Spring Clean Your Whole Home, Including the Air!

Spring cleaning isn’t just for clearing out closets and organizing kitchen cabinets— it’s the perfect time to prepare your air conditioning system for a summer of hard work! A seasonal deep clean can clear out dust and grime to ensure the cleanest possible indoor air and living space. This is especially important for families with allergies, asthma, or other health concerns.

 If you feel overwhelmed by springtime deep cleaning, use this quick guide and checklist to breathe easier all summer long.

Quick Guide to Spring Cleaning

Enter the new season with a refreshed mind and clear lungs! A clean living space is scientifically-proven to improve mood and reduce stress.

On the other hand, research shows that a cluttered environment makes it more difficult to focus and be productive. To make matters worse, poor indoor air quality can reduce your energy levels. Upgrade your spring cleaning and breathe clearer with these simple steps.

Step 1: Create a plan to clean every part of your home

Dirt, dust, allergens, and pet hair could be hiding in unexpected places. Prepare for a stress-free summer by decluttering and sanitizing those hard-to-reach areas of your home.

 As you dive into the spring cleaning process, remember these tips to maximize your efforts and improve your air quality at the same time:

• Avoid overwhelm by tackling one room or area at a time. Some homeowners prefer to spread out spring cleaning over the course of a week. Write on your calendar the specific room cleaning you want to accomplish on each day.
• Maintain ventilation as you clean. Open windows, turn on fans, and prepare your air conditioner using the steps below.
• Invest in quality cleaning equipment like a vacuum, broom, mop, scrub brush, microfiber cleaning cloths, and duster.
• Use natural, non-toxic cleaning products whenever possible. The fumes and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from strong cleaning products can cause air quality issues in your home and may exacerbate symptoms of spring allergies.
• Turn on a good playlist or podcast and set a timer for 1-2 hours to challenge your productivity.
• Wear protective gear like a mask or gloves when dealing with exceptionally dusty or contaminated areas.

 Step 2: Breathe cleaner, healthier indoor air

Spring brings beautiful flowers and chirping birds, but it also can flood your sinuses with tree pollen, grass seed, and allergens. Simultaneously, the dust, bacteria, and chemical vapors from cleaning can contaminate the air you breathe every day. Take your spring refresh to the next level by ensuring perfect air so you can enjoy peace of mind for the rest of the season.

 As you move through your deep cleaning checklist, prioritize healthy indoor air by:

• Investing in a whole home air purification system, like the Lennox PureAir S Air Purification System. This unmatched purification system offers hospital-grade air purification to your entire home and removes over 99% of germs and viruses, including COVID-19.
• Changing your air filters in your air conditioner and air purification systems. Standard disposable air filters should be changed every 3 months. Use this simple guide to swap out your filter cartridge(s).
• Cleaning and sealing windows to keep pollen and bugs out of your home.
• Monitoring your air quality using a smart thermostat like the Lennox S40 Smart Thermostat. An upgraded thermostat can help keep your air clean all year round by providing on-demand air quality monitoring. This Smart Air Room Sensor will automatically trigger air cleaning when contaminants like VOCs, allergens, or bacteria reach high levels.

 Step 3: Keep your HVAC system in mind

Don’t let all your hard work go to waste! Once spring cleaning is complete, your home’s HVAC system takes over the “heavy lifting” of maintaining a healthy living space. A seasonal A/C tune-up will ensure that you stay breezy throughout the warmer months.

How Do You Spring Clean an Air Conditioner?

Clean indoor air and a cool summer home starts with spring maintenance. To spring clean your A/C, begin by changing the filter, removing debris from around the unit, cleaning your home’s interior vents, and scheduling a professional tune-up with your local Lennox dealer.

