Getting your home ready for Spring
Spring has arrived! The trees and flowers are beginning to bloom and soon it will be summer. And with the cool days and warm weather, it’s time to get your home ready for the season.
Where should you start? Here are a few tips to help you during the transition and prepare your home for the days to come.
Gutters
Grab a pair of gloves. a ladder and someone to support you. Then check your gutters for debris, removing as much as you can with your hands. Get rid of any leftover gunk using a garden hose if you can or drain it with water manually. Be careful and take your time as to not damage your gutters accidentally.
When finished, your gutters should be clear and you won’t have to worry about them for a few months depending on the weather.
Walls, Baseboards, & Outlets
Use a bit of elbow grease and scrub all the walls in your home. The common problem areas are bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and living areas. These can easily build up dirt due to the frequency of people walking in and out. Use what cleaning products use prefer but know that a sponge or brush with mild soap and water will do the job. Also, clean off your baseboards and outlets. , Don’t forget to completely dry outlet covers before replacing as well.
Filters, Bathrooms & Windows
Replace all filters including water, range hood, and air vent filters. You should replace these every 3-6 months depending on the type of filters you have. If your bathrooms unscrew the faucet aerators, sink sprayers and showerheads. Soak them in equal parts vinegar and water solution for an hour. Then rinse with warm water. You’ll find that they are in much better condition and will even function better as a result.
For the exterior and interior, don’t forget to wash and clean your windows as well. If need be, you can hire a window-cleaning service to clean all exterior windows.
Keep Allergens Away
Keep dust, mold, and pollen at bay by decluttering your home first. Do it thoroughly once a week to prevent the clutter from building up. Get rid of old rags, newspapers, clothes and other porous items that can retain the allergens. Avoid hoarding knickknacks, magazines, and other dust collectors. Focus on bedrooms especially, because both you and allergens both spend more time there.
A well-ventilated house and non-leaking ductwork is the first line of defense against bringing allergens into your living space. Also keep in mind, pollen and mold spores settle on clothing as well.
Foundation Vents
A house with a crawl space has vents along the foundation walls. These vents provide air circulation by helping prevent excess moisture and mold growth. They also prevent critters from taking up residence underneath your home too. The screens tend to collect leaves and other debris during fall and winter. Spring is a great time to clean them out and check for any damage. Clear the vents by hand or use a shop vacuum. Don’t forget to repair any damaged screens! Insects or small rodents can get through even the smallest holes.
Spring preparation may seem daunting but with a little planning, it can go smoothly. Clean out your home and be careful not to accumulate allergens. Keep your gutters clean. Most importantly, keep these tips in mind the next time Spring arrives and you want to spruce your home up.