San Antonio Spring Cleaning Tips

When the bluebonnets begin to appear, that’s your cue that it’s time to start your San Antonio spring cleaning and home maintenance. Many checklists offer the basics of how to clean your space from top to bottom, but what works for homeowners in Central Texas isn’t the same as in other states. Here in San Antonio, we don’t need to get de-icing salts off of our cars or property, and it’s warm enough for us to get outside and tackle projects in the yard. 

And then there’s the sneezing. As the San Antonio pollen count goes up, it’s important to add things to your checklist that will make your space more comfortable as well as clean. Here are some of our best spring cleaning tips that are specific to the area we call home. 

Change Out Your Filters and Service Your HVAC

According to local HVAC company Tiger Services, you should actually be changing your home air filters at least every 3 months. If you have pets in your house or smoke, you’ll want to change them more frequently (think every 2 months). If you live in an area like San Antonio that causes many people to experience spring allergies, you should change them frequently. You’ll also want to inspect your filters each month to see if they are visibly dusty or dirty. 

Having a clean filter allows you and the people living in your home to avoid breathing dust and allergens as well as help to keep your energy bills low. San Antonio air duct cleaning is a service offered by many local businesses if you want a deeper clean than replacing the filters. On top of that, scheduling annual HVAC maintenance and tune-ups in the spring is a great way to ensure your system works properly for longer. This is especially important in San Antonio, because you want your air conditioning to be as cool as possible come summer.

Cleaning your filters should also include your water, range hood, and all other vent filters. Spring brings with it all the allergens, so this will help keep your family’s air clean. 

Carpet Cleaning

When it comes to carpet cleaning in San Antonio, it’s important to add this item to your checklist. One of our spring cleaning tips is to make sure to give your carpets a deep clean this season. Did you know that dirty carpets not only hold in allergens, but they can actually impede the air flow in your home? When the San Antonio pollen count goes up, you’ll definitely want to ensure you clean your carpets. 

According to Apartment Therapy, you can do this yourself with a vacuum and a carpet steam cleaner. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends getting your rugs and carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months, so scheduling with a professional carpet cleaning company every spring is a good rule of thumb.

Inspect Your Roof

A roof inspection is a home maintenance task that is often overlooked, but one of the most common causes of water damage in a home comes from a leaky roof. Early signs of a roof leak include water leaking in your attic if you have one, dark areas on the ceilings, peeling paint on the underside of roof overhangs, and damp spots along the fireplace. 

You can inspect your roof on the outside by looking for signs of aging, warping, cracking, sagging, and loose or buckled shingle or tiles. Areas with moss, algae, and piles of leaves can also cause costly damage. 

Especially in our hot and humid climate, it’s important to make sure the heat and moisture don’t cause any damage. For roofs too high to inspect from the ground, hire a licensed San Antonio roofing company to avoid risking any injuries. Professionals say you should inspect your roof twice a year and after any severe storm.

Clean Out the Gutters

While you’re looking at your roof, you should check for loose, leaky, and clogged gutters that may have gotten damaged over the winter. All of these things can cause gutters to loosen or break away from your home or even lead to water damage inside. Not only will this cause damage to your ceilings and walls, but it can also create mold inside your home. 

You’ll want to prevent this from happening before it’s too late, especially with spring showers coming! Most debris consists of small leaves and sticks, so it can be easily scooped out or removed with a handheld leaf blower. Check for proper drainage after you have done this by running a hose on the roof. Specialists recommend you do this multiple times a year.

Pest Control 

Spring and summertime call for countless pests waiting to come inside your home — something Central Texas residents are familiar with. A rain-heavy spring will also lead to more bugs in the summer! The best way to avoid this being a problem near your home is by preventing it from happening in the first place. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management, your spring cleaning is incomplete without properly managing pests. There are plenty of great local companies for pest control in San Antonio if you’d rather have an expert spray your property. 

Pest control in San Antonio isn’t just about spraying, though. It is also important to take other preventative measures such as repairing torn window screens, sealing any open food, and inspecting for any gaps in the windows and doors. If you’re trying to decide on the best solution to prevent pests from entering or already have an existing problem, get started with these tips and solutions.

Fix the Seals Around the Windows and Doors

Colder weather can cause the seals around your windows and doors to crack and loosen, allowing air, water, and possibly bugs to come inside. After another winter with especially cold temperatures and freezes in the San Antonio area, this is a must to add to your spring home maintenance checklist. 

An easy way to check these is to do a visual inspection on both the inside and outside to see if there are any gaps between the window or door frame and your home’s siding. During the day, seeing light around the door or window frame also indicates air leaks. These leaks can be fixed and sealed by caulking or weatherstripping them. Checking the seals around the windows and doors at least once a year will help reduce your energy bill in the warmer months, keep cold air in, and make sure water and bugs stay out of your home!

Flood Maintenance 

Since we’re in a flood zone, spring is a great time to make sure your home is protected against water damage and flooding. If you have any home features designed for this purpose, like a sump pump, inspect them closely and ensure they are in good working order before spring brings rain to the area.

Yard and Tree Trimming

If you have grass in your yard, you’ll want to pay special attention to it this year. After a cold winter with the occasional ice storms we experienced, your lawn will need to be mowed in order for new grass seeds to grow. On top of that, the cold temperatures we had may have caused your soil to become dense and hard. You’ll want to loosen the soil, add some fertilizer, and weed out your lawn. 

When it comes to San Antonio tree trimming, the experts at San Antonio Top Tree Service advise that the best time to trim trees is actually November through early March. If you missed this window, you can still spruce up your yard with a tree-trimming service, just aim to trim no more than 10% of your tree. 

Pool Cleaning

For homeowners with a swimming pool, the start of spring gets them thinking about hot sunny days lounging by the water. That means a little preparation is in order. According to Leslie’s Pool, this is the best time to open your pool up. You’ll want to ensure your clean and remove your cover, return your water level to normal, test the pH, remove leaves and dirt, run your filter, and shock your pool. Pool cleaning in San Antonio is an exciting sign that hot summer weather is on the way. 

San Antonio Trash Pickup

An important thing to be aware of before you begin making your large piles of trash as you work your way through your spring cleaning is to know what to do with all of your trash. You can always check the government website for the most accurate San Antonio trash schedule. Bulk pickup in San Antonio happens twice a year, and you’ll be notified by a door hanger placed at your address.