As soon as winter begins to recede, we turn our attention to the house. Warmer weather signals its time for spring cleaning, but that’s only the beginning. Spring home maintenance goes further than a neat interior. You want your space to be in perfect shape inside and out for the near season and the rest of the year ahead. You may want to create a list of everything that needs to be done so that you can tick tasks off and nothing is forgotten in preparing your home for spring. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled a list of spring home maintenance tasks for you to follow. It’s smart to spend some time on home maintenance to prevent small issues from growing into huge costly repairs later on. Keep reading to check what home maintenance tasks should be on your checklist.
Exterior Home Maintenance
After winter every year, try to make a habit of inspecting your home inside and out. Prioritise damage that needs immediate attention, and also take advantage of spring’s milder temperature to tackle outdoor maintenance tasks.
Fill Cracks In Concrete
Cracks in your concrete walkways, driveways, and stairs usually form from freezing temperatures. While you can fix them by filling and sealing, if the damage is bad enough or if many cracks have built up over the years, you may need to call in a pro.
Clean, Sand, Paint And Seal
Most of us look forward to spring and summer so we can spend more time outside during the day. Get your outdoor space in order, starting with the deck, fence, or any other wooden structure in your garden.
Look for signs of peeling, rotting, or warping wood. If you find peeling paint on your wooden deck, you may need to remove the coating, then clean the surface with a pressure wash, before sanding, painting and sealing it.
You may also need to replace missing boards due to rotting or termite damage. If you do notice signs of them, here’s how to get rid of termites.
Inspect Your Roof
Your roof is your home’s first line of defence against nature. Start by inspecting your roof for holes, leaks, moss, mould and debris. For example, if a shingle is cupped or cracked, it needs to be replaced. To keep your roof in the best shape possible, have it inspected by a professional. They can identify broken shingles and damaged roof tiles along the roofline.
Clear Gutter And Downpipes
Proper gutter maintenance keeps water flowing and protects your foundation. During winter, leaves collect and turn mushy in the gutter and downspout systems. Inspect your gutters and clean them out. Having your gutters and downspouts cleaned early in the season can help prevent damage from summer rains. They should be clean and free-running, and properly installed downspouts divert water away from the house, preventing water from collecting around your home’s foundation.
Fix Broken Doors And Windows
If a storm damages your windows or doors, fix and replace them quickly to avoid racking up costly repairs. If you have any mosquito screens, check them for any holes and tears that will let the cool air out or mosquitoes and other pets in.
Wash Your Windows
Winter weather, rain, and debris can work on your home’s windows. Even if you don’t have any major damage, your windows most probably do need a clean so the sun can shine back in. If you have high-up windows, consider calling a professional to clean your windows, and head over to SweepSouth to make a booking.
Lawn And Garden Care
Having a healthy, good looking lawn and garden is also part of preparing your home for spring. These tips will help you to maintain your garden but also protect your lawn and home from flooding when all the rain returns.
Lawn Mower Service
Soon, it’ll be warm enough to mow the lawn on a Saturday morning, as well as trimming, weed whacking, and leaf blowing, to keep your lawn look well-manicured. To avoid any frustrating mishaps, give your lawn equipment a once over before the task.
If anything is broken or not working properly, replace it or find a professional who can fix it – look out for a local lawn mower repair service.
Fertilise The Grass
You want to give your grass the best chance at flourishing over the next few months. Test your garden’s soil, decide if you need to fertilise, and take the steps required to prevent weeds from sprouting.
If you’re new to lawn or gardening care, talk to our expert outdoor team at SweepSouth so you can have your lawn and garden cleaned and transformed.
Check The Irrigation System
Check and make sure that all sprinkler heads are working properly and that there’s no mud stuck inside. Then check the water pressure, if it drops you may have a leak. Lastly, point all of your sprinkler heads away from the house, windows, pavements, and driveway to prevent water waste.
If you happen to have a water feature that needs to be cleaned and up and running for the warmer months, now is the time to spruce it up and fill it with water again and switch it back on
Remove Damaged Branches
During winter, strong winds and rain can damage trees. Walk around the garden, pick up any fallen branches, then look up at the trees for any other damaged branches that are about to fall. Broken and dead branches are safety hazards and should be removed. Use a ladder and cut them down before they end up falling onto your car, roof, window, or even a person.
Keep in mind that not all trees should be pruned as soon as the warm weather returns. Always speak to a professional first, they should decide if you need to prune certain trees and shrubs at the beginning of spring, when they are still dormant or after blooming.
