When you own a home or business, it seems like the list of things to do to maintain it grows constantly, and you never seem to have the time to get it all done. The list of preventative maintenance projects seems small when you look at each individually, but as they add up, it seems daunting. We’re breaking down the list and sharing a handful of things that should be done in January to make it easier for you to tackle that list and care for your home or office.
- Touch up the paint in high-traffic areas. Your home or office was in use for 365 days last year. There may be scratches in the paint from where furniture was moved, scuffs on trim in frequently used places, and spots on the walls where doors were opened too quickly. Take a look around and find places that need touch-up paint. A half-hour of doing touch-up paint will refresh a room.
- Clean up and de-clutter your laundry room. Laundry detergent drips out of the bottle and builds up on shelves, leaving a sticky mess. Reorganize your laundry room by cleaning up the areas where you keep all the laundry supplies, sweeping in between and behind the washer and dryer, and rescuing socks that have slipped in between machines. Replace damaged storage bins and throw away products you never use. After this refresh, you might actually be excited to do laundry now!
- Clean your dryer duct. You should remove lint and other debris from your fryer vent twice a year. This involves more than just pulling the lint from the lint trap on your dryer, but actually cleaning out the vent that connects to the back of your dryer. Not only will this increase the efficiency of your dryer, possibly saving money on your electric bill, but it will also help to reduce the risk of home fires. To clean the vent out, pull your dryer away from the wall and remove the clamps holding the vent hose in place. You can vacuum the hose out or pull the buildup out with your hand. If you see clogs, use a metal coat hanger to clean them out. Replace your hose and re-attach the clamp. That’s it!
- Save energy in your refrigerator by cleaning around it. Move the fridge away from the wall. You might have to remove a grill that is covering the bottom hardware. Sweep up or vacuum any dirt, dust, pet hair, cheerios, etc. that is on the floor or has gotten caught on the fridge.
- Care for your mattress. Show your mattress a little love by vacuuming it, spot-cleaning stains, and rotating it. While you’re at it, sweep or vacuum those dust bunnies that have collected underneath the bed.
- Inspect your home for potential repairs that will cause larger issues. Take a peek at your roof for missing shingles, rotted boards, and damaged vents. Walk around the house and check your foundation for cracks. Foundation issues and roof leaks can cause major damage if not repaired before the spring storms blow in.
- Give Butler Contractors a call for all your home repair and preventative maintenance needs: (844) 6BUTLER.
