Tag: Home Improvement

Home Maintenance Checklist for Every Season

Homeownership brings both joy and responsibilities. Keeping your home well-maintained throughout the year is essential for its longevity and comfort. To help you stay on top of things, here’s a comprehensive checklist tailored for every season:

Spring Cleaning and Preparation

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home after a long winter. Start by:

Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts

 Remove debris and leaves to prevent clogs that could lead to water damage.

Man Cleaning Gutters on a Ladder Against a Brick House

Inspecting Roof 

Look for any missing shingles or damage and address them promptly.

Testing Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Ensure they are working correctly to keep your family safe.

Checking HVAC Systems

Schedule a professional to clean and service your heating and cooling systems.

Inspecting Windows and Doors

Check for drafts and reseal as needed to improve energy efficiency.

Summer Maintenance

As the weather warms up, your focus shifts to outdoor areas. Here’s what to do during summer:

Landscaping

Maintain your lawn, trim bushes, and remove any dead plants or trees.

Landscaping panorama of home garden. Scenic view of landscaped garden in backyard. Landscape design with plants and flowers at residential house. Scenery of natural landscaping area in summer.

Power Wash Exterior

Clean your siding, deck, and patio to keep them looking fresh.

Checking Irrigation

Ensure your sprinkler system is working properly for a lush garden.

Inspecting Pool Equipment

If you have a pool, service the pump, filter, and clean the pool itself.

Sealing Windows and Doors

Check for gaps or cracks and reseal them to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Fall Preparation

Fall brings cooler temperatures and falling leaves. Prepare your home with these tasks:

Cleaning and Storing Garden Tools

Properly clean and store your gardening equipment.

Pile of fall leaves with fan rake on lawn

Inspecting and Cleaning Fireplace and Chimney

Ensure your fireplace is safe for use during the colder months.

Clearing Gutters and Downspouts

Remove leaves to prevent blockages that could lead to ice dams.

Servicing Heating System

Schedule a professional to inspect and clean your heating system.

Sealing Cracks in Driveways and Walkways

Prevent further damage by sealing any cracks.

Winter Ready

Before the snow and freezing temperatures hit, make sure your home is winter-ready:

Insulate Pipes

Protect your pipes from freezing by insulating them.

Stocking Emergency Supplies

Have essential supplies like flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items ready.

Checking Roof and Gutters

Ensure your roof is in good condition and gutters are free of debris.

Weatherstrip Doors and Windows

Prevent drafts by adding weatherstripping where needed.

Servicing Snow Blower

 If you have one, ensure it’s in working order before the first snowfall.

Year-Round Tasks

Some tasks should be performed year-round to maintain your home’s overall condition:

Regular Cleaning

Maintain a clean and clutter-free environment to prevent issues.

Pest Control

Keep an eye out for pests and take action if needed to avoid infestations.

Pest Control Worker Spraying Pesticides On Wooden Drawer

Inspect for Water Leaks

Regularly check for leaks in faucets, pipes, and appliances.

Check Electrical Wiring

Look for any frayed wires or signs of electrical issues.

Monitor HVAC Filter 

Replace or clean HVAC filters as needed for efficient operation.

Conclusion

Remember, regular home maintenance is not just about preserving the value of your property; it’s about ensuring the safety and comfort of your family. By following this comprehensive checklist for every season, you can keep your home in excellent condition year-round and enjoy all the benefits of homeownership with peace of mind.

 

Let’s transform that unused closet

At one time, closets were the same size as a large room in our modern homes. In these spacious caverns, folks studied, wrote and spent time in contemplation.

Where did they keep their clothing, you ask? They stored them in wooden storage chests.

The closet as we know it today, “…a dedicated space built into the home for storage,”  came into being in the United States around 1840, according to the folks at Closets by Design.

And homebuyers fell in love with them. Naturally, home builders picked up on the feature; after all, people were willing to pay more for a home with closets.

Fast forward to 2023, when homes are vastly larger and not all of us have a hoard to store away. Believe it or not, some folks even have an unused closet.

If you are among these minimalists, read on to get some closet transformation ideas, many of which can be accomplished in one weekend.

Ditch the dining room table and create a brilliant workstation

The practice of transforming a closet into an office has become so popular there is a term for the result: Cloffice.

If you have an unused closet in the home, consider turning it into an office or a workstation. It’s a fun project that you can easily DIY over a weekend.

Step one is to determine if you’ll paint the closet’s interior. Many are so dreary that working in them may become drudgery.

Whether you know it as a closet bar or closet rod, that thing that holds your clothes hangers needs to be removed, if you didn’t do so while painting, before performing the next step in the transformation. Don’t dispose of it because if you ever sell the home, you’ll need to replace it.

Now you should have an empty closet, save for a shelf or shelves, set higher on the wall. On these shelves, use decorative boxes, trays or other organizational items to store small office supplies such as paper clips, staples, etc. Check out the ideas on Pinterest.com.

Don’t neglect installing suitable lighting. While overhead lighting is necessary, a desk lamp should also be on your shopping list. Shop for one that is adjustable, offers a generous amount of light, and has a small footprint.

Now all you need to do is figure out the desk situation. This can be as simple as plywood propped on short filing cabinets or a small version of an office desk. Get ideas online at TheCraftyBlogStalker.com and Remodelaholic.com.

Now, pull up that comfy chair you’ve chosen and get to work!

Curl up with a good book in your own reading nook

Shallow closets are ideal for this transformation idea. All you need is a comfy spot to lounge in and good lighting. But, really, the sky is the limit when designing this space.

Two examples we’ve found online are brilliant and include built-in window seats (our favorite) or a giant pouf to sit or lie on (this is especially cute for a child’s reading nook).

Good lighting is essential in this closet transformation.

From closet to laundry room? Yup!

Yes, it may sound wacky, but stick with us here. “Converting a closet into a laundry can be an inexpensive exercise as long as you have easy access to both plumbing and drainage,” according to an unnamed writer who took on the project and walks readers through it at Ideas2Live4.com.

We love the closet/laundry room with racks built into the doors to hold laundry soap and other supplies.

Think you can’t fit those appliances in the closet? The aforementioned unnamed writer says, “Most closets are 600mm (24″) deep. Most laundry appliances are around 500mm (20″) deep.”

With a bit of time and inspiration, you can quickly transform your unused closet into an area that is a joy to use.