After hibernating for the cold winter months, we attack the interior of our homes, vigorously cleaning the house from top to bottom. But caring for the exterior is just as important as sweeping up the dust bunnies formed through the winter.
So, while you’re busy adding scrub the baseboards and clean the dirty walls to your spring home maintenance to-do list, you can go ahead and tack clear the gutters and reseal the deck at the end. The list is long, so to set you up for success, here’s a checklist to help you keep it all straight. Deep breaths, everyone!
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Spring Cleaning Checklist for Homeowners
Interior Spring Cleaning Checklist
- Clean appliances. Run vinegar and baking soda through your dishwasher and washing machine. Pull the appliances away from the walls and clean around and behind them. Pay extra attention to the dryer and free the vents and ducts of lint and dust.
- Clean the carpets. A professional cleaning service can thoroughly clean your carpet and rugs, or you can rent a carpet shampooer and see how much dirt clings to those pretty floor coverings.
- Wipe down the baseboards. No one knows how they get so dirty, but baseboards tend to collect the worst of us. Use this time to grab a magic eraser and make them squeaky clean again.
- Spot clean the walls. Fingerprints, dirt smudges, and dings cover our walls. Most of us don’t notice these imperfections because they show up slowly over time so, with a careful eye, walk around the house with that handy magic eraser and scrub out all the smudges. Note areas that may need a little touch-up paint, too.
- Dust. Get out your favorite duster or damp rag because a lot of stuff accumulates during the winter, especially if you have furry pets that spend most of their time inside.
- Replace air filters. Arm yourself against the upcoming seasonal allergies and replace air filters throughout the home with allergy-reducing filters.
- Wipe down the fan blades and overhead lights. Have you ever stopped your ceiling fans long enough to see what they carry? Grab a damp cloth and wipe those things down!
- Clean the blinds. It’s a meticulous job, but giving them a good wipe-down is necessary.
- Wash the bedding. If the temperature is about to change dramatically, consider switching to a lighter-weight bedspread for the warmer months.
- Clean and open the windows. Spraying down the windows is the best way to let in more natural light. Between the kids' hands and the pups' noses, a thick layer of film is likely filtering the light.
- Clean the range hood. It's not often at the top of the list, but cleaning the stove range and hood can help you avoid grease fires and eliminate lingering smells.
- Sweep the chimney. Do you have a wood-burning fireplace? It's time to clean it up and get it ready for hibernation until the next winter comes. Cleaning the chimney is a professional job, so add calling chimney cleaners to your checklist.
Related: 15 Home Maintenance Tasks and Repairs Everyone Should Know How to Do
Exterior Spring Cleaning Checklist
- Clear the gutters. Hopefully, you kept up with them during the fall, but a few things always linger. Climb the ladder to ensure the gutters are clear and ready to handle the springtime rain.
- Adjust water flow extensions. Make sure that the water collecting in the gutters is pointed away from the house to avoid any damage.
- Repaint. The cold weather takes a toll on a home’s exterior. Check for any chipped paint or fading before the summer heat hits.
- Replace window screens. With the nice weather approaching, you’ll likely want to open the windows and let the fresh air flow through the house. This is a good time to ensure that there aren’t any tears or holes in the screens that might allow bugs to enter.
- Reseal the deck. Wooden elements like the deck, railings, and mailbox posts might need a little love after the cold weather.
- Inspect the roof. Time to check the roof for any missing shingles or damage. Make sure that it’s up to snuff and can handle the rain that’s inevitably coming.
- Landscape. Replace dead plants and fertilize the yard to bring color and life back to your curb appeal.
Landlords, if you expect the tenants to handle specific maintenance tasks, make sure that you note those in the lease. Remember, communication is the most important part of the landlord/tenant relationship and the key to ensuring everyone is on the same page!
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Spring Cleaning Checklist For Renters and Military Housing Tenants
Home maintenance responsibilities look much different for a renter than a homeowner. While the owner is responsible for the big things around the house, the renter also has tasks to do. Pay attention to:
Interior Spring Cleaning
- Clean appliances
- Clean carpets
- Dust surfaces
- Dust blinds
- Clean baseboards
- Spot clean walls
- Replace air filters
- Wipe down the fan blades
- Wash bedding
- Clean and open windows
- Clean the kitchen hood
- Treat mold and mildew in the bathrooms
- Recaulk
Exterior Spring Cleaning
- Trim landscaping. Clip the plants that didn’t make it through winter.
- Cut the grass. As the rain starts to fall and the sun comes out, the grass will take off! Keep the lawn manicured to avoid any critters making their homes near yours.
Renters, when it comes to the property's exterior, a huge part of your responsibility is to communicate any necessary maintenance or repairs to the landlord. Though it might not fall on your shoulders to repaint the house or replace a broken railing, it is a good idea to let the homeowner or property manager know that some work might be needed.
Spring home maintenance might seem like a lot of work now, but it’s an easy list to follow and could help avoid larger issues with the home later. Download our free spring home maintenance below for even more help!
