Real estate professionals believe that the 2022 real estate market will continue to be strong. Whether you’re thinking about taking advantage of that growth or simply want to air out your home after the winter months, it might be time to plan a little spring cleaning.
A thorough seasonal house cleaning isn’t only good for your home—it’s also good for you and everyone living in it, including your pets. Here’s how to give your home a deep clean without overwhelming or exhausting yourself.
Craft a Plan of Attack Before You Pick up That Sponge
You could just grab some cleaning supplies from under the kitchen sink and start on whatever’s closest to you. But that approach often leads to inefficiency, covering the same spot more than once, and wasted energy. Instead, create a cleaning plan that covers your entire house in different “chunks.”
Plan to carve up your cleaning efforts either by room or by task. For example, you can tackle the kitchen top to bottom this weekend, then move on to your primary bedroom next week. Or you can clean all the windows in your home this weekend, then tackle the baseboards in every room next. Choose whatever approach makes the most sense to you, given your resources and limitations.
Don’t Tackle Everything at Once
A thorough house cleaning isn’t something you can do effectively in a day or two. Set aside a series of weekends. Don’t forget to enlist the aid of any fellow residents in the home. Spring cleaning is a big job, and everyone should pitch in!
Start by Decluttering
While you’re creating your cleaning plan, consider a pre-cleaning declutter job in every room. Tackling this chore first adds one solid benefit: It leaves you less to clean. Plus, by removing clutter from your home, you can tell more readily which areas need more attention than others. That’ll help you schedule your time and efforts more efficiently.
Consider the Products You Use
Don’t simply automatically reach for whatever cleaning products your parents used. Times have changed, and consumers have more options these days. Consider “green” cleaning supplies, such as white vinegar and baking soda or environmentally friendly cleaning product lines. Using non-toxic substances will help protect the health of all the home’s occupants while still yielding that deep clean you want and need.
Move Top to Bottom
One old-school deep cleaning rule that still makes sense is moving from top to bottom. In other words, don’t clean your floors first then tackle your ceiling fans. Instead, start at the top of each room—sweep off cobwebs, wipe down crown molding, clean light fixtures—then move directionally down the walls to the windows, the room’s furniture, the chair rails, and so forth.
Think Safety, Too
Spring cleaning is a great time to inspect your home for hidden dangers. Check to make sure all your rugs have non-skid mats underneath them. Visually inspect the electrical cords for all of your appliances and lamps for fraying or other signs of damage. Now is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they are functioning properly.
Finally, don’t forget the outside of your home. Take a long close look at your outdoor furniture, decks, home exterior, and any playground equipment and eliminate anything that might pose a risk of injury or serious property damage.
Call in the Pros for the Chimney
One thing you shouldn’t try to clean yourself is your chimney. An improperly functioning or obstructed chimney can pose a serious risk of fire the next time you use it. Call in a professional chimney sweep to visually inspect your fireplace, chimney, and the flashing around the chimney on the roof, and then clean out the chimney thoroughly.
Spring Cleaning Helps Keep Everyone Healthy
Whether you’re preparing to sell your home quickly or simply want to freshen up your environment, spring cleaning can really transform your home. A good, thorough spring cleaning helps remove mold, mildew, and dust mites that can trigger allergies or asthma. It can also reduce stress and help boost the immune systems of all the home’s occupants, which is even more important these days. Take a methodical approach and don’t try to do more in any single cleaning session than you can reasonably handle. Then sit back and enjoy your newly clean space!