Feeling cooped up at home, or running out of things to do around the house? Without your normal daily routines, such as a commute or hitting the gym after work, you may have found yourself with a sudden surplus of time on your hands, with little-to-nothing to fill it. If you can relate to this, why not complete some at-home DIY maintenance, that won’t take too long but can lead to saving you time and money in the future — when life returns to normal!
What Makes Home Maintenance So Important?
There’s no debate that regular home maintenance can save you money. Do you want to prevent large, expensive problems in the future? Then it is vitally important to regularly check on major appliances to ensure they are working properly, or complete small updates to important devices around the house. Your wallet will thank you later!
Do you have a long list of projects that need to be completed? Now that we’re finding ourselves home more frequently, there is no excuse but to get started ticking items off that list!
Where to start?
Check Your Filters And Batteries
Having fresh filters helps your home’s systems run at their most efficient rate and therefore often saves you money on your power bills. Check air filters, water filters, and even vacuum filters and swap them for a fresh filter wherever necessary. Also, check any device in your home that uses batteries. Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, even wall clocks can run dead without you noticing, or even worse, start beeping in the middle of the night. It goes without saying that having a functioning smoke alarm can save you in more ways than one!
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
As we enter the hot Florida summer, your fans should be spinning counterclockwise. This pushes air downward, cooling you and the room. You can do this by seeing if your fan has a switch on the base. If it does, give it a flip. It can make a big difference in moving air throughout the room!
Deep Clean Appliances
Appliances can get grime and gunk build up over time. Your everyday wipe-down isn’t going to be enough. Most appliance manuals come with cleaning instructions, so don’t throw them away!
If your stove has removable grates or burner caps, remove them regularly and clean them in the sink – sometimes a good soaking really helps with stubborn build-up. Run your oven’s “self-clean” and then wipe out any remaining residue to eliminate the burning smell during cooking. Empty your fridge of all food and wipe down each shelf and drawer. Don’t put any expired food back in! Check those coils on the back of your fridge. If they’re coated with dust, they cannot properly release heat, and the fridge will have to work harder to stay cool. Keeping the coils clean can make a difference in your monthly power bill. Simply wipe the coils clean to prevent build-up.
Does your microwave have build-up? Place a bowl or mug of water in your microwave (add a half a lemon if you have it) and heat on high for 3 minutes. Let it sit and steam in the microwave for 3 more minutes and then wipe the inside down with a cloth.
Check Your Gutters
If your home has gutters, this is a great time to inspect them. Clogged gutters can overflow and cause water damage and rot to your roof, especially going into Florida’s rainy season. If you aren’t comfortable on a ladder, this is one maintenance task that’s definitely worth hiring out. Even if you are comfortable with being on a ladder, it’s safest to have a spotter with you just in case.
Pressure Wash Your Home
Many homes get dirty and grimy over the winter season, with mildew build-up from less sun exposure. Now is a great time to clean your home, before it gets too hot! Pick a warm, sunny day so your house dries quicker. Rent a pressure washer if you feel that the grime is really caked on – but often, a garden hose is enough to get off loose grime. Be sure that all of your windows and doors are tightly closed. Remove screens for best results on windows. This may work best by adding a bottle of outdoor cleaner that screws onto your hose, then soak and rinse the full exterior.
Purge The Extras
Purging unneeded items is a great way to spend downtime. The garage, shed, attic, basement, closet and junk drawers are all great places to start.Empty each area completely and wipe or sweep it clean to start with a fresh slate. Sort like items together and decide on what to keep and what you no longer need.
What is the best way to store loose items? Toiletries under the sink may fit best in a box, and tools in the garage may be best hung up. Lost at where to start with a large task, such as your closet or “junk drawer”? We recommend checking out Maria Kondo’s tidying method! Once you’ve gone through your items, bring unwanted clothes, equipment, or tools to your local goodwill for donation.
All Natural Ways To Scent Your Home
Looking for more natural, plant-based ways to scent your home? An essential oil diffuser is a great way to utilize essential oils in your home. However, don’t have an essential oil diffuser? No worries! You can boil water with essential oils dropped inside to have the same benefits.
Some great combos for essential oils are rosemary and lemon. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil with some rosemary, sliced lemon, and vanilla extract. Once boiling, let cool and transfer to a spray bottle. Use throughout your home to freshen up linens, carpets, and bedding! Another alternative to this spray would be a lilac spray! Have your home smelling like a spring breeze by combining lilac oil, water and vodka, and repeating the boiling steps listed above.
In Conclusion
Being stuck at home does not have to be a punishment! Make a to-do list of home maintenance tasks you can conquer and try to attack one per day. You’ll feel more productive, and your home will thank you with decreased repair costs down the line!
