Spring Cleaning for Homeowners: Tips for a Fresh Start

Get ready for warmer weather and all the fun that goes with it by giving your home a good spring cleaning. Sprucing up your interior and exterior puts you on the right path for summer relaxation (who wants to tend to costly repairs when you could be enjoying yourself on vacation?) and entertaining family and friends (4th of July party, anyone?).

Whether you live in a small condo or sprawling property, you probably have some chores that need tending to now that winter’s over. So, use our spring cleaning guide to ensure you haven’t overlooked any necessary steps to getting your house in good shape for a new season.

Here are some tips you can follow this spring for a fresh start in the coming months.

Clean Dryer Vent

Clean your dryer vent once a year to keep your machine working optimally and reduce the risk of fire. The dryer’s vent differs from its lint trap, which you should clean after each use. The vent is located on the back of the dryer and is a thick, flexible aluminum hose connecting to the wall. To clean the dryer vent, move the dryer away from the wall, disconnect the vent from the machine and the wall, remove any lint inside the vent hose, and use a vacuum to clean the holes that connect to the hose.

Drain Water Heater

Water heaters are often tucked away, so they’re easy to overlook. But, if you give this appliance a little attention during springtime, it’ll extend the heater’s life. Draining your water heater reduces sediment that can accumulate due to minerals in the water. When you drain your heater and then refill it, you can minimize the time it takes for your water to get hot. Draining also protects against breakdowns. But, before you perform this important spring-cleaning task, let your water cool completely and disconnect any energy source.

Clean Gutters

Giving your gutters a good cleaning is essential during wintertime when built-up debris can cause a dam that makes rain, snow, and ice pool, threatening your home’s structural integrity. So, if you didn’t perform this critical chore last winter, attend to it this spring. In addition to cleaning leaves, branches, and dirt from your gutters, point all downspouts away from your home’s foundation.

Deep Clean Bathrooms

Bathrooms are breeding grounds for mold and mildew, so give them a deep clean every spring (and ideally several times a season). Scrub your floors, counters, toilets, and shower walls and glass enclosures. Wipe down the bathroom’s walls, baseboards, windows, and light fixtures. Wash and change shower curtains, and clean shower heads with water and vinegar to break down mineral buildup.

Change Air Filters

Regularly changing your air filters helps keep allergens out of your home. Depending on your air conditioning unit, you may need to change your air filters every six months or even more frequently. But at the least, you should tend to this necessary task every spring. We suggest you switch your filters before seasonal breezes kick in and pollen and other bothersome airborne particles start to spread.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

If you didn’t test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms during winter, do it now. Change the batteries in all your alarms and then check their functionality using the ‘test’ button. Additionally, look at the alarm’s expiration date (every smoke and carbon monoxide detector has one) and replace it if it expires in the next six months.

Deep Clean Floors and Carpets

Some carpets require professional cleaning every 12-18 months to maintain their warranty, so don’t let this critical milestone slip by. Before you clean your carpets, however, test an area for colorfastness. Then, vacuum, treat individual stains, and use a carpet cleaning machine to do a deep clean. You can freshen up hardwood and other solid-surface flooring with a mop or appropriate cleaning machine.

A good spring cleaning offers the most short and long-term benefits when you go from room to room, inspecting, repairing, and freshening everything in and out of sight. In addition to the tips mentioned above, consider doing a deep clean on the following:

• Indoor furniture

• Throw rugs

• Window treatments

• Chandeliers and pendant lights

• Kitchen appliances

• Kitchen counters and cupboards

• Entry door

• Deck or patio

• Garage

• Garden

Are you looking to sell or buy a new home? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® walk you through every step in the process.

The post Spring Cleaning for Homeowners: Tips for a Fresh Start appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.