Spring is in the air and people are breaking out of the winter blues to start making some repairs and improvements to their homes and yards.  But there are also things that you can do throughout the year to maintain your outdoor products to ensure that they do not fail you.  These tips will protect your lawn products and equipment from the wear and tear of the elements and help to give them a longer life.

• Glass.  Although it is acceptable to use a commercial glass cleaner on your glass products, do NOT use anything as abrasive as a paper towel or rag to clean it with.  Instead, use newspaper or a quality squeegee like you see at car washes to wipe down the glass.
• Hinges and Locks.  Every three to four months, you should use silicone spray to lubricate the locks and hinges of your gates and doors to ensure that they work smoothly.  If you notice that they are sticking or squeaking when you use them, you may need to do this more often.
• Iron.  Iron products should be inspected monthly.  It is easier to fix a problem if it is found early than to repair it once the problem has been allowed to go unchecked for months.  Also, never hose down your iron products.  This will cause unnecessary wear on the products.  Instead, get a bucket with warm water, dish washing soap, and a sponge to clean the products, making sure to clean all of the dirt and then drying it thoroughly, leaving no moisture behind when you are done.
• Shrubs and Bushes.  Keep shrubs, bushes, and plants trimmed back so that they do not touch any parts of the house.  Also keep them trimmed away from your fence and gate to prevent them from rubbing against these items and causing damage  (Additionally, these can be safety issues as thick shrubs near entrances can allow burglars to lurk unknown until you come home).
• Sprinklers.  Check sprinkler heads regularly to make sure that there are no obstructions.  Also, make sure that lawn sprinklers cannot reach iron products and, if they can, consider installing drip irrigation for these areas.
• Window Screens.  Routinely check your window screens to see if they need to be replaced or repaired.  If they are dirty, do not use a pressure washer as this will potentially damage them.  Instead, remove the screens and clean them with soap and water and then dry with a towel before replacing.
• Wood Products.  If you have gates or doors made from composite wood, then you probably already know that the material you have chosen is almost totally without need of maintenance.  However, you should occasionally wash the composite wood item down with soap and water and then use a towel to dry it completely to prevent any marks or stains.  If you have products made from redwood, then more annual maintenance is required.  This includes cleaning and sanding the product before applying a seal such as Thompson’s seal to protect the wood finish.

These are just a few things that you can do to lengthen the life of your outdoor products.  By doing these, you are ensuring that the wear and tear of winter and summer will be less strenuous and less ruinous on your outdoor home features.