Spring Cleaning Your Church Signs: 6 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Church’s Temporary Signage This Spring

Something about spring makes us notice things we’d overlooked all winter: cobwebs in corners, scuff marks on walls, weeds sneaking up through the sidewalk cracks. And if your church uses temporary signage—like flag banners, sandwich boards, or vinyl banners—it’s probably time to take a closer look.

These signs play a quiet but important role in your church’s hospitality. They’re the first things people see when they drive up or walk in. They help visitors feel confident they’re in the right place. And they help everyone know where to go and what to expect.

But over time, signs wear out, designs become outdated, and sometimes, signs just stop working as intended.

Here are six simple ways to “spring clean” your church’s temporary signage—so your campus is clear, helpful, and welcoming this Sunday.

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6 Practical Ways to “Spring Clean” Your Church’s Temporary Signage

1. Check the condition of every sign

Start by walking around your church property with fresh eyes. Ask yourself:

• Are any signs faded, torn, peeling, or dirty?
• Do any banners lean awkwardly or have broken stands?
• Are your sandwich boards wobbly or hard to read?

Wind, sun, and weather can damage signs over time, especially those that go up and down each weekend. If something looks worn or crooked, it might be time to repair, replace, or toss it.

Even your best-looking banner loses impact if it’s flapping wildly in the wind or leaning like it’s on its last leg.

2. Make sure your signs say the right things

Churches change. Service times shift. Ministry names get updated. But banners and printed signs often stay the same.

Double-check:

• Are service times listed correctly?
• Are ministries or classes still running?
• Does anything reference a past sermon series or event?

Also, consider the tone. Does your signage still reflect your church’s personality? A welcoming, casual church might not need signs that feel stiff or overly formal. On the flip side, if you’ve recently refreshed your brand or updated your messaging, do your signs reflect that look and feel?

3. Keep first-time guests in mind

It’s easy to assume people know where to go. But if you didn’t attend church, would you know where to park? Where the main entrance is? Where to drop off the kids?

Clear, well-placed signage can remove a lot of awkward guesswork. Walk your campus like a guest:

• Can I find the main entrance easily?
• Is it obvious where to go for kids’ check-in?
• Are there signs that point to bathrooms, coffee, or the auditorium?

Use language that makes sense to visitors. “KidZone” might be fun, but it may not be immediately apparent what that means unless it’s paired with something like “Children’s Ministry Check-In.”

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4. Clean and organize your signs and stands

You know that supply closet with half-broken A-frames, tangled bungee cords, and a stack of bent metal stakes from VBS 2019? Yeah… time to tackle that.

Take 20 minutes to:

• Toss out signs that are no longer usable.
• Group signs by purpose or season (Easter, Christmas, outreach, etc.).
• Label storage containers or shelves for easy access.

If your setup team has to dig through a pile of mystery signs every Sunday, a little spring organization can save time and frustration.

Remember to clean the signs you keep. A quick wipe-down can make even a well-used banner look fresh again.

5. Re-think your setup flow

Just because you’ve always put the flag banners by the sidewalk and the sandwich board near the door doesn’t mean it’s still the best setup.

Ask:

• Do our signs create a clear and helpful flow from the street to the seat?
• Is there a better place to put this banner so it’s noticed?
• Are there too many signs in one area, causing visual clutter?

Sometimes, one clear, well-placed sign is more helpful than five competing messages in the same spot.

Walk the parking lot and entry path like a first-timer again. Think about eye level, direction of approach, and what someone needs to know to feel at ease.

6. Consider adding or removing signs

This might sound backward, but more signs aren’t always better. Sometimes, trimming down what you display can help each remaining sign get noticed.

At the same time, you may realize you’re missing a sign that could make a big difference. Maybe it’s a “First-Time Guest Parking” sign. Or a “Prayer Team Available After Service” sign near the back of the room. Or a simple “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here” at the front door.

Think strategically. What signs help people take the next step? What signs reinforce your church’s culture of welcome, clarity, or joy?

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Final Thoughts: Small Sign Updates, Big Hospitality Impact

Temporary signs may not seem like a big deal, but they carry more weight than we often realize. They help create a sense of order, give people confidence that they’re in the right place, and quietly reinforce what your church is all about.

So this spring, don’t just water the flower beds or clean the baseboards—give your signs a little attention too. Clear, helpful, and updated signage is a slight touch that can make a big difference in someone’s experience.

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