Spring-Cleaning Spruce-Up! Tips to Revive Your Self-Storage Facility and Make Business Blossom

To see your property with "fresh eyes," walk around your grounds and buildings with a staff member, trusted business associate or even a family member.

Develop a visual scan left to right, up and down to ensure a full view of the property inside and out.

Don't forget to pay attention to those nooks and crannies, which signal “attention to detail” to potential and current tenants.

Make note of items that can be done by you and your team and those that will require professional expertise.

Consultations for job estimates from various professionals can provide valuable insight and trigger the need for additional items to add to your spring-cleaning list.

Make it fun by color-coding items by timeline, subject or other delineation.

Scratching off to-do items on your list comes with guaranteed satisfaction! 

Winter weather is bound to create plant debris, if not from your own property, then from other properties nearby. Take some time to clean up your landscaping.

As clean-up proceeds, consider a landscape makeover that will require less ongoing effort like xeroscaping, which reduces or even eliminates the need for watering.

For do-it-yourselfers, local plant nurseries and county extension agents are good sources for plant suggestions.

If you use a landscape service, have a conversation about any new plant varieties that can be used to replace plants suffering from winter-kill.

Green tip: If available, use your city's composting program for plant debris you've collected during your spring-cleaning efforts.

With vehicles or mobile-storage units, make sure winter slush and dirt is washed off the exterior.

Clean windows for good visibility. This also helps avoid sun glare.

Shop vacuums are a great tool for getting at the dirt and debris on floors that accumulated from melting snow on winter footwear.

Gutter clean-out is a must on every spring-cleaning list since they are a largely ignored area during winter. Late fall leaves and twigs can block water flow from snow melt and rain. Get to that debris before it becomes disgusting with warmer temperatures.

Doors are another important focal point. Sometimes "clean" comes only as the result of a fresh layer of clear coat or paint when soap and water just doesn't seem to remove the dinginess.

Include elevator interiors on your walk-around. Cold temperatures and wind chills lend to unconventional trash left in protected, out-of-the-way areas.

First take a look at your ceilings from the altitude of a good, stable ladder to assess cleaning needs. Take note and assemble the needed supplies.

Cleaning corner cobwebs with a duster, mop or cloth-covered broom works well.

Fan blades usually need a bit  of soapy water to cut through dust and grime.

Don't rush these jobs. Make sure you are on a height-appropriate, steady ladder so you don't put your body through unsafe contortions leading to loss of balance and injury.

Using a two-person team can actually be a time-saver for window cleaning. Positioned on both sides of windows, team members can signal each other regarding missed areas.

Cloth cover treatments such as drapes should we washed and ironed. Blinds or other window treatments can usually be cleaned with soap and water.

Green tip: A homemade mixture of water, ammonia and vinegar is a great cleaning fluid that can be applied by a spray bottle. Recycled newspapers function as wipes, or use those handy reusable terry cloths or jersey wipes that can be purchased in bulk.

Use a soft brush to vacuum, and then wipe down with a cloth-covered broom or mop.

Patch any holes with drywall-repair kit.

Consider a fresh coat of paint to liven up dull walls.

Wipe non-fabric chairs and benches with mild soap and water.

Repair or replace any furniture that’s ripped or has broken springs.

Declutter! Recycle unnecessary and expired paperwork.

Remove everything to get a the dust accumulation in nooks and crannies.

Clean all surfaces.

Winter weather is tough on carpets and even tile. Spring is a good time to invest in a professional tile-revitalization or carpet-cleaning service.

If your flooring is in good shape, give it a good clean by taking out all the furniture and do a thorough mopping or vacuuming.

Daily maintenance should leave nothing to add to a spring-cleaning lists for these areas, but it may be a good time to reassess decor and equipment needs.

Canned air works great to safely clean food particles in keyboards and dust in other areas. Otherwise, clean according to manufacturer's directions.

Spring cleaning is a traditional time for security equipment checks such as carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and to change batteries.