Essential Tasks Every Homeowner Should Do Once a Month

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility. Homeowners have the obligation of maintaining and improving it to ensure their comfort and safety.

You can overlook some chores for some days, but there are some you should carry out at least once a month. This can help to avoid accidents and major repairs. However, these chores vary depending on your home.

Leading home maintenance advisors like Family Handyman, HGTV, The Spruce, and Gardener’s World recommend you not overlook these monthly tasks.

Walk Through Your Entire Home

Each month, walk through places you rarely use as you inspect them. Evidence of rodents, insects, rot, or leaks indicates an imminent problem. While at it, check for weaknesses in supporting structures. Make sure you do outside inspections, too.

Your home environment, including the facilities, should be safe. Inspect major facilities in your house and yard and prevent breakages and accidents. Monthly walks and investigations will help determine looming problems and take timely action.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Eliminate squeaky noises by lubricating moving parts. Our homes today have many moving parts such as hinges, rollers, and slides, among others. You can find them on doors, the structure, and the appliances. Use an appropriate lubricant, such as WD-40, for longevity and smooth operation.

Oiling helps reduce tear and wear, which may demand a significant part replacement in the long run. Use the operational manual’s basic verbal or written instructions to lubricate the moving parts.

Inspect Your Piping and Drainage

No matter how well the designs are, drainage clogs are a nuisance. Monthly inspections for clogs in the piping will prevent an upcoming nuisance.

You can use manual tools or chemicals to clear the pathways. Some procedures require professionals because of technicality. For example, chemical cleaning is challenging and can be hazardous.

Maintain Your Landscaping

In addition to the routine weekly lawn care, you must tend to the flower beds at least once monthly. Get rid of weeds, dead leaves, and debris accumulation. They have the potential to attract unwanted pests and rodents into your home.

Consider setting a monthly time for trimming and sustaining the landscaping. It will keep things clean and safe and control unwanted pests and rodents.

Organize Your Refrigerator

Whether living alone or with a family, food always piles up, cluttering the fridge. At the beginning of every month, check out all the containers and perishable food in your refrigerator to determine which are good and which to throw away.

According to Martha Stewart, organizing your refrigerator gives it a pleasant look and makes it easy to see and grab ingredients. This monthly chore is essential when deciding on replenishments. It will also help in menu preparation by focusing on the items closer to expiry dates.

Inspect the Attic for Leaks and Other Anomalies

Take a walk into your attic during a rainstorm to investigate for leaks. Roof leaks that run for a long time damage insulation and can be a source of dampness. Damp areas encourage mold growth, which can cause illness and structural issues.

It’s also good to periodically investigate for airflow issues and insulation damages. Damaged ducts increase heating and cooling costs. You should also check for pests to prevent or nip an infestation in the bud.

Check Your HVAC Filters

The recommendation for air filter replacement is at least four times a year. However, it’s necessary to check them once a month. It’s especially vital if you live in a region with poor air quality or pollution. It would be best to keep the filters clean to stay safe and reduce stress on your HVAC.

Dirty filters make your system work harder when moving air. They also increase power uptake and dust accumulation in your home. To ensure your HVAC is functioning, follow these maintenance tips from BHG.

Check Your Range Hood Filter

A range hood filter’s purpose is to collect grease. As the grease builds up, it becomes less effective. It’s necessary to clean your range hood for proper functioning. To remove the filter, follow the manufacturer’s manual.

You can clean the filters in a sink that fits. Soak the filter in hot water for 15 minutes. Adding dishwashing detergent and baking soda to the water loosens the grease more quickly. In case of stubborn grease, scrub it off with a brush. Rinse the filter and leave it to dry before putting it back.

Clean the Garbage Disposal

Since you toss all kinds of scraps into your garbage disposal, it’s only logical the system needs a little care and attention regularly. After use, run the machine with cold water plus soap for a minute. The cold water helps to solidify any grease within the system.

Despite this minor periodic cleaning, you’ll need to thoroughly clean it monthly. The best procedure is using white vinegar and baking soda. Alternatively, you can use the ice cube process to clean out stubborn dirt. You can also add lemon or orange cuts during cleaning.

Check the Toilet Cistern and Sinks for Leaks

Toilet cistern leaks are the major contributor to water loss in America. Investigate any evidence of water leakages. Unchecked leaks only worsen the problem and even become a health risk.

Add ten drops of food coloring to the lid to verify if your cistern leaks. If the water in the bowl turns its color, your toilet cistern is leaking. Replace the flapper to fix the problem.

Check Fire and Security Systems

To ensure your home is safe, take precautions and restock supplies for emergencies. Test the smoke and CO2 detectors to make sure they’re functioning correctly. You need also to test the security system to confirm its ability.

Run a check on your emergency supplies for restocking. Do the same on your fire extinguishers by confirming the expiry dates and functionality.

Inspect Automatic Doors Safety Shutoff

Test the safety features of your automatic doors to be sure they’re up to the task. It’s essential to ensure the door detects anything in its path before closing.

The procedure helps avoid accidents, especially if you have children and pets. You should also ensure the locking system is working. Ensure you oil the moving parts as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Evaluate Your Monthly Home Spending

Home provisions and maintenance supplies cost money. It’s wise to evaluate your home spending monthly. The chore will help you determine which items you’re overspending on.

Monthly home finance evaluation also goes a long way in planning for the future. You will also identify loopholes where supplies are going to waste.