What to clean and when in a Plano home, based on DFW freeze dates, triple-digit summer normals, the hail record and a pollen calendar that runs from cedar in December to ragweed in November.
Generic spring cleaning advice assumes a long winter, a thaw and a burst of pollen in April. North Texas does not work that way. Freezes are short, summer is the season that keeps people indoors, and something is pollinating in almost every month.
This calendar is built from National Weather Service normals for Dallas/Fort Worth and the allergy calendar published by Children's Health in Dallas. Use it to time the bigger household jobs and to know when a recurring schedule deserves an extra visit.
A few figures shape the year. The average first freeze at DFW is November 22 and the average last freeze is March 12, so cold weather is a short interruption rather than a season. The region averages about 20 days a year at or above 100 degrees. Normal annual precipitation is 37.01 inches.
The pollen sequence is just as specific: mountain cedar from December to February, trees from February to June, grass from March to September and ragweed from August to November. Mold is a year-round allergen that tends to peak in July and August.
Mountain cedar pollen, the source of what Texans call cedar fever, dominates these months and tends to be worse on sunny, windy days. Wash bedding weekly, vacuum upholstered furniture, and wipe the window sills on the windward side of the house. Coats and scarves carry pollen in, so a hook by the door keeps them out of bedrooms.
Hard freezes are uncommon but not harmless. In February 2021 DFW Airport stayed at or below freezing for 139 consecutive hours and recorded 5 inches of snow. Keep towels by the back door for wet boots, and after any long freeze, check under sinks and around water heaters for leaks before they reach flooring.
The last freeze typically comes around March 12, and by then tree pollen from oak, elm, ash, pecan and pine is well underway. Grass begins in March too. Outdoor furniture, sills and the floor inside each door take on a fine yellow-green layer. Clean window screens and tracks once early in the season, and again when the worst of the tree pollen has passed.
Spring also brings severe storms. On April 4, 2014, spotters reported hail up to 2 inches across Frisco, McKinney and Allen. After a hail or wind storm, expect leaves, grit and mud at every entry for a week or so; sweep porches before mopping inside so you are not dragging it back in.
The regional water district also changes one step of its treatment process for about 28 days each spring as routine maintenance. It is a good reminder to clean faucet aerators and showerheads, which collect mineral grit year round.
Tree pollen tapers off in June, but grass pollen often peaks in summer and mold allergies are usually worst in July and August, the most humid months. Most of the region's 100-degree days fall in this stretch, so the house runs on air conditioning with the windows closed.
Indoor dust becomes the main job. Wipe ceiling fan blades and vent covers every couple of weeks, replace the HVAC filter before the hottest weeks, and run bathroom fans after every shower so grout and caulk dry out. Pantries and garages get hot; summer is a sensible time to check stored food for pests and clear out what has expired.
Ragweed season in North Texas runs from August to November and can last up to four months, so fall is not a break for allergy sufferers. Keep vacuuming rugs and upholstery on a steady schedule, and wash pet bedding often, since dogs and cats carry ragweed in from the yard.
As temperatures ease, fall is the best window for the outdoor-facing jobs that summer heat made miserable: washing patio furniture, cleaning the garage floor and wiping exterior door frames. The average first freeze comes around November 22, so finish outdoor work before then and book a deep clean ahead of holiday guests.
The questions Plano homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Plano 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.
