlanta, “A thorough deep cleaning of your home gets rid of harmful debris that lives in your home, which can improve your overall health and well-being.” Thoroughly cleaning your home and opening  the windows, will air out your home and improve the air quality inside.

Get organized.

Beyond  cleaning, you should also use the spring to get your home more organized. Go through all the rooms in your home, and make different piles: things to keep, things to donate/sell, and things to throw away. Doing this will allow you to get rid of the items you don’t use or don’t want. Getting rid of all that stuff will make it easier to organize what you are keeping. You will love the results and appreciate the fact, that you will be able to find the things you need quickly.

Clean the fridge/pantry.

Don’t forget to tackle your fridge and pantry. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in cleaning and organizing rooms, they forget about these things. It may have been some time since you really cleaned them out, so you probably have a lot of food or items that are expired and need to be trashed. In addition, you may find some items you forgot you had. These new-found products may mean you can make some new recipes  without having to go to the grocery store.

Spring is the perfect time to start fresh and tackle things inside and outside of you home. With that behind you, you will find cleaning is easier, your house looks better and you have more time to have fun with your family.

This is a sponsored post and does not necessarily reflect the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

If your kitchen is like mine, it is Grand Central Station for your home. I know when my kitchen is organized, it is easier to find what I need, and to work more efficiently. Here are 10 simple ways to organize your kitchen.

Purge Your Cabinets

Take everything out of your cabinets and drawer. Think carefully, do you really need it all?  I am almost sure you will find, there are many things you need to get rid of or donate. Put back only what you need. Place the items that you want to donate in a box and put the box by your door. On your next trip out to your vehicle,  carry the box to your car, so it is ready to be dropped off.

Group Similar Items

With your cabinets empty, start to really think about the best way to group items in them. Look at the things you are keeping and arrange baking things together, serving pieces together and so on.

Think About Your Space

Next, think about the best cabinet or drawers to put those things. Drinking glasses are probably best by the sink and dishwasher. Remember, you want things to run as smooth as possible, so have your coffee maker near your mugs and your pot holders near your oven. Be mindful of this as you decide where everything you are keeping goes.

Use Clear Plastic Bins

Use clear bins and containers to organize things inside your cabinets. Small bins are perfect for containing hot cocoa packets, oatmeal packets and more. Food in tiny boxes like pudding, can be stored in clear containers, so  it does not get lost among larger items.

Another food or pantry storage idea, is to use clear mason jars. You can even vacuum seal them if you have a Food Saver with a jar device.

Go Through Your Food Storage Containers

Go through your food storage containers and get rid of anything you don’t have a lid for. Organize what you have left by placing the lids in a clear plastic bin, so they can be stored  vertically. If all you have is just a bunch of tired Chinese food containers with no lids, think about throwing it all out and starting with a set of quality food storage containers.

Utilize Space Effectively,

That cabinet above your refrigerator, microwave or oven can be fitted with vertical rack dividers that allow you to store cookie sheets, trays, platters and more. In my new kitchen, I chose to have these dividers built in. I can tell you, it is much easier to store cutting boards, baking pans, large platters, trays etc. I did this to the cabinet above my oven and the one over my refrigerator.

Organize Your Drawers

Pick up some bamboo drawer dividers to organize your utensils and cutlery. You can find ones that expand to fit a variety of drawer sizes.  Smaller plastic bins can help you contain pens, pencils, tape scissors etc. Allow yourself only one junk drawer if possible.

Tackle Your Refrigerator

Clean out your refrigerator. Wipe down all the surfaces inside and out. Go through all your food and condiments, and get rid of anything that is old, expired, or you don’t use. Grab some plastic bins and use them to organize your food especially smaller items like juice boxes, food pouches and smaller condiments.

Another idea that can save you time is to organize items that you use to pack lunches for yourself or your kids. That way you can quickly grab things like yogurt, cheese sticks, juice boxes, fruit etc.

Finally, if you like to keep a lot of cold drinks on hand for yourself or the kids, you may want to consider getting a dedicated refrigerator for these items. The best beverage refrigerator by Danby can hold up to 120 cans and is quite compact so it won’t take up much space in your kitchen.

Get Under the Sink

Maximize your space under the sink with a 2 Tier Expandable Adjustable Under Sink Storage Shelves. This will maximize your space to store your cleaning products, soaps, sponges and more.

Hang It Up

Organize your mop, broom, dustpan and more with a hanging storage rack that you can mount to the inside of a closet or pantry door.

It is easy to organize your kitchen when you have the right tools. Weeding out the excess and organizing what you have will maximum your kitchen’s efficiency. With a streamlined and more organized kitchen you might find you like cooking and entertaining even more.

A recent Consumer Reports study rates the Miele AirClean Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog Upright Vacuum at the top of their list. This powerful AirClean pet vacuum features a unique electrobrush that follows the contours of your floor, automatically adjusting for different carpet depths and surface coverings. This vacuum provides even, constant suction and gentle cleaning. Accessories include a mini turbo brush, integrated dusting brush, upholstery tool and crevice nozzle.

The Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Canister Vacuum also earned high marks from Consumer Reports as a canister vacuum. From carpeting on stairs to your hardwood floors and even the space behind your fridge, this vacuum easily takes on your weekly floor chores. Stubborn pet hair and even the fluffiest dust bunnies, are no match for this powerful vacuum. Vacuum attachments like the Pet PowerMate and a 2 motor system that creates some serious suction, making vacuuming a breeze. The swiveling 8 ft. hose makes it simple to suck up cobwebs from your ceiling. If you like this model, you can purchase it from Sears.

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light TruePet Deluxe Vacuum features a pet brush attachment, hard floor attachment and microfiber pad. The versatile design converts to a handheld vacuum for use in small spaces like vehicles and stairs. The lightweight stick design makes it effortless to use. I have this vacuum and I love it, it has great suction, is effortless to push and does an amazing job no matter what type of flooring I am using it on.

The Dyson V8 Absolute Vacuum Cleaner is one I personally own, and it works great! It has a rechargeable 21.6 volt Lithium ion battery and comes with a second bare floor brush roller as well as, a small motorized brush. There is a turbo mode for when you need extra power and a dirt cup that empties in one easy step. The cord free design allows you to vacuum anywhere. Get this vacuum on Amazon and live in harmony with your pets. This is another vacuum I own, and I love it. It has no cord so you can take it anywhere. It has great suction and works on all areas of my home.