A Seasonal Guide to Cleaning and Maintaining Your Home

January 5, 2017

Homeownership is a major responsibility, and with it comes the obligation to maintain your home to the best of your abilities. Every year, our homes and businesses focus on one annual event that is supposed to carry us through the next twelve months: spring cleaning. When the winter weather clears and our heads swim with ideas of backyard barbecues and dips in the swimming pool, we launch full-force into a whirlwind home cleaning and maintenance rituals.

These thorough but brief cleaning and maintenance sessions, though helpful for a few weeks following, are not enough to keep your home in the best shape it can be in all year long.

This year, instead of cramming all your home’s upkeep into a one-week-long spree, create a workable, seasonal cleaning and maintenance list that will keep your home clutter-free and running smoothly all year long.

Keeping a seasonal maintenance list makes maintenance more affordable, far less overwhelming, and keeps you informed of potential issues before they become acute problems (and major financial headaches). Follow this easy guide to annual home maintenance and cleaning, and sleep easy knowing that your home is in the best shape it can be all year long.

Winter

Your winter maintenance inspection should be all about keeping your home warm on the inside and protected on the outside. Even in Arizona, the winter season can be harsh on your home, and no one wants to be tasked with having to make emergency home repairs during these cold months.

Have your furnace inspected by a professional and be sure to change all air filters, so they are dust and debris-free

Wrap exterior pipes to prevent them from freezing and cracking or bursting
Check your indoor fireplace flue and if need be, call a professional
Turn off outside water spigots and detach hoses
Test all smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries and replace them as necessary
Inspect your doorways and windows for drafts and seal any leaks
Clean gutters of all debris and autumn leaf buildup
Inspect fire extinguisher and replace or recharge
Cleaning your home in the winter is just as important as any other time of year, and it can help reduce the amount of clutter in your home and your closets too.
Put all gardening tools away to keep them from developing rust
Put summer clothes in storage bags or boxes to keep them fresh
Clean refrigerator coils
Clean oven range hood filter
Add rubber mats to your entryways to prevent winter slush and mud from entering your home
Clean your windows and seal them up afterward

Spring

As the season changes, your house will go through some growing pains as it adjusts to new temperatures.

Inspect and vacuum your dryer hose for lint and debris buildup
Clean your gutters and eaves and inspect for holes or damage that may have developed over the winter
Inspect driveways and sidewalks for any cracks in concrete or foundation
Check the roof for any damage, loose shingles, or holes
Change furnace filters
Inspect caulking in bathrooms and around sinks for cracking or corrosion
Spring cleaning checklists abound on the internet, but many of those lists focus on surface cleaning and organizing. Spring is the perfect time to deep clean your home and keeps it clean for months.
Open up your windows and air out your home
Scrub down and wax kitchen cabinet doors to keep them supple and sparkling
Clean out the pantry and check for infestations and insects that may be hiding in your dry goods
Deep clean your dishwasher
Change out your bedding and store your winter bedding in sealed vacuum bags or lidded boxes
Flip your mattress
Wipe down your walls to keep your paint looking fresh
Clean the outside of your windows and remove any winter residue

Summer

Summertime is all about relaxing and getting into the swing of being outdoors again, but it’s also time to check your home for major maintenance issues that can be very costly down the line.

Change the filters on your air conditioning unit and make sure your AC is clean
Clean refrigerator coils
Inspect and replace or paint trim
Check and replace washing machine hoses
Clean and lubricate sliding door tracks
Check batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
Utilize the fresh outdoor air to make cleaning your home a breeze. Summertime is idyllic for airing out your furniture and making everything smell fresh and clean.
Prepare your patio and deck furniture for the company
Inspect your property for insect nests and anthills
Disinfect garbage disposal
Clean and deodorize garbage pails
Clean house with a garage sale

Fall

Fall maintenance is often neglected, but with Tucson’s monsoon season wetting everything down for months at a time, you need to keep up your home maintenance game.

Inspect your roof for leaks and damaged or lose tiles
Clean and clear gutters of falling leaves and ensure proper drainage during rainstorms
Repair any cracks in your driveway or on sidewalks
Inspect doorway seals and doorknobs and repair any loose fixtures
Inspect and replace outdoor light bulbs and fixtures
Fall is one of the dirtiest times of year in Arizona, when everything from blowing dust to falling leaves finds its way into your home, making your normally clean spaces dirt magnets.
Have your carpets professionally cleaned
Polish silverware in preparation for the holidays
Wash your curtains
Clean ceiling fans
Prepare your garden for winter