Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance Checklist

By Phil Benevides on Home Maintenance, Weekend warrior

Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance Checklist

Here in New England when the snow begins to melt we get excited to start anew with the warmth of spring and summer coming our way. But to ensure we can enjoy the good weather, we here at Concord Carpenter like to add some Home Maintenance to our spring cleaning plans to avoid future complications, especially in the summer months when all we want to do is relax. So check out our helpful tips and checklist items you’ll want to address this Spring to ensure a happy and healthy home.

Storage that makes Sense

First and foremost, plan a spring cleaning weekend. De-cluttering and cleaning gets you in all the nooks and crannies of your home, so by getting to those hard to reach places you are more likely to catch a problem in its early stages, than to find it months or years later in the back of a cluttered room or up in your attic.

De-clutter, recycling or donating things you no longer use will help clear up your storage areas for stuff you actually need and use regularly. Furthermore the less stuff you have, the less stuff you have to clean! This is also a great time to re-locate items that are stored away from where you need them.

Every spring I try to think about where I store an item and if that’s the best place for it, often times the first place I store it is where it lives for a long time, so re-evaluate your storage locations before you get too comfortable with your storage choices. Also, as seasonal items become in demand and other off season items become unnecessary, rotate their locations for easy access. For example, come Spring shovels in the back of the shed and the lawn mower to the front! That’s storage that makes sense!

Replace Bulbs and Batteries

Clean! A healthy home is a clean home, so take advantage of the motivation of spring cleaning and get out your step stools and clean up high to remove dust you rarely see. While you’re at it, replace bulbs and batteries.

Be prepared with batteries and light-bulbs so when you make the climb up high, you can kill two birds with one stone, and replace smoke detector batteries or hard to reach light bulbs.

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Replace HVAC Filters

As you work your way down to the basement, use the change in season as a reminder to replace your HVAC air filter. Consider applying a disinfectant or scented spay on the filter before installation to ensure clean and fresh smelling air is circulating through your home.

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It may be worth having a professional HVAC contractor come out and do a tune up on your HVAC system, if you haven’t had your system looked at by a professional you should to ensure the system is running well and you can address any major issues before your A/C malfunctions in the middle of a heat wave.

To prepare for the summer heat check out How to Maintain an Air Conditioner.

Basement Humidity

Before you head outside examine the walls of your foundation and assess the overall moisture content of your basement. If it smells musty or you are noticing water intrusion, consider purchasing a De-humidifier to combat the moist air that can lead to mold, damage your property, or leave an unpleasant smell in your storage space.

We recommend a 50-70 pint unit depending on the size and moisture level of your basement, but we almost always insist on a unit that can pump the condensation through a tube versus relying on a reservoir that you may have to dump regularly.

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Outdoor Assessment

Similar to your indoor assessment, you’ll want to start from the top down on the exterior of your home. Check the roof line for any winter damage from ice dams or storms. Leaks will be an obvious indicator of damage over the winter, but if you don’t notice any leaks that doesn’t mean you didn’t experience damage that could result in FUTURE leaks, so be sure to do a solid assessment and consult a roofer or general contractor if you don’t feel comfortable working at extreme heights.

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Gutters and Drainage

Next, move down along the roof edge checking the gutters for damage and you’ll want to ensure all the gutters and downspouts are clear. So that means cleaning your gutters! Again, if you don’t feel comfortable consider hiring a contractor or handyman to do the work.

As for drainage, look at your downspouts and consider areas where water may not shed away from the foundation. An easy solution is to purchase a downspout adapter to direct water away from your home.

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If you have a large roof system and have moisture problems in your basement you may want to hire a contractor to trench and run pipes underground to funnel water away from your foundation to a lower grade portion of your lot. For more tips check out Preventing Water in Basement.

Exterior Assessment

Take note of the condition of your siding and exterior trim now! If you identify repairs early and get on your contractor or painter’s radar early, you won’t be scrambling to schedule exterior paint or repairs late in the summer.

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If you plan to address the exterior of your home yourself try breaking up the daunting task of painting your house by starting with one side and working your way around each year. This will ensure you address each face of your home every 4 years. After one lap around the estate you’ll find each subsequent year to be easier and easier as you keep up with exterior maintenance. Looking to Paint your house? Check out Tips for Painting Clapboard Siding.

Landscaping

In addition to regular maintenance; mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, etc. You’ll want to first start out with addressing any leaves or debris that found there way back into your yard after your fall cleanup and got buried in the snow. Pruning wild hedges will payoff now making your job easier later in the season.

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A trip to the local home center, nursery, or greenhouse will inspire you to add some color or depth to your yard with new plantings for the spring. But before you head off to the store weed and prep planting beds with fertilizer or compost.

Finally, prep your lawn for it’s spring revival! In addition to the general cleanup mentioned above there are a few basic steps you can take to help get your lawn green again. Fertilize, aerate, and reseed. You can read more about Spring Lawn Care here.

Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance Checklist

Wow, it seems like that list grew quickly, and I’m sure you’re thinking “I want to enjoy the good weather, not work through it!” But getting a handle on these spring checklist items could save you tons of time, heartache, and money in the long run. Additionally, many of these tasks can payoff sooner than you think, while your neighbors are still dealing with projects they put off, you’ll be staying cool and enjoying the lazy days of summer come August.

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About the author

Phil Benevides

Carpenter / Assistant Editor

Phil is a 28-year old Air Force Veteran who decided to transform his passion for construction and home improvement into a career. Inspired by his Grandfather who built his home from the ground up with his bare hands in Portugal, he received his formal training in Carpentry at the North Bennett Street School in Boston, MA.Phil continues to grow his skills as a carpenter and leader, while exploring new products, methods, and tools!

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