(ARA) – You’re ready to throw winter out to the curb. It’s time to rid yourself of the dreary cold weather and freshen your house for spring by opening the windows, rolling up your sleeves to give all your furnishings a good cleaning, and shopping to brighten everything with a new spring look.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on your new home improvements. Here are some tips to help you welcome spring into your home:
* Try a new paint color: It may have been years since you painted or the walls may all still be factory white from when the house was built. A fresh coat in a warm spring tone can help waken any room from the winter doldrums. Soft pastel colors or vibrant warm hues can really change the look of your house. A gallon or two of paint is a very inexpensive way to give new life to your rooms.
* Fabrics help give rooms pop: If you are living in an apartment and can’t change the color of your walls, go with new fabrics. Visit Ebates.com to shop for pillows at Sears, or make your own blankets, slip covers and pillows with fabrics from Joann.com. You can find discounts and coupon codes for your favorite home decorating stores through this website and also receive a check back in the mail for a percentage of your purchases.
* Spruce up the yard: The weight of winter’s snow probably has your grass and bushes looking flat, brown and there may be a good chance that some of your landscaping didn’t survive the harsh temperatures. As soon as the frost has left your area, give your front and backyards some bright color with beautiful flowers and new shrubs. Visit Ebates.com for discounts through Gardeners Supply Company to help you save money and earn cash back. If you don’t have a backyard, consider planting a container garden on your deck or adding a couple of house plants to the windows of your house to bring a spring-like feeling into your house. You can plant beautiful and scented flowers or delicious fresh vegetables and herbs to add to your summery menus.
* Let the breezes blow through: Those heavy drapes that helped you keep the house warm during winter won’t do you any good now that the temperatures are comfortable and balmy. Find new blinds or sheer curtains for your windows to help keep the penetrating sun rays out, but yet allow the light and airy breezes to filter in through your open windows.
Freshening your house for spring doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Do a bit of shopping online, push up your sleeves with a paintbrush or a cleaning rag in hand and spread the color around to make your house look bright and airy and ready for spring.

By Judy Reed

As the weather warms up and residents begin to spring clean, some municipalities are offering drop off sites to help get rid of the clutter. Check out the list below to see when it’s offered in your area.
Algoma Township: Spring cleanup days held last week, April 13-16. Call the township for more info 866-1583.
City of Cedar Springs: The annual brush pickup will be Monday April 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please have brush out by 6:00 a.m. and neatly stacked as close to the curb as possible. No brush larger than six inches, tree removals or stumps will be picked up. Please note that this is the ONLY pickup date for this spring. They will not pick up every Monday throughout the summer as they did last year. There is no longer a spring trash cleanup date, since Duncan Disposal, the city’s preferred waste hauler, does that for residents.
The Department of Public Works will be flushing the City’s hydrants on the following Fridays: May 6, July 1, August 5 and September 2. Please remember to let your faucet run clear before doing any white or light colored laundry to avoid staining your laundry. Please contact DPW Director Roger Belknap at 616.696.1330 X 108 should you have any questions.
Courtland Township: No spring cleanup, they have a fall cleanup.
Nelson Township/Sand Lake: Spring cleanup days are Friday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents should bring trash to the water tower in Sand Lake. Proof of residency required with a tax bill or voter registration AND a driver’s license. Will also collect E-Waste at the same location. Please call the township for more info at 636-5332.
Oakfield Township: No cleanup scheduled.
Sand Lake: See Nelson Township.
Solon Township: Spring cleanup dates have been set for two consecutive Saturdays, April 30 and May 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the old horse farm, 15185 Algoma. Proof of residency required. Must be residents—not just landowners. One 5×8 trailer with 48-inch sides or one pickup box per household. All items should be boxed or bagged, 45 pounds maximum. Tires must be cut in four pieces, car or light truck only, limit four. Appliances such as washers, dryers, etc. will be accepted, but not appliances that used Freon. See public notice on page 16 or call township for more specifics at 696-1718.
Spencer Township: Spring cleanup days are Friday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring trash to Spencer Township Fire barn, 12131 18 Mile, Gowen. No roof tear-offs or big appliances, Tires must be cut in four pieces. Disposal of batteries is $1, units with Freon $15.00, units without Freon $3.00. Call township at 984-0035 for more info.

