Longer days, warmer weather, and the heady scent of flowers mean only one thing: spring is in the air!
If your annual spring cleaning is on your to-do list, don’t forget to include safety gear. Most people tend to think of spring cleaning as a time to clean up and do a general cleaning, but a few extra tasks can make your home safer.
Home Safety Spring Cleaning Tips
Indoor Spring Cleaning Tips
Doors and Windows
When cleaning doors and windows, check their strength. Think about the wear and tear and quality of your front door, locks, windows, or sliding glass doors. Are there any loose screws or broken seals? Are they strong enough to resist forced entry, or do they need reinforcement?
If you’re installing an air conditioner in a window during warm weather, make sure it’s secure and not an invitation for intruders to enter through the window.
Security Equipment
Clean all camera lenses, as well as security systems, as dust can cause equipment to malfunction.
When cleaning your home, pay attention to the sensors. When moving things around, make sure you don’t move or block the motion sensors and that they are still pointed where you want them.
If you’re painting your walls, be aware that paint fumes can block your smoke detectors. You may want to temporarily remove them while you’re painting. Remember to put them back! If you happen to drop a smoke detector, it’s a good idea to have it checked by a professional. Dropping a detector can cause damage that you can’t see.
Batteries and accumulators
Many security devices or smart thermostats require regular battery replacement, so check each device and make sure the batteries are in working order and/or charged.
Furnace and fireplace
If you have a furnace or fireplace in your home, we recommend cleaning them. To make sure your chimney is clean, schedule a chimney and flue cleaning.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Early smoke detection is key to preventing damage from a home fire, so make all fire and carbon monoxide detectors a priority! Every spring cleaning session should include checking your smoke and CO detectors and replacing the batteries if necessary. Dust that collects in your smoke detector can affect the performance of your smoke detector. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and cobwebs from the detectors. If your smoke detector is more than 10 years old, it is recommended that you replace it.
If you have a professionally maintained fire alarm system – which we highly recommend – make sure your security system is turned off before changing the batteries in your devices.
Water Damage
Prevent water damage and save money by using water leak detectors that detect water leaks early and alert you before they can cause damage to, for example, your floor or your neighbor’s property.
Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tips
Exterior Home Security Inspection
It’s always important to think about how your home looks to a home invader. When spring cleaning, inspect your home for potential security vulnerabilities. Try to examine your grounds through the eyes of a burglar. Look at your yard, porch, or even the walkways behind your home. Are there overgrown bushes that provide easy hiding places for intruders? Can you see your front door clearly from the street? Are there dark, hard-to-see areas that would be safer with outdoor security cameras that record or motion-activated lighting?
Grounds
Make sure your home’s address numbers are properly placed and clearly visible. This ensures that they are clearly visible to responders in the event of an alarm. Also, make sure the area is well-maintained and does not give thieves the opportunity to gain access to or observe your home unnoticed.
Smart Garage Door Opener
Your garage is likely to be open more often when the weather is warm. This makes it easy to forget to close it. If you regularly come and go through your garage, consider choosing a smart garage door opener. You can close it from anywhere, right from your smartphone, and even receive alerts if you forget to close it.
Lighting
Check all the lighting around your home. Walk around the outside of your property to make sure that all the lights are working. You may need to purchase additional lighting so that the entire area is clearly visible during the dark hours of the day.
Surveillance Cameras
If you have security cameras, make sure they are in good working order. Winter can take its toll on outdoor security equipment, so make sure snow, ice, and temperature fluctuations aren’t interfering with your video feed. Clean all camera lenses with a soft cloth and tighten all fasteners.
Spring cleaning isn’t just for cleaning your home—it’s a great time to make sure your home is safe.
