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Quick spring-cleaning checklist

In the middle of cleaning and want a quick glance at what should be on your list? Check out the list below. For more in-depth information, keep reading!  

Inside your home: 

• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 

• Clean the inside of windows 

• Organize room by room 

• Clean your washer and dryer 

Outside your home:

• Clean gutters and downspouts 

• Wash exterior windows 

• Organize your garage 

• Clean up yard debris 

What is spring cleaning?

Spring-cleaning is the idea of starting fresh with the new season. Winter in Indiana is known for being brutal, leaving snow, grime, dirt and a huge mess throughout our yards, garages and homes. That is why when you see the sunshine and warmer weather, it may be a good time to grab your cleaning supplies and begin dusting off for spring.    

When to start spring cleaning?   

There is not an exact date to begin spring-cleaning, you can do it whenever you find time in your schedule. Spring-cleaning can sound like a chore, but the more people you get to help you, the quicker the cleaning goes!    

  
A good time to start is March 20, the first day of spring! But if you’re reading this after March 20, any time can be the perfect time to begin the cleaning process. Spring-cleaning is supposed to be a renewing process following the transition from winter to spring. Although you may not feel so renewed while cleaning the gutters or sweeping the dirt and other residues from the garage floor, take it as a time to start fresh.    

  
Make the process as fun as you want it to be. In fact, make spring-cleaning a party weekend! Choose an upcoming weekend with a clear forecast and plan a weekend spring-cleaning party. Create a playlist, buy snacks and drinks for your cleaning helpers, and make it a weekend to enjoy.    

Tips for cleaning and maintenance inside your home:   

1. Plan and organize the cleaning process.  If you are anxious that there may be too much to clean throughout your home, create a plan and get organized before you start cleaning. This can help reduce stress, make the task manageable and keep you on track to get the job done. If your family is going to assist in the cleaning process, assign everyone a different task or room so they can stay focused. An eco-friendly spring-cleaning tip is using washable rags or cutting up an old tT-shirt to clean with instead of using paper towels. Also, make sure to recycle while cleaning. If you empty a bottle of cleaner, rinse it out, dry it and place it in the recycling bin to help the planet stay clean, too!    

2. Clean room by room. Not only does cleaning room by room help with organization and planning, but it also can make things go more smoothly. Grab two different colors of sticky notes and have one color represent “dirty” and one color marked “clean.” On each door or entryway, place the corresponding note to show whether the room has been cleaned or not. This will help track the progress you have made and make cleaning more interactive.    

3. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. On March 8 of this year, we spring our clocks forward for  daylight saving time (DST) in Indiana to get an extra hour of sunlight in the evening. According to the  American Red Cross, DST can serve as the perfect time to check to see if your smoke detectors are working. If you didn’t make the change when you adjusted your clocks, spring-cleaning is also a great time to check. Check all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly and have fully charged batteries.     

4. Clean the inside of your windows. If you want to see the bright sunshine stream through the windows of your home, grab a bottle of window cleaner and scrub the inside of each window. Not only will this increase the amount of natural light that enters your home, but it will also keep your windows in great shape throughout the years.    

5. Clean your washer and dryer. Cleaning videos have become a viral phenomenon on many social media platforms. The videos consist of average people showing their cleaning routines for unique or hard to clean places throughout their homes. How do you clean your washer and dryer? Simply look online to learn how to do it. A wide variety of self-made videos will pop up demonstrating how you can clean the inside and outside of your washer and dryer, for example.    

Tips for cleaning and maintenance outside your home:   

1. Clean the outside of your windows. Now that you cleaned the inside of your windows, it’s time to clean the outside of them, too. This will help provide natural light inside and keep the windows in excellent condition.    

2. Clean your house’s gutters. This is a job for an experienced adult or hired professional because it may involve a ladder and skillful access to your home’s roof. When your gutters and downspouts contain leaves, branches and debris, the gutters can get blocked. This blockage could result in water damage to the interior and exterior of your home. If you don’t feel comfortable climbing a ladder to clean your gutters yourself, do not hesitate to call a qualified, licensed and insured company near you to help with this spring-cleaning task! 

3. Organize and clean your garage. This spring is the perfect time to open your garage door, sweep out the dust and organize clutter throughout the space. Did your workbench become the “put everything on this bench” pile? If so, go through the pile of stuff and find a home for it. If you do not need something, donate it to a local charity or thrift shop or toss it.    

4. Clean up your yard. After months of winter weather, your yard may not be in the best shape. There are many ways to clean your yard after winter. Pick up the debris that has accumulated during the season, such as sticks, branches, leaves, trash and, yes worst of all, pet droppings. If this is your least favorite part of the cleaning process, you may need to pull out a bribe for this one. Tell your kids you will buy them pizza for dinner, or that they will get an extra hour of screen time after cleaning this weekend. Whatever works for you, make it as fun as possible!    

5. Dispose of extra pinecones or create a DIY project. There are many eco-friendly spring-cleaning tips out there, but one that you may not think of is what to do with your pinecones. Activities to do with pinecones include making bird feeders, adding them to your compost pile, using them as mulch throughout your landscaping or creating DIY projects with your children!    

    

Additional spring-cleaning tips for homeowners   

If you are a homeowner, you know you need a quality   homeowners insurance policy. Homeowners policies help protect your home and valuables from the unexpected. Purchasing dwelling, personal property and liability coverage will help protect your home, your stuff and your assets. Don’t forget to regularly review your policy with an insurance agent to be sure you’re not missing anything.  

If you want additional protection for your home and other belongings,  Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance offers optional coverages and endorsements that you can purchase for extra peace of mind.    

FIND AN AGENT 

Decluttering tips from United Way of Central Indiana   

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is proud of our long-term partnership with United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI). UWCI’s vision is that central Indiana will be a community where children, individuals and families thrive.   

Having an organized, decluttered home can help improve our quality of life. UWCI is generously sharing two webinar videos that include helpful tips to better organize your life.