How to guides

5 maintenance jobs to prepare your home for the Spring

As the cold, winter months come to an end, your home is no-doubt ready for a Spring spruce-up. Try these 5 simple maintenance jobs to ensure everything in your property is clean, tidy and in good working order, just in time for the new season.

Hallway

1. Check your gutters and drains

Falling leaves and debris can gather in your gutters during the colder months, so it’s a good idea to give them a clean when it’s warm enough to get outside. For a thorough inspection and deep clean, it’s best to hire a professional who specialises in gutters and drains. If you prefer the DIY option, you’ll need an extendable ladder and a plastic scoop. Make sure your ladder is secure and when you’re at the top, scoop out the leaves and let them drop down to the garden below.

Once the leaves are cleared, take your garden hose up and give the gutters a wash. At this stage, you’ll be able to see if there are any blockages in the downpipes. If you spot a blockage, try feeding the hosepipe into the pipe to clear it. If that doesn’t work, remove sections of the downpipe, starting from the ground up until you can remove the blockage. Then reattach the pipes in the same order.
 
External

2. Tidy the garden

Now is the time to get your garden borders ready for the new season. If you’ve avoided cutting back plants to provide food and shelter for winter wildlife, you can give everything a trim in early spring. Remove leaves and debris from your beds and borders and add them to your compost bin (if you have one). Finally, boost your soil by adding a layer of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost.

As well as repairing any winter damage to your fences, shed or greenhouse, it’s also a good idea to clean, sand and oil any wooden furniture to ensure it’s in tip-top condition for the summer months. Choose a solvent-free oil and use a paintbrush to apply it to the wood, then leave your furniture in the shade to dry for several hours.
 
Garden

3. Deep clean the hallway floor

Your home’s entrance bears the brunt of muddy boots and wet brollies during the winter months, and the floor could no doubt do with a freshen-up for spring. Hard flooring will benefit from a good vacuum and mop, as well as some spot cleaning with a wet sponge, while a deep clean will make a carpeted stairway look and smell wonderful. Here’s how to do the latter by hand…

Mix an eighth of a teaspoon of soap with water in a spray bottle and sprinkle baking soda and salt over the carpet. Now spray the soapy water over the carpet and leave it to soak in for a few minutes. Move a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush over the carpet in one direction to accumulate most of the dirt. Then do the same in the opposite direction to cover every angle. Soak up the water by pressing a towel into the carpet, then leave to dry. Spray again with regular tap water and press the towel into the carpet once more to dry. 
 
Hallway

4. Clean your bathroom extractor fan

That nifty piece of kit in your bathroom that prevents damp and mould will be far less useful if it gets too dirty, so a regular clean is essential. Before you get started, make sure you’ve turned off the mains power switch. Unscrew the cover and lift or slide it off, then leave it to soak in a container of soapy water. Clean inside the extractor unit with a duster, followed by a cloth and soapy water. Allow it all to dry before replacing the cover.
Bathroom

5. Add shine to your windows

It’s amazing what a difference clean windows can make to the light levels in your home, so prepare for spring sunshine by giving your glazing a wash. For the external surfaces, a professional window cleaner should get them shining, while you can concentrate on the inside. 

Make your own window cleaning solution by adding two teaspoons of white vinegar or washing-up liquid to a small bucket of water, then use this to wash both the frames and glazing. With a microfibre cloth, wipe the solution over the glass with an S-shape movement to ensure you’ve covered all areas. Wipe away the water with a squeegee and remove any excess water streaks by using a dry microfibre cloth or some scrunched-up newspaper.
 
Lounge