Buying a home is a great achievement, but it’s the beginning of a lifelong commitment. As a manager of your own property, you can expect to have to start fixing repairs, overseeing renovations, and replacing worn items. However, you’re likely to get better at maintaining your home as you go along.
It is important that you make looking after your home a priority if you don’t want to find that it’s gradually falling apart as the year’s progress. It will take an investment of time and money, but it shouldn’t be too exorbitant if you’re consistent. Here are a few ways that you can maintain your home so that it stays in tip-top shape.
-
Inspect for Plumbing Issues
For starters, when trying to maintain your home, it’s a good idea that you start by tackling the larger issues, such as plumbing. It often starts with a little leak or drip here and there, but that could turn into something as big as your home flooding.
Some areas to check include the sinks, pipes, toilets and all surrounding areas. Signs of trouble are:
- Water stains on the ceiling
- Loose tiles
- Persistent mold
- Loose flooring
- Dampness
You may need a professional plumber to help you fix a good majority of these problems.
-
Spring Clean Often
When it comes to home maintenance, it’s about tackling the little issues before they become big problems. One of the smaller issues you can start with is tidying your home thoroughly as often as you can. Often termed spring cleaning, this should be done as frequently as you feel necessary or when you notice your home is becoming cluttered and dust-filled. Here are a few areas of your home that could use a spring cleaning.
Walls and Ceilings – One of the areas to start when cleaning are the walls and ceilings. Use the brush attachment of the vacuum to clean any built-up grime and dirt. You can then wipe using all-purpose cleaner and a clean rag to give it an added shine.
Rugs – Over time, rugs can easily soak up dirt and become dull or stained. For this reason, when you’re cleaning, don’t forget to throw all of the rugs around the house in the washing machine. Before doing so, read the manufacturer’s instructions and be sure they don’t have special directions for washing or shouldn’t be cleaned by a professional.
Floors – The floors are a big part of any home, so cleaning them properly is a good idea to maintain your home. The kind of materials that you have on your floors will dictate how you clean them. For tiles, apply a cleanser to the floor and let it soak for about twenty minutes. Once you’ve done that, use a water-soaked mop to wipe the floor. Carpet and stain removers should do the trick for carpet, while vacuuming, mopping then buffing should work for wooden floors.
Windows – Your windows are a part of your house that can easily be forgotten. However, they need to be cleaned regularly as well if you want them to sparkle and your frames to stay intact. Microfiber cloths are the ideal cleaning tool to use as they don’t leave lint.
-
Get Your Roof Checked Regularly
If not well maintained, the roof of your home can cause several challenges. To avoid this, you should have a checklist of things to check on a regular basis. You want to make sure that there are no loose shingles and there isn’t a noticeable amount of rust. Also, check for any sealants that may need to be replaced. It’s often best to have a professional company like Crowley Roofers inspect it and fix any issues that may arise.
-
Touch up the Kitchen
Your kitchen is a part of your home that if well maintained or even renovated, could make it a lot more valuable. In light of this, you should touch up your kitchen however you can. When renovating your kitchen, updating or painting the cabinets or replacing hardware is a good place to start. Also, try changing light fixtures, updating your counter tops, or installing new appliances. These kitchen renovations can be done with the assistance of a professional interior designer. The designer will make sure you are making prudent decisions and the kitchen will function properly.
All About Interiors
-
Clean Out Gutters
Gutters are another area of your home that should be maintained. To do so, begin cleaning the gutter near a downspout. You can then remove any large debris like leave and twigs with a trowel and throw it in a bucket. You should be trying to make sure that it’s draining easily as if not, it may be clogged. Perhaps try using a gutter-cleaning attachment on a hose as a way of cleaning the gutter if you find that easier to do.
-
Take Care of Insect Problems
Insects, pests, and rodents can be a headache, especially when they infest your home. Termites are said to cause around $5 billion in damages to U.S properties every year. If you don’t want to find that your house is deteriorating as a result, inspect regularly for any signs that you may have a problem. To get rid of insects like cockroaches and fleas, in particular, make sure you keep your home as clean as possible.
-
Smoke Alarms
Thousands of fires occur on an annual basis around the country. However, thanks to effective fire alarms, they can be prevented. For safety reasons, you should check that your smoke alarms are working properly. Don’t forget to give them fresh batteries and test them to ensure that all is well.
-
Create a Home Maintenance Calendar
Life can get busy sometimes and as a result, the task to maintain your home can be tough. To remind yourself regarding the many things you need to do, you should try creating a maintenance calendar. You can either choose to set a notification for each task or set a general reminder. Google calendar may be a good tool to remind you. Alternatively, try writing it down in your diary or setting reminders on your phone.
Your home is something that’s solely your responsibility, so try and look after it the best that you can. Remember not to let issues linger and fix them as quickly as you can. Doing so should ensure that your house remains as close to new as possible.
This post is a collaboration and may contain relevant and relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes only.