10 Spring Cleaning Projects For This Weekend

Spring cleaning is all about getting our homes ready for a new season of sunshine, warmth, and time outdoors — and indoors, too — especially if that’s where you’re spending a lot of time right now. Get ready to wipe off the grime, clear out the cobwebs, and refresh your living spaces.

Add these projects to your spring-cleaning checklist, and you’ll be rewarded with a home that feels brighter, cleaner, and more functional.

Best of all, you can knock out most of these jobs in a weekend.

Wash windows, inside and out

Some say clean windows make your whole home look better, and we think it’s true.

For a DIY cleaning job that yields professional results, use a solution of water, ammonia, and white vinegar. Apply the solution to your windows with a large sponge, and remove it with a professional-grade squeegee.

Clean refrigerator and air conditioner coils

These appliances create a cooling effect by circulating air through the coils. Over time, dust builds up on the coils and decreases their efficiency, making your refrigerator or air conditioner work a lot harder.

Unplug the appliance, then vacuum out the coils with your vacuum’s crevice tool. You can also use a special refrigerator-coil cleaning brush, available at most hardware stores.

Check ceiling fans

Clean your ceiling fan blades to remove winter dust build-up.

And if you reversed your ceiling fan’s direction to clockwise for the winter, turn it back to counterclockwise for the warmer months. This sends the air straight down, creating a cooling effect.

Clean dryer vent

Cleaning a dryer vent is easier than you might imagine. First, unplug the dryer from the power source. Next, clean out the vent with a special dryer-vent cleaning brush or a vacuum.

Deep-clean carpets

Even if you vacuum regularly, a thorough carpet cleaning once a year will reach deep down into the fibers to clean out debris, dust, and food particles.

If you don’t own a carpet cleaner, you may be able to rent one from a home improvement store or even your local grocery chain store.

Inspect roof, gutters, and chimneys

Spring is the perfect time to check your roof for damage that may have occurred over the winter. If you can’t use a ladder to get up on the roof, try inspecting it with binoculars.

Check decks and patios

If the finish on your wooden deck still looks good, that’s great! You might just need to clean the deck to get it ready for summer.

If the finish appears to be worn, then you’ll want to consider both cleaning and resealing the deck. For decks made of composite material, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and preserving the deck.

Prep lawn equipment

Get those lawnmowers, weed whackers, and pressure washers out of storage, turn them on and make sure they are running properly. Sometimes a little lubricant or cleaning is all you need to get your tools back in shape.

Clean outside furniture

Use Murphy Oil Soap for wood furniture. For most other types of outdoor furniture, a solution of dishwashing liquid and water should do the trick.

Freshen up your front entrance

Sweep and/or wash the front porch and steps. Shake out your welcome mat, or replace it if it’s starting to fray or fall apart. Add a pot or two of brightly colored annuals, and your home will feel renewed!

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Car

The dawning of spring can inspire us to refresh and renew many aspects of our lives. Our homes and wardrobes often get a spring-inspired overhaul, but our cars can also benefit from revitalization as the seasons change. Whether you live in an area that had a mild winter or you experienced harsh weather and snow, here are some steps you can take this spring to keep your car in tip-top shape.

Wash your car. If you live in an area that received lots of snow this winter, you're likely to have an accumulation of salt on, and especially under, your car. According to AccuWeather.com, it's important to wash underneath the car and in the wheel wells, where there may be a buildup of road salt, which could cause corrosion. "This rotting or corrosion can harm the car's exhaust and muffler systems, coil springs, and the frame of the car."

The Car Care Council recommends washing your car from top to bottom to prevent dragging dirt upward. "Clean the fenders and bumpers last since they will have the most dirt and grime that can contaminate the wash mitt."

Waxing your car after washing can add shine and help protect the paint. Consumer Reports found that liquid waxes do a better job of cleaning than spray and paste waxes. Regardless of which wax you choose, Consumer Reports says for optimum protection, it's best to reapply wax within five weeks.

Clean the interior. After removing any trash and vacuuming the interior, Popular Mechanics recommends scrubbing the carpets and power-washing floor mats. "Being thorough with the carpet is important, as it can act like a filthy, salty, wet rag that accelerates rusting. When you're done, pull the drain plugs under the floor and let things air out for a few days."

If you have tough stains, Consumer Reports suggests renting a steam cleaner. But if you're on a budget, the publication says to try a spray bottle of carpet cleaner. A microfiber cloth and a mild cleaner are good for tidying the dash, it adds. Also, be sure you're using the correct cleaner for each surface. "For leather trim, use a leather cleaner. Clean the inside of windows with glass cleaner, but spray directly onto your cloth to avoid streaking."

Change your wiper blades. Winter can take a toll on your windshield wiper blades, so to prepare for spring showers, it’s a good idea to replace them. Newer blades will be more effective at clearing water and will help you see. If your wiper blades are not clearing water effectively or cause streaking, it's probably time for a new pair. "Our tests have found that most blades are ready for replacement after just six months, but you can try extending their service life by wiping them with a cloth and glass cleaner before removing them," Consumer Reports says.

Check your tires. Between inclement weather and its resulting potholes, winter can wear down your tires. CBS News says worn tires can limit your braking power. To test your tires for wear, the site recommends inserting a quarter into each tire's grooves. If Washington's head is covered, you likely have enough tread to drive safely, CBS News reports. The site also notes that keeping your tire pressure at manufacturer-recommended levels can increase gas mileage by 3 percent.

If you use winter tires, make sure to replace them with your non-winter tires. Popular Mechanics says, "Leaving winter tires on too long will result in excess wear because they soften with warmer temperatures."

Inspect your ventilation system. To prepare for warmer weather and ensure cabin comfort, be sure your air conditioner is properly functioning. Turn on your car's air conditioner to its highest setting and make sure it reaches a cool temperature in a reasonable amount of time, says CBS News. If it doesn't, you should schedule maintenance.

It's also important to replace your cabin's air filter. Popular Mechanics says, "This filter keeps dirt, pollen, and plant matter from entering the ventilation system."

Check and replace your fluids. To preserve the health and life of your car, it's essential to regularly check your engine oil and replace it when necessary. You should add oil if your dipstick indicates that it's below the manufacturer-recommend level. You should also check the oil's color. If it appears lighter, it could be an indication of engine trouble.

Don’t forget to make sure your windshield wiper fluid is topped off if needed since it can be depleted by winter weather.

These easy tips will help spring your car into the new season.

Now that your car is clean, make sure it is properly protected with the right insurance from us.