7 Spring Cleaning Must-Do's For Homeowners
by PCSgrades Staff - September 21st, 2021
It might feel like we’re all covered with cobwebs after a year in quarantine but the sun is finally shining and it’s time to dust off – yourself and your house! Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or an experienced “spring cleaner,” it’s always good to have a checklist. Here are a few annual chores to help maintain your property and give you a reason to get out of bed (don’t worry – you can keep your sweatpants on).
1. Roof inspection
Winter can be hard on a house, especially if you had snow. As temperatures warm up, it’s a great time to physically inspect your roof for any loose, missing, or damaged shingles. We also know spring showers are “a thing,” so this is also the time you want to identify and address any leaks. While you’re up there… go ahead and clean out those gutters!
2. Swab the deck
Decks are especially susceptible to warping and cracking after a moisture-filled season. Whether you use wood filler to repair damaged boards or replace them altogether, this is a great time to do it. We also recommend refinishing your deck and doing any maintenance to outdoor furniture. The backyard is always the best place to be, especially in an ongoing pandemic.
3. Power wash
Is there anything more gratifying than power washing? Seriously, it’s one of the few chores where you can see immediate progress. Use the power washer for everything outdoors. You can clean windows and siding, remove weeds in your driveway and sidewalk, spray down your garage door, you name it. Bonus: many MWR offices rent this amazing tool at a low price.
4. Check the caulking and weather stripping
Make it a point to check and repair any caulking in your bathroom tiles, showers, sinks and tubs, as well as around windows and doors. This quick and cheap maintenance provides an easy fix which goes a long way to prevent deterioration and expensive problems down the road.
5. Feel the breeze!
It’s hard to imagine temperatures warm enough to turn off the heat and open the windows or turn on the air conditioning, but they’re coming! Have your air conditioning unit serviced and replace any internal air filters. This is also a great time to wipe down fan blades of ceiling fans, vacuum out any dead bugs from window sills and dust the blinds.
6. Marie Kondo your life
There’s nothing more magical than a freshly-cleaned closet or organized drawer where chaos once existed. We love the Marie Kondo method of “Tidying Up.” With every piece of clothing, ask yourself, “Does this bring me joy?” (Other great questions: “Have I worn this in the last year?” “Does this still fit?” “Could someone else get more wear out of this?”). For clothes, what doesn’t bring you joy (or fit), donate or consign. Here are our favorite clothing donation options.
Have your kids join the party and clean their rooms and playroom. In our house, for every trash bag of toys the kids would donate, I’d give them a few dollars toward a new toy. You’d be amazed at how many plastic tchotchkes fit into a trash bag!
When going through your kitchen and other rooms in your house, donate what you don’t use or set aside for a PCS sale. A classic yard sale is a great way to make a little extra moving cash all the while decluttering. Be sure to arrange for a donation truck to pick up unsold items afterwards, and when you advertise your sale, use highly-sought items like furniture, jewelry and appliances.
7. Deep clean inside
‘Tis the season to really get after cleaning inside, doing the things you might not typically do. Pick a spring cleaning week and tackle one of these chores each day:
Scrub baseboards throughout the house
Scrub outside of kitchen cabinets and cupboards, taking everything out to organize, and wipe down the inside of the cabinets before putting items back
Clean out refrigerator and freezer, scrubbing shelves and drawers
Clean all of your light fixtures
Move furniture and dust underneath
Clean out bathroom cabinets
Clean out kids’ closets
Spring has sprung and we’re ready! And we promise: You’ll enjoy the sun even more with a clean house.
