18 Oct 2013 / by Come To Order / in Family Management, Seasonal

Fall Maintenance Checklist 2013

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