The local calendar has a long sticky summer, a hurricane season that peaks in September and a winter of about five freezes. Here is what to clean when, in that order.
Most seasonal checklists were written with a harsh winter in mind. A home in the New Orleans metro has a different year, so this one leaves out most snow-country advice.
The dates below rely on NOAA normals for New Orleans International Airport and the Atlantic hurricane season. North shore households should expect a few more cold nights but otherwise a similar year.
The airport's normal annual rain is 63.35 inches, peaking at 7.62 inches in June with July and August close to 7. Normal highs in July and August are about 91 degrees, and about 85 days a year reach 90 degrees or hotter. Dew points run above 65 degrees from May through September and near 74 degrees at the peak.
Freezes are rare: about 5 nights a year at the airport against about 23 at Slidell, with a January normal low of 46 degrees. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October.
This is the best time for jobs you put off during the heat. Air conditioning has been resting, so wipe vents and clean or change filters. Pull small furniture out from the walls, dust the back of shelving and go through closets before humid air returns. North of the lake, Slidell's extra freezes may mean you are running the heater more often, so check that dust has not gathered on registers.
If you want a thorough reset each year, the One-Time Deep Clean fits well here. Windows can stay shut without much penalty and the home dries quickly.
Temperatures climb steadily, and the last comfortable weeks are a good moment to wash curtains, rotate bedding and wipe blinds. Clean out kitchen cabinets and pantry shelves, since warm weather brings out insects. Check under sinks for slow leaks. Fix anything damp now, because you will not get a better chance to let it dry until fall.
Dew points pass 65 degrees in May and do not drop back until after September. June is the wettest month. Keep bathroom fans running, wash mats often, and wipe shower glass with a squeegee. On rainy afternoons entries take the most punishment. This is the time when a shorter recurring interval is most useful.
Hurricane season starts June 1. Use a dry morning for a simple pass: photograph every room for your records, clear what is stored on the floor of the garage and make sure your paperwork is together. The storm season guide has more.
The peak of the hurricane season falls around September 10, and most activity runs from mid-August to mid-October. During these weeks keep the home simple: floors clear, freezer not overstocked, no big projects underway. If a storm passes without trouble, the first cool mornings of October are the right time to air the house out, wipe sills and clean fan blades that have worked hard all summer.
The season officially ends on November 30, and with it the main reason to hold off on larger jobs. Plan your last detailed clean a week or two before family arrives, so the guest bathroom and the kitchen only need a light pass the day before. Kitchens take the most wear this time of year, so clean the stovetop and degrease cabinet fronts early, then keep up with surface wipes.
Bigger gatherings mean extra trash. Unincorporated Jefferson Parish collects twice a week from its 95 gallon cart, and an old sofa replaced for the holidays goes out on the weekly bulky pickup, under the six foot and 400 pound limits. North shore and Kenner households should check their own city's schedule, since those services are run separately from the parish program described here.
The questions Metairie homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Metairie 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.
