February Home Maintenance
Just think… we are almost through winter. We can do this.
Now is a good time to get caught up on those items that you should be doing around the house. The dreary days can lead to feeling tired or lazy (at least for us), but when we have a list to accomplish…. and we actually get it done, we feel so much better. So that said, here are our tips for February.
Check Caulking
Have you every noticed that you have some small mildew spots in the shower, or around your sink? It’s a pretty easy fix to get that out. Grab some indoor bathroom caulk at the store. Grab a caulk gun… and grab and x-acto knife. I also highly suggest a bottle of window cleaner and a hefty role of paper towels. Start with the knife and go across the top and bottom of the existing caulk. Then pull it out and throw it in a garbage can. Do this to the whole area until completely removed and clean. Now, grab the caulk and caulk gun, do a quick spray of the window cleaner (not too much) and use the caulk gun to slowly put the caulk back in. Use your finger (or a nifty tool), to remove the extra caulk and wipe the extra onto the paper towel. Wait for it to dry and it’s like a brand-new shower, sink, toilet, etc!
Clean Behind Appliances
We all forget to deep clean these areas and thats ok, but we don’t want to forget for long periods of time, as the dust build up can be a fire hazard. So pull out those major appliances and clean. Don’t forget the refrigerator coils. Pull out the range and the dishwasher. You’ll be surprised by how gross it can get back there! Plus, move into the laundry room and get the extra dust and lint from behind the washer and dryer. This task takes about an hour, but is definitely worth it.
Touch Up Interior Walls & Doors
Throughout the year, your walls can get knicks and scratches and maybe even a few kiddos drawings, so take an hour or two and pull our the drywall filler and paint and get the doors and walls cleaned up. Not only does it make the house look fresh and clean, if you are thinking of selling this spring it’ll make it a bit less overwhelming when you have to get your home ready. Now… if you’re like me and you can’t part with the kids drawings, it’s ok to leave them until you are ready. I have three spots of these in my house and it makes me smile every time I see them.
Start Planning for a Spring/Summer Sale
Last month you likely worked on cleaning out your closets if you follow our monthly maintenance tips, so take those bags and piles if you haven’t taken them to Goodwill yet and get ready for a spring or summer garage sale. Now if you are planning on selling this spring, make sure to put them in the closet or garage so they are out of the way. Keep decluttering the house and put things into boxes. If you are planning on moving, there is no reason to not start packing. Put the items in the garage or basement so that we can showcase your rooms!
Go Through your Deep Freezer, Cook and Restock
Don’t let food go to waste. Go through your deep freezer, meal prep with the items that you have. Then make a list to restock. As you see sales of items throughout the month, rebuild that stock to walk into the spring cooking season.
Dust Blinds & Curtains
We try to do this at least twice a year. They get pretty full of dust and can cause unwanted allergens in the house if you don’t.
Declutter Paperwork and Get Ready for Taxes
The W2s, 1099’s, etc. are probably rolling in at this point. Go through your paperwork and start preparing to get your taxes done. This year why not try to do it before the deadline. Organize and get it done.
Each month we try to give you tips and tricks to keep on your home maintenance. Doing things each month of the years seems to make it less overwhelming. Let us know how it goes this month!
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