Home maintenance is critical to ensure a safe, healthy home. Regular inspections are vital for roof and plumbing leaks. Replacing damaged screens or weather stripping with dry-rotted material is a good idea. Make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Make sure to clean the refrigerator coils and stove hoods. Keep appliances clean. There are many tasks you can do around your home. These are the top tips to ensure your home is safe and healthy. These are just a few ideas to get you started.
Examining your roof
As part of your home maintenance program, inspecting your roof is an important task to maintain the integrity of your house. No matter how good your roof looks, there's a possibility that it has a leak or minor damage. Even though leaks are not visible from the ground, they can cause serious damage to your home’s interior walls. Depending on what type of roof you have, the inspector will search for specific items.
Checking for leaks
Leakage from pipes can be a major source for water waste in many homes. According to the 2016 Residential End Uses of Water study, the average household loses 17 gallons of water every day due to indoor leaks. While some leaks are obvious and easy to spot, others remain undetected for many years. Check for leaks by turning off all water equipment and faucets. Also, look for any signs of water in your meter housing.
Cleaning your gutters
Although you may believe that cleaning gutters is difficult, it really isn't. While it may be easy for most people, it's actually a fairly dangerous task. A ladder with strong legs and a sturdy scooping instrument are essential to avoid injury. Be sure the handle is strong and can withstand the weight of the debris. Cleaning gutters is easier if you use the right tools.
Checking out critters
You can prepare your home for the coming season with spring and fall home maintenance checklists. This will help you catch potential problems early and prevent them from becoming serious. Check your attic in spring for any animal life that may have found a place there. Take down any branches and dead limbs near power lines. Check your soffits and eaves for holes or debris. You should also check the flashlights you have for critters, and ensure they are working properly.
Clean your fireplace
Regular cleaning is essential for wood-burning fireplaces. It will prevent dangerous particles from entering the air and reduce the chance of a fire. It should not be cleaned more than once per year. Deep cleaning should occur annually, or as required. You should wear protective clothing and gloves when you are cleaning your fireplace. Safety goggles and a dust mask should be worn while performing this task. Also, a microfiber wipe is recommended to clean the trim around the fireplace's edges and louvers.
Verify GFCI receptacles
In order to ensure your home's safety from electricity, you might need to check the GFCI outlets. Look for a red test or reset button on the GFCI outlet's panel label. The test button will cause the GFCI outlet to trip and switch off power to the two plug connections. A GFCI outlet can be considered safe if its "test" lights do not turn on or if it switches on when you plug in a voltage tester or radio. You need to replace it if it does. To ensure safety, you should test your GFCI outlets during annual home maintenance.
Cleaning your furnace
Dirt is the enemy of your furnace. It not only wastes fuel but also reduces the furnace's efficiency. Cleaning it is an important part of home maintenance. Before heating season, make sure to clean out the furnace's filter, motor, blower, and other parts. Check for dirt on these parts every month, and replace them if necessary with new filters. You must also clean the furnace's heating coils. They can get dirty easily.
FAQ
What tools should I use to clean my home?
For deep cleaning you will need to use heavy-duty equipment like vacuums.
However, if your goal is to simply clean and refresh your home, you won’t need as much equipment. You will only need a broom, a dustpan, and some water.
What does a house cleaner charge an hour?
House cleaning services are generally priced according to the job. Prices vary depending on the number of rooms that you clean, what furniture you have and whether you have children or pets.
An hourly rate for deep cleaning would be $30, while basic vacuuming might cost $15.
Is it a good idea to clean before the cleaner arrives?
You should have a backup plan in case you need it. A cleaning service may come in and find that there is nothing for them to do because you haven't done any preparation.
You can avoid this by making a list of items that need cleaning. This could include a listing of rooms, furniture and floors as well as carpets. Make sure you also have a checklist of tasks for each item.
Also, you'll need to think about how much time it will take to accomplish these tasks. You might, for example, choose to concentrate on the floor first. Next, focus on your walls.
Be sure to give a time estimate on each task and follow the schedule. You risk having cleaners leave half the job.
A lot of times, when we hire someone to clean our home, we don't give them much direction. We expect them to use their knowledge to determine where we should go.
It is important to create a detailed plan that includes tasks and deadlines. It is possible to ensure that all cleaners have the right tools and equipment in order to do the job correctly by making a detailed plan.
Statistics
- A single-family home should cost $120 to $150 to clean, according to Home Advisor. (freshbooks.com)
- Typically, you can charge customers about $90 to clean a house that's less than 1,000 square feet and $250 for a house that's 3,000 square feet or more, according to Home Advisor. (freshbooks.com)
- You should add 50 percent to cover these costs. (freshbooks.com)
- You must see the house in question when estimating all private house cleaning jobs, according to Cleaning 4 Profit. (freshbooks.com)
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How To
Tips to keep your house clean and organized
When you are able to organize your space properly, it will be much easier to maintain order at home.
Start by taking inventory of your possessions. First, make a list and mark any items you no longer want. Then, take a look at your belongings and decide which of them should stay with you permanently and which can be donated to charity. Some of your belongings might be sold online. The money you make from these sales might be enough to pay for your bills.
Next, go through your house and sort out what stays. Next, put the dishes in your dishwasher. Afterward, put clothes into the drawers. Then, fold and store the laundry in the closet. Try to get rid of any clutter that is causing you problems. Maybe you could move furniture around, so there's room for storage containers. Or maybe you could set aside a specific area just for storing toys, books, and games.
Once you have cleared out all your possessions you can begin to clean up your home. Take down pictures, posters, and artwork. Remove excess clutter from shelves, tables, and counters. Toss out any old newspapers and magazines. Last but not least, clean up after yourself: pick up trash, empty wastebaskets and vacuum floors.
Your best option to clean your home is to start small. It will be easy to get comfortable with doing small tasks like these. You can also try more complex projects, such as organizing your basement, kitchen, or garage.