A year of cleaning for Huntsville homes, based on airport normals: a wet December, early tree pollen, spring storms in mind, muggy July and ragweed by late summer.
The normals from Huntsville International Airport make a reliable cleaning calendar. They show that winter is the rainy part of the year, that summer humidity is what really wears on a house, and that snow hardly counts. Add pollen timing from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the city's leaf rules, and you have a working plan. The steps below are general guidance for any home; TotalCare Cleaning will offer the services mentioned here in the Huntsville area.
Huntsville has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, and its average yearly relative humidity is about 70 percent. Normal precipitation is 54.29 inches a year, with about 79 days bringing a tenth of an inch or more. The airport averages about 62 days a year at 90 degrees or more and about 56 nights below freezing. Each stretch of the year gives you different things to clean.
December is the wettest month, normally at 5.87 inches. January is the coldest, with a normal average of 42.7 degrees. Doormats do the heavy lifting in these weeks, so shake them out often and wash entry floors while the grit is fresh. Trees in the South may release pollen as early as December or January, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, so a person with tree allergies may notice symptoms before the rest of the house thinks about spring.
Use this time for indoor catch-up. A closed house collects dust on fans, vents and blinds, and holiday cooking leaves grease on cabinet fronts. A One-Time Deep Clean fits nicely after guests leave.
Snow is small, a normal 2.4 inches a year, falling mostly in January and February. Pollen is the larger issue. Tree pollen peaks nationally from February through April. Wipe sills with a damp cloth, vacuum slowly, wash bedding often, and leave shoes at the door.
Huntsville lies in Dixie Alley, a region more prone to long-track, violent tornadoes than most of the country, and its history includes the April 2011 Super Outbreak. A little housekeeping helps with safety: keep your shelter closet or interior room clear of stored clutter, and make sure the path to it stays free of boxes. If a storm ever damages a home, repairs and a qualified specialist come first, since a house cleaning is not mold or water damage remediation or debris work.
Normal dew points run about 66 degrees in June, 70 in July and 69 in August. July is the warmest month, with a normal average temperature of 81.3 degrees. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that outdoor and indoor mold concentrations tend to be highest in the Southeast because of its warm, humid climate. In practice, that means running the bathroom fan, wiping wet glass and keeping laundry from sitting damp. Closets and rooms with poor air flow benefit from a door left ajar.
Trash needs attention in heat as well. Huntsville recycling is collected only once a month in 95-gallon carts, so rinse containers before they sit in a hot cart for weeks. The humidity and mildew guide has more for these months.
Ragweed is the worst weed pollen for allergies, the foundation says, and its season starts around August depending on location. August, September and October each normal about 3.5 inches of rain, the driest part of the year, so this is a good stretch for washing porch furniture and the outside of the entry door.
Then come the leaves. Huntsville Public Works asks residents to set fall leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day in paper or biodegradable bags of no more than 32 gallons and 50 pounds, and it says blowing leaves into the street violates city ordinances. In Madison, Republic Services picks up leaves with other yard debris. Sweep the porch afterward so that the crumbs do not reach the carpet. The November 1989 tornado is a reminder that storm readiness is not only a spring topic, so check that interior room again.
The questions Huntsville homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Huntsville 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.