Drainage
Protect your lawn, backyard and foundation by making sure your drainage system is good to go. If you tend to experience drainage issues, consider building a french drain, creek bed, or rain garden. You might also have to redirect your gutters by extending the downspouts.
Don’t forget to inspect your sump pump. When everything thaws in spring, water may cascade through the soil underneath your foundation. If you get hit by the rain this spring, this could lead to flooding in the basement. Make sure the sump pump is working quietly, smoothly and regularly.
Interior Home Maintenance
To fully step into a season after a long winter, it’s time to turn your attention inside. The nice thing about interior spring cleaning and repairs is that you can start on them at any time, even before spring, and enjoy the results of your work for the rest of the season and the next.
Spring Clean Your Home From Top To Bottom
Refresh your house with a thorough spring cleaning. Start by dusting your ceiling fans, packing and throwing away old junk, and decluttering your garage and storage space. Re-organise your cupboards, switch out winter clothes for more springtime trends, and organise and clean your kitchen, bathroom and living room.
Take the time to have a deep clean to get rid of the dirt and grime that’s built up over winter. Spring is the best time to clean areas of the house that are usually overlooked. Dust or vacuum your window casings, tops of wall-mounted cabinets, and ceiling fans. Remove fabric draperies and put them in the washing machine or take them to be dry-cleaned. Vacuum your mattresses and upholstered furniture, and consider deep cleaning your carpets. Clean carpets are free from dust, allergens, and other pathogens for a cleaner, healthier home. Alternatively, hire a SweepStar to handle your carpets.
If there is grease found in the kitchen, you may want to wash the cabinets, backsplashes, and walls with warm soapy water and mild detergent. Clean your bathroom free from soap residue and fluctuations from the heat and humidity – these make a nice breeding ground for mould and mildew. Clean your tiles and grout and keep an eye out for missing or worn grout – this may lead to more serious water damage if left and not replaced.
Leaks
Spring is also a good time to look for leaky taps, clogged drains and sweating pipes. Check under your kitchen and bathroom sink to be sure that connections to pipes and hoses are efficiently sealed, and look out for any water or wetness around the dishwasher that could signal a current or potential issue. This should also be done for the laundry room – check the washing machine hoses for cracks and dampness. Do the same for your geyser, which could show signs of leaks or corrosion.
Get Rid Of Water Damage And Mould
If you live in a region that gets rain during winter, inspect the attic, basement, and garage for possible leaks or water damage. Make sure there aren’t any wet areas or signs of mould. If you think that you may have a mould problem, you’ll want to contact a mould remediation company to help avoid health and safety issues.
If your region tends to go through heavy rains during the year, you may want to consider waterproofing your basement to prevent future floods and damage.
Check Your Windows
Strong winter winds may have slightly broken your window seals. If so, you may end up wasting energy and money. You’ll end up spending more money once spring and summer come around and you start turning up the AC.
Check the seals and insulation to ensure windows are airtight. If you saw condensation on the inside of the glass on double or triple-glazed windows during winter, then the weather seal is no longer working as it should, meaning the window or the glass needs to be replaced. If you notice drafts when the windows and doors are closed, you may have a broken seal. You’ll probably see bugs or other pests crawling through the gaps, meaning it’s time for a repair.
Spring clean the windows inside and out with a commercial or homemade cleaner – a simple DIY cleaner can be made from one cup of rubbing alcohol, one cup of water, and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Never use abrasive cleaners or pressure washers, otherwise, you may scratch and even crack the caulking surrounding the windows. Use a damp cloth to clean wooden or vinyl blinds. If you have window screens that were left on during winter, remove and clean them with mild soap, then lay them on a dry surface, like your garden table or driveway, to air-dry. Don’t use a pressure washer on window screens, it may end up damaging the mesh.
Eliminate Clutter
Over winter it’s easy for clutter to build up in the living room, kitchen and bedrooms. Start spring off with uncluttered space in your home, and declutter as you clean, room by room. You may want to grab two or three black bags to declutter – one bag can be for replacing items that need to be put back into a different room, another for things you no longer want or need, and last one for the items and clothes that you would like to give away for others to enjoy.
And there you have your spring home maintenance checklist. When you start your home maintenance and improvements, you should refer back to this list if you wonder what to do next. You’ll notice that some tasks are more straightforward than others. If this is the case, you can always get assistance from a professional to ensure your home is in the best shape for spring and the rest of the year to come. Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the warmth.
