Improvement Ideas

Home Maintenance Checklist by Month: 5 Things to Do in October

From decorating to putting away outdoor furniture, here are five things to add to your home maintenance checklist by month: October. When will you begin?
Posted by Carl

Isn’t October the best? Between the changing weather, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween decor, and spooky movie marathons, there’s no shortage of fall fun to enjoy.

Before you get too carried away by fall festivities, however, don’t forget that October is also a perfect time to check some home maintenance tasks off your checklist before winter sets in.

If you follow a home maintenance checklist by month (and you should), here are a few things to add to your October tasks.

1. Check Smoke Detectors

As the weather cools down, you’re going to be using the heat more and opening the windows less, increasing the risk of fire and gas leaks. As such, one of the first items you should add to your October home maintenance list is checking the smoke detectors.

Check your CO detectors too, if you have them. Keep a record of when the batteries were changed and the expiration date of the detectors. Smoke detectors need to be changed every 10 years or so, and CO detectors should be replaced every six.

2. Clean the Gutters

Before your gutters get too bogged down with fall leaves and debris, grab a ladder and clean them out. Don’t forget to check the downspouts for leaves, dirt, and pine needles as well.

It’s also good to clean out the gutters before winter weather blows in because you can use your garden hose to flush out the gutters and downspout and check for leaks.

3. Store Outdoor Furniture

Speaking of your garden hose, once you’ve used it to help clean your gutters, make sure it’s drained completely and store it away. If water is left inside of your hose and it freezes, the hose will burst.

With your hose safely stored, move on to putting away any outdoor furniture you don’t plan to use during the colder months. Grills, lawn chairs, and other outdoor furniture can suffer damage if left exposed to the elements in winter.

4. Complete a Deep Clean

You (hopefully) do a spring cleaning every year, why not make the task a little easier by adding a deep clean to your home checklist for fall as well? Dust the blinds and ceiling fans, wash the windows and screens, shampoo your carpets, etc.

In addition to freshening the inside of your home, you should consider cleaning your home’s exterior. This can be done DIY style, but there are many benefits of hiring professionals to do the job for you, this article explains these in detail.

5. Aerate Your Soil

After the heat of the summer, your lawn could probably use some attention. If aerating your soil in fall isn’t something you normally do, you’ll be amazed by how incredible your yard looks in spring!

Aeration helps combat compaction caused by walking and playing in the yard, creating space for water, nutrients, and air to enrich the soil.

Follow a Home Maintenance Checklist by Month to Keep Your House in Top Shape

As a homeowner, you know that your home is like another member of the family. It needs constant care and attention to stay in good condition. And creating a home maintenance checklist by month is a fantastic way to do so!

By doing a few tasks each month, you can ensure that you keep up with home maintenance without overwhelming yourself by trying to complete a giant list at one time.

Looking for more tips and tricks for maintaining a beautiful home? Be sure to check out our blog!

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