Spring and cleaning just seem go together. While "Spring cleaning"
generally comes with an interior focus, giving some special attention to
the exterior of your home after a harsh winter is just as important in
terms of home maintenance.
- Windows: Are any of your windows cracked? Is
there any air leakage around the casing or joints? Are the screens in
good repair? Do any of them need to be replaced before the upcoming
mosquito and fly season.
- Doors: How about the casing around your doors, too? Is there any air leakage? Is there a need to replace any glass or screen doors?
- Decks and Porches: Do you have any wood decking
which may need to be replaced or refinished? Are there any cracks in
any paved or cemented areas which should be taken care of before they
get worse?
- Siding: Is there any chance that there is
moisture building up behind your siding which could cause rotting or
damage to your home? Take a peek yourself or hire an experienced
handyman who knows how to check for you.
- Power Washing: Is there any dirt build up on
your home's exterior? How about debris built up in the crevices of your
porches or walk ways? Do you have brick or cement paths which have been
covered with mold during the wet seasons? Power washing is a speedy way
to clean up those outdoor surfaces.
- Painting: Do you have any painted exterior wood
trim, decking or siding that is beginning to peel? These items may need
to be stripped and resealed or painted. Temperatures are especially
favorable for painting in the Spring.
- Water: Do you have any water seeping into your
basement? Usually it's due to an exterior issue which may or may not be
simple to resolve and it should be looked into immediately.
- Electrical Outlets: Are your outdoor power
sources free and clear of debris? Do you have enough outlets? Just
something to think about now so that when you need power for your next
barbeque everything is working and ready to go.
- Storage: Are you using your garage, attic space
and storage sheds efficiently? Can shelving be added to those areas to
optimize your storage space? With the upcoming Spring cleaning the more
accessible and organized your storage is the better off you will be.
- Gutters: Leaves from the Fall could be clogging
up your rain gutters. If you can, get up on a ladder and clear them
out. If you can't hire a handyman to clean those gutters out because if a
gutter gets clogged and fills with water it could come tumbling off
your roof.