Spring Into Action

Make a trap for fruit flies from a 20-ounce soda bottle and fresh fruit.

Enjoy HGTV's tour through spring with cleaning, storage, springtime activity and backyard entertaining tips.

Spring-Cleaning Tips for the Home

• As spring cleaning begins, try not to do more than one task at a time. This enables you to work more efficiently and with fewer distractions. When items are found that belong in an area other than the one being cleaned, place them in a basket and take the time later to return each item to its proper place. This is a chore all by it itself.

• To really clean garbage cans, spray them with a hose and dump out the water. Next, spray the inside with a disinfectant spray, scrub with a handled brush and rinse. Leave them upside down to dry.

• To clean spots on upholstery, apply shaving cream with a sponge to the stained area, let it dry and then remove with another damp sponge.

• Use a dry sponge to clean delicate furniture fabrics — take care to never get this sponge wet.

• To revive drab drapes, take them down, remove hooks and run them through an air-fluff cycle in the dryer with a damp towel (to attract the dust) for 15 minutes. Rehang immediately.

Figure C

Tips for Spring Storage

• As children get ready for spring sports, contain their sports equipment in one canvas or nylon .Keep the various equipment bags in one area of the home or garage — ready to be grabbed for the next game.

• Take the time to de-clutter the closet. Any heavy, warm-weather clothing or items not worn in the past few months may be ready to go into the donation box. Keep that box handy in the closet until it fills. Maximize closet space by rotating out or moving to the back and sides the heavier-weight clothing. Move forward the items to wear over the next few months.

• Always label any items stored out of season, so they can be easily retrieved when needed.

• By springtime a lot of art and schoolwork from children has probably accumulated. Combine it into one box and sort through it with your children, helping them choose which ones are the best.

• To store all the information related to the family's summer activities, use an accordion file with labeled sections for summer camps, family vacations, recreation programs and classes.