The Californian winters may not be the harshest in terms of the cold, but they do make it difficult for residents to keep their doors and windows open. It’s only when the winters make way for spring that people feel confident about opening their doors and windows to let some fresh air in after a fair few months.
However, as the fresh air makes its way in, it unsettles the dust that’s accumulated inside over the winter months. As a result, the dust keeps swirling inside and the people exposed to it find themselves, all of a sudden, at a high risk of developing seasonal allergies. So, what do you do to steer clear of those nasty allergies? The answer is spring cleaning.
You might be tempted to skip spring cleaning if you had your home thoroughly cleaned just before or during winter. However, while spring cleaning isn’t compulsory, there are a few telltale signs you should look out for – signs that are surefire indicators that your home needs to be cleaned again. In this post, we’ll take you through all those signs, one by one. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Clogged drains
Most people don’t spare much thought for their drains when it comes to spring cleaning, but the fact is that clogged drains need to be dealt with. If dust and debris settle in the drains, it’s not just the drainage that becomes inefficient. In such a situation, the chances of unsanitary water standing for longer periods go up significantly. Unsanitary water, apart from posing a variety of health risks, can also stain the surfaces of your bathroom fixtures.
2. Cloudy windows
If your windows are clean, you shouldn’t have any problem seeing through them. But if they’re cloudy, seeing through them would be next to impossible. Cloudy windows suggest an excessive accumulation of dust and you’d need to get them properly cleaned before you open them up for the months of spring. Not cleaning your windows before opening them would increase the chances of more dust being blown into your house, and that’s something you should definitely try and avoid.
3. Dim lighting
When there’s an excessive build-up of dust on your lighting fixtures, there’s a high chance of them becoming inefficient in terms of illuminating the various rooms inside your property. If you suddenly experience the lighting in your home becoming dimmer as the days pass, it suggests the fixtures are getting dirtier. Not cleaning these fixtures going into spring and then summer would undoubtedly be a mistake. This is because the wind from outside as well as the air circulated by your ceiling fans would loosen some of the dust and make it swirl around the house.
4. Fur from pets everywhere
Pets tend to shed some of their fur during the winter months. While this is a natural process that allows their bodies to adapt to seasonal changes, it can be problematic for their owners. If you notice your pet’s furs here, there, and everywhere within your house, you’ve got to take action. The fur that your pet sheds may result in allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe. So, if your furry friend has been shedding recently, get your home spring-cleaned without a second thought.
5. Dirty appliances
Spring cleaning doesn’t just involve cleaning the walls, floors, and furniture of your property – it’s also about cleaning all the major appliances that you run on a daily basis. When excessive dirt builds up on the surfaces of your appliances, it looks bad and can have adverse health consequences as well. The functioning of your appliances may be adversely affected too. For example, a dirty refrigerator can seriously take away from the overall look and feel of your kitchen. If the dirt makes its way to the insides of the refrigerator, its electrical components may be damaged as well.
6. Empty bottles and containers
Some people have the habit of keeping empty bottles and containers in the hopes of using them in the future to store various items. However, too many of them indicate a problem. If you’re one of those people, we recommend either disposing of some of them or keeping them all well-cleaned regularly. After all, the more objects there are in your home, the higher the chances are of them attracting excess dust and dirt.
So, if you see these signs, don’t ignore them. Letting them linger would only increase the risks of developing health issues. For the most effective spring cleaning, we recommend getting in touch with professional house cleaners. While there’s no reason why you can’t spring clean on your own, it’s better to let the professionals do it as they have the experience and the right equipment to get the job done thoroughly. With a thorough spring clean, you can expect your house to remain free of excess dirt and dust, at least until the next winter comes along.