7 Spring Cleaning Tips for Homeowners

Spring is here in the Pacific Northwest - bringing flowers, a little sunshine, and of course... spring cleaning! If you're like us and those last two words fill you with irrational dread, the process can make you feel overwhelmed or stressed out. But there is no need to panic! With the right prioritization and some basic planning, you can move into summer guilt and grime free.

Take a look at these simple tips and ideas to tackle your post-winter filth palace. Even if you have time for only one of the suggestions below, your home is bound to look and feel fresher.

7 Spring Cleaning Tips for Homeowners

1. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

And change out old batteries. At the least, this will keep you from being woken up in the middle of the night as the battery starts to die. At the most, it could save your life.

2. Declutter!

Psychological research shows that there are benefits to decluttering your home. Piles of papers, dishes or dirty clothes are both unsightly, and maybe dragging your mood down. If you have time for one spring cleaning activity, this is a good place to start that can help you feel less stressed.

3. Open those windows!

Get some fresh air and sunlight into your home. Things will smell better, and also maybe inspire you clean something when you see how dirty it is in the light of day. If you're looking for a natural way to freshen the air, you can also try a homemade essential oil blend like this one here.

4. Clean sliding door tracks.

A dirty sliding door track is the summer BBQ version of getting caught with lettuce in your teeth. All kinds of weird debris can end up lodged here, from old leaves to dead bugs (gross.) So before one of your summer dinner guests catches an eyeful and loses their appetite, now is the time to get scrubbing.

5. Attack those weird nooks and crannies.

Good places to look include baseboards, under the refrigerator (stray forks or withered mystery vegetables, anyone?) the top of the refrigerator, and the far back of cabinets. There is nothing like finding a half-congealed bottle of vinegar stuffed in some unseen shelf cranny. It's like finding gross buried treasure!

6. Didn't get your vents cleaned before winter?

Clogged vents and filters make your AC work extra hard to cool air. Save your AC and lower your electric bill by cleaning it out now!

7. Freshen your furniture.

A couch saturated with a winter's worth of dog aroma could probably use a good freshening. You can find information on how to de-stink your furniture here.

Have you already tackled your house, or have one place you HAVE to scrub during your spring cleaning process? Contact us and let us know how it is going!