How to Declutter, Clean and Refresh Your Home for Spring

family doing laundry

family doing laundry

family doing laundry

As the winter chill fades and the days grow longer, early spring is the perfect time to tackle any home updates and maintenance tasks you ignored during the colder months. Whether you’re deep cleaning, organizing, or making small upgrades, a little effort now can set the stage for a more comfortable, stress-free home all year long. Let’s dive into the key areas of your home that deserve some extra attention this season.

Show your HVAC system some love

Schedule seasonal check-ups: Hire professional maintenance for your heating and cooling systems at least once a year, ideally before home cooling season begins. Regular servicing ensures your AC will run efficiently and can extend its lifespan. Your annual tune-up is your best opportunity to catch small problems before they become more expensive or harder to handle.

Focus on your filters: Replace HVAC filters monthly to maintain air quality and system performance.

If you want to give your AC a break before it gets truly hot, reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to cool your home using less energy. Fans should rotate counterclockwise during warm weather to create a cooling downdraft.

Deep clean your appliances

Refrigerator refresh: Every few months, remove and wash all the shelves and bins with warm, soapy water. Wipe down the inside of your fridge, paying special attention to door seals. Don't forget to clean behind and underneath the fridge, including the coils to boost efficiency.

Washing machine wellness: Ever notice mold or a musty smell? Run an empty hot water cycle with white vinegar to eliminate residue and odors. Once the cycle has agitated for several minutes, hit pause and let the vinegar solution sit for about an hour. Give the door gasket and dispensers a frequent wipe-down to keep them mold-free.

Dryer duty: Remove as much lint and dust as possible from all accessible areas of the dryer, starting with your lint filter. Remove and wash your lint filter in hot, soapy water using a nylon bristle brush. Inspect the vent hose for lint buildup. A vacuum attachment or appliance brush can make this job easier. This improves performance and efficiency and also reduces fire hazards.

Maintain your home's exterior

Landscape lookout: Overgrown trees and bushes may offer a sense of privacy, but they can also be a hotspot for pests and create potential hazards. Trim trees and bushes in the late winter or early spring to prevent overgrowth and maintain the integrity of your home's exterior.

Roof and gutter care: Inspect your roof for missing shingles and clean gutters to prevent water damage. The rainy season can bring clogged gutters, which can allow rainwater to pool against the edge of your roof, potentially causing damage and contributing to leaks. If you’re not comfortable performing these tasks, reach out for professional help!

Deep clean your windows: Before you open up your windows, make sure you’re letting in clean air through those screens. Start by removing your screens and gently wiping them down with a damp cloth. Use glass cleaner to clean both sides, making sure to wipe down the window well and frame. If you have second-story or hard-to-reach windows, consider hiring a professional to do the work.

Prioritize Safety

Alarm awareness: Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, replacing batteries as needed. The detectors themselves also have expiration dates – look for a sticker on the back to find this information.

Clean vents and air ducts: Heating season can circulate dust through your ductwork and vents, and if you have pets, ducts may also collect hair and dander. Vacuum and wipe down your vent covers by using a vacuum attachment to clean inside the duct near the vent opening. If your ducts are especially dirty, it may be time to invest in a professional duct cleaning.

With these helpful home maintenance tips, you can keep your home feeling fresh and your appliances running more efficiently with little effort. For help with more complex repairs, shop our protection plans and choose the coverage that’s right for you.

Terms and conditions contained in the protection plans may limit our contract obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions, and our cash back offer. View plan details for more information.

Terms, conditions, and other restrictions

*Repair claims are limited to $500 per service call and $2,000 per plan in the aggregate per plan term. Plans are provided by NRG Protects Inc. Independent contractors will be performing various services under the plans. In some instances we may make a cash payment in lieu of repairs or replacement in the amount of actual cost, which may be less than retail, to repair or replace any covered system, component, or appliance.

**If your authorized repair technician determines that the water heater is deemed irreparable, we will give you a credit of $500 towards a replacement water heater by your authorized repair technician.

Once repair plans commence, there is a 30-day waiting period before you may request services for a claim. Unless the plan provider elects not to renew the plan, upon expiration of the first year, the plan will automatically renew at the standard rate and terms unless you opt out of the auto-renewal option in writing by mail at P.O. Box 2309, Houston, TX 77252- 2309, by email at cancel@nrgprotects.com or by calling us at 1.855.241.9094. Sales tax will be added in select states.

This is a summary of what the provider will and will not cover under the plan, and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the plan. The Terms and Conditions may limit the provider's contractual obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions and any cash-back option available under the plan. Please refer to the Sample Terms & Conditions for details.