Spring Edition: Your Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist

The most common jobs you can do inside your home to feel that spring cleanliness.

Clean oven

With plenty of use over the winter months you may have noticed a build up of residue, a particular odor or even smoke. It can be an easy (yet certainly not glamorous) DIY job. Homemade or store-bought cleaning products will do the trick.

Clean carpets

Stains from winter boots and mud are best removed sooner rather than later. And now that the weather has warmed up, you can get the carpets cleaned and dried without causing too much of an interruption around home.

Check aircon

Ensure your cooling system is prepped for summer by getting a HVAC specialist to change the air filters, clear PVC vent pipes of any obstructions, and clean the boiler and gas systems. If you’re looking to reduce cooling costs longer term (and minimise humidity and mould in the house), you could consider investing in central heating.

Dust hard to reach places

It can be easy to confuse hayfever with a buildup of dust in the home. It can also be easy (and convenient) to forget about high areas like the top of your cabinets, fridge, rangehood, ceiling fan and aircon.

Wipe down interior walls

Walls are one of those unsuspecting places where dust can build up over time. Cooking aromas (plus those pesky oven odors) can stick around long after you’ve cooked a meal, and pet odors can also contribute to this build up.

Drain water heater

This task is also easy to ignore because it’s out of sight, out of mind — but the good news is that water heaters, or cylinders, only need a major service by a qualified professional every couple of years. Draining your water heater flushes mineral deposits and sediment build up to help it run more efficiently which does two things: it saves you money on electricity bills now, and prolongs the life of your water heater saving you money in the long run.

Clean windows

Clean both inside and out to reap more rewards than just a clear view; clean windows can make a big difference in solar gain, keeping the house nice and warm after sunset. While you’re cleaning the windows, check the sealant to ensure it’s still intact for water tightness.

Inspect weather-stripping

Look for any warping, cracking or deterioration in general. Some other signs it’s time to replace weather-stripping are when you can feel a draught or see light coming through from the edges of the frame.

Scrub grout

While it’s not the most riveting job on the home maintenance checklist, it is one area that can benefit from regular maintenance to avoid a build up of dirt, mould and mildew. An old toothbrush and a homemade cleaning solution should do the trick – but if you need a heavier duty grout solution, be sure to check the compatibility with your tiles first.

Clean out fireplace

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, maintenance is imperative for two reasons: it can reduce the risk of a chimney fire, and it can also fulfill your due diligence requirements for home insurance.

You can clean out charred logs and ash, but as for the chimney sweep, that’s a job best left to a professional.

Gardening

Spring is the perfect time to get busy in the garden. Planting a veggie garden, trimming hedges and clearing leaves are great places to start. If you’re stuck for landscaping ideas, check out how these homeowners transformed their small space.

Check roof

Try to inspect your roof from ground level to spot signs of wear and tear like cracked, missing or broken shingles, and loose roofing materials. If there are other signs like leakage or sagging, it might be time to get a professional inspection done.

Wash exterior cladding

A soft broom and hose can get the job done for a general clean. But to remove dirt, stains and mildew, a safe pressure wash will get you the best results. Before washing make sure you cover plants, electrical outlets and windows to avoid any mishaps.

Clean gutters

Clogged gutters can lead to blocked pipes, water leaks and flooding. For this reason, maintaining your gutters is another job you’ll need to do to meet home insurance requirements. With dry conditions, a ladder and some good balance you’ll be able to pull out any leaves and debris. For multi storey homes it could be a good idea to get a professional in.

Inspect driveways and paths

An easier job on the home maintenance checklist — take a leisurely walk around your property to look for any damage to walkways, paths and driveways. Catching cracks and chips early can allow you to carry out repairs now rather than replacements later.

Fertilise your lawn

There’s no doubt a successful lawn takes dedication. Prepare (or repair) the area by clearing weeds and unwanted grass, select the right seeds for your climate and keep it nourished with good soil.

Paint exterior cladding

It’s a big job – but vital to your home’s longevity. You can prep the exterior ahead of painting by water blasting, scraping off original paint or sanding down (depending on the cladding material). If painting over an old coat, ensure the new paint is compatible, otherwise it can cause peeling or chipping.

Clean the BBQ

BBQ season is upon us; and even if you have a cover, you might need to give it some TLC to dust off that winter grime. There’s a multitude of different cleaning methods available online. And while you’re out there, inspect the hoses, connections and gas bottles for anything that may need replacing.

Check sprinklers

This one’s best to try on a warm day. Turn on the sprinklers (either in zones or all at once) and walk around to make notes of any sprinkler heads that are broken or damaged. Adjust the direction of any heads that are spraying the house, deck or street to avoid moisture problems and water wastage.

Check screen doors and windows

Look closely for any holes or tears — no matter how small — as once they start they’ll only get bigger. If you do see any areas that need attention, you can patch it with a DIY repair kit.

Service lawn mower

Like cars, lawn mowers need maintenance, too. Drain and replace the fuel, clean the undercarriage and sharpen the blade (if you have the right tools). Check the oil, air filter and spark plug to make sure everything runs smoothly when it comes time to mow. Don’t forget to fill up the fuel can next time you’re at the petrol station.

Clean out garage

If the cold prevented you from staying out there long enough to put things back in their normal place, chances are your garage may be looking a little messy. A general clean out, sweep and reorganisation will make spring and summertime jobs effortless when you know where everything is.

Clean and stain deck

It’s one of the more time-intensive jobs on this home maintenance checklist, but well worth it. There’s a fair bit involved, especially for older decks. Various stages before the staining can include a sweep and wash, tending to nails, removing mould and sanding if necessary. Once you’ve prepped the deck and have chosen the type of stain, you’re away — the best kind of weather is a warm, overcast day with low humidity (and no sign of rain).

Clean out garage

If the cold prevented you from staying out there long enough to put things back in their normal place, chances are your garage may be looking a little messy. A general clean out, sweep and reorganisation will make spring and summertime jobs effortless when you know where everything is.

Clean and stain deck

It’s one of the more time-intensive jobs on this home maintenance checklist, but well worth it. There’s a fair bit involved, especially for older decks. Various stages before the staining can include a sweep and wash, tending to nails, removing mould and sanding if necessary. Once you’ve prepped the deck and have chosen the type of stain, you’re away — the best kind of weather is a warm, overcast day with low humidity (and no sign of rain).

There you have it, your ultimate home maintenance checklist for spring. The time and effort you put into these jobs can help identify, prevent and manage things before they snowball into full blown repairs or replacements.

And if, after reading this list, you’ve decided it’s just too much work, you can always downsize and follow Geoff’s lead by living in a house bus.