Getting your home ready for the season

(ARA) – A great clean looks as good as it feels, and with warmer weather right around the corner, there’s nothing better than the feeling that your home is free of dirt, dust and grime. When you’re a busy mom, keeping your house clean can seem like a never-ending battle. Arm yourself with the right mindset and a few simple tips to conquer your cleaning challenges.
Jessica Denay, author of “The Hot Mom Handbook” series has partnered with Swiffer to offer these tips to help keep your home clean while also balancing work and family:
* Don’t try to do everything at once. Divide chores into daily, weekly, monthly and even seasonal tasks. Do the dishes daily, and try to throw out old food in your fridge as part of your weekly tasks. With spring upon us, dust build-up will be your nemesis. By dedicating certain days this spring to seasonal chores like dusting ceiling fans or sweeping out the fireplace, you can help better manage the upkeep of your home and do deep cleans less often.
* Know when to call it a day. It’s easier to keep your home clean and keep a positive mindset if you set aside a few minutes each day to clean. If you have an overwhelming task list, attack each task in order of importance and get to the last ones on your list as time allows. Don’t let cleaning consume a whole day or weekend.
* Don’t waste time. Efficiency makes a huge difference. “Always clean from the top and work your way down, otherwise you’ll be cleaning in circles,” says Denay. It helps to focus on one area of the house at a time. Keeping all your cleaning supplies in a caddy can also prevent extra trips to retrieve items you might have forgotten or couldn’t carry. Find shortcuts. Use products that can work on multiple messes.
* Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s completely possible to maintain the appearance of a clean home even if the most out-of-the-way places aren’t cleaned regularly. Perception is reality and even if that area behind your fridge is a little dusty, nobody will notice. Concentrate on the open areas of your home that see a lot of traffic. If these areas are clean, your home will feel spotless and comfortable.
Following these tips will allow you to balance chores amongst free time. With just a little daily attention, you can make cleaning seem like less of a chore and more like a refreshing activity. “Having a sparkling clean home gives me peace of mind and the actual cleaning process makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself and my family,” says Denay.

(Family Features) Spring in the garden is a dangerous time. The temptation is to go out on those warm, sunny days and plant ‘til you drop. Not only is that strenuous on your body and mind, it can also lead to the proverbial glut of food in a few months.
A better solution is to plan out your annual edible garden so crops mature in a more orderly fashion. Succession planting requires a little knowledge of the type of plants you’re growing, a little planning to have room for them to grow, and the patience to plant each crop in turn. Also, other gardening techniques, such as crop rotation and interplanting, can help maximize growing space and help your plants avoid many soil-borne diseases and insects.

Planting for Success

Succession planting is a simple concept: Plant small rows or beds of plants periodically during the growing season. As one planting’s harvest begins to fade, the next planting’s harvest will be ready. The key is knowing what vegetables can be planted in succession, and the best time of year to do it.

Photo courtesy of Family Features

To succession plant, start in spring with cool-season crops that can be planted early, such as lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli, greens, pak choi, carrots, radishes, and beets. For example, instead of planting one long row or bed of lettuce, consider planting a short, 2-foot-long row or bed. Two weeks later, sow another 2-foot-long row, and so on until the weather gets too warm for lettuce. Since the plants mature in one to two months you’ll get a continuous harvest of lettuce.
For warm weather crops, such as bush beans, summer squash, or cucumbers, follow the same planting pattern. Plant one bed after the last frost date, and another three or four weeks later. Since these crops take at least 60 days to mature, in regions with short growing seasons you may have time for just two successive crops before the weather gets too cold.
As late summer weather cools, you can start planting lettuce again for a fall or winter crop, depending on your location. Because the amount of daylight decreases in autumn, plants grow more slowly in fall than in spring, so allow more time for them to mature.
The other key to succession planting is leaving room to plant. The temptation is to plant everything all at once and fill the garden. It’s important to plan for subsequent plantings. Cover unused beds with straw or other mulch to deter weeds.
Pull out old crops as soon as they finish producing. Don’t let those peas hang on just because there are a few fruits on the vine. Pull old lettuce and spinach plants as soon as they show signs of bolting. By being a little hard-hearted, you’ll create lots of room to grow a second and third crop. It takes a little planning in advance, but you’ll be amazed at where you can tuck in a few broccoli or pak choi plants or a small row of beans.
For more tips and garden information, visit www.garden.org.
Charlie Nardozzi, a nationally recognized garden writer, book author, speaker and radio and television personality, has appeared on HGTV, PBS and Discovery Channel television networks. He teaches and inspires home gardeners to grow the best vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs in their yards.

