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Check out these helpful tips on how to spring clean and maintain your house both inside and out.

Outdoor Home Spring Cleaning Tips

Roof

Use a leaf blower and broom to remove leaves and other debris from valleys and behind chimneys. Start at the top and blow and sweep downward. Be sure to wear rubber soled shoes and stay off steep roofs.

Gutter and Downspout Repair

Clean and repair any leaks in gutters and downspouts. Make sure gutters are securely attached, and replace any loose spikes with gutter screws.

Check out our video for cleaning gutters and downspouts and our guide on trouble with gutters to find out more.

Mold and Mildew Removal

Mold and mildew can be a real problem on outdoor surfaces. You can use a pressure washer to remove mildew, if you’re careful not to damage softer surfaces. There are also products, such as Wet & Forget, that are formulated to remove mold and mildew on exterior surfaces.

Using a garden trowel to clean gutters.

Doors and Windows

To stop door hinges from squeaking, apply dry lubricant to the hinge and pin. For exterior gate hinges and latches, a wet spray lubricant works best.

To loosen sticky door locks, squirt a small amount of powdered graphite into the lock, insert a key, and work it back and forth. To keep garage doors working smoothly, lubricate the track and chain or worm drive.

Silicone spray can be used to lubricate tracks on windows. To clean windows mix vinegar with warm water and apply with newspaper.

Indoor Home Spring Cleaning Tips

Clothes Dryer

Remove and clean the dryer lint filter every time you dry a load of clothes. It’s also important to clean the vent pipe regularly to prevent dryer fires and to allow the dryer to work efficiently.

To find out more, watch our video on How to Clean a Dryer Vent.

TV and Computer Screens

Don’t use window cleaner to clean to screens on TVs, computers, and other electronic devices. Instead, turn off and unplug the device, then use special LCD wipes or a microfiber cloth dampened with water.

Watch How to Clean TV Screens to find out more.

Ceiling Fan Blades

A paint roller with an extension handle works great for cleaning the blades on a ceiling fan. Attach a dryer sheet to the paint roller with rubber bands, and use it to remove dust on top of the blades.

Watch Cleaning Ceiling Fan Blades the Easy Way to find out more.

Kitchen with cabinets and granite countertops.

Kitchen Cabinets

To clean cabinets, stovetops, and range hoods:

  1. Heat a damp sponge in a microwave for 20 seconds.
  2. spray citrus cleaner on the cabinets.
  3. Use the hot sponge to remove grease.

To clean the filter on a range hood filter, wash it in warm water and dishwashing soap, or run the filter in the dishwasher.

Watch our video on Removing Grease from Kitchen Cabinets to find out more.

Refrigerator

Keep the gasket around your refrigerator clean so it seals well, and clean under the refrigerator using a vacuum attachment made from a cardboard gift wrap tube.

Sink and Countertop

Lemon and baking soda can be used to clean sinks and countertops naturally. Cut a lemon in half, apply baking soda, and use the lemon as a scrubber. The baking soda acts as a mild abrasive, while the acid in the lemon bleaches.

You can also use lemon juice and crushed ice to clean a garbage disposal. Pour both in the disposal, turn on the water, and run the disposal.

Watch our video on Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Clean to find out more.

Taking cover off bathroom vent fan.

Bath Vent Fan

The vent fan in your bathroom needs to be cleaned regularly to remove dust. Take off the fan cover, and clean it with soap and water. Use a vacuum cleaner crevice attachment to remove dust in the fan housing.

If your bath vent fan is noisy, it’s easy to install a replacement fan from Broan-NuTone without removing the fan housing. Watch our video on Replacing a Bathroom Vent Fan to find out how.

Tile Grout

To clean grout in tile, combine baking soda and white vinegar into a paste. Apply the mixture to the grout lines, then go over the grout lines with a toothbrush to clean the grout.

For light colored grout, sprinkle oxygen bleach on the grout lines and spray lightly with water. Scrub the grout lines once the oxygen bleach has had time to work.

Watch our video on Tips on Cleaning Grout Lines to find out more.

Other Tips from This Episode

Cleaning Window Screens

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Cleaning Window Screens

To clean window screens, take the screen off the window and use a vacuum cleaner with a soft bristle upholstery brush to remove any dirt or dust from the screen. Wash the screens off with a garden hose and spray nozzle every few years to remove any hard to vacuum dirt. (Watch Video)

Paintbrush and Tool Holder on Extension rod

Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Paintbrush and Tool Holder

The Mr. LongArm Brush and Tool Holder lets you attach a paintbrush or tool to a threaded extension pole, to allow easy access in hard to reach areas. The brush or tool can be locked in 13 different positions. The Mr. LongArm Holder is available at The Home Depot. (Watch Video)

Paddle ceiling fan

Ask Danny Lipford:
Save Energy with Ceiling Fans

Running a paddle ceiling fan in a counter-clockwise direction is a great way to keep cool in summer, and if you turn the thermostat up a few degrees they can save energy on air conditioning as well. Since a ceiling fan only cools those under it, turn it off when you leave the room. (Watch Video)

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

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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