Ready for some thaw-some news? Spring is returning (because we’re sure you haven’t been counting the days or anything). And while the return to warmth is welcome, it does come with a fresh round of home maintenance items to inspect—indoor and out. Review our handy list below to see what you could check up on around the house.
Gutters
Even if you cleaned out your gutters during the fall, leaves and other debris can still accumulate and gunk things up, so don’t sleep on this one. Clogged gutters can lead to water backing up rather than draining properly, ultimately amounting to potentially costly damages.
Often, some gloves, a ladder and the garden hose is all you need to get the job done. Scoop up big items with your hands and flush out the rest with water.
Window exteriors
It’s time to take advantage of the warmer weather to get outside and clean your windows. An overcast day with low wind is ideal, because bright sunshine can cause streaks by drying out cleaners too quickly.
How you tackle this job is up to you. You could pop the screens, grab rags and cleaner, and apply good old-fashioned elbow grease. Or you could use a hose with a window cleaner attachment, leave the screens on, and let a solid spray do all the hard work (this is also a good solution for second-story windows, which you might be able to spray with your feet safely on the ground). It really comes down to the time you have to devote and how meticulous you care to get.
While you’re at it, this is also a good occasion to check the weather stripping on your windows and doors.
Lawn
This is the time to start prepping everything you need for your lawn during growing season. Decide how you want to fertilize once conditions are warm enough, check your sprinkler system and get ready for any planting that you want to do. But again, make sure not to get ahead of the season. Spring snow storms and freezing temps do happen, so plan accordingly.
Other spring maintenance tasks:
- Check HVAC filter
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Clean aerators on faucets and shower heads
- Inspect air conditioner
- Clean fireplace and chimney
- Clean carpet
- Inspect exterior caulking and caulking in kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room
- Inspect ceramic tile and countertops and reseal as needed
- Lubricate door hinges
- Lubricate rollers & guides on garage doors & openers
- Test house alarm
- Clean cabinets
- Clean dryer vent
- Check driveway and sidewalk and reseal as needed
Of course, if you really want to freshen things up for spring, you could buy a new home!
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