Roundup: Spring Cleaning
After being holed up all winter, there’s a fair amount of dust in our houses and home maintenance projects we’ve been putting off for nicer days. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze aloft, we’re energized and ready to tidy our nests (before the unforgiving heat of Texas summer descends upon us!).
With spring cleaning, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve assembled our top how-to guides on spring cleaning, so you can simplify, prioritize, and tackle your to-do list on your way to a sparkling clean home.
Get Organized
What clutters our house clutters our minds. Before you start dusting and scrubbing, organize and clear out items you no longer need. Overstuffed closet? Learn how to safely store your winter clothes until next year. Tired of digging to the back of your kitchen cabinets for pots and pans? Make your kitchen storage more functional to suit your needs. And if you’re constantly stubbing your toe on your ottoman and can’t seem to relax in your bedroom, it may be a good time to rearrange your furniture for better feng shui.
After the purge, don’t let your discarded items go to waste. Donate gently used items or host a yard sale to give them a second life.
Deep Clean Inside the House
Even if you religiously vacuum and dust every week, dust and grime tend to build up in your home’s hard-to-reach corners. Your counters may be clean, but are crumbs hiding inside your kitchen drawers? How dusty are your floorboards? Are there any cobwebs on your ceiling fans? If so, it’s time for a deep clean. Remember that you don’t need to go overboard purchasing bulk cleaning products to get the job done. There are likely plenty of natural cleaning powerhouses in your pantry, like white vinegar, baking soda, and cornstarch. Lemon is one of the best natural cleaners and is especially helpful for descaling teakettles and coffeepots.
Reduce Toxins Indoors
While you can’t banish them all, there are steps you can take to minimize toxins in your home. Houseplants, for example, naturally improve indoor air quality. Choosing nontoxic candles made with beeswax and opting for cast iron or glass cookware, as opposed to Teflon, can help, too. Keep your pets safe from toxins by using pet-safe cleaning products and natural pest control.
Ban Hazards from Your Home
The best home insurance is one you never need to use! Ban safety hazards from your home as part of your spring-cleaning process to keep your property and family safe. Be aware of the top fire hazards in your home — those outdated power outlets and fuse systems gotta go. If you don’t have a fire safety plan or working fire alarms, today is the best day to tackle those tasks!
Pests are another home hazard that comes back to life each spring. Take steps to pest-proof your home so you don’t have to worry about the possibility of termites or other creepy-crawlies this year. Last but certainly not least, inspect your home for water damage before a leaky water heater or dishwasher gets out of hand and starts growing toxic mold.
Tackle Home Maintenance
With longer days and finer weather, you might have more energy to knock out your home maintenance checklist. Start with no-cost home maintenance projects like cleaning your dishwasher and draining your water heater. Examine your HVAC systems to ensure they’re ready to filter the onslaught of pollen this spring and handle the heat of summer. Consider small or large improvements to make your home more sustainable. Switching to solar power and installing smart thermostats and water monitors can shave off some of the cost from your monthly utility bills.
Deep Clean Outside
Refreshing your yard is most enjoyable in spring when the weather is mild. Revisit your outdoor spring cleaning checklist to clear out debris, tidy your landscaping, and set your lawn up for success. Now is a good time to rip out strangle vines from your garden, which can grow out of control after heavy rains in spring. Clean out your gutters, and while you’re on the ladder, check out your roof. You don’t want hail damage to get out of control before heavy spring rains!
Don’t forget! Your garage needs a little TLC, too! That means purging (and responsibly disposing of) volatile chemicals — such as paint, propane, and varnish — and organizing messy workbenches. Think vertical when it comes to storage in the garage: The more you hang on the walls and from the ceiling, the more space you’ll have to park inside.
Spring is also a great time to inspect your home’s foundation. When droughts hit come summer, you’ll want a healthy foundation to hold up your home as the soil shifts.
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