Spring Cleaning Tips For the Low Country

We’re lucky, here in the Low Country, that we don’t suffer interminable, cold winters. While the seasons here are mild, there is, nevertheless, a distinctive transition between winter and summer. Sometime between February and April, the short gloomy days give way to longer, brighter ones, the azaleas reappear and provide cheerful pops of color like the broad brushstrokes of a painter’s brush, and even the birds seem busy with domestic chores of their own in the building of their nests and tending to their young:  Welcome Spring!

Beyond Mother Nature’s unmistakable signs that the season of rebirth and renewal is once again upon us, there is a more practical aspect of spring that is demanding our undivided attention, particularly after the unrelenting wear-and-tear that our homes incurred as a result of the confinement we experienced during the pandemic:  Spring cleaning.  It becomes even more of a priority if you plan to place your home on the market this season. One way or the other, tackling those ugly but necessary chores will maximize the enjoyment of your home and make it very attractive to would-be buyers in the many sunshine-filled days ahead.  It isn’t a comprehensive list, of course, but once completed you will be well on your way to a sparkling and refreshed abode.

Plan

The hardest part is getting started. Spring cleaning can be overwhelming, and it takes more time and effort than your regular chores.  Make a list and create a schedule.  Where possible, work some of those deep-cleaning chores into your regular cleaning schedule.  It’s unrealistic and, frankly, exhausting to expect to finish in one weekend.  Set realistic expectations and schedule all of your maintenance and repair appointments in a calendar – especially if you’re on the verge of placing your home on the market – and then steadily chip away at them over several days or weeks, as your schedule and target date permits.

Air-conditioner

It only takes missing this one once and, I promise, you’ll never do it again.  We overlooked having our air-conditioned serviced one season and, as Murphy’s Law would have it, it broke down that very year during the hot and humid month of July.  It took nearly a week for a repairman to come out and fix it.  The doors began to swell.  I began to swell.  I tried to make light of the uncomfortable situation by saying that my skin never looked dewier, but I’m certain that there are less painful and less expensive ways to achieve the look.  Take care of this one right away.  I promise you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Declutter

Just the thought of this can be stress-inducing, but beyond the popular books that have been written on the topic, there is growing medical evidence that clutter negatively impacts our well-being.  One way that has motivated me to declutter and purge over the years is knowing that the things that my family and I don’t use or wear anymore can be used or enjoyed by others in need. If you’re getting ready to sell your home, don’t forget to remove all personal effects, such as family pictures, from their display areas. The idea here – and this is pertinent in any market – is that you want potential buyers to visualize themselves living in your home.

Carpets

They are veritable sponges for odors, pet dander, dust/pollen/dirt that we track in from outside, not to mention stains that we – and our pets – inadvertently make.  With two young and active sons – and the fact that my family and I have spent more time at home this past year than ever before – I got mine shampooed twice over the last year.  But even one shampoo a year goes a long way in freshening up your home.  You can rent a deep cleaner, but I’ve found that local professional cleaning is affordable, and you don’t have to lift one finger except for dialing the number of your favorite carpet cleaning company.  Need a referral? Ask a local real estate agent like yours truly.

Windows

This is a big one. Pick a cloudy or cool day and one before the mosquito and gnat populations reach an all-time high.  Microfiber cloths work best and here’s a great recipe for an inexpensive and effective glass cleaning solution: ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup white vinegar to a gallon of water. Let the sunshine in!

“Cleanliness is next to godliness” came to mind as I wrote this article. After a quick online search, I discovered that there are several interpretations of this ancient proverb.  My interpretation evokes the feeling that I get when I walk into my place of worship:  Light-filled, serene, and spacious.  It’s a place where I feel relieved, albeit temporarily, of my burdens and I feel lighter for having spent a few moments there.  Similarly, my home has been a sanctuary for myself and my family over this past year in ways that we could have never anticipated and the same will likely be true for you and your loved ones or the next family that moves into your home.  Considering, I think it’s worthy of extra attention this spring.  In turn, it will continue to provide comfortable shelter and a welcoming space where we all can continue to care for one another and create wonderful memories – the very things that give us the strength and courage to move towards a brighter future.