(ARA) – Spring is just around the corner, so it’s not too early to start thinking about preparing your garden tools and lawn equipment for the warm weather months. Taking the time to do simple maintenance can eliminate the hassle of a piece of lawn equipment failing to start.

Having an operational lawn mower throughout the mowing season should be at the top of your spring prep list. If you find your lawn mower has a hard time starting up, it may be time for a tune-up. This includes changing the spark plugs, changing the oil and cleaning the filter. The same goes for weed eaters. Both can be taken to a mower shop or dealer for tune-up, or can be done by the do-it-yourselfer.

If you’re handling the tune-up on your own, an oil specifically designed for use in small engines, such as Royal Purple’s 2-Cycle TCWIII Engine Oil, can be helpful. Usable in lawn mowers and chain saws, 2-Cycle TCW III increases horsepower and reduces fuel consumption, heat, wear and emissions. Its synthetic solvency keeps spark plugs and exhaust ports clean as well. TCW III has also been member tested and recommended by the National Home Gardening Club. Always use fresh fuel when you start your lawn equipment for the season.

A thorough cleaning of your tools will allow you to inspect them to determine if there are any loose or damaged parts. If a machine has blades – like a lawn mower, weed eater or hedge trimmer – make sure they are clean and sharp. Working with dull blades can be dangerous. You should discard blades that are chipped, damaged or rusted.

You should also make sure your lawn tools are well lubricated with an all-purpose synthetic lubricant like Royal Purple’s Maxfilm.  Maxfilm is recommended for:

* Loosening stuck parts such as nuts, bolts, locks, hinges, etc.

* Lubricating power tools, hinges, chains, rollers, open gears, fishing tackle and lawn equipment

* Preserving and protecting parts in storage against rust and corrosion

Once the initial work is done after the winter thaw, maintenance will be relatively simple, and you’ll be able to enjoy your yard all spring and summer long.

(ARA) – Bright blooms, the smell of fresh cut grass, and a warm breeze may be missing this time of year, but there are ways you can brighten up the indoors and bring some summer gardening back into your life.

Houseplants create a fantastic distraction for passing the winter doldrums as we eagerly await summer. In addition, they also provide valuable health benefits during our harsh cold months. Most houseplants add oxygen and humidity back into the air and some can even rid an area of toxins expelled through materials used to build, decorate and furnish a house.

Indoor plants are ideal to keeping the summer spirit alive, adding a splash of color or texture in your home and providing wonderful health benefits for you and your family. By following just a few simple steps, you can host healthy and beautiful houseplants in your living space.

Location, location, location

After plants are arranged appropriately in their containers, you’ll need to find a suitable location for them. The first step in keeping a plant healthy is to situate it away from any drafty areas or heat sources. For instance, do not place a fern by a front or back door, or on top of a heating vent. Heat sources such as fireplaces will also cause plants to dry out.

Keeping hydrated

Many of us overwater our plants. Using a product that regulates overwatering and infuses soil with oxygen, like Safer Brand Oxygen Plus Plant Food, will allow you to avoid the woes of overwatering, which result in wilting, dulling and death of the houseplant.

Catching rays

Placing houseplants indoors where the sun will hit them only about four to six hours a day is sufficient. Sunlight results in denser, greener foliage and overall healthier plants.

Moving time

Like us, plants would much rather be outdoors than stuck inside during warm and sunny days. Houseplants can be moved outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. This timing is dependent on where you live and the time of the year. Moving houseplants outdoors is easy and will add a great decor element to your entryway, porch or back deck. Before moving plants outdoors, add about 2 inches of potting soil to their containers, as this amount has probably decomposed in the container during the winter months. Once outside, you should soak your plants from top to bottom.

In the initial stages of a houseplant’s conversion outdoors, it is important to gradually introduce them to nature. Placing plants in direct sunlight for the length of a day will put them in shock, so it is best to acclimate them over a one to two week period. Introducing them to the outside under shade of a tall tree will ease them into this transition.

