Homeownership has a lot of responsibilities we may not think of when first dreaming of owning our own home; it can be a full-time job sometimes. Here is a list of 17 things every homeowner should do once a month, or at least regularly.
Check Monthly Electricity Costs
Monitor the electricity usage of appliances and manage usage accordingly. This is not only important for budgeting but also for making sure everything in your home is running properly. Family Handyman says, “Use a device like the Kill-A-Watt to calculate a dollar figure for your plug-in appliances. Test a different appliance every month, and get a sense of your electricity usage.”
Inspect Sinks and Tub Drains
Look for slow drainage that may indicate clogs. Taking care of clogs early by either hand-clearing hair from drains or using Drano can save you time and money later on for much larger clogs that require a plumber.
Flush Hot Water from the Water Heater
“Flushing your water heater can increase its life expectancy. The more sediment build up the water heater has in the tank, the harder the water heater has to work to heat your water. This can cause parts of the heater to burn out quickly, reducing your water heater’s life expectancy,” according to Landmark Home Warranty.
Clean Garbage Disposal
When a garbage disposal gets backed up, it can push debris back into the sink when the dishwasher runs, stop your sink from draining, or cause other damaging plumbing problems. Cleaning your garbage disposal is as easy as grinding ice cubes and then flushing with hot water and baking soda.
Clean Gutters
This is especially important for those who have trees around their home. Clogged gutters start by being as annoying as a waterfall over your front door but can lead to water damage to your home. Or, possibly scarier, a fallen gutter hitting someone visiting your home.
Check Roof
Look for potential issues or damages. This does not mean you have to climb on your roof every month. Stepping away from your home and doing a visual inspection from the ground can help alert you to problems that require someone to get up on the roof and check it out.
Clean Heat Ducts
To remove dust and improve air quality, consider professional help if needed. This task is generally as simple as wiping down the vents or taking a vacuum hose to them. If you have a pet or people with allergies in your home, this will significantly improve the air quality.
Seal Caulk or Grout
To avoid stains and water infiltration, HSH recommends you “touch up any voids or cracks in tubs and showers. This keeps them looking nice while helping to avoid seeping water damage.” Don’t worry; if done properly, you won’t be doing this every month, but it is always good to check monthly. Even if you don’t actively walk around to look, try to take note of any imperfect spots next time you’re soaking in the tub.
Dust Ceiling Fans
We may forget how dusty our ceiling fans get because they are above our heads and generally spinning. But much like cleaning the heat and air ducts, this simple task will help you breathe much easier. The amount of dust some ceiling fans are throwing around will make you sneeze just thinking about it.
Mop Hard Floors and Wipe Down Walls
Mopping is most likely a given for people, but doing a high-quality mop of hardwood floors with possibly a little buffing will go a long way. Less obvious, unless you have small children, is wiping down the walls. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you washed your walls? But just like everything else in your home, they accumulate dust and dirt.
Clean Light Fixtures and Wash Curtains
Since we have you thinking about the last time you washed your walls, when was the last time you washed your curtains? You wouldn’t wear clothes that haven’t been washed in months; why are you letting your windows? Forbes has this on their monthly cleaning task list. Light fixtures and curtains collect dirt and allergens; cleaning them will help the air quality and keep your filters lasting longer.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
People are often told to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with daylight savings time; we recommend you also check them monthly. The last thing you want is for either of these life-saving monitors to not be working when you need them the most.
Inspect Plumbing
There are a couple of ways to make sure your plumbing is doing its job correctly. One would be to walk around your home and check for leaks, clogs, and other issues. The other would be monitoring your water bill. An extra high water bill can be a sign of a running toilet or a leak somewhere in your home.
Walk Through the Entire Property
You may be thinking, “I walk through my home constantly,” but this is an intentional walk-through. Go from room to room and around the perimeter to check for insects, rodents, rot, leaks, or mold. Catching problems early is important to save on costly repairs in the future.
Maintain Garden
Perform necessary gardening tasks, such as weeding and planting. Travelers says, “If you have large trees on your property, be on the lookout for signs of weakness or decay.” Weeds also attract rodents and pests that can be harmful to your family and pets. Keeping a maintained yard and garden is not only aesthetic but can also keep your loved ones safe.
Clean or Replace HVAC Filters
Moving.com reminds us, “You may not need to fully replace it every single month—but you should still be giving it a once-over every month and removing any build up of dust or other debris.” This simple but often forgotten task can keep your energy costs down as well as help maintain clean air in your home. Plus, a clogged filter can become a fire hazard.
Deep Clean Home
Once you’ve gone through this list, a lot of cleaning has already been done, so this one shouldn’t feel overwhelming. At least once a month, tackle tasks like cleaning the oven, vacuuming under furniture, and dusting baseboards. It can also be helpful to purge things you no longer use and gift them away on your local Buy Nothing group.