How to Prepare Your Home for Spring in Austin
Spring is almost here! This is the time to do some spring cleaning and make sure your home is ready for the changing season. Luckily, we have some tips on how to prepare your home for spring in Austin. Maintaining your home will keep your home looking good for years to come. The best time to do home maintenance is in the spring and fall, especially in Texas. The summer brings extreme temperatures. In the winter you should prioritize protecting your home from the elements. However, every season should bring some level of home care. As the seasons and temperatures change there are new concerns to protect your home from.
Spring signifies renewal and new life. The flowers are blooming and the grass is growing again. Animals are being born! If you have a garden or farm, this is the time to plant new seeds and prepare for growth. Regardless of your landscape, this new life symbolism can be brought into and outside of your home. Additionally, now is a great time to create and start new outdoor projects. Ones that you can enjoy during the beautiful weather of this season, and before it gets too hot.
Deep Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a great way to kick off the season and start fresh. The winter brought downtime as the days were cold and the evenings dark. Now the sun is coming out to stay, and we no longer want to bundle up. This should bring the fresh energy to do some springtime cleaning to renew your home.
Start Indoors
A great place to start your deep cleaning is indoors, then work your way outside. Don't be overwhelmed by the thought of deep cleaning your entire house. Make a list of what you want cleaned and set a realistic timeline. By the end of the list, you'll be surprised at how deep cleaning small details of your home can make a big picture difference.
Windows and Window Treatments
Let the sunshine in! Cleaning your windows can make a big impact and you'll be surprised at the difference it can make when it comes to sunlight. You should be cleaning your inside windows on at least a monthly basis. However, if you have a lot of windows or very large windows, it's understandable this may not be happening. The spring is the perfect time to clean the exterior windows, so you should hit the inside while you're at it, and it's never too late. Hiring someone to clean your windows can be a very time-wise decision, especially if you have a long deep cleaning list. If you want to clean the windows yourself, here are some tips.
Ensure you don't use razor blades to scrape any paint or other stains off the window. This can scratch window treatments. Be sure to not use any abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools.
Before you start cleaning your windows, remove any dust and debris. You can use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to vacuum around the window encasing and the window. This should remove any heavy build-up on or around your window.
Then, go over your window with a microfiber cloth to remove any and all fine dust.
After removing all debris, apply a cleaning solution such as mild soapy water, diluted vinegar, or liquid window cleaner. Wipe in a circular motion from top to bottom.
Remove the cleaning solution with a squeegee from top to bottom. This will give it a full streak-free shine. However, remember to never clean your windows in direct sunlight, as cleaning solution can dry mid-clean and cause streaks.
Dusting
Dusting is everyone's favorite home task, right? It can be a hassle, but it will vastly impact the look of your interior space. It's time to clear the cobwebs that built up in your winter cave. This of course can be another task for a hired deep cleaner. Whether you do it yourself or hire out, you should make sure it's done right.
Add dusting to your deep cleaning list before you vacuum. Dusting can make a mess on your carpet. Not to mention, for the most efficient dusting, you should vacuum the area you dusted to make sure you really get everything.
Use the right tools. Bring out the microfibre cloth from your window cleaning. Microfibre cloths are the best because they require little to no product to pick up dust.
Spray directly on the cloth. If you choose to use a product, you should spray directly onto the cloth instead of the furniture or fixture. You'll have better control over the product.
As always, start from the top down. Dust each room by first tackling hard-to-reach cobwebs and dust before moving down to other areas. If it helps, try breaking down the room into sections i.e. focus on all the furniture along one wall before moving to another.
Decluttering
Spring is the best time to get rid of all the junk you don't need or want anymore. If you're looking to get serious about decluttering and organizing, it might be time to hire a professional organizer. Luckily, Austin has a lot of great organizing companies and contractors! However, it's easy to do it yourself if you use the right method.
Sort items: Use bins that are labeled for the following purposes:
• Put Away: Items that are out of their designated area and need to be put back.
