Spring cleaning home hacks and tips

The DuPree Team knows how busy we all get during the year and how much longer everything seems to take when the snowbirds are in town. It’s almost springtime (early-summer for us Floridians) and it’s a great time for us to do everyone’s favorite annual chore, spring cleaning! The DuPree Team has put together a short list of items often overlooked on your ongoing cleaning duties that will make a difference whether you are considering selling in the future or not. The tips below will make quick work of your spring-cleaning list and get you back to relaxin’ in no time!

Wash Your Windows Inside and Out

Be sure to pick a cloudy day to wash windows. If it’s too sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too fast and you’ll have streaks.

Clean and Lubricate Sliding Door Tracks

Sliding glass door tracks probably aren’t the first spots you’d think to clean, but you’ll appreciate having done it before the outdoor entertaining season gets into full swing. Scrub the tracks with an old, dry toothbrush to loosen debris, then use your vacuum hose to remove it. Finish with a wet sponge and some spray lubricant on the contact surface.

Clean Often Overlooked Surfaces

You may overlook these surfaces throughout the year, but when spring cleaning, give your baseboards, door frames, and walls a good scrub-down. Wash them with a damp sponge and some dish washing liquid mixed in a bucket of warm water.

Deep Clean Carpets

To maintain a new carpet’s warranty, you may need to have it cleaned professionally every 12-18 months. Otherwise, you can do it yourself by renting a deep cleaner or buying a professional-style model designed for home use. Be Sure to run you’re A/C continuously until the carpets are fully dried, this could take up to 24 hours.

Refresh Window Treatments

Window Treatments, Curtains and draperies aren’t typically dirty enough to launder. Instead, go over them thoroughly with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. To remove dust from sheer curtains, put them in the dryer on low with a fabric-softener sheet.

Dust Light Fixtures

Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to dust fixtures and bulbs you can reach. For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendable duster.

Get Organized

Pick up and eliminate clutter in each room before you start cleaning. Equip yourself with a few designated containers when you are picking up in each room: a box for garage sale items, another for items to donate, and a garbage bag for items to toss. Put away the things you are keeping in their rightful places and rooms.

Safety Inspection

Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t own a fire extinguisher, purchase one. Learn how to use it and keep it in the kitchen.

Power Wash Exterior Surfaces

Having your home’s exterior surfaces and windows power-washed won’t just make your home look sharp, it also will prevent the growth of mold and mildew that feed on grime.

Gutter Maintenance

Clean and repair gutters and downspouts every spring before heavy rains begin and late in autumn after leaves have fallen.

Outdoor Furniture

Clean and repair furniture for your deck, porch, or patio. Use outdoor spray enamel to touch up chips on painted outdoor furniture.

Deep Clean Bedrooms

Rotate and flip mattresses. Wash blankets and comforters or take them to be cleaned. Wash mattress pads and bed skirts. Have pillows professionally cleaned, hang them outside in the fresh air, or freshen them with the air cycle of your clothes dryer. Wash or dry-clean rugs.

Deep Clean Bathrooms

Go through your medicine cabinets and safely discard any outdated products. Replace worn bathmats, shower curtains, and liners, or wash and dry shower curtains and liners. Steam grout and scrub tile surfaces and clean around and behind fixture attachment points.

Degrease and Clear Your Kitchen

Clear out your pantry, kitchen cabinets, and drawers. Wipe them out with a degreaser to remove any oils that have settled over the year. Store or donate equipment you don’t use, such as small appliances or cookware. Discard stale spices or dated items such as baking powder, sauces etc. Empty then clean the refrigerator and freezer. Vacuum the cooling coils under or behind your refrigerator. Degrease and clean the oven and microwave. Clean under all movable large appliances.

The DuPree Team hopes that you and your family have a successful year and are so happy to have you as part of our real estate family. We hope that you found this information useful and look forward to providing you with curated and informative email blogs on a monthly basis. If there is any topic you think we should cover, please let us know! Please keep us in mind the next time you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell in South Florida.

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