1.  Remove debris and plants from around the AC unit: Head outside with a rake and garden gloves to thoroughly clean around your AC unit. Chop down any weeds, mow the grass, and remove any leaves or debris that have piled up around the unit. Be sure that your A/C is off before doing this. If anything appears stuck inside the unit, notify your Lennox dealer.
2. Clean return air vents: Locate the air vents near the floors and upper walls of your home. These vents can quickly get clogged with pet hair, dust, and dirt. Use a clean rag and a little bit of water to wipe off any grime, then sanitize with a cleaning solution. You can also remove the outer cover to wipe off the inside of the vent. The space will instantly look better and you should notice more air movement in the room.
3. Get ducts cleaned: Ducts are the long piping systems that bring fresh air into your home and remove stale air outside. Contact an HVAC professional to unclog and clean the ducts in the spring.
4. Change your HVAC filter: If you haven’t already, check your HVAC filter and replace it with a fresh, new cartridge. This guide includes everything you need to know for a seamless swap.
5. Change thermostat batteries: Check your thermostat has enough battery power to properly report and control the indoor climate. Consider upgrading to a S40 Smart Thermostat for an integrated command system that reminds you when you need to change batteries, maintain the unit, or schedule service for your HVAC system.
6. Test your air conditioning system: Last but not least, turn on your air conditioner on the first warm day of spring. Go outside to check that the unit looks and sounds normal. Check your thermostat to see how quickly the indoor space cools down.
7. Schedule spring A/C service with your Lennox dealer if anything seems out of the ordinary.

Key Takeaways: Maximize Spring Cleaning Efforts By Focusing On Air Quality

Perfect air starts with the details. A spring cleaning checklist becomes so much easier when you have a plan written out and the motivation to breathe cleaner in your own home. This once-per-year deep clean can help you feel refreshed and stress-free as you move into the summer months.

Don’t forget to:

• Tackle one room at a time and use a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.
• Dust, wipe, and sanitize every surface.
• Pull out appliances and declutter inside cabinets to access all the nooks and crannies.
• Prioritize indoor air quality as you clean.
• Schedule spring service for your air conditioning unit.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Reward yourself with a check mark as you complete each step toward a cleaner, healthier home.

Every Room

• Wipe walls, doors, and baseboards
• Dust blinds or shutters
• Wash windows inside and out
• Dust and wipe fan
• Wash and vacuum window treatments
• Dust and shine overhead lights
• Replace burnt-out light bulbs
• Vacuum carpet
• Wash linens
• Flip or rotate mattress
• Remove anything from under the bed
• Clean out closet
• Donate unused clothes, linens, and miscellaneous items

Kitchen

• Clean out pantry
• Organize cabinets
• Scrub and wipe cabinet doors
• Move fridge: vacuum and mop behind it
• Deep clean fridge interior
• Throw away old food and unused condiments
• Wipe down fridge exterior
• Vacuum fridge coils

Living Room

• Dust and wash all mirrors, frames, and decor
• Vacuum all upholstery
• Vacuum or wipe lamp shades and light fixtures
• Replace lightbulbs
• Dust and wipe down tables and furniture
• Polish furniture
• Vacuum and shampoo carpets
• Wash all pillows and throw blankets

Bathrooms

• Wipe walls, doors, and baseboards
• Clean and disinfect tub and shower
• Scrub tile and re-grout, if needed
• Clean shower glass and mirrors
• Wash bathmats
• Dust and store decorative items
• Wash or replace shower liners and curtains
• Organize underneath sinks
• Clean out drawers
• Discard old or expired personal items

General

• Change thermostat batteries
• Change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
• Dust and wipe all air intake vents
• Wipe and disinfect door handles, cabinet handles, and electronics
• Store all winter items, clothes, and decor
• Sweep front porch and deck
• Mow the lawn
• Remove debris from around the house and HVAC unit
• Schedule HVAC maintenance
• Clean all windows inside and out

Having a detailed spring-cleaning checklist is important to the spring-cleaning process as it helps you target and systematically clean every part of your home, leaving it cleaner and healthier for you and your family. The checklist also ensures that you do not forget any part of your home, which can save you time and effort. To get the most out of your home’s air quality contact your local Lennox dealer to schedule an HVAC maintenance check and clean.