Let’s talk about spring cleaning in metro-Detroit after that long, long winter. Spring is raising her BEAUTIFUL head for a look around, and I. AM. PUMPED.
I am one of those people who really struggles with the winter blues. Remember that scene in Independence Day, with red-headed Alex partying on the roof flashing the “Welcome!” sign at the aliens? That’s how I feel about spring!
But with warm weather, we emerge from the cocoon of our homes and look around at the damage wrought by a PURE MICHIGAN winter (cue the Tim Allen voiceover). You want to get out and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine without worrying about your To Do list.
To fully enjoy your home and yard throughout the warm weather, take the time to schedule some must-do tasks earlier in the season. Let’s cross them off your list, man!
As I bemoan in all my home maintenance articles, most people aren’t chomping at the bit to complete home maintenance, but some time spent in this area aids in the preservation of the value of your home and prevents wear and tear from ballooning into costly damage.
Today we are focusing on the inside of your home as well as its mechanical systems, like the HVAC. Below is a handy list of springtime tasks for every homeowner.
Keeping It Cool
Pretty much as soon as we’re done whining about the cold, we start to whine about the heat (and construction, but that’s a rant for another day!). Get your A/C up and running properly so you can keep your home cool when the heat kicks in. Not too early, though; firing up the A/C if the temperature is below sixty can damage the unit.
Central A/C Units: If it has been a while since your A/C received some one-on-one attention from an HVAC professional, consider whether you want to schedule a tune up. In any event, clean up the area around your outdoor unit by removing any leaves or other outdoor debris. Trim away any shrubs that are encroaching on its space. Your A/C unit needs air circulation to function at top efficiency. If it is struggling to pull in air, the unit works harder which costs you money!
A/C Units: Install or uncover your window or wall unit. Clean it up by vacuuming the dust and dirt around it to prevent clogging. Change the filter. Clean it monthly throughout the season to keep the unit in tip-top shape. If you leave the unit installed year-round, make sure you cover it up when the weather turns cooler.
Vents: The air in your house has been recirculating for months, so grab your Dyson and start cleaning those vents covers. You would be shocked at how much dust and cobwebs collect on them. Consider whether you want to have the air ducts professionally cleaned. If so, get that on the schedule now, before everyone else takes the good slots. In the bathroom, pull down the bathroom humidity vent and wash it with soap and water. It’s probably really gross in there.
Refrigerator: Give this baby a thorough wipe-down inside before your next trip to Kroger. Vacuum behind your fridge and along the coils or vent in the back. Same concept as the A/C, dust inhibits the flow of air into the fridge, making it work harder for the same result. If you haven’t changed the water filter in your fridge since 2020, now is the time! (I know, I think the fridge filters are a rip off too.)
Chimney & Fireplace: Clean up any ashes (I see you, wood-burning aficionados!). Make sure your damper is closed to prevent rainwater, animals (*SHUDDER*) and drafts from entering your home. If you had any issues with your fireplace over the winter, now is the time to get a professional in to take a look. In the fall, everyone will be calling for service, so go against the grain here.
Your Floors Need Some Love
Hard Floors: Vacuum, wash and polish those floors after the beating you gave them all winter. Over time, salt trekked in from outside can damage floors so you want to make sure you get all that residue up. For tile, clean the grout (use toilet bowl cleaner, my friends, if you have ceramic tile and white grout) and seal it up for another year. Grout needs professional help? There are local companies who will bring your grout back to life and seal it up so you can go back to pretending grout isn’t a huge PITA.
Carpets: Beyond the vacuum, consider hiring a professional cleaner to come in to thoroughly clean the carpets. This idea is especially useful if you have pets or allergies. The Mathematician and I have used The Greener Cleaner in previous years, and we were happy with their service. Even better, they post the pricing right on their webpage so you can see right away what it would cost. We also had them clean our microfiber couch while they were on site and that couch spiffed up like it was going to the 8th grade Valentine’s Dance.
Sparkle and Shine
Windows: The sunlight won’t give you a mood boost if it can’t penetrate the dirty windows. (I cast no judgment here; mine are pretty awful right now.). Give them a thorough wash, wipe down the sills and the frames. Clean the screens with a vacuum and then the garden hose. Don’t want to tackle them yourself? Hire a company to do it for you. Give me a shout if you want a recommendation.
Shower: Is the spray from your shower head all crazy? Might be time to clean out that mineral build up! Fill a plastic bag with old school white vinegar, submerge the shower head in the bag, and use a rubber band to wrap the bag around the shower head arm. Wait an hour or two. Turn on the water, and you should see an immediate improvement!
Countertops: Those lovely granite counters you saved so hard for can use some attention too! Complete a deep clean and reseal them, if necessary. I seal mine about every six months after a hair-raising incident with red food coloring. I like the Granite Gold brand sealer. You can test your granite’s seal by placing a few small puddles of water on your counter. If the water sits on top of the counter for a few minutes, your seal is still doing its job.
Baseboards: I know baseboards are necessary to hide the ugly of where the wall meets the floor, but they are dust and dirt magnets! And to compound this issue, we traditionally paint them WHITE. The color that shows AAAALLLLL the dirt, grime and dust. Get out the pointy vacuum attachment and do a sweep along the crevices. Then a quick wipe down with a rag and soapy water will clean them right up. If your caulk is cracking, it might be time to scrape the old caulk and put down new (I salute your efforts because that job kinda sucks).
Let’s call a wrap on spring cleaning in metro-Detroit, yeah?
I really do think that’s enough spring cleaning in metro-Detroit for this week. My brain is already on overload just writing that checklist down. Plus, you know I’m only going to do about half of these things so feel free to tackle what works for you.
Next week, we’re revisiting spring cleaning for the outside of your home. And you know I’m going to be talking about our common household enemy (Water. It’s still water, people.) and cleanup tasks for the exterior of your home and yard.
As always, I’m here to help with all your home ownership questions, goals and dreams. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any vendor recommendations or questions about changes you want to make in your home.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
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