Home Works

Spring Cleaning

Share the Load With the Pros!

By Anne Yankus

It has been a long winter, and many of us have spent most of it cooped up at home. Our homes could probably use a spring cleaning this year more than ever. We can tackle our personal items ourselves, but we’re better off hiring pros for our specialty cleaning, indoors and out!

For indoor cleaning, you’ll want to take stock of your windows, window treatments, ducts, carpets and tile, rugs, and fireplace to see what could really use a professional cleaner’s touch.

While it’s simple enough to grab a bottle of Windex and wipe off some smudgy fingerprints, remember that windows are dirtiest on the outside of your house. They can be difficult, if not dangerous, to clean, especially if your house has more than one story. A professional window washer will have the safety equipment and know-how to clean your exterior windows, doors, and screens. If you want them to do the interior panes while they’re at it, they’ll be happy to comply.

For window blinds, you’ll most likely be able to tack on their cleaning to another service. If your window washers don’t clean them, a maid service can. Curtains and other trim can be taken to the dry cleaners. If you haven’t saved the care instructions that came with the drapes, the professionals at the dry cleaners will be able to help you.

Ductwork is not something that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis—in fact, it’s entirely possible that you’ve never had it done! However, if your ducts show evidence of mold, pests, or other contaminants, duct cleaning is a must, and a pro is the way to go. A professional duct cleaner can examine your ductwork and tell you exactly where and what needs to be cleaned.

Professional carpet cleaning, on the other hand, should be done every year or two. Hiring a professional cleaner to steam your carpets will get things that your vacuum will normally miss. Many carpet cleaners also clean other types of flooring, including tile and hardwood. Most newer rugs can be cleaned the same way as carpets. For cleaning and repair of delicate or antique rugs, consult a rug cleaning specialist who can take care of your rug at their facility.

Regular chimney cleaning is essential—it protects your home and family from home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. This is a job that requires the special tools and training of a professional chimney sweep who is certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).

To clean everything else inside your home, you can hire a maid service. Maid services come in two main types: professional cleaning services and independent cleaners. A service will take care of the screening, hiring, and other minutiae for you, but they tend to have high turnover, which isn’t great if you want regular service. Independent cleaners, on the other hand, are great for regular service and may be willing to do other projects around the house. Be sure to check their references!

Once your interior is deep-cleaned, it’s time to head outside. Outdoor cleaning can be broken down into four main categories: yard, gutters, power washing, and lawn care.

Yard cleaning will likely cost a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of your yard, and includes things like cleaning up leaves and debris, tree trimming, weeding, shrub pruning, and yard waste removal. If you have dogs, you could also look into pet waste removal, either for a singular post-winter cleanup or for regularly scheduled service.

Gutter cleaning is a simple task, in theory, but it can be dangerous if you don’t have safe access to your roof. Professional gutter cleaners usually charge by the foot and are an excellent way to keep your gutters clean and keep you safe on the ground.

You can rent a power washer, but without professional know-how, they can be hard to control or dangerous to use. Also, rental washers don’t always deliver the pressure you need to really clean your deck and siding.

Spring lawn care traditionally means power raking, which is a process that removes thatch (dead rhizomes, stems, and roots) from your lawn. Experts say that power raking isn’t something you need to do every year—in fact, power raking too often can hurt your turf. If you have excess thatch and want to encourage new growth, it’s time to ask your landscaping pro to take on the task.

Spring cleaning can be a chore…actually, it’s a series of chores. Why not share the load? With the right professionals, you can freshen up your home and still have time to enjoy living in it.

Sources for this article included: consumerreports.org, csia.org, washingtonpost.com, and chicagotribune.com.