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Spring Cleaning for Your Website: 7 Must-Do Maintenance Tasks

Written by Jon Hoppin

April 7, 2025

Just like your home needs a deep clean every spring, your website maintenance deserves the same attention. Dust bunnies in the corners? Broken links lurking in your navigation? Slow-loading pages clogging up performance? It’s time to roll up your sleeves and give your site the refresh it needs to run smoothly in 2025.

Think of it this way: A well-maintained website is like a tidy, welcoming storefront. It keeps visitors engaged, boosts SEO, and prevents costly issues down the road. So grab your digital mop—here are 7 essential website maintenance tasks to tackle this spring.


1. Declutter Your Plugins & Software (The Digital Junk Drawer)

Problem: Over time, unused plugins, outdated themes, and unnecessary scripts pile up—just like that junk drawer full of expired coupons and mystery keys.
Solution:

  • Delete inactive plugins (they can still pose security risks).
  • Update all plugins, themes, and CMS software (WordPress, Shopify, etc.).
  • Audit third-party scripts (e.g., old tracking codes) slowing down your site.

Pro Tip: Set a quarterly plugin review to keep things lean.


2. Scrub Away Broken Links (The Cobwebs of the Web)

Problem: Broken links (404 errors) are like cobwebs in the corners—they make your site look neglected and frustrate visitors.
Solution:

  • Run a broken link checker (Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Broken Link Checker plugin).
  • Redirect dead links to relevant pages (301 redirects).
  • Update or remove outdated content with broken outbound links.

Fun Fact: Google penalizes sites with too many 404s—don’t let your SEO gather dust!


3. Polish Your Page Speed (Unclog the Digital Pipes)

Problem: A slow site is like a clogged drain—visitors won’t wait around.
Solution:

  • Test speed with Google PageSpeed Insights.
  • Compress images (WebP format is 2025’s gold standard).
  • Enable browser caching and lazy loading.

Stat to Share:100ms delay in load time can hurt conversion rates by 7%. (Cloudflare Speed Matters Report)


4. Refresh Your Content (Dust Off Those Blog Posts)

Problem: Stale content is like last year’s expired spices—it loses its flavor (and SEO value).
Solution:

  • Update old posts with new stats, internal links, and fresh keywords.
  • Repurpose top-performing content into videos, infographics, or social snippets.
  • Delete or consolidate thin, outdated pages.

Example: A 2022 “SEO Trends” post? Give it a 2025 makeover!


5. Tighten Security (Lock the Digital Doors)

Problem: Hackers love neglected sites—like an unlocked back door.
Solution:

  • Install an SSL certificate (HTTPS is non-negotiable).
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for logins.
  • Run malware scans (Sucuri, Wordfence).

Warning: 60% of small businesses hit by cyberattacks close within 6 months (Verizon 2025 DBIR).


6. Organize Your Database (Tidy the Digital Closet)

Problem: Bloated databases slow down your site (think: a closet stuffed with unused files).
Solution:

  • Optimize your database (use WP-Optimize for WordPress).
  • Clear spam comments, post revisions, and trashed items.
  • Backup before cleaning!

Pro Tip: Schedule monthly database cleanups—plugins like WP-Optimize can automate this!


7. Test Your UX (Rearrange the Furniture)

Problem: A confusing layout is like a maze of furniture—visitors leave frustrated.
Solution:

  • Check mobile responsiveness (Google Mobile-Friendly Test).
  • Simplify navigation (fewer clicks = happier users).
  • Test forms, CTAs, and checkout flows.

Pro Move: Heatmaps (Hotjar) reveal where users get stuck.


Final Sweep: Schedule Regular Maintenance!

Just like you’d schedule annual deep cleans for your home, set a website maintenance calendar (monthly or quarterly). Need help? Our team handles everything from security patches to speed optimizations—so you can focus on growing your business.

🚀 Ready to refresh your site? Contact us for a free website audit, and let’s make your digital “home” sparkle!

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