Getting a Fresh Start: Spring Cleaning

When a new season is upon us, Spring cleaning is one thing we can always do to make those beautiful days more enjoyable! There are so many little things that can always be done to clean the insides and outsides of our houses. Therefore, I decided to share some little tips and tricks to help get your house ready.

Let us begin with the inside of the house. There are quite a few nooks and crannies that need attention to be cleaned more often than most realize. A good tip that I have recently learned was to write things down on a monthly calendar so you can break up all the spring cleaning that needs to be done. This way you do not feel super overwhelmed when it comes to getting it all done.

• Scrub walls, baseboards, outlet covers, and window blinds

  • Use a sponge with soap and warm water to scrub these items
  • Make sure the outlet covers are fully dry before placing them back on

• Clean faucets and showerheads

  • Unscrew the parts and soak them in a mixture of half water and half vinegar
  • Let them sit for an hour
  • Rinse with warm water and put all the parts back on

• Clean out the dryer vent

  • Disconnect the vent from the back of the machine and use a dryer vent brush to remove the lint from inside the vent
  • Outside: remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove the lint
    • Make sure the vent cover flap moves freely

• Test smoke alarms

• • • Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced every 6 months
    • Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years

• Replace filters

  • • • Water filters should be changed every 2-6 months
      • Range hood filters should be changed every 1-3 months
        • They should be changed more often if you cook a lot, or your cooking includes a lot of spicy or greasy foods
      • Air filters should be changed every 3 months
        • Factors that could change that time frame could be
          • Having pets
          • The age of your system and equipment
          • Where your home is located

• Declutter your house of unwanted items and clothing

  • • • • • • Donate, sell, or have a garage sale to get rid of items you no longer need or want

Now on to the outside of the house. There are also a lot of things to do outside the house and many of them go untouched for way too long. As for the outside, there are a lot of local companies that can help alleviate the stress of that!

• Clean gutters

  • Check for any debris and remove what you can with your hands
  • Any remaining debris can be removed with a hose
  • Spray down the downspouts as well to rinse those

• Wash exterior windows

  • Remove screens and wash those
  • Wash windows and then put screens back in

• Clean the grill

  • Check for leaks in hoses and tubes
  • Scrub it all down with warm water and soap
    • Avoid some cleaners as they can be corrosive and cause damage to parts of the grill
  • Take off the grates and scrub them using a soft wire brush
  • Clean the grease cup and replace it if needed
  • Wipe down burners and make sure nothing is rusted and replace if needed
  • Buy a new tank or charcoal and enjoy grilling!

• Prepping the garden

  • Add nutrients to the soil
  • Ensure the soil is not compacted
  • Remove any weeds

• Clean out garage

  • Organize everything in your garage and declutter along the way
  • Utilize the garage space to have a garage sale for all your house and garage items if that is how you want to get rid of everything

Getting the inside and outside of your house clean can be a huge relief. Not to mention spring cleaning everything outside will allow you time to enjoy some much-needed fresh air after all this coldness we have been having!

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