2025 Spring Cleaning Insurance Tips for Homeowners

Spring is here, the days are getting longer, the weather is warming up and the trees are starting to bud. All of this makes it a great time for homeowners to knock out some spring cleaning and home maintenance. 

We thought it might be a good idea to look at some spring cleaning and maintenance ideas:

Deep Clean: A deep clean is what Spring is all about. Give every room in the house a major cleaning, starting at the top of the room, moving down to the floor. This way all the dust and any other debris is on the floor which should be cleaned last. 

This is also a great time to declutter your house. Look for items you no longer use, clothing you don’t wear and any unused electronics or outdated items cluttering up your home. Donate or recycle these items if you can. If you haven’t already, try using Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to easily sell old items around the house to make some extra money. You will be happy to get rid of old stuff around the house that you don’t use while making a little extra cash!

Clean appliances: This is a great time to clean all of your major appliances as well:

• Refrigerator – Remove everything from the fridge and wipe down the shelves and clean out all of the drawers. Clean up the exterior of the fridge as well and consider pulling it out and cleaning behind it as well. 
• Oven and Stove: Deep clean the top of the stove, the inside and outside of the door as well as all of the burners and controls. If the oven is self-cleaning, let it do the work for you but if not, it’s time to get out the Easy Off and get to work. While cleaning an oven is never fun, it should be done on at least a yearly basis. 
• Microwave: Microwaves are prone to splatter so cleaning it out on a regular basis is a necessity. Heating up a mixture of water and vinegar in the microwave helps loosen up the grime and makes it easier to wipe clean.

Dryer vent: Clogged dryer vents can cause all kinds of issues, including house fires so cleaning it out on a regular basis is always a good idea. If you vent is severely clogged or you are unsure of how to properly clean, consider hiring a professional.

Wash your windows: Washing the windows of your home is never fun but it can make a huge difference in how your home feels. Fresh windows make a home feel new, clean and bright. This may be one task you want to outsource to a professional if you have numerous windows or a two-story home. Always take safety precautions and if you are uncomfortable on a ladder, it is best to leave it to the pros.

Smoke detectors: Spring is a great time to test the smoke detectors in your home. Run a test and change the battery so you are sure they are good to go for the rest of the year. 

Exterior of your home

Spring cleaning is not just for the interior of your home, cleaning up the outdoor areas, getting the leaves out of the gutters and doing a quick inspection are all important to the health of your home. 

Tidy up the exterior: Leaves, dirt, mud and other debris builds up over the winter on walkways, patios and decks. Sweep them clean or use a blower to remove the leaves, dust and other debris. 

If you have a power washer, spray down decks, walkways and even your garage if mud has gotten in over the winter. Clean up dead plants, or any damaged or destroyed lawn furniture or outdoor decorations. It’s also time to put away the snow shovels and other tools that have been sitting outside. 

Clean out the gutters: Debris in your gutters can lead to water damage in your home, cleaning out your gutters annually is always a great idea. However, it can also be dangerous so consider hiring a professional to handle this one. While gutter guards can be pricey, they do mean you never have to perform this home maintenance chore again.

Inspect your roof: Roofs can be damaged by rain, snow, ice, hail and certainly wind. Spring cleaning time is a great time to inspect your roof and have any missing shingles or other damage repaired. This is another spring cleaning item that should often be left to the professionals.

Foundation and driveway cracks: The freezing and thawing of winter can absolutely damage your homes foundation and driveway. Take a walk around your home to look for foundation cracks. If you find anything significant it should be inspected by a professional and properly repaired if necessary. 

The same is true of driveways. Regardless of whether it is concrete or blacktop, winter can be hard on a driveway. Fill cracks to prevent further cracking and consider having a professional seal coat your blacktop to prevent further damage. 

Inspect HVAC system and water heater: Having your HVAC and water heater inspected and cleaned will help ensure it doesn’t break down and will often extend its lifespan. The annual inspection and cleaning should be done a professional, but replacing the filters on a regular basis is easily done by the homeowner and will help keep your system running smoothly.

Prepare lawn equipment: It’s just about time to get the lawnmower, weed eater and blower out for the season so give them a going over, change the oil if necessary and be sure they are filled with fresh gasoline. 

Review your homeowners coverage: Spring cleaning is an excellent time to get out your homeowners policy to make sure you still have the correct coverages. If you have made changes to your home or other improvements, you may need to change your coverage levels. If you find that your home insurance is costing too much, shop your homeowners insurance coverage online to see how much you can save.

This is also a good time to take photos of your home and contents in the event you ever need to make a claim on the policy. Updated photos will make the claims process easier.