12 Car, Home & Gardening Hacks to Make Your Life Easier this Spring

Winter is finally over! Spring is here, and with it comes the opportunity to refresh your home, get your lawn and garden in order, and take that spring road trip you’ve been planning. Before you get too busy working through your to-do list, check out our favorite car, home, and gardening hacks to help you save money and make your life easier this season.

Spring Home Hacks

Want to make your day-to-day life more pleasant and maybe save a little money on your utilities? Try these easy tips.

Upcycle old items during spring cleaning:

This is your opportunity to get organized around the home, donating or trashing old items you no longer need. But before you get rid of your old jewelry or that broken umbrella, see if you can turn them into something useful. Upcycle projects can transform something you thought was trash into something you treasure.

Refresh your décor:

For many people, a new season is an ideal time to update seasonal décor, test a new room layout, or incorporate new colors. Try out these home décor hacks, like rearranging your furniture or using plants to add color.

Use toothpaste for help hanging your spring décor:

Have framed photos or artwork you’re hanging for the season? Put a little dab of toothpaste on the back of the décor piece’s frame where it’s designed to hang. Then, place it against the wall where you want it to live. When you pull the frame away from the wall, you’ll have the spot for the nail or screw marked. Simply put in the nail or screw and wipe away the toothpaste residue.

Clean faucet heads with vinegar:

If you’ve ever looked at your faucet heads or shower heads and been a little grossed out, you wouldn’t be the first. Mold, mildew, scale, and rust can build up over time, and in the spirit of spring cleaning, restore them to their spotless state. Grab a plastic bag and fill it with a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Use a rubber band or zip tie to fasten it around the faucet head. Let it soak for a few hours. Then use a clean sponge to scrub the remaining grime away and your faucet head should be shining like new.

Spring Gardening Hacks

Spring is the perfect time to get your lawn and garden in good shape. But before you buy anything or work up a sweat, try these tips to save time and money.

Keep your hose tangle-free:

Even if you don’t own a garden hose reel, you don’t have to live with a tangled hose. Find a fixed object, like a large planter or trash can, and slowly wrap the hose around it. Leave it just loose enough to slide off. When you’re finished wrapping the hose, use a piece of rope, strong string, or a strap to make sure it stays neatly coiled. Slide it off and store it away. When you go to use it again, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Make an at-home watering can:

If you own a cute watering can, keep using it! But if you don’t have one and want to save a few bucks, you can use other items instead. If you have an old, distilled water or milk jug, poke holes in the lid and get to watering. Paper coffee cups, or something similar with a small hole in the lid, are perfect for watering smaller houseplants. You can even use acrylic paint to decorate your watering can for a personal touch.

Regrow romaine, green onions, and other favorites from scraps:

After you chop off the top part of a green onion bunch or a head of lettuce, you’re left with the stump and roots. Instead of tossing them, you can put them in a small bowl or glass filled with water. Over the next few days, they should start to show new life. Eventually, after a week or two, you’ll be able to harvest a new crop for whatever you’re cooking. Check out this list to see what else (like onions, celery, and herbs) you can regrow from scraps in water or a combination of water and soil.

Keep fleas and ticks away with certain plants:

According to Better Homes & Gardens, you can plant rosemary, garlic, or wormwood to keep these little pests out of your yard. Their strong scents mean you, your children, and your pets can enjoy outdoor time with less worry about creepy little bugs.

Spring Car Hacks

Winter weather can be harsh on cars, so this is the ideal time to clean your ride and get it ready for adventure. Here are some ways to prep your vehicle.

Give your car a proper spring cleaning:

Months of ice, snow, slush, and salt can take a toll on any car, and that weather can also prevent us from getting outside to wash our vehicles. Spring clean your car and then follow these tips to keep it fresh and organized in the seasons ahead.

Make DIY car mats:

Spring is a beautiful season, but it also brings plenty of rain showers. Instead of tracking in that water and mud and ruining your car’s mats, make your own that you can wash or throw away.

Create a DIY roof rack:

If you love to travel or do outdoor activities, this is certainly the time of year for it! A roof rack is a worthwhile investment, but it can get quite expensive to purchase one and have it installed. If you run a search for DIY roof racks, you can find plenty of videos, step-by-step instructions, and models to create one yourself. Find one that suits your budget and get ready to take your kayak or paddleboard out for some fun.

Get road trip ready by downloading the right apps:

For many people, spring presents an opportunity to take a road trip after the dreary winter months. Before you take off an epic adventure, download these apps to help you plan and prepare yourself for just about anything you could encounter.

Before you take off any spring travels, make sure you have the right insurance coverage. Give us a call, stop by one of our stores, or visit our website for a free quote today.