• Fix: Anything that needs repair before being put away, like a shirt without a button.
• Recycle: Recyclable items you want to get rid of.
• Trash: Items you want to get rid of and can throw away.
• Donate: Place items here that you're able to donate.
2. Create a Timeline: Break down the spaces you need to declutter and estimate how long each will take. Be sure to take it one small space at a time, so you can feel like you're making progress.
Carpets and Flooring
After dusting and potentially decluttering you're ready to move on to your flooring! You should be cleaning your floors on a weekly or monthly basis, but the spring is a great time for a full deep clean and detail. For carpet, you should hire a professional carpet cleaning company at least once a year. If you really don't want to hire someone, you can rent a steam cleaner. These are usually available at your local grocery store like HEB or Randalls.
If you have hardwood floors, you should be vacuuming and mopping every week or so. Be sure to use a gentle cleaner to mop. You can make a natural hardwood cleaner by mixing 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of water. The spring is a good time to check your hardwood flooring for any gaps between boards. These can be filled with wood filler. Then just sand and refinish the spot. This will not only repair your flooring but will eliminate the tiny dust collectors.
Move Outdoors
It's time to conquer the outdoors! Your inside should feel brand new. Spring is the best time to work on the outside of your house as the Austin weather is usually moderate.
Exterior Walls and Windows
At least once a year, the outside of your home should get a solid deep clean. The details do matter when it comes to your house. Dirt and grime stuck to the walls of your house and water-stained windows will make a big impact on the overall appearance of your home.
One way to clean the walls of your home is through a power washer. As mentioned, it can be helpful to hire a professional for this. A professional can do it efficiently with a focus on quality. Either way, you want to make sure to get your walls and decks cleaned around the same time. If you want to do it yourself, Home Depot offers a full step-by-step guide.
Now, it's time to work on the exterior windows! Exterior windows can be another big task for a professional, but doable if you have a smaller home.
Work on a cooler cloudy day if possible so the product won't dry too fast while you're cleaning the windows.
Remove your window screens and clean them with a water hose on low pressure to get off dirt and dust. Dry them with a clean towel as much as you can, then air dry.
Rinse your windows with a water hose before cleaning. This will get rid of the top layer of dirt and grime.
Fill a bucket with clean cool water and a squirt of liquid dish detergent. The cool water will take longer to dry, giving you more time to work.
Use a window scrubber or sponge to clean the windows. You can also use the same microfibre cloth you used to clean the inside windows if you need something gentler.
Use the sponge at all angles, but work from the top down.
Squeege in vertical pieces top to bottom and left to right.
Maintenance Checks
Spring is the perfect time for routine annual maintenance checks. Many aspects of your home need annual checks. The weather will be transitioning from cold to the hot summers known in Austin. Many of these annual checks will help make sure your house is ready to go for the changing season and heat. Here are some primary things you should get checked:
• HVAC System: Change your air filters. Then, get an annual professional inspection to make sure everything is running smoothly for the upcoming summer.
• Roof: Get a roof inspection, especially if there are any winter storms. Regardless, spring is an excellent time to get an inspection as spring usually brings hail storms. You want to make sure your home is protected.
• Gutters: Clear out your gutters to prevent water damage from the spring rain.
• Landscaping and Outdoor Spaces: Prune trees and bushes and do general landscaping maintenance as everything starts to grow again. It's better to get a head start on pruning before you start more regular lawn maintenance. If you have a garden, be sure to prepare it in early spring.
Pest Control
Winter is over, and that means the bugs are coming back out. It's necessary in the spring to get a head start on your pest control. You'll want to do pest control in late February or early March as the bugs come out early in Austin. There are plenty of professional pest control companies in Austin that will work with you on the best preventative solution.
If you follow this guide, your home will be ready for spring! If you're moving to Austin and are planning on building your dream home, we'd love to talk to you. Contact us today!