Spring Cleaning for Better Home Security

Longer days, warmer weather, and blossoms everywhere can only mean one thing—spring is in the air!

If an annual spring cleaning of your house is on your to-do list, don’t forget to include your security equipment in your list of cleaning tasks as well. Most people tend to think of spring cleaning as a time to declutter and deep clean, but a few extra tasks around the house can actually make your home safer and more secure.

Read on to find out why you should include your home security on your spring cleaning checklist and tips to keep your devices running smoothly year-round.

Spring cleaning for home safety and security

Spring cleaning is a great time to not only clean and freshen up your home and yard after the winter months, but to maintain your smart home and security devices as well. Doing so will keep them operating properly throughout the year and ensure they work when you need them the most. For example, if too much dusts accumulates in your smoke detector, it can keep it from functioning properly if there’s a fire. Taking the time to dust your smoke detector can keep it functioning at its best.

Spring is the perfect time to do a check-up on your outdoor devices as well. If cold weather has kept you inside, you may not have noticed burned out bulbs in your outdoor lighting or overgrown branches around your outdoor security cameras. Taking the time to check and clean outside can make your house safer and less inviting to burglars.

Home security spring cleaning tips

Not sure where to start? These tips will help you get started inside and out:

Inside the house

Before you start cleaning your devices, make sure you reference your devices’ user guides. Not only will they provide information on how to clean and maintain, but they will also give you guidance on the type of cleaning solution you should or should not use.

• Check and replace batteries. Many security devices or smart thermostats require batteries, so test each device and ensure the batteries are fresh and/or charged. Replace any that have a “low battery” warning light or beep.
• Dust around sensors. A little dust won’t disable your sensors, it’s still a good idea to clear the dusty areas around them. Make sure there are no cobwebs or dust accumulations that could impair your sensors. While you’re changing and checking your batteries, it’s a good idea to dust off or vacuum the area around the sensors as well.
• Wipe off your devices. You don’t need to take your devices apart and clean every nook and cranny with a Q-tip, but you should wipe them off with a cloth or vacuum dust away. Devices that are frequently touched, like keypads and smart thermostats, should be wiped with a disinfectant wipe.
• Declutter and organize. It’s easy for clutter to accumulate around the house, so make sure to tidy and organize areas that attract more clutter. This is also important around your indoor security cameras, where stacks of mail, books, and other things might block your view.

• Check expiration dates on fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers and fire suppression foams and compressed air all have expiration dates. Check the dates on each one, and replace if necessary.

After you clean your home security equipment and change the batteries, make sure to test it as well to ensure it’s all in working order.

Outside

• Inspect your outdoor security cameras. If you live in an area that experiences harsh winters or extreme temperatures, make sure your cameras are functioning properly. Look for tree branches that might block the view once leaves start to grow, and trim them back if needed.
• Make sure outdoor lights are working properly. Test all your outdoor security lighting and replace any bulbs that are flickering or burned out.
• Trim landscaping. Overgrown plants, shrubs, and fallen branches can be a both a safety and security hazard. Intruders look for overgrown bushes by windows as hiding spots, so trim anything overgrown around the windows or doors. Clear walkways of debris or overgrown roots and branches that might cause a fall.
• Secure fences. It’s also a good idea to check your fences and secure any gaps, rusted locks, or holes that could pose a security threat.

Spring cleaning safety tips

Anytime you work around electronics, there’s a potential for electric shock. Taking a few important safety precautions can help you avoid accidents during your spring clean up.

• Thoroughly dry wet surfaces. Before you start to check batteries on your home security system or dust off your electronics, make sure you’re not working around any wet or damp surfaces. This can also help you avoid damaging any of your devices.
• Avoid wet floors. It can be tempting to walk on a floor you consider “dry enough,” but wet floors are a major fall hazard. Wait for them to dry thoroughly before walking on them or placing ladders on them. Open windows to speed the drying process or dry with towels before walking on floors after mopping.
• Be careful with step stools and ladders. Each year, over 500,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for ladder-related injuries—and that doesn’t just include the big ladders. Since you’ll most likely need a ladder or step stool to check outdoor cameras and ceiling mounted devices like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, practice basic safety. Make sure your ladder or stool is on an even surface, and use one that has a handle or railing you can hold to maintain balance. You should also keep small children away from ladders and step stools to prevent accidents, or put them away immediately when you finish using them.
• Read the labels. Read the user guides for your home security equipment to make sure you’re not using cleaners that could damage your equipment. As you clean, limit your use of harsh cleaners like bleach, and be sure to avoid mixing household cleaners, which can create toxic fumes. Keep windows open and allow fresh air to circulate while using cleaning products as well.
• Practice proper lifting technique. If you need to move large furniture or heavy equipment to get to your devices, ask for help to avoid strains. As you lift, bend your knees and put your leg muscles to work instead of lifting with your back, which can cause a back injury.
• Wear proper safety equipment. Use safety equipment where necessary; for example, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when working with harsh cleaning supplies and closed-toed shoes on ladders.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for house cleaning—it’s the perfect time to make sure your home security devices are clean and properly maintained. By incorporating these tips into your spring cleaning checklist, you can help ensure your home is safer inside and out all year.