Spring cleaning advice written for snowy places does not fit South Texas. This calendar follows Corpus Christi's own year: wind to May, sticky summers and a wet, stormy September.
Almost no calendar for home care fits a city with about 4 freezing nights a year and a normal January low of 48.0 degrees. In Corpus Christi the seasons are set by wind, moisture and storms, so here is a month by month list built around those. Move things around to suit your household; this is a guide rather than a rule.
Winds average about 12 to 14 miles per hour from January through May. Dew points run above 74 degrees in June, July and August, near 70 in May and September, and about 48 in January. September is the wettest month at 5.42 inches, followed by June at 3.56 and May at 3.38, and annual precipitation is 31.74 inches.
The city's Office of Emergency Management gives June 1 and November 30 as the start and end of hurricane season, and the Public Health District sprays for mosquitoes from March until October.
January. North winds are the most common this month, and it is the coolest stretch of the year. It is a fine time to wash blinds, empty closets and sort the garage in comfort.
February. Vacuum window tracks and wipe sills, because wind keeps pushing grit in. Run the ceiling fans on low and clean the blades while you can reach them without sweating.
March. Mosquito spraying can begin, depending on weather. Walk the yard, empty saucers and buckets, and clean out gutters. Vector Control says eggs can survive drying out for up to 8 months, so scrub containers rather than just tipping them over.
April. The windiest month, near 13.9 miles per hour on average. Keep doors shut on gusty days, shake out rugs often and rinse screens if your water stage allows it.
May. Dew points climb to about 70, and rain picks up to about 3.38 inches. Check bathroom fans and wash the covers. This is a good month for a One-Time Deep Clean before the heavy heat starts.
June. Hurricane season begins on June 1. Put together your supplies, take photos of each room for your records and clear loose items outside. Dew points rise above 74, so make sure the air conditioner's drain and filter are in good shape.
July. Normal highs near 93.7 degrees keep most chores indoors. Wipe shower walls and leave the bathroom door open afterward. Wash bath mats often, since they hold moisture.
August. Normal highs reach 95.0 degrees. Celia in 1970 and Harvey in 2017 both struck in August, so keep your storm kit up to date. Vacuum closets and check shelves for any musty smell.
September. The wettest month at 5.42 inches. Mud and wet shoes come in with it, so put extra mats at the doors. Humidity starts easing late in the month.
October. Mosquito spraying winds down. Clean the outdoor furniture and bring out the patio cushions. It is a pleasant month for tackling the garage.
November. Hurricane season ends on the 30th. Check your section's date for brush and bulky pickup, since it runs several times a year, and clear what the summer left behind. A deep clean before holiday cooking is a common choice.
December. The dew point falls to about 50. Clean the oven racks before hosting, and sort through closets before any new things come in. A Recurring House Clean can handle the regular work while you handle the holidays.
Taken together, the calendar comes down to a few habits. Keep moisture moving out of bathrooms, keep grit out of tracks in the windy months, keep standing water out of the yard in the warm ones, and keep your storm papers current from June to November. None of that takes long if it is done a little at a time, and it leaves the bigger jobs for the comfortable stretch at the end of the year.
The questions Corpus Christi homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Corpus Christi and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
