Exterior windows
Gutters
Patios and decking
Outdoor furniture
Barbeque
Braziers/fire pits
Garage
Walkways
Driveways
Foliage (bushes, hedges, trees, etc.)
Pantry, cupboards, drawers and other storage methods
Sinks
Fridge
Freezer
Stoves
Extractor fans
Interior and exterior of ovens
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Small appliances (kettles, toasters, coffee makers)
Kitchen tables and chairs
Windows
Ventilation
Carpets, hard flooring and/or rugs
Under sofa seating cushions, plus exterior
Sofa cushions
Side tables
TV stands
TV
Consoles
Speakers
Blinds
Curtains
Storage units and shelving
Windows
Fireplace
Duvets, sheets and pillowcases
Cushions
Carpets, hard flooring and/or rugs
Surfaces
Wardrobes, drawers and other storage
Side tables
Lamps
Consoles
Desk
Desk chair
Computers and laptops
Blinds or curtains
Mirrors
Windows
Toilet
Bathtub
Shower
Sink
Mirrors
Windows
Blinds or curtains
Grout and tiles
Toiletry storage
Empty toiletries
Ventilation
Porch lights
Video doorbell
Motion sensors
Water sensors
Outdoor cameras
Indoor security system
Smoke detectors
Camera and/or sensor mounts
Lightbulbs
Light fixtures
Light switches
The ultimate home security spring cleaning guide
Posted March 15th, 2026 by SimpliSafe
First Posted: March 30th 2023 Updated: March 15th 2026
Longer days mean it’s that time of year – spring cleaning time! If you’re about to plan your annual spring cleaning, we’ve got you covered. By thoroughly inspecting your home for any security risks, alongside your decluttering tasks, you can ensure safety in the place you call home. So aside from covering the usual spring cleaning spots in your home, we’ll dive into why spring cleaning your home security is super important too.
In this guide:
Why spring clean your home for safety and security?
It’s always a good idea to conduct an annual spring clean. Not only is it good for the mind and soul, but it can help you spot vulnerable areas within your space that could be reinforced with home security measures. Here are some of the many reasons why you should do a spring clean, as well as its benefits for home security:
1. It reduces unnecessary clutter
We naturally accumulate things we don’t need throughout our lives. By having a yearly spring clean, we can dive deeper into our drawers and cupboards where unwanted or unnecessary items are taking up valuable space. Plus, less clutter could mean fewer things falling off shelves, trip hazards or items collapsing on you.
2. It helps deter burglars
Have you noticed your trinkets, keys or other valuables are in plain sight of a window? A spring clean may make you think twice about where you place your precious possessions.
3. You can find fire safety hazards
Found an overloaded socket, frayed TV wire or cluttered radiator? These are common fire hazards which can devastate your home. You can help prevent fire hazards by identifying areas where fires can occur and taking the necessary precautions to improve home safety by replacing equipment and removing the hazard as a whole.
4. It reminds you to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Spring cleaning is a great time to test all of your smoke detectors. If you want to protect your Airbnb property, or you rent out a property to tenants, governmental Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations state you must have at least one smoke alarm installed on each storey of your property where there is a room used as living accommodation.
5. It can improve the air quality in your home
By having a spring declutter, you can remove areas where dust is likely to accumulate, meaning fewer respiratory hazards and allergens. You can even make room to place plants to increase the quality of air in your home.
Top spring security tips to reduce the risk of burglary
The thought of spring cleaning your home can be daunting, but with our practical tips, we’ll show you how easy it is. Here’s how to spruce up your home indoors and outdoors, alongside tips on home security spring cleaning too.
Indoor home security spring cleaning
1. Check all locks in your home
Anything that can lock, like windows and doors, needs to be regularly inspected. This is so you can check the locks work as intended to keep you and your home safe. If any are showing signs of wear, tampering or aren’t working properly, get them replaced as soon as possible.
2. Test your home security system
During your spring clean, if you have a home security system installed, it’s a good idea to test if it’s working properly. Run through the various ways it can be triggered to ensure it works, and replace batteries where needed.
The same applies to checking smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replacing their batteries. You must also ensure they are up-to-date and complicit by law. Whilst it’s best to check these alarms monthly if possible, integrating this task into your spring cleaning checklist (or general cleaning routine) is a great way to remind yourself to get it done.
If you don’t have other home security devices in place alongside smoke detectors, these are worth investing in, particularly as crime in the UK can vary from place to place. Bespoke home security can be tailored to vulnerable areas in your home, as well as any additional security you feel your home needs.
3. Clean your home security systems properly
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t douse electronics in water or cleaning solutions, but it is important to keep your home security systems clean and maintained. For indoor security systems, go over any indoor camera lenses, entry sensors and motion detectors with a duster or microfibre cloth (the latter is useful for outdoor systems too).
Whilst cleaning this security equipment, it may also be a good time for you to check details such as camera angles and sensor placement, as well as reviewing previous footage to ensure that the images are clear.
4. Shred old documents
Shredding old documents can rid your home of sensitive information that could fall into the wrong hands. Plus, shredding can be quite thrilling! If you don’t have a shredder, grab some scissors and cut up any sensitive information on your documents into fine pieces.
Outdoor home security spring cleaning
1. Walk up to your front door
When you walk up to your home, can you see any vulnerabilities? Installing a video doorbell can provide an extra layer of security by allowing you to see who is at your door before answering it. Typically, a video doorbell connects to an app on your phone so you can see who’s at the front of your door, wherever you are. It’s a great way to check if the postman has arrived, or if an uninvited guest is making themselves known.
2. Check exterior lights turn on
Porch light security can be a fantastic burglar deterrent by removing dark spots near entry points. If you have motion sensor lights placed outside your home, make sure they still work. Replace the bulb or inspect the wiring if you suspect any issues.
If your lighting works well outside and you want to add another layer of security inside your home, consider installing motion sensors in different rooms for peace of mind. You can also install lights that can be controlled remotely or lights featuring automatic timers to make it look like you’re at home when you’re actually away. This is particularly useful when you go on holiday!
3. Consider extra foliage
If you have a front and/or back garden, plants can be used as barriers to deter burglars. Such plants include holly – as you can imagine, its prickly edges are enough to put off an attempt to climb over! There are many plants you can incorporate into your garden security plan, such as hawthorn and firethorn too.
However, it goes without saying that an outdoor security system should be strategically placed to ensure continued security, particularly if there are blind spots caused by taller plants and hedges. Plus, it’s important to bear in mind that overgrown hedges can sometimes provide useful hiding spots for burglars instead of deterring them. So, think carefully about where to place shrubs, cameras and sensors in your garden to make sure entry points are always secure.
4. Secure your garden
Check your garden gate and fencing for any holes people could look through. Back door handles and locks may also have a tendency to rust, so ensure these are replaced and maintained if they don’t look secure.
5. Update passwords and access codes regularly
Weak passwords or ones used for multiple logins could severely compromise your home security system. During your spring cleaning, remember to update and strengthen security system passwords, app and Wi-Fi passwords, and access codes on gates if you have them.
Top spring security tips to improve home safety
Your annual spring clean is the perfect time to think about improving home safety. Whilst you’re ticking tasks off your cleaning checklist, take this opportunity to remind yourself of these important safety checks:
1. Check for flooding hazards
You can help prevent your home from flooding hazards by installing a water sensor – which you can learn all about in our complete guide to water sensors. They’re especially useful if you live in an area prone to flooding or you think may be susceptible to water damage. In addition to this, consider contracting someone to seal any cracks in walls, ceilings, doors and windows.
2. Don’t forget to clean light fixtures
Did you know dust on a lightbulb or fixture could lead to a fire? We’re not trying to alarm you – we simply want to warn you about a very real problem that could arise without a deep and thorough spring clean! Bulb fixtures, ceiling fans, switches, chandeliers and lamp shades are examples of things to remember to clean this spring.
Personal spring cleaning safety tips
Last but certainly not least, please don’t forget your own personal safety whilst focusing on the safety and security of your home! A spring clean (or any clean for that matter) may cause injuries if you aren’t careful. Here are some spring cleaning safety tips, especially around electronics and using harsh cleaning agents.
1. Ventilate the area you’re cleaning
Whilst you spring clean your home, it’s a good idea to keep the areas you’re cleaning well-ventilated by opening windows and doors. This is especially important if you’re using chemicals like bleach. However, be careful not to leave these entry points open and unlocked when you aren’t around.
2. Wear gloves
Again, if you’re working with harsh chemicals like bleach, wear gloves to protect your hands. Be sure to wear clothing and footwear that fully covers your skin, or covers nicer clothing that you’re worried about damaging, should there be any accidental splashes or spills.
3. Be careful around electronics
Always power down and unplug devices before cleaning to eliminate the risk of electric shocks or short circuits, and never handle devices and cords with wet hands. If you need to clean electronic components like screens and keyboards, avoid spraying liquid cleaners directly onto them – instead, you should apply a small amount of cleaning product to a microfibre cloth and wipe gently.
The ultimate spring cleaning checklist
Not sure where to start with your own spring clean checklist? Here is an ultimate spring cleaning checklist to help you tackle all areas of your home (and to help you remember to check home security and safety features in these places):
Exterior home cleaning
Kitchen
Living Room
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Home security
We hope our tips on home security spring cleaning, as well as general spring cleaning tips, help make your annual deep clean a walk in the park. If you’re considering a home security system, contact SimpliSafe for more information. If you already have home security fixtures from us, check out the SimpliSafe help centre to get more out of our home security devices.