5 weekends in October = 5 opportunities to take care of your house.
1) Fall Lawn Care
2) Window Inspection and Cleaning
3) Caulking and Weather stripping
4) Fall Clean Out and Donating
5) Dishwasher Check
Top 5 lawn care tasks:
While the weather is still nice, and cooling off, it's time to prep your lawn for a long winter's nap.
Inspect for pests
Aeration
Seeding
Fertilizing and weed control
Leaf removal
Dethatching
Check out these links for more info:
Or do what I do, hire a lawn care service and happily pay them for their time and expertise so you can binge watch The Crown.
Window Inspection and Cleaning
Cleaning is one thing, inspecting is another. Check all the windows for any damage, and potential soft spots and rot in the wood. The goal is to prevent water intrusion.
This is a great time to clean as well. You'll appreciate bright winter sunlight!
Also, check for:
1) Broken panes
2) Window hardware operation
3) Smooth opening and closing
4) Caulking and glazing which may need to be done
Caulking and Weather Stripping
Important places to check your weatherstripping include:
Windows (around the frames and at bottom of the window).
Doors (around the door jam and at bottom of the door).
Sliding glass doors (around the frames and at end of the sliding doors).
Garage doors (around the frame and at the bottom of the door).
Attic access doors.
Important places to check your caulking include:
Windows (where outer frames meet the exterior siding).
Doors (where outer frames meet the exterior siding).
Foundation (where the foundation meets the sill plate).
Pipes and wires (where they penetrate outside walls).
Roof vents, flashing, and chimneys.
Edges where building materials meet.
Electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, and ceiling fixtures.
Fall Clean Out and Donation
As a huge fan of Marie Kondo, The Home Edit, and the guilty pleasure Hoarders, I have no trouble doing monthly sweeps of the house to let go of unneeded items. I have a charity box always ready to go. Autumn and Spring are great times to let go of items you dont use, need, or love. Think of it as clearing the space for hibernation. Keep things that are beautiful, useful, and necessary.
Charlotte locals, check out these resources:
Dishwasher Maintenance?? Really?
Yes. A few quick things to check are:
1) Clean out the filter and trap
2) Check the sprayer arm holes for debris and scrub out as needed
3) Check and tighten any loose hose clamps
4) Inspect door seal gasket for potential leaks
5) Read your manual: Some dishwashers have a pre-heating mechanism when the water is too cold. It may need a once-over.
Happy Fall Ya'll!
