Spring Cleaning Tips for Palm City, FL Homes

In much of the country, spring cleaning means opening the windows after a long winter. In Palm City it means something else. Winter and early spring are the dry, pleasant part of the year, the windows have likely been open plenty, and the oaks have spent late winter coating everything with yellow pollen. What comes next is the rainy season, which usually starts in late May, followed by the official start of hurricane season on June 1.

That makes spring the best time of year here for a thorough reset: clear out the pollen, catch small moisture problems before summer makes them big ones, and get the house ready to stay closed up and air conditioned for months.

Step 1: Clear the pollen out

• Hose off lanai screens, the pool cage frame, and outdoor furniture, starting high and working down.
• Wipe exterior door frames, the front entry, and outdoor light fixtures where pollen collects.
• Vacuum window screens, and clean window sills and slider tracks.
• Replace the HVAC filter. If it has been running through pollen season, it has earned it.
• Wash throws, cushion covers, and curtains that hung near open windows.

Step 2: Work top to bottom, room by room

• Start at the ceiling: cobwebs in high corners, ceiling fan blades, and the tops of tall cabinets and shelves.
• Then light fixtures, air vents, and returns.
• Then walls, door frames, switch plates, and baseboards.
• Floors last. Vacuum tile and grout lines thoroughly before mopping, and consider having grout cleaned and resealed if the lines have darkened.

Step 3: Get ahead of the wet season

The habits that keep mildew away in summer are easier to start in a clean house:

• Deep clean shower grout, and replace any caulk with mildew growing under the surface.
• Test bathroom exhaust fans. Hold a square of toilet paper to the cover; if the fan cannot hold it there, clean or replace the fan.
• Have the air conditioning serviced before the months of heavy use, including the condensate drain line.
• Open closets on exterior walls and check for musty smells, and give stored clothing and shoes some air.
• Clean behind and under the washer and dryer, and clear lint from the dryer vent.

Step 4: Reset the kitchen

• Empty and wipe out the pantry. Check dry goods for pantry moths and weevils, which do well in warm, humid kitchens, and move flour, rice, and cereal into sealed containers.
• Pull out the refrigerator if you can, vacuum the coils, and clean the floor underneath.
• Degrease the range hood filter and the tops of the cabinets.
• Clean inside the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.

Step 5: Storm season storage and records

• Clean, inspect, and organize storm shutters and hardware so they are easy to find.
• Clear space in the garage for outdoor furniture.
• Restock the hurricane kit while the stores are calm.
• Walk through and photograph each room for your insurance records.

If you are a seasonal resident heading north for the summer, fold this into your closing checklist. A house closed up clean, dry, and air conditioned is far easier to open in the fall.

What to leave to a professional

Some spring jobs are worth hiring out: pressure washing driveways and pool decks, cleaning high pool cage screens, servicing the air conditioning, and any mold that covers more than a small patch. The EPA's guidance is that a homeowner can usually handle mold covering less than about 10 square feet; anything larger calls for a professional.