Spring Cleaning:
Make Sure to Hit the Most Important Points
Google “Spring Cleaning,” and you’ll be bombarded with list after list of all the things in your home that need attention. We’ve seen Top 10 lists, 30-day lists, lists by Martha Stewart and Oprah, 100 things to clean (cause that’s not overwhelming at all!), and on and on.
What we’d like to focus on are the Spring Cleaning tasks that help keep your home safe and your systems functioning.
Here are some ways to maintain your home’s plumbing and heating and cooling systems, practice safety preparedness, and help provide clean indoor air for your family.
First, the Safety Stuff.
It’s always a good idea to test and replace your smoke alarm batteries whenever the time changes from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time. If you didn’t get it done then, do it now.
At the same time, make sure everyone in your household knows how to operate a fire extinguisher, and make sure your extinguishers are in good working condition.
Now is also an excellent time to go through your emergency and escape plans and run drills so everyone knows what to do should the worst happen.
Replace the air filters in all your home HVAC equipment – not only to help control dust and allergens but to eliminate fire hazards from buildup.
Finally, clean or replace your dryer vent to the outside. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 15,000 fires start each year in home laundry areas. Use your vacuum’s crevice tool to get deep into that lint trap and pull out hard-to-reach lint. Vacuum around, behind, and under the dryer, too. And don’t forget to clean the lint trap between loads for continued safety throughout the year.
HVAC and Indoor Air Quality
A HEPA vacuum is one of the best weapons to have in your spring cleaning arsenal. A HEPA filter can catch the tiny, airborne particles that you can’t see like pet dander and other household particles that can set off allergies.
For general sanitation, it’s a good plan to start from the top down and clean your light fixtures -replacing bulbs as you go. Then, work on your walls; this is something else for which you can use your HEPA vacuum. Once you’ve dusted all your surfaces, vacuum to scoop up all that dust and keep it from re-entering the airflow. And, as we have all learned over the past year, sanitize your door handles and light switches, as these are places germs love to hang out.
We’ve already mentioned changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems – this should be done at least quarterly to keep the air flowing through your home as clean as possible. If they need to be changed more often, change them.
You can take things a step further by installing a high-performance air filter with a permanent frame and the filtration medium of your choice. All American Heating recommends and installs Air Sponge HealthSmart furnace filters, which are up to 600% more effective in capturing fine particles that can be harmful.
Make sure to clean your air vents and registers as you go through each room during spring cleaning. To get an especially deep clean, schedule a professional duct cleaning to make sure the air flowing through your ducts isn’t gathering dust, allergens, or bacteria along the way. To ensure that additional airborne contaminants do not enter your ductwork through cracks and leaks and then get blasted through your home, consider an Aeroseal Duct Seal – which can also save you up to 40% on your energy bills.
Also, consider installing or upgrading your bathroom fan. Replacing an existing fan or adding a new one can help protect your bathroom from the moisture that naturally occurs there. Fans help ventilate water vapor during showers and remove odors. Some units may even come with built-in lighting, automatic operation, and other user-friendly features.
Plumbing and Drains
While we’re talking about things we can’t see, sometimes the nose knows. And your drains and cleaning appliances are shameful offenders.
The kitchen sink and garbage disposal are common sources of lingering odors and bacteria. There are disposal cleaning products you can use to eliminate the problem, but a simple solution is to run some slivers of lemon rinds through your disposal and follow with cold water.
For shower drains, clogged drains, or septic system maintenance, All American Heating recommends Bio-Clean Drain Septic Bacteria, available on Amazon.
For your washing machine, treat it periodically to keep it smelling fresh – and do it before odors start. You can use a washing machine cleaner or add bleach and use the special washer cleaning cycle on your machine.
Finally, schedule a plumber to treat any leaks, damaged faucets, or other problems you can’t handle on your own.
Follow these tips to keep your home healthy, safe, and clean in all seasons.