5 Small Spring Cleaning Tasks for Big Impact on Your Home

There’s no better time than the Spring to dust off your to-do list and freshen up your home to get ready for the new season, so I put together this list of spring cleaning tips to help you get started.

Clean windows inside and out‍

Here in Seattle, we only get to see the sun for a few months out of the year. Make sure to keep your windows crystal clean to soak up every last bit of those rays while you can. I’m consistently stunned as to how much of a difference it makes every time I clean my windows.

• Fill a bucket with about 2 gallons of warm water and mix in 1 teaspoon of dish soap 
• Scrub the inside and outside of your windows with the soapy water using a sponge or washcloth 
• Press a squeegee blade (available at most home improvement stores) against the glass in the upper corner and pull it steadily across the window from side to side. Try to keep the top of the squeegee aligned with the top edge of the window to eliminate drips
• Wipe the squeegee clean after each strip as you work your way down the window
• Clean up any drips with a lint free microfiber towel

Prioritize healthy indoor air quality

I don’t know about you, but as much as I love all of the new life bursting in Seattle in the Spring, I always end up battling seasonal allergies. There’s nothing worse than having a full on sneeze fest while entertaining friends, so I always make it a priority to maintain the indoor air quality in my home.

• You should be changing your furnace air filters every 1-3 months, but if you haven’t done so in a while, the seasons changing can be an excellent reminder. And while you’re at it, you might as well give your vacuum cleaner filter a good wash, and your bathroom vent fan a good wipe down.
• A lot of cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals, even some that brand themselves as being “green”. Soapy water, diluted vinegar, and baking soda paste are all excellent natural cleaners to help you maintain a healthy indoor air quality. 
• Freshen up your decor and your indoor air by adding some more indoor plants to your home. (ok, so it’s been proven that indoor plants don’t actually make a measurable impact on indoor air quality, but hey, they’re still great as decor to elevate your style)

Prepare your outdoor space for entertaining

When the warmer months roll around, it’s tough to find an outdoor space that hasn’t been taken over by the dreaded green coloration brought on by algae. Spend an afternoon giving your patio/deck space a good cleaning to encourage using it once outdoor temps allow for it.

• Power wash your deck or patio. If you don’t have a power washer, you can pick up a relatively inexpensive one from your local home improvement store, or rent one if you don’t want to deal with storing it. But keep in mind, if your deck is made of a soft wood like cedar, high pressure can damage it, so be sure to do some inconspicuous tests before hitting the full deck
• Now that you’ve given your deck a solid cleaning, it’s time to throw a new coat of sealer on top. Taking care of your wood deck will add years to it’s life
• Spray furniture cushions down with diluted vinegar to start the breakdown of the algae, and then throw them in the washer for a good cleaning. Set out in the sun on a warmer day to dry
• Refresh your garden beds with a new layer of mulch to brighten things up and keep your soil full of good nutrients to help your plants thrive

Completing these tasks can be a great way to liven up your home, but if you’re looking to make a bigger change and may be interested in selling your home to upgrade, give me a call and I can provide a thorough consultation to help you prepare.

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