Make a Plan for Mother’s Day: Don’t be Caught by Surprise

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Mother’s Day, May 11^th, is just about a month away. If you start planning for her special day now, you won’t disappoint!

Whether your mom is a career mom, a work-from-home mom, a full-time mom, or even a retired mom, she could use a little help.

There are times, we can agree, that we take Mom for granted.  We thought it might be worth a look at some of the Do-It-Yourself tasks to help mom throughout the year.

Whether your mom’s love language is kind words, hugs, or gifts (don’t forget the flowers), chances are she will love your helping hands!

The Hard to Get to Tasks That Moms Struggle to Get Done

• Wash the windows and screens: both the inside and outside. This task will require getting on a ladder, either a tall ladder for the second story or a short step ladder for the top part of those ground floor windows. While moms can undoubtedly do this job, the point is to take some things off her plate!
• Organize a messy storage area. Choose a space like the basement, attic, garage, or outdoor shed. Start by decluttering then move boxes into neat stacks. Note the contents on boxes to save time finding things later. 
• Scrub the grout and tile on the tile floors or in the showers. Here is a somewhat time-conuming task that requires elbow grease. What a difference clean grout will make in any room.
• Move heavy appliances and clean them underneath.
  • The washer and dryer are a good place to start. Both are connected to the wall by hoses or a flexible vent. Detaching the washer from the supply connections can usually be done by hand. The dryer vent may need a screwdriver to release a clamp or tear old duct tape. Replace it with new tape when you are done cleaning the walls and floors around both appliances. 
  • The refrigerator is next. If yours is on rollers, the task will be easier as you won’t need to shimmy this way and that to get it out of its space. Be careful if there is a water supply for an ice maker or water dispenser built into the refrigerator door. If you haven’t done this in a couple of years, there may be a yuck factor, so be prepared.
• Save her a trip up the ladder – replace the batteries and test all her smoke detectors
• Clean gutters of debris and ensure they are working properly with no holes, dings or bends

  

Day to Day Tasks 

While taking on the bigger hard to get to tasks is a great way to DIY 4 Mom, daily tasks also help in a big way.

• Organize the cabinets and drawers.
  • Clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen. 
  • Go through the pantry and check the ‘best if used by’ dates. Throw out expired food and keep a list of all the items you want to replace. 
  • Install an organizer in the cutlery draws.

If Mom generally takes ownership of the kitchen area, clear your intentions with her first.

• Most of us have a ceiling fan or two in our homes. A nice gesture on your part would be to dust and clean the top of the fan blades. Clean the light kit and replace the bulbs if needed.
• Do a deep clean in the bathroom. Get that soap buildup cleaned up in the tub and shower. Clean the inside and outside of the toilet and around the base where it is hard to clean. Take the aerators out of the sink faucets and ensure they are cleared of buildup.

  

  • Tip: soak the aerators for 20 min in white vinegar and wipe them clean.
• Precook a couple of meals for the week. Coming home after a long day and only having to reheat a complete meal promotes relaxation. Many food services provide complete meals that only need to be cooked; all the prep work is done for you.

Add Something Just for Her

Your hard work will be appreciated. Now it is time for the personal touch. Here are some of our ideas.

• Create she-shed. Find a place she can call her own. This could be a place for her to retreat to for creating, reading or relaxing.
• Improve her dressing area. Add a dressing table to the bedroom or enhance lighting with a make-up mirror.
• Create a sitting spot on the porch. Purchase a nice chair, bench or swing and build a planter, or a window planter for outside enjoyment
• Update the front entrance with a new door or potted plants.
• Plant a special rose garden or create a path with a love seat.
• Plan, and I mean REALLY plan a family photo shoot. Find the location, photographer and pick the color scheme! Then be prepared to help her frame and hang those pictures throughout her house.
• Name a star after her that she can see from her garden seat.
• Sign her up for a chance to win a Rosie on the House Staycation.

  

The main idea is to not only tell mom but show her that you love her! 

More than anything, mom wants to hear from you. If you don’t live at home, and are not near enough for face-to-face visits, Mom still wants to hear from you. Face time with you and grandkids is another way to help Mom be happy.

Need Help- Our Rosie Certified partners can help!

Response Crew– handyman

Clearco- tiles, windows and carpets 

Urban Shed Concepts– She Shed or extra storage

Get Organized with Bridges– organizing new spaces and decluttering messy ones.

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Homeowner Handbook | #DIYForMom

PODCAST

April 5th, 2025

Our Weekly To Do on getting a head start for Mother’s Day with suggestions to make her day special. Great information for Aging In Place. Can you install pavers over concrete? Plus covering other topics of interest besides home maintenance.

Original Broadcast Archive Page With Expanded Content

PHOTO CREDIT

• IStock
• Urban Shed Concepts
• Wayfair