🍔 Cookout, graduation party, and grilling season is just around the corner, which means many of us are planning on having people over to our homes in the very near future. From plant care to washing machine maintenance, keep reading to make sure your home is in tip-top shape this summer season!
1. Check Outdoor Lighting
The last thing you want when you’re sending your guests home after a BBQ is vision impairment. Be sure to check all outdoor lighting, making sure your porch, landscape, and motion-activated lighting are in working order. If you need to replace bulbs or fixtures, be sure to stop in at your local Kenyon Noble today.
2.Tend to Your Potted Plants
Now is a great time to check in with your leafy friends, as they might need pruning with some new shears, a soil refresh, or repotting altogether. Stop in at your local Kenyon Noble to explore our wide variety of potting soils, plant foods, and much more!
If you have outdoor plants you brought indoors for the winter months, you can move them back outside once the danger of frost has come and gone, making sure to keep them in a semi-shaded area for the first few weeks to avoid sunburn.
3. Check for Leaks
Thoroughly inspect your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room fixtures for any potential leaks and update or repair as needed. The best time to treat water damage is before it happens! With any ice buildup (hopefully!) gone for the year, it can’t hurt to check your attic space as well.
4. Check Safety Devices
With smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and HVAC filters being more “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” than other home systems, it’s easy to overlook maintenance for them. Test all batteries and replace your air filters to ensure all your systems are in good working condition and are performing efficiently. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed.
5. Give Your Grill Some Love
Every season is grilling season, but with Summer just around the corner, future-you will thank you for giving your grill a good once-over. Deep clean the grates and interior with a grill brush and wipe down all outside surfaces with warm, soapy water. If your grill has a stainless finish, give it a good polish with a stainless steel cleaner. While you’re at it, check on the state of your grilling utensils and see if anything needs to be replaced, including any propane tanks. Stop in at your local Kenyon Noble with your shopping list for all your grilling needs today!
6. Walkway Maintenance
Now that all the snow has melted, your walkways are likely in need of a makeover. Take an afternoon to pull weeds, edge your sidewalks, and smooth out gravel paths. If you have concrete, block, or brick walkways, now would be a good time to break out the pressure washer and spruce them up.
7. Wash & Touch Up Walls
Wall cleaning can be an often-overlooked chore, but it’s an important one! Dust your walls with an extended-handle duster, paying special attention to high corners and baseboards. Fill a bucket with hot water and a mild solution (I use a teaspoon of powdered Tide per every gallon of hot water) and wipe down your walls with a clean white cloth. While you’re at it, wipe down door and cabinet handles, sliding door tracks, and door frames.
8. Clean Your Knick-Knacks
Trinkets, tchotchkes, whatever you choose to call them, they’re probably dusty (and so is the shelf they’re on!) For light dust, remove everything from the shelf and wipe down the surface with a duster or rag, then wipe down each item before putting it back. For more caked-on dust, soak your knick-knacks in a tub of warm, soapy water (as long as they’re water-safe) and wipe them down gently with a soft cloth to remove any stuck-on grime. You might also want to run your duster over mirrors, photo frames, and shelves while you have it out.
10. Tend to your Washing Machine & Dryer
Your washing machine does a lot for you. Return the favor by running it with a specialty cleaner or vinegar on a hot water cycle then wipe down the drum, rubber gasket, and inside the door with a soft cloth. Then, move on to the dryer and clear out the lint trap thoroughly. You might even want to run a lint trap cleaning attachment to ensure your vents are clear and fire-hazard-free! When all is said and done, wipe down the exterior of both machines with a clean cloth and the Tide solution we mentioned in step 7.
While do-it-yourself projects can be fun and fulfilling, there is always a potential for personal injury or property damage. We strongly suggest that any project beyond your abilities be left to licensed professionals such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we assume no responsibility or liability for the contents of this article.