5 Ways to Keep Your Home in Ship-Shape All Summer Long

Living

Summer is the time for carefree days in the sun, relaxed living, and bare feet. It’s time to let some things slide.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep up with home maintenance. Some chores are easier in the summer, and summer living is better with some attention to detail.

A summer home maintenance checklist can help you stay on top of what needs doing. It will also keep your home running smoothly well into fall.

Your Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

Stay safe and keep your home in good condition throughout summer’s extreme temperatures, bugs, storms, and hazards.

1. Test Your Safety Devices and Detectors

Ideally, your safety devices like smoke detectors should be tested monthly. Make sure they’re working. Replace the batteries if needed. If the device is more than 10 years old, it needs to be replaced. If you have a fire extinguisher, check the expiration date and replace if needed.

2. Give the Windows a Good Cleaning

A nice day is a perfect time to clean your windows, inside and out. You’ll let in more light and make the whole house sparkle. For the outside windows, skip a ladder and use a telescoping window washer instead. Use a long-handled broom to remove any spider webs or debris.

3. Inspect Window Screens

While you’re washing windows, inspect your window screens. Opening your windows on a breezy, cool summer night is great, but not if you’re letting in mosquitos, ants, moths, and spiders. If you find any holes, you can use a screen patching kit, or you can replace the entire screen.

4. Stay Fire-Safe

If your climate includes dry summers, take some time to carry out fire prevention measures. From your home’s perimeter, remove anything that could fuel a blaze – dead leaves, pine needles, weeds, or fallen branches from trees are all culprits.

5. Cut Down Your Water Usage

It’s easy to waste water in the summer and over-water your lawn. Avoid this mistake and water only in the early morning, when the moisture can easily penetrate the soil. If you have a sprinkler system, invest in a timer, and turn it off when you get a good soaking rain.

6. Check Fences – Including Pool Fences

If you have a fence around your property, check it for sagging, rotting wood, and broken boards or holes. Do you have a pool? Make sure your pool fence is secure and your gate is working properly. If you don’t have one that closes and latches automatically, invest in one for safety.

Follow a Checklist for Summer Home Maintenance and Enjoy Lazy Days

Keeping your home in ship-shape will help you roll right along into the coming autumn. You’ll also help to prevent bigger issues that could spring from smaller problems. Besides, there’s nothing smarter than protecting and maintaining your home – possibly your biggest investment.