While spring may be the traditional season for deep cleaning, the cold winter months are a perfect time to invest in your home’s cleaning and maintenance. With more days spent inside, you might really notice those dust bunnies or cobwebs hiding in the stairway! Even new construction homes like the sparkling models offered by Shea Homes® need some upkeep: With regular maintenance and cleaning, you can avoid costly repairs later and keep your home comfortable, efficient, and cozy all year long.
The new year is a time for new beginnings, so try rearranging your living room or bedroom furniture to align your space’s feng shui. Just like a new furniture arrangement can reinvigorate rooms, a new floor or table lamp can shed new light over a familiar space. While you’re moving your sofa or a side table, take the opportunity to vacuum carpets or mop hardwood floors. Though it’s a laborious task, cleaning a room’s baseboards contributes greatly to making the room appear neat and tidy. Protip: Use your vacuum’s brush attachment or a sponge dipped in a mixture of water and dish soap.
Winter is the ideal time to swap out some vital components of your home’s heating and cooling systems. Inspect the air conditioning unit in your home: Be sure to change your filters throughout the home and use your vacuum to clear out any accumulated dust and grime. Your chimney requires regular maintenance too, but that’s best left to the professionals — inspect your chimney for signs of damage or backup and schedule a technician to keep it efficient and clear of clogs.
Though disasters like fires or carbon monoxide leaks are incredibly rare, it’s safer to prepare for the worst. Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure that you have several working fire extinguishers located throughout the home. Create an emergency preparedness plan with your family covering where to meet, where emergency supplies are located, and how your household members will communicate in case of emergency.
Your kitchen can harbor hidden dust and grime — and holiday meals can add additional mess. To keep your kitchen clean and shining, follow a few easy maintenance steps. Empty cabinets and pantry shelves and clean them thoroughly. Scrub your countertops and inside your oven — baking soda and vinegar make an easy DIY oven cleaner, so no need to buy additional cleaning supplies. Wipe down fridge shelves and drawers and throw out expired or unnecessary pantry or refrigerated items — no more mystery leftovers in the freezer!
Your kitchen’s garbage disposal can harbor food debris and gunk, so keep it sparkling by pouring in half a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar to trigger the cleaners’ chemical reaction. Leave for three minutes, then flush with hot water. To finish, add two cups of ice and let your disposal work its magic until all ice is ground up.
Winter and spring snows can add stress to your home’s exterior. Be sure to prevent leaks and energy inefficiency by trimming tree branches that hang close to your home, clearing leaf debris and blockages from gutters, and checking your window screens for rips or holes. Seal gaps in windows or siding with plastic, caulking, or weather strips to prevent heat from leaking out.
With a little TLC, you can keep your home comfortable and cozy for the next calendar year. Spots like your kitchen, flooring, and home’s exterior require a little more maintenance, but these easy steps can forestall trouble down the road. To find your perfect home fit, check out our special Colorado communities and view our available homes today!