What to clean and when in a Colorado Springs home, based on a May 8 mean last freeze, a wet July, an October 2 mean first freeze and the insects in between.
The usual advice to spring clean in March does not work here, because March is the snowiest month of the year. Colorado Springs asks for a calendar of its own, built on when the mud ends, when the storms start and when bugs start looking for a way in.
The figures below come from National Weather Service normals for Colorado Springs and from CSU Extension. Use this as a list to do yourself or as a guide to timing a professional visit.
December averages just 0.23 inches of precipitation, and the Colorado Climate Center says winter brings dry air and strong winds. Static helps dust cling to screens and plastic blinds, so use a damp cloth. Change the furnace filter and vacuum around floor vents and return grilles. This is a good time for inside jobs that get skipped all year: tops of door frames, under beds and behind the sofa.
Cold snaps can be sharp. On extra cold days, Colorado Springs Utilities advises leaving kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors ajar, especially on exterior walls, and in extreme cold running a pencil thin stream of cold water so pipes do not freeze. Clear those under-sink cabinets now so air can get in. Vacuum any boxelder bugs you find, since CSU Extension says they overwinter in houses.
March is the snowiest month at 5.7 inches, with April close behind at 5.5, and the average last measurable snow falls on April 23. Measurable snow has fallen as late as June 10, so do not put the boot tray away too early. Chinook winds can raise temperatures 25 to 35 degrees in a short time, so expect mud the same day. The airport recorded a 64 mph gust on March 4, 2025, and strong wind pushes dust through gaps around windows.
The mean last freeze comes on May 8. That is the time for what other places call spring cleaning: wash blinds, wipe window tracks and launder curtains. Do it before mid May, because CSU Extension says miller moth flights generally start between then and early June. During the flight, vacuum moths from window sills and light fixtures rather than spraying.
Colorado Springs gets most of its rain in summer, with July averaging 3.12 inches and August 2.96. Summer storms mean wet shoes and paw prints when the rest of the year has been dry. The airport recorded hail on 5 days in 2025, so shake out the mats and sweep the porch after each round. Sun is strong at this elevation, with about 243 sunny days a year, so wipe fine dust from sunlit surfaces.
CSU Extension says elm seed bugs enter homes from mid June through September and give off a foul odor when disturbed. Vacuum them. Colorado Springs Utilities also asks customers to water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. from May 1 to October 15, and watering times can mean wet grass on shoes in the morning.
The mean first freeze is October 2 and the average first measurable snow is October 25, so there is a short window before the mud returns. Use it while the weather still lets you dry rugs and mats outside on the porch. This is the natural moment to book a One-Time Deep Clean, since window tracks, sills and fans are carrying everything the summer dropped on them.
Get the entry ready by bringing out the mats and boot tray. Seal gaps around windows if you can, since boxelder bugs will be looking for a way inside to overwinter. CSU Extension notes they can stain draperies and other light colored surfaces, so check those first. The winter guide covers the months ahead.
The questions Colorado Springs homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
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