Spring Cleaning for Home Safety
March
Spring
Cleaning for Home Safety
The flowers
start blooming, the birds are singing, and you can finally open your windows
for some fresh air. While we all may be
familiar with the standard spring cleaning checklist, what about Spring
Cleaning for Home Safety? Here are a few
reminders to bring your house safely out of the winter blues.
-
Deep clean your dryer. You probably clean your lint trap after every
load, but what about the lint that’s accumulating inside your dryer that you
can’t see? FIRST, unplug your dryer and
pull it away from the wall. You can use
your hose attachment to vacuum the lint trap inlet and vent pipe as well as
underneath the dryer. Wipe down the
dryer and wash the lint filter with dish soap and water if it appears clogged.
-
Replace your furnace filter. It’s recommended to replace your furnace filter
every six months and a good schedule to fall into is during the spring and
fall. While doing this go ahead and
vacuum up any dust or debris that has accumulated around the furnace as this
may be flammable. Also, don’t forget to
have your furnace tuned up annually! A
professional inspection can detect any cracks in the heat exchange that could
potentially release carbon monoxide into your home.
-
Inspect and maintain your smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors. Dusting them
with a dry cloth will decrease the dust buildup. Also, checking the test button and replacing
batteries. Double check the expiration
dates as well and replace the whole unit if it’s expired.
-
Inspect for mold. This is especially true in bathrooms and
kitchens. If you are able to check in
the attic as well. If mold is left to
spread, it can cause serious respiratory health problems. You can clean mold with bleach, but make sure
to find the cause of the mold and have any issues repaired.
-
Schedule a chimney inspection. If your house has a fireplace you should have
it inspected and swept annually. This
simple practice can prevent fires, carbon monoxide accidents and structural problems.
-
Do a general visual inspection of
your home. Take a walk around the
outside and inside and look for anything out of the normal. On the outside look for new cracks, moisture
stains, peek at your gutters, tree branches that may over hang on your
house. On the inside again look for
cracks, moisture stains, check extension cords and fire extinguishers to ensure
they are not expired.
Spring
cleaning is not just pulling out the cleaner and broom, it’s taking the time to
ensure your home is safe as well. Spring
cleaning is a big job, but owning a safe home will give you piece of mind.