The outdoors offers a houseplant many elements that allow them to thrive, but also exposes them to residents of nature they may not have encountered before. Using an organic insect killer, like Safer Brand Houseplant Insect Killer, will keep your plant from being eaten in the outdoors. When you notice that leaves or petals have been snacked on, or you actually see a bug on the plant, you can spray the entire plant to ensure the bugs will be killed organically and your plant will not be harmed.

Not only do potted plants add design elements to interior and exterior living spaces, but they are also beneficial to your health. So go ahead, indulge in a houseplant or two. A little green can really do the body good.

(ARA) – If you’re simply sick of winter weather – from snow to slush – you’re definitely not alone. With snow storms hitting 49 out of 50 states, and many areas logging record-breaking snowfall and low temperatures, it may be difficult to avoid feeling down.
One way to avoid winter doldrums is to brighten up your home’s interior. Brighter surroundings help keep the blues at bay and make your house warm and inviting. And, don’t worry – you can do it on even the tightest budget. Creating a cozy space doesn’t require major construction or costs. Just a few small changes can make a big difference.
Paint truly is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to brighten a room. Nothing transforms a seemingly dreary space more than a fresh coat of color. A high-quality wall paint also can hide any scuffs and scrapes caused by too much holiday cheer or during the “un-decorating” process.
“The right paint color can make a tired room look cozy and inviting,” says Peggy Van Allen, color specialist for Pratt & Lambert. “It also can serve as the canvas that ties the rest of your decorating scheme together – once you brighten tired walls, you can get inspiration for other design elements throughout the space.”
Consider selecting rich, saturated wall colors to warm up the space. Warm, burnished golds. Succulent reds and cranberries. Smooth mochas and bold French roast browns. Set off dark colors with a creamy, white trim for a soft, stylish effect.
When selecting paint, think about selecting a coating that has low odor and low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) so you can paint indoors, even in the winter – a time when you don’t necessarily want to open all the windows for extra ventilation. Stain resistance is another factor to consider in paint selection, particularly in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and family rooms.
The Porcelain paint line from Pratt & Lambert offers both of these options, delivering excellent coverage and stain resistance in a low-odor, low-VOC formula that’s available in more than 1,000 colors.
Paint is just the first step, however. Once you have finished warming up your rooms with a fresh canvas, you can add some finishing touches to create a haven from the cold weather outside.
“Think of the month or two after the hectic holiday season as a time of rest, relaxation and recovery,” Van Allen says. “Chances are you’ll spend much of your time indoors during these months, so instead of bemoaning the fact the tree is down and it looks bare, make your rooms as cozy as possible.”
One of the first things you might want to do is rearrange the furniture in your most-used rooms to lessen the feeling of emptiness in the space. You can give your room a new look for free, simply by moving a few key pieces to new locations. Also, by moving furniture closer together, rooms can look particularly cozy on a cold day.
Next, think texture. If your window treatments are sheer and summery, maybe you’ll want to swap them out for some inexpensive velvet drapes or enhance existing blinds with a luxurious valance. Remove light-colored linen or cotton slipcovers and instead use heavier, winter-friendly fabrics in jewel- or fire-inspired tones. Accent them with fluffy throws and embellished decorative pillows for the look of extra warmth. Area rugs can reduce the stark look of a room. Pick rugs with bold colors and patterns that complement, but not necessarily match, your wall color.
In the bedrooms, replace light quilts with heavier comforters and duvets and consider using flannel sheets. Add a few extra pillows to the beds to further enhance the cuddle factor. Hang thick, plush towels in rich colors in the bathrooms and replace existing bathmats with ones that have a thick, luxurious pile. A new, fabric shower curtain also will go a long way toward warming up the space, despite all of that cold porcelain and chrome.
With a few simple and inexpensive changes such as these, there’s no need for you, or your house, to suffer from post-holiday letdown. Rich color, warm textures and clever room arrangements can keep your home looking spectacular and inviting throughout winter’s dreariest months – no holiday decorations needed.

