Spring is a great time to clean your house and get ready for the warm weather ahead.

From AC maintenance and gutter cleaning to organizing and pressure washing, the list might seem long, but we’re here to help.

Just follow the following tips to keep your home in ship shape. It should take eight or nine hours, and the long-term benefits will be well worth the effort.

Heating and Cooling Maintenance

  • Clear debris and leaves from your air conditioning unit. Your heating and cooling system will have trouble operating correctly with junk surrounding it. Keep things clear for optimal performance.
  • Call a pro to service your heating and cooling system. You need a professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician to inspect your system twice a year: before it gets too hot or too cold. Don’t wait for peak demand, or you’ll end up on a waiting list!
  • Reverse ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise. The blades on paddle ceiling fans can accumulate lots of dust, so clean them both top and bottom with a damp rag and cleaner. Also, vacuum out any dirt and dust around the fan motor.

Exterior Maintenance

  • Remove debris and leaves from the roof. Dead leaves can wreak havoc on your roof! Rain falls on them, clumps them together, traps moisture, which leads to mold and algae, not to mention to rotted shingles.
  • Clean and repair gutters as needed. Rainwater needs to enter your gutters and downspouts and flow away from your home’s foundation. But it can’t do that if your gutters or downspouts are clogged or broken.
  • Clean and repair window screens. Start by removing and cleaning your window screens using a hose with sprayer or by washing them in a kiddy pool. Next, wipe down windowsills and clean the glass inside and out.
  • Clean lint from the dryer exhaust pipe.
  • Pressure wash deck, siding, fence, etc. Use a pressure washer or scrub brush with a handle to remove dirt, mold, and mildew from decks and patios.
  • Lubricate locks, hinges and gates

Preparing the Garden

Sharpen spring gardening tools. No one ever thinks to do this, but just running a file back and forth on the blades will make them more effective
Inspect wheelbarrow. The last thing you need is a flat tire to slow you down! Check out the wheelbarrow and make sure it works perfectly before you get to work.
Prepare all flowerbeds and plants. Have you tested the soil? Before you can plant anything, you need to make sure you have a fertile environment.

Watch the video above segment from The Weather Channel for more information.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Danny Lipford: If you’re like me, then you’re mighty tired of being cooped up inside during the winter months. The weather is warmer now, and it’s time to get out of the house. But before you make that mad dash for the great outdoors, here are a few spring cleaning tips.

Inside, take a good look at all of your ceiling fans. You’ll be using them a lot more now, and chances are the fan blades have a coating of dust and dirt on them. Thoroughly clean all the blades, top and bottom, with a damp rag and cleaner. It may be good idea to vacuum any excess dirt and dust around the fan motor.

Next, it’s time to tackle the windows, since you’ll want to be able to open up them up a little bit, and let that warm spring air in. But first, remove and clean all of your screens. Then clean the glass inside and out, and don’t forget to wipe down those windowsills. Now it’s time to move outside.

You’ll want to spend a lot of time out here on your patio or deck, but after a season of rain and snow, it’s probably not in the best shape. Now you may notice that the concrete’s a little bit darker because of all of the embedded dirt, mold, and mildew. Usually a good rinse with a pressure washer is all you need. For really tough areas, you may have to break out the scrub brush and a cleaning solution to remove all of the grime. The same routine will work perfect for your deck.

Now as far as the rest of the cleaning chores . . . well, maybe next spring.


Further Information

Editorial Contributors
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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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