Every season brings its own challenges, whether it’s springtime pollen sneaking indoors, summer humidity causing grime buildup, or winter making indoor air feel stale and dusty. Knowing how to adjust your cleaning focus as the seasons change can save you time, protect your home, and even improve your family’s well-being.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what really matters for your home in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Think of it as a practical, season-by-season tune-up with a few helpful tips you might not have thought about before.
Focusing on Allergy Control, Especially in Spring Months
Spring means pollen, and even if you keep your windows closed, it finds its way inside. Dusting surfaces once or twice per week, vacuuming with a HEPA filter, and replacing HVAC filters are key to reducing allergens.
- Pay special attention to window tracks and screens, which trap pollen and dust but often go unnoticed.
- Note that air filters may clog up much faster this time of year, so even if a filter says it’s normally good for 2-3 months, you may find that you need to change it every month during yellow season.
- Use a damp sponge or cloth when dusty to prevent stirring it back up into the air. Otherwise, it can aggravate your airways while cleaning and end up resettling the same dust again.
- Make sure your air filters are high efficiency, rated MIRV 11-13, so they are effective in stripping allergens from your circulated air.
- Turn off your ceiling fans and clean thoroughly with a damp cloth. You’ll find a lot of dust collects here, and the fan blows parts of it around the room if left to accumulate.
- Wash your curtains at least once per year to remove dust,
- Pet care tip: Wipe down pets with a damp cloth as they come back indoors to cut down on the pollen they bring in with them.
- Mattress & upholstery: Vacuum soft surfaces periodically, since they can trap pollen and dust in the fabric.
These small changes add up as part of a weekly routine during the height of pollen season.
Combating Moisture and Mold From Winter
Winter’s cold air can leave behind hidden moisture, especially around windows, in basements, and near HVAC vents. Spring is the ideal time to check for mildew or mold starting to form in these spots. A thorough cleaning now can prevent bigger (and more expensive) problems later.
- Begin by drying any damp areas with a microfiber cloth, or a shammy cloth. You can finish by wiping it with a paper towel.
- For wood floors, let the surface dry thoroughly, and optionally revisit it with a wax treatment to help seal and protect the surface from further moisture. This helps prevent mold and rotting in the material.
- If the area stays dry after that, great. Otherwise, if the area continuously gets damp, we recommend getting a dehumidifier for that area to mitigate moisture.
- If you keep noticing musty odors from air vents, it’s time to call a professional.
Include a diluted vinegar cleaner: For small mold spots on non-porous surfaces like windowsills or tile, you can create a mix of 1:1 vinegar and water. Spray it onto the mold and let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe clean.
Mold versus water stains: Sometimes water stains can look like mold. Discolorations can even be dust build up. If it feels fuzzy, smells musty, or comes back repeatedly, it’s probably mold.
Prepping for Summer’s Humidity
Spring is also a smart time to tackle tasks that get harder once summer heat and humidity kick in. Grout lines in bathrooms and kitchens can accumulate grime over winter. Cleaning and sealing them now helps prevent mold growth when humidity rises.
- Drain and vent checkup: Check your exhaust fans, especially in bathrooms, to make sure they’re flowing correctly. These control humidity, and if they are dirty or clogged it can affect air flow (and air quality).
- A simple mixture of warm water and dish soap in a spray bottle is a great place to start. Spray generously around grimy areas and let the soap sit for a few minutes.
- You can then use a plastic wire brush to gently scrub the grout. (Don’t use a metal wire brush or it could damage the grout.)
- After the grime comes off, rinse the tile with warm water.
- For tougher grout stains, you can use tile cleaners with bleach. Let the spray sit on the grout for 5-10 minutes, then gently scrub off and rinse with warm water.
If you use bleach cleaners: Let the area dry completely. Then optionally apply a grout sealer to protect against future stains. (Especially in bathrooms and kitchens.)
This is a good preventative measure for any grout, but especially if you’ve had a remodel done in the last year or so.
Small Touches That Make a Big Difference:
- Clean ceiling fans every month or two. A surprising amount of dust can settle here, and the fan’s motion can spread it through the air.
- Baseboards and molding: These areas are known dust collectors because of their proximity to the floor. Build up can discolor the baseboards over time, which creates additional maintenance.
- Freshen up outdoor entryways (think mudrooms or porches) that saw heavy use during colder months.