A local cleaning calendar built on Harrisburg weather and Penn State guidance: snow and salt in January, tree pollen by March, stink bugs in spring and fall, lanternflies in summer and ragweed until the first frost.
It is easier to keep a house in order when each chore has a season. This calendar draws on local weather records, along with advice from Penn State Health and Penn State Extension, to place each job where it does the most good.
These are suggestions and not rules, because a late frost or a wet fall will move things around.
January is the coolest month, with a mean of 32.6 degrees, and winter averages about 29.9 inches of snow. Extremes do happen. Harrisburg saw 26.4 inches in a single day in January 2016, and February 2010 brought 42.1 inches in the month. Keep an absorbent mat and boot tray at each door, and damp mop entries weekly. In a row home where the front door opens straight into the living room, that small habit protects more floor than you might expect.
Windows stay shut in this weather, which makes this a good time for dusting fan blades, door tops and stair rails. Launder bedding often, too, since Penn State Health notes that dust mites in bedding cause symptoms all year.
Tree pollen can start as early as the first week of March, according to a Penn State Health allergist in Hershey, and grass rises through April and May. Change central air filters regularly, and do not sleep with the windows open if anyone in the house has allergies. It also helps to shower at the end of the day and to wash clothes that have been worn outside before wearing them again.
Penn State Extension says adult stink bugs come back out between late April and mid May. Keep a vacuum handy and check window tracks, especially on sunny walls, where those insects tend to show up first as the weather warms.
Spotted lanternfly eggs hatch from late April to June. Hose off decks and patio furniture before the sticky season gets going, as honeydew can lead to sooty mold on surfaces below. Shoes left outside make less of a mess in the house.
June also has a place in local memory. Agnes crested the Susquehanna at 33.27 feet in June 1972, with some buildings under 13 feet of water. Flood stage is 17 feet, and major flooding starts at 23 feet. If you live in a low area, keep important papers off basement floors, and do not leave stored goods directly on concrete.
July's mean temperature is 77.5 degrees, and annual humidity averages 66.7 percent. Keep baths ventilated, wipe vents, and keep basements clear. Harrisburg's Bureau of Codes says it does not handle mold issues but will check for leaks that cause mold in rental homes, so renters who see a leak should report it.
Adult lanternflies appear in July and stay active until hard freezes. Check under any trees where you park or walk, and keep sticky residue outdoors by leaving shoes at the door.
Ragweed runs from early fall to the first frost, and molds rise once fallen leaves get wet. That combination can make fall harder for allergy sufferers than spring. Step up your vacuuming, and leave shoes at the door after raking.
Stink bugs look for overwintering spots in houses from September through October and can enter in large numbers. Vacuum them up, and expect some smell in the vacuum. Late fall is a good moment for a One-Time Deep Clean or Initial Deep Clean, and our deep cleaning guide explains the scope. Get your door mats in place before the first snow, and the year starts again.
The questions Harrisburg homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
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