Home Maintenance Tips
Cleaning your Natural Stone
“After a summer filled with nonstop grilling fests, family gatherings, and just general outdoor fun and wear and tear, it’s important to properly clean natural stone around your home—whether it's outdoor granite countertops, stone walkways, or patios—to...
Deal with wasps, mosquitoes, and other insects
Wasp activity peaks in late summer; these insects become more aggressive and likely to sting in, you guessed it, August. So you'll want to spray for wasps and eliminate them, pronto. DIY: "The first step to eliminating a wasp nest is to identify where the colony...
Cleaning Porch Light
If you have glass light fixtures that are easily removed, bring them inside and wash in a dishpan of warm water with gentle soap. If the fixtures must stay in place, turn the power off and carefully wipe the exteriors with a damp microfiber cloth; dry with a soft...
Give your washer and dryer some TLC
In these dog days of summer, you're probably sweating through a few more outfits than usual. (No? Just us?) If you're buried in laundry, you'll want to make sure your washer and dryer can handle the load. Nurture those appliances now so you aren't...
Scrub the decks
Prime your outdoor space for backyard barbecue blowouts by decluttering and deep-cleaning. Use a broom, leaf blower, or wet-dry vacuum to remove debris from all patio surfaces. Next, tackle the furniture. Use a mixture of warm water and dish...
Freshen your pool
Nothing kills your summer party game like a pool full of algae, so take a few easy steps this month to keep your water in the clear. Shortcut: Test the pH level weekly with a pool water test kit to make sure chemicals are balanced and safe....
Make sure your AC is cool
Task: Now's your last chance to double-check your air-conditioning unit and make sure it's in good working order before the mercury starts to rise. Shortcuts: Hook up a garden hose and spray the outside of the condenser to remove any dust...
Wash windows
Task: As your yard takes shape and your gardens come into full bloom, you’ll want to see everything clearly. It's time to wash away winter’s dirt and grime from your windows. Shortcuts: Have a partner clean the outside while you do the inside...
Repair wood fences and gates
Task: Cycles of cold and wet weather cause wood to move, twist, and warp. That can make garden gates fall out of alignment, and can cause fence pickets to loosen or fall off. Check for signs of loose fencing, and fix sagging gates. Shortcuts: A...
Refrigerators
The main component of your refrigerator that should get your attention is the door seals. Keeping your door seals tight will reduce the amount of energy it takes to keep your food cool or frozen, but will also keep your refrigerator working...
Leaky Faucets
The main cause of leaky faucets is worn out washers. The washers inside of the faucet handles are rubber and tend to wear out quickly. Replace them by turning off the main water supply, unscrewing the leaky handle that controls the flow of...
An easy way to clean stainless steel appliances
Stainless steel appliances seem to be stained with fingerprints constantly. But to give them a good, clean shine, all you need is a microfiber cloth (or just a soft cloth) and some rubbing alcohol! If you really want to get your stainless steel...
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