19 Easy Home Upgrades for April

Simple ways to improve your home this month

By Katelin Hill

Inspect Porches

Check floorboards for signs of rot or damage, looking underneath—where most rot will start—if the area's accessible.

Organize the Attic

Before summer heat sets in, remove items that can be sold in a yard sale or donated, and make an inventory of what's left.

Head Off Spring Allergies

Prevent pollen and other allergens from spreading deeper into your home by placing area rugs in entryways.

Check for Termites

Look for spongy wood, narrow tubes of mud, or discarded wings along your home's foundation, inside and out.

Recaulk Around Tubs

Ensure that no water is seeping behind bathroom tiles by removing old caulk and replacing it with fresh stuff formulated for tubs and tile.

Refresh Old Potting Soil

If last year's potted plants were healthy, you can reuse the soil this year. Remove old foliage or roots, and fluff it up with 25 percent peat moss or compost.

Plant a Tree on Arbor Day

Happy Arbor Day! To get in the spirit, consider planting a fast-growing flowering species that will offer up plenty of color. In hot, sunny climates, try a crape myrtle; in cooler zones, opt for a purpleleaf sand cherry. Both can grow up to 2 feet per year. Choose a planting site large enough to accommodate future root and canopy growth.

Keep Windows Working

In honor of National Window Safety Week (April 5–11), inspect your home's windows to ensure none are painted or nailed shut.

Mix up How You Mow

Changing direction each time you cut the lawn will help grass blades grow upright, not tilted in the direction you mow.

Pull Weeds After It Rains

The softer soil makes it easier to remove the entire root.

Get the AC Ready to Work

Give the system a whirl now so that you'll have plenty of time to schedule a service call, if needed, before the pros get booked up.

Place Sprinklers Strategically

Make sure you're watering your yard, and not your driveway, house, or sidewalk; you'll save water and avoid rotted siding.

Open Seldom-Used Taps

If guest baths haven't seen company in a month or longer, run faucets and flush toilets to keep traps from drying out and causing unpleasant odors.

Check Washer Hoses

To avoid costly flooding, look for cracks and bulges in washer hoses and replace if there's any sign of wear.

Reseed Bare Patches

Fill bald spots by raking and sprinkling with garden soil and grass seed. Water regularly to keep seeds moist.

Fix Driveway Cracks

Winter ice can cause or broaden cracks in concrete driveways. For narrow gaps, apply a masonry crack filler; in wider ones, use patching mortar.

Clean and Seal Your Fireplace

Keep critters from holing up in your chimney by closing up your flue until fall. Then schedule a cleaning and inspection—you can often get lower rates in the off-season.

Replace Your AC Filter

Before turning on your AC this spring, change the filter so that it runs with maximum efficiency.

Clean Your Doormat

Dirty mats are less effective at trapping dust and debris. Use a vacuum to clean out caked-in dirt so mats are ready for muddy spring shoes.