How to keep a Denver area home clean from the first October snow to the last April storm, with blizzard totals from Highlands Ranch to Parker, chinook melt days and the dry indoor air that comes with them.
Winter in Denver is not one long freeze. It is a series of storms broken up by sunny, mild days, and that pattern is what makes it hard on floors. Snow piles up, a chinook wind melts it by afternoon, and everything on the sidewalk comes inside on boots and paws.
This guide is about getting through those months with clean floors, clear glass and less dust, from a typical week to a blizzard week.
Denver's official average is 56.9 inches of snow a season, in records the National Weather Service has kept since 1882. Measurable snow usually begins near October 19 and ends near April 28, which is a long stretch of wet entries. March is the heaviest month at 11.5 inches on average.
The south suburbs often get more in a big storm. During the March 13 to 14, 2021 blizzard, Denver's official site recorded 27.1 inches, the fourth largest storm on record. National Weather Service reports from the same storm showed 30.5 inches 2 miles north of Highlands Ranch, 28.4 inches near Parker and 16.5 to 18.5 inches around Lone Tree.
Most winter dirt in a Denver home enters through one or two doors. A good entry setup cuts the cleaning load across the whole house more than any product can.
Use two mats at each main door: a coarse one outside to knock off snow and grit, and an absorbent one inside to catch melt. Add a boot tray with a lip so melted slush does not spread across tile or soak into wood. Keep a towel by the door for dog paws on storm days. Shake out the outside mat after every snowfall and wash the inside mat often from March through April, when storms come one after another.
The Colorado Climate Center says chinook winds along the Front Range can raise temperatures 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit in a short time. A foot of snow can be slush by lunch, and yards that were frozen in the morning become mud by evening.
Melt days are often messier inside than storm days. Grit stays wet longer and spreads farther, and wood floors near doors take on water. Dry-mop entry floors on melt afternoons and vacuum carpet only once it is dry, so damp grit does not get pushed deeper into the fibers.
Colorado's humidity is generally quite low, and the Colorado Climate Center notes that winter brings dry air and strong winds. With windows shut and the furnace running, dust settles on fans, vents, shelves and screens quickly.
Dust with a slightly damp microfiber cloth rather than a dry duster, which mostly moves particles into the air. Wipe floor and wall vents during the season, and do the tops of door frames and picture frames once a month. Electronics and dark furniture show dust first, so they are a good gauge of when the house is due.
Denver Water says its water is slightly harder in winter, when waterways and reservoirs freeze, and softer from late spring through fall as snowmelt dilutes the minerals. In winter, spots on shower glass and around faucets build a little faster. A squeegee after each shower and a weekly wipe of fixtures keep the film from setting.
Colorado State University Extension says boxelder bugs overwinter inside Colorado houses and crawl out on warm fall and winter days, often on sunny windows. They can stain drapes and light colored surfaces, so vacuum them up rather than swatting them, and check sills and window tracks after a mild spell.
Before a big storm, put out extra mats, clear space by the door for wet gear and run the dishwasher and laundry so the house is not behind if the power or roads are out. After it, deal with the entry first, then the kitchen, where everyone ends up while the roads are closed.
A recurring visit that falls during a blizzard may need to move a day or two for safe travel. Once the streets are clear, a visit focused on floors, entries and the kitchen gets the home back to normal. Cleaners handle ordinary storm mess. A roof leak or burst pipe needs a contractor or restoration company first.
The questions Denver homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Denver 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.
