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“A stitch in time saves nine.” -Old English Proverb
You’ve probably heard this old proverb warning you to prepare for many scenarios, from saving money to taking care of your health. When it comes to home maintenance, it proves spot on time after time. If you fix the little problems before they become huge disasters and ruin your relaxing warm-season plans, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress, time, and money.
We’ve rounded up the best checklist items to get your home ready for the spring and beyond.
Kitchen
Kitchens get a workout during the cold months thanks to back-to-back holidays and the need for nesting. So, it’s no wonder the term spring cleaning probably originated in the kitchen.
- Appliances need a deep and thorough scouring. Not just the exteriors, but inside, under, and behind. Refrigerators coils require dusting to perform accurately.
- Don’t forget the hood over the range. Grease fires start when there’s too much buildup.
- Organize and clean out the pantry to increase storage space.
Bathrooms
Families work bathrooms hard, too. So grab the scrub brushes and hit all the surfaces.
- Let the light in and help fight mold and mildew. Sunshine inhibits their growth.
- Keep a stash of disposable shower liners on hand for quick changes.
- The bathroom is an easy place to add an inexpensive update. Repair the paint from moisture and buy new linens for a fresh spring look.
Living Room
After a cozy winter of gathering around the fireplace, it’s time to add some energy and life to the living spaces.
- If you have a wood stove or wood-burning fireplace, sweep the stove and chimney and close the damper. Turning off the gas and shutting the damper saves money on utilities.
- The carpet may need a professional cleaning from the wet winter weather.
- Window coverings like plantation shutters benefit from a deep clean. Vacuuming with the brush attachment works best. Don’t forget the woodwork and trim.
- Change up winter accessories. Add lively color or print pillows to seating for some interest.
Bedrooms
Spring daylight hours are longer, and your body’s inner clock needs resetting. So does your bedroom.
- Replace heavy linens and curtains with breezy fabrics to combat warm air. A throw blanket at the end of the bed warms up the unpredictable cool nights.
- Dust everything from the top down, starting with fan blades and working toward baseboards.
- Fresh linen updates the bedroom quickly.
- Flip mattresses if necessary and vacuum bed components.
Basement or Utility Room
These utilities served you well this winter. Maintain them for next season’s use.
- Turn off the furnace’s gas pilot light.
- The sump pump is your best friend or worst enemy. Make sure it’s in working order before the spring rains and summer storms occur.
- Upgrade to allergen-reducing air filters to save the family from suffering needlessly.
- Pull out the washer and dryer and remove grime from every part, including the dryer venting system. Dryer lint spreads easily and quickly. Too much accumulation leads to fire hazards.
General Interior
Deep cleaning is synonymous with spring. Each nook and cranny should be swept, dusted, or washed. Don’t forget:
- Lighting fixtures
- Doors
- Floors
- High traffic walls and baseboards
- Replace storm windows with screens and scrub the tracks to remove dirt buildup. Sanitizing window panes and sills make all the difference to the overall fresh feeling of the rooms.
- Daylight Savings means it’s time to replace smoke and carbon detectors batteries
General Exterior
- It’s time to climb onto the roof and check for winter damage. Replace or fix shingles and check for leaking skylights.
- Clear the gutters of leftover fall leaves and debris.
- Adjust water flow extensions for gutters away from the foundation.
- Save money and an uncomfortable outage and schedule all air conditioning units for service.
- Inspect the siding and foundation for damage.
- Wood decking takes a beating from harsh weather and rodents. Fix holes and close gaps in wood surfaces.
- Start the water flowing from the hose bibs and sprinkler systems again.
- Fertilize, seed, and mulch lawns and young trees.
- Organize and plan spring and summer gardens. Prepare tools and pots for future use.
Military members know PCS season is approaching quickly. Preparing your home with spring maintenance chores for possible rental or an unplanned sale alleviates some of the last-minute readiness that needs to occur before moving.
By Dawn M. Smith
Grab your quick spring home maintenance checklist below!
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