Spring Cleaning & Home Maintenance: The Things You Don’t Think About (But Should)

Every buyer I work with gets a home maintenance guide. It’s basically a seasonal "chore" list to help keep their home in great shape year-round. I even have a cleaning guide on my website for anyone interested!

That said, every year when spring rolls around, I find myself tackling a handful of extra tasks—things I don’t always think about during my usual routine but make a huge difference once they’re done.

Some of these are obvious: Tidying the garage, decluttering closets, washing the windows. But others? They’re the things most people forget… until they start causing problems.

1. "Forgotten" Dust Zones

We all probably do the usual dusting—tables, shelves, maybe even the baseboards if we’re feeling ambitious. But have you ever looked at the top of your door trim? What about the top of your fridge? Your fridge's cooling coils? Your washer and dryer?

I’m always surprised at how much dust can accumulate on picture frames and mirrors. Now, every spring, I make sure to tackle these extra dust zones:

• Blinds and window sills

• The tops of doors, baseboards, and cabinets

• On top of the fridge, laundry machines, and light fixtures

• Ceiling fans and air vents

It’s one of those things that doesn’t seem like a big deal until you do it—and suddenly, the air in your home feels fresher.

2. Exhaust Fans & Dryer Vents: The Fire Hazard No One Talks About

I bet if I asked 10 homeowners when they last cleaned their bathroom exhaust fans, at least 8 of them would say, “Wait… you’re supposed to clean those?”

Yes. Yes, you are.

Your home’s exhaust fans pull moisture out of the air, but over time, they also collect dust—making them less effective and even creating a fire hazard.

If you don’t have a routine of doing this, get after it:

✔️ Remove and vacuum the bathroom exhaust fan cover
✔️ Vacuum up as much dust as you can in and around the fan. (You may want to flip the breaker)
✔️ Check the laundry room exhaust fan (if you have one)
✔️ Clean out the dryer vent—because the #1 cause of house fires is a clogged dryer exhaust

If your dryer has a “sensi-dry” feature and isn’t working optimally, it might not be the dryer—it’s probably a clogged vent. A basic vacuum is all you need to fix it before it becomes a problem.

3. HVAC, Furnace & Mini-Split Filters

Your home’s air filters need more attention than you think.

If you have a mini-split A/C and heat unit, you should be cleaning the filters monthly—they trap dust in their filter. Its a lot like lint in the dryer, and just as easy to clean.. I have allergies (and I’m even slightly allergic to my own dog), so when my filters aren’t clean, I feel it.

For HVAC and furnace filters, I recommend checking them every 3 months—or even monthly if you have pets - yes, any pet – cats, dogs, birds (even goldfish… ;). A clogged filter makes your system work harder, costing you more in energy bills, reducing air qualit,y and wearing out your system early.

4. The Little Maintenance Tasks That Prevent Big Problems

Spring is also the time to knock out home maintenance tasks that keep your house in good shape year-round (all these items are in the maintenance guide I give to my buyer clients):

✔️ Clean gutters – Clogged gutters lead to foundation issues.
✔️ Inspect the roof & chimney – Look for winter damage.
✔️ Wash windows – More natural light = better mood.
✔️ Check exterior caulking – Around windows, doors, trim, and spigots.
✔️ Paint touch-ups – Prevents wood rot and extends the life of your siding.
✔️ Test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors – And swap out batteries if needed.

Now, here’s something unexpected. I know we’ve been talking about home maintenance. But here’s the thing – I spend a lot of time in my car meeting people for appointments, and you may spend time in your car commuting or going on weekend trips to the mountain. Either way, there are a few things a lot of people neglect. And because I’m doing this right now in my home, I wanted to share so you could get after it too.

5. The Overlooked Car Maintenance Checklist

Spring cleaning for me isn’t just about the house.

Like most people, I wash and vacuum my car regularly, keep up with oil changes, and handle scheduled maintenance. But for years, I completely ignored one important thing:

🚗 The Cabin Air Filter.

Most people don’t realize that cars have a fresh air filter that traps pollen, dust, and other allergens before they enter your vents. And here’s the kicker—most manufacturers don’t install one from the factory.

I only found out because I have allergies and couldn’t figure out why my car was making them worse. Turns out, my cabin air filter was missing completely.

Since then, I make it a habit to replace:

✔️ The cabin air filter – Keeps pollen and dust out of your car.
✔️ The engine air filter – Helps your car run more efficiently.

IF you’ve got an EV or a Hybrid, your car may also have a 3rd air filter for the battery cooling system. Mine does, and I’m changing that out too.

Filters are fairly inexpensive and easy to swap out. Just watch a few YouTube videos, and you’ll be good to go

6. Brush and wash your dog.

Look, this one is pretty obvious. People with long-haired or short-haired dogs know they tend to bring the outside back inside with them: dirt, debris, even dust and pollen. Many people don’t obsess over brushing or bathing their dog. In fact, too many baths for your dog is probably not great for their skin…

But a good brushing—even for shorter-haired dogs—can help remove loose hair and get some of the dirt and debris out of their coats.

I try to brush my dog weekly (which sounds crazy). But with her coat and how much she likes to run and get into the bushes on walks, it probably does a lot to keep her from tracking the ‘outside’ inside.

7. Spring Cleaning That Actually Feels Different

The funny thing about cleaning and maintenance is that when everything is working right, you don’t notice it.

You only realize your house was dusty after you clean it. You only realize your air filter was clogged after you swap it out and breathe better.

For me, spring cleaning isn’t just about making things look nice—it’s about creating a home (and car) that feels fresh. And when you get all of these little details dialed in?

It just makes everything better.

So, if you’re tackling your spring cleaning soon and want a home maintenance or cleaning guide, let me know—I’m happy to share!

Happy Spring! 🌷🏡🚗

Best,

Justin H Gazabat
Broker | PNW, Seattle, Ballard, East Side
www.JustinGazabat.com
206-424-9497

PS: If anyone in your social or work circles considering a move, just send Me an intro text or email with their best contact info, make sure everyone is CC’d and I’ll take care of the rest! I promise to take great care of them, serve them well, make you look good, plus help them get great results.