House maintenance is not as simple as regularly vacuuming and sweeping the floor of your bedrooms and living room. There are many parts in your household that need love too! Not paying attention to these “unloved” areas can be costly if left unattended for prolonged periods of time. Here’s a quick rundown of household areas you probably forgot to include in your last spring-cleaning checklist:
Dirt and grime in between tile grout
Grouts, or the spaces and crevices in between the tiles in your home, should be cleaned regularly to prevent dirt and grime from piling up. Cleaning grouts is as easy as spraying some hand-surface cleaners, scrubbing stubborn dirt away, then finally wiping it off with a clean towel. If you have a tiled kitchen sink or countertop, we recommend regularly cleaning those dirty spaces at least two to three times a week to prevent mold and bacteria buildup that can contaminate the food you prepare.
Roof
Roofs are perhaps the most important part of your house. It’s what gives you and your family protection all year round from all types of weather. Once or twice a year, inspect for any leaks that can potentially cause bigger damage if left unfixed. You can also give your roof a nice bath and remove any moss or algae formation that has built up over the months.
Roofs can last anywhere between 15 and 30 years if maintained properly, cutting replacement costs in the long run. Roof replacements can be very expensive and you wouldn’t want to shell out money for a replacement if simple maintenance can do the job!
Exterior house paint
What impression will passers-by have of your home if they see your exterior house paint being deteriorated by stains? No matter how clean you are inside your home, you should pay attention to the façade of your house as well. If your paint job hasn’t been maintained for quite a while, merely scrubbing of dust and dirt may not suffice and an entire paint job may even be needed.
If this is the case, you wouldn’t want your new paint job to fall short of its expected lifespan and spend $1000-$5000 on a new paint job. With proper maintenance, exterior paint should last you around 5-10 years. To make sure you get your money’s worth, be sure to do semi-annual maintenance on your exterior paint.
Faulty windows
When was the last time you checked your window locks? It is easy to neglect broken window locks and latches that may compromise your house’s security. The last thing you want is someone sneaking inside your house through a faulty window. Be sure to regularly check if your window hinges, latches, and locks are all working properly. Some of these may need some lubrication to get rid of those unwanted creaks every time you open and close your windows. This is especially helpful if some hurricane or other calamities have recently damaged your home.
If aesthetics is an issue due to yellowed and foggy glass, you can opt to get your windows replaced. High-quality maintained glass windows can have a lifespan of more than 20 years.
Cleaning your HVAC systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems help you stay warm during the winter, and cool during the summer by providing indoor air. Whether you have a central or local system, regularly cleaning your HVAC system will prevent dust and mold buildups in your ventilation airways that can compromise the quality of the air you breathe and result in unwanted respiratory problems. If cleaning your air filters is too much work for you, get a professional HVAC technician to do the hard work.
You can also add cleaning exhaust fans to this task to help filter out moisture and bad smells that can contribute to the unwanted formation of molds inside your home. If you have exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen, be sure to have this regularly checked as well.
Removing lint from your dryer vent
If you own laundry equipment, your dryer can be filled and clogged with lint and dust. Consistently checking dust and lint accumulation in your dryer vents is essential if you don’t want your house accidentally blowing up in flames. One of the huge fire hazards in your home is dirty and unkept dryer vents. You can purchase dryer vent cleaning kits for $20 to $50 and find online tutorials to make the whole cleaning process easier.
It is easy for these things to be overlooked especially if you spend most of your time working in the office. But these household items don’t need to be cleaned every day or every week (except for the tiled kitchen countertop or sink). Doing semi-annual or quarterly maintenance checks can boost their longevity and avoid unwanted expenses you may incur due to neglected maintenance.
