How to Clean Up Winter Damage for Spring
Although it may go unnoticed at first, winter weather has likely affected your Greenville, North Carolina, home in some way. With spring’s arrival, discover a few ways you can clean up winter debris and damage around your home, yard, and HVAC system.
Treat Your Lawn for Salt Damage
Salt is useful for melting ice on your driveway, but it can create a springtime mess when water runoff enters your garden. Salt pulls moisture from plants and grass. If you see signs of salt damage on your grass, treat it with pelletized gypsum to restore the soil’s ability to retain water. If other parts of your landscaping have become exposed to salt, rinse these areas thoroughly with water. Dilute and wash away as much salt as possible.
Trees and plants exposed to salt may show some brown spots. While reversing salt damage can be difficult, you may have to settle for doing what you can to support healthy growth going forward.
Scrub Salt From Floors
Although a well-placed rug can lower the amount of salt that reaches your floors, you can’t stop all salt residue at the door. Indeed, salt can damage your laminate floors if you don’t clean it up carefully. Ideally, you want to complete your cleaning routine several times throughout the winter to keep salt buildup to a minimum. However, you can still halt floor damage in your spring cleaning routine.
You don’t need an expensive cleaning solution to remove salt. Start with a bucket filled with one part warm water and one part white vinegar. Always test a small area that is out of view in case of any reactions. If you believe it is safe to proceed, apply the solution to the floors in an even application using a mop or cloth. Work the vinegar mixture into the salt stains and let the solution sit for a few minutes in spots where you notice a buildup. If this process doesn’t remove all the salt, mix warm water with dish detergent and repeat the cleaning procedure with this solution.
Look for Snow and Ice Damage
Snow and ice can put added wear and tear on your HVAC unit during the winter. Systems generally correct this by switching to a defrost mode that melts away the ice buildup in about 30 minutes. If there was a problem with the process, it could have affected your system. Have your professional HVAC technician inspect your exterior unit in the spring to look for signs of damage from ice and snow.
Remove Seasonal Debris
You probably don’t do a lot of exterior maintenance in the winter months. If your neighborhood sustained damage from heavy winds or winter storms, you may find that your yard could have been affected. Go around your home and clear away any debris in the yard and gardens.
Spring cleanup is particularly important around your HVAC unit. The area around the exterior unit should be clear for at least two feet in each direction. If leaves, twigs, grass, and other debris have built up around the unit, take the time to clear away the material and make sure the land is level and open all around it.
Effects Condensation
Window condensation is a common problem in winter when temperature differences exist between the interior of your home and the outdoors. You can reduce condensation by keeping humidity under control in the home. However, some condensation is unavoidable. It is generally recommended that you remove moisture on windows right away. If you did not do so, it is important to check for mold and mildew.
Any resulting mold or mildew can damage window frames and walls and even affect your health. Clean the window frames and sills with a mixture of vinegar and water, leaving the area slightly damp. A bleach solution is also helpful, but you have to be careful not to ruin carpets or other nearby material.
Don’t forget to schedule a spring HVAC tuneup with one of our service professionals to fully prepare your home for spring. Contact J & J Mechanical, Inc. at (855) 800-1341 to schedule your appointment today.
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