Essential Maintenance Tips To Keep The Home in Top Shape
Who doesn’t love having a clean and fresh home? Unfortunately, maintaining that aesthetic takes time and effort. People often skip this important process, but most of those same people still want that beautiful home, so can there be a middle ground to this dilemma? Of course! Here’s a simple checklist to get started.
Home maintenance goes way beyond cleaning the gutters once a year or sweeping the floor every now and again; it’s a constant grind when there are other priorities that need attending to. Never forget that a house is one of life’s biggest investments, so keeping it in good standing is non-negotiable. Think of the house as if it’s a car: without maintenance to keep it running, it becomes outdated. Nobody wants this to happen to their car, let alone their house! This quick checklist will back anyone’s house back and running efficiently in no time.
1. Remove Sediment From the Water Heater
Every home should have a clean water heater, unless that family prefers cold showers in the middle of winter! Sediment can build up in the water heater, causing it to malfunction. By attaching a simple drain or water hose to the heater will help drain the valve, ensuring it lasts well past it’s recommended before-date.
2. Clean The Rain Gutters
It’s good practice to get all that gunk out of the gutter. This is something that should be done before winter rolls around. If there are any leaves that accumulate, get them out of there. A dry or wet vacuum can be used as a good tool, or even a curved appendice to get those tough to reach spots.
3. Sanitize Brooms and Dustpans
We clean floors and dirty areas with the broom but often forget to keep the broom clean! Professionals say brooms should be cleaned every 3 months, or even more if it’s especially dirty. If this isn’t done, brooming can spread more germs instead of cleaning the space. Don’t be afraid to get in there with soap and hot water to keep that broom clean.
4. Keep Garbage Disposal Blades Sharp
Not everyone has a garbage disposal, but most who do don’t take care of the blades. Otherwise, food and grease will stick to the rings, making them too blunt to operate efficiently. Try adding some eggshells, lemon or another deodorizing smell to make that old food smell better.
5. Clean the Dryer Vent
To avoid potential fire hazards, maintain routine maintenance of the dryer vent. If lint gets trapped in there and doesn’t allow air to circulate, heat will build up and may lead to a fire. Follow these simple steps to avoid that from happening:
- Locate the duct
- Safely disconnect the dryer
- Use vent cleaning kit and clean
- Tidy up, reconnect everything
- Do a trial run
For deeper cleaning, use a large brush to clean out the dryer vent duct.
6. Whiten Yellowed Pillows
The pillow is often the last thing we see before we doze off for the night. Unfortunately, as we sleep dead skin cells, dirt and hair will build up on the surface. Over time, these pillows can become yellowed or dirty. Don’t be afraid to wash these as if they were regular laundry. Add some detergent, or hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
7. Inspect the Shingles on the Roof
A roof over our head keeps the family safe, and isn’t a job to be overlooked. Avoid leaking, damage to the drip edge or rooting materials. Here are some things to look out for on the roof:
- Cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing
- Shingles that are buckling, curling, or blistering
- Missing or broken shingles
- Cracked and worn rubber boots around vent pipes
- Masses of moss and lichen
8. Check the Air Conditioner
Summers can get hot, and the AC becomes integral very quickly. However, it won’t work properly with clogged filters, low refrigerant, dirty coils or faulty fans. Even dust or dirt can cause a failure. Check for weeds growing either on the outside or inside of the machine.
9. Inspect the Furnace
Before winter rolls around, check the furnace! If the vent, blower and duct have already been taken care of without results, it may be time to replace the filter. Electronic filters are easily replaced or cleaned, just be sure to confirm with a professional if the job is too much to handle.
10. Toilet Siphons Need to be Cleaned
Nobody wants a blocked toilet. To keep it functioning as it should with a home remedy, try pouring some vinegar over the rims of the siphons. Leave it overnight and watch it run more smoothly.
11. Smoke Detector Test
With everything else going on in the world, it’s easy to forget about the biggest disasters. Many travesties could have been avoided with a functioning smoke detector. Press and hold the button then listen for a beep. If sound comes out, then it works. If it doesn’t the device may need a manual test. Light a controlled match and hold it near the detector. Again, if sound comes out, the machine works!
12. Clean Refrigerator Coils
If the refrigerator doesn’t seem cold enough, it may need a condenser coil to be cleaned. These should ideally be cleaned every 6 months or year. Turn the refrigerator off, then use a specialized brush to remove any gunk stuck to it. The machine will then use less energy to keep the refrigerator cold.
13. Clean the Sink
Different kind of sinks require different kinds of solutions. First find what kind of sink is set up in the house, then find materials that clean it well. Generally, baking soda and warm water work well on porcelain sinks, which is common in many houses.
14. Get Rid of Bathroom Grime
To get clean, one first needs a clean tub! For acrylic and enamel tubs, try some lemon juice and leave it for ten minutes. For a porcelain tub, a simple household item such as nail polish can do the job just as well as most products available in stores.
15. Reseal Stone Surfaces
There are many products available for suitable sealers. Once the sealer is applied and dried, use a towel to wipe away any excess material. While all-natural solutions for stone surfaces are trending these days, be prepared for an almost annual investment. There are other options available.
16. Clean The Chimney
Burning wood releases contaminants that get clogged inside the chimney. Creosote forms, which can lead to harmful chemicals or even a fire. This is a dirty job; those brae enough to get in there may want to purchase some goggles, a large brush and some plastic sheeting. If this seems overwhelming, professional help is always an option. 
Conclusion
A home operates with the seasons, coming to life in the spring and hunkering down for the winter. Follow this natural arc all year long, keep on top of the small stuff, and one can be sure to have their house looking new every time.
The easiest way to manage the cleaning cycle is to work with the seasons: some things are better done in either the winter or summer. Try to stay ahead of the game instead of getting overwhelmed all at once and the house will look amazing in no time!