The holidays are right around the corner, and you might need to fix up your house a bit before the chaos hits. Instead of pushing them off, start them as soon as possible so you can relax after the holidays. Even though entertaining might look different this year, complete these tasks to gear you up for the winter season. Here’s a helpful home maintenance checklist before the hubbub of the holidays.
1. Check smoke detectors
Although this is a maintenance item that should be done frequently throughout the year, it’s something simple you can do before the holidays. You or someone in your house is likely going to be baking or lighting candles. Take precautionary measures to change out your smoke detector’s batteries for a safe holiday season.
2. Clean light fixtures
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The days are getting shorter, which means you’re using more artificial indoor lighting than natural light. Light fixtures seem to go unnoticed in cleaning, so take the time to wipe them with a damp cloth. This will keep them shining bright and free of dust.
3. Dust and vacuum
In colder regions, people and pets might be dragging in snow and dirt more than other times of the year. Additionally, without being able to open windows and doors as much in the colder temperatures, dust settles in all of the crevices of your home and carpet. Do a thorough dusting and vacuuming to have a fresh, clean and dust-free home this holiday season.
4. Clear the gutters
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Gutters protect your home from water buildup that could lead to severe damage. Before winter weather hits with ice and snow, clear the leaves out of them. This will also decrease the danger of icicles forming and possibly falling on someone.
If they’re not cleaned regularly, they can back up and fail to function.
5. Fix plumbing issues
Fix slow drains, leaky toilets and faulty garbage disposals. Even if you don’t have a house full of guests this year, this is a good reminder to check on your bathrooms and sinks. Excess moisture will cause water damage and mold growth.
6. Oil squeaky doors
You’ll want to check for squeaky doors. A squeaky door can be an annoyance as it persists. Oil any doors that are heavily used for a quiet holiday season.
7. Clean your oven
After Thanksgiving and before Christmas is a prime time to clean your oven. You baked the turkey and the stuffing, and now you’ll be baking cookies. You can either set the self-cleaner on the oven or manually clean it. When you bake for the holidays, your house won’t fill with smoke.
Clean before the chaos
The holiday season is a great time to be around family. A home that’s looking its best and maintained well will be a safe and cozy environment for anyone who walks in.
AUTHOR: KACEY BRADLEY
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
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