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Say goodbye to winter and hello to longer days, warmer weather, and blooming flowers! Spring cleaning is a tradition most households follow to freshen up their homes and tackle tasks that are put on the backburner the rest of the year. It can feel like a daunting chore, but it doesn’t have to be! Follow our Spring Cleaning guide to help you revive your space after wintry weather.

Make a schedule — the easiest way to make spring cleaning seem manageable is to scope out your home. Think of what areas usually get the least attention or need the most work, these are the best places to start. From there map out other areas of your home and make a schedule of what room you will clean on which day — its okay to take it on one room at a time!

Create a checklist — make a room-by-room checklist before you roll up your sleeves, this will help you remember everything you would like to get done. Plus, seeing more boxes checked makes you feel even more accomplished! Here are some items to help you get a head-start on your checklist:

All Rooms:

• Wipe down walls and baseboards
• Clean light fixtures/ceiling fans
• Clean air vents
• Dust blinds and wash windows
• De-clutter drawers
• Vacuum and mop the floors
• Polish floors
• Replace HVAC/furnace filter
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries.

Bedrooms:

• Go through your clothes and shoes, donate or discard of unwanted items
• Pack winter clothes and put into storage
• Bring out spring clothes and wash if needed
• Wipe down shelves
• Clean sheets and vacuum/rotate mattress
• Wash pillows
• Dust everything and clean mirrors

Laundry Room:

• Safely move washer and dryer and clean behind
• Wipe any detergent spills off the appliances
• Clean dryer vent and filter
• Clean and organize cabinets/drawers

Kitchen:

• Discard of expired items in your fridge, freezer, pantry and spice rack
• Defrost and clean fridge and freezer
• Clean grout and appliances
• Empty cabinets and drawers and wipe out and reorganize
• Dust hard to reach places
• Wipe down small appliances (coffee maker, toaster, microwave, etc.)
• Clean oven and racks

Livingroom:

• Dust/polish furniture
• Wash slipcovers, blankets and pillows
• Vacuum sofa and chairs
• Clean windowsills
• Dust and clean lamp shades
• Dust electronics
• Dust and clean decor
• Sanitize remote controls
• Shampoo rugs or carpets

Bathrooms:

• Discard expired personal care products and makeup, and bring old medications to a drop-off site
• Clean vanity
• Wipe mirror
• Clean tub and shower/showerhead, unclog drains
• Replace shower curtain liner
• Scrub tile grout
• Clean in, around and behind the toilet
• Clean hardware

Pro-tip — when cleaning any room, start from the top and work your way down to the bottom…this means you won’t have to re-clean any areas!

Revamp your space — now is the perfect opportunity to make some small changes to help make your newly clean space light and fresh for spring! Adding new pillows, throw blankets, window treatments, area rugs and colourful décor pieces are some cost-effective ways to switch things up for the warmer seasons.

If you notice anything out of the ordinary during your spring cleaning, reach out to  homeownersupport@huroncreek.com to ask any questions you may have.

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Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

As we say farewell to the beauty of fall and begin to say hello to the cold days ahead, its important to prepare your home for winter to prevent damages. Be sure to tick these 7 items off your list this season so you can rest easy knowing your humble abode is ready to take on those harsh Canadian winter months.

Clean your gutters and downspouts — Grab your ladder and roll up your sleeves (or hire a professional)! Remove all debris that has accumulated from your gutters and downspouts, any blockages could result in water overflows and ice dams. While you’re up there, check to see if everything is in good condition and repair if necessary.

Check your roof — While you have your ladder out from clearing your gutters, check the condition of your roof, too. See if there are any visible signs of damage or any missing/buckled shingles. Its important to repair any damages ASAP to avoid more serious problems down the road!

Shut off exterior faucets and drain hoses — Protect your pipes from freezing temperatures by shutting off exterior faucets before the weather drops below 0. Don’t forget to remove and drain your hoses and find somewhere indoors to store them, this will ensure they are in good working order come summertime.

Check safety devices — Looks like you’ll still need that ladder (or a trusty stool) to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed. Also, check the expiration on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed.

Clean dryer vents — Not only does lint build up in dryer vents make your dryer work less efficiently, it can even cause a fire. Cool and dry winter months increases static electricity which can also cause a fire. If you aren’t too sure how to do this, you can always enlist duct cleaning specialists to do the job for you.

Schedule chimney cleaning and heating system maintenance — Before you crank the heat on your thermostat or light your indoor fireplace, make sure your chimney and furnace are cleaned, maintained and in working order. Replace the filter on your furnace and if it or your chimney haven’t been serviced in the last year, hire a professional to tune it up for you.

Seal gaps where pests can enter — With the cold weather coming, little critters will want to find a warm place to call home, like your cabinets, attic, or walls. This is not only unwanted but can cause other problems like electrical or insulation mishaps. To keep wildlife outdoors, fill any gaps you see and make sure you have a chimney cover.

If you find any issues while preparing your home for the winter, our partner Tarion has your home covered for those unexpected costs. For more information on what’s covered or if you have any other questions, please reach out to homeowner support at homeownersupport@huroncreek.com.