Winter is (almost) over. Slowly but surely, the temperature is rising and the days are getting longer. Time to dig up your warm-weather clothes, throw open your windows, and embrace the outside world again. But before you stray too far from home, devote a weekend or two to spring
cleaning. Not sure where to start? Check out our handy checklist.
Wash And Open Your Windows.
All winter, your windows have been shut against the bitter cold. Now that it’s getting warm out, open them. Try to create a cross breeze by opening windows on opposite ends of your home — this will allow your home to “exhale” some of the smells that have accrued in your furniture, carpet, and walls over the long winter.
Clean glass lets more light in. More light makes your rooms look cleaner… or just makes it clear how dirty they are. We’ll worry about cleaning rooms later. For now, though, Windex both sides of the glass.
While You’re At It, Clean Your Screens.
Window screens can get clogged with debris, dust, and bugs, and many people are lax in cleaning them. But they shouldn’t be. All you have to do is remove the screens from their window setting, place them on a flat surface outdoors, and use a portable vacuum to remove larger objects and surface dust. Then, take a soapy, warm sponge to the grill. Use a garden hose to rinse, and make sure the screens are completely dry before you reinstall them.
Beat and Sweep.
Now that your windows are clean, you can probably see all that dust in your apartment very clearly. So grab the broom and fill the mop bucket with soapy water, but not before picking your rugs up and taking them outside. To really clean a rug, you need to hang it up outside and beat it with a broom or bat. It may look violent, but it expels built-up dirt much more effectively than a vacuum. It also allows your rug to expel its stale odors.
Wash Your Blankets. Then Pack Them Away.
Did you spend most of your winter wrapped in flannel, shivering on your futon with only the exhaust fan of a laptop to keep you warm? Well, cheer up: That season’s over. Time to wash those blankets, fold them, and banish them to winter storage. Doing so will cut down on clutter and allow you to recalibrate your living space to the new season.
Clean Your Kitchen… Especially Your Oven.
When you’re snowed in, you cook a lot of heavy meals. But you probably don’t want your kitchen to smell like chili forever. So push up your sleeves, slap on some gloves, and scour your kitchen, paying special attention to the stovetop and oven. Now that your windows are open, you can break out the heavy chemical artillery.
Give Your Bathtub a Bath.
Long, hot baths are a great way to stay warm in the winter. They also have a way of leaving a ring in the tub. Time to erase it! White vinegar is a great alternative to chemical cleaners — just make sure you’ve already completed task #1, because it’s a pungent smell.
Replace Your Air Filters.
It’s recommended to replace your home’s HVAC air filters every three months — so, once a season. Clean air filters not only increase the efficiency of your cooling/heating system — they also help keep you healthy since they reduce dust, pollutants, allergens, and bacteria levels in your home.
Check the Batteries On Your Smoke Alarm.
Because you don’t want to have an insurance claim on your hands, do you?
Guest Blogger Sam Radbil is a contributing member of the marketing and communications team at
ABODO, an online apartment marketplace. ABODO was founded in 2013 in Madison, Wisconsin. And in just three years, the company has grown to more than 30 employees, raised over $8M in outside funding and helps more than half a million renters find a new home each month.