MAINTAINING a healthy home goes beyond dusting and vacuuming. When is the last time you cleaned your gutters? How about the last time you cleaned out your dryer vent? Follow the tips below to make sure your family and home are ready for a happy, clean spring season.
Clean gutters
Grab a ladder, and check your gutters for debris. Remove as much as you can with your hands (Don’t forget to wear gloves!). Remove any leftover gunk with a garden hose.
Scrub walls, baseboards and outlets
Scrub all the walls — in the bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms and living areas — with a sponge or brush and mild soap and water. This includes baseboards and outlets. Make sure to completely dry outlet covers before replacing.
Replace filters
Replace all filters including water, range hood and air vent filters. You should replace these filters every three to six months depending on the type of filter you have.
Clean faucets and showerheads
Unscrew the faucet aerators, sink sprayers and showerheads and soak them in equal parts vinegar and water solution. Let them soak for an hour, then rinse with warm water.
Clean out the dryer vent
A clogged dryer vent can be a fire hazard. To clean it, disconnect the vent from the back of the machine and use a dryer vent brush to remove lint. Outside your house, remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove lint from the other end of the vent line. Make sure the vent cover flap moves freely.
