Interior spring home maintenance checklist

SPRINGTIME CLEANING

Detailed springtime household cleaning can rid the home of dust, mites, and allergens that may have accumulated over the cold months.

• Use a duster or a vacuum to clean trim and moulding such as chair rails and window casings.
• Clean dust from the tops of wall-mounted cabinets and ceiling fans. Place ceiling fan blades in the dishwasher to clean if removable.
• Take fabric draperies to a laundry mat or a dry cleaner to wash according to recommended cleaning instructions on the tag.
• Use a damp cloth to clean wood and vinyl blinds. Avoid adding soap to the mixture because it could leave a soapy film.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture and mattresses.
• For carpet cleaning, consider renting a professional carpet cleaner.
• In the kitchen, use warm water and a mild detergent to wash down cabinets, backsplashes, appliances, and the walls to remove grease residue.
• In the bathroom, clean off soap residue, mold, and mildew from all surfaces with a chemical formulated to remove bacteria and fungus.
• If needed, use a homeowner-grade acid etcher chemical to clean tile surfaces and grout lines from ground-in dirt, mold, and mildew.

Locate and eliminate toxic materials hidden within the home.
• Asbestos has been banned from new housing materials since 1972. Go through the home to look for areas where asbestos may be found. If there is a suspicious area and if in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional.

Do not disturb asbestos during renovation. Asbestos can be safely removed if the material is not friable. Friable asbestos includes cracking, chipping, and flaking. Friable asbestos must be removed by a professional.

Asbestos can be found in:

• steam pipes
• boilers
• furnace ducts
• resilient floor tiles
• the adhesive used for vinyl sheet flooring
• cement sheet
• millboard
• door gaskets
• soundproofing or decorative material
• patching and joint compound
• textured paints
• asbestos cement roofing
• shingles
• siding

 
• Lead has been banned from new housing materials since 1978. Most commonly found in paint or in the soils around a home, qualified professionals test for lead paint. Yet, identifying paint that was applied prior to 1978 is a considerable clue for the homeowner.

Avoid sanding and scraping paint that has lead. Rather, safely remove lead-based paint with a liquid paint stripper chemical, a HEPA face mask, and a vacuum with a HEPA filter. A safe alternative to removing lead-based paint on interior trim and walls is to paint over it with a special primer that seals the paint and tastes very bitter if a child were to begin to chew on a covered surface.

If lead is suspected or confirmed to be in the soil, avoid tracking the particles into the home.

Lead can be found in:

• paint,
• soils around the home,
• household dust,
• drinking water,
• old painted toys and furniture,
• food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.

• Mold is found in areas where there may be low ventilation and high humidity. Avoid mold growth by installing a hygrometer to monitor areas where the humidity level could cause mold to grow in the home. Install dehumidifiers in areas where humidity is above 55% and increase ventilation in those areas.

Clean mold with diluted bleach or soap and water, gloves, and a type N-95 respirator. Use borates on porous to clean surfaces such as wood. After cleaning, prevent further mold growth by coating surfaces with mold-resistant primer paint. Call a professional to remove mold if found within ductwork, carpet, and drywall.

Found in areas where humidity is above 60%; 
 

• commonly in attics,
• basements,
• poorly ventilated crawl spaces,
• walls,
• on the outside of houses,
• in carpets,
• inside ductwork
• bathrooms

REPAIRS

The kitchen is a highly-used room; therefore keep up with maintenance and repair that will prolong the life of the cabinets, countertops, and appliances.

• Check the cabinet doors and drawers for smooth operation, loose fasteners, and nicks that could be repaired.
• Take the time to evaluate the kitchen countertops for spots to remove. Apply a technique appropriate for the type of countertop. Some materials can be simply sanded while others need a combination of sanding and a new finish application.
• Clean the dust from refrigerator coils to maintain superior energy efficiency.
• Set the oven to its self-cleaning mode or use an oven cleaner. Prepare to offer plenty of ventilation for either method.
• An area that collects grease and dust, take apart the kitchen hood to soak the filter in a mild de-greaser detergent mix. Some filters can be put into the dishwasher; others are to be replaced regularly. Check to make sure the hood is drawing out air sufficiently.

Verify the bathrooms are both functional and safe.

• Slide the shower doors along the track to look for sticking, rust, and obstructions. Check the sliding door gaskets for gaps and tears. Replace and lubricate parts as necessary.
• Add anti-slip pads to the floor of the bathtub.

Check out the entire plumbing system; start from one end of the home and go through the entire system checking for leaks and signs of wear and tear.

• Note leaky faucets, pipes, and other plumbing fixtures.
• Climb through unfinished spaces and look below all fixtures for “sweaty” pipes. If pipes are sweating, add pipe insulation after wiping the pipes dry.
• Look for cracks on plumbing fixtures. Consider replacing the plumbing fixture or make plans for its replacement.
• Look inside the toilet tank to look for worn, rusty, and damaged parts. Replace the inside parts with a kit early the system fails and the water is left running without end.
• Treat clogged drains with a snake or chemicals. If the clog persists, consider hiring a professional as the pipes may be backed up much farther down in the system.
• Check the water pressure for the faucets and the shower heads. Clean out the fixtures if the pressure is low due to sediment buildup.
• Under the sinks, verify pipe connections are sealed tightly.
• Check for any leaking water around the dishwasher.
• In the laundry room, evaluate the washer machine hoses for cracks, connections to the spigots, bulges, and dampness.
• For water heaters, search for signs of corrosion and leaks. If the water heater is gas-powered, make sure the flame is blue as yellow indicates a problem with the jets.

Close out the fireplace safely and decoratively.

• Clean out the flue and the base of the fireplace after the home-warming season has passed.
• Enjoy the aesthetics of a fireplace by installing a new cover over the opening to protect children and pets from the space.

SPRINGTIME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IDEAS

Consider beginning new storage projects after cleaning throughout the home.

• Carve out a niche within an interior wall; line the inside with bead board and add shelves for a new storage space.
• Convert an under-used closet into a home office.
• Add floating shelves above the kitchen sink, on bathroom walls, above a doorway to display ceramics, near the TV in the living room, or even next to a bed for storing favorite night time books.
• Un-clutter a work bench with a simple pegboard rack and hooks fixed to the back wall.
• Build a custom tool bench for the garage.

Add decorative trim and moulding to complete the interior home design.

• Crown moulding can be added to any space, not simply to the living room and entrance hallway. Crown moulding can even be added to the tops of kitchen cabinets where there is space between the top and the ceiling.
• Paintable foam moulding is a lower cost alternative to wood. 
• Add stair bracket trim to a visible stairway.
• Apply chair rail trim to the lower 1/3 of a wall. Then, paint the wall above and below two different complementary colours. 
• Transform an ordinary light fixture by adding a ceiling medallion trim piece.

Improve the aesthetic appeal for the interior doors.

• Refinish hard wood doors.
• Change out hardware for new, contemporary options.

Change the decorative window coverings to freshen up the interior design and to cut down on energy utility bills.

• Interior wood shutters offer permanent shade and privacy. Shutters also fully open up the window to allow for maximum views and sunlight.
• Select new roman shades to replace older fabric curtains.
• Install energy-saving window treatments that limit the heat and coolness from transferring easily through the glass panes in and out of the home.
• Build a window seat in an alcove with storage underneath that would be perfect for a cozy reading spot.

Purchase a supplemental air conditioner unit in order to troubleshoot cooling needs for coming summer months.

• Install a supplemental air conditioner to cool a sleeping area rather than cooling the entire home.
• Look for areas that may need spot cooling.
• Install a window, through-the-wall, or portable supplemental air conditioner if needed.

The interior lighting and electrical design can be updated to suit the changing needs and moods for each area of the home.

• Replace flip light switch with dimmable switches especially for dining areas.
• Install floor outlets near home offices or other practical areas for convenience.
• Change out switch plates to update the interior decor. Contemporary brushed metal and stainless steel plates are available.
• Install recessed electronic outlets for flat screen televisions.
• Clean electrical heating devices such as baseboard heaters from dust buildup to prevent combustion.
• Install motion detector lighting so that the lights in the room will turn off naturally. Motion detector lighting is designed to save energy costs when installed indoors.