Spring Cleaning: Prepare Your Home for Summer

By: Alicia Schuller, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

It seems as though summer will never arrive with all of the rain and cold we have had over the past few days. However the old adage, 'April showers bring May flowers', reminds us that if we can just endure it a little longer, summer will be here shortly. And if the rest of you are like me, you have been procrastinating with your spring cleaning and summer house prep. What are you waiting for? Stop wasting time and get a jump start on it so you don't get left behind in the summer heat. Here are a few things to start with.

Remove all of your storm windows and replace them with screens. Not only will this prepare your home for warmer weather, it also provides the opportunity to wash those windows and get them sparkling again, offering a fresh and renewed look to the house. Remember to store your storm windows some place safe and out of the way and consider washing them too so they are prepared for next winter.

Don't forget to reverse the spin of your ceiling fan! If you have ceiling fans and you are a savvy energy saver, then you know the importance of running those fans to create an updraft in the winter to recycle warm air back into the room. However, if you forget to reverse the flow of the fan once warmer weather rolls around, your efforts will be counter productive. During summer months, you want the fan to create a down draft so that cooler air is blown downward. The direction the fan should spin to create this effect depends on your specific fan and the angle which the blades are set.

Turn off your furnace and flip switches (if applicable) over to the air conditioner. Don't forget to uncover your air conditioner if needed and be sure to have it inspected to ensure proper operation and efficiency. Replacing the filter on your air conditioner will also cut down on allergens an ensure efficiency.


Open up room(s) you do not normally use or heat in the winter and let them air out. Take the time to clean these rooms thoroughly by vacuuming, dusting and washing all linens and curtains. This will cut down on allergens and dust particles.

Lastly... the fun stuff

Hook up your hoses, tune up your lawn mower and clean and tune your grill! Be sure to do a test run with both your lawn mower and grill, long before you will need too use them. If you have a propane grill, have the tank inspected and re-filled before lighting it.