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March's to-do list
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Make this spring the season for cleaning your home and your life.
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By Natalie Bahadur
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During the early days of the Roman Empire, March was the first month of the calendar year. But the ancient Romans revised the calendar, making January 1 the official beginning of the year. Named in honour of Mars, the Roman god of war, March is the month that ushers in the spring season. Here are 10 ways to welcome the third month of the year.
1. Spring-clean
Spring doesn't officially arrive until March 21, so if you get started now, you can have your home in tip-top shape before the season begins. Now's the time to take care of those household duties you've been putting off. Clean out kitchen and bathroom cabinets, pull the fridge away from the wall and clean behind it (give the top a good wipe, too) and dust all photographs, artwork and ceiling fans. Print a room-by-room spring-cleaning checklist to make your job a little easier.
2. Clean/replace your filters
Furnace filters should be cleaned and/or replaced regularly; consider doing this once every month or two. If you haven't done this recently, now's as good a time as any. A clean filter maximizes the efficiency of your furnace, resulting in lower energy costs, and eliminates dust and dirt that get caught in the filter.
3. Clean baseboards
Baseboards should be cleaned regularly to prevent a dusty buildup that can make your home look dirty. A quick once-over with the vacuum should keep them clean year-round, but if you've neglected this job, don't put it off any longer. Remove dust with the vacuum (don't forget to use one of your brush attachments so you don't damage the paint). If the vacuum misses spots, lightly run a damp cloth over the top, to loosen the dirt. Wipe them again with a soft, dry cloth.
4. Sort through unused clothes
If you have clothes that are stuffed into the dark recesses of your closets, never to see the light of day, be ruthless. Identify items you haven't worn in the past six months and place them in a bag that can be donated to charity. But be conscientious with what you donate; clothes should be clean and only gently used.
5. Cheers to green beer
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a glass of green beer. Bottoms up!
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