5 Spring Cleaning Tips to Make Your Home Feel Good
Spring is already here. With it comes a sense of newness and hope for a great year. One of the best ways you can invite those feelings into your home is by dedicating some time to cleaning around the house. But what should you focus on most as warmer weather makes its way in? Here are five spring cleaning tips you can start using.
1. Clean your dryer vent
At least once a year, you should clean out your dryer vent. Your dryer vent is different from the lint trap (which you should clean after each use).
Before you begin this part of your spring cleaning, make sure you disconnect your dryer from the power, either by unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker.
Move the dryer away from the wall for easier access.
On the back of your dryer, you’ll likely see a thick, wide, flexible aluminum hose that goes into the wall. Disconnect this hose from the back of your dryer and from the wall (if possible).
Remove any lint you see by hand first.
Then, use a vacuum cleaner to clean out all vent holes.
Next, go outside and use the same process to clean out the outdoor vent.
Once everything is clean, reconnect the dryer vent hose to the dryer and wall.
Plug the dryer back in and push it back against the wall.
This simple cleaning trick can improve your dryer’s performance and prevent fire hazards. If you need a recommendation for a local vendor who specializes in vent cleaning, please contact me.
2. Scrub down your bathroom
You likely spend more time in your bathroom than you think. Bathrooms can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can make you feel sick.
Scrubbing your shower walls, tub, sinks, and fixtures with bleach, soap, and water can prevent mold and mildew growth. That helps keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh. Additionally, consider washing or changing any shower curtains you have now.
Don’t forget to clean your showerheads. You can detach them and let them sit in a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar for an hour. Or you can wrap a plastic bag filled with vinegar and water around it if you don’t want to detach it. This will break down the mineral buildup.
3. Change your air filters to protect against allergens
Your air conditioning and furnace filters do a lot of work all year round. Before pollen and other air particles begin to spread, be sure to change your air filters every 3 months.
The size of your air filter depends on your system and this is one of the easiest spring cleaning tips you can act on.
4. Wash your walls, baseboards, and windows
Since most of us are cooped up in the winter, we may not notice dirt, grime, and dander that accumulates on walls, baseboards, and windows. It’s much easier to clean these areas before we begin opening doors and windows and venturing outdoors more regularly. All you need to clean these areas are some soap, hot water, and a few rags.
5. Double-check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
While checking your smoke and CO2 alarms might not be cleaning, doing so can save your life. Make sure you change the batteries too (if applicable). Additionally, test them using the test button. If they don’t work even after changing the batteries, get a new one as soon as possible.