Home Insurance: The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist

So you’ve made the right move, you got an insurance quote and valuable advice from a broker at the Billyard Insurance Group. Now you have top quality home insurance coverage for your most valuable asset. However protecting you home doesn’t stop there, proper seasonal home maintenance can go a long way to ensuring you never have to file an insurance claim and keep your insurance rates as low as possible. We all hate to do it, but we love the results of giving our home a good spring cleaning. That’s why for this article we checked in with some of the leading home experts to see what tasks they recommend you add to your ultimate spring cleaning checklist.

While you may be tempted to tackle all of these spring cleaning to-dos in one day, the experts recommend setting aside an entire weekend to get it done right. Here’s the breakdown:

Clean Walls & Ceilings

You’ll need your vacuum, plus all the attachments and accessories, for this task. It’s one of the quickest and cleanest ways to zap dust from air vents, crown molding, baseboards, corners, and ceiling fans. Vacuum from the top of the room down, taking care to vacuum any dust that settles on the floor. Once you’ve “dusted” everything with your vacuum, wipe down the surface of the walls. Use a solvent-free degreaser for surfaces with stubborn grime buildup.

Reseal Tile Grout Lines

With daily foot traffic, it’s common for the grout between your floor tiles to get stained over time. To help keep it clean, apply a penetrating grout sealer with a small foam brush.

Shampoo Rugs & Carpets

Carpets and rugs take a beating during the winter when people are more likely to track in snow, dirt and other outdoor elements. That’s why it’s essential to give your carpets a good shampooing in the spring. Hint: If you would rather not take on this task, you can usually find a good deal on professional carpet cleaning during this time of the year.

Dust Books & Shelves

Remove all the items on your bookshelves and wipe them down with a dust cloth. Then use a feather duster to remove any dust that has accumulated on your books.

Vacuum Upholstered Furniture

Put your vacuum’s upholstery brush to good use and carefully vacuum all your furniture cushions. If you notice any stains, this is the perfect time to use a stain removal spray to get them out. Hint: Be sure to check the care label on your furniture before using any type of cleaner, and always do a spot test in a hidden area of the fabric.

Perform a Fire Safety Check

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and clear away any dust or grime that may have accumulated on them. Also, check to make sure your fire extinguisher is in good working order. If you don’t have an escape plan in the event of a fire, this is the perfect time to create one and make sure that everyone in the house knows the fastest way to get to safety.

Wash Window Screens

Fill a bucket with warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid. Use a scrubbing brush to clean all your window screens. Rinse thoroughly and let air dry.

Clean Window Treatments

Wipe down your blinds with warm water mixed with a mild dishwashing liquid. If you have machine-washable curtains or drapes, take them down and throw them in the washing machine.

 

As you’re tackling the items on your spring cleaning checklist, it’s also a good idea to take some time to review your home inventory list to make sure it’s up to date with any new major purchases like furniture, electronics, art, jewelry or other valuables. And, if you have questions about whether any new purchases are covered by your current homeowner’s insurance policy, don’t hesitate to call your trusted BIG Insurance (Billyard Insurance Group) broker today at 1.855.843.1570.

 

If you’re not yet a Billyard Insurance Group client, it’s time for your to Think BIG about your Insurance. Start your on-line Home Insurance Quote or Auto Insurance Quote today!

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