Prepping Your Home for Spring - Inside & Out
Spring is just right around the corner and for most homeowners it’s an exciting time to get some upkeep done around your house that you haven't been able to get to in the cold winter months. In the winter time, many portions of your home are neglected or aren’t used as often because of being cooped up inside.
From the interior of your home to the exterior, getting your home ready for spring will help ensure that you’ll be ready to enjoy the warmer weather that is on its way.
Here are 12 maintenance tips to help get your home ready for spring.
Clean the Gutters
We all know that cleaning your gutters is no fun. But you know what’s way less fun? Dealing with the aftermath of water damage after the first big rainstorm this spring if you don’t clean your gutters. It may not seem like a big enough deal to go through the struggle of climbing up on a ladder to get all that gunk out of there, but we promise, it’s worth it.
Scrub Walls, Baseboards and Outlets
Not many of us can say that we enjoy scrubbing down walls, baseboards and outlets but spring is the perfect time to get this type of maintenance out of the way so you don’t have to worry about it in the warmer months to come. Taking a bucket of mild soap and water and scrubbing down these dirty areas with an old rag or a sponge is a great way to get this done quickly and efficiently.
Note: Make sure to completely dry your outlet covers before putting them back on the outlet.
Check Foundation Vents
A house with crawl spaces typically has some vents along the foundation wall. These vents help to provide air circulate throughout the space and prevent excess moisture which causes mold.
Replace Filters
Replace all filters in your home including water, range hood and air vent filters. These should be replaced every 3-6 months depending on the type of filter you have.
Clean Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor entertaining season is just around the corner and this is a great time to start washing down those outdoor furniture items.
Clean Faucets and Showerheads
Unscrew the faucet aerators, sink sprayers and shower heads, and then soak them in equal parts vinegar and water. Let them soak for about an hour and then rinse with warm water before screwing them back on.
Clean Out the Dryer Vent
A clogged dryer vent can not only cause your laundry to take a long time to dry your clothes but it can also be a huge fire hazard. To clean your dryer vent disconnect the vent from the back of the machine and use a dryer vent brush to remove lint. Outside your house, remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove lint from the other end of the vent line. Make sure the vent cover flap is able to move freely.
Wash Exterior Windows
After the long winter months we tend to notice that the outside of our windows are very dirty. Before of during spring, it is a good idea to go outside and wash those windows down to make it more enjoyable to look out your windows once the warmer weather is finally here.
Test Smoke Alarms
Test smoke alarms and CO detectors, and change out batteries as needed. This is a cheap maintenance tip and only takes a few minutes and can potentially save your family's lives.
Clean the Grill
During the winter months your grill is likely to have collected lots of dust whether it has been sitting outside or in a storage unit. Cleaning your grill whether it is a gas grill or charcoal grill will help to keep it working properly and help it to live a longer life.
Prepping Your Garden
It is that time of the year to get those seeds started and a plan of action ready for what needs to be weeded out and where more soil needs to be added.
Conclusion
