Oct 29, 2018
The cold winds of fall have settled in the Chicago suburbs bringing our first snowfall this past weekend! Brace your Overstreet home with this easy Fall/Winter Home Maintenance Checklist.
Check Your Exterior Water Sources-Make sure all hoses are disconnected from exterior hosebibs and brought inside. If you have a sprinkler system make sure you have had it shut off.
Protect Your Entryway-The elements can take a toll on the foyer of your Overstreet residence. Dirt, mud, leaves, ice, and snow are likely to be tracked all throughout your home. Take precaution and place doormats inside and outside the door, along with boot trays inside the entryway. Fall is also the perfect time to get your mudroom ready for wet jackets, gloves, and hats!
Reverse Ceiling Fans-Change the setting of the ceiling fans in your house to spin clockwise. This is an essential task to check off to keep heat naturally circulating in your home. Running the blades in a clockwise position during the colder months can push heated air down. Reversing your fans is an excellent method for heating rooms with high ceilings!
Deep Clean Living Spaces-Fall is the best time for families to cozy up by the fireplace in your Overstreet living room. Prepare your living space with a thorough deep clean. As the room where the families gather the most, the living room can become quite cluttered and messy. Tackle your living room cleanse with a quick pick up of everything out of place. Spot clean any spills with a simple stain remover and neatly straighten up the pillows. For a little extra autumn refresh in your home, sprinkle baking soda on to your upholstery. Let it sit at least 15 minutes or overnight; and then vacuum to remove any odors.
Windows For Winter-Pick a cloudy day (we’ve got plenty of those around Chicago) to wash away the remnants of summer from your Overstreet homes windows and doors. Give this easy yet effective No Streak DIY glass cleaner a try. Use a microfiber cloth for the best results!
In addition to getting your glass nice and clean, also inspect doors for leaking air. Adjust thresholds appropriately at doors. Adjust locks on windows if needed.
Seasonal Pantry Audit-Remove any stored or canned food from your pantry. Use your vacuum hose to suck up any crumbs or dust lingering in the corners. Take a little extra time to wipe down and dust off each the cans and boxes to keep your food storage fresh for the winter, and throw away anything expired!
Inspect Your Attic-Check the roof and gable vents to make sure they are clear of debris. The screens can act like a lint trap and they need to be clear to be effective.
Winterize Your Garage-Make sure to winterize your gas powered machinery that won’t be used until next spring if it is staying in a garage or exterior storage unit.
Don’t Forget To Change Your Furnace Filter!
If you are an Overstreet homeowner, don’t forget to check your yearly maintenance given to you at closing!