Days spent soaking up the sun, strolling through the city or grabbing a kayak for a day at the lake, are finally upon us. Before enjoying all of the excitement that warm weather brings, it’s important to make sure that our homes are in tip-top shape as well.

Here are some ways that you can get around your house looking its best this spring:

Clean Windows

First, make sure that you’re in a well-ventilated area. You will want to wash the windows and sills around your house inside and out and. An efficient way to clean both sides of your windows screens is to use kerosene and then rinse them with a mixture of soap and water.

Eliminate Dust

Start by removing everything off the shelves, countertops and dressers in your home. Using a duster or a piece of cloth, thoroughly dust your entire home. Get into those hard-to-reach spots such as baseboards, fan blades, cabinet tops and above your doors. Move your furniture away from the walls, flip your sofa over and use a broom to get rid of some hidden dust, shift your refrigerator and get behind your stove to give your home a true deep cleaning. Taking steps to reduce the dust accumulation in your home will make your home more relaxing and easy to breathe in.

Get Your Carpets Cleaned

After years or even months of living in a location, carpets become dirtier and eventually you can see the color begin to darken. Although it may appear to be stained, what you may need is a professional carpet cleaning. This will eliminate some germs from your home and the presence of allergens. Additionally, getting your wood floors waxed will also give your home a brand new look.

Address Maintenance Concerns

Check all of your windows and doors for leaks (can usually be identified by paint chipping) and drafts, and seal them. Although the weather may be warmer now, having cracks and openings will alter the temperature of your home and could significantly raise your average heating bill.

These suggestions are perfect for spring cleaning because they do not have to be done on a weekly basis. Once you have the foundation of your home clean and intact, the only thing left for you to keep up with throughout the year are minor things such as keeping your bathrooms, kitchen and bedrooms in order by regularly cleaning and disinfecting them.

We are weeks away from enjoying the joys of spring. Get a head start on your responsibilities around the house so that you’re not blindsided by any concerns that need to be addressed. This is a season for family, fun and celebration.