Spring cleaning is more than just sweeping your floors and dusting cabinets. Making sure your living space is fresh and up to date for the beautiful weather, and making sure everything works properly after a hard winter is an important task that might just consume a little more time than expected.

The first thing we recommend doing is creating a list to help you remember what to look at each spring to make sure your home stays happy and healthy. The spring cleaning process will go much more smoothly if you have a checklist and know what you’re looking for. We have prepared this brief guide to help anyone double check the essential aspects of their home after they have cleaned the house, changed all of the bedding and moved clothes around.  You can check over these simply by taking a quick stroll in and around your home even if you are new to homeownership.

Start with the outside of your house and focus on areas like the roof, windows, deck or patio, and lawn.

Grab your ladder or take a step back from your home so you can get a good look at the roof. The cold temperatures and all the snow we saw this year can lead to cracks, as well as loose or missing shingles. You will also want to clean out the gutters from debris so they train properly. Missing shingles and clogged gutters lead to water leaking into your home. Even though most roofs last about 20-30 years, hard winters and clogged gutters will shorten that time frame and will create unnecessary damage on the inside. Spring cleaning is a great excuse to get yourself to examine the roof and clean out those gutters you’ve been “saving for later.” It is also a great idea to clean out your gutters in the fall to prevent an ice dam, which can also cause roof and other damage.

When it comes to spring cleaning and making your windows sparkle, here’s a recipe that will help your windows shine. Mix one cup water, one cup rubbing alcohol, and one teaspoon of white wine vinegar together and apply with a soft cloth and your windows will come out sparkling; a simple action that’ll provide you with big results. Windows are also the easiest way to lose cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. In order to minimize the amount of air lost, we recommend checking for cracks and leaks intensively. This will help reduce air loss all year round. It is no secret that all windows leak air and keeping the temperature ‘just right’ inside starts with your windows.

The snow buildup from our Midwestern winters can cause the wood panels of your deck to rot and decay. This can make your deck look unappealing and can also be dangerous to you and your family. Replace any rotted floor boards and any loose railings you find. Sealing the wood regularly will make the deck stand out all year long and prepare it for neighborhood cookouts, birthday parties, or just enjoying spring and summer nights.

One of the last outside items to look at is your lawn. Now is the time to think about preventing weeds and filling in any spots in the lawn that might need attention. Your lawn is one of the most attractive and important exterior features of your home’s curb appeal. This is why Gerstad Builders is currently running our Going Green for the Spring promotion. All homes that are signed by April 15 will receive a FREE lawn.  There is not a lot of time left for this promotion, so click here to learn more, because, like spring in Chicago, it will be gone before you know it.

Contact Gerstad Builders to start your home buying process or take a drive to our sales and design center at 2703 Bush Terrace in McHenry.