(NAPS)—There are many good reasons to become a homeowner. In addition to the social benefits, the feeling of autonomy and sense of community investment, there are the tax benefits. One major tax benefit is the mortgage interest deduction (MID). The MID has been part of the federal tax code since 1913 and helps families offset the cost of homeownership.
The ability to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage can translate into significant savings come tax time. For example, a family who bought a home this year with a $200,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, assuming an interest rate of 4.5 percent, could save nearly $3,500 in federal taxes when they file next year.
“In today’s market, eight out of 10 home buyers must borrow money to buy a home,” said National Association of Realtors(r) chief economist, Lawrence Yun. “For aspiring homeowners who don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to buy a home outright, tax benefits like the mortgage interest deduction help them begin building their future through homeownership.”
Of the taxpayers who itemize deductions, 80 percent utilize this benefit. This is true for people of all income levels. According to the most recent IRS tax return data available, 65 percent of the families who claim this deduction earn less than $100,000 per year.
“People who benefit most from the MID are first-time home buyers and younger homeowners,” said Yun. “These families can use the money they save to build their emergency fund, apply it toward their children’s future education or help them improve the quality of their lives right now. That’s just one of the ways owning a home can pay dividends.”
For more information about the deduction and other tax benefits of owning a home, visit www.houselogic.com.

(ARA) – Although spring and summer are typically the seasons we focus on home improvement projects, there’s no reason to put off projects or planning throughout colder months. If anything, it’s the perfect way to spend time while hibernating indoors. From winterizing windows to laying new flooring, there are plenty of ways to keep improving your home year round.
When the seasons change, one of the best things a homeowner can do is an energy audit. Though it’s nice to keep the windows open all summer, drafty doors and windows can amount to hundreds of dollars wasted on home heating costs during winter. An energy audit will help you find and fix problem areas, letting you save money for other projects.
During an energy audit, a contractor may use blower door tests to measure the air tightness of your home, infrared scanners to pinpoint heat leaks or even a simple walk-through to find places to improve your home’s efficiency. Once problem spots have been identified, hanging plastic sheeting, caulking gaps and further insulating areas will translate to big savings on home heating costs.
While auditing the heat efficiency of each room of your house, keep an eye out for the quick fixes and small projects often put aside during the summer months. Though it is great to get outside and build a deck or retaining wall, big projects often overshadow simple tasks such as fixing outlets and sealing cracks. Use winter as time to knock the little things off the list.
For those who can’t wait to get started, there are plenty of projects that can completely change your home without removing walls or installing an addition.
Introducing new color to a space will help fine-tune an interior’s design or even completely reinvent a room. Winter is the perfect time to modernize your home’s feel with new window treatments, lighting or flooring. New flooring will add both color and character to a room, and is easy to install during any season. Lumber Liquidators offers contemporary and timeless patterns for hardwood floors like Dream Home Plymouth Plank or Bellawood Brazilian Redwood, which can be installed year round.
Because winter may limit a homeowner’s ability to complete some projects, it’s a great time to plan for spring and summer home improvement projects. There are online tools such as the Home Renovator Suite from BobVila.com and Lumber Liquidators’ Room Designer that allow homeowners to easily pull together their dream homes.
After all your projects, big or small, are completed, use the colder months to set a schedule for spring cleaning and home improvement. Setting an agenda will help you avoid having to rush through the summer to get projects done, and ensure you have the time to enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

(Grand Rapids, MI) – Radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, so what can you do to protect your home? Get it tested. Test kits are inexpensive and can be purchased from local hardware stores or from the Environmental Health Division of the Kent County Health Department (KCHD). The Health Department is located at 700 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids.
“Protecting indoor air is a vital part of maintaining a healthy home,” said Cathy Raevsky, Administrative Health Officer for KCHD. “With 16 percent of homes tested in Kent County having an elevated radon level, it is important for homeowners to take action. Getting tested is a simple way to protect your family.”
Radon is created by the breakdown of uranium in soil. It finds its way into homes and other buildings through passages like cracks in the foundation, and is second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer. It is estimated that one in eight Michigan homes has an elevated level of radon. January is National
Radon Action Month and is an ideal time to test your home, because chilly weather means windows are closed, air is stagnant, and if radon is present, it will be more concentrated.
The test kits are easy to use and include confirmatory testing and referrals to approved radon contractors if necessary. The kits cost $5. To date, KCHD has received nearly 8,000 test results from homes across the county. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/radon.