It’s pretty safe to say that most Southern California homeowners are looking forward to the end of this unusual rainy season. As much as we needed it, we’re more than ready for Spring! To get yourself and your house ready, here are our Professional Contractor Top 5 Home Maintenance Spring Cleaning Tips.
Your house may have been neglected during the fall holidays and cold winter, and those annual or bi-annual chores have piled up. It’s time to dust yourself off and freshen up the house maintenance inside and outside your home. Nothing a little weekend warrior can’t tackle! Keep this list handy each year as it should be a part of your regular home maintenance projects.
1. CLEAN WINDOWS & GLASS DOORS
Cleaning the glass on windows, skylights and doors will dramatically improve your indoor light quality, along with your personal health at home. (Think: less stress and eye strain). DIY windows, or hire someone on an overcast day because the glass will dry better without streaking.
Make sure to not only clean the glass inside and out, but also hose down the screens. To keep the windows and sliding doors opening and closing with ease, wipe down the tracks to remove dirty and debris. Don’t forget to clean and remove soap scum or calcium deposits on glass shower doors. This can easily be done with a vinegar spray.
Have you noticed any windows that have a fog between the panes of glass? Or maybe you’re looking to update all your windows so your home is more energy efficient? Head over to Lion Windows and Doors, where they will help you get the best look for your budget.
2. REPLACE & CLEAN HVAC FILTERS and WATER FILTERS
Because most people are indoors 90% of the day, indoor air quality is a must for optimal health. To keep your heating and air conditioning units running properly, it’s important to replace or clean the filters regularly. HVAC and Air Purifier filters need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. If there are pets in your home, it’s recommended to replace filters every 3 months.
Clean drinking water is also important to optimal health for you, your family, pets and plants. Whether you have a filtered water pitcher, water from the refrigerator, under-sink or whole house water filter, you’ll need to replace the filters consistently. Most tap water contains nasty ingredients like lead, chlorine, flouride, pesticides and more. Check your water filter source for the suggested schedule, which can be anywhere from 3 months to a year, or every 5 years.
3. CLEAR RAIN GUTTERS OF DEBRIS
Rain gutters collect and redirect water away from the house, which protects the siding, roof and foundation from excess water. Keep your gutters in check because rainwater accumulation can create mold, mildew and structural damage.
Schedule a time to have the gutters on your home looked at to assure they are clear of debris and working property. Even better, look into rain gutter screens or leaf filters that prevent leaves, tree debris or ice build up.
4. POWER WASH & PAINT HOME EXTERIOR
One of the fastest ways to improve the look of your home is to give it a nice bath and a little love.
First, look for and repair any damages around the exterior of the home. With epoxy filler, touch up any cracks and fill in holes using a spackle knife. When it’s dry, use a medium grit sander to smooth down the surface.
It’s probably been awhile since your home has had a clean shower, so you may be surprised at how much dirt has piled up on the surface. If you’re power washing yourself, be careful with the strength of the power washer, as it could potentially damage your home if used incorrectly.
Last, select a high quality paint with primer. Look for 3 main ingredients in your paint: pigment (color), durable binder (sticks to the wall) and solvent (spread).
5. RESEAL NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS & WALLS
Maintaining natural stone countertops or wall slabs like marble, granite, quartzite, concrete, limestone, soapstone or travertine, is important for the look and longevity of your material. Because stone is porous, it easily absorbs things like spaghetti sauce, coffee or wine stains.
Don’t worry, if you’ve installed engineered quartz or non-natural stone like Caesarstone, Silestone or others. These are cost effective and don’t require any sealing – the ultimate in low maintenance.
