Fall 2016 Home Maintenance Checklist
We first posted this list back in 2013, but it’s time to revisit these annual tips again! With busy summer schedules and lots of outdoor activities, it’s easy to neglect areas of your home that might become collecting places for dust, cobwebs, and household clutter. Now is a great time to regroup and start checking off tasks from your fall maintenance to-do list. Not only does it help you prepare your house for the colder winter weather, but it also gives you a head start on getting ready for the upcoming holidays – yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner!
Here’s are some fall maintenance “to-dos” that will help get your home in tip top shape, inside and out!
Outdoors
- Identify and reorganize (if necessary) a spot in the garage to make room for storing summer toys, tools, and equipment.
- Rake leaves and remove yard waste
- Prune shrubs and trees
- Clean out flower beds and gardens
- Clean gutters and downspouts and make repairs as needed
- Check roof for missing or damaged shingles and replace
- Drain hoses and store for the winter
- Drain your underground sprinkling system or store above ground sprinklers
- Store mower and gardening tools in a safe place
- Wash window exteriors
- Clean and cover patio furniture
- Clean and cover your barbeque grill
- Locate your snow shovels and repair/replace, if needed
- Do maintenance on your snow blower
- Stock up on ice melt
Indoors
- Schedule a furnace inspection
- Clean fireplace and sweep your chimney
- Inspect caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors
- Replace furnace filters
- Clean air ducts
- Check the insulation on your pipes
- Clean hard surface floors
- Steam clean carpets
- Dust for cobwebs around baseboards and ceilings
- Dust light fixtures
- Dust shelves, baseboards, trim, and picture frames
- Wash interior windows and window treatments
- Clean under beds
- Reorganize closets (keep a “donations” box handy for clothes that no longer fit!)
- Clean out the refrigerator
- Clean out the pantry and cupboards
