Whether you’re still picking up pine needles and tinsel from the holidays, or just bored from being cooped up inside all winter long, you may want to consider a mid-winter deep clean of your home. Not only will it feel good to clean up the space, but it’ll help get rid of some of the wintertime germs that may be trapped and floating around your home.
Here are a few ways to keep your home tidy and germ-free throughout the winter this year.
5 Home Cleaning Tips for Your Mid-Winter Deep Clean
1. Change your air filters
If you haven’t changed your HVAC air filters in the last three months, now’s the time to do it. If you don’t, your system will be sending dust and grime back out into the air you breathe in all winter long.
Winter Home Maintenance Tip:
If your filters are in great shape but the house just isn’t staying warm, try sealing up windows with caulk or weather stripping to trap warm air inside.
2. Disinfect carpets
Steam cleaning your carpets can help you stay healthy through the winter and extend the life of your carpet as well. You can rent a steam cleaner at your local hardware store for around $30.
And don’t worry about opening the windows afterward – because your home’s air is warmer and usually drier in the wintertime, the moisture from your cleaned carpets will dissipate more easily into the air. With the help of a fan or two in the room, you won’t have to worry about mildew developing.
3. Wipe down furniture
Keep winter germs off your couch, coffee table, and other furniture with a quick wipe down.
Leather furniture can be vacuumed with a soft brush attachment and then wiped down with a damp cloth using an equal-parts mixture of water and white vinegar.
Wood furniture or ceiling fans can be wiped down using a two-to-one mixture of water and white vinegar (a few drops of dish soap can be added if needed).
4. De-grease the oven
If your oven got a lot of use over the holidays, there may be grease or burnt food on the inside. Give it a thorough cleaning to keep it working properly and safely.
Cleaning your oven can prevent fire hazards and make your oven work better. Most ovens come with a self-cleaning feature, but you can also scrub your oven down with different mixtures.
5. Sweep the chimney
There are over 25,000 chimney fires per year in the United States, with the majority being caused by a build up of creosote over the years. That’s why cleaning your fireplace chimney is a must to keep your home safe this winter.
If you’re noticing more smoke than usual when you light your fires, you may have an issue with your damper, or need to have the chimney professionally cleaned. Chimney sweeping is not a DIY job, so always call a professional to take care of it.
Need help with winter maintenance?
Call the home experts at Handyman Connection
Call Handyman Connection today. We’re a general handyman services company offering a variety of services – including snow removal – to help maintain and repair your home all winter long.
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