Homeowner

JANUARY

CLEAN SHOWER HEADS AND TAPS

• Clean your shower heads and taps from hard water deposits by soaking them in vinegar overnight. Clean our your faucet aerators to improve water flow.

CLEAN AND RE-CAULK

• Remove moldy, broken, or cracked caulk around bathtubs, showers, toilets, and sinks. Re-caulk these elements to keep them secure and safe from leaks, water damage, and more.

CLEAN OUT GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS

• A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home.

FEBRUARY

CLEAN OVEN, COOKTOP & FILTERS

• Clean your oven, filters and range. Boil the filters in a water, baking soda, vinegar solution to rid them of flammable grease. Take your range apart and get fire-causing drips and spills out of the hard to reach places. Clean the inside of your oven using heat-free methods. Putting a paste of baking soda and washing it off with vinegar can remove most stubborn baked-on food.

CLEAN WASHER & DRYER

• If dryer lint builds up in your dryer vents, it can start a house fire. Vacuum out your dryer vent to get rid of extra dust and keep your dryer safe.

CLEAN WASHER & DRYER

• Clean out the filter in your dishwasher and the sprayer arms. This will keep your dishwasher cleaning your dishes the best it can.

MARCH

SPRING CLEAN YOUR HOME

• Deep clean your home. Dust, dirt, and grime builds up through the winter months and as the temperature starts to heat up, it is the perfect time to start spring cleaning.

CLEAN THE SIDING ON YOUR HOME

• Get rid of dirt and grime that can cause mildew and shorten the life of your siding. As a bonus, the exterior of your home will look fresh and clean for spring.

CAULK AROUND WINDOWS & DOORS

• Inspect the caulking and repair any that was battered during the winter. Check around your windows, doors, and corner trim to prevent water infiltration and avoid costly repairs.

APRIL

FIRE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• Now is a great time to re-check your batteries and make sure your detectors or working properly. Ensure you have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home (you can purchase plug in units)

SPRING YARD CLEANUP

• Start by raking up any remaining leaves in the yard that survived the winter. Lay down mulch in your flower beds and beneath hedges to protect plants from the summer drought, and to keep weeds at bay. Turn outside faucets and sprinklers back on and check for damage.

RESEED THE LAWN

• Fill in bald patches before the summer heat. Later in the spring, when the grass turns bright green again, you’ll want to fertilize to promote healthy growth.

MAY

TRIM TREES, BUSHES AND SHRUB

• Take care of larger trees, bushes and shrubs. Make sure they are cleaned, trimed and in good health for the summer heat

APPLY SEALANT TO WOOD FENCES AND DECKS

• Inspect the wood fences and decks. Do they need to be sealed or stained for increased life.

FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

• Is now a good time to fertilize your lawn? Follow the instructions on your fertilizer packaging to allow for maximum lawn health

JUNE

INSPECT OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND TOYS

• Outdoor furniture and play structures can get weather over time. Inspect these items to ensure proper use. Repair lifted nails or screws, make sure no spiders are present, and trash items that may be not be safe

CLEAN OUT THE GARAGE

• The garage is a place where things get stacked, stored and hidden. Take some time to organize the garage. Many house fires start in the garage and keeping it cleaned out and organized can help. Check expiration dates on aerosol cans, paints, fluids, etc.

FIX TORN SCREENS

• To utilize your windows for ventilation but avoid unwanted bugs from coming into the home, inspect your window screens for tares. Take them in to be repaired or replace with new.

JULY

CLEAN DRYER VENT AGAIN

• At minimum it is important to clean your dryer vent at least twice a year. Depending on how much buildup you have in your dryer vent you may want to do this more often

SWAP OUT AIR FILTERS

• Replace the air filters in your home to maintain a flow of healthy air.

INSPECT WATER HEATER

• Check your water heater for leaks and make sure it is working properly. You may choose to drain it and refil with fresh water to avoid mineral build up. (please make sure you take extreme caution and check with a professional to avoid burns from the hot water if you choose to drain)

AUGUST

DEEP CLEAN CARPETS

• Hire a professional or rent a carpet cleaner and give your floors a deep clean. Also, give your tile and wood floors a throughout cleaning.

CLEAN BATHROOM EXHAUST FANS

• Get all the dirt and grim out of the bathroom exhaust fans to ensure they continue to work properly and to extend the life of the fan

PRUNE BUSHES AND TREES

• It has been a few months since you maintained your bushes and trees. Inspect them for needed care and begin preparations for the winter months coming soon (check with a landscape specialist on the best ways to care for your bushes and trees)

SEPTEMBER

CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY

• Have the chimney cleaned and inspected before use in the winter months.

INSPECT YOUR ROOF

• Look for missing, loose or damaged tiles and shingles. Make sure the roof is secure to avoid any leaks.

CLEAN FRIDGE AND FREEZER COILS

• To avoid any problems and to extend the life your your refrigerator and freezer, clean the back and empty the drip trays.

OCTOBER

SPRAY FOR BUGS

• With the colder weather many bugs will be looking for shelter and warmth. Hire an exterminator to spray for insects inside and outside of your home.

REPLACE HVAC FILTER

• Your HVAC and furnace filters should be replaced every three months. You may want to replace them more often if you have pets, use the fireplace, have allergies, etc.

INSPECT YOUR BATHROOMS

• Repair and clean grout, replace caulk and seal where necessary. Clean faucets and shower heads to avoid buildup.

NOVEMBER

FALL BACK

• Change the clocks and change the batteries in your spoke detectors at the same time.

ADD TO THE LANDSCAPING

• If you are planning to plant new trees, the season to do so is now after the leaves have fallen

CHECK THE ATTIC VENTILATION

• Make sure there are no holes, pests, mold or other obstacles that prevent your home from operating at its best.

DECEMBER

INSPECT YOUR WINDOWS

• Make sure all your windows are sealing properly to keep the cold weather outside and to keep your heat inside. Add any needed insulation.

CLEAN LIGHT FIXTURES

• Now is the time to clean and dust the light fixtures and replace any bad lightbulbs. You may want to start replacing old light bulbs with newer energy efficient options.

CHECK THE ATTIC FOR LEAKS

• After a heavy rain take a look inside the attic to make sure everything is dry and secure. This can help you find and fix a small leak before it becomes a bigger problem.