You’re one of those people who is meticulous when it comes to cleaning the home. Specks of dust on your table, soil tracked inside your hallway by your pets, food waste—all of these are no match to your cleaning power. Your guests often compliment you for your nice and clean house. In spite of your meticulousness, there’s a good chance that there is an area that you have neglected.
If you’re like most homeowners in the eastern Virginia or North Carolina areas, it is likely that your home’s crawl space is the most neglected area in your house. Small wonder, as it is completely hidden from your view. But just like any area inside and outside your home, the crawl space can be inundated with dirt, dust, water, or worse, even raw sewage. Its dark and damp atmosphere is the perfect place for mold, mildew, and pests to flourish. A long-neglected crawl space can also cause heating problems for your home and may lead to higher power bills. So, it’s time to get out of the house with your flashlight in hand and check if it’s the time of the year again to have your crawl space cleaned. See the red flags listed below to determine if your crawl space definitely needs cleaning.
1. If you take a peek inside your crawl space and you see that mold and mildew have infested the area, then it’s definitely time to have the area cleaned. Mold and mildew are hard to miss especially in an enclosed area such as a crawl space. They have a distinct smell and an appearance that by now you can easily recognize. Have the crawl space cleaned immediately to prevent further infestation.
2. Another sign that your crawl space needs to be cleaned is the presence of bugs, rodents, and other pests. These animals can infest the crawl space and leave around nests and droppings. Rodents and other pests can loosen electrical wirings, and may even use the area as an entry point for accessing other parts of your home, such as the living room and the kitchen.
3. When you see that raw sewage has leaked into the crawl space or if it’s flooded, then it’s definitely time to have it cleaned. Apart from the nagging foul smell emanating from underneath, leaks inside the crawl space pose a danger to your home’s foundation and even your health.
4. Have your crawl space cleaned if you see torn or loose insulation. Rodents and accumulated moisture can damage your insulation, and will likely cause problems such as cold floors and higher power bills. Plus, mice and rats can also turn the bits and pieces of insulation that has fallen onto the floor of the crawl space into their nests.

How Often Should I have my Home’s Crawl Space Cleaned and Maintained?
If you’re like most homeowners, it is likely that you put off checking your crawl space and having it cleaned until a foul smell is emanating from underneath your floor or you see mice scurrying around your house. But if you want to save money while taking care of your home and your peace of mind, then it’s best to venture out of your house and check your crawl space as soon as possible.
Ideally, you should do a thorough check every six months to ensure that your crawl space is still in good shape. It is also best to check after a flood has swept through the area as it can leave standing water and other undesirable elements inside the crawl space. If the house seems colder than usual and your power bill seems higher than normal, it is likely that your insulation has been damaged and needs to be replaced.
Home maintenance experts recommend that homeowners have their properties’ crawl space checked and cleaned during spring to ensure that winter did not damage any pipes and had caused leaks all over the area. But you don’t need to wait for spring so you can have it cleaned. If you take a peek inside the crawl space and you’re bombarded with the smell of mold, mildew, rodent droppings, standing water, or even raw sewage, then it’s definitely time to call the cleaning experts. Be proactive and have your crawl space cleaned or your insulation replaced before winter sets in.
When you Need Crawl Space Cleaning Experts…
If you have a home in eastern Virginia or North Carolina, have your crawl space cleaned by Aftercare. Cleaning what other people would not or could not clean is Aftercare’s speciality. Our company provides crawl space cleaning, as well as a host of other cleaning services that require special skills, training, or tools. Contact us anytime for crawl space cleaning and any other specialized cleaning services we offer to our customers in the eastern Virginia or North Carolina areas.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]