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Spring … it comes around every year (thankfully!). And with all the buds, blooms, and bright colors comes an important home maintenance checklist. Cleaning, repairing, and upgrading your home will keep it running smoothly for years to come. Just as important, a well-maintained house and property is a draw for buyers if and when the time comes to put it on the market.
Add these tasks to your spring 2025 (and beyond) home maintenance checklist. |
| Inside |
| Spring cleaning is more than dusting, vacuuming, and throwing away junk that’s accumulated over the past year. Here are some inside tasks to add to your to-do list. |
| Windows and glass doors. Cloudy days are best to wash glass windows and doors because direct sunshine dries the cleaning solution too quickly, leaving streaks. Store-bought glass cleaning products or homemade solutions (1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup vinegar, distilled water) and a microfiber cloth get the job done. Wipe down window sills and glass door tracks. |
| Carpets and rugs. Ground-in dirt and pet hair add up throughout the year, and spring is the time for deep cleaning carpets and rugs. Hiring a professional is optimal, but you can rent a rug cleaner to do it yourself. |
| Woodwork and surface cleaning. Design woodwork, fireplace mantels, baseboards, ledges—clean areas anywhere dirt and grime can settle. Dig your way under appliances and furniture. Curtains, blinds, light fixtures, and ceiling fans get dusty, too. |
| While you’re in cleaning mode, hit the pantry, refrigerator, and oven. Clean those dusty refrigerator coils—it helps the unit use less energy. In the bathrooms, clean all sinks, tubs, toilets, and showers. On to the bedrooms—wash all bedding, move furniture for dusting and vacuuming, flip and reposition the mattresses. In the laundry room, clean the dryer vent thoroughly. |
| Indoor Inspections |
| Making sure everything works properly is a high priority for your home maintenance list.
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| Window screens. Window screens get dirty and grimy, especially after a rainy autumn and snowy winter. Clean window screens with a blast of soapy water—nozzle hoses and water pressure units are good for this. (Just make sure the soap is thoroughly rinsed out of the screens). Repair any holes (or replace the screens entirely). Be sure the screens are fully dry before reinstalling. (Tip: leaf blowers are helpful in removing loose dirt and drying the screens). |
| Drain the hot water heater. Cleaning out the tank prevents sediment build-up. |
| Furnace inspection and cleaning. This project is best done by a professional, but DIYers can change the filters. Furnace maintenance in the spring is the best time to do it so you don’t get stuck with a broken furnace come winter. |
| Air conditioner. This project is also best suited for a professional HVAC technician. If you didn’t have this done over the fall or winter, do it now. Don’t wait until summer’s heat to find out the AC is on the fritz. |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test the alarms and replace batteries at least every six months. (Tip: Write the dates on masking tape attached to the batteries). Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can save your life. |
| Leak detection. Moisture can get into a home’s foundation. A musty, moldy smell indicates the possibility of leaks in the floor, ceiling, or walls. Sink areas may have wetness, especially in the bathrooms and kitchen. Check for wetness around the dishwasher, refrigerator, toilets, bathtubs, and water heater. |
| Weather stripping protects doors and windows from air that comes in and leaks out. |
| Outdoors |
| Yearly outdoor home maintenance keeps the house in good shape. Add these tasks to the checklist. |
| Gutter cleaning and inspection. Cleaning gutters safely is a chore to do in the spring and fall. Gutters get clogged with leaves, tree limbs, bird droppings, and flying debris from windy days. |
| Home foundation inspection. Check out the base of the house—look for water damage, cracks, bulging, and buckling. A shifting foundation and crumbling chimneys are jobs for masonry experts. While you’re at it, check out the patio and deck for rotten or warped wood, or cracked cement. Clean out all vents. |
| Exteriors. Check out the home’s exterior for anything that looks out of place. Vinyl or aluminum siding may get broken or cracked. Wooden trim may need a fresh coat of paint. Replace any damaged Hardie Plank pieces. |
| Lawn Equipment. Spruce up the mower by cleaning or changing the spark plugs, charging batteries, sharpening blades, replacing oil, inflating tires, and greasing up what needs to be greased. Keep it simple; find a go-to place for mower and yard care parts. Speaking of yard care, prune up the trees and shrubs near the house to keep them from damaging nearby windows and the roof. Test lawn sprinklers and replace holey hoses. |
| More Outdoor Tasks |
| Remove standing water to discourage mosquitoes and other insects from breeding. Dry areas that are prone to mold. |
| Look for termites; they are most active in the spring. If you find signs of termite infestation, it’s time to call a professional exterminator. |
| Get ready to fire up the grill! Check out all hoses, connections, and propane (if it’s a gas grill) to be sure there are no cracks or leaks. Scrub the racks. |
| No matter what time of year, putting off home maintenance projects could end up costing you big bucks later on. Set up that spring maintenance schedule today and start ticking off the projects. A little attention now could save some big expensive headaches down the road. |
Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table. |
| Photo By: Polina Tankilevitch |