Spring Cleaning & Maintenance 2025
By Chris Petry
No one can say we didn’t have a winter this year. While temperatures were warmer than normal leading into the holiday season, the early days of January saw a complete turnaround in the forecast. For some, it was something of an overcorrection. While I love the snow and have thoroughly enjoyed the lazy evenings buried under a mountain of blankets with a book and cup of tea, I too have begun to look toward the Spring and the change of pace it brings. Least of all, the ability to get back outside and into nature.
Not so fast! Spring isn’t here yet dreamers. If you haven’t already Googled the date, however, we’re less than one month and counting. You know what that means: Spring cleaning and maintenance. Yes, yes, yes. Your time for making cold and snow-related excuses for your mountain of clutter is drawing short. Sure, there might be more inclement weather on the way outside yet, but why not go ahead and get a head start on the inside? Here’s what you can do.
Get the HVAC cleaned and inspected. The other day, I walked downstairs to throw over a load of laundry and noticed the old familiar whistle of an air filter clogged with dust and dirt. Oops! If you’re wondering whether you should change that filter more often during the winter, you’re not wrong. The furnace works more continuously than the AC and people and pets spend a lot more time inside, meaning more dust, dirt and debris makes its way into the filter. Now, can you imagine how much more has accumulated in the system itself? Call your preferred HVAC installation and repair and ask for a seasonal checkup & cleaning.
Organize closets, cabinets and drawers. I just spent the last few weekends organizing my kitchen drawers and it was nothing short of a revelation. Why did I think I’d need 4 whisks, 20 wooden spoons, 4 sets of dry measuring cups and 5 stock pots as a single person? The only thing they were doing was eating up space. Oh, and convincing the more-primitive less-ambitious part of my brain to delay doing the dishes because “there’s another clean whisk or two in the drawer!” Let’s just conclude my personal journey by saying, “I’m a lot happier with the state of my kitchen now!”
It's also time to rummage through your wardrobes, dressers and closets. In a few weeks, you’ll be tucking away the sweaters, coats and scarves so there’s no better time to take inventory. What did you wear this season? Well, if you didn’t add it to your rotation after nearly two months of snow, ice and rain this year, then it’s unlikely you’ll be doing so next year. Put it in the donation bin. Holes with socks? Ties with detached keeper loops? Shoes with soles that have been glued multiple times? Maybe it’s time you think about putting them to rest. By putting them to rest I mean putting them out with the trash.
Take stock of tools and lawn equipment. We’ve got a few weeks before we start firing up lawnmowers but if you put it in the shed back in the fall before replacing a blade, plugs or a new ripcord, take advantage of one of those upcoming 50-degree days to do that necessary maintenance. Why wait until it’s 90? Trimmer needs a new head? Replace it now. Chain saw needs a new blade or chain? Do it now.
Clean the dryer ventilation. Thousands of house fires, every year, are attributable to unmaintained dryers. If you think scraping the lint trap after a heavy load is enough, think again. You need to routinely disconnect the vent from the back of the dryer and clean it out. Check the external ventilation and ensure no lint has built up there either. Don’t overload the dryer and don’t use maximum heat if you don’t need to. Most things get plenty dry on low to medium heat, believe it or not. As a big band t-shirt guy, I say skip drying those entirely. Give them a slight stretch when you pull them from the dryer and place them on a drying rack. That is, if you’d like to make sure it doesn’t shrivel up and lose it’s print prematurely.
Check out the roof and gutters. Remember that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers?” Rain is likely on the way. If you’d prefer to keep your attic and basement dry, it’s a good idea to examine the roof and gutters for abnormalities, dings, build-up and other flaws to keep the rain outside and running away from the foundation. Don’t forget, they’ve had to deal with a lot of resting snow this year.
