1. Get your air conditioning ready. If you have central air, you may want to have it serviced. If you use window units, you’ll want to get those out of storage and get them installed.
2. Do an overall inspection of your home’s exterior. See if there’s any damage (paint chipping, holes in brick, etc.) and get everything repaired.
3. Clean out your gutters. Make sure everything’s flowing smoothly in preparation for spring showers.
4. Aerate and fertilize the lawn. This is also the time to make sure the sprinkler system is working and put it back on a schedule.
5. Get the chimney cleaned. Creosote builds up after use, so now’s the time to get your chimney cleaned and inspected.
6. Open exterior crawl space vents. This allows outside air to circulate under the floor and prevent the moisture buildup that can create mildew and rot.
7. Clean/repair your deck or patio. You may need to power wash, re-stain, or re-seal your deck. This is also the time to check for any loose boards, bricks, etc. and get them fixed.
8. Repair and paint fences. Take this time to remove stains, brace wood rails, fix leaning posts, repair buried rot, and fix any gates that need it.
9. Build or refill your disaster preparedness kit. In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to have food and water to last 72 hours, as well as a flashlight, radio, first aid kit, extra cash, batteries, etc.
10. Check and change batteries in smoke and Co2 detectors. This should be done every six months.
11. Clean kitchen appliances and vacuum refrigerator coils. When the coils get dirty, your fridge uses more electricity, so do this every six months.
12. Wash windows. Ideally, windows should be washed twice a year.
13. Seal the tile grout. This should be done every six months.
14. Clean baseboards and trim. This should be done at least every few months.
15. Clean kitchen sink disposal. This should be done every month or so. Use vinegar ice cubes (just what it sounds like) and then run them through the disposal. Cleans the disposal and sharpens the blades at the same time.
16. Clean your range hood fan filter. The filter collects grease, so it can become blocked and lose its effectiveness if this isn’t done every couple of months.
17. Inspect fire extinguisher. Make sure the gauge shows adequate pressure and that it’s easily accessible. This should be done every couple of months.
18. Clean out and de-clutter the garage. Clear out and donate the clutter and establish designated spaces for tools, sports equipment, etc.
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