Home Maintenance: Gear up for summer
Summer is on the way! Horizon Homes custom designs always make full use of the indoor-outdoor flow. Here are our top tips to get your place summer-ready.
- Do a test of your smoke detectors. Yes, we suggested that in autumn also, but a change of season is always a good time to check your smoke alarms (and your toothbrush, but that’s a whole other topic…)
- Get your cooling system ready. If your air-conditioning system needs a service, do it early! Don’t forget that you may need to change the filters in your air-conditioner as well.
- Dust the ceiling fan blades. How? Attach a dryer sheet to a clean paint roller to reach! While you are there, make sure the blade is spinning counter-clockwise, for cooling, rather than the winter setting of clockwise.
- Clean your showerheads and your bathroom drains. While you’re in the bathroom, check out the vents on your bathroom fans as they also might need to be dusted.
- Clean the BBQ. You know it’s going to get heavy use so wipe away any dust or residue. Use hot water, dish soap, and a scrub brush or sponge to clean both the outside and inside of the grill. Be sure to let your grill dry off before using it next.
- Wash down your porch or deck area. Sweep thoroughly then wash with a cleaner. Remove any embedded dirt by scrubbing with soap and water.
- Give your deck a once-over. You can check if your deck needs to be resealed by pouring a little water on it. If the water beads into little puddles, you’re good. If it sinks into the wood, you should get your deck resealed.
- Wash the windows and the window screens. Use warm water and soap to get those windows sparkling. Use soapy water and a brush to gently wash your window screens.
- Add a layer of mulch. Extra mulch will help fight off weeds and help your soil retain moisture during the hot summer months.
Of course, if you’re in a bushfire zone, you’ll have extra maintenance to make sure your home is well prepared. Check out the Rural Fire Service website for more.