Spruce Up Your Home for Spring

I don't know about you, but spring cleaning is in full swing at my house. I've been hard at work indoors while my husband has been fixing up the yard for spring. (It seems I may have gotten the short end of the stick, cleaning indoors with all the beautiful weather we've had!) I love the feeling of everything in the house looking fresh and new. Here are some "to do" items for spring to help you get started on your own home. Is there anything else you like to do to get ready for spring? Leave a comment with your ideas!

Indoor Cleaning Projects:

• Wash windows and repair screens
• Vacuum dusty drapes and window treatments (You can send really dirty drapes to the cleaners!)
• Defrost the freezer and dust refrigerator coils
• Remove grime and grease buildup on the kitchen exhaust fan
• Clean out the basement, giving away or discarding any unwanted items or clothing (My pile has made it to the garage, but I still need to take my donations to DI and discard anything unusable.)
• Shampoo carpets and rugs
• Steam clean upholstery
• Dust corners and ceilings
• Wash baseboards, doorjambs, windowsils doors and walls
• Wipe ceiling fans
• Clean oven
• Wipe refrigerator clean
• Clean out office files

Indoor Maintenance Items

• Check Air Conditioning Unit
• Inspect caulking around tubs, showers and sinks
• Reseal grout on tile floors
• Test GFCI outlets (Press the "Test" button, which should trip the outlet. Then press the "Reset" button to restore the connection."
• Tighten garbage disposal drain, connections and fasteners
• Change furnace filters
• Change batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
• Lubricate door hings and hardware
• Update first-aid and emergency kits
• Replace leaky faucet washers
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-saving lighting

Outdoor Cleaning Tasks

• Clean and de-clutter your garage
• Wash outdoor furniture
• Clean your grill and check for dead insects clogging the gas line
• Pressure-wash decks
• Scrub porch ceilings and walls
• Clean umbrellas and awnings
• Clean light fixture covers

Outdoor Maintenance Must-Dos

• Inspect and repair or replace damaged roof shingles
• Inspect and reseal roof flashing if necessary
• Pressure-wash driveway and walkway
• Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts
• Check the oil and air filter on your lawn mower
• Trim branches and shrubs that touch your home (They provide a pathway for bugs or excess moisture to enter your home.)
• Check ironwork for rust spots
• Reseal deck
• Seal drafty doors and windows

Phew! That's quite a list (and a lot of work!). You can find more information on many of these and other home maintenance items in McArthur Homes' new home guide. The best part about spring cleaning is that if you get it all done now, you can relax and enjoy the warm summer weather that is on its way! Happy cleaning!