With spring well underway and public health orders still in place in many provinces, the month of May is back to lift our spirits! To make the most of the warmer weather, we recommend making a to-do list that includes fun activities to keep you busy.

Between spring cleaning, reorganizing your garage and landscaping your backyard, you'll have plenty to keep you busy during the month of May.

Start With the Inside of Your Home

Milder temperatures make May the perfect month to get started on your spring cleaning. Here’s a short list of tasks that can be unpleasant, but oh so satisfying once completed:

• Clean out your closet and donate any unwanted clothes to charity
• Dust every nook and cranny (including the slats on your ceiling fan)
• Put away all your winter clothes and accessories
• Wipe down your walls—fingerprints and smudges won’t magically erase themselves
• Wash your curtains, sheets and cushion covers
• Clean the floor. Once the above-mentioned tasks are done, get out your vacuum cleaner and prepare your soapy water!

Get Your Hands on Some Reusable Cloths

If you plan on cleaning all the windows in your home, instead of using roll after roll of paper towels, why not stop by the store and pick up some reusable cloths?

Many local businesses carry them, and they often come in a variety of fun colours and patterns. They not only last a long time, but they’re also easy to clean and can be used for just about anything—from wiping down mirrors to cleaning up spills.

It’s a good idea to stock up on a few sets of cloths. After all, spring cleaning means scrubbing down cabinets, counters and shelves from top to bottom!

Clean Your Windows With Homemade Products

Once you’re armed with the cloths you need, it's time to move on to cleaning solutions.

First things first, you’re going to want to buy a big bottle of white vinegar. After all, it’s the magic ingredient in just about every homemade product!

If you don’t mind the smell of vinegar and plan on doing a lot of cleaning, simply mix 250 ml of vinegar with 750 ml of water. It's that simple!

If you’re not a fan of the strong acidic smell of vinegar, we suggest mixing 125 ml of vinegar into 4 litres of water and then adding 2.5 ml of liquid dish soap (link in French only).

If vinegar isn’t your thing, you can use black soap instead. Combine 750 ml of hot water with 2 tablespoons of liquid black soap and 20 drops of your favourite essential oil (link in French only). This solution is guaranteed to get your windows sparkling clean!

It goes without saying that any of these homemade cleaning solutions can be used to give your car windows and windshield a streak-free shine!

Make Your Own Multi-Surface Cleaners

Once your windows are clean and clear, you can move on to scrubbing down the hard surfaces in your home and garage. Keep your measuring cups on hand because we’ve got a few more DIY recipes up our sleeve!

The most basic multi-purpose cleaner is made by combining 1 litre of water with 500 ml of white vinegar and the pulp-free peels of 5 or 6 oranges.

If that doesn’t suit your fancy, we have one last fresh-smelling recipe for you to try! Combine 5 ml of your favourite essential oil, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and 50 ml of warm water (link in French only). This multi-surface cleaner can tackle even the toughest stains!

Organize Your Garage for a Fresh Start This Spring

If keeping your garage organized was put on the backburner when the cold weather settled in last fall, it may be time for a deep clean!

Over the winter, odds and ends may have started to pile up. Start by moving everything onto the driveway (cars included!) to get a better view of what needs to be reorganized and what needs to be dropped off at your local dump or recycling centre.

Once you've sorted everything out, it may be time to invest in a few storage accessories such as plastic bins or shelves to keep everything organized. Before putting everything back in its place, give the floor a good sweep and a quick mop!

Inspect Your Seasonal Equipment

May is also a great time to make sure all of your electric and motorized equipment is still in good working order. We're talking about the following items:

• Lawnmower
• Pool parts and motor
• Water heater
• Barbecue (unless you enjoyed it over the winter!)
• Outdoor heat lamps and propane fireplaces

Testing out these gadgets now will give you plenty of time to purchase any replacement parts or extra oil on your next shopping trip (if needed)!

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Your Own Backyard

Mother's Day is coming up fast!

Although you may not be able to get together with the mothers in your life, it doesn’t mean you can’t let them know you’re thinking about them. If you're worried about forgetting certain people, create a schedule of all the calls you need to make on May 9.

We recommend keeping your phone charger nearby as your battery is sure to run out fast!

Enjoy a good meal and incorporate a few thoughtful touches to fill the day with love if not with guests!