A month by month cleaning calendar for Annapolis, using NOAA normals and local notices: February snow, the March to September tide season, heavy spring pollen, July heat and autumn stink bugs.
The climate around Annapolis gives a house something different to deal with every few months. This calendar follows NOAA normals for Annapolis and BWI Airport, plus notices from the city and University of Maryland Extension, so each part of the year has a short list of tasks that match what is happening outside.
Pick what suits your home. Nothing here is urgent, and most of it can be handled in small pieces.
January has an average low of 29.2 degrees in Annapolis, and about 81 nights a year reach freezing. February is the snowiest month at BWI, at 7.5 inches out of about 19.3 a year. Annapolis requires owners and occupants to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks soon after it stops, or by 11 a.m. if it stops overnight.
All that clearing brings salt indoors. The city also notes that the thawing power of salt drops sharply below 20 degrees, so sand and grit may be part of the mix on very cold days. Put a coarse mat outside each door and a soft one inside it, keep a boot tray handy and dry mop before any damp mop. This is also a good stretch for inside jobs such as wiping door casings and vents.
The median last spring freeze falls around March 27. After that, pollen takes over. University of Maryland Extension says the long Mid-Atlantic spring brings pollen from trees, grasses and other plants heavy enough to coat car windshields. Keep doors and windows shut on heavy days, wipe sills and blinds with a damp cloth, and vacuum often. Wash bedding and change clothes after long stretches outside.
High-tide nuisance flooding also picks up. The city says it is most common from March to September, so anyone living on low ground should keep an eye on tide predictions. When the worst of the pollen has passed, a One-Time Deep Clean can clear what has settled on baseboards, blinds, window tracks and fan blades.
July brings an average high of 89.1 degrees, and NOAA normals count about 40 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter. The city emergency office lists extreme heat among its hazards, described as weather significantly hotter or more humid than usual for the time of year. Run bath fans after showers, keep up with grout and shower corners, and change air filters on schedule.
July is also the wettest month at BWI, at 4.48 inches. Keep mats at each door, and clean window tracks where rain and dust collect. Spotted lanternflies are a fact of life here too, with Anne Arundel County listed by the Extension as moderately infested. Rinse decks and rails from time to time to keep their mess outside.
Ragweed is what the University of Maryland Extension identifies as the primary cause of hay fever, and it is worth extra attention for anyone affected. Keep dusting damp, and use clean filters. Nuisance flooding stays common through September, and the city lists hurricanes among its local hazards, so check that low storage is up off the floor.
The Extension also says brown marmorated stink bugs can become a nuisance inside homes in the fall as they seek shelter. Clear window tracks and sills, and vacuum any that appear. The median first fall freeze comes around November 13, which is a good marker for changing the furnace filter, vacuuming registers and setting out winter mats. A deep clean before holiday guests covers baseboards, blinds and shower glass in one visit.
If you want only the short version, these are the jobs that matter most in each stretch of the Annapolis year.
The questions Annapolis homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
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