Freshen Up Your Home With Spring Cleaning Tips

5-19-2022
By
Simple Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Home

With the emergence of spring comes the urge to purge and clean. There is no better time to spruce things up and get organized than when winter is fading and sunny bright days are becoming the norm. Wondering how to best tackle that Spring-cleaning list of to-dos that’s been growing for months?

What is Spring Cleaning?

Take advantage of the nicer days and head out to take care of some outside-of-the-home cleaning tasks. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to get rid of the clutter and freshen up the look and feel of the home. It is synonymous with out with the old, in with the new. And it’s not just the inside of the home that needs a refresh – Spring is a great time to take care of those pesky once-a-year tasks outside too.

Spring is in the air, and that means its time to clean! After a long winter, your home is probably due for a good cleaning. Here are some tips to help you freshen up your home for the new season.

Long and frequent rainy days followed by days of intense heat and UV exposure worn out your deck. If not maintained properly your deck will soon start to deteriorate and lose many potential years of life along with costly repairs. You might need to even replace the whole deck if the damage spreads all over it.

Clear Out Gutters

Gutters are the first line of defense against costly water damage, so make sure to get in there and clean out any debris with the powerful jet setting of a cleaning nozzle. While you’re up there, check for cracks in the gutter seams and scrape out old caulking before drying the area thoroughly. Add new sealing to keep water from getting behind the gutters and rotting out siding.

Thoroughly Wash Windows

Cleaning windows is an ideal cloudy-day activity, as direct sunlight will provoke streaks. Tackle screens first, taking them off and soaking them. Use a garden hose to fill a child’s wading pool then scrub them with a soft brush on a flat surface. To prevent damage, rinse screens thoroughly using the fine mist setting of a cleaning nozzle. Next move to the glass windows and using window-cleaner before rinsing. Be sure to dry windows right after with an absorbent towel to prevent streaking.

Deep Clean Deck

Start working on the deck with a quick cleaning by spraying off any dirt and cobwebs. Then use a deck-cleaner (not bleach!) to clean off mildew stains, dirt and weather-beaten patches. Finish with a thorough wash before sealing or staining. Finally, apply a wood preservative to prevent water damage and discoloration.

Tidy Garden and Lawn

Pick up winter’s leftovers like debris and leaves before adding new plants and flowers to your green-space. This includes removing litter and raking lawn areas to clear away dead grass and perk up dormant blades. It is also a good time to tackle weeds and remove dead flowers. Break out the hand pruners to clean up small bushes and plants and pull out the tree pruners to trim just enough to encourage healthy branch growth. This is the perfect time to add a fresh layer of mulch to flower and garden beds if the old mulch has been there longer than a couple years.

Power Wash Siding

To help prevent mold and mildew, give siding and the deck a wash-down. First, combine soap and water, mix and apply to the exterior of the area that needs cleaning. Then, follow up the washing by spraying the siding with a power jet wand and the deck with a cleaning nozzle. Work from the top-down to avoid spreading dirt down to already-cleaned areas.

Spray Down Outdoor Furniture

Take the time to spruce up outdoor furniture so it is ready to enjoy as soon as the days are warm enough. Remove cushions, washing them with soap and water, and give the furniture bases a good spray-down.

Easily Hose Down Cobwebs in Eaves

To avoid spiders and other critters from making a Spring home in the eaves, spray the areas with a powerful jet setting on a nozzle. This may need to be repeated a time or two during the Spring-Summer season to keep pests away.

Scrub Exterior Of Home

Choose the right cleaning solution. The type of cleaning solution you use will depend on the material of your homes exterior. For example, if your home has vinyl siding, you will need to use a mild soap and water solution. If your home has wood siding, you may need to use a stronger cleaning solution. Using a wide push broom, sweep away dirt, dust and debris. For regular cleaning and maintenance, a simple mixture of 1-gallon warm water mixed with one-third cup powdered laundry detergent or liquid soap is a great cleaning mix.

Why is it called Spring cleaning?

Spring cleaning is a reference to the days when houses were finally opened up after long cold winter months kept them tightly closed in effort to keep warmth in and cold out. Ash, soot and smoky grime would build up over the winter months from the constant kerosene lamps and coal or wood burning. Warmer spring days meant houses could finally be opened so the “spring” cleaning could begin.

Why does Spring cleaning make some of us happy?

In general, cleaning feels good. In addition to moving, stretching, bending, lifting and getting our blood circulating, it’s also a great way to lift spirits, feel accomplished and have a sense of organization and peace in our space. Spring cleaning leaves us feeling like our world is fresh, clean and right, which makes room for us to then go out and take on the world around us.

Why do people clean in the Spring?

People seem motivated by the sun finally shining, the ground drying up and the overall chance to finally get outside and enjoy fresh air and warm weather. This motivation leads to energy and invigoration, which is a perfect combination to get the job done.

Why is Spring cleaning important?

A home and yard are a lot to keep up with. Marking an annual time to work through the big projects is a great way to keep on top of things, so you don’t end up overwhelmed with a house that’s overgrown and possibly falling apart. Take the opportunity to perform yearly maintenance both inside and outside your home. An organized, fresh and beautiful house will be the reward.

Have a deck or porch at your home? The constant maintenance of your property can be time consuming each year which is why you want to make sure that you use quality deck staining products and contractors. Deck staining is one of those regular maintenance items that must be completed. It is recommended that you clean and stain your deck or porch every 1 or 2 years for maximum lifetime. Plus, you and your guests will enjoy a beautiful deck all year around if you keep your deck in good shape and looking beautiful.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. With a few tips and tricks, tasks that you once dreaded may now be seen as a welcome sign of the Spring season that’s well on its way. Then sit back and enjoy the gorgeous house and yard you worked so hard on.

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