Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
June 20th marks the official first day of summer. Is your home ready for the hot and humid months of July, August, and September? Get started prepping your home for the warm weather by following these to-do's on our Summer Home Maintenance Checklist! Empty Standing WaterThe last thing you want is a swarm of mosquitoes on your property, so make sure to drain any standing water. This can range from larger projects like changing pool water, to the smallest projects, like bird baths. Bring out the Summer NecessitiesPlace bug repellent, beach towels, sunglasses, first aid kit, sunscreen, aloe, and any other summer necessities together in a spot near the front door for easy access for everyone in the home to use. Install Screen DoorsReplace glass doors with screen ones to let the fresh summer air inside. Make sure there aren’t any holes, though! Check Play Equipment for SafetyOutdoor swings and playgrounds could have been damaged by winter, weather, moisture, etc. Make sure to check these items, as well as bikes and sporting equipment for safety hazards before allowing family members to use them. Hang a ClotheslineTo save energy in the summertime, you can dry your clothes naturally on a clothesline, rather than in a dryer. If you have a pool, this is also a great place for family members to hang pool towels and bathing suits up to dry. Organize and Put Away School SuppliesThe kids are about to want nothing to do with anything school-related, so before the year is completely over, begin organizing school supplies and papers. Sort through their work and keep only the best. Throw out older supplies that are no longer useful, such as dried up glue sticks. Put the rest in storage. Check HVAC and Cooling SystemsDon’t wait until the heat is here to schedule maintenance for your HVAC system. If you have window units, make sure they are properly installed. Dust ceiling fans and window sills. Check Irrigation SystemsCheck that your irrigation system and sprinklers are working properly. You don’t want plants to dry from not being watered, or any flooding to occur. Set a schedule for your irrigation system so your yard stays fresh and green all summer long. Update First Aid KitsGreat weather means the kids will be playing outdoors more often. Make sure you have band-aids, alcohol wipes, tweezers, gause, burn cream, and more first aid kit necessities in case of an emergency. Clean GuttersIf you haven’t cleaned your gutters recently, make sure to do so. Leaves and other debris can cause flooding during summer storms when gutters aren’t cleared. Sources Cited: Houzz.com
Readying Your Home for Summertime
As summertime approaches and the days get warmer, homeowners should begin to ready their outdoor spaces for summer heat, outdoor entertaining, and the emergence of pesky bugs. Remove Excess ThatchDecaying plants are more than likely built up on top of your grass. Rake this away so that sunlight and rain water can reach the soil to help your grass grow green and luscious in time for summer. Fertilize Your GrassOn average, 30 days before summertime is a great time to fertilize your grass. The type of fertilizer you should use depends on the type of grass you have. Water Your LawnKeep roots in mind! Most grass needs 1 inch of irrigation each week during peak growing season. The best time to water your yard is the early morning or at night so the grass has more time to absorb the water before it dries out from the sunlight. Keep Your Grass MowedMowing grass properly is super important! Follow these general rules: -never cut more than ⅓ of the height of the grass -mow often, it strengthens the grass-raise the cutting height of your mower as the summer goes on Open Your Pool (if applicable)It’s about to be pool season! Those who have pools know they require a lot of maintenance. Begin cleaning the pool and deck area, sorting out any problems with the equipment, add chlorine etc. You’ll thank yourself for doing it now when the temperature is high enough to take a dip! Bring out your outdoor furniture if it’s stored awayIf you have outdoor furniture, fire pits, outdoor pillows and cushions, umbrellas, etc. packed away, it's time to bring them out! Consider buying tarps to use to cover them in case of storms, rather than lugging them in and out of storage with each summer rain.
8 Ways to Go Greener at Home
Celebrate Earth Day this year by going greener at home! There are lots of little things we can do in our homes to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape. Every year on April 22nd, billions of people world-wide celebrate Earth day; a holiday created to demonstrate the importance of environmental protection through a wide-range of global events. Everyone can do their part to keep our home planet clean, and you can too! Here are 8 small, easy, and environmentally-friendly choices we can make in our homes to go green this year! Start Using Reusable Bags- Most stores offer Canvas bags as an alternative option to wasteful plastic bags. These bags are actually more sturdy than plastic bags, as well as better for the environment. Plant a Garden- By growing your own garden, you are the one to decide what goes on your plants and into your soil, allowing you to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals polluting our environment and waterways. Organically growing your own food is sustainable and nourishes your soil by using safe and natural fertilizers. For tips on how to start your own garden, click here. Wash Laundry in Cold Water Instead of Hot- According to The Worldwatch Institute, 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Plus, clothes tend to not bleed color so much when washed in colder water, saving you from doing separate loads for lights, darks, and whites! Switch Out Light Bulbs for Energy-Efficient Options- Look for ones marked “CFL.” Compact fluorescent lights use much less electricity than standard incandescent light bulbs do and they last 5x longer. Save Water- Fix any leaky pipes or faucets, take shorter showers, and stop buying water bottles. You can always purchase a water filter if you aren’t a fan of tap water! Go Paperless- We’re living in the digital age- so it’s time to get digital with your bills and other mail. Reduce the number of papers going in and out of your home by going paperless with monthly subscriptions and billing payments. You may find that your finances are actually easier to track digitally right from your smartphone with options like auto-pay, digital reminders, and more. Unplug Electronics When They’re Not in Use- There’s no reason to leave electronics plugged into the walls when you aren’t using them. Unplug phone chargers, speakers, and kitchen appliances like the toaster until you need to use them. This eco-friendly tip will also help lower your energy bill! Use Paper Less and Recycle More- Swap out paper towels for cloth napkins/towels when drying hands and cleaning up liquid messes. This way you save yourself from buying so many paper products because you can wash and reuse the cloth items instead. You’ll be saving money and the planet at the same time.
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