Once a month Home To Do List

Katie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:31:21 +0000

Try the smoke alarms to make sure they’re working.

Check the pressure gauge on fire extinguishers. (Your owner’s manual will give the correct reading.)

Make sure the automatic garage door safely reverses as it should (see your owner’s manual). Adjust as necessary.

Take a child’s-eye tour of your home. Look for potential hazards (a hair dryer permanently plugged into a bathroom outlet, toxic cleaning products easily reached, uncapped electrical outlets, window shade cords reachable from a crib) and do something about them.

Unplug (and keep unplugged) all appliances not in daily use. If they’re not connected, they can’t start a fire or become a hazard to curious kids.

Wash the interior of the dishwasher with warm, soapy water to prevent fungus and mildew. (If you’re going to be away, have a neighbor run the dishwasher every two weeks so gaskets don’t dry out.)

August Home To Do List

Katie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:23:54 +0000

Do a serious cleaning of your oven and stove. Take removable covers off the stovetop, oven bottom and broiler and scrub away the drippings and grease underneath. Replace broken burners, knobs or plates and burned-out light bulbs.

Inspect the fireplace chimney for creosote buildup, deterioration or blockage. Or hire a chimney sweep to do it.

Remove a section of the stovepipe of your woodburning stove and look inside. If you find 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch creosote buildup, have the pipe cleaned.

Service air-conditioning units one more time (see July). This is not the month to have them conk out.

Inspect bathroom and kitchen tile floors and countertops. Clean as needed with a tile cleaner and repair, clean and seal grout. Be sure to ventilate the room you’re working in.

Searching for the Illusive Clutter Free Home » 08 August

Once a month Home To Do List

August